Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 21st Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 21st Jan., 1888
[Communicated from abroad by KENNARD KNOTT and FRANCIS KNOTT, both of
234 and 236, Senth Jefferson Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America,
Engineers.]
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention chiefly relates to improved means or apparatus for reversing steam
engines.
According to the said invention each cylinder has two sets of ports, adapted to he
opened and closed by two slides attached to a common rod, and operated by a single
excentric on the crank shaft.
In connection with these ports, between the cylinder and the slide valves and
forming the working faces for the latter, is arranged a plate provided with two sets of
openings or ports corresponding with the cylinder ports, and adapted to be moved in
one or the other direction as desired.
The two sets of ports, however, in the movable plate, are placed at a different
distance apart from the sets of cylinder ports, so that communication between the
steam chest and the cylinder is only established through one set of ports at a time,
the other set of ports and the valve operating in connection therewith being practically
inoperative. By shifting the movable plate in one or the other direction by means
of a rod projecting through a stuffing box, or by any other suitable means, the
cylinder and steam chest can be placed in communication through either set of ports
as desired.
The slide valves are so arranged relatively to the ports which they cover that when
one set of ports establishes communication between the steam chest and cylinder the
engine will run in one direction while when the other set establishes such communication,
it will run in the opposite direction.

page_text: Instead of using two valves as herein before described, I sometimes employ a double
valve, that is to say, a valve made in one piece, but having a groove transversely
across its face in order to provide each portion of the valve operating in connection
with a set of ports with two edges, and to allow the passage of steam to the adjacent
ports of the two sets.
In an engine adapted to run in either direction and the valve of which is operated
by a single excentric, it follows that the excentric must theoretically be arranged at
right angles to the crank, in which case the slide valve has no lead. In order to obviato
this objection I provide for moving the said excentric to increase or diminish its angle
relatively to the crank, to give the required lead to the slide valve, according to the
direction in which the engine is running.
For this purpose I mount the excentric operating the slide valve loosely upon the
crank shaft, so that the said excentric can make the necessary movement relatively to
the crank shaft according to the lead desired. Upon one side of the valve excentric,
I arrange a sinall auxiliary excentric and I key upon the shaft at right angles to the
crank a driving block having an opening adapted to receive the said small excentric.
The throw of the said small excentric corresponds with the required lead, so that by
rotating the said small excentric in one or the other direction the valve excentric will
be shifted relatively to the said driving block.
To cause the said small excentric to move automatically when the engine is reversed
I attach a lever to the same designed to impinge against a stud or the like on one of
the straps of the valve excentric, or against any other suitable abutment. When the
reversal takes place the end of the said lever will strike the abutment and cause it to
turn through an angle, of say 180 degrees, thereby effecting the required movement
of the valve excentric.
In applying my improvements to a cylinder of ordinary construction having only
three ports, I attach to the slide face an auxiliary plate having formed therein passages
which on one side of the plate communicate with the passages of the cylinder. The
other side of the said plate however, has six apertures forming two sets of ports which
are connected through suitable passages with the three apertures on the other side of
the plate. Two slide valves or a double slide valve operates in connection with these
ports in the manner herein before described.
Although I have described my improvements as applied to a steam engine, it is
obvious that they may be applied to engines operated by compressed air or other
fluid.
Dated this 21st day of January 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: 1, LLENNI
ΠΑΙΣΕ, ΟΙ The firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex 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 apparatus for reversing the motion of steam and other
engines.
The main object of the said invention is to provide novel means whereby I am
enabled to dispense with the usual link motion, and to reverse the motion of a steam
or other engine provided with but one excentric for operating the slide valve for the
distribution of the steam or other fluid.
One important feature of the said invention is the employment of a movable plate
having two sets of openings or ports and arranged to operate in combination with two
sets of ports in the cylinder and two slide-valves (or a double slide-valve) attached to
a common rod and operated by a single eccentric on the crank-shaft, so that either set
of ports can be put into or out of operation and the motion of the engine thus reversed
as hereinafter set forth. This movable plate I will hereinafter term a reversing plate
ог а "dead plate."
When my invention is applied to the cylinder of an ordinary engine I employ an
additional or supplementary dead plate or reversing plate.
Another important feature of my said invention is the provision of means for auto-
matically adjusting the slide-valve excentric to give the required lead to the slide valve,
as hereinafter specified.
The said invention moreover, comprises various other improvements and modifi-
cations hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how the said invention can be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of an engine cylinder and steam-chest or
valve-casing showing the dead plate or reversing plate at one end of its movement.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the said "dead plate" at the other end of its
movement.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the said cylinder partly in vertical section, the steam-
chest or
valve-casing being removed.
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the said cylinder partly in section on the line x, x
Figure 1 the cover being removed.
Figures 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections showing modifications of my invention.
Figure 7 is a face view of the slide valve shown in Figure 5.

page_text: Figure 8 is a side elevation and
Figure 9 a plan of a slide-valve eccentric showing devices hereinafter described for
giving the slide-valve its necessary lead in either direction.
Figure 10 is a similar view to Figure 8, showing the parts in a different position.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section showing a modification of my invention wherein
Nemploy an additional or supplementary dead plate.
Figure 12 is a face view of the said additional or supplementary dead plate.
Figures 13 to 18 are different views hereinafter described showing details of
construction.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a standard hereinafter described.
A is the cylinder, A' the piston, B the stoam-chest or valve-casing.
CC, Figure, are steam and exhaust ports communicating with the end A² of the
cylinder A through the ports or passages C³, C³; D, D' are other ports communicating
with the end As of the cylinder A through the port or passage D³, E E' are exhaust
ports communicating with the exhaust pipo by means of the port or passage E³ more
clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. In connection with theso ports between the cylinder
and the slide valve and forming the working face for the latter is the dead plate F,
which is provided with two sets of openings or ports 1, 2, 3 and 4, 5, 6; corresponding
with the cylinder ports C, E, D and C, E, D and is arranged to be moved longitudi-
nally as and for the purpose, hereinafter explained. G Gare two slide-valves which
are firmly united (or may be formed in one piece) and are operated by a common
rod or stem G².
.
The sets of ports 1, 2, 3 and 4, 5, 6 in the dead plate F are not placed at the same
distance apart as the sets of cylinder ports CED and C, E, D', therefore com-
munication between the steam-chest or valve-casing and the cylinder will only be
established through one set of ports at a time, the other set of ports being closed by
the dead plate so that the valve arranged in combination therewith is for the time
being practically inoperative. In Figure 1, the ports C, E, D, are shown covered by
the dead plate" while the ports C', E', D', are not covered thereby. In this case
the steam is distributed by the slide-valve G' in the ordinary manner and passes
through the passages 4, 5, 6 in the dead plate F.
By shifting the dead plate F by means of a rod F2 projecting through a suitable
stuffing box, or by other suitable means into the position shown in Figure 2 commu-
nication may be established between the steam-chest or valve-casing and the cylinder
through the set of ports C D E whilst the ports C¹ D' E' are closed by the dead-plate.
The slide valves are so arranged relatively to the ports which they cover that, when
communication is established between the steam-chest and cylinder by one set of ports
the engine will run in one direction, whereas, when the other set of ports establishes
For instance
such communication the engine will run in the reverse direction.
assuming that the dead plate is in the position shown in Figure I and that the valve G'
occupies such a position that the port C is open and admitting steam to drive the
piston away from the end A2 of the cylinder A, then by moving the dead plate F to
the position shown in Figure 2, the port C will be closed thereby and the port D
which is in communication with the end A³ of the cylinder A will be uncovered;
consequently the piston A¹ will be driven back and the motion of the engine
reversial.
Instead of employing the two valves fixed upon a common rod as above described,
I sometimes use a double slide-valve as shown in Figures 5 and 7 or in Figure 6,
that is to say, a slide-valve made in one piece but having a groove G* extending
transversely across its face. The slide-valve shown in Figures 5 and 7 is provided
with one or more channels G³ connecting the chambers or cavities in the two
part G G of the valve so as to allow more space for the exhaust steam and permit
the escape thereof through the ports or passages E and E simultaneously.
As but one eccentric is used for working the slide-valve tho said excentric, if firmly
fixed on the shaft, must in order to work equally well when the engine is running in
either direction, be set at right angles to the crank so that the slide valve has no lead.
To obviate this objection a device shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 is employed for moving

page_text: or adjusting the said excentric so as to increase or diminish its angle relatively to the
crank and thus give the slide valve its necessary lead when the engine is running in
either direction.
The excentric is fitted so as to be free to revolve upon the crank shaft B, but is
prevented from moving longitudinally by a collar c (shown only in Figure 9) fixed on
the said crank shaft by a set screw or other suitable means. A small cam or eccentric e
is fitted to turn easily upon a pin that passes through the slide-valve eccentric b.
d is a disc or carrier fixed on the crank shaft 13 by set screw or any other suitable
means and having a slot in which works the said cam or eccentric e so that the slide-
valve eccentric will be driven by the carrier d.
To provide for the automatic adjustment of the above described device upon reversal
of the engine, an arm or lever g is arranged to impinge against a stud or pin h fixed
in the shoulder of the strap of the slide valve eccentric. or against any other suitable
abutment. Thus when the reversal takes place after the engine has been running in
the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 10, the end of the said arm or lever
strikes the stud or pin h and is held thereby until the said lever has turned the
excentric upon or about its axis and has moved through the are 1, 2, 3, thus bringing
the slide valve eccentric from its position of lead for the direction of motion shown by
the arrow in Figure 8 to its position for lead for the direction of motion shown by the
arrow in Figure 10.
In applying our invention to an ordinary three ported cylinder, an additional or
supplementary dead plate F', Figures 11 and 12. is attached to the slide face of the
cylinder; two sets of ports C, D, E and CD'E' are formed in this supplementary
dead plate and communicate on one side with the steam ports D³ and C³, the
ports C and D D communicating with each other by means of passages (³ D)²
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The face
of this additional or supplementary dead plate F" is shown in Figure 12, the movable
dead plate being removed and the steam passage C² being shown in dotted lines.
The exhaust poris are connected either with the existing exhaust port, or with a
separate outlet. Two slide valves fitted on a common rod or a double slide valve as
herein before described may be used in this case.
With engines designed originally to work in a given direction, the eccentric will
occupy such a relation to the crank as to impart the requisite lead to the slide valve
when the engine is working in this direction; but, upon reversing the engine, the
conditions are changed, and, were the eccentric rigid upon the crank shaft, the slide
valve would be actuated in such a manner as to produce a great loss of steam so much
so as to render most engines of this class of little practical value. To obviate this
objection I employ a modification of the arrangement above described with reference
to Figures 7, 8 and 9. This modification is shown more clearly in Figures 13 to 18;
Figures 13, 14, 16 and 17 are side elevations showing the parts in different positions;
Figure 15 is a longitudinal central section through the eccentric and other parts:
Figure 18 is a side elevation of a carrier hereinafter described. The slide valve
eccentric b is fitted upon the crank shaft B so as to be free to revolve but is prevented
from longitudinal movement thereon by means of a suitable collar. Upon one side of
the slide valve eccentric and keyed rigidly to the shaft by means of a key i is a collar
or carrier d provided with projecting lugs j, j, a pin passes through the said slide
valve eccentric b, a shoulder s upon the said pin and a nut retain it in position while
permitting it to revolve freely. A small cam or eccentric e is formed on or rigidly
attached to the said pin and fits easily between the lugs j, j. In some instances the
said pin is made rigid and the small cam or eccentric e attached to a loose sleeve
thereon. The slide valve eccentric b is formed with a recess for the reception of the
said small cam or eccentric e and the lugs j; j.
Attached rigidly to the pin is a pointed arm or lever g extending from the said
pin diametrically across the small cam or eccentric e the normal position of which is
such that the arm or lever g is in a plane at right angles to the face of the lugs j, j, or
in the plane of greatest eccentricity of the said small cam or eccentric whether its free
end point in one or the other direction. Figure 16 shows the said sinall cam or

page_text: eccentric e in its normal position, which it retains so long as the crank shaft revolves
in the direction indicated by the arrow. Upon a reversal of the motion of the crank
shaft the cam or eccentric e is likewise reversed as hereinafter described causing the
arm or lever g to point in a different direction to that shown in Figure 16. The
reversal of the cam or eccentric e is accomplished by a pin or stud h rigidly attached
to the shoulder k of the eccentric strap and so adjusted as to engage with the extreme
end of the arm or lever g in whichever direction the crank shaft B revolves. It is
evident that if the parts were rigidly connected, when the crank shaft B' was rotated
in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 14, the engagement of the
lever g with the said pin has above described would cause either the bending or
breakage of the arm or lever g or of the pin or stud B. To obviate this difficulty either
one or the other is arranged to yield when the said contact takes place, for instance a
spring is fitted in the collar or carrier d; against this spring the small cam or
eccentric e bears, the strength of the said spring is so adjusted as to normally retain
the small cam or eccentric e in the position shown in Figure 14 or in the reverse of
this position, but permits the arm or lever g to pass the pin or stud h, that is to say,
as the arm or lever g engages with the pin or stud h in the rotation of the shaft in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 17, the said arm or lever g presses the small cam or
eccentric e against the spring which yields sufficiently to allow of the extremity of
the said arm or lever passing the pin or stud, after which the arm or lever is again
slightly thrown outwards by the spring 1. Upon reversing the engine the arm or
lever g engages with the said stud or pin h and rides out upon it thus turning the
small cam or eccentric e half a revolution and shifting the position of the slide valve
eccentric b, and retaining it in such relation to said crank as to give the proper lead
to the slide valve,
The small cam or eccentric e is normally upon a dead centre in whichever direction
the crank shaft of the engine is revolving, thus the slide valve eccentric 6 is retained
in its proper position. Should an accidental change however occur, it could only last
for part of a revolution, the arm or lover a readjusting it upon the next revolution.
Sometimes the spring 1 is dispensed with, the arm or lever G being made to spring'
or yield sufficiently to permit it to slip by the pin or stud h. The said pin or stud h
is sometimes placed upon one of the lugs & of the slide valve eccentric strap, or upon
any other convenient part of the said eccentric strap, or upon a post or standard s
secured rigidly to the floor, as shown in Figure 19, the arm or lever g is in this case
adjusted accordingly in its relation to the small eccentric e. In some instances two
or more of the said pins or studs are arranged in the path traversed by the arm or
lever g.
Although I have herein described my said invention as applied to a steam engine,
it is also applicable to engines operated by compressed air or other fluid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I wish it understood that I claim :-
First. The employment of a dead plate or reversing plate such as is herein before
described placed between the slide valve and the cylinder ports, substantially as, and
for the purpose, set forth.
Second. The employment, in the same cylinder, of two sets of steam and exhaust
ports or passages, substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Third. The combination, with the movable dead plate or reversing plate, of a
supplementary dead plate, substantially as described with reference to Figures 11
and 12 of the drawings, for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The employment, in a reversing engine having but one eccentric, of means
for automatically adjusting the said eccentric to give the required lead in either
direction to the slide valve, substantially as set forth.
F
5
Fifth. The combination of parts comprising the slide valve eccentric loosely mounted
upon the crank shaft, the small cam or eccentric in operative connection therewith 5
and with a rigid collar or carrier upon the said shaft, and an arm or lever extending

page_text: from the axis of the said small cam or eccentric and arranged to be operated in the
rotation of the slide valve eccentric, substantially as, and for the purposes, set
forth.
Sixth. The provision of means for permitting the said arm or lever to yield and pass
the pin or stud in the continuous rotation of the crank shaft in one direction,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Seventh. The construction and arrangement of the small cam or eccentric and its
operating arm or lever in such a manner that the said arm or lever is, under normal
conditions, in the plane of the greatest eccentricity of the said small cam or eccentric,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Eighth. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, or to Figures 5
and 7, or to Figure 6 of the drawings and operating as, and for the purpose, above
specified.
Ninth. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to Figures 8, 9 and 10 or to Figures 13 to 18
of the drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Dated this 21st day of October 1881.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.