Improved Method for Varying the Expansion in the Cylinders of Steam Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec.,
1394
PROVISIONAL DI MOLTIVATION
Improved Method for Varying the Expansion in the Cylinders of
Steam Engines.
I LEWIS RICHARDS of 12 Park Villas Llanishen in the County of Glamorgan
Engineer and Works Manager do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
he as follows :-
I employ a cylinder having a piston and piston rod to be connected direct to the
valve or to the lever or handle for moving the valve which turns the hydraulic or other
pressure into the cylinder for reversing the engine. The difference in the pressures
which are to be brought on the opposite sides of the piston in the first mentioned
cylinder is intended to move the valve that turns the pressure into the reversing
cylinder in either direction and thereby vary the position of the slotlink or slotlinks
or the parts corresponding to the slotlink in other arrangements of valve gearing,
from full gear towards midgear or in the contrary direction and thereby vary the
degree of expansion in the cylinder or cylinders of the engine. Or the first
mentioned cylinder may be enlarged and made to have the requisite power and be
connected to a lever on the way shaft for reversing the engine and be made to
serve as a reversing cylinder as well as to vary the position of the slotlink or
slotlinks or the parts corresponding to the slotlink in other arrangements of valve
gearing from full gear towards midgear or in the contrary direction and thereby
vary the degree of expansion in the cylinder or cylinders of the engine. Steam
pressure below the pressure in the boilers supplying steam to the engine is to be
on one side of the piston of the first mentioned cylinder, and is in the first
mentioned arrangement to move the valve which turns the hydraulic or other
pressure into the cylinder for reversing the engine, in the direction to cause the
piston in the cylinder for reversing the engine to move the slotlink or slotlinks or
the parts corresponding to the slotlink in other arrangements of valve gearing,
towards midgear in the manner already described. Or as in the second arrange-
ment to move the slotlink or slotlinks or the parts corresponding to the slotlink
in other arrangements of valve gearing towards midgear in the manner already
described. And steam taken from the induction pipe at any point between the
delivery side of the valve for regulating the steam from the boilers to the engine
and the engine valves. Or steam taken preferably during the admission period at
any point in each of the pipes or connections between the engine valves and their.
respective cylinder ends, on the other side of the piston and is in the first mentioned
arrangement to move the valve which turns the hydraulic or other pressure into
the cylinder for reversing the engine, in the direction to cause the piston in the
cylinder for reversing the engine to move the slotlink or slotlinks or the parts
corresponding to the slotlink in other arrangements of valve gearing towards full
gear in the manner already described. Or as in the second arrangement to move
the slotlink or slotlinks or the parts corresponding to the slotlink in other
arrangements of valve gearing towards full gear in the manner already described.
When the steam is taken from the pipes or connections between the engine
valves and the cylinder ends, it is intended to have a valve attached to each of
the pipes that are to convey this steam to the first mentioned cylinder, each valve
to open and close simultaneously with the admission side of the engine valve
belonging to the same connection.
The steam that is to be below the pressure in the boilers supplying steam to the
engine, and the steam taken from between the regulating valve and the engine
valves, or the steam taken from the pipes or connections between the engine valves

page_text: and the cylinder ends are to be brought into a valve box attached to.or on the first
mentioned cylinder, and to be on different sides of a valve in the said valve box by
moving which valve either steam can be turned on either side of the piston
according to the direction the engine is to run. Instead of steam below the
pressure in the boilers supplying steam to the engine being used on one side of the
piston in the first mentioned cylinder as described two separate cylinders of
different diameters may be used and steam at the boiler pressure be brought into
the smaller one, whilst steam from the delivery side of the regulating valve, or
from the pipes or connections between the engine valves and the cylinder ends is
to be brought into the other. Or hydraulic pressure compressed air or any other
elastic fluid in a separate cylinder may be used in opposition to the pressure in the
cylinder in which steam taken from the induction pipe between the delivery side
of the regulating valve and the engine valves, or steam taken from the pipes or
connections between the engine valves and the cylinder ends is in.
A water or oil cataract may be used in the arrangements described.
Dated this 30th day of November 1893.
LEWIS RICHARDS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method for Varying the Expansion in the Cylinders of
Steam Engines.
I LEWIS RICHARDS of 12 Park Villas Llanishen in the County of Glamorgan
Engineer and Works Manager 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 :-
I employ a cylinder having a piston and piston rod to be connected direct to the
valve or to the lever or handle for moving the valve which turns the hydraulic or
other pressure into the cylinder for reversing the engine. The difference in the
pressures which are to be brought on the opposite sides of the piston in the first
mentioned cylinder is intended to move the valve that turns the pressure into the
reversing cylinder in either direction and thereby vary the position of the slotlink
or slotlinks or the parts corresponding to the slotlink in other arrangements of
valve gearing from full gear towards midgear or in the contrary direction and
thereby vary the degree of expansion in the cylinder or cylinders of the engine.
Or the first mentioned cylinder may be enlarged and made to have the requisite
power and be connected to a lever on the wayshaft for reversing the engine and be
made to serve as a reversing cylinder as well as to vary the position of the slotlink
or slotlinks or the parts corresponding to the slotlink in other arrangements of
valve gearing from full gear towards midgear, or in the contrary direction aud
thereby vary the degree of expansion in the cylinder or cylinders of the engine.
Steam pressure below the pressure in the boiler or boilers supplying steam to the
engine is to be on one side of the piston in the first mentioned cylinder, and is in
the first mentioned arrangement to move the valve which turns the hydraulic
or other pressure into the cylinder for reversing the engine, in the direction to
cause the piston in the cylinder for reversing the engine to move the slotlink
or slotlinks, or the parts corresponding to the slotlink in other arrangements of
valve gearing towards midgear.
Or as in the second arrangement to move the slotlink or slotlinks or the parts
corresponding to the slotlink in other arrangements of valve gearing towards
midgear.
And steam taken from the induction pipe at any point between the delivery side
of the valve for regulating the steam from the boiler or boilers to the engine and
engine valves, or steam taken during the admission period at any point in each
of the pipes, or connections between the engine valves and their respective cylinder

page_text: ends on the other side of the piston, and is in the first mentioned arrangement to
move the valve which turns the hydraulic or other pressure into the cylinder for
reversing the engine in the direction to cause the piston in the cylinder for
reversing the engine to move the slotlink or slotlinks or the parts corresponding to
the slotlink in other arrangements of valve gearing towards full gear.
Or as in the second arrangement to move the slotlink, or slotlinks or the
parts corresponding to the slotlink in other arrangements of valve gearing towards.
full gear.
When the steam is taken from the pipes or connections between the engine valves
and the cylinder ends, it is intended to have a valve in each of the pipes that are to
convey this steam to the first mentioned cylinder, each valve to open and close.
simultaneously with the admission side of the engine valve belonging to the same
connection.
The steam that is to be of a lower pressure than that in the boiler or boilers
supplying steam to the engine, and the steam taken from the induction pipe
between the delivery side of the valve for regulating the steam from the boiler, or
boilers to the engine, and the engine valves, or from the pipes or connections,
between the engine valves and their respective cylinder ends are to be brought into
a valve box attached to, or on the first mentioned cylinder, and to be on different
sides of a valve in the said valve box, by moving which either steam can be
turned on either side of the piston according to the direction the engine is
to run.
Instead of steam of a lower pressure than that in the boiler or boilers supplying
steam to the engine being used on one side and steam taken from the induction
pipe from between the delivery side of the valve for regulating the steam from the
boiler or boilers to the engine and the engine valves, or steam taken from the
connecting pipes between the engine valves and their respective cylinder ends,
on the other side of a piston in the same cylinder as hereinbefore described,
two cylinders of unequal diameters may be used, each cylinder having a piston on
a common or separate piston rod connected together and to the reversing gear, or
to other parts of the valve gearing as hereinbefore described with respect to the
use of one cylinder. Also having valve chests and valves for turning the steam on
either side of the piston in each cylinder. Steam from the boiler or boilers
supplying steam to the engine is to be used in the smaller cylinder, aud steam
taken from the induction pipe from between the delivery side of the valve for
regulating the steam from the boiler or boilers to the engine and the engine valves,
or from the connecting pipes between the engine valves and their respective
cylinder ends used in the larger cylinder, the pressure of the steam on the piston in
one cylinder to be opposed to that on the piston of the other cylinder and the
difference in the pressure of the steam on the respective pistons combined with the
difference in the diameters of the two cylinders to actuate the reversing gear or
other parts of the valve gearing so as to vary the expansion in the cylinder or
cylinders of the engine in the same mauner as hereinbefore described with respect
to the use of one cylinder.
Instead of the difference of pressure on opposite sides of a piston in the same
cylinder, or on sides so that the pressure on the piston in one cylinder is opposed
to the pressure on the piston in the other cylinder, with two cylinders, being made
to actuate the reversing gear, or other parts of the valve gearing of the main
engine as herein before described, the difference of pressure referred to may be
made to actuate the reversing gear of a subsidiary engine to be employed for
reversing the main engine as well as to vary the expansion in it. The subsidiary
engine crank shaft or a shaft driven from its crank shaft to be connected to a lever
on the reversing shaft, or to the slotlink or slotlinks, or parts corresponding to the
slotlink in other arrangements of valve gearing which may be employed in the
main engine by means of a screw with moveable nut and links, or other suitable
means for transmitting the motion of the crank shaft, or of a shaft driven from
the crank shaft of the subsidiary engine to the reversing shaft or other parts of
=

page_text: the valve gear of the main engine, for the purpose of reversing it, by driving the
subsidiary engine in one or the other direction, and to actuate its valve gear by
shifting the position of the slotlink or slotlinks or other parts corresponding to the
slotlink in other arrangements of valve gearing from full gear towards mid gear or
in the contrary direction as the crank shaft or a shaft driven from the crank shaft
of the subsidiary engine is made to rotate in one, or the contrary direction by the
power of the steam in the cylinder or cylinders which control the direction of its
motion preponderating on one side or the other of the piston or pistons in the said
cylinder or cylinders, and shifting its valve gear into the position for forward or
backward direction and thereby vary the expansion in the main engine.
Instead of steam from the boiler or boilers supplying steam to the engine being
used in one cylinder, and opposed to steam taken from the induction pipe in
another cylinder as hereinbefore described hydraulic pressure, compressed air or
other elastic fluid under pressure in place of steam may be used in the first
named cylinder.
A water or oil cataract may be used in connection with the various arrangements
of cylinders for actuating the valve gear.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe it
more particularly by the aid of the accompanying drawings..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. A is the cylinder in which steam of a pressure below the pressure of the
steam in the boiler or boilers supplying steam to the engine is to be on one side of
the piston in it and steam taken from the induction pipe of the engine, as herein-
before described on the other side of the piston. B is a valve box with valve for
turning either of the above mentioned steams on either side of the piston in the
cylinder A. C is a pipe to convey steam at a pressure below the pressure of the
steam in the boiler or boilers supplying steam to the engine into the valve box B
and D and D, are pipes to convey the steam from the induction pipe of the engine
into the same valve box. E is a lever for working the valve in the valve box B.
F is the piston rod and G are links for connecting the piston in the cylinder. A to
the lever H for working the valve in the valve box I for turning the pressure on
either side of the piston in the reversing cylinder J. K is the piston rod and L
links for connecting the piston in the cylinder J to the lever N on the way
shaft M. P are levers on the way shaft M. X are links connecting the levers P
to the valve gear Y of the engine.
Fig. 2. A is the smaller cylinder in which steam from the boiler or boilers
supplying steam to the engine is to be used and A, is the larger cylinder in which
steam from the induction pipe of the engine as herein before described is to be used.
B is the valve box of the cylinder A and B, that of the cylinder A₁. C is a pipe
to convey steam from the boiler or boilers supplying steam to the engine, into the
valve box B and D and D, are exhaust pipes of the cylinder A. C₁ and C, are
pipes to convey steam from the induction pipe of the engine into the valve box B₁
of the cylinder A, and D, is the exhaust pipe of the cylinder Ai. E is a lever for
working the valves in the valve boxes B and B. F piston rod and G links for
connecting the pistons in the cylinders A and A, to the lever H for moving the
valve in the valve box I for turning the pressure on either side of the piston in
the reversing cylinder J. K is the piston rod and L links for connecting the
piston in the cylinder J to the lever N on the way shaft M. P are levers on
the way shaft M. X are links connecting the levers P to the valve gear Y of the
engine.
Fig. 3. S S are end and side elevations of the subsidiary engine. A is the
smaller cylinder in which steam from the boiler or boilers supplying steam to
the engine is to be used and A, is the larger cylinder in which steam from the
induction pipe of the engine as hereinbefore described is to be used. B is the
valve box of the cylinder A and B, that of the cylinder A. C is a pipe to convey

page_text: steam from the boiler or boilers supplying steam to the main engine into the valve
box B and D and D, are exhaust pipes of the cylinder A. C, and C, are pipes to
convey steam from the induction pipe of the main engine into the valve box. B, of
the cylinder A, D, is the exhaust pipe of the cylinder A. E is a lever for
moving the valves in the valve boxes B and B₁. F is the piston rod carrying the
pistons in the cylinders A and A₁ to which is connected the lever T secured on
the reversing shaft U on which is also secured the levers V and V, which are
connected to the valve gearing of the subsidiary engine by the links W. R is the
crank shaft of the subsidiary engine. Q is a screw on the crank shaft R. O a
movable nut on the screw Q. L'are links connecting the nut O to the lever N
on the reversing or way shaft M. Pare levers on the way shaft M. X are links
connecting the levers P to the valve gear Y of the main engine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what [
claim is :-
1. A cylinder with piston and rod connected to the valve, or to a lever for
moving the valve for turning the hydraulic or other pressure into the cylinder
for reversing the engine, or to a lever on the way shaft for reversing the engine,
or to the slotlink or slotlinks or parts corresponding to the slotlink in other
arrangements of valve gearing the said cylinder having steam of a lower pressure
than that in the boiler or boilers supplying steam to the engine, on one side of the
piston, and steam taken from the induction pipe as herein before described on the
other side, the difference in the pressure of the steam on either side of the piston
actuating the reversing gear, or the valve gearing, as and for the purpose
substantially as described.
2. Two cylinders of unequal diameters each having a piston mounted on the
same, or on separate piston rods connected together, and to the valve or to a lever
for moving the valve for turning the hydraulic or other pressure into the cylinder
for reversing the engine, or to a lever on the way shaft for reversing the engine,
or to the slotlink or slotlinks or parts corresponding to the slotlink in other
arrangements of valve gearing, and having valves for turning the steam on either
side of the piston in each cylinder with steam from the boiler or boilers supplying
steam to the engine used in the smaller cylinder, and steam from the induction pipe
as herein before described in the larger one, the difference in the pressure of the
steam on the respective pistons combined with the difference in the diameters of
the cylinders actuating the reversing, and the valve gearing, as and for the purpose
substantially as described.
3. A subsidiary engine with its crank shaft or a shaft driven from its crank
shaft, connected to a lever on the way shaft for reversing, or to other parts of the
valve gearing of the main engine as hereinbefore described the direction of the
motion of the crank shaft, or of a shaft driven from the crank shaft of the sub-
sidiary engine being controlled by the difference of pressure on opposite sides of a
piston in one cylinder or on sides so that the pressure on one shall be opposed to
the pressure on another piston with two cylinders of unequal diameters actuating
its valve gearing so as to drive it in the forward, or backward direction and
actuating the valve gearing of the main engine, as and for the purpose substantially
as described.
4. Hydraulic pressure, compressed air, or other elastic fluid under pressure in
place of steain, and opposed to steam taken from the induction pipe as and for the
purpose substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of August 1894.
LEWIS RICHARDS.