Improvements in Compound Engines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1893-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compound Engines.
We, THOMAS WILLIAM WORSDELL, of Stonycroft Arnside, Carnforth, Civil
Engineer, AUGUST VON BORRIES, of 15 Herrenstrasse Hanover, Germany,
Engineer and RICHARD HERBERT LAPAGE, of Elmwood, Park Road, Surbiton
in the County of Surrey, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the use in a compound locomotive engine of an
improved construction and arrangement of valves and valve case whereby the
engine can at will be used either as a compound engine, or as an ordinary high
pressure engine, that is to say an engine in which high pressure or boiler steam is
used in each of the engine cylinders, as for example when it is desired to obtain the
greatest tractive force of the engine as when ascending an incline, for starting a
heavy train, or shunting rapidly.
The valve case is constructed with two passages one of which is arranged to
form part of the connecting pipe or receiver between the high and the low pressure
cylinders, whilst the other is arranged to form part of the low pressure exhaust
pipe or passage. Within this casing there are two connected pistou valves one of
which, hereinafter called the exhaust valve, is of greater area than the other,
which we will call the steam valve. The exhaust valve is arranged to control an
exhaust port or passage connecting the said two passages formed in the valve case.
The steam valve is arranged to work in a cylindrical portion or extension of the
valve case which is formed with a steam inlet adapted to be placed in communi-
cation with the main steam pipe or direct with the boiler by a cock or valve that
may be worked by hand or from the reversing rod, or by a special construction of
regulator valve, the steam valve being arranged to control a passage between the
said inlet for live steam and the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder or
cylinders. The arrangement is such that when live steam is admitted through the
said inlet to the valve case the two connected valves will be moved by the pressure
of the live steam into positions in which the exhaust valve will close the commu-
nication between the high and low pressure cylinders and open the exhaust port or
passage, so that each cylinder can exhaust separately into the exhaust pipe, and
the steam valve will open, or cause to be opened, a communication between the
main steam pipe or boiler and the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder or
cylinders so that the engine will then work as an ordinary high pressure engine,
and when the supply of live steam to the said inlet is cut off, the valves will return
to their normal position and the engine will work as a compound engine. The
construction and arrangement of the valves is such that they act as a reducing
valve to admit live or boiler steam at a predetermined or definite pressure to the
low pressure cylinder or cylinders. In one arrangement the rod connecting the
two valves is hollow and works over a fixed stem that serves to control the flow of
live steam to the low pressure cylinder or cylinders. In another arrangement the
rod is solid and made of two diameters, the part of larger diameter being arranged
to work through a partition or diaphragm placed between the cylinder in which
the steam valve works and the passage that forms part of the connecting pipe or
receiver between the high and low pressure cylinders and to prevent live steam
flowing freely to the low pressure cylinder or cylinders until the exhaust valve is
fully open at which time the part of the rod of smaller diameter will extend

page_text: through the hole in the said partition or diaphragm and leave a free passage for
live steam.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1892.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compound Engines.
We, THOMAS WILLIAM WORSDELL, of Stonycroft, Arnside, Carnforth, Civil
Engineer, AUGUST VON BORRIES, of 15 Herrenstrasse, Hanover, Germany,
Engineer and RICHARD HERBERT LAPAGE, of Elmwood, Park Road, Surbiton,
in the County of Surrey, 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 the use in a compound locomotive engine of an
improved construction and arrangement of valves and valve case whereby the
engine can at will be used either as a compound engine, or as an ordinary high
pressure engine, that is to say an engine in which high pressure or boiler steam is
used in each of the engine cylinders, as for example when it is desired to obtain
the greatest tractive force of the engine, as when ascending an incline, for starting
a heavy train, or for shunting rapidly.
The valve case is constructed with two passages one of which is arranged to
form part of the connecting pipe or receiver between the high and the low pressure
cylinders, whilst the other is arranged to form part of the low pressure exhaust
pipe or passage. Within this casing there are two connected piston valves one of
which, hereinafter called the exhaust valve, is of greater area than the other,
which we will call the steam valve. The exhaust valve is arranged to control the
first mentioned passage and also an exhaust port or passage connecting the said two
passages formed in the valve case. The steam valve is arranged to work in a
cylindrical portion or extension of the valve case which is formed with a steam
inlet adapted to be placed in communication with the main steam pipe, or direct
with the boiler by a cock or valve that may be worked by hand, or from the
reversing rod, or by a special construction of regulator valve, the steam valve
being arranged to control a passage between the said inlet for live steam and the
valve chest of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders. The arrangement is such
that when live steam is admitted through the said inlet to the valve case so as to
act against one side of the steam valve, the two connected valves will be moved by
the pressure of the live steam into positions in which the exhaust valve will close
the communication between the high and low pressure cylinders and open the
exhaust port or passage so that each cylinder can exhaust separately into the
exhaust pipe, and the steam valve will open, or cause to be opened, a communication
between the main steam pipe or boiler and the valve chest of the low pressure
cylinder or cylinders so that the engine will then work as an ordinary high pressure
engine, and when the pressure of live steam upon the one side of the steam valve
is cut off or more or less counterbalanced, the valves will return to their normal
positions and the engine will work as a compound engine. The construction and
arrangement of the valves is such that they act as a reducing valve to admit live
or boiler steam at a predetermined or definite pressure to the low pressure cylinder
or cylinders.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2 are longitudinal central sections of valve apparatus constructed

page_text: Fig. 1 showing the valves in position for working the engine to which they are
applied, compound, whilst
Fig. 2 shows the valves in position for working the engine as a non-compound
engine.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section.
A is a valve case formed with a high pressure exhaust passage B B₁ adapted to
form part of the connecting pipe or receiver between the high and the low pressure
cylinders, and with another passage C adapted to form part of the low pressure
exhaust pipe or passage. D is a valve, herein called the exhaust valve; it is in
the form of a piston and is arranged to control an exhaust port or passage E con-
necting the two passages B B and C, and to control the flow of exhaust steam
through the passage B B' from the high to the low pressure cylinder. F is a valve
herein called the steam valve; it is in the form of a piston, and is arranged to
work in a cylindrical portion or extension A' of the valve case. This extension is
provided at its inner end with a steam inlet G that is in communication by a pipe G¹
with the main steam pipe (+³. Or the said inlet may be arranged to be placed in
direct communication with the boiler either by a cock or valve that may be worked
by hand or from the reversing rod; or by a suitable construction of regulator
valve as will be hereinafter described. A is an opening for placing the front end
of the extension A' in communication with the atmosphere so that the valve F can
make its outstroke easily.
The two valves are connected by a rod. In the arrangement shown, this rod is
solid and made in two parts of different diameter, the part H' of larger diameter
being arranged to work through a partition or diaphragm A* placed between the
extension A in which the steam valve F works, and the passage B B' and prevent
live steam flowing freely to the low pressure cylinder or cylinders until the exhaust
valve D is fully opened as shown in Fig. 2, at which time the part H' of the rod of
smaller diameter will extend through the hole in the said partition or diaphragm
and leave a free passage for live steam to the end B' of the said passage B B',
whence it can flow to the low pressure cylinder.
By the arrangement described, when live steam is admitted through the steam
inlet G so as to act behind or upon the inner end of the valve F, the two connected
valves D F will be automatically moved into the positions shown in Fig. 2. The
exhaust valve D will then close the passage B B' between the high and low pressure
cylinders and open the exhaust port or passage E, so that each cylinder can exhaust
separately, and the steam valve F will occupy a position in which the part H³ of
the rod connecting the valves will extend through the hole in the partition or
diaphragm A' and leave an annular opening A' as shown that will effect a commu-
nication between the main steam pipe or boiler and the valve chest of the low
pressure cylinder or cylinders so that the engine will then work as an ordinary high
pressure or non-compound engine. When the supply of live steam to the steam
inlet G is cut off, the valves will, by reason of the greater pressure on the exhaust
valve D of steam within that part B' of the receiver between the valve case and
the steam chest of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders, return automatically to
their normal positions shown in Fig. 1, and the engine will again work as a
compound engine. Instead however of cutting off the supply of steam to the steam
inlet G when the engine is to work as a non compound engine and forming the
extension A' with a hole A* for placing the front end of the cylinder in com-
munication with the atmosphere it is preferred to dispense with this hole and to
connect the front end of the cylindrical extension A' with the main steam pipe G'
by a pipe G and steam passage G* controlled by a valve I the valve case J of
which is formed with an exhaust pipe K in communication with the atmosphere.
The steam inlet G can then be kept in constant communication with the main
steam pipe G' whilst the engine is running. L is a lever arranged to act upon the
stem of the valve I and move this valve when necessary into the position shown
in Fig. 2 in which it closes communication between the outer end of the extension A'
and the steam pipe G³ and opens communication with the external atmosphere.
.

page_text: Mis a rod under the control of the driver of the engine. With this construction
when the engine is to be used as a non-compound engine, the valve I is moved into
the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the front end of the cylindrical extension A'
will be placed in communication with the external atmosphere and live steam from
the pipe G will act upon the inner side only of the valve F and move this valve
and the valve D into the positions shown in Fig. 2 so that live steam will flow
through the annular passage H' to the low pressure cylinder. The thicker part H'
of the valve rod will in this position have passed out of the hole in the intermediate
plate or diaphragm A clearing this hole just enough to reduce by throttling, the
pressure of the live steam that is then flowing through it, in such manner that the
total force of the full pressure on the smaller valve F is kept equal to the total
force of the reduced pressure on the larger valve D. As a consequence of this
arrangement the following important results are attained. If the consumption of
reduced steam at the reduced pressure in the low pressure cylinder becomes greater,
the pressure in the passage B will be reduced a little thereby causing less force on
the larger piston and motion of both pistons to enlarge the opening A³ until the
right amount of reduction is again reached. If the consumption of lower pressure
steam is reduced, the pressure in B' will increase a little thereby causing the pistons
to move back a little and reduce the size of the opening A³ until the right reduction
is again reached.
The amount of reduction is proportionate to the areas of the piston valves F
and D; thus if the small valve F is one half the area of the large one D the
pressure in B' will be reduced to one half. Furthermore this arrangement possesses
the advantage of automatically reducing the steam pressure in B₁ to the proper
amount to enable the total pressure on each engine piston to be equal when
working non-compound notwithstanding variations in the pressure in the main
steam pipe, thus preventing too great a strain on the working parts and enabling
the adhesion of the driving wheels of a locomotive to be utilized in the most
advantageous manner.
When the engine is to be used as a compound engine the pressure of the lever L
on the stem of the valve I is removed, thereby enabling the said valve to move
into the position shown in Fig. 1, so as to enable live steam to act upon the front
end of the valve F thereby destroying the equilibrium of pressure on the valves FD
and ensuring the automatic return of these valves into the positions shown in Fig. 1,
in which positions the engine will act as a compound engine.
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively vertical and horizontal sections of a special
construction of steam regulator valve suitable for use with valve apparatus of the
kind herein before described when it is desired on starting the engine, to admit live
steam to the inlet G of the extension A (Figs. 1 and 2) and thence, to the steam
chest of the low pressure cylinder simultaneously with the admission of live steam
to the steam chest of the high pressure cylinder.
Fig. 6 is a front elevation of part of the regulator the main and auxiliary valves
being removed.
Figs. 7 and 8 are front elevations of the auxiliary and main valves respectively.
G' is the main steam pipe provided at its upper end, which terminates when in
use in a steam dome, with a valve face in which main admission ports N are formed
and on which works a main slide valve O against which works a smaller or auxiliary
slide valve P. Q is a steam passage formed in the upper end of the steam pipe G³.
This passage is provided at one end with a small inlet port Q₁ terminating in the
valve face, and at the other end is placed in communication by a pipe G* with
the inlet G or equivalent inlet of valve apparatus of the kiud shown in Figs. 1, 2
and 3.
The main slide valve O is formed with small passages 01 02 adapted to com-
municate respectively with the port Q' and one of the ports N. The auxiliary
valve P is formed with ports P1 P2 corresponding to the ports O¹ and 02
respectively. It is arranged to slide between vertical guide pieces O* on the front
side of the main slide valve, and is formed with upper and lower lateral extensions P³

page_text: adapted to act alternately against the upper and lower ends of the said guide
pieces and to thereby move the main slide valve downward and upward
respectively.
The auxiliary slide valve is pressed against the main slide valve by a spring R
and is connected at its lower end by a link S to any suitable arrangement of
mechanism such as a rock-shaft with lever arm by which it can be actuated by the
driver of the engine.
As will be seen the arrangement is such that when the two valves are in the
positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5 steam is cut off from both passages G* and G², but
upon operating the starting lever to start the engine, the auxiliary valve P will be
depressed by the link S so as to bring its ports Pi P² opposite the ports 010²
respectively in the main slide valve. Live steam will then pass simultaneously into
the pipe G G and thence respectively to the low pressure cylinder and high
pressure cylinder connected therewith, so that the engine will then work as a non-
compound engine, the high pressure steam admitted by the ports P O' being
suitably reduced in pressure in passing through the pipe G¹ and valve apparatus.
Upon further lowering of the auxiliary slide valve its upper lateral extensions P³
will act upon the upper ends of the guide pieces O on the main slide valve and
depress this valve opening the ports N and closing the ports Q' so that when the
high pressure cylinder exhausts the engine will work as a compound engine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is :-
1. A compound engine wherein the communication between the high and low
3 pressure cylinders, and a high pressure exhaust port are simultaneously controlled
by an exhaust valve, and the passage for admitting live steam at a reduced pressure
direct to the low pressure cylinder is controlled by another and smaller valve
connected to the first and arranged to work in a chamber to which live steam can
be admitted, the arrangement being such that when the smaller valve is subjected
Dat one side to the pressure of live steam, the two valves will be automatically
moved into positions in which communication between the two cylinders will be
closed, the high pressure exhaust port will be opened, and live or boiler steam will
be allowed to pass at a reduced pressure to the low pressure cylinder so that the
engine will then work as a non-compound engine, and when the pressure of live
5 steam on the one side of the smaller valve is cut off, or counter-acted by the
pressure of live steam on the other side of the said valve the two valves will be
automatically moved into positions in which the communication between the high
and low pressure cylinders will be opened, the high pressure exhaust port will be
closed, and the supply of live steam to the low pressure cylinder will be cut off so
0 that the engine will then work as a compound engine substantially as described.
2. In a compound engine wherein provision is made for admitting live steam to
the low pressure cylinder for working the engine as a non-compound engine,
controlling the supply of such live steam by means of two valves of unequal area
connected by a rod made of two diameters and arranged to work through a plate
5 or partition, placed between a chamber containing the smaller valve and to which
live steam can be admitted, and the passage leading to the steam chest of the low
pressure cylinder, the arrangement being such that when the valves are in position
to close the connecting pipe between the high and low pressure cylinders and to
allow steam to flow through the said plate at a reduced pressure to the low pressure
O cylinder, the ratio between the pressures of the live and reduced steam on the
smaller and larger valves respectively will be maintained constant, or approximately
so, so that the power exerted by the high and low pressure pistons (when the engine
is working as a non-compound engine) can be maintained approximately equal
substantially as described.
5 3. In a compound engine, valve apparatus constructed, arranged and operating

page_text: substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1, 2
and 3 of the drawings annexed.
4. In a compound engine, the combination with valve apparatus constructed
with steam and exhaust valves arranged and operating as referred to in Claim 1, of
a regulator valve constructed and operating substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to and shown in Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 21st day of January 1893.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.