A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING STEAM AND OBTAINING VARIABLE EXPANSION THROUGH THE AGENCY OF GOVERNORS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Van Waeyenberch, of Ath, in the King-
dom of Belgium, Constructing Engineer, for the Invention of "A
NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING STEAM AND OBTAINING VARIABLE
EXPANSION THROUGH THE AGENCY OF GOVERNORS IN STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 14th July 1874, and dated the 25th March 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Van Waeyenberch
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th March 1874.
I, ALFRED VAN WAEYENBERCH, of Ath, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Constructing Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING STEAM AND
OBTAINING VARIABLE EXPANSION THROUGH THE AGENCY OF GOVERNORS IN STEAM
ENGINES," to be as follows: -.
In the cylinders of steam engines detrimental spaces are a great cause.
of loss, and I do away with them almost entirely by effecting the distri-
bution of steam on both sides of the cylinder, using two or more steam
valves (and exhaust slide valves juxtaposed so as to make each com-
municate at the end of the cylinder by the same port,

page_text: I admit the steam and directly regulate the duration of its introduction
by the governor according to the work to be done by the machine. For
this purpose the shaft of the levers actuating the steam inlet valves
forms part of a slotted sector furnished with a click and spring work,
rendering it at a given moment independent of the slides and the con-
When this moment
necting rods of the transmission of movement.
arrives the port that was open instantly closes, and the introduction of
steam being stopped the steam acts by expansion in the cylinder until
the piston has completed its stroke. Then the exhaust valves open a
passage for the steam either into another cylinder, into the atmosphere,
or into the condenser, according to requirement. To obtain this
instantaneous cut off the collar of the governor by means of levers
and connecting rods draws into a position determined by the speed
of the engine two tappets, which in meeting the spring catches,
uplifts them, and instantly renders the sectors independent of the slide
on rod A, working in slots C. At this moment the valves being no
longer held fall of themselves, and instantly close the steam ports. The
'sectors which are thus actuated slide into their normal position to come

page_text: K. Connecting rod receiving its reciprocating motion from the engine.
L. Rod of the exhaust valves passing through the two exhaust
chambers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Van Waeyenberch in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VAN WAEYENBERCH, of Ath, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Constructing
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Van Waeyenberch, Her special
licence that I, the said Alfred Van Waeyenberch, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Van
Waeyenberch, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING STEAM AND OBTAINING VARIABLE
EXPANSION THROUGH THE AGENCY OF GOVERNORS IN STEAM ENGINES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Van Wacyenberch,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Van Waeyenberch, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
In the cylinders of steam engines detrimental spaces are a great causé
of loss, and I do away with them almost entirely by effecting the distri-
bution of steam on both sides of the cylinder, using two or more steam
valves and exhaust slide valves juxtaposed so as to make each communi-
cate at the end of the cylinder by the same port.
I admit the steam and directly regulate the duration of its introduction
by the governor according to the work to be done by the machine. For
this purpose the shaft of the levers actuating the steam inlet valves
forms part of a slotted sector furnished with a click and spring work,
rendering it at a given moment independent of the slides and the con-
necting rods of the transmission of movement. When this moment
arrives the port that was open instantly closes, and the introduction of
steam being stopped the steam acts by expansion in the cylinder until
the piston has completed its stroke. Then the exhaust valves open a
passage for the steam either into another cylinder, into the atmosphere,
or into the condenser, according to requirement. To obtain this instan-
taneous cut off the collar of the governor, by means of levers and
connecting rods, draws into a position determined by the speed of the
engine two tappets, which in meeting the spring catches, uplifts them,
and instantly renders the sectors independent of the slides on the
connecting rods working in slots. At this moment the valves being no
longer held fall of themselves, and instantly close the steam ports. The
sectors which are thus actuated slide into their normal position to come
again into gear.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing forming part of this Spécifi--
cation Figure 1 is an elevation shewing the general arrangement of an.
engine embodying my Invention, and Figure 2 a cross section through
the cylinder and valve gear.
A. Connecting rods driving the sectors, receiving a reciprocating
motion directly from the engine or by driving gear.
B. Sector, with slot carrying the spring catch D, and keyed on the.
driving shaft of the levers of the valves.
C. Slot for gearing the connecting rod A with the sectors..

page_text: ALFRED VAN WAEYENBERCH. (L.S.)
LOUIS EUGÈNE COLSON.
JEAN BAPTISTE GIRARD.