IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVE APPARATUS FOR STEAM PUMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Mason, of 14, Southampton Buildings, London, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO VALVE APPARATUS FOR STEAM PUMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 26th May 1876, and dated the 8th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Mason at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th February 1876.
CHARLES MASON, of 14, Southampton Buildings, London, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVE APPARATUS FOR STEAM
PUMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
First. An ordinary D valve having a bracket or prolongation on its back works
against the three-ported valve face of the cylinder. This valve face has the ports
near together, as is usual, but has a much longer blank surface beyond the outer
side of each steam port than is generally the case. The bracket cast on the back of
the valve is securely held by a valve spindle having a piston at each end working
steam-tightly by means of piston rings or other packing in cylindrical or other casings.
These casings are freely open to the steam chest on the inner side nearest the valve,
but have no opening into them beyond the piston, except the steam passage to be
hereafter described.
2d. These piston casings are firmly fixed to the valve face of the cylinder, the
casting joining them usually forming the steam chest. In the large blank surfaces
of the steam chest on each side of the ports I construct two smaller ports quite clear
of the travel of the main valve. Of these ports the ones nearest the main valve ports
are connected with the exhaust, the others with the steam passages before described
to opening respectively into the casings behind the aforesaid pistons. Two small
valves, hereafter called motion valves, work against the valve face opposite these
two pair of ports, and are connected together and grasped by the same valve bracket
or spindle. This valve bracket usually encircles the main valve, passing round each
side of it without touching it, and is attached at each end to spindles working in
stuffing boxes in the ordinary manner. Or instead of passing round the inain valve
the spindle can pass through a hole or tunnel in the said valve made in it for the
purposes. Supposing the valve to be working vertically for convenience sake the
following is the mode of action:-The motion valve spindle being slowly lowered
exposes the steam port of the upper motion valve to the steam in the steam chest.
I Price T

page_text: The said steam rushes through the steam passage to the upper side of the upper
valve piston, and depresses it; at the same time by a precisely similar but opposite
process the steam below the lower valve piston is admitted to the exhaust. The
two pistons in descending move the valve, and thus let steam into the upper port
of the engine cylinder, causing the piston to descend. This reverses the motion of
the "motion valve" spindle, which in its turn reverses the main valve, and thus
causes the return stroke, and so on indefinitely.
The pump valves can be made of any usual construction, but I prefer to make
their seatings moveable, so that they can be taken out and replaced without pulling
the pump to pieces. For this purpose I usually make a small hand hole in the valve
chest large enough to exhibit the valve and valve seating at one or preferably at
both ends of each valve. The valve seating can be V or dovetail shape or cylin-
drical, the sides of the valve box being planed or bored to fit it. The valve seats
are then pressed into their place from one side.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Charles Mason in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August 1876.
CHARLES MASON, of 14, Southampton Buildings, London, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVE APPARATUS FOR STEAM
PUMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
1st. An ordinary D valve having a bracket or prolongation on its back works
against the three-ported valve face of the cylinder. This valve face has the ports
near together, as usual, but has a much longer blank surface beyond the outer side
of each steam port than is generally the case. The bracket cast on the back of the
valve is securely held by a valve spindle, having a piston at each end working
steam-tightly by means of piston rings or other packing in cylindrical or other
casings. These casings are freely open to the steam chest on the inner side nearest
the valve, but have no openings into them beyond the piston, except the steam
passage to be hereafter described.
2nd. These piston casings are firmly fixed to the valve face of the cylinder, the
casting joining them usually forming the steam chest. In the large blank surfaces
of the steam chest on each side of the ports I construct two smaller ports quite clear
of the travel of the main valve. Of these ports the one nearest the main valve ports
are connected with the exhaust, the others with the steam passages before described,
opening respectively in the casings behind the aforesaid pistons. Two small auxillry
valves work against the valve face opposite these two pair of ports, and are con-
nected together and grasped by the same valve bracket or spindle. This bracket
usually encircles the main valve, passing round each side of it without touching it,
and is attached at each end to spindles working in stuffing boxes in the ordinary
manner. Or instead of passing round the main valve the spindle can pass through
a hole or tunnel in the said valve made in it for the purpose. Supposing the valve
to be working vertically for convenience sake the following is the node of action:-
The auxilliary valve spindle being slowly lowered exposes the steam port of the
upper auxilliary valve to the steam in the steam chest. The said steam rushes
through the steam passage to the upper side of the upper valve piston, and depresses
it; at the same time by a precisely similar but opposite process the steam below
the lower valve piston is admitted to the exhaust. The two pistons in descending
move the valve, and thus let steam into the upper port of the engine cylinder,
causing the piston to descend. This reverses the motion of the auxilliary spindle,
which in its turn reverses the main valve, and thus causes the return stroke, and so
on indefinitely.
The pump valves can be made of any usual construction, but I prefer to make
the seatings removeable, so that they can be taken out and replaced without

page_text: pulling the pump to pieces. For this purpose I usually make a small hand hole in
the valve chest large enough to extract the valve and valve seating. At one, or
preferably at both ends of each valve, the valve seating can be dovetail shape or
cylindrical, the sides of the valve box being being planed to fit it. The valve
seats are then pressed into their place from one side.
EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a plan of steam valves section through spindle stuffing box; Fig. 2,
vertical section longitudinally through same; Fig. 3, transverse vertical section
through main valve and exhaust ports. In these A is the main steam valve, with
bracket B at back fitting into slot in valve piston rod C; D, D', valve pistons; E,
main exhaust port; F, main steam ports; G, G¹, auxilliary valves on spindle H, H;
I, I, auxilliary exhaust ports; J, J, auxilliary steam ports leading through passages
K, K¹, into space L, L', behind pistons D, D¹.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section through cylindrical valves and valve seats of pump
chamber. In these M, M, are the valves; N, N, the seats turned to accuratley fit
their bored sockets. At each end of these valves is a hand hole and lid in the valve
chest. On taking off both lids the valve seat can be pushed out. I prefer this
arrangement to having a hand hole only at one side and drawing the valve seat out,
as should the seat stick tight in its socket it is very difficult to extract it unless
there is a hole at the other end through which to assist by pressure the efforts to
pull the valve seat out.
Fig. 5 is another modification, in which the valve's cot and socket are accurately
planed to suit the scat, being dovetailed, as shown, into its socket. It is driven in
from the side, and withdrawn the same way, precisely as in the last case.
Fig. 6, another form of valve.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim broadley the use of
auxilliary valves, nor yet of the arrangement of pistons herein shown and described
for moving the main valve, as these are old and well known, but what I believe to
be knew and desire to claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is,—
1st. Arranging the auxilliary valves supplying steam to the valve moving pistons
between the said valve moving pistons and the main steam cylinder at each end of the
main slide valve, and quite independentley of the said main slide valve, said auxilliary
valves being moved by a spindle or its equivalent actuated by mechanism outside
the cylinder and valve chest.
2nd. The special arrangement of valves and valve rods, frame, or spindles, sub-
stantially as described.
3rd. Arranging the valve seats of a steam or double-acting pump of a dovetailed
wedge or cylindrical form turned, planed, or fitted in such manner that they can be
driven into position and afterwards extracted from their sockets through hand holes
made on the sides of the valve chest opposite said valve seats.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Mason, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord 1876.
CHIPITC ALA CON