IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VALVES. OF CYLINDERS USED IN FORCING AIR
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Neill, of Bold, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VALVES.
OF CYLINDERS USED IN FORCING AIR."
Sealed the 24th September 1872, and dated the 25th March 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Neill at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th March 1872.
I, WILLIAM NEILL, of Bold, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE VALVES OF CYLINDERS USED IN FORCING AIR," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the use of a peculiar construction of valve
for air cylinders. This valve I form of an india-rubber disc having a
central aperture, and which may be secured to the cylinder by means of
a gland. Projecting from it is a pair of lips fitting into the air passage
of the cylinder and communicating with the aforesaid aperture, and
which by their elasticity are capable of being opened or closed by

page_text: pressure of air. The valve so formed I adapt singly to the induction
and eduction passages, or in cases of larger cylinders I apply two or more
for each air passage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Neill in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NEILL, of Bold, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Neill, Her special license that
I, the said William Neill, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William Neill, 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 the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VALVES OF
CYLINDERS USED IN FORCING AIR," upon the condition, amongst others.
that I, the said William Neill, 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 per-
formed, 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 William Neill, do hereby declare

page_text: for air cylinders. This valve I form of an india-rubber disc having a
central aperture, and which may be secured to the cylinder by means
of a gland. Projecting from it is a pair of lips fitting into the air
passage of the cylinder and communicating with the aforesaid aperture,
and which by their elasticity are capable of being opened or closed by
pressure of air. The valve so formed I adapt singly to the induction
or eduction passages of the engine, or apply two or more for each air
passage.
In describing my Invention I will in the first place shew the con-
struction of the valve detached, and then its connexion with the
engine.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are views of the valve in one form which I adopt.
It consists of a flange of india-rubber a with a central aperture b,
leading into a wedge-formed space, which is closed by a pair of lips c.
A modification of this form is shewn at Figs. 4, 5, in which d is the
valve seating, to which is attached a metal box e provided with slits or
other perforations f. Above these slits are placed lips of india-rubber g,
screwed to the bottom of the box e and carrying on their upper ends
strips of metal h.
Fig. 6 shews in side elevation the cylinder and other parts of an
air engine. Fig. 7, a horizontal section and Fig. 8 a cross section. The
cylinder is at h* and the two end covers at i grooved out to lead to the
ports k.
At are the inlet valves constructed as described in reference
to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and placed in recesses where they are confined by
glands pressing on their flanges a. At n are the outlet pipes which are
bolted on to the flanges a of the valves. When the piston is drawing
air the lips c open by the external pressure and close by themselves
against the internal pressure when the air is being forced through the
outlets, which in their turn close against the outward pressure.
In the cases of large engines we prefer placing a number of the
valves in the cylinder cover, which arrangement is shewn at Figs. 9 and 10,.
the number in this case being eight, but there may be more or less, and
in addition to these other valves may be placed on the sides of the
cylinder.
In Fig. 9 the outlet valve is shewn of that construction described in

page_text: india-rubber are driven from their seats, and the air passes through
the openings f. The strips of metal h serve as weights to assist
the return of the india-rubber, and to keep the lips even upon their
seats.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my Invention, 5
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be
understood that I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited
Letters Patent, and as applied to cylinders used in forcing air, the
application of valves of india-rubber, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Neill, have hereunto 1
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of September
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
two.
WILLIAM NEILL. (L.S.)