IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS AND IN ACTUATING THE VALVES OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ben Goodfellow, of Hyde, in the County of Chester,
Engineer, and Samuel Hallam, of Stockport, in the same County, Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS AND IN ACTUATING THE
VALVES OF STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 15th June 1877, and dated the 23rd December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ben Goodfellow and
Samuel Hallam at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd
December 1876.
GEORGE BEN GOODFELLOW, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Engineer, and
SAMUEL HALLAM, of Stockport, in the same County, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM PUMPS AND IN ACTUATING THE VALVES OF STEAM ENGINES."
Our improvements in steam pumps consist,-
First. In the application of an ejector condensor for forming a vacuum in the
steam cylinder for condensing the steam and for heating water; this ejector con-
densor consists of a nozzle for the exhaust steam placed within the combination
nozzle in the suction pipe of the steam pump; in the side of this pipe is a valve
to allow the air and steam to escape.
Secondly. In the application of a plunger connected to a throttle valve for
stopping the steam engine when the pump ceases to draw; this apparatus is also
applicable to regulate the number of strokes of the pump. The plunger works in a
cylinder, at the bottom of which is a valve connected to the delivery pipe of the
pump to allow a portion of the water to enter the cylinder to raise the plunger;
the outflow is regulated by a cock or valve. The plunger is acted upon by a weight
or spring.
Our Invention consists also in actuating the slide or other valve of a steam
engine by the working steam from the steam cylinder, thereby dispensing with the
eccentric and other usual appliances for actuating the valve. Near each end of the
steam cylinder is a port, which ports are in cominunication with the backs of two
small pistons, to the rod of which the valve is connected. When the piston in the
steam cylinder arrives at the end of its stroke it uncovers the port near to it, and
allows a portion of steam to enter behind the valve piston, thereby traversing the
valve; this motion of the valve admits steam to the opposite side of the steam
•Price Sil

page_text: piston to reverse the motion, and when the piston arrives at the other end of the
cylinder the port at that end is uncovered to send the steam to the back of the other
valve piston, thereby moving the valve back again. By this means a continuous
reciprocating motion of the valve and the steam piston is obtained. The ports for
admitting steam to the cylinder and for exhausting the steam are made as usual.
The arrangement of the ports and the details may be varied according to the par-
ticular class of steam engine to which our Invention is applied.
Another mode of actuating the valve in order to obtain a variable stroke of the
steam piston consists of a rocking lover, the end of which is connected to the piston
rod. A slotted link is fixed to the rocking lever, and this link is connected to the
valve rod of an auxiliary steam cylinder, the piston rod of which is coupled to the
slide valve of the main cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Ben Goodfellow and Samuel Hallam in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd June 1877.
2
GEORGE BEN GOODFELLOW, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Engineer, and
SAMUEL HALLAM, of Stockport, in the same County, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM PUMPS AND IN ACTUATING THE VALVES OF STEAM ENGINES."
Our improvement in steam pumps consists,―
First. In the application of an improved ejector condensor for forming a vacuum
in the stean cylinder for condensing the steam and for heating water.
Secondly. In an improved mode of actuating the slide or other valve of a steam
engine or steam pump by the working steam from the steam cylinder, thereby dis-
pensing with the eccentric and other usual appliances for actuating the valve.
Thirdly. In the application of a rocking lever and slotted link combined with an
auxiliary steam cylinder for actuating the valves of steam engines or steam pumps
in order to obtain a more variable stroke of the steam piston.
Fourthly. In the application of a plunger connected to a throttle valve for stopping
the steam engine when the pump ceases to draw; this apparatus is also applicable to
regulate the number of strokes of the pump.
And, lastly. In an improved throttle and stop valve.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood, we will proceed to
describe the accompanying three Sheets of Drawings.
On Sheet 1 Fig. 1 is a section through our improved ejector condensor which
consists of the nozzle a connected by the elbow c to the exhaust pipe of an ordinary
high-pressure engine; the nozzle a is placed within the combinion nozzle b; d is
a branch pipe to which the suction pipe of the pump is connected, and the branch e
is connected direct to the pump; the valve f, which opens outwardly and is held down
by a light weight or spring, is to allow for the escape of air and steam on starting
the apparatus. This improved ejector condensor increases the vacuum in the steam
cylinder by condensing the working steam more effectively than heretofore, thereby
economising fuel; and when used for feeding boilers the heat abstracted from the
boiler in the form of steam is to a great extent returned with the feed water.
Fig. 2 is a transvorse, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal section of our improved mode of
actuating the slide or other valve of a steam engine or steam pump. 9 is an ordinary
steam cylinder, near each end of which is a port g' and g²; in the cylinder g is the
piston g³, and above it is the slide valve h, connected by horns to the spindle ', at
each end of which is a valve piston h². The port g' is in communication with the
cavity h³ in the valve h, and this cavity conveys the steam to the back of the right-
hand valve piston ³ through the ports and passages shown. The port g" is in com-
munication with the cavity h' and with the back of the left-hand valve piston h
when the valve has been moved. When the piston g³ after moving in the direction

page_text: of the arrow arrives at the end of the steam cylinder g, it uncovers the port g, and
allows a portion of steam to enter behind the right-hand valve piston, thereby
traversing the valve; this motion of the valve adınits steam to the opposite side of
the steam piston to reverse the motion, and when the piston arrives at the
opposite end of the cylinder, as shewn in the Drawing, the port at that end is
uncovered to send the steam to the back of the other valve piston h³, thereby
moving the valve back again. By this means a continuous reciprocating motion of
the slide valve and the steam piston is obtained. The ports for admitting steam to
the cylinder and for exhausting the steam are made as usual. The arrangement of
the ports and the details may be varied according to the particular class of steam
engine to which our Invention is applied. In this arrangement the piston rod of
the steam cylinder is supposed to be connected direct to the plunger of a steam
pump.
On Sheet 2 Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 5 a plan of the apparatus
forming the third part of our Invention. In these views g are two steam cylinders
and the pistons working therein, the piston rods being connected to the plunger
of a steam pump, to a hammer head, or to any apparatus for converting recipro-
cating into rotary motion. Above the cylinders g are the slide valves i, the spindles
of which are connected to the cross head ', which is connected to the rod of the
piston 2, working in the auxiliary cylinder j; above this cylinder is the slide
valve, the spindle of which is connected to one end of the link k; the other end
of this link is jointed to a block fitting in the slotted link ; this link is fixed to
the rocking lover ; the ends of the lever are connected by the links to the
hammer heads of a fulling machine, as shewn in the Drawing, or to the plungers of
a steam pump, or to the cross head of a steam engine, or otherwise. The position of
the block in the slotted link is regulated by the lever m, which is connected to the
link by the link m¹. When the block is moved further from the fulcrum of the
rocking lever, the valve j¹ uncovers the steam port sooner than before, and con-
sequently moves the slide valves i to reverse the motion of the pistons g³ in the
steam cylinders g, thereby shortening the stroke. The contrary action takes placo
when the block is brought nearer to the fulcrum of the rocking lever. In steam
engines with a cut-off apparatus the piston would be connected to the expansion
slide. This improved mode of varying the length of the stroke of the piston is
especially applicable to pumping engines and steam hammers.
On Sheet 3 Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section of a plunger connected to a
throttle valve; Fig. 7 is a vertical section, and Fig. 8 a horizontal section of our
improved throttle and stop valve. In Fig. 6 n is a plunger working in a stuffing
box in the pump barrel o, near the lower end of which is the valve p, connected to
the delivery pipe of a pump, and at the other side of the barrel is the discharge
valve q. The plunger n is weighted by a lever or spring, and above it is connected
to the spindle of the throttle valve 8, slewn best in Fig. 7, or to any other suitable
throttle valve; the valves fits in the cylindrical seating t, fixed in the case u, which
is in communication with the steam pipe at one side, and with the steam cylinder
at the other; above the seating t is the stop valve v, which is raised and lowered by
the hand wheel and screwed spindle, as shewn. The valve s and seating t are pro-
vided with annular recesses and openings, which form the ports for the passage of
the steam. When this apparatus is at work the water from the pump raises the
valve p to admit water under the plunger n. If the pressure on the water over-
comes the weight on the plunger, the plunger rises and partially closes the ports in
the throttle valve, thereby reducing the pressure of steam in the steam cylinder, and
keeping the pump or engine to its proper speed; the contrary action takes place
when the plunger descends.
8
When the pump ceases to draw, the plunger n will descend to the bottom of the
pump barrel, thereby closing the throttle valve and stopping the engine and pump;
or on the breaking down of an ordinary centrifugal governor, the throttle valve will
instantly close and shut off the steam.
By means of the screws and hand wheels shewn, the ingress and egress of the

page_text: water can be regulated, and by this means the number of strokes of the engine or
pump can be varied.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention and described the manner of per-
forming the same, we declare that we claim,-
First. The improved ejector condensor, shewn in Fig. 1, when used in the manner
and for the purposes described.
Secondly. The improved mode of actuating the slide or other valve of a steam
engine or steam pump by the working steam from the steam cylinder, as shewn and
described in reference to Figs. 2 and 3.
Thirdly. The application of a rocking lever and slotted link combined with an
auxiliary steam cylinder for actuating the valves of steam engines or steam pumps,
as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 4 and 5.
Fourthly. The combination of a plunger with a throttle valve for regulating the
number of strokes and for stopping a steam engine or pump, as shewn and described
in reference to Fig. 6.
And, lastly. The improved throttle and stop valve, as shewn and described in
reference to Figs. 7 and 8.
-
In witness whereof, we, the said George Ben Goodfellow and Samuel Hallam,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.