IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR THREE-CYLINDER TORPEDO ENGINES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I ROBERT WHITEHEAD, of Paddockhurst, Sussex, Gentleman do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR THREE-CYLINDER
TORPEDO ENGINES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER ENGINES, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements upon the Invention for which Letters
Patent were granted to me on the 29th day of October 1879 No 4412 for "An
improved valve for single acting engines, and the mechanism for actuating the
saine, which Invention is especially applicable to three-cylinder engines."
The object of my present Invention is to construct a slide valve in such a
manner that it will permit the escape of any water or other fluid which may be
locked in the cylinder after the exhaust is cut off, and so prevent any injury or
obstruction to the free working of the engine, thus combining a slide-and relief-
valve in a single valve.
In applying my Invention to a cylindrical valve made according to the above
named Letters Patent, the principal feature of novelty consists in the separation
of the upper or working part from the lower or guiding part, both parts working
in unison as one single valve under normal circumstances, but parting, should the
pressure in the cylinder be considerably increased after the cut off of the exhaust,
thereby allowing any water or other fluid locked in the cylinder to escape through
the exhaust passages.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, reference
being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation representing a cylindrical valve made according
to my Invention and as fitted when applied to a three-cylinder.torpedo engine and
Figs. 2 and 3 are plans respectively, of the two parts of the valve as seen when
looking in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1.
In these views, a represents the power cylinder of the engine to which steam
under pressure, or other motive power, is admitted from the annular passage b
communicating with the steam chest or passage c which is in constant communi-
cation with the motive power reservoir: d is the upper or working part and e the

page_text: ower or guiding part of the cylindrical valve: the motive power presses against
the under side of the part d and constantly tends to raise the valve, the position of
which, however, is regulated by the rod f which connects the lower part e to the
eccentric on the crank shaft of the engine. The two parts d and e of the valve
are fitted to each other in any convenient and suitable manner, preferably as shown
in the drawing, by means of the stem d fitting loosely into the part e: the holes g
serve to convey the compressed fluid to the conical surfaces of the parts d and c
when the annular passage b is covered by the valve: h is the opening for the
exhaust which passes through the guiding part e into the exhaust opening or
passage i.
Should the pressure in the cylinder a and in the annular passage b become much
greater than the pressure in the passage c during the time the valve completely, or
partially closes the passage b, the compressed fluid fills the holes. g and thus
overcomes the pressure in the passage c and forces the part d away from the part e
into the position indicated by dotted lines Fig. 1, thus opening a communication in
the valve between the passage b and the exhaust and allowing the compressed
fluid locked in the cylinder to escape freely through the exhaust passages.
Having now particularly described and ascertained, the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
I declare that what I claim is-
1. Combining in a single valve the slide valve which controls the admission of
steam or other motive power to the cylinder with a relief valve and the mechanism
for effecting the same, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set
forth.
2. The construction, combination, and arrangement of parts forming the improved
valve for three-cylinder torpedo engines, or other engines, substantially as herein
shown and described for the purposes specified.
Tthis 1