Improvements in or Appertaining to Steadying, Controlling, and Buffering Apparatus for the Valves of Blowing Engines, Air Compressors, or the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Appertaining to Steadying, Controlling, and
Buffering Apparatus for the Valves of Blowing Engines, Air
Compressors, or the like.
We, JOHN SCARISBRICK WALKER, THOMAS ASCROFT WALKER and EDWIN ROBERT
WALKER all of Pagefield Iron Works Wigan in the County of Lancaster, Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for steadying, controlling and buffering valves,
more especially those valves which are employed in connection with the cylinders of
engines for forcing or exhausting air or other gaseous bodies.
The invention relates more particularly to improvements in that form of steadying
controlling and buffering apparatus which is set forth in our patent specifications
Nos: 1551 of 1882 and 13730 of 1884.
In this class of apparatus the valve is connected by suitable means with a con-
trolling spindle, which reciprocates with the movement of the valve, and the latter is
steadied controlled and buffered through the agency of this spindle and of devices
connected therewith. Each buffer block of india rubber or other suitable material is
in the form of an annulus which surrounds the spindle, and is either mounted upon it,
A fixed abutment
or upon a fixed abutment through which the spindle passes.
surrounding the spindle, or a disc or collar carried by the spindlo, is so arranged as to
be engaged by, or to engage, the buffer block just prior to the termination of the
valve's travel.
The annular block is approximately rectangular in cross section and the annular
recess of the "cup" within which it is mounted is of a similar shape in cross section.
The outer rim of the cup lies almost or quite close against the outer periphery of
the block, and the latter projects for some distance beyond the outer end of the
cup.
Now we have found that with blocks and cups of this shape, the former are very
soon destroyed by the repeated impacts to which they are subjected. We have also
found that the movements of the valve impart to the spindle a vibrating or quivering
motion which is very objectionable. Moreover we find that in some cases it is
advisable to buffer the inlet valve on its instroke, which has not usually been done
heretofore.
The objects of our improvements are therefore, briefly, 1st. to perfect the above
buffer block and cup arrangement, 2nd. to reduce or prevent the vibration in the
spindle and 3rd to extend the application of buffer blocks to the buffering of the inlet
valve on its instroke.
The invention may be carried into effect as follows:-
The blocks are, as before, made of an annular form, but in cross section they are
somewhat of a T shape, that is, the base or inner end of the annulus is widened out
so as to leave a projecting flange both on the inner and outer periphery of the annulus.
The outer periphery (and, if desired, the inner periphery also) of the block beyond
the base flanges instead of being parallel to the axis of the spindle is preferably made
to taper convergently, to a certain extent, from the base flanges to the outer end of
the block.
The block is preferably secured by its internal base flange to a plate carrying the
cup, or to the base of the cup itself by means of a flanged ferrule or stud, while
its external flange is preferably secured and retained in position in a similar manner
by an internal flange on the cup. The inner side of the cup facing the tapered

page_text: portion of the block recedes from the said tapered portion as the outer end of the
cup is approached, the said end being located either below or on a level with or
beyond the outer end of the block. The contour of the cross section of this receding
portion may, beastraight or it may-bercurved either: convexly or concavely.
The exact contour of the said receding, part and the position of the outer end of the
cup relative to that of the block will depend largely upon the character and the
amount of the work which the valve has to perform, and these details can only.
be determined by actual experiment. We have found, however, that with an
improved block and cup such as described, the life of the block is prolonged to a very
great extent and thus a serious item of expenditure is avoided.
The vibration of the spindle may be reduced or prevented, by causing a certain
amount of friction to be set up between it and one or more of its bearings, so,
that it moves somewhat sluggishly. To accomplish this, the step or bush of one
of the bearings, preferably the outer one is split longitudinally. A certain amount
of clearance being left between the opposing edges, so that the bore of the bush may
be slightly contracted when desired. An adjustable screwed spindle or a lever or
other equivalent adjustable device is arranged in such a manner that the bore of
the bush can be contracted and the friction on the spindle adjusted to a nicety.
To provide a larger frictional surface, it is preferable to form the spindle of a larger
diameter where it passes through the bearing. This may be conveniently accomplished.
by securing a ferrule or hollow cylinder upon the spindle in any suitable manner.
The increased friction is in some cases apt to heat the bearing, but we have found
that when carbonite or a similar lubricant is employed this heating is prevented.
In buffering the inlet valve on the instroke, the buffer block may be carried by 'a
cup attached to the spindle or to a stationary abutment surrounding the spindle in'
any suitable position. A suitable striking disc or abutment is provided to receive
the blow of the buffer block as before described. The buffer block and cup are
preferably of the improved form herein set forth. We attach the cup by preference
to the swelled portion of the spindle above described, or to the spindle itself where
such swelled portion is not employed.
Though the above improvements have been described in reference to the forms of
apparatus set forth in the patent specification's 'herein before cited, yet they may also
be applied advantageously to other forms of apparatus used in connection with valves?
Dated this 14th day of May 1889.
'
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents, for the. Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Appertaining to Steadying, Controlling, and
Buffering Apparatus for the Valves of Blowing Engines, Air
Compressors, or the like.
•
We, JOHN SCARISBRICK WALKER, THOMAS ASCROFT WALKER and EDWIN ROBERT
WALKER all of Pagefield. "Iron Works, Wigan in the County of Lancaster,
Engineers, 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 apparatus for steadying, controlling and buffering valves,
more especially those valves which are employed in connection with the cylinders of
engines for forcing or exhausting air or other gaseous bodies, such apparatus being
generally hereinafter called "controlling apparatus."
The invention relates more particularly to improvements in that form of steadying,
controlling and buffering apparatus which is set forth in our patent specifications
Nos. 1551 of 1882. and 13730 of 1884.
The construction of this apparatus, in so far as it relates to the present "invention,

page_text: :
may be understood from the accompanying drawing, which also illustrates the
improvements embodied in the present application. In these drawings:-
Figure 1 is a sectional plan of the controlling apparatus for the inlet valve, the
various parts being in the positions assumed when the said :valve is closed.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on line xa, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan, on the same scale as Figure 1, of the controlling
rapparatus for the outlet valve, the various parts being in the positions assumed when
the said valve is closed.
Each valve, whether inlet or outlet, is connected by suitable means, such as a
elink D. and piston C with as controlling spindle E, which reciprocates with the
movement of the valve, and the latter is steadied, controlled and buffered through the
agency of this spindle and of devices connected therewith. Each buffer block. (such
as JJJ) of india rubber or.other suitable material is in the form. of an annulus
which surrounds the spindle E, and is either mounted upon it, as in the case of the
st block. J², or upon a fixed abutment, such as F2, through which the spindle passes as.in
the case of the blocks J J. A fixed abutment such as K² surrounding the spindle.E,
or a disc or collar such as K or K' carried by the spindle, is so arranged as to be
engaged by, or to engage, the aforesaid buffer block just prior to the. termination_of
the valve's travel.
The annular buffer block as heretofore constructed is approximately rectangular. in
cross section as seen at J Figure 1,.and.the annular recess of the "
cup" L within
which it is mounted is of a similar shape in. cross section. The outer. rim of the cup
lies almost. or quite close against, the outer periphery of the block, and, the latter
I projects as shown for some distance beyond the outer end of the cup..
Now we have found that with blocks and cups of the above shape, the former; are
very soon destroyed by the repeated impacts to which they are subjected. We have
also found that (with the older constructions of controlling apparatus) the movements
of the valve impart to the spindle E a vibrating or quivering motion which is, very
objectionable. Moreover we find that in some cases it is advisable to buffer the inlet
valve on its instroke which has not usually been done heretofore..
The objects of our improvements are therefore, briefly, 1st. to, perfect the above
c buffer block. and cup arrangement. 2nd. to reduce or prevent, the vibration in the
spindle E, and 3rd. to extend the application of buffer blocks to, the buffering, of the
inlet valve on its instroke.
The invention may be carried into effect as follows:-
The blocks Jor Jiare, as before, made of an annular form; but in cross: section
they are somewhat of a T-shape, that is, the base, or inner end. of the annulus is
widened out so as to leave a projecting flange j on the inner and a similar flange jon
the outer periphery of the annulus, as in Figure 1. The outer periphery (and, if
.desired, the inner periphery also) of the block, beyond the base, flanges instead of
being parallel to the axis of the, spindle, is preferably made to taper convergently, to
a certain extent, from the base flanges to the outer end of the block, as shown.,
The block is preferably secured by its internal base flange to the cross piece F³, or
its equivalent; carrying the cup, or to the base of the cup itself (where such is
provided) by means of a flanged ferrule ; which may be provided; at its opposite
end, with a screwed collar or other fastening device. The external-flange of the
block may be secured and retained.in position in a similar manner within a recess ¹
on, the internal face of the cup L, or it may simply.rest loosely in. the..said recess, as
shown. The inner side of the cup, facing the, tapered portion of. the block,
recedes from the said tapered, portion as the outer end.of. the cup is. approached, the
said end being located preferably a little beyond the outer end, of the block as shown,
though it may, if desired, be either below or on a level with it. The contour of the
across section of the receding portion may be straight, or it may be curved. either
1: convexly or concavely.
The exact contour of the said receding part and the position of the outer. end.of
the cup relatively to that of the block will depend. largely upon, the, character, and

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the amount of the work which the valve has to perform, and these details can only
be determined by actual experiment. We have found, however, that with an improved
block and cup such as described, the life of the block is prolonged to a very great
extent and thus a serious item of expenditure is avoided.
The vibration of the spindle E, which is probably caused by the tendency of the
spring H to oscillate before the valve finally reaches the end of its stroke, may be
reduced or prevented by causing a certain amount of friction to be set up between
the spindle and one or more of its bearings, so that it moves somewhat sluggishly.
To accomplish this, the step or bush of one of the bearings, preferably the outer
one, is split longitudinally as shown in Figure 2, a certain amount of clearance
being left between the opposing edges as at 2, so that the bore of the bush may be
slightly contracted when desired. An adjustable screwed spindle N or a lever or other
equivalent adjustable device is arranged in such a manner that the bore of the bush
can be contracted, and the friction on the spindle adjusted to a nicety. The screw
spindle N is provided with a hand wheel n and a lock nut n', as shown, the said
spindle N and one half of the step being carried by a separate piece F³, which is
bolted to the cross piece F. To provide a larger frictional surface, it is preferable to
form the spindle of a larger diameter where it passes through the bearing. This
may be conveniently accomplished by securing a ferrule or hollow cylinder P upon
the spindle in any suitable manner, such as by a nut p and shoulder p¹. The increased
friction is, in some cases, apt to heat the bearing, but we have found that when
carbonite or a similar lubricant is employed, this heating is prevented. The
amount of friction necessary to prevent vibration is comparatively small, and does
not, to any appreciable extent, interfere with the free working of the valve and
spindle.
The above friction device is usually only employed in connection with the inlet
valve. In the outlet valve there is but little tendency to vibrate, and any such
tendency is corrected by the friction set up by means of the packing gland m of a
valve counterbalancing arrangement such as described in our former patent specifica-
tion No. 13730 of 1884.
In buffering the inlet valve on the instroke, the buffer block J' may be carried
by a cup L attached to the spindle, or to a stationary abutment surrounding the
spindle in any suitable position. A suitable striking disc, or an abutment such as the
flange K2 of the bearing f1 is provided to receive the blow of the buffer block as
before described. The buffer block J and cup L are preferably of the improved
form herein set forth, and not of the form shown on the drawing. We attach the cup
by preference to the swelled portion P of the spindle above described, or to the spindle
itself where such swelled portion is not employed.
Though the above improvements have been described with reference to the forms
of apparatus set forth in the patent specifications hereinbefore cited, yet they may
also be applied advantageously to other forms of controlling apparatus used in con-
nection with valves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The improved buffer block and cup in which the block is provided with a base
flange adapted to hear against and be secured to the base of the cup or its equivalent,
and in which the opposing surfaces of the block and cup beyond the said flange
recede from each other as the outer rim of the cup is approached, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
2. In an apparatus for steadying, controlling and buffering valves of blowing
engines, air compressors or the like, the employment of an adjustable friction device
such as described, the said device being applied to an enlargement on the valve con-
trolling spindle for the purpose of reducing the vibration or dancing in the spindle
and its valve, substantially as described.

page_text: 5. In a valve controlling apparatus of the kind described, the application to the
controlling spindle of the inlet valve of a slightly yielding buffering device, sub-
stantially as described, for the purpose of buffering said valve on its in-stroke, no
claim being made for anything set forth in the specification of our former Letters
Patent No. 1551 of 1882.
Dated this 8th day of January 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, and London, Patent Agents.