Improvements in Automatic Cylinder Draining and Back Pressure Relief Valve Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
Improvements in Automatic Cylinder Draining and Back Pressure
Relief Valve Apparatus.
I, ALFRED AUSTIN RICKABY, of Bloomfield Engine Works, Sunderland, in the County
of Durham, 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 :—
The apparatus consists of a box communicating with the ends of the steam engine
cylinder and with the condenser, or atmosphere, and having fitted in it two valves
automatically operated by the steam alternately, the one closing as the other opens,
by their spindles abutting with each other. These valves, or their seats, are fitted
with buffer washers so as to work quite noiselessly and without injury from concussion.
Means are provided for blowing through the entire apparatus when required.
Referring to the drawing herewith, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus,
Fig. 2 a cross section through X-X on Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is an external view in plan.
The flanges A A¹ are connected by pipes to the ends of the steam engine cylinder
and open into the apparatus, being connected by a passage B in which is a cock C
which can be opened when necessary to "flush" or blow through the apparatus, D is
a branch communicating with the condenser or, in high pressure engines, with an
outlet to a tank open to the atmosphere. Between the two ends of the case is cast a
cavity E bored out to receive the two valves F F¹ inserted through openings G G¹
which are then fitted with washers H H¹ screwed in. The spindles J J¹ of the two
valves abut and are provided with wings K K¹ (preferably three) on each to guide
them truly in the cavity E, the valve faces L L' on the cavity are faced, as also the
screwed ring washers H H¹ and are each provided with some elastic or yielding
material M as vulcanised rubber, leather, or any suitable material, to take the shock
of the valves in opening and closing and so to prevent any noise and undue wear and
tear.
The operation is as follows:-
Steam being admitted into the end of the main cylinder corresponding to the
branch A fills the communication pipes and closes the valve F opening at the same
time the valve F¹ and the exhaust steam or water of condensation from the opposite
side of the main piston flows through the passage B and the valve F¹ as indicated by
the arrows, by the branch D to the condenser or atmosphere as the case may be. The
piston, having completed this stroke, the reverse action takes place the steam
admitted at the opposite side closing the valve F¹ and opening the valve F, both
noiselessly and so the operation continues the piston being relieved of back pressure
by the instant opening of the valves F and F¹ alternatively and any water of
condensation is at the same time discharged. When it is necessary to flush the
apparatus, as where there is a long range of pipes between the engine and apparatus
and the boilers, the cock C (which may either be a hollow cock as shewn or a
solid straight through cock) is opened before the engine is started and the
condensation water is discharged through the branch D when the cock must be
closed.

page_text: In some cases, where the engine is close to the boilers and the apparatus close
to the engine, the cock C may be dispensed with as may also the passage B by
slightly modifying the construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved method of fitting automatic relief valve apparatus with elastic
or yielding faces or "beats" for the valves to prevent noise and injury from
concussion substantially as described and in one form shewn.
2. The improved automatic back pressure and condensation water relief apparatus
comprising the various parts combined, constructed and operating substantially as
described and shewn.
Dated this 7th day of January 1898.
T. J. DANSON,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, Agent for Applicant.