A NEW APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, of 32, Essex
Street, Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for
the Invention of "A NEW APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM
ENGINES." A communication.
Sealed the 3rd November 1855, and dated the 26th May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th May 1855.
I, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 32, Essex Street, Strand,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NEW APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE
SPEED OF STEAM ENGINES," a communication, to be as follows; and consists
in the application of the throttle and cut-off valves for the purpose of con-
trolling the supply of steam to the engine by the velocity of the current of
steam in the steam pipe or passage between the boiler and the engine.
The chief parts are a steam pipe, by which the steam passes from the boiler
to the cylinder; a throttle-valve seat of cylindrical form, having passages
through its sides, but having a close cap; a throttle valve, consisting of au
inverted cylindrical cup with an over-hanging flanch, the cup fitting easily over
the seat. This valve has a piston connected to it above, and working in an
open-bottom cylinder, but which is closed at the top, with the exception of a

page_text: small central opening fitted with a valve, arranged to open by pressure of
steam from the boiler, but to close by back pressure. The throttle valve has
a number of openings in its crown to admit steam to the space between it and
the cap of its seat, so that all of its opposite points are alike exposed to the
pressure of the steam, and can only be acted upon by the current of steam on
the way from the boiler to the engine striking its outside flanch. A spring
is coiled round the stem of the piston, and is supported by a collar fitting
loosely to the rod, & supported by a fork attached to a transverse shaft, which
passes through a stuffing box on one side of the steam pipe. This spring has
a tendency to lift the throttle valve & its piston, and increase the opening of
the passages, and acts in opposition to the current of steam, which tends to
diminish the opening of the passages. The spring is so adjusted by means
of the lever i that its tension will balance the action of the current of the
steam on the valve, and will hold the valve in a position to give the passages
a width of opening proportionate to the speed required for the engine.
When the slide or other induction valve is open, the steam passes round
the cylinder and around the throttle valve before arriving at the passages in
the valve seat; it also opens the small valve in the cylinder, which it enters
above the piston, which is balanced by the equal pressure below and above.
Any increase in the pressure of steam or dimination of resistance on the
engine will cause the current through the steam pipe to increase in velocity,
and act upon the valve so as to contract the opening of the passages to
diminish the supply of steam; and any diminution of pressure or increase of
resistance will diminish the velocity of the current, and cause the opening
of the passages to be increased, and increase the supply of steam. Every time
the engine passes the centre the current of steam is checked, and a reactionary
effect is given, tending to drive back or open the throttle valve suddenly, but
which is prevented by the steam in the cylinder above the piston, which almost
as soon as the reaction of the valve commences has its pressure increased
sufficiently to close the small valve, and is only allowed to escape at a small
aperture in the side of the cylinder, and which is provided with a fixed valve
adjustable by a screw to regulate the opening. The greatest opening which
the throttle valve shall be capable of giving is regulated by an eccentric stop
on a spindle passing through a stuthing box in the side of the steam pipe above
the valve. The cut-off valve seat consists of a tapered channel extending
round the pipe, and having an opening round the middle of its bottom, & a
ring with paralleld sides supported above the middle of the said channel by two
or more stands. The cut-off valve consists of a ring, with a cavity to fit &
work freely over the ring first named of the seat, and has a number of open-

page_text: ings to admit steam to the cavity above the ring of the seat. Above the
valve a lifting plate is connected to it by arms, & to the lifting plate a
piston is connected by a stem. In the centre of & partly below the valve is
attached a hollow guide working in a fixed guide below the valve seat. The
said piston fits to a cylinder having a valve at the top & an opening in one
side furnished with a valve. The cut-off valve rests upon a spring, coiled
within the hollow guide around a rod, & is supported by a piston secured
to the bottom of said rod, and fits loosely in the guide. This spring tends to
lift the valve, and open wide the passage under the ring. At the commence-
ment of the stroke the cut-off valve is raised to the highest position, to give
the greatest width of opening, which is regulated by an excentric stop on a
spindle. In some cases the valve may require assistance in opening. This
is given by a lifter placed loosely on a transverse spindle, furnished with a tooth
to be operated upon by another tooth attached to a rock shaft deriving motion
from the engine; or, instead of the lifter, an adjustable stop may be employed,
so as to prevent the cut-off valve coming close down to the bottom of its scat.
When the induction valve covers the port, the current of steam being checked,
the steam between the valve & its seat balances that above, and allows the
valve to be raised by the spring.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUSTE
EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 32, Essex Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, Her special licence that I, the
said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within

page_text: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED
OF STEAM ENGINES," (a communication,) upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The principal feature of this Invention consists in the novel application of
the throttle and cut-off valves for the purpose of controlling the supply of steam
to the engine by the velocity of the current of steam in the steam pipe or
passage between the boiler and the engine.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the Invention, Fig. 1 representing
a vertical section of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a horizontal section in the line, x,
of Fig. 1, which is just above the throttle valve; Fig. 3, a horizontal section
in the line y, y, of Fig. 1, which is just above the cut-off valve seat, the cut-
off valve being removed; and Fig. 4, a perspective view of the cut-off valve and
its appendages detached.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several
Figures.
A is the steam pipe or passage down which the steam passes from the boiler
to the cylinder; B is the throttle-valve seat, which is of cylindrical form,
having passages a, a, a, through its sides, but having a close cup b; C is the
throttle valve, which consists of an inverted cylindrical cup with an over-
hanging flanch, the cup fitting easily over the seat B. This valve has a
piston D connected to it above by a stem c, the said piston working in a small
cylinder E, which has an open bottom, but which is closed at the top, with the
exception of a small central opening d, which opening is fitted with a small
valve e, arranged to open by pressure of steam from the boiler, but to close by
back
pressure. The throttle valve has a number of openings f, f, in its
crown, to admit steam to the space between it and the cap b of its seat, so
that all its opposite points are alike exposed to the pressure of the steam,
and it can only be acted upon by the current of steain on the way from the
boiler to the engine striking its outside flanch. F is a spring, which is coiled
around the stem c, and is supported by a collar G, which fits loosely to the rod,

page_text: the said collar being supported by a fork g attached to a transverse shaft h
which passes through a stuffing box on one side of the pipe A. This spring
F has a tendency to lift the throttle valve and its piston, and increase the
opening of the passages a, a, a, and acts in opposition to the current of steam
which tends to diminish the opening of the passages. The spring is so
adjusted by means of a lever i attached to the shaft h outside the pipe, that its
tension will balance the action of the current of the steam on the valve, and will
hold the valve in a position to give the passages a, a, a, a width of opening pro-
portionate to the speed required for the engine. The steam in passing through
the pipe A, when the slide or other induction valve of the engine is open,
passes around the cylinder E, and around the valve C, as indicated by arrows
in Fig. 1, before arriving at the passages a, a, a. It also opens the valve e,
and enters the cylinder E above the piston D, which is balanced by the equal
pressure below and above it. Any increase in the pressure of steam or
diminution of resistance on the engine will cause the current through the
pipe A to increase in velocity, and to act upon the valve so as to contract the
opening of the passages a, a, a, to diminish the supply of steam; and any
diminution of pressure or increase of resistance will diminish the velocity of
the current, and cause the opening of the said passages to be increased to
increase the supply of steam. Every time tho engines passes the centre the
current through the pipe A is checked, and a reactionary effect is given to
the steam, which tends to drive back or open the throttle valve C suddenly;
but this sudden opening is prevented by the steam in the cylinder E, above the
piston D, which almost as soon as the reaction of the valve commences has
its pressure increased sufficiently to close the valve c, and is only allowed to
escape at a small aperture ; in the side of the said cylinder. The steam thus
confined above the piston acts as a cushion to the valve, and only allows it to
open very slowly when reaction takes place. The aperture ; in the cylinder E
is provided with a fixed valve k, which is adjustable by a screw 7 to regulate
the opening of the aperture j, and thus by controlling the escape of steam
through the said aperture to control the opening of the valve. This same
steam cushion also serves to prevent the too sudden opening of the throttle
valve by a sudden check to the current of steam produced by any suddenly
increased resistance to the engine. The greatest opening which the throttle
valve shall be capable of giving is regulated by an eccentric stop p on a
spindle o,
which passes through a stuffing box in the side of the pipe A above
the valve. By turning this spindle o the position of the stop is changed to
allow the water a greater or less opening.
H, m, I, is the cut-off valve seat. This consists of a tapered channel H,

page_text: extending all around the pipe, and having an opening in all round the middle
of its bottom, and a ring I with parallel sides, supported above the middle of
the said channel by two or more stands n, n. The cut-off valve, which is
shown in perspective in Fig. 4, as well as in the section in Fig. 1, consists of
a ring J, with a cavity r to fit and work freely over the ring I of the seat,
and with a number of openings q, q, in the top to admit steam into the
cavity above the ring I. Above the valve, a disc K, which may be termed
the lifting plate, is connected to it by arms 8, s, and to the lifting plate a
piston L is connected by a stem t. In the centre of and partly below the
valve there is attached to it, by means of arms u, u, a hollow guide M, which
works in a fixed guide N below the valve seat. The piston L fits to a
cylinder E', which resembles the cylinder E, having a valve e¹ at the top
resembling the valve e, and an opening j' in one side furnished with a valve k¹.
The cut-off valve rests upon a spring P, which is coiled within the hollow
guide M around a rod S, and is supported by a piston v, which is secured to
the bottom of the said rod, and fits loosely in the guide M. The rod S is
suspended from an arm w on a transverse shaft z, which works through a
stuffing box in one side of the pipe A, and is furnished outside with an arni i³,
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This springs tends to lift the valve and
open wide the passage under the ring J. The valve and its appendages,
viz., the piston and lifting plate, except when the valve is closed, and
resting at the bottom of the channel H, are exposed on all opposite points to
an equal pressure of steam, and are only acted upon by the current of steam
passing through the pipe from the boiler to the engine. At the commence-
ment of the stroke of the engine the cut-off valve is raised to the highest
position, to give the greatest width of opening, which is regulated by an
eccentric stop p¹ on a spindle o', which passes through a stuffing box in the
side of the pipe, in order to enable the step to be adjusted. When the stroke
of the engine piston commences, the current of steam through the pipe A,
taking the direction of the arrows, is slow, and insufficient to overcome the
spring P, and move the cut-off valve, but its velocity and consequently its force
increases as the piston progresses, and by the time the piston has attained the
desired speed its force is sufficient to drive the valve down to the bottom of
the channel H, and entirely shut off the steam. When the valve has reached
this position, the pressure of the steam, acting upon a surface equal to the
area of its bottom face, will be sufficient to keep it closed, in which condition
it must remain until after the slide or other induction valve covers the port
of the engine.
In order to open the valve ready for the commencement of the next

page_text: stroke of the engine piston, it is only necessary, the induction valve being
closed, to raise it in the least degree from the bottom of the channel H to
admit steam under it, and it will be immediately opened full by the spring P.
The raising of the valve is effected by means of a lifter Q acting under the
lifting plate K. This lifter is placed loosely on a transverse spindle secured
in the pipe A, and it is furnished with a tooth 6, to be operated upon by a
tooth 7 attached to a rock shaft R, which passes through the pipe and derives
motion from the engine. The tooth 7 comes into operation at the proper
time on the tooth 6, and the lifter starts the valve. The too rapid opening of
the cut-off valve is prevented by the cushioning of the steam in the cylinder E¹,
which operates in a similar manner to the cylinder E in connection with the
throttle valve. The cut-off valve being closed when the steam reaches a
certain velocity, it is obvious that when the pressure increases in the boiler,
or the resistance of the engine is diminished, the piston will have attained the
velocity at which it is desired to cut off the steam at an earlier point in its
stroke, and thus the steam will be cut off earlier; and when the pressure in
the boiler diminishes, or the resistance of the engine increases, the opposite
effect will be produced. The cushioning of the steam in the cylinder E', in
addition to its preventing the too sudden opening of the cut-off valve, serves
in a measure to regulate the amount of its opening, as the quicker the stroke
of the engine the less time will be allowed for the return of the piston L, and
escape of steam through the opening j, and consequently the less will be the
opening of the cut-off valve.
The lifter Q, and the mechanism for operating it, may be dispensed with by
employing an adjustable stop p³, like p or p', below the lifting plate K, as
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, said stop being always so adjusted as to prevent
the cut-off valve coming close down to the bottom of its seat, but to allow it
to come so near that the steam passing it will be inconsiderable. When the
slide or other induction valve covers the port, the current of steam being
chuked, the steam between the valve and its seat balances that above, and
allows the valve to be raised by the action of the spring P.
These automatic throttle and cut-off valves may be used either with or
without a common governor. If a governor be employed, it will render the
operation more perfect. The governor would be connected to the levers i
and of the shafts h and, in such a manner that as the speed of the engine
tends to increase, it lowers the collar G and the rod S, and tends to weaken
the springs F and P, and thus allow the current of steam to be more effective
on the valves; and that if the speed of the engine tend to diminish, the
opposite effects would be produced. If no governor is used, some means of

page_text: may anjusted nana, give
e engine
Tess power.
CLAIM.
First, the construction and arrangement of the throttle valve C and its
seat B, and the application thereto of a variable spring F, substantially as
described, whereby the velocity of the current of steam from the boiler towards
the engine is made to operate upon and control the amount of opening the
valve.
Second, the construction and arrangement of the cut-off valve J and its
seat H, m, I, and the application to the said valve of a variable spring P,
substantially as described, whereby the valve is made to cut off the supply of
steam from the boiler to the engine as soon as the current of steam through
the passage leading from the boiler to the engine shall have attained a certain
velocity.
Third, I claim the employment, in connection with the throttle and cut-off
valves, for the purpose of regulating and preventing the too sudden opening
of the said valves, of pistons D and K, working in cylinders E and E', which
are provided with valves e and e¹, and adjustable valves k and k¹, the said
pistons, cylinders, and valves operating substantially as herein set forth.
Fourth, the method of starting the cut-off valve when closed, substantially
as herein described, by means of the lifter Q, furnished with a tooth or teeth to
be operated upon by a tooth or teeth carried by a rock shaft R, which receives
motion from the engine.
Fifth, providing for the opening of the cut-off valve by means of the spring P,
as soon as the slide or other induction valve covers the port of the steam
cylinder, by the employment, substantially as described, of a stop på to prevent
the entire closing of the said valve.
In witness whereof, I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
A. E. LORADOUX BELLFORD. (L.S.)