IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO STEAM STEERING APPARATUS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS AS A WHOLE OR IN PART ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrison, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO STEAM STEERING
APPARATUS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS AS A WHOLE OR IN PART ARE APPLICABLE
TO OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES."
Sealed the 19th February 1878, and dated the 15th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrison at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1877.
JOHN HARRISON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPERTAINING TO STEAM STEERING APPARATUS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS AS A
WHOLE OR IN PART ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES."
My Invention relates to a novel construction of valve and parts appertaining
thereto for supplying steam to and exhausting the same from the cylinder or
cylinders of steam engines for working the piston or pistons thereof, when such
steam engines are used as steam steering apparatus
In carrying out my Invention I construct the valve face of the cylinder of
circular form with concentric ports, the inside ports being the exhaust and the
outside ports being the supply to the top and bottom of the cylinder.
The valve consists of two discs, one working on the cylinder face and the other
on the outside face of the first, or what I term the intermediate or auxiliary
valve
The intermediate valve is provided with ports to correspond with the ports on
the cylinder face, and is mounted on a spindle which receives its motion from the
crank shaft, so that the travel of the valve corresponds with the travel of the crank,
the valve being full open at half stroke, and closed at the top of and bottom of the
stroke.
The outer or main valve is mounted and works on the intermediate or auxiliary
valve, and is provided with a steam port on the outside thereof, and passing
through the valve and corresponding with the steam ports of the auxiliary valve
and the cylinder, and an exhaust port on the inside thereof corresponding with the
exhaust port and steam ports of the auxiliary valve and steam cylinder.

page_text: The main valve in the case of steam steering engines is mounted on a spindle
and worked by a hand wheel, the valves being covered by a suitable casing.
In operation, by working the main valve by means of the hand wheel, steam is
admitted through the auxiliary valve to the cylinder and the auxiliary valve by
means of its connection with the crank works, the supply being kept open by
following the auxiliary valve up with the main valve by means of the hand
wheel.
Steam can be admitted to or exhausted from the top or bottom of the cylinder as
required by the working of the main valve.
The valves can be constructed with the requisite lap and lead, as will be under-
stood, and where two cylinders are used the valves of each cylinder can be arranged
to lead each other as required.
The valves are suited to any convenient construction of engine for steam steering
apparatus, which may be provided with suitable-chain leads and suitable gear for
working by hand or steam as required.
That the construction of valves according to this my Invention may be clearly
understood, I have attached a Sheet of Drawings illustrating a diagram of my
Invention, being Figure 1 of the Drawings, and a section thereof, being Figure 2 of
the Drawings.
a is the steam cylinder; b, the cylinder valve face; c, the intermediate or
auxiliary valve; d, the main valve; e, auxiliary valve spindle worked from engine
shaft; main valve spindle worked from a hand wheel; h, the crank; i, steam
port of main valve; k, k¹, steam ports of auxiliary valve; m, m', steam ports of
cylinder; p, exhaust port of main valve; 8, exhaust port of auxiliary valve;
ac, exhaust port of cylinder.
Figure 3 is a plan of a cylinder valve face.
Figure 4, a plan of auxiliary valve.
Figure 5, plan of main valve viewed from the under side.
Figure 6, plan of the main valve viewed from the top, side, or back.
Although I have described this my Invention more particularly as applied to
steam steering engines, it will be evident to any engineer or others versed in the
construction of motive-power engines that my Invention can be applied as a whole,
or in part to other motive-power engines for steering or other purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th June
1878.
JOHN HARRISON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPERTAINING TO STEAM STEERING APPARATUS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS AS A
WHOLE OR IN PART ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES."
My Invention relates to a novel construction of valve and parts appertaining
thereto for supplying steam to and exhausting the same from the cylinder or
cylinders of steam engines for working the piston or pistons thereof when such
steam engines are used as steam steering apparatus.
In carrying out my Invention I construct the valve face of the cylinder of
circular form with concentric ports, the inside ports being the exhaust and the
outside ports being the supply to the top and bottom of the cylinder.
The valve consists of two discs, one working on the cylinder face and the other
on the outside face of the first, or what I term the intermediate or auxiliary valve.
The intermediate valve is provided with ports to correspond with the ports on
the cylinder face, and is mounted on a spindle which receives its motion from the
crank shaft, so that the travel of the valve corresponds with the travel of the
crank, the valve being full open at half stroke and closed at the top and bottom of
the stroke.
The outer or main valve is mounted and works on the intermediate or auxiliary
valve, and is provided with a steam port on the outside thereof and passing through
the valve and corresponding with the steam ports of the auxiliary valve and the
cylinder and an exhaust port on the inside thereof, corresponding with the exhaust
port and steam ports of the auxiliary valve and steam cylinder.
The main valve in the case of steam steering engines is mounted on a spindle
and worked by a hand wheel, the valves being covered by a suitable casing.
In operation, by working the main valve by means of the hand wheel, steam is
admitted through the auxiliary valve to the cylinder, and the auxiliary valve, by
means of its connection with the crank, works, the supply being kept open by
following the auxiliary valve up with the main valve by means of the hand
wheel.
Steam can be admitted to or exhausted from the top or bottom of the cylinder
as required by the working of the main valve.
The valves can be constructed with the requisite lap and lead, as will be under-
stood, and where two cylinders are used, the valves of each cylinder can be arranged
to lead each other as required.
The valves are suited to any convenient construction of engine for steam stoering
apparatus, which may be provided with suitable chain leads and suitable gear for
working by hand or steam as required.
That the construction and working of a valve according to this my Invention
may be clearly understood I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illustrative
thereof, marked with letters and figures of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation, such letters and figures also corresponding, so far as they go,
with those used in the explanation of the Drawings, filed with my Provisional
Specification.
In all the Figures the same letters of reference where they occur indicate the
same or corresponding parts.
Figure 1 is a plan of a cylinder valve face constructed according to my Invention,
with the valve casing shown in section.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a cylinder valve face and valve and attendant
parts, constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 3 is a plan of stuffing box Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a plan of the intermediate or auxiliary valve, constructed according
to my Invention...

page_text: Figure 5 is a plan of main valve, constructed according to my Invention, viewed
from the under side.
Figure 6 is a plan of main valve, constructed according to my Invention, viewed
from the top, side, or back.
Upon reference to the Drawings it will be understood that a may represent the
position of the cylinder of, say, a steam steering engine; b is the cylinder valve
face or seat; c is an intermediate disc or auxiliary valve; d is the main valve.
The intermediate disc or auxiliary valve o is mounted on and worked by the
shaft or spindle e, which receives rotary motion from the main shaft of the engines
by any known suitable mechanical means, such as spur wheel gearing or its
equivalent.
The main valve d is mounted on and carried by the shaft or spindle f, which
receives rotary motion from a hand wheel or lever, the rotary motion being
imparted direct or by any known suitable means, such as spur wheel gearing or its
equivalent.
Upon further reference it will be seen that i is the steam port of the main
valve d; k, k, are the steam ports of the intermediate disc or auxiliary valve o;
m, m³, are the steam ports of the cylinder and of its valve face or seat; p is the
exhaust port of the main valve d; 8 is the exhaust port of the intermediate disc or
auxiliary valve c; x is the exhaust port of the cylinder a, and of its valve face or
seat.
In steam steering engines, and many other classes of engines, it is necessary to
have the supply valve or operating valve worked by a direct motion from the
steering wheel. This is effected in my Invention by having the steering wheel in
direct connection with the shaft or spindle f, which actuates the main valvo d. It
is also requisite that the steam supply should be cut off automatically by and
in proportion to the movement of the engines. In my Invention this is effected
by the shaft or spindle e, which actuates the intermediate disc o direct from the
main shaft of the engine. It is further necessary to be able to impart an imme-
diate reverso action, which it will be evident that my Invention accomplishes
by the immediate hand control of the main valve.
I am aware that rotary valves as a principle are not new, but an ordinary rotary
valve, as at present known, would not answer the purpose of a steam steering gear,
inasmuch as when the valve was opened the piston would of necessity completo its
stroke.
3
4
By the introduction and addition of the intermediate disc or auxiliary valve c,
I obtain a rotary valve that fulfils the requirements of a valve for steam steering
engines by automatically cutting off the steam, so that the piston of the steam
cylinder will stop at any desired point of its stroke, and if the man at the hand
steering wheel and by means of the spindle ƒ moves the main valve d, a portion of
a revolution, or one, or two, or more revolutions, the engines will follow and stop by
reason of the automatic cut-off occasioned by the action of the intermediate disc, or
auxiliary valve and on moving the hand wheel, and thereby the main valve d in
a reverse direction, the engine will reverse its action, and follow and stop, by
reason of the automatic cut-off occasioned by the action of the intermediate disc or 4
auxiliary valve c.
It will be seen that by my arrangement of valve I obtain a rapid action between
the steering wheel and the engine, and at the same time I dispense with
eccentrics.
To compensate for the steam pressure on the back of the main valve d, I use an
equilibrium arrangement, which consists of a piston such as y, Figure 2, which
works in a stuffing box provided in the valve casing (see also Figure 3). The
steam supply is through the branch V, and the exhaust through the branch W.
Having now described my Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or
under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would
have it understood that although I have described my Invention particularly in
relation to steam steering apparatus, my Invention is also applicable to other

page_text: steam
motive-power engines requiring an equivalent, or similar action to that of
steering apparatus, as described. I would also have it understood that my Invention
is not confined to the identical form of the various parts shown in the Drawings, as
the same are capable of considerable variation; but what I claim as new and my
Invention, and secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid, is,-
Firstly. The compound rotary valve, consisting of a main valve such as d,
operated by a hand wheel, or its equivalent, and in combination with an interine-
diate disc or auxiliary valve such as c, which receives rotary motion direct from the
main engines, substantially as herein described, for the purposes set forth, and such
as shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive of the Drawings hereto annexed, or any modi-
fication thereof.
Secondly. In a rotary valve for motive-power engines, the introduction of a
rotary intermediate disc or auxiliary valve between the main valve and the cylinder
valve face, and acting as a cut-off valve.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harrison, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
night hundred and seventy-sight
Witness,
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH,
Of 15, Water Street,
Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.
JOHN (LS.) HARRISON.