Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 16th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1893-Accepted, 7th Apr.,
1894
Fig. 3 a cross section through the axis of the low pressure cylinder.
Fig. 4 a cross section through the axis of the high pressure cylinder;
Fig. 5 is a plan of the engine; and
Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the valve-arrangement constructed with a
single valve for the two cylinders.
The steam-engine shown in the drawings has only two cylinders, one high-
pressure and the other low-pressure; but a larger number of cylinders may be
employed for the purpose of obtaining a high degree of expansion.
The high-pressure cylinder receives steam from the boiler by a passage A cast in
one with the cover of the cylinder; the distribution of steam is effected by means
of a conical valve a having four orifices or passages B. C, D, and E (Fig. 4), the
first two serving for admission and the two others for exhaust; such a valve
reduces the clearance to a minimum.
When the edge b of the valve uncovers the admission port F, steam enters the
cylinder through the passage B of the valve a, but at this moment the edge c of the
conduit C is in such a position that the steam begins to be admitted by the second
passage C. The exhaust takes place in the same manner by the two orifices D
and E simultaneously into the conduit H, which conducts it into the atmosphere if
the engine is provided with one cylinder only. But if the engine has two cylinders
the conduit H conducts the steam to the distributing valve d of the other cylinder,
which valve is precisely like the valve a and allows of the admission and exhaustion
of the steam in the same manner. If the engine had a third cylinder, the
distribution of the steam in this cylinder would be effected in a similar manner by
means of a third valve similar to the first two.
In the case of an engine with two cylinders, the two cranks are arranged at 180°
to each other in such a manner that when the small cylinder is in communication
with the admission conduit, the large one is in communication with the exhaust.
This arrangement enables the two valves a and d to be operated by a single
eccentric e. This eccentric is keyed on the driving-shaft, and its rod f is jointed to
the ends of two levers g and g¹, which are keyed upon the axles h and h' of the two
valves; each of the axles h and A' ends in a mortice-hole in which engages a tenon
cast in one with one of the valves; this connection is formed with a certain amount

page_text: of play, which allows the longitudinal adjustment of the valve rendered necessary
by the wear of the valve.
The axles h and ' rotate in bearings and against the ends of which conical
shoulders on the axles constantly rub during motion and thus ensure that the
valve-boxes shall be steam-tight; when the shoulders become worn they may be
again brought to bear on the ends of the bearings and by slightly tightening the
bolt i.
The eccentric rod f is guided at its upper part (Fig. 2) to prevent its longitudinal
displacement.
In each of the valves a and d, one of the admission-conduits delivers on each side
of the said valves; the force of the steam is thus greater on the large base than on
the small one, and this difference causes each of the conical valves a and d to
advance in order to make up for any wear that may take place.
In order to reduce the space occupied by the engine I can effect the distribution
in the two cylinders by means of a single valve.
In this case a single valve m (Fig. 6) is provided with three ribs cast in one
piece which are arranged in such a manner that the steam from the high pressure
cylinder can escape directly into the low-pressure cylinder by the passages o
and o¹.
The pistons p and p' are hollow and are provided with a double bottom in order
to prevent condensation on their faces. The large piston pl is guided by a concentric
cylinder g bolted to the frame work of the engine.
The water proceeding from the condensation of the steam which escapes from the
large cylinder is condensed in the lower part of this cylinder and can escape through
a lateral valve s.
The lubrication of the valves a and d is effected by the steam, which is supplied
with lubricant before its entry into the said valves.
The brasses of the main. bearings, the eccentric, and the crank ends of the
connecting-rods are at times partly immersed in a mixture of water and oil, which
occupies the lower part of the frame-work.
Dated this 16th day of November 1893.
VICTOR DELCOURT,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Single-acting Vertical Steam Engines.
I, VICTOR DELCOURT, of 11 Avenue des Tilleuls, Paris, France, 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 :-
My invention relates to a single-acting vertical steam-engine provided with two
or more cylinders and specially designed with a view to working at a high
speed.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation; and
Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of a compound engine embodying my invention.
Fig. 3 a cross-section thereof through the axis of the low pressure cylinder;
Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the axis of the high-pressure cylinder.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the engine.
Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the valve-arrangement in which a single valve
is used for the two cylinders.
The steam-engine shown in the drawings has only two cylinders, one high-
pressure and the other low pressure; but a larger number of cylinders may be
employed, if desired, for the purpose of obtaining a higher degree of expansion.

page_text: The high-pressure cylinder receives steam from the boiler by a branch A cast in
one with the cover of the cylinder. The distribution of the steam is effected by
means of a conical valve a having four orifices or passages B, C, D, and E (Fig. 4),
the first two serving for admission and the two others for exhaust; such a valve
reduces the clearance to a minimum.
When the edge 6 of this valve uncovers the admission port F, steam enters the
cylinder through the passage B of the valve a, but at this moment the edge c of
the second passage C is in such a position that steam also begins to be admitted by
this passage C. The exhaust takes place in the same manner by the two orifices
or passages D and E simultaneously into the passage H, which conducts it into
the atmosphere if the engine is provided with one cylinder only, but if the engine
has two cylinders, as in the example as shown, the passage H conducts the steam
to the distributing valve d of the other cylinder, which valve is precisely like the
valve a and allows of the admission and exhaustion of the steam in the same
manner to and from the second cylinder. If the engine had a third cylinder, the
distribution of the steam in this cylinder would be effected in a similar manner by
means of a third valve similar to the first two.
In the case of an engine having two cylinders, the two cranks are arranged at
180° to each other in such a manner that when the small cylinder is in com-
munication with the admission passages, the large one is in communication with
the exhaust. This arrangement enables the two valves a and d to be operated by
a single eccentric e. This eccentric is keyed on the main driving shaft, and its
rod is jointed to the ends of two levers 9 and 9', which are keyed upon the
spindles h and h of the two valves. Each of the spindles and ¹ is formed at one
end with a mortice in which engages a tenon cast in one with the adjacent end of
the corresponding valves. This connection is formed with a certain amount of
play, which allows of the longitudinal adjustment of the valve necessary to
compensate for the wear of the valve.
The spindles h and h' rotate in tubular bearings and against the end of which
conical shoulders on the said spindles constantly rub during motion and thus ensure
that the valve-boxes shall be steam-tight; when the shoulders become worn, they
may be again brought to bear on the ends of the bearings and by slightly
tightening the bolt i.
The eccentric rod is guided at its upper part (Fig. 2) to prevent its longitudinal
displacement.
In each of the valves a and d, one of the admission passages delivers on each
side of the said valves; the pressure of the steam is thus greater on the large base
than on the small one, and this difference causes each of the conical valves a and d
to advance in order to automatically compensate for any wear that may take
place.
In order to reduce the space occupied by the engine, I can effect the distribution
in the two cylinders by means of a single valve.
In this case a single valve m (Fig. 6) is provided having three ribs cast in one
piece, which are arranged in such a manner that the steam from the high-pressure
cylinder can, as shown, escape directly into the low-pressure cylinder by the
passages o & o'.
The pistons p and pl are each made hollow and provided with a double bottom
or air space, in order to lessen or prevent condensation on their faces. The large
piston p is guided by a concentric cylinder 9 bolted to the frame-work of the
engine.
The water arising from the condensation of steam that may escape between the
piston pl and the large cylinder, is condensed in the lower part of this cylinder and
can escape through a lateral valve s.
The lubrication of the valves a and d is effected by the aid of the steam admitted
to them and which is supplied with lubricant before its entry into the said
valves.
The brasses of the main bearings, the eccentric, and the crank-ends of the

page_text: connecting rods are at times partly immersed in a mixture of water and oil, which
-occupies the lower part of the closed-in crank chamber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what., I
-claim is :-
1. A single-acting steam-engine, with one or more cylinders, in which the
-distribution of the steam is effected by a conical valve, or valves, formed, or each
formed, with double passages for the admission and exhaust of steam and operated
by a lever, the two valve levers in the case of a two cylinder engine provided with
separate valves, being actuated by a single eccentric and rod, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings.
2. A two cylinder compound single-acting steam engine in which the distribution
of the steam is effected by a single valve having three ribs adapted to allow the
steam to pass directly from the high-pressure cylinder into the low-pressure
-cylinder, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1893.
VICTOR DELCOURT,
By L. W., per F. B.