IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES. AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Ross Walker, of Haigh, near Wigan, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VALVES. AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Ross Walker at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th February 1863.
I, EDWARD Ross WALKER, of Haigh, near Wigan, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
The Invention relates to an improved mode of balancing the pressure on
the back of slide valves for steam, water, fluid, air, and gas engines, so that
they may be worked with the least possible expenditure of power. In one
form of slide valve the back has projections upon it, to which a rod is attached.
On the cover of the steam or valve box is fastened a pipe with an enlarged
end, to this is bolted or rivetted a flexible plate or plates of brass, copper,
steel, homogeneous iron, or other suitable material, either plain or corrugated.
The rod before mentioned passes through this plate or plates, and is secured
at the outside, or there may be two or more rods. The plate or plates are so
proportioned that when steam or water is admitted to the valve box, the
pressure on the surface of the flexible plate and on the back of the valve is

page_text: nearly equal, by which means the valve can be worked with an inconsiderable
degree of force. A spring may be fixed outside the steam box or valve box,
so that the pressure may be diminished or increased upon the valve face as
may be desired without stopping the engine.
Another modification of the Invention is when the valve is made to work
on a plate curved to the radius of the balance rod, so that the flexible plate or
plates may remain without much movement during the working of the valve
to and fro.
Another modification of the Invention is, when the balance rod or rods is or
are attached to a balance plate or back plate instead of to the valve itself.
In this case the valve is formed with ports extending through to the back
plate, and the valve works between the back plate and the ordinary port face.
This form of valve or valves, or modifications of them, may be applied to water
or other fluid, air, or other gas, for stop valves, regulators, throttle valves, and
other valves; the balanced valves may be worked by cams, levers, or other
gearing. The flexible plates may be single, or combinations of many pieces
above or alongside each other. The spring for regulating the pressure from
the outside may be dispensed with, or used as is most desirable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Ross Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
Ross WALKER, of Haigh, near Wigan, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Edward Ross Walker, Her special license, that I, the said
Edward Ross Walker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Edward Ross Walker, 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 VALVES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-

page_text: WITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Ross
Walker, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain 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 Edward Ross Walker, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the.
following statement (that is to say):-
:-
The nature of my Invention consists in certain improved methods of
removing or diminishing the pressure on the surface of slide valves for
steam, gas, air, water, or other fluid, by so arranging a flexible plate that
it shall receive the pressure of steam or other fluid, and neutralise or diminish
the pressure on the surface of the valve. In one form of slide valve the back
has projections upon it, to which a rod is attached; on the cover of the valve
box is placed a pipe, across the mouth of the pipe is fastened a flexible plate
of copper, brass, iron, steel, or other suitable material. The rod before
mentioned passes through or is attached to the flexible plate, and thus forms a
connection with the slide valve. It will be seen that when steam or other
pressure exists in the valve case, it will tend to bulge out the flexible plate.
This tendency being counteracted by the rod attached to the valve, neutralises
or diminishes the acting pressure on the valve, so that it may be moved with.
facility. The area of the flexible plate may be increased or diminislied
according as it is desired to remove more or less of the pressure from the
valve. The length of the coupling rod is proportioned so that the undulations
of the plate shall not unduly strain the material of which it is formed, and it
is preferred to limit these undulations to about one-eighth of an inch, or less.
My Invention is modified when the valve is made to work on a surface
curved to the radius of the coupling rod, or any other radius, so that the
flexible plate may have but a slight movement in either direction.
My Invention is also modified when the coupling rod is attached to a
balance plate or back plate, instead of to the valve itself. In this case the
valve has openings through it, so that the steam or fluid would escape through
the valve if the plate were removed. The valve slides between the back plate
and the port face.
My Invention is further modified when the valve is circular, or part of a
circle, and is moved in the direction of its circumference. In this case the

page_text: coupling rod may be made of some flexible material, as, for instance, of sheet
steel, or wire rope, or chain, so that the valve may be twisted round easily.
These modifications may be varied by arranging the steam or fluid passages
so that the pressure shall be under or on the opposite side of the valve to
which it is usually applied, and on the side of the flexible plate furthest from
the valve. The flexible plate will then press the valve to its face in opposition
to the steam, instead of tending to raise it from its face.
In order that the Invention may be more clearly understood and explained
in detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings having similar letters
of reference upon corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Figs. 1 and 2 are a longitudinal and cross section, through the parts of the
cylinder to which the improvements may be applied. A is part of the
cylinder; B, the valve chest; C, the slide valve; D, a coupling rod; E, a
screw, with nuts for altering the position of the coupling rod; F, a spring,
which is not essential to the Invention, but which may be applied when
desirable; X is the flexible plate or disc, which may be plain, as shewn in
Fig. 1, or corrugated, as shewn in Fig. 2, or it may be formed of two or more
pieces, or bent into other shapes, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 10. The pressure
in the valve chest B acts under or on the disc X, and tends to raise the
valve C from the port face by the rod D. As the valve is moved to and fro,
the disc X has an undulatory motion when the coupling rod is more or less
inclined to the valve face. By increasing or diminishing the area of the
disc X, or by lengthening or shortening the coupling rod D by the screw E,
or by altering the size of the small plate on the middle of the disc the counter-
acting force may be increased to any extent, or likewise decreased at pleasure.
In Figs. 4 and 5 the plate H is fastened to the cylinder A, and one side of
it is concave, while the valve has a corresponding convexity, so that the
undulations of the disc are lessened. The valve is shewn actuated by levers.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew the valve C working between the cylinder and a loose
balance plate G. The valve has an opening through it, so that were the
balance plate removed, the steam or fluid would pass through the valve to
waste. In this modification the plate X has no movement unless the valve is
not parallel, or is raised from its face by some force in the cylinder. Figs. 3
and 10 shew variations in the shape of the flexible plates and the methods of
applying them. In Figs. 8 and 9 the valve with a curved surface, as in
Figs. 4 and 5, is moved by a spindle passing through a stuffing box in the
usual way.
Fig. 11 is a section of a slide stop valve to which my improvements are

page_text: Fig. 12 is a section of a throttle valve. The valve is of the form known
as the "butterfly valve," and moves round the spindle A¹ as a centre. In this
instance the coupling rod I is made of a slip of spring steel, so that it may be
easily twisted round, and allow the valve to turn, while at the same time
tending to pull it from its face. The coupling rods for this and the other
modifications may be made of chains, wire ropes, or other obviously applicable
material, and they may be hung on knife edges similar to those used in
weighing machines. There may be two or more discs to the same valve, or
two or more rods to the same disc.
The improvements may be used for all kinds of motive-power engines,
whether marine or land engines, locomotives, or hydraulic engines, also for
steam engines, also for steam hammers or hydraulic presses, also for throttle,
regulating, or stop valves, or other valves. The valves may be moved by cams,
tappets, eccentrics, or in any other convenient manner. The springs may be
flat, curved, spiral, or volute, or of any other convenient form or material.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be performed or carried into practical operation, I
desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details
given, as the same may be considerably varied according to the arrangement
of engine or valve to which this my Invention is applied; but what I do
claim is,
First, the method of reducing the friction on the surface of slide valves by
means of a flexible plate or plates, of whatever form, attached to the valve,
and against which the steam or fluid presses, so arranged that this pressure
against the plate neutralizes or tends to neutralize the pressure against the
valve, as before described.
Secondly, the method of reducing the friction on the surface of slide valves
by means of a plate or plates covering an open backed valve, and attached to
the flexible plate, as before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Ross Walker, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this 20th day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
EDWARD ROSS WALKER. (L.S.)