Improvements in Compound Locomotive Engines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 8th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compound Locomotive Engines.
I, RICHARD HERBERT LAPAGE, of Bank Chambers, 109, New Oxford Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention has reference to compound locomotive engines in which an intercepting
valve is provided in a pipe or passage that conducts to the low pressure cylinder valve
chest steam that has done duty in the high pressure cylinder, such intercepting valve
having for object to close the connecting passage during the admission of high
pressure steam direct to the low pressure cylinder, as for instance to start the engine
when the crank connected to the piston of the high pressure cylinder is on a dead
centre, or when the high pressure cylinder is disabled, or when it is desired to obtain
additional power by working both cylinders as high pressure cylinders; the arrange-
ment being such that when working as a compound engine the intercepting valve will
allow the steam that has done duty in the high pressure cylinder to pass to the low
pressure cylinder.
Now my invention has reference in the first place to a combination and arrangement
of valves for starting, as I will proceed to explain. I use a starting valve connected
to an intercepting valve, and in order to make the arrangement automatic in its action
both in ope and closing, and to afford a clear unobstructed passage for steam from
the high pressure cylinder to the low pressure cylinder, according to this invention,
the intercepting valve is connected to a plunger forming a piston that works in an
open cylinder from which there is a port to the regulator; the plunger is formed with
recesses or grooves for the passage of steam from the regulator into the pipe or passage
that connects the high and low pressure cylinders, and thence to the low pressure
cylinder when the intercepting valve is closed, such steam being wire drawn, and to
some extent expanded before reaching the cylinder. A part of the plunger forms the
starting valve which when the plunger occupies a position corresponding to the wide
open condition of the intercepting valve, closes the steam passage from the regulator
into the connecting pipe or passage. Between the intercepting valve and the high
pressure cylinder an exhaust valve is provided so arranged that it can be opened when

page_text: it is desired to work both cylinders with high pressure, in which case the intercepting
valve will remain closed, or the act of opening the high pressure exhaust to the
atmosphere through a separate exhaust valve, when the engine is working as a
compound, will cause the starting and intercepting valves to descend automatically
and close the passage from the low to the high pressure cylinder, thus leaving the
starting valve open for the admission of high pressure steam to the low pressure
cylinder. In such a case an additional steam supply valve may be provided between
the starting and intercepting valves and the low pressure cylinder for admitting the
requisite supply of high pressure steam thereto. Also there is or may be provided a
safety valve to ensure that the steam admitted shall not be of too high a pressure to be
used in the low pressure cylinder.
With the arrangement of combined automatic starting and intercepting valves above
described, when the engine is working as a compound engine, the pressure of steam
passing from the high pressure cylinder to the low pressure cylinder acting upon the
starting valve keeps that valve to its seat, and so the intercepting valve is held up,
leaving a free way from the high pressure cylinder to the low pressure cylinder; but,
on closing the regulator, or on the engine being stopped, the intercepting valve and
plunger will by gravity fall, and simultaneously open the starting valve automatically;
and if the regulator be then opened, high pressure steam will enter on the low
pressure side of the intercepting valve, that valve will be forced tightly against its
seat by the steam pressure; but upon steam being exhausted from the high pressure
cylinder into the connecting pipe or passage it will equalize or overcome the pressure
and release the intercepting valve from its seat, and by its pressure against the
unbalanced plunger will cause the plunger and valve to rise so as to leave a clear way
as before mentioned.
Locomotives have been constructed with cylinders mounted upon bogies, but such
types of engines have been open to objection in practice because the necessary working
joint in the steam pipe could not be relied upon to keep tight at the high pressures
ordinarily employed. Now according to my invention, to obviate this defect I mount
the low pressure cylinder or cylinders upon a bogie with coupled wheels and locate
the working joint in the steam pipe or connection between the high and low pressure
cylinders so that such joint is not, when compounding, subjected to the higher pressure,
but has to bear such higher pressure only on exceptional occasions when high
pressure steam is introduced direct to the low pressure cylinder or cylinders as
herein before referred to. The high pressure engine drives coupled wheels.
cases instead of mounting the low pressure cylinder or cylinders upon a bogie, the
same may be mounted upon a tender, a connecting pipe being provided to the high
pressure cylinder or cylinders of the locomotive proper, and a suitable steam-tight
working joint being introduced into the said pipe or connection.
In some
The working joints employed in carrying out my invention may be of various
kinds and various designs of engines may be constructed to operate on the principle
of my invention as above set forth.
Dated this 8th day of Tanu 1007
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compound Locomotive Engines.
I, RIOHARD HERBERT LAPAGE, of Bank Chambers, 109 New Oxford Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 has reference to compound locomotive engines in which an inter-
cepting valve is provided in a pipe or passage that conducts to the low pressure
cylinder valve chest steam that has done duty in the high pressure cylinder, such
intercepting valve having for object to close the connecting passage during the
admission of high pressure steam direct to the low pressure cylinder, as for instance
to start the engine when the crank connected to the piston of the high pressure
cylinder is on a dead centre, or when the high pressure cylinder is disabled, or when
it is desired to obtain additional power by working both cylinders as high pressure
cylinders; the arrangement being such that when working as a compound engine the
intercepting valve will allow the steam that has done duty in the high pressure
cylinder to pass to the low pressure cylinder.
Now my invention has reference in the first place to a combination and arrange-
ment of valves for starting, as I will proceed to explain.
I use a starting valve connected to an intercepting valve, and in order to make the
arrangement automatic in its action both in opening and closing, and to afford a clear
unobstructed passage for steam from the high pressure cylinder to the low pressure
cylinder, according to this invention, the intercepting valve is connected to a plunger
forming a piston that works in an open cylinder or casing from which there is a port
to the regulator; the plunger is formed with recesses or grooves or it may be solid
with suitable ports in the cylinder or casing for the passage of steam from the
regulator into the pipe or passage that connects the high and low pressure cylinders,
and thence to the low pressure cylinder when the intercepting valve is closed, (such
steam being wire-drawn, and to some extent expanded before reaching the cylinder).
A part of the plunger forms the starting valve which when the plunger occupies a
position corresponding to the wide open condition of the intercepting valve, closes the
steam passage from the regulator into the connecting pipe or passage. Between the
intercepting valve and the high pressure cylinder an exhaust valve is provided so
arranged that it can be opened when it is desired to work both cylinders with high
pressure steam in which case the intercepting valve will be closed, the act of opening
the high pressure exhaust to the atmosphere through the exhaust valve, when the
engine is working as a compound, causing the starting and intercepting valves to
move automatically the latter closing the passage from the low to the high pressure
cylinder and causing the starting valve to open for the admission of high pressure
steam to the low pressure cylinder. In such a case an additional steam supply valve
or cock inay be provided between the starting and intercepting valves and the low
pressure cylinder for admitting the requisite supply of high pressure steam thereto.

page_text: Also there is or may be provided a safety valve to ensure that the steam admitted
shall not be of too high a pressure to be used in the low pressure cylinder.
With the arrangement of combined automatic starting and intercepting valves and
high pressure exhaust valve above described, when the engine is working as a
compound engine, the pressure of steam passing from the high pressure cylinder to
the low pressure cylinder acting upon the plunger and starting valve keeps that valve
closed, and so the intercepting valve is held open, leaving a free way from the high
pressure cylinder to the low pressure cylinder; but, on closing the regulator, or on
the engine being stopped or by opening the high pressure exhaust valve when the
engino is at work, the intercepting valve and plunger will move, and simultaneously
and automatically open the starting valve and close the intercepting valve.
If the regulator be then opened, or when the high pressure exhaust valve is opened
when the engine is at work, high pressure steam will enter on the low pressure side
of the intercepting valve, and that valve will be forced tightly against its seat by the
steam pressure; but upon steam being exhausted from the high pressure cylinder
into the connecting pipe or passage (the high pressure exhaust valve being then
closed) it will equalize or overcome the pressure and release the intercepting valve
from its seat and by its pressure against the unbalanced plunger will cause the
plunger and valve to rise or open so as to leave a clear way as before mentioned.
The automatic opening of the starting valve and closing of the intercepting valve
may be effected by gravity, or by the action of live steam admitted by the
regulator direct from the boiler.
Fig. 1 of the drawings annexed is a longitudinal section illustrating an arrange-
ment of combined starting and intercepting valves, and high pressure exhaust
valve according to this invention to be applied in the connecting pipe between the
high and the low pressure cylinders.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line A B Fig. 1 with means for operating
a steam cock as hereinafter described.
"
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but illustrating another form of starting valve.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section illustrating another modification.
6 is an
In Figs. 1 and 2, 1, 1º, is a plunger with grooves or recesses 2 the part 1 serving
to close the steam orifice when the intercepting valve is wide open. The plunger
is provided with packing rings 3 and is arranged to work through a cylinder 4.
5 is an inlet passage placed, when the apparatas is fixed, in communication with a
steam regulator or device for admitting high pressure steam thereto.
intercepting valve; it is in the form of a slide valve in the example shown but
it may be a valve of other suitable form. 7 is a pipe or casing which is arranged
to form part of the pipe or connection between the high and the low pressure
cylinders; it is placed in communication at the end shown to the left in Fig. 1
with the exhaust of the high pressure cylinder or cylinders and at the end shown
to the right with the steam chest or chests of the low pressure cylinder or
cylinders. The pipe or casing 7 is so constructed that the intercepting valve
as to leave an
may move completely out of the way of the exhaust steam so
unobstructed passage therefor from the high to the low pressure cylinders when
the engine is working as a compound engine. By this means, vibration of the
intercepting valve that might otherwise be caused by the intermittent passage of
exhaust steam from the high to low pressure cylinders, is obviated. S is a high
pressure exhaust pipe. 9 is a high pressure exhaust valve for controlling the
communication between the pipes 7 and 8. 10 is a rod for operating the valve 9
when desired. 10ª is a forked lever arm fixed to a shaft or pin 10 on which is
fixed a second arm 10d; the fork of lever arm 10" einbraces a pin 10° on the rod 10,
and is connected-through arm 10b-by any suitable means with a cock or valve
for admitting additional live steam to the low pressure cylinder when the high pressure
exhaust valve 9 is opened for working both cylinders as high pressure cylinders.
The intercepting valve 6 is connected to the starting valve by a pin 11 which takes
into a slot 12 formed in the lower end of the plunger 1. 13 is a collar for limiting
the upward movement of the plunger. The starting and intercepting valves herein-

page_text: above described are arranged to work vertically the intercepting valve_working
against a suitable valve face at 14 within the pipe or casing 7. The valves may
in some cases be arranged to work in an inclined attitude. The intercepting and
starting valves are shown in the positions they assume by gravity when the
regulator of the engine of which they form part is closed. Supposing the engine
to be at rest and the regulator to be opened high pressure steam will pass direct to
the high pressure cylinder and by way of the passage 5 grooves or recesses 2
in plunger 1 the right hand portion of pipe or casing 7 and connecting pipe to the
steam chest of the low pressure cylinder, the intercepting valve 6 being pressed
against its seat by the pressure of such steam. If the crank connected to the piston
of the high pressure cylinder be on a dead centre, high pressure steam will pass into
the low pressure cylinder and the engine will start. The steam will subsequently as
the engine turns, be admitted to the high pressure cylinder. When the exhaust from
the high pressure cylinder takes place the exhaust steam will press upon the inter-
cepting valve 6, and force it from its seat against the pressure of the steam admitted
from passage 5 which steam is wire drawn and reduced in pressure. An equilibrium
of steam pressure will thus be set up in the casing 7 and connecting pipe and the
plunger will be raised by the steam until the part constituting the starting valve closes
the orifice through which the plunger works thereby shutting off steam. The inter-
cepting valve will be drawn up by the plunger so as to leave a free way between the
high and low pressure cylinders and the engine will then work as a compound
engine. To work both cylinders with high pressure steam as for instance when greater
power for ascending an incline or for other purpose the high pressure exhaust valve
must be opened (which may be done whilst the engine is running) so as to place the
high pressure exhaust in communication with the atmosphere or with a condenser.
The pressure within the pipe or casing 7 being thus reduced the combined intercepting
and starting valves will automatically fall under the action of gravity aided by the
pressure of steam on the starting valve and assume the position shown in Fig. 1 closing
the communication between the high and the low pressure cylinders and admitting
high pressure steam from the passage to the steam chest of the low pressure cylinder.
As the steam thus admitted is wire drawn and reduced in pressure it is advantageous
to provide a steam supply valve (not shown) between the combined starting and
intercepting valves and low pressure cylinder for admitting the requisite quantity of
high pressure steam thereto as hereinbefore mentioned. This steam valve will be
automatically operated by the lever 10 to admit steam when the rod 10 is moved to
open the high pressure exhaust valve 9 as hereinbefore stated. By again closing the
high pressure exhaust valve 9 the additional supply of steam will be cut off and the
high pressure exhaust steam will cause the starting and intercepting valves to rise and
the engine to work as a compound engine as before.
In Fig. 3 the starting and intercepting valves are arranged so that they can work
horizontally or otherwise; the weight of the valves not being in this arrangement
relied upon to aid in moving them.
That part of the plunger 1 which acts as a starting valve is of larger diameter
than the part 1. At 15 is an annular surface exposed to steam issuing from the
passage 5. 16, 16, are openings or ports in the cylinder or casing 4 for the passage
of high pressure steam from the passage 5 to the low pressure cylinder when the
starting valve is in the open position. In other respects the construction and operation
of the said valves and high pressure exhaust valve 9 is substantially the same as that
herein before described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
In the arrangement shown in fig. 4 the plunger 1 is of small diameter and is acted
upon at its upper end by the pressure of steam from passage 5.
1 is a separate
plunger acting as a guide spindle.
The two plungers are connected together and to the intercepting valve by a slotted
part 1.
16 is an opening or port for admitting high pressure steam as in fig. 3.
This arrangement of combined starting and intercepting valves may be used vertically
horizontally or otherwise.
The combined starting and intercepting valves may be placed in any convenient

page_text: position in the connecting pipe or passage between the high and low pressure cylinders
but sufficient steam space should be left in the said pipe or passage between the valves
and the high pressure cylinder engine to allow such engine to exhaust one or more
cylinders full of steam, in order to reduce back pressure.
Locomotives have been constructed with cylinders mounted upon bogies, but such
types of engines have been open to objection in practice because the necessary working
joint in the steam pipe could not be relied upon to keep tight at the high pressures
ordinarily employed.
Now according to my invention, to obviate this defect I mount the low pressure
cylinder or cylinders upon a bogie or frame that can swivel with coupled wheels and
locate the working joint in the steam pipe or connection between the high and low
pressure cylinders so that such joint is not, when compounding, subjected to the higher
pressure, but has to bear such higher pressure only on exceptional occasions when high
pressure steam is introduced direct to the low pressure cylinder or cylinders as herein-
before referred to. The high pressure engine may drive coupled wheels. In some
cases instead of mounting the low pressure cylinder or cylinders upon a bogie, the
same may be mounted upon a tender, a connecting pipe being provided to the high
pressure cylinder or cylinders of the locomotive proper, and a suitable steam-tight
working joint being introduced into the said pipe or connection.
The working joints employed in carrying out my invention may be of various kinds;
and various designs of engines may be constructed to operate on the principle of my
invention as above set forth.
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively an elevation and half plan or top view both partly
in section, illustrating an arrangement of a compound locomotive engine, in which the
low pressure cylinders are mounted upon a bogie truck or swivel frame in accordance
with my invention.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line CD Fig. 5; it is drawn to a larger scale
than Figs. 5 and 6.
Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view.
Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views hereinafter referred to.
17 and 18 are the high pressure cylinders mounted upon the main frame 19 of the
locomotive. 20 and 21 are the low pressure cylinders which according to this invention
are mounted upon a bogie frame or swivel truck 22 which is connected to the main
frame 19 by a ball and socket joint hereinafter described. 23 and 24 are pipes for
conveying high pressure steam to the cylinders 17 and 18. 25 and 26 are connecting
pipes for conveying exhaust steam from the high pressure cylinders to the low
pressure cylinders; these pipes may be in communication with the low pressure
cylinders by way of a valve casing 27 containing combined intercepting and starting
valves, and high pressure exhaust valve which may be of the kind hereinbefore
described, and an intermediate chamber 28. In some cases the valve casing 27 and
contained valves may be dispensed with. 29 is the low pressure exhaust pipe
terminating in the smoke box. S is a high pressure exhaust pipe also terminating in
the smoke box; it is placed in communication with the connecting pipe 26 by a
passage that is controlled by a valve such as 9 hereinbefore described with reference
to Figs. 1 and 2.
The exhaust pipes may in some cases be arranged to terminate in
a condenser. The intermediate chamber 28 is rigidly secured to the main frame 19
and is formed with a hollow ball 30 open at its lower end and in free communication
with the said chamber 28 and forward part of the connecting pipe 26. The hollow
ball 30 is enclosed by two parts 31 forming a socket of partly spherical form
internally this socket is secured to the bogie truck or swivel frame 22. The ball and
socket are in the example shown formed so as to permit of slight play at the upper
part or neck and one or more spring packing rings 32 is or are inserted between them
to maintain a tight joint whilst at the same time permitting of a small turning move-
ment in a vertical plane. Or in lieu of the packing rings a stuffing box and gland
may be employed. The steam being discharged through the bottom of the ball 30
will tend to raise such ball and consequently to tighten the bearing surfaces or joint
between it and the socket at the upper part thereof. The joint being subjected to

page_text: low pressure steam only, except when high pressure steam is used in the low pressure
cylinder when greater power is required for starting, there will not be the same
difficulty in maintaining a tight joint as is the case where the joint is required to
vithstand high pressure. The intermediate chamber 28 may as in the example shown
be steam jacketted to increase the temperature of the steam passing to the low pressure
cylinders. For this purpose it is shown formed with a steam space 33 to which steam
from the boiler is adinitted by one or more pipes 34.
The swivelling connection between the high and low pressure cylinders may be
arranged elsewhere than at the bogie pivot below the smoke box. Thus the working
joint may be arranged as shown in Fig. 8 in which the socket 31 is carried, it may be
by the bottom of the boiler, or by the fixed frame, or by the foot plate of the locomotive,
the ball 30 being secured, it may be to the swivel frame, at a convenient point
between the sets of axles driven by the high and low pressure cylinders, or to a
tender.
In this arrangement the ball is free to move with the bogie or swivel frame, or with
the tender when applied thereto. 34 is a telescopic sliding joint in the connecting
pipe 26 between the high and low pressure cylinders. This form of joint admits of
the high and low pressure engines, such as when the latter are carried by a tender,
moving towards and from each other as would be necessary to allow of the play of
the buffers between the locomotive and tender.
It also admits of tho bogie or swivel frame or the tender as the case may be turning
through a small angle in a vertical plane. 29, 29*, are parts of the low pressure
exhaust pipe in communication with each other by a pipe 29, and with the atmosphere
or a condenser. The part 29 is carried by the bogie or swivel frame or by the tender,
and the part 29 by the main frame of the locomotive, the pipe 29 being arranged
above the ball and socket joint 30, 31, and so as to be able to turn in a suitable socket
carried by the part 29ª as shown. 28 is a high pressure exhaust chamber or receiver.
An intercepting valve may if desired be placed at 28. If desired the exhaust
pipes 29 and 29 may be connected by a flexible joint of other construction than that
shown.
The arrangement shown in the diagrammatic view Fig. 9 admits of the easy
passage of the bogie or swivel frame round yes when running either backward or
forward; it also admits of the connecti
between the high and low pressure
cylinders being shortened, by arranging the cylinders of the low pressure engine at
the rear instead of at the front of the bogie or swivel frame as in the arrangement
shewn in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 10 is a similar view to Fig. 9, illustrating a tender
fitted with the low pressure cylinders and connected with the locomotive by a swivel
or other joint which may be similar to those herein before described.
When the main frame does not extend to the smoke box as may be the case with
the arrangement shown in Figure 8 and as shown in Fig. 9 antifriction wheels or
rollers or the like may be interposed between the boiler and the bogie truck or swivel
frame. The high and the low pressure engines are each in the example shown in
Figs. 5 and 6 arranged to drive four coupled wheels, but they may obviously be
arranged to drive a greater or a less number of such wheels. When the low
cylinders are arranged on a tender the pipe connecting them with the high pressure
cylinders is provided with any suitable form of swivelling or working joint or joints
to admit of movement of the tender relatively to the locomotive but I prefer to use
joints such as those shown in Fig. 8.
pressure
It will be obvious that a locomotive engine may be fitted with a bogie or swivel
frame at each end of the fixed engine and both bogie engines worked by low pressure
steam from the fixed engine as herein before described. In the case of tram engines
the end of a carriage may rest on one of the swivel frames. The boiler for the
engines may be of any convenient type. For increasing the draught through the
furnace, when necessary, as for instance when the exhaust steam is led to a condenser,
a centrifugal fan or blowing apparatus 35 may be used. The fan may be driven by
an engine supplied with steam through a pipe 38, or it may be driven from one of the
locomotive axles the arrangement being such that the fan may be started or stopped

page_text: according to requirement. 36 is a pipe for conducting the air to the closed ash
pan 37.
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. In a compound locomotive engine providing in a passage between the high and low
pressure cylinders combined or connected starting and intercepting valves substantially
such as herein above described arranged to operate in an automatic manner as sot
forth so that when steam is admitted to the steam chest of the high pressure cylinder
by the regulator for starting, the starting valve will be in or will be caused by pressure
of steam from the regulator to assume a position such that high pressure steam will
be admitted to the low pressure cylinder, and the intercepting valve will be in or will
be caused by the said steam pressure to assume a position in which it will close
communication between the high and low pressure cylinders as above explained.
2. In a compound locomotive engine the construction and arrangement of a pipe
or casing 7 with a cylinder 4, steam inlet 5 and exhaust passage 8 combined or
connected starting and intercepting valves 1 and 6, and exhaust valve 9 substantially
as described with reference respectively to the several modifications illustrated for the
purposes specified.
3. In a compound locomotive engine the combination with a high pressure exhaust
valve 9 of an auxiliary steam supply valve for admitting high pressure steam for use
in the low pressure cylinder and a connection between the said valves such that when
the exhaust valve is opened and closed the auxiliary steam supply valve will be also
opened and closed substantially in the manner described for the purpose specified.
4. In a compound locomotive engine the arrangement substantially as herein above
described of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders on a bogie or swivelling frame or
truck in connection with a steam passage through a swivel or sliding joint.
5. A compound or combined locomotive comprising a locomotive proper with high
pressure cylinder or cylinders and a tender or vehicle carrying the low pressure
cylinder or cylinders the latter cylinder or cylinders being connected to the high
pressure cylinder or cylinders by a pipe or pipes provided with a steam joint or joints
that will admit of movement or play of the said tender or vehicle in relation to the
locomotive proper substantially as set forth.
6. The construction and arrangement of parts described with reference to Figure 8
for the purposes specified.