✓ MENTS IN SLIDE VALVES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Sault, of New Haven, Connecticut, United
States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County, of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
✓ MENTS IN SLIDE VALVES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Sault at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the 22nd
August 1867.
I, THOMAS SAULT, of New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America,
now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDE VALVES," to be as follows:-
· These improvements relate to means for preventing friction between a slide
valve and its seat, or bearing and the consequent wearing of the surfaces of
the same, and the said improvements consist chiefly in supporting the valve
upon-rollers provided with means for adjustment, whereby the proximity of
the said valve to its seat can be-regulated with great facility and accuracy

page_text: Each
The said rollers are carried upon the ends of spindles or axles which extend
laterally across the valve and roll upon adjustable bearing surfaces attached to
the same.
The rollers travel upon the seat of the valve or upon metal strips
made parallel with the said seat, and the bearing surfaces of the spindles are
also made parallel with the faces of the valve and seat. The rollers are pre-
ferably formed of chilled iron, but may also be constructed of steel or case-
hardened iron. Any desired number of rollers may be employed according to the
Size and construction of the valve. The said rollers may be made of any desired
width and diameter; and may be formed solidly upon their axles or spindles
or attached thereto in any convenient manner. The said spindles are by
preference formed of steel, and hardened. These spindles are preferably
arranged to extend through brackets attached to the back of the valve, and
these brackets are formed with apertures of sufficient width to allow the
spindles to roll upon their bearing surfaces as the valve travels to the end of
its stroke in each direction. These brackets have feet which are planed and
fitted upon surfaces formed on the back of the valve, the said surfaces being
planed or otherwise made parallel with the working face of the valve.
of the said brackets is formed with a circular recess or chamber in the upper
portion bored exactly perpendicular or at right angles to the surface of the
feet of the bracket, and is fitted to receive a circular plate which is formed
of steel or other metal capable of being hardened. The flat surface of this
plate forms the bearing for the roller spindle, and is made exactly-parallel
with the bearing surfaces of the valve and rollers. The upper. part of the
circular plate is preferably formed with a projecting stud or guide which fits
a corresponding hole extending upward from the circular chamber in each
bracket. This stud and hole serve to keep the plate steady in whatever
position it may be adjusted. Each bracket is provided with an adjusting
screw, which extends through its back and is provided, with a lock nut or other
The end of the latter
means for preventing the slackening of the said screw.
bears against the stud on the circular plate which can thereby be readily
adjusted to regulate the proximity of the face of the valve to the face of its
seat or bearing. Square or other shaped pieces may be employed instead of
the circular plates to form bearing surfaces for the roller spindles, and the
devices for adjusting the same may be varied, but such bearing and adjusting
devices must be such as will always keep the bearing surface of the spindles
parallel with those of the roller.. The brackets may in some cases be dis
pensed with and apertures formed in the back or other portions of the valve
for the roller spindles to work in. Flat pieces of steel are arranged acros
the said apertures to form the bearing surfaces for the spindles. These fla
F-

page_text: pieces are attached to the valve by screws and are thereby adjusted to regulate
the distance of the valve from its seat.
Where: it is necessary to economize space, portions of the rollers may be
cut away forming cylindrical sections, with just, sufficient rolling surface to
allow the valve to travel to the end of its stroke, thereon in each direction.
In this case, stops are provided to keep the said sections with their rolling
surface in the proper position upon their bearing surface.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Sault in, the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st January 1868, 1,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SAULT, of New-Haven, Connecticut, United States of America, now of No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
send greeting...
me,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by 'Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, fór Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
the said Thomas Sault, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Sault,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Sault, 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, exercisé,
and vend, within the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SLIDE VALVES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Sault, my executors
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or tlieir, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
Fascertain 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 Thomas Sault, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed; to be particularly described and ascertained in.and by the following

page_text: statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings
forming a part of this Specification :—
These improvements relate to means for preventing friction between a slide
valve and its seat or bearing, and the consequent wearing of the surfaces of
the same, and the said improvements consist chiefly in supporting the valve
upon rollers provided with means for adjustment, whereby the proximity of the
said valve to its seat can be.regulated with great facility and accuracy. The
said rollers are carried upon the ends of spindles or axles which extend
laterally across the valve and roll upon adjustable bearing surfaces attached
to the same. The rollers travel upon the seat of the valve or upon metal
strips made parallel with the said seat, and the bearing surfaces of the spindles
'are also made parallel with the faces of the valve and seat. The rollers may
be formed of steel, or chilled iron, or case-bardened iron. Any desired number
of rollers may be employed according to the size and construction 'of the valve.
The said rollers may be made of any desired width and diameter, and may be
formed solidly upon their axles or spindles or attached thereto in any con-
venient manner; the said spindles are by. preference formed of steel and
hardened. These spindles are preferably arranged to extend through brackets
attached to the back of the valve, and these brackets are formed with apertures
of sufficient width to allow the spindles to roll upon their bearing surfaces as
the valve travels to the end of its stroke in each direction. These brackets
have feet which are planed and fitted upon surfaces formed on the back of
the valve, the said surfaces being planed or otherwise made parallel with the
working face of the-said-valve. Each of the said brackets-is-formed-with-a
circular recess or chamber in the upper portion, which recess is bored or
otherwise formed exactly perpendicular or at right angles to the surface of
the feet of the bracket, and is fitted to receive a circular plate which is formed
of steel or other metal capable of being hardened. The flat surface of this
plate forms the bearing for the roller spindle or axle, and is made exactly
.parallel with the bearing surfaces of the valve and rollers. The upper part of
these circular plates is preferably formed with a projecting stud or guide
'which fits a corresponding hole extending upward from the circular chamber
in each bracket; this stud and hole serve to keep the plate steady in whatever
position it may be adjusted. Each bracket is provided with an adjusting screw
which extends through its back and is furnished with a lock nut or other
means for preventing the slackening of the said screw. The end of the latter
bears against the stud on the circular plate, which can [thereby be readily
adjusted to regulate the proximity of the face of the valve to the face of its
seat or bearing. Square or other shaped pieces may be employed instead of

page_text: devices for adjusting the same may be. varied, but these bearing and adjusting
devices must be such as will always keep the bearing surface of the spindles
parallel with those of the rollers. The brackets may in some cases be dispensed
5 with, and apertures fórmed in the back or other portions of the valve for the
roller spindles to work in. Flat pieces of steel are arranged across the said
apertures to form the bearing surfaces for the spindles. These flat pieces are
attached to the valve by screws, and are thereby adjusted to regulate the
'distance of the valve from its seat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a slide valve, valve chest
seating, and ports of a steam engine, showing the said valve provided with
my improved adjustable rollers.; Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the valve
hest showing the top or back of the said valve and its seat; Figures 3, and 4
are a plan and side elevation of my improved slide valve with parts of modified
construction. Like letters indicate corresponding parts in each of the
Figures.
A is the valve chest, and B the valve seat. à, a', are the steam ports.
leading to the cylinder, and b, b, are the exhaust ports which communicate
in the usual manner with the exhaust pipe. C is the slide valve, whichtis
formed with a cavity or chamber c in each of its ends C¹ to bring the steam
.ports into communication with the exhaust ports. The surfaces id around
these cavities are suitably faced to cover and lap the ports and to fit the valve
seat properly, while the part C of the valve is a skeleton frame which merėly
5 connects the ends C¹. This central portion is surrounded by the steam, só
that the pressure of the same upon this part of the valve is equal in all
directions. The two pairs of rollers e which may be of hardened steel or
chilled iron run on the ways f, which are also preferably faced with hardened
steel, and are made parallel with the valve:seat B. These rollers are formed
upon or firmly attached to opposite ends of the hardened steel axles g, one of
wlichiis arranged across each end C₁ of the valve. Each of these axles passes.
through two brackets or yokes h fixed upon the back of the valve; these
brackets or yokes are arranged close to the sides of the valve above the parts C¹
of the same.
Each of these brackets or yokes is bored. out or otherwise
-chambered to receive a hardened steel plate i; these plates are adjustable
perpendicularly to the face and seat of the valve by means of the set.screws j
which pass through the tops of the brackets h. The under or inner faces of

page_text: Lock nuts k
are fitted to the set screws on the top or back of the brackets h, or the said
screws are provided with other means for making them fast in any desired
position. The surfaces d of the valve around the cavities c and the seat B
having been properly faced and fitted to each. other. the valve is adjusted to
its seat in the following manner:-A sheet of tissue paper or other thin paper
is first laid smoothly upon the seat, and the valve with the rollers properly
attached is placed over the said paper, the set screws having been first un-
screwed or drawn back from the plates i; the valve is next' pressed and held
firmly down upon the paper by means of set screws inserted through strong
plates or bars temporarily fixed across the back of the valve chest before the
bonnet plate. A is put.on. While the valve is thus held against the seat the
screws are all screwed down to bring the circular plates i to a firm bearing
upon the axles g of the rollers.e, and to cause all of the said rollers to bear
properly upon the ways.f. The said screws are then secured by the nuts k.
The temporary bars and set screws just abové mentioned being then removed
the paper is taken from under the valve and the cover or bonnet of the valve
chest is secured upon the chest A. After being thus adjusted and set in
motion the valve will work in steam-tight contact with the seat, but without
any appreciable friction thereon. As the valve moves to and fro the pressure
of the plates i upon the axles g.produces the rotary motion of the latter, and
thereby causes the rollers'e to roll upon the ways f. It is obvious that in this
movement of the rollers and axles there is no rubbing action to produce friction,
and hence there is no appreciable resistance to-the-movement of the valve,
whatever may be the pressure of steam on the back of the same, and the valve
being suspended from the axles at points as close to the rollers as possible
there is no springing of the axles produced by this pressure.
the said plates are parallel with the face and seat of the valve.
Figures 3 and 4. show certain modifications in my improvements which I
prefer to adopt where it is necessary to economize space in the construction of
the valve chest and other parts connected with the same. Portions of the
rollers are cut away, forming curved sections c³ with just. sufficient rolling
surface c✶ to allow the valve to travel to the end of its stroke thereon in each
direction. In this case stops are provided to keep the said sections with their
rolling surface in the proper position upon their bearing surface or ways.
Having, thus fully described my said improvements, and shown how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,
First. A valve provided with rollers and axles constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially, as and for the purpose set forth..

page_text: Second. Suspending the valve from the said axles for the purpose and
substantially in the manner set forth.
Third. The adjustable plates i, adjusting screws j, and brackets h combined
with the slide valve C, rollers e, and axles g, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Fourth. The curved sections c united by the axles g and arranged upon the
valve C in combination with the stops I substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Sault, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witnesses,
HENRY LINES,
MATTHEW SAULT.
THOMAS SAULT. (L.S.)