Improvements in Valves for Steam and other Expansive Fluid Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFI
ON.
Improvements in Valves for Steam and other Expansive Fluid
Engines.
We SYDNEY LISTON BRUNTON & JOHN GRICE STATTER both of Alliance
Engineering Works, West Drayton, Electrical Engineers do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the valves of steam or other expansive
fluid engines whereby a greater simplicity of construction is secured and it is
applicable to various forms of reciprocating double acting engines in which the
expansion of the steam or other similar expansive motive fluid is successively
carried on in more than one cylinder. For the purposes of this Specification the
expression "other similar expansive fluid is to be taken to mean any fluid capable
of being used in a reciprocating engine and capable of doing work by its expansive
force alone and without change in its chemical constitution. For example we
would include coal gas in the term if used to do work by means of its expansive
force alone as when supplied to an engine under pressure but would not include it
if used to do work the result of change in its chemical constitution as when
exploded in a gas engine.
We shall hereinafter in describing our improved valve speak only of its
application to steam engines but it is to be understood that when employed in the
same manner it is applicable to engines using any other similar expansive motive
Huid.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shows our improved valve applied to the cylinders of an inverted double
acting reciprocating tandem compound engine, that is to say having the cylinders
placed one above the other coaxially and vertically above the crank shaft, in which
the expansion of the steam is carried on in two cylinders.
Fig. 2 shows a modification of the valve of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows the valve applied to a double acting reciprocating compound engine
expanding the steam in two cylinders and having these cylinders placed side by side
and having two cranks set opposite or very nearly opposite one another.
Figs. 4 & 5 show modifications of the valve represented in Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 shows the valve applied to double acting reciprocating engines in which
the expansion of the steam is carried on in three stages, in three separate cylinders,
and having two cranks set opposite or nearly opposite one another.
Fig. 7 shows the valve applied to a double acting reciprocating engine in which
the expansion of the steam is carried ou in three stages but in four cylinders the
steam from the second or intermediate cylinder being allowed to expand simul-
taneously in two low pressure cylinders. This engine also has two cranks set
opposite or nearly opposite one another.
Figs. 8, 9, 10 and it show different arrangements of engine cylinders fitted with
our improved valve.
Fig. 12 shows the valve applied to an inverted double acting reciprocating
engine in which the steam is expanded in three stages and in three cylinders the
cylinders being placed coaxially and one above another and all three pistons
operating on one crank.
Having now referred in a general manner to the drawings illustrating our
invention we shall proceed to describe our invention more minutely and at the same
time refer in greater detail to the several illustrative figures which we have just
mentioned.
In Fig. 1, H P is the high pressure evlinder placed below the low pressure

page_text: cylinder P.
The two cylinders are here shown having a common separating
cover between them the piston rod passing through a suitable gland G but they can
be also arranged in the more usual manner so that each cylinder has its two covers
and with two ordinary glands between the two cylinders. Both cylinders are
provided with ports P of the usual forms and proportions. These ports com-
municate with a valve chest C of circular section and common to the two cylinders.
The valve chest is preferably fitted with a cylindrical liner, of suitable metal, L
although this need not be so of necessity. The four cylinder ports Peach
terminate in the valve chest C opening into annular port openings in the usual
manner where piston valves are used. Suitable perforations are made in the usual
manner in the finer L opposite the annular port openings to allow of the passage of
the steam from the valve chest to the cylinders and vice versa. In addition to the
above four port openings there are three others of similar form in the valve chest
and liner; two of these E E communicate with the exhaust steam outlet E X and
the third one S communicates with the steam inlet S T. The valve V is of the
hollow piston type with or without spring rings on the various pistons. That part
of the valve from a to b regulates the admission and exhaust of the steam to and
from the high pressure cylinder H P. That part of the valve from a to d performs
the same functions for the low pressure cylinder L P and the two pistons e and
separate the exhaust steam from the low pressure cylinder from that from the high
pressure cylinder. The valve is provided with suitable lap and lead as in the
ordinary slide or piston valve. The interior of the valve chest C together with the
interior of the valve and the annular chambers e, d & e, & constitutes the inter-
mediate receiver or receptacle for the steam on its passage from the HP cylinder
and is hereinafter called simply the intermediate receiver. The action of the valve
is as follows Steam being admitted to the annular space round the valve between
pistons a and b is alternately led by the movements of the valve to the cylinder HP
through the top and bottom ports the exhaust steam from HP being led out
through the same ports to the annular space between pistons and e and thus to
the intermediate receiver in the case of the top port and in the case of the bottom
port, past the lower edge of the valve to the intermediate receiver. The low
pressure cylinder L P receives its steam from the intermediate receiver through
perforations in the valve between pistons c and d and exhausts past the upper and
lower edges of the pistons c and d into the annular spaces between pistons and d
and and these spaces communicating by the openings E E with the exhaust
outlet E X. The portions of the valve from a to and from c to d act for the
high pressure and low pressure cylinders respectively in the well known manner of
ordinary piston valves in which the steam is admitted to the space between the
pistons the various operations of lead cut off and the like being effected in the
ordinary way. The capacity of the intermediate receiver can be varied to suit
the conditions of working, being increased by adding some suitable communicating
vessel or decreased by making it as small as will permit of the proper working of
the valve. The valve may be given the necessary reciprocating motion by any
suitable known mechanism.
Fig. 2 shows another form of our improved valve suitable for two cylinders
arranged similarly to Fig. 1. In this form steam is admitted at S T to the spaces
between the pistons a and g and e and band from them is led by the movements of
the valve to the ports P P communicating with the high pressure cylinder. The
exhaust steam from the high pressure cylinder passes back through ports P, to the
space between pistons a and b and so to the intermediate receiver which is in this
case formed by the interior of the valve and the annular spaces communicating
therewith between pistons and d, e and e and b and a. The low pressure cylinder
takes its steam from the intermediate receiver through ports 12 and exhausts
through the same ports into the annular space around the valve between the
nistons c and d communicating with the exhaust outlet E X. The two ends of the
valve are shown closed in the figure in which case if pistons and are properly
steam tight no covers need be fitted to the valve chest and the valve may be

page_text: inspected while at work. The ends of the valve can however be left open and
covers fitted to the steam chest in the usual way in which case the piston is not
required the valve consisting only of pistons a, b, c, d, e, g. In this latter case also
the intermediate receiver comprises the interior of the valve, the annular spaces
communicating therewith between pistons a and b and c and e and the part of the
valve chest at each end of the valve. It will be seen with reference to the valves
and valve chests described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that leaving out of con-
sideration the closed in ends and extra piston of the valve in Fig. 2, there are these
chief differences between them:-In Fig. I steam is admitted to the annular space
between the pistons a and b which distribute it to the high pressure cylinder and
also on leaving the high pressure cylinder it reaches the low pressure cylinder
through the annular space between pistons c and d which distribute it to the low
pressure cylinder thus giving one admission port S for the high pressure steam and
two exhaust outlets E for the steam leaving the engine; whereas in Fig.
admitted to the two spaces between pistons a and 9, and e and that is outside or
beyond the two pistons a and b which distribute it to the high pressure cylinder
and the exhaust steam from the cylinder H P after passing into the space between
these pistons a and is led to the two spaces outside or beyond pistons c and d
which distribute it to the low pressure cylinder and it leaves the engine after
passing into the space between the pistons c and d, so that there are two admission
ports for the admission of high pressure steam to the engine and one exhaust outlet
for the steam leaving the engine.
C
steam is
Fig. 3 shows our improved valve applied to a two cylinder compound engine
having two cylinders side by side and the cranks opposite or nearly opposite one
another. The same letters indicate the same parts as in Fig. 1. Steam is admitted
to the high pressure cylinder H P from S through the ports P and exhausts to the
intermediate receiver from which it is admitted to the low pressure cylinder L P
by the pistons e and d. It is exhausted from L P into the annular spaces around
the valve between pistons c and e and f and d and from thence by the openings E to
the exhaust outlet. The action of the valve is similar to that in Fig. 1 and needs
no further description.
Figs. 4 and 5 show two other modifications of our improved valve suited to engines
having cylinders and cranks arranged as described above in reference to Fig. 3. In
Fig. 4 the cylinder ports are arranged as in Fig. 3, steam is admitted at S S and
exhausts from the engine at E; its course will be easily traced from the previous
descriptions. It will be seen with reference to the valves and valve chests described
with reference to Figs. 3 & 4 that there are these differences between them:-In
Fig. 3 steam is admitted to the engine through one admission port S to the annular
space between the pistons a and b which distribute it to the high pressure cylinder
and it is admitted to the low pressure cylinder past the two edges which are
farthest from one another of the pistons c and d which distribute the steam to this
low pressure cylinder; whereas in Fig. 4 the steam is admitted through two
admission ports to the spaces between pistons a and e and band, that is outside or
beyond pistons a and b which distribute it to the high pressure cylinder and it is
admitted to the low pressure cylinder past the two edges which are nearest one
another of pistons c and d which distribute the steam to this low pressure cylinder.
It will be seen also that two more pistons are required for the valve shown in
Fig. 4 than for that shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 5 the ports from the two cylinders
are brought to the valve chest C in different order from those in Fig. 3 as will be
seen but the action of the valve is generally similar and will be easily followed
steam being admitted at S and leaving the engine at E. In the cases of both
these Figures 4 and 5 the ends of the valves may be closed in so that the valve
chest may be left open while at work for inspection if desired as explained with
reference to Fig. 2. It will be only necessary to close the ends of the valve shown
in Fig. 4 as shown in dotted lines but in the valve shown in Fig. 5 an additional
pair of pistons must be added as indicated in dotted lines.
Fig. 6 shows our improved valve applied to an engine in which the expansion of

page_text: the steam is carried on in three cylinders, having two cranks set opposite or nearly
opposite one another and having two cylinders working on to one crank and one on
to the other. Steam is admitted to the engine at S T and distributed to the high
pressure cylinder HP by the two pistons a and b. It is exhausted into the spaces
or ports ee between the pistons a and c and band d. From these spaces or ports it
is conveyed by a pipe or other suitable means to the steam inlets for the lower
pair of cylinders namely the intermediate pressure cylinder IP and the low
pressure cylinder L P. The steam is distributed to the cylinders IP and L P by
that portion of the valve between pistons e and inclusive in exactly the same
manner as described with reference to Fig. 5. The valve in Fig. 6 is shown closed
by partitions or diaphragms at pistons d and and if so constructed may be used
without having the valve chest closed in at both ends but these partitions may be
omitted if thought desirable in which case the valve chest must be closed at the
ends and piston will not be required. In the latter case the whole of the interior
of the valve and portions of the valve chest at either end of the valve together
with annular spaces between pistons and g and and constitute the intermediate
receiver for the steam on its passage from the P cylinder to the low pressure
cylinder. Fig. 7 shows a modification of Fig. 6, two low pressure cylinders LP
and being substituted for the one in Fig. 6 and the high pressure and
intermediate cylinder being placed side by side above the two low pressure
cylinders. By this means the work on the two cranks may be made more equal
than would be the case with Fig. 6. Steam is admitted at S, is distributed to the
upper pair of cylinders by that portion of the valve between pistons a and d
inclusive in exactly the same manner as described in reference to Fig. 5, leaves
these cylinders at ea, passes by a pipe or other suitable means to s is distributed
to the two low pressure cylinders by pistons f. g. and h, expands simultaneously in
both low pressure cylinders (on the under side of one piston and on the upper side
of the other) and leaves the two low pressure cylinders at E E.
It will be easily seen that we can apply our improved valve to an engine
expanding the steam in three cylinders, having them all in line one above the other
and working on to one crank. In this case one of the three cylinders either the
upper or lower say the upper would be provided with valve pistons similar to those
from e to d in Fig. 6 and the two lower cylinders would be provided with valve
pistons as in Fig. 1 or modifications thereof, the whole forming one valve.
:
Fig. 12 illustrates such an engine. Steam is admitted at ST and distributed to
the high pressure cylinder HP by the pistons a and b it leaves this cylinder
at ee and is led by a suitable pipe or passage to s from whence it is distributed
by pistons e and to the cylinder IP on leaving this cylinder the steam passes
into the interior of the valve and from thence to the low pressure cylinder by the
perforations between pistons and which pistons distribute the steam to the
cylinder LP. The steam leaves the engine at E E. It will be seen that that
portion of the valve c to d inclusive is precisely similar to the portion from c to d
inclusive of Fig. 6 and distributes the steam in the same manner whilst that part
from e to inclusive is precisely similar to the valve in Fig. 1 and distributes the
steam to the two cylinders in the same way.
Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show different methods of arranging the cylinders and valves of
engines expanding the steam in three cylinders and having our improved valves.
In each of the figures HP indicates the high pressure cylinder IP the inter-
mediate pressure cylinder and L P the low pressure cylinder; is a valve chest
containing any suitable known independent valve whilst V is a valve chest
containing a suitable form of our improved valve. In Fig. 8 our improved valve
is constructed as shown in Fig. 1 or any modification thereof as Fig. 2 for example
and in Figs. 9 and 10 it is constructed as in Fig. 3 or any modification thereof as
for example Figs. 4 or 5. In any of the above described Figures 8, 9 and 10 a
suitable connecting pipe or passage must be provided from the valve chest V to the
valve chest as described with reference to Figs. 6' and 7.
Fig. 11 shows a quadruple expansion engine in which the expansion of the steam is

page_text: carried on in four cylinders successively. HP is the high pressure cylinder I P' the
first intermediate pressure cylinder the second intermediate pressure cylinder
and LP the low pressure cylinder. are the valve chests containing valves as
used for the engine described in Fig. 1 or any suitable modification of such valves.
The two valve chests are connected by any suitable pipe or passage. It will be
seen that Fig. 11 shows a pair of engines each similar to Fig. 1 but of different
sizes and all acting on one crank and it will be obvious that we may arrange a
quadruple expansion engine consisting of a pair of engines each arranged as
described with reference to either Figs. 3, 4 or 5 or to any two of them both acting
on one crank shaft or we can take an engine arranged as described with reference
to Fig. 1 and one arranged as described with reference to either of Figs. 3, 4, or 5
and work both on one crank shaft.
It will be noted with reference to the types shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10
that the cranks must be placed opposite or nearly opposite one another but that in
Figs. 8 and 11 they may be placed at any angle one with the other and that in
Fig. 9 the cranks for HP and IP must be opposite or nearly opposite whilst the
crank for LP may be in any position with regard to the other two.
It will also be obvious that although the valve chests and valves are shown in all
the figures of the same diameter throughout their length this need not necessarily
be so and we can make some pistons larger than others-for example in constructing
engine as in Figs. 6 or 7 we could make that portion of the valve distributing steam
to the upper cylinders smaller than the rest and by so doing we could reduce
the clearance of the said cylinders.
Dated this 13th day of June 1890
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I.M.E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Steam and other Expansive Fluid
Engines.
We, SYDNEY LINTON BRUNTON and JOHN GRICE STATTER, both of Alliance
Engineering Works, West Drayton, Electrical Engineers, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the valves of steam or other expansive
fluid engines whereby a greater simplicity of construction is secured and it is
applicable to various forms of reciprocating double acting engines in which the
expansion of the steam or other similar expansive motive fluid is successively carried
on in more than one cylinder, and in which the steam or other fluid is supplied
alternately to each end of each of the cylinders. For the purposes of this Specifi-
cation the expression "other similar expansive fluid" is to be taken to mean any
fluid capable of being used in a reciprocating engine and capable of doing work by its
expansive force alone and without change in its chemical constitution. For example
we would include coal gas in the term if used to do work by means of its expansive
force alone as when supplied to an engine under pressure but would not include it
if used to do work the result of change in its chemical constitution as when exploded
in a gas engine.
We shall hereinafter in describing our improved valve speak only of its application
to steam engines but it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to engines
using any other similar expansive motive fluid acting in the manner hereinbefore
defined.
In the drawings left with our Provisional Specification
Figure 1 shows our improved valve applied to the cylinders of an inverted vertical
double acting reciprocating tandem compound engine, that is to say an engine

page_text: having the cylinders placed one above the other coaxially and vertically above the
crank shaft, in which the expansion of the steam is carried on in two cylinders.
Figure 2 shows a modification of the valve of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the valve applied to a double acting reciprocating compound
engine expanding the steam in two cylinders and having these cylinders placed side
by side and having two cranks set opposite or very nearly opposite one another.
Figures 4 and 5 show modifications of the valve represented in Figure 3.
Figure 6 shows the valve applied to double acting reciprocating engines in which
the expansion of the steam is carried on in three stages, in three separate cylinders,
and having two cranks set opposite or nearly opposite one another.
Figure 7 shows the valve applied to a double acting reciprocating engine in
which the expansion of the steam is carried on in three stages but in four cylinders
the steam from the second or intermediate cylinder being allowed to expand
simultaneously in two low pressure cylinders. This engine also has two cranks set
opposite or nearly opposite one another.
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 show different arrangements of engine cylinders fitted
with our improved valve.
Figure 12 shows the valve applied to an inverted double acting reciprocating
engine in which the steam is expanded in three stages and in three cylinders the
cylinders being placed coaxially and one above another and all three pistons
operating on one crank.
Having now referred in a general manner to the drawings illustrating our inven-
tion we shall proceed to describe our invention more minutely and at the same time
refer in greater detail to the several illustrative figures which we have just mentioned.
In Figure 1, HP is the high pressure cylinder placed below the low pressure
cylinder LP. The two cylinders are here shown having a common separating
cover between them the piston rod passing through a suitable gland G but they
can be also arranged in the more usual manner so that each cylinder has its two
covers and with two ordinary glands between the two cylinders. Both cylinders
are provided with ports P of the usual forms and proportions. These ports com-
municate with a valve chest C of circular section and common to the two cylinders.
The valve chest. is preferably fitted with a cylindrical liner, of suitable material, L
although this need not be so of necessity. The four cylinder ports Peach terminate
in the valve chest C opening into annular port openings in the usual manner where
piston valves are used. Suitable perforations are made in the usual manner in the
liner Lopposite the annular port openings to allow of the passage of the steam from
the valve chest to the cylinders and vice versa. In addition to the above four port
openings there are three others of similar form in the valve chest and liner two of
these EE communicate with the exhaust steam outlet E X and the third one S
communicates with the steam inlet S T. The valve V is of the hollow piston type
with or without spring rings on the various pistons. That part of the valve from a
to regulates the admission and exhaust of the steam to and from the high pressure
cylinder HP. That part of the valve from c to d performs the same functions for
the low pressure cylinder LP and the two pistons e and separate the exhaust steam
from the low pressure cylinder from that from the high pressure cylinder. The
valve is provided with suitable lap and lead as in the ordinary slide or piston valve.
The interior of the valve chest C together with the interior of the valve and the
annular chambers between pistons e," and e, constitutes the intermediate receiver
or receptacle for the steam on its passage from the HP cylinder and is hereinafter
called simply the intermediate receiver. The action of the valve is as follows;
steam being admitted to the annular space round the valve between pistons
a and b
is alternately led by the movements of the valve to the cylinder HP through the
top and bottom ports the exhaust steam from HP being led out through the same
ports to the annular space between pistons and e and thus to the intermediate
receiver in the case of the top port and, in the case of the bottom port, past the
lower edge of the valve to the intermediate receiver. The low pressure cylinder LP
receives its steam from the intermediate receiver through perforations in the valve

page_text: between pistons c and d and exhausts past the upper and lower edges of the
pistons c and d into the annular spaces between pistons and d and cand e these
spaces communicating by the openings EE with the exhaust outlet E X. The
portions of the valve from a to band from c to d act for the high pressure and low
pressure cylinders respectively in the well known manner of ordinary piston valves
in which the steam is admitted to the space between the pistons the various
operations of lead cut off and the like being effected in the ordinary way. The
capacity of the intermediate receiver can be varied to suit the conditions of
working, being increased by adding some suitable communicating vessel or
decreased by making it as small as will permit of the proper working of the valve.
The valve may be given the necessary reciprocating motion by any suitable known
mechanism.
Figure 2 shows another form of our improved valve suitable for two cylinders
arranged similarly to Figure 1. In this form steam is admitted at S T to the
spaces between the pistons a and and and band from them is led by the
movements of the valve to the ports P P communicating with the high pressure
cylinder. The exhaust steam from the high pressure cylinder passes back through
ports P, to the space between pistons a and b and so to the intermediate receiver
which is in this case formed by the interior of the valve and the annular spaces
communicating therewith between pistons and d, cand e and band a. The low
pressure cylinder takes its steam from the intermediate receiver through ports P's
and exhausts through the same ports into the annular space around the valve
between the pistons c and d communicating with the exhaust outlet E X. The two
ends of the valve are shown closed in the figure in which case if pistons and y are
properly steam tight, no covers need be fitted to the valve chest and the valve may
be inspected while at work. The ends of the valve can however be left open and
covers fitted to the steam chest in the usual way in which case the piston is not
required the valve consisting only of pistons a, b, c, d, e, g. In this latter case also
the intermediate receiver comprises the interior of the valve, the annular spaces
communicating therewith between pistons a and b and c and e and the part of the
valve chest at each end of the valve. It will be seen with reference to the valves
and valve chests described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 that leaving out of
consideration the closed in ends and extra piston of the valve in Figure 2, there are
these chief differences between them :-In Figure 1 steam is admitted to the
annular space between the pistons a and which distribute it to the high pressure
cylinder and also on leaving the high pressure cylinder it reaches the low pressure
cylinder through the annular space between pistons c and d which distribute it to
the low pressure cylinder thus giving one admission port S for the high pressure
steam and two exhaust outlets E for the steam leaving the engine; whereas in
Figure 2 steam is admitted to the two spaces between pistons a and yande and 6
that is outside or beyond the two pistons a and which distribute it to the high
pressure cylinder and the exhaust steam from the cylinder HP after passing into
the space between these pistons a and is led to the two spaces outside or beyond
pistons c and d which distribute it to the low pressure cylinder and it leaves the
engine after passing into the space between the pistons c and d, so that there are
two admission ports for the admission of high pressure steam to the engine and one
exhaust outlet for the steam leaving the engine.
C
Figure 3 shows our improved valve applied to a two cylinder compound engine
having two cylinders side by side and the cranks opposite or nearly opposite one
another. The same letters indicate the same parts as in Figure 1. Steam is
admitted to the high pressure cylinder HP from S through the ports P and
exhausts through the intermediate receiver from which it is admitted to the low
pressure cylinder L P by the pistons c and d. It is exhausted from L P into the
aunular spaces around the valve between pistons and e and ƒ and d and from
thence by the openings E to the exhaust outlet. The action of the valve is similar
to that in Figure 1 and needs no further description.
Figures and 5 show two other modifications of our improved valve suited to

page_text: between
ID
engines having cylinders and cranks arranged as described above in reference to
Figure 3. In Figure 4 the cylinder ports are arranged as in Figure 3, steam is
admitted at S S and exhausts from the engine at E; its course will be easily traced
from the previous descriptions. It will be seen with reference to the valves and
valve chests described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 that there are these
differences between them:-In Figure 3 steam is admitted to the engine through
one admission port S to the annular space between the pistons a and b which
distribute it to the high pressure cylinder and it is admitted to the low pressure
cylinder past the two edges which are farthest from one another of the pistons
and d which distribute the steam to this low pressure cylinder; whereas in
Figure 4 the steam is admitted through two admission ports to the spaces
pistons a and c and band, that is outside or beyond pistons a and b which distribute
it to the high pressure cylinder and it is admitted to the low pressure cylinder past.
the two edges which are nearest one another of pistons c and d which distribute the
steam to this low pressure cylinder. It will be seen also that two more pistons are
required for the valve shown in Figure 4 than for that shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 the ports from the two cylinders are brought to the valve chest C in a
different order from those in Figure 3 as will be seen but the action of the valve is
generally similar and will be easily followed steam being admitted at S and leaving
the engine at E. In the cases of both these Figures 4 and 5 the ends of the valves
may be closed in so that the valve chest may be left open while at work for inspection
if desired as explained with reference to Figure 2. It will be only necessary to close
the ends of the valve shown in Figure 4 as shown in dotted lines but in the valve shown
in Figure 5 an additional pair of pistons must be added as indicated in dotted lines.
Figure 6 shows our improved valve applied to an engine in which the expansion
of the steam is carried on in three cylinders having two cranks set opposite or
nearly opposite one another and having two cylinders working on to one crank and
one on to the other. Steam is admitted to the engine at S T and distributed to the
high pressure cylinder HP by the two pistons a and b. It is exhausted into the
spaces or ports e a between the pistons a and c and 5 and d. From these spaces or
ports it is conveyed by a pipe or other suitable means to the steam inlets for the
lower pair of cylinders namely the intermediate pressure cylinder I l' and the low
pressure cylinder L P. The steam is distributed to the cylinders IP and L P by
that portion of the valve between pistons e and inclusive in exactly the same
manner as described with reference to Figure 5. The valve in Figure 6 is shown
closed by partitions or diaphragms at pistons d and k and if so constructed may be
used without having the valve chest closed in at both ends but these partitions may
be omitted if thought desirable in which case the valve chest must be closed at
the ends and piston k will not be required. In the latter case the whole of the
interior of the valve and portions of the valve chest at either end of the valve
together with the annular spaces between pistons and g and hand k constitute the
intermediate receiver for the steam on its passage from the intermediate pressure
cylinder to the low pressure cylinder. Figure 7 shows a modification of Figure 6,
two low pressure cylinders LP and L P2 being substituted for the one in Figure 6,
and the high pressure and intermediate cylinders being placed side by side above
the two low pressure cylinders. By this means the work on the two cranks may
be made more equal than would be the case with Figure 6. Steam is admitted
at S, is distributed to the upper pair of cylinders by that portion of the valve
between pistons a and d inclusive in exactly the same manner as described in
reference to Figure 5, leaves these cylinders ate a passes by a pipe or other suitable
means to s is distributed to the two low pressure cylinders by pistons, and h
expands simultaneously in both low pressure cylinders (on the underside of one
piston and on the upper side of the other) and leaves the two low pressure
cylinders at E E.
It will be easily seen that we can apply our improved valve to an engine
expanding the steam in three cylinders having them all in line one above the
other and working on to one crank. In this case one of the three cylinders either

page_text: the upper or lower say the upper would be provided with valve pistons similar to
those from c to d in Figure 6 and the two lower cylinders would be provided
with valve pistons as in Figure 1 or modifications thereof, the whole forming one
valve.
Figure 12 illustrates such an engine. Steam is admitted at S T and distributed
to the high pressure cylinder HP by the pistons a and b; it leaves this cylinder
at er and is led by a suitable pipe or passage to s from whence it is distributed by
pistons e and to the cylinder IP; on leaving this cylinder the steam passes
into the interior of the valve and from thence to the low pressure cylinder by
the perforations between pistons and which distribute the steam to the
cylinder L P. The steam leaves the engine at E E. It will be seen that that
portion of the valve e to d inclusive is precisely similar to the portion from c to d
inclusive of Figure 6 and distributes the steam in the same manner whilst that
part from e to inclusive is precisely similar to the valve in Figure 1 and distributes
the steam to the two cylinders in the same way. Figures 8, 9 and 10 show
different methods of arranging the cylinders and valves of engines expanding the
steam in three cylinders and having our improved valves. In each of the figures
HP indicates the high pressure cylinder P the intermediate pressure cylinder
and LP the low pressure cylinder; is a valve chest containing any suitable
known independent valve whilst V is a valve chest containing a suitable form of
our improved valve. In Figure 8 our improved valve is constructed as shown in
Figure 1 or any modification thereof as Figure 2 for example and in Figures 9
and 10 it is constructed as in Figure 3 or any modification thereof as for example
Figures 4 or 5. In any of the above described Figures 8, 9 and 10 a suitable
connecting pipe or passage must be provided from the valve chest. V to the valve
chest as described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 1 shows a quad-
ruple expansion engine in which the expansion of the steam is carried on in four
cylinders successively. HP is the high pressure cylinder IP the first inter-
mediate pressure cylinder I 12 the second intermediate pressure cylinder and LP
the low pressure cylinder V V are the valve chests containing valves as used for
the engine described in Figure 1 or any suitable modification of such valves. The
two valve chests are connected by any suitable pipe or passage.
It will be seen
that Figure 11 shows a pair of engines each similar to Figure 11 but of different
sizes and all acting on one crank shaft and it will be obvious that we may arrange a
quadruple expansion engine consisting of a pair of engines each arranged as
described with reference to either Figures 3, 4 or 5 or to any two of them both
acting on one crank shaft or we can take an engine arranged as described with
reference to either Figures 3, 4 or 5 and work both on one crank shaft.
and 10
It will be noted with reference to the types shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6,
that the cranks must be placed opposite or nearly opposite one another but that in
Figures 8 and 11 they may be placed at any angle one with the other and that in
Figure 9 the cranks for HP and IP must be opposite or nearly opposite whilst
the crank for L P may be in any position with regard to the other two.
It will also be obvious that although the valve chests and valves are shown in all
the figures of the same diameter throughout their length this need not necessarily
be so and we can make some pistons larger than others-for example in con-
structing engine as in Figures 6 or 7 we could make that portion of the valve
distributing steam to the upper cylinders smaller than the rest and by so doing we
could reduce the clearance of the said cylinders.
We are aware of Turner's Specification Number 7,444 dated 18th June 1885 and
desire it to be understood that we lay no claim to matter specified therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we desire it to be understood
that what we claim is:
1. The respective forms of valve substantially as set forth with reference to.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12.

page_text: 2. In steam or other expansive fluid engines as herein before defined the improve-
ment which consists in the employment of a cylindrical valve of the piston type
working in a valve chest of circular section common to two or more cylinders, the
said valve serving for the complete distribution of the steam or other expansive
fluid to or from all the cylinders communicating with the said valve chest, substan-.
tially as herein set forth.
Dated this 11th day of March 1891
SYDNEY LINTON BRUNTON.
JOHN GRICE STATTER.
Per J. G. L.