Improvements in Single Acting Multiple Expansion Motive Power Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1896-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Single Acting Multiple Expansion Motive Power
Engines.
I, JAMES WILLIAM RESTLER, of 68 Linden Grove, Nunhead, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to compound or multiple expansion motive power engines
of the class or type, usually known as single acting engines, described in the
Specifications to my Patents Nos. 1961 of 1893 and 905 of 1894 and has for its
object to further simplify and improve the construction and working of these
engines.
The essential feature of the present invention consists in the employment of a
peculiar construction and arrangement of reciprocating valve or valves and ports
whereby the distribution of the motive fluid to the several cylinders is effected in
a more simple and efficient manner than hitherto. The said reciprocating valve or
valves may be of flat, cylindrical or other convenient section and consists of a
number of pellets or valvelets having ports or spaces between them whereby the
motive fluid is permitted to pass into or out of the cavity of the valve or the valve
casing. The valve is so constructed and arranged that the motive fluid entering
the cavity thereof by a port on one side of a pellet or valvelet is permitted (in the
case of some of the pellets or valvelets) to leave said cavity by a port on the
opposite side of the pellet or valvelet. This is a feature of importance in the con-
struction of the valve since it enables me to greatly simplify the arrangement of
the ports and passages. The valve may be built up of one or more separate parts
and may be worked by a single eccentric or by means of a double eccentric and
link motion, or it may derive its motion from a dynamic gear worked from some con-
venient part of the engine such as the connecting rod. Provision may also be made
whereby starting, stopping or varying the speed of the engine may be effected from
the main valve either through the medium of the valve gear worked automatically
or by hand or other means or by a governor applied either to the main valve or to
a throttle valve which regulates the supply of motive fluid to the engine. A single
reciprocating valve may be used to distribute the motive fluid to one or more sets
of cylinders, or in some cases more than one such valve may be used for this
purpose. Engines of the class or type set forth, constructed according to my
invention, may comprise one, two or more sets of cylinders, and each set may
comprise in turn two, three or more working cylinders. The cranks also may be
set at any desired angle to each other.
In order that the general construction and arrangement of the valve and ports
may be clearly understood I will now proceed to describe by way of example a
steam engine of the class or type set forth wherein the distribution of the steam to
the several cylinders is effected by means of a reciprocating valve and ports
constructed and arranged according to the present invention. I will assume that
the engine in question has two sets of cylinders arranged side by side over a crank
shaft of which the cranks are set opposite to each other, and that each set comprises
four working cylinders arranged tandem fashion relatively to the crank shaft, viz.

page_text: high pressure cylinder, 1st intermediate cylinder, 2nd intermediate cylinder, and
low pressure cylinder. I will also assume that the reciprocating valve is disposed
and works within a valve casing or chamber situated between the two sets of
cylinders.
Numbering the ports or passages in the valve casing which lead into or out of
the cylinders in order from 1 to 13 inclusive starting at the high pressure or upper
end of the valve casing, and designating the pellets or valvelets of the valve in
alphabetical order from A to I inclusive, and calling the high pressure cylinder,
1st intermediate cylinder, 2nd intermediate cylinder and low pressure cylinder of
the set on one side of the engine K1, L1, M1 and N 1, respectively, and the
corresponding cylinders of the set on the other side of the engine K 2, L 2, M 2
and N 2 respectively, the construction and arrangement of the valve and its working
gear and the steam passages is such that the distribution of the steam during the
working of the engine is as follows:-
Assuming that the pistons in the cylinders K1, L1, M1 and N 1 are making
their forward or downward stroke and the pistons in the cylinders K 2, L 2, M 2
and N 2 their return or upward stroke, live steam from the boiler enters by port 2
into an annular space between pellets or valvelets A and B and enters by port 1 to
the high pressure cylinder K 1; at the same time the steam from the high pressure
cylinder K 2 is exhausting through port 3 into the cavity of the valve between
pellets B and C and thence passes between pellets C and D through port 4 by way
of a passage S (which is common to ports 4 and 6) to the 1st intermediate annular
cylinder L1; during the same period the steam from the 1st intermediate annular
cylinder L 2 has been exhausting in like manner through port 5 between pellets D
and E into the valve cavity and thence through port 7 by way of a passage T
(which is common to ports 7 and 9) to the 2nd intermediate annular cylinder M 1,
steam has also been exhausting from the upper side of the annular piston in
2nd intermediate cylinder M 2 through port 8 between pellets F and G into the
valve cavity and from thence between pellets G and H through port 10 and a
passage U (which is common to ports 10 and 12) to the underside of the piston in
the low pressure cylinder N 2; the low pressure cylinder N 1 has during this time
been exhausting through port 11 between pellets H and I and through the cavity
of the valve into the valve casing and from thence through port 13 to the condenser
or into the atmosphere.
After the pistons in the cylinders K 1, L1, M1 and N 1 have completed their
forward or downward stroke, and the pistons in the cylinders K. 2, L2, M 2
and N 2 their return or upward stroke, they are ready to reverse their respective
directions of motion and the working gear of the valve will have placed the latter
in such a position that steam enters port 2 from the boiler into the annular space
between pellets A and B and passes through port 3 into the high pressure
cylinder K 2 to force its piston downwards. At the same time the high pressure
cylinder K 1 is exhausting through port 1 into the valve cavity and from thence
passes through port 5 between pellets C and D into the 1st intermediate
cylinder L2; during the same period the steam from the 1st intermediate
cylinder L 1 is exhausting through passage S and port 6 between pellets D and E
into the cavity of the valve, and from thence passes through port 8 between
pellets E and F into the 2nd intermediate cylinder M 2; steam has also been
exhausting from the upper side of the piston in the 2nd intermediate cylinder M1
through the passage T and port 9 between pellets F and G into the cavity of the
valve, and from thence passes through port 11 between pellets G and H to the
underside of the piston in the low pressure cylinder N1; the low pressure
cylinder N 2 has during this time been exhausting through passage U and port 12
into the valve cavity between pellets H and I and thence through port 13 to the
condenser or into the atmosphere.
In an engine constructed according to my present invention I am enabled by
merely adding extra ports and extra pellets to the valve to distribute the motive
fluid in a similar manner to an indefinite number of cylinders arranged tandem

page_text: fashion relatively to the crank shaft. The valve being preferably built up in
sections extra pellets can readily be added.
Dated this 1st day of February 1896.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Single Acting Multiple Expansion Motive Power
Engines.
I, JAMES WILLIAM RESTLER, of 68, Linden Grove, Nunhead, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to compound or multiple expansion motive power engines
of the class or type, usually known as single acting engines, described in the
Specifications to my Patents Nos. 1961 of 1893 and 905 of 1894, and has for its
object to further simplify and improve the construction and working of these.
engines.
The essential feature of the present invention consists in the employment of the
peculiar construction and arrangement of reciprocating non-rotating compound
valve or valves and ports or passages hereinafter set forth whereby the distribution
of the motive fluid to the several cylinders is effected in a more simple and efficient
manner than hitherto. The said reciprocating valve or valves may be of flat,
cylindrical or other convenient section and consists of a number of pellets or
valvelets carried by a valve rod or shank and having ports or spaces between them
whereby the motive fluid is permitted to pass into or out of the cavity of the valve
or the valve casing. The valve pellets and the ports or passages are so arranged
and constructed, as will hereinafter appear, that the motive fluid, hereinafter
referred to as steam, is in all cases distributed from the valve port of one cylinder
to that of another direct through the valve cavity, no matter how many cylinders
are arranged tandem fashion relatively to the crank shaft. I am thus enabled to
dispense with steam passages exterior to the valve for establishing communication
between the several valve ports and consequently to greatly simplify the arrange-
ment of the ports and passages. The valve may be either made in one piece or,
which I prefer, may be built up from separate parts, and may be worked by a
single eccentric or by means of a double eccentric and link motion, or it may
derive its motion from a dynamic gear worked from some convenient part of the
engine such as the connecting rod. Provision may also be made whereby starting,
stopping or varying the speed of the engine may be effected from the main valve
either through the medium of the valve gear worked automatically or by hand or
other means or by a governor applied either to the main valve or to a throttle
valve which regulates the supply of motive fluid to the engine. Engines of the
class or type set forth, when constructed according to my invention, may comprise
one, two or more sets of cylinders, and each set may comprise in turn three or
more working cylinders. The cranks also may be set at any desired angle to each
other.
I will now proceed to clearly describe by way of example, and with reference to
the accompanying drawings, a steam engine of the class or type set forth wherein
the distribution of the steam to the several cylinders is effected by means of a
reciprocating non-rotating valve and ports or passages constructed and arranged

page_text: according to the present invention. The engine taken as an example has two sets
of cylinders arranged side by side over a crank shaft of which the cranks are set
opposite to each other, and each set comprises four working cylinders arranged
tandem fashion relatively to the crank shaft, viz. high pressure cylinder, 1st inter-
mediate cylinder, 2nd intermediate cylinder, and low pressure cylinder. The
reciprocating non-rotating compound valve is disposed and works within a valve
casing or chamber situated between the two sets of cylinders.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the engine, Fig. 2 is a vertical section at right
angles to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a plan. Similar letters and numerals refer to like
parts in all the figures.
Numbering the ports or passages in the valve casing which lead into or out of
the cylinders in order from 1 to 13 inclusive starting at the high pressure or upper
end of the valve casing, and designating the pellets or valvelets of the valve in
alphabetical order from a to i inclusive, and the high pressure cylinder, 1st inter-
mediate cylinder, 2nd intermediate cylinder and low pressure cylinder of the set on
one side of the engine A, B, C, D, respectively, and the corresponding cylinders of
the set on the other side of the engine A1, B1, C1, D1, respectively, the
construction and arrangement of the valve aud its working gear and the steam
passages is such that the distribution of the steam during the working of the engine
is as follows:-
"
Assuming that the pistons in the cylinders A, B, C, and D, are making their
forward or downward stroke and the pistons in the cylinders A. 1, B 1, C1, and D 1,
their return or upward stroke, live steam from the boiler enters by port 2 into an
annular space between pellets or valvelets a and b and enters by port 1 to the high
pressure cylinder A, at the same time steam from the high pressure cylinder A1 is
exhausting through port 3 into the cavity of the valve between pellets b and c and
thence passes down the cavity of the valve through steam passages in the pellet c
(which by reason of the steam passages therein I term a "hollow
directed by the pellet d (which has no steam passages therein and is termed a
pellet) and is
"solid" pellet) through port 4 between pellets d and e by way of a passage S
(which is common to ports 4 and 6) to the 1st intermediate annular cylinder B;
during the same period the steam from the 1st intermediate annular cylinder B 1
bas been exhausting in like manner through port 5 between solid pellet d and
hollow pellet e into the valve cavity and thence through port 7 by way of passage T
(which is common to ports 7 and 9) to the 2nd intermediate annular cylinder C;
steam has also been exhausting from the upper side of the annular piston in
2nd intermediate cylinder C1 through port 8 between solid pellet f and hollow
pellet g into the valve cavity and from thence between hollow pellet g and solid
pellet through port 10 and a passage U (which is common to ports 10 and 12) to
the underside of the piston in the low pressure cylinder D1; the low pressure
cylinder D has during this time been exhausting through port 11 between solid
pellet h and hollow pellet i and through the cavity of the valve into the valve
casing and from thence through port 13 to the condenser or into the atmosphere.
After the pistons in the cylinders A B C and D have completed their forward or
downward stroke, and the pistons in the cylinders A1 B1 C and D 1 their return
or upward stroke, they are ready to reverse their respective directions of motion
and the working gear of the valve will have placed the latter in such a position
that steam enters port 2 from the boiler into the anunlar space between pellets a
and b and passes through port 3 into the high pressure cylinder A1 to force its
piston downwards. At the same time the high pressure cylinder A is exhausting
through port 1 into the valve cavity and from thence passes through port 5 between
hollow pellet c and solid pellet d into the 1st intermediate cylinder B1; during
the same period the steam from the 1st intermediate cylinder B is exhausting
through passage S and port 6 between solid pellet d and hollow pellet e into the
cavity of the valve and from thence passes through port 8 between hollow pellet e
and solid pellet f into the 2nd intermediate cylinder C1; steam has also been
exhausting from the upper side of the piston in the 2nd intermediate cylinder C

page_text: through the passage T and port 9 between solid pellet f and hollow pellet g into.
the cavity of the valve and from thence passes through port 11 between hollow
pellet g and solid pellet h to the underside of the piston in the low pressure.
cylinder D; the low pressure cylinder D1 has during this time been exhausting
through passage U and port 12 into the valve cavity between solid pellet and
hollow pellet and thence through port 13 to the condenser or into the
atmosphere.
In an engine constructed according to my present invention I am enabled by
merely adding extra ports and extra pellets to the valve to distribute the motive
fluid in a similar manner to an indefinite number of cylinders arranged tandem
fashion relatively to the crank shaft. The valve being preferably built up in.
sections threaded upon a solid rod as represented in the drawings extra pellets can
readily be added.
Although in the drawings I have represented my invention as applied to an
engine having two sets of cylinders, it is obvious that if desired a set of steam.
receivers might be employed in substitution for one set of cylinders.
I am aware that it has before been proposed to construct single acting multiple
expansion motive power engines wherein the distribution of steam from one
cylinder to another was effected direct through the cavity of a reciprocating non-
rotating valve, but in this construction no intermediate cylinders but only high and
low pressure cylinders were employed, and to this construction, without inter-
mediate cylinders, I lay no claim, but :-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In single acting multiple expansion motive power engines comprising two-
sets of cylinders or a set of cylinders and a set of steam receivers each set of
cylinders comprising in turn one or more intermediate cylinders, a reciprocating
non-rotating compound valve consisting of pellets or valvelets carried by a rod or
shank and ports or passages controlled by said pellets or valvelets constructed and.
arranged as herein before described so that the steam is in all cases distributed from
the valve port of one cylinder or steam receiver to that of another direct through
the valve cavity, whereby steam passages exterior to the valve for establishing
communication between the several valve ports are dispensed with and construction
is simplified, substantially as described.
2. In a single acting multiple expansion motive power engine of the class.
described having one or more intermediate cylinders disposed between the high
and low pressure cylinders, the employment of a reciprocating non-rotating-
compound valve comprising alternately bollow and solid pellets or valvelets for
controlling the admission and exit of steam to and from such intermediate-
cylinders, and ports or passages arranged as described opened and closed by said
pellets or valvelets, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the single acting
multiple expansion motive power engine hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents..