Improvements in Fluid Pressure Engines and in Distributing Valves therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluid Pressure Engines and in Distributing Valves
therefor.
I, BENJAMIN RATCLIFFE ADKINS, of Florence Villas, 26, Ondine Road, East
Dulwich, in the County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
a
This invention has for object to simplify the construction and improve the
working of fluid pressure engines. For this purpose the motive fluid is admitted
to the respective ends of the engine cylinder and exhausted therefrom through
pipes or passages controlled by a single rotary valve operated from any convenient
part of the engine, it may be from the crank shaft, through suitable means such as
toothed or chain gearing. A rotary valve suitable for this purpose is according to
this invention constructed in the form of a hollow plug having its seat in
casing formed with three branches, two of which are adapted to be connected
with pipes leading to the ports at the respective ends of the engine cylinder
while the third is adapted to be connected to an exhaust pipe. The plug is
formed with a hollow stem adapted to rotate in a suitable socket at the end of
the motive fluid supply pipe, fluid tight joints being formed between the stem
and the said casing and socket by stuffing boxes. The hollow plug is formed
with a lateral opening which during the rotation of the plug serves to place the
supply pipe in communication alternately with each of the pipes or passages
leading to the ends of the engine cylinder; it is also formed with a groove or
passage that alternately places each of the said pipes or passages in communication
with the exhaust pipe. The construction is such that the valve can be placed
in equilibrium and motive fluid can be cut off at any desired point of the stroke
and worked expansively. It is also so constructed as to allow compression,
cushioning and release to take place at the required times. An adjustable pin
or pivot carried by the valve case and arranged to bear against the closed end
of the plug serves to counteract the end ways thrust of such plug on the valve
seat due to the internal pressure of the motive fluid.
To the valve stem is fixed a chain or other wheel by means of which the valve
can be rotated. The valve may be controlled from a governor through suitable
expansion gear.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluid Pressure Engines and in Distributing. Valves
therefor.
I, BENJAMIN RATCLIFFE ADKINS, late of Florence Villas, 26, Ondine Road,
East Dulwich, in the County of London, now of Newton Villa, Faversham, in the
County of Kent, 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 has for object to simplify the construction and improve the'
working of fluid pressure engines. For this purpose the motive fluid is
admitted to the respective ends of the engine cylinder and exhausted therefrom

page_text: through pipes or passages controlled by a single rotary valve operated from any
convenient part of the engine, it may be from the crank shaft, through suitable
means such as toothed or chain gearing. A rotary valve suitable for this purpose
is according to this invention constructed in the form of a hollow plug having
its seat in a casing formed with three branches, two of which are adapted to be
connected with pipes leading to the ports at the respective ends of the engine
cylinder while the third is adapted to be connected to an exhaust pipe. The
plug is formed with a hollow stem adapted to rotate in a suitable socket at the
end of the motive fluid supply pipe, fluid tight joints being formed between the
stem and the said casing and socket by stuffing boxes. The hollow plug is
formed with a lateral opening which during the rotation of the plug serves to
place the supply pipe in communication alternately with each of the pipes or
passages leading to the ends of the engine cylinder; it is also formed with a
groove or passage that alternately places each of the said pipes or passages_in
communication with the exhaust pipe. The construction is such that the valve
can be placed in equilibrium and motive fluid can be cut off at any desired point
of the stroke and worked expansively. It is also so constructed as to allow
compression, cushioning and release to take place at the required times. An
adjustable pin or pivot carried by the valve case and arranged to bear against
the closed end of the plug serves to counteract the endways thrust of such plug
on the valve seat due to the internal pressure of the motive fluid.
To the valve stem is fixed a chain or other wheel by means of which the valve
can be rotated. The valve may be controlled from a governor through suitable
expansion gear.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, and
"Fig. 2 a plan of a rotary distributing valve constructed according to this
invention.
Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections on the lines x and y y respectively of Fig. 1
showing different positions of the valve plug.
Figs. 34 and 44 are diagrams showing the positions of the engine piston and crank
pin when the rotary valve is in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively.
Fig. is a plan, partly in horizontal section, to a smaller scale, showing a single
cylinder horizontal engine with rotary distributing valve according to my invention.
Fig. 6 is an end view of the rear part of a two cylinder engine with my invention
applied thereto.
Figs. 7 and 8 are views of modifications hereinafter referred to.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, D is a hollow rotary plug valve provided with
a strengthening rim E and having its seat in a casing B formed with three
branches B' B2 B3 to which are respectively connected pipes P P leading to the
engine cylinder ports and an exhaust pipe T. C is the stem of the plug D; it is
made hollow or tubular and is arranged to rotate in a stuffing box formed by the
socket A on the motive fluid supply pipe N. A wearing ring or collar H is screwed
on the stem C, and suitable packing is inserted between this ring and the stuffing
box gland G in the space M. To the valve stem is secured a bevel wheel G' which
is actuated from a similar bevel wheel G on the crank shaft through the medium
of bevel pinions G mounted on a shaft G³. S is the lateral opening in the hollow
plug by which the interior of the valve is placed alternately in communication with
the pipes P P leading to the steam ports at the respective ends of the cylinder.
W is the groove or passage that alternately places each of the said pipes in
communication with the exhaust pipe T. F is the adjustable pivot on which the
smaller end of the plug bears. The stem of this pivot is screw threaded and is
adjustably secured by two nuts to a cross piece or bridge R through which the said
stem passes.
LL are lubricators for the moving parts. HH are pipes for
distributing the lubricant over the plug D.
The position of the plug shown in Fig. 3 corresponds to the commencement of a
stroke of the piston. The arrow 1 indicates the direction of rotation of the plug.]
3.

page_text: The arrow 2 indicates the direction of the exhaust steam passing through the
passage W from one of the pipes viz. P. The other pipe P which has been closed
for cushioning is on the point of being opened to receive motive fluid. The position
of the valve shown in Fig. 4 corresponds to the position of the piston when it has
made about of its stroke, one pipe viz. P¹ being open to exhaust while the other
pipe is closed. Steam is at this period shut off from the cylinder and the steam
therein is expanding.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the same kind of valve is employed. In this
case however there is a valve on each cylinder arranged transversely on top of the
same. The two valves are caused to rotate by ordinary toothed gear G driven by
bével gear H from the crank shaft. Steam is supplied by the pipe S and the
exhaust passes through pipes TT.
An arrangement for reversing an engine of this kind is shown in Fig. 7. C is
the stem of the plug. This stem carries with a feather and groove connection a
clutch C¹ rotatable therewith and capable of sliding thereon. G¹ G³ are two bevel
wheels with which gears an intermediate bevel wheel G³, which is driven from the
crank shaft of the engine. R is a fork embracing the clutch C₁ and connected to a
reversing lever the arrangement being such that the clutch C¹ can be moved in
either direction so as to cause the projections C or C³, when the steam has been
suitably turned, to engage either with the toothed wheel G₁ or G³ according to the
directions in which it is desired that the engine shall run. KK are collars fixed on
the stem C and serving to keep the toothed wheels G and G' in gear with G³.
In Fig. 8 is shown an arrangement for allowing of a certain amount of longitudinal
expansion of the stem of the plug in the socket of the steam pipe. In this case the
stem C is of the same external diameter throughout and the packing is confined
between a shoulder D and a gland B, so that there is nothing to prevent the stem
expanding right up to the shoulder E at the base of the socket.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A fluid pressure engine constructed with a rotary valve comprising a hollow
plug formed with a hollow stem arranged to rotate in a socket at the end of
the motive fluid supply pipe and a casing having a seat for the said plug and
formed with three branches, two of which are connected with pipes leading to the
respective ends of an engine cylinder while the third is connected to an exhaust
pipe, the hollow plug being formed with a lateral opening which during the rotation
of the plug serves to place the supply in communication alternately with each of the
ends of the engine cylinder and with a groove or passage that alternately places
each of the said ends of the cylinder in communication with the exhaust pipe
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a fluid pressure engine a rotary distributing valve constructed arranged and
operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings
annexed for the purpose specified.
Dated this 7th day of January 1893.
B. R. ADKINS.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Applicant's Agent.