Improvements in or relating to Steam Whistles, Horns, or like Instruments.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in or relating to Steam Whistles, Horns, or like
Instruments.
I, JOHN MILLER, of the Firm of Smith Bros. & Co., Bobbers Mill Road, Hyson
Green, in the City of Nottingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or applicable to whistles, horns,
or liko instruments which are operated by steam pressure, and it has for its object
the automatic ejection of the water which collects in the supply pipe (by reason
of the steam condensing therein when the instrument is not in use) through a
port or opening made for this purpose prior to the admission of steam to such
instrument.
In carrying out this invention, in the lower part of the casing of the instrument,
or in an independent valve casing connected thereto, 1 place in the steam passage
therein two valves arranged one above or behind the other, both of which open in
the same direction and preferably against the steam pressure.
The first or lower valve is connected to a lever of the usual form, by means
of which it is moved from its seat, and the steam or steam and water allowed to
pass it. The second or upper valve is formed with an extension or striking
part which engages with a corresponding part on the first or lower valve, when
the latter has been moved a certain distance. Any further movement of the first
valve will then open the second, and steam will be allowed to pass to the instru-
ment.
With two valves arranged in the manner described it will be seen that there will
be an interval between the opening of the first and second, and the steam,
or steam and water, which passes the first valve prior to the opening of the second,
is allowed to escape through a preferably lateral port or opening in the wall of
the valve casing, between the two valves, which port enclosed by the movement
of the first valve or is normally enclosed.
This port is again closed by a covering portion on the body of preferably the
second valve, as the latter is moved from its seat, so that the said port or opening
is closed simultaneously with the opening of this valve and the admission of
steam to the instrument.
The steam or steam and water, which passes through the lateral port, or opening
may be conducted by a pipe to a point where it may be delivered without risk or
causing annoyance.
In order to obtain a longer interval between the opening of the first and second
valves, and thus give more time for the ejection of the water, I may employ two
levers for operating the first valve, one of which is so adjusted that it will only

page_text: open the first valve and the lateral port or opening, and the other continue this
movement so as to close the lateral port or opening and open the second valve.
The lover which should be first moved may also be arranged to lock the other,
when it is in its normal position, in order that the operator may be compelled
to move them in the correct order.
If desirable each valve may be operated by an independent lever, the one
operating the second valve being locked by that operating the first, when the latter
is in its normal position.
The two valves may be if desired returned to their normal position by springs
of suitable construction.
With the arrangement described any collection of water in the feed pipe or
connections is ejected through the port or opening, instead of being forced into
and choking up the instrument and a clear note is obtained immediately the
steam is admitted to the instrument. The water is also curried away by the
connecting pipe instead of being distributed over the surroundings.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Steam Whistles, Horns, or like
Instruments.
I, JOHN MILLER, of the Firm of Smith Bros. & Co., Bobbers Mill Road, Hyson
Green, in the City of Nottingham, 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 improvements in or applicable to whistles, horna,
or like instruments which are operated by steam pressure, and it has for its object
the automatic ejection of the water which condenses in the supply pipe, through
a port or opening made for this purpose near the whistle, prior to the admission
of steam from the supply pipe to the whistle or instrument.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the casing of the lower part of a whistle or instru-
meut, constructed or arranged according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the stems of the valves taken on the line X-X
of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line Y--Y of Fig. 1.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out this invention I place in the steam passage formed in the
valve casing A of the whistle or instrument B, two valves C and D), arranged
one above the other as shown, or one behind the other if the steam passage is
other than vertical. Both valves C and D open in the sume direction and pre-
ferably against the steam pressure.
The first or lower valve C is moved from its seat in the usual manner by means
of a bell-crank lever E pivotted at E between two lugs A¹ formed on the casing A.
The inner end of the lever E is carried through an opening in the casing A
and engages in a recess formed in the stem C¹ of the valve C. The stem C of
the valve C is formed at this point with a cylindrical surface C³ which fits the

page_text: cylindrical passage in the casing A, and prevents the egress of steam through
the opening in the said casing through which the end E of the lever is carried.
The stem C of the valve is also provided with an extension C³ which over-
laps the stem D of the valve D. This extension C3 is provided with a stud C
which engages in a recess D formed in the stem D' of the valve D.
The recess D is longer than the stud C, and the valve C may thus be moved
a short distance from its seat without moving the valve D. A further movement
of the valve C will however remove the valve D from its seat by reason of the
stud C engaging with the lower end of the recess I) in the stem D¹ of said valve.
Between the two valves CD is a port or opening F (see Fig. 1) opening into
a lateral branch pipe G, this port is closed by a cylindrical surface D on the
stem D of the valve D, when the latter is moved from its seat.
The steam, or steam and water which passes through the port may be con-
ducted by a pipe connected to the branch pipe G to any suitable point where it
may be delivered without risk or causing annoyance.
The arrangement described operates as follows:-By means of the lever E
the valve C is first moved from its seat and any water in the supply pipe or valve
casing is ejected through the port F, a further movement of the valve C opens
the valve D and admits the steam to the whistle or instrument B, at the same
time the movement of the valve D closes the port F.
If preferred I employ in connection with the lever E a duplicate lever H
pivotted at the side of the lever E, both of the said levers being arranged to operate
the valve C.
The lever H is however provided with a stop H (see Fig. 1) which engages
with the casing A and thus limits the movement of said lever, so that by its means
the valve C only may be moved from its seat. After a short interval the lever E
may be employed for moving the valve C further form its seat and simultaneously
opening the valve D.
The valves C and D are both returned to their normal position by a spring I
(see Fig. 1) acting on the end of the valve C as shown.
With the arrangement described, any collection of water in the feed pipe or
valve casing is ejected through the port or opening F, in the interval between
the opening of the valve C and the second valve 1), instead of being forced into and
chocking up the whistle or instrument, and a clear note is thus obtained imime-
diately the steam is admitted. The water is also carried away by the connections
to the branch pipe G instead of being distributed over the immediate surroundings
of the whistle or instrument.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is;-
1. In a steam whistle horn or like instrument the combination with a valve
casing such as A of a valve such as C a second valve such as D and a port or
opening between the two valves which is closed as the second valve D is opened
substantially as described.
2. In a steam whistle horn or like instrument the combination with a valve
casing such as A of a valve such as C a second valve such as D connected to the
valve C and a port or opening in the casing A between the two valves C D
which is closed as the second valve D is opened substantially as described.
3. In a steam whistle horn or like instrument the combination with a valve
easing such as A valves such as C and D the two stems of which are connected
by a stud C on the one engaging with a recess 1 in the other a port or opening F
in the casing A between the two valves CD and a surface D³ on the valve D
for closing the port F substantially as described.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete

page_text: arrangement for regulating the admission of steam to a steam whistle horn or
like instrument substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.