Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 16th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 17th May, 1887.
Wo, RICHARD WOODHOUSE, of Clifton Bridge Iron Works, Brighouse in the
County of York, Engineer, and GEORGE GRAY RHODES, of No. 3 Primrose Hill,
Bradford, in the said County, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of horizontal compound
tandem steam engines commonly known as the "Pollitt & Wigzell" type in which
the high and low pressure cylinders are bolted together by the end flanges.
Our object is to so construct the high pressure cylinder and valves, that the boiler
pressure is more fully utilized than by the valves and steam ports of the cylinders in
ordinary use on this type of engine; and to arrange the exhaust valves in such a
manner, that they are clear of the foundation or bed plate, without the material
alteration of the latter, and also the placing of such valves in such position as to
admit of the same being operated by the present eccentric and rods.
We accomplish our object in the following manner :-We secure the high pressure
cylinder to the low pressure cylinder as hitherto, but instead of adopting slide valves
and long steam ports, with one of the piston rods working through openings in the
same, we apply valves of the "Corliss" principle, by which both glands of the low-
pressure piston rods stuffing boxes are accessible at all times, and the boiler pressuro
on the piston more fully utilized than is the case with the valves and steam ports
constructed as hitherto.
By our arrangement of valves, the eccentric and rod that have hitherto worked the
expansion valve of the high pressure, may be utilized for operating the wrist plate for
working the steaming valves, while the exhaust valves, which we place at such an
inclination that they clear the foundation or bed plate, are operated through suitable
levers and links connected to the eccentric rod which works the main valves of the
low pressure cylinder, by which means, the exhaust valves of the high pressure
cylinder are operated in relation to the steaming of the slide valve of the low pressure
cylinder, thereby utilizing the eccentrics and rods used for working the slide valves,
for operating valves of the Corliss principle.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Steam Engines.
We, RICHARD WOODHOUSE of Clifton Bridge Iron Works, Brighouse, in the
County of York, Engineer, and GEORGE GRAY RHODES, of No. 3 Primrose Hill,
Bradford, in the said County, 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 :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of horizontal compound
steam engines commonly known as the "Pollitt and Wigzell type," in which the high
and low pressure cylinders are bolted together by the end flanges.
Our object is to so construct the high pressure cylinder and valves that the boiler
pressure is more fully utilized than with the valves and steam ports of cylinders in
ordinary use on this type of engine; and to arrange the exhaust valves in such a
manner that they are clear of the foundation or bed plate without any material
alteration of the latter or removal from its position; and also the placing of the
valves in such a position, so as to allow of the same being operated by the present
eccentrics and rods; and consists of dispensing with the slide valves and long steam
ports through which one of the piston rods of the low pressure cylinder works, and
applying valves of the "Corliss" principle so arranged that the wrist plate of the
steaming valves is operated by the present eccentric and rod for working the expansion
slide valves of the high pressure cylinder, whilst the exhaust valves we place at such
an inclination that, they are clear of the foundation or bed plate, and are operated by
levers and links connected to the eccentric rod for working the main slide valves of
the low pressure cylinder; thus operating the exhaust valves of the high pressure in
relation to the steaming of the slide valves of the low pressure cylinder.
In order that our invention may be better understood, we will further describe the
same by making reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Fig. 1
represents a side elevation of such portions of a "Pollitt and Wigzell" type of
horizontal compound tandem steam engine as are necessary to illustrate our invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and Fig. a section through line a, b, drawn to a larger
scale, shewing the inclination of the exhaust valves. In all the figures, similar letters
indicate similar parts where they appear.
We secure the high pressure cylinder A, to the low pressure cylinder B by the
flanges C as hitherto, but instead of adopting slide valves with long steam ports
prepared for one of the piston rods D to work through the same as hitherto, we
supplement valves of the "Corliss" principle, by which arrangement both stuffing
boxes E of the low pressure cylinder piston rods D. D. are accessible at all times, and
steam admitted more freely into the high pressure cylinder A; thereby obtaining
an initial pressure approaching more closely to that in the boiler; thus utilizing the
boiler pressure more economically than is the case with the slide valve and long
steam ports constructed as hitherto.

page_text: The steaming and exhaust valves are of the "Corliss" principle as before mentioned,
the valves being attached to the spindles and enclosed by the respective boxes or
casings F and F¹, the spindles G of the steaming valves being fitted with the usual
"trip" motion, and in connection with the ordinary dash pot or cushion cylinder H,
and are operated through the connecting rods J, J, by the wrist plate K, actuated by
the eccentric rod L, which has hitherto worked the expansion slide valves of the high
pressure cylinder.
The exhaust valve boxes or casings F¹ we place at an inclination somewhat as shewn
by the sectional end view Fig. 3, so that they clear the foundation or bed plate M.
without any material alteration of the same; and on each exhaust valve spindle G¹
we secure a lever N, and connect same by rod P, to a stud secured in the lug R,
forming part of each adjustable slide S, secured on the main slide valve spindle T of the
low pressure cylinder; the stud in each lug being at the same angle as the exhaust valve
spindle G, so that on the operation of the said valve spindle T, by the eccentric
rod T', the exhaust valves are operated in relation to the steaming of the slide valve
of the low pressure cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
A horizontal compound steam engine in which is combined with a cylinder fitted
with "Corliss" valves, a cylinder having an ordinary slide valve or valves for
regulating the admission of steam into and escape from the said cylinder, all arranged
substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
A horizontal compound steam engine in which the exhaust valves are placed at an
inclination, and operated by rods in connection with levers and an eccentric rod or
spindle.