CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM HAMMERS AND IN VALVES APPLICABLE TO THE SAME, AND TO OTHER STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wilson, of Patricroft, near the City of Man-
chester, Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
HAMMERS AND IN VALVES APPLICABLE TO THE SAME, AND TO OTHER STEAM
ENGINES."
Sealed the 29th April 1862, and dated the 5th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
November 1861.
I, ROBERT WILSON, of Patricroft, near the City of Manchester, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE
MENTS IN STEAM HAMMERS AND IN VALVES APPLICABLE TO THE SAME, AND TO OTHER
STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention of improvements in steam hammers consists
in an improved arrangement of valves and gearing for working the same,
by which the steam may be admitted both below and above the piston to
which the hammer block or ram is connected, or only to the former when
required.
My improvements in valves for steam hammers and other steam engines
consist in so constructing them that their area, and consequently the weight
and power required for working them, are greatly reduced.

page_text: In constructing slide valves, according to my improvements, the valve piece
works between two faces, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent,
granted to me on the Fifth day of September One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six, No. 2070, and the balance plate is provided with steam and exhaust
ports of the same area as those on the opposite face, by which means the valve
piece can be reduced to half the usual sizę, the steam being admitted to the
cylinder, and exhausted from both sides of the valve simultaneously.
In constructing cylindrical valves for stean hammers, the case in which the
valve works is provided with ports of an equal area on both sides, and the
valve has segmental projections at one end, which projections, when the valve
is turned partly round, cover the ports, and partially or entirely shut off the
steam from one end of the cylinder. In applying the improved flat slide
valves to steam hammers with self-acting motion, I use two valves in separate
steam chests, one valve to supply steam to the top, and the other to the
bottom of the piston, and the gearing is so arranged as to shut off the steam
from the top valve when not required; when this valve is worked by hand one
only is required, and the steam is admitted to the top of the piston by
increasing the length of the stroke; the velocity of steam hammers can
thus be greatly accelerated and the force of the blow increased.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WILSON, of Patricroft, near the City of Manchester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Wilson, Her special license that I; the said Robert
Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Robert Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM HAMMERS AND IN VALVES APPLICABLE TO THE SAME,

page_text: AND TO OTHER STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Robert Wilson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under-my, or their, or one of their hands. and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Robert Wilson, 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 of improvements in steam- hammers consists
in an improved arrangement of valves and gearing for working the same, by
which the steam may be admitted both below and above the piston to which
the hammer block or ram is connected, or only to the former when required.
.
My improvements in valves for steam hammers and other steam engines
consist in so constructing them that their area, and consequently the weight
and power required for working them, are greatly reduced.
In constructing slide valves, according to my improvements, the valve piece
works between two faces, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me on the Fifth of September, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six, Number 2070, and the balance plate is provided with steam and exhaust
ports of the same area as those on the opposite face, by which means the
valve piece can be reduced to half the usual size, the steam being admitted to
the cylinder and exhausted from both sides of the valve simultaneously.
. In constructing cylindrical valves for steam hammers, the case in which the
valve works is provided with ports of an equal area on both sides, and the
valve has segmental projections at one end, which projections, when the valve
is turned partly round, cover the ports, and partially or entirely shut off the
steam from one end of the cylinder. In applying the improved flat slide
valves to steam hammers with self-acting motion; I use two valves in separate
steam chests, one valve to supply steam to the top and the other to the bottom
of the piston, and the gearing is so arranged as to shut off the steam from
the top valve when not required, and the steam is admitted to the top of the
piston by increasing the length of the stroke; the velocity of steam hammers
can thus be greatly accelerated and the force of the blow increased.
. And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried.
into, effect, I will proceed to describe the two-accompanying Sheets of
Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.

page_text: On Sheet 1, Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 an edge view, of a steam
hammer to which my improvements are applied. a, a, are the side frames;
b, the steam cylinder; c, the piston rod; d, the hammer, block, or ram; and
e, the anvil, which parts are made in the usual manner; f is the valve box,
shewn on an enlarged scale in Figures 10 and 11 of Sheet 2; and g is the
steam chest. The valves in the box f are connected to the rods f¹ and f2, and
the position of the valves is governed by the operator acting on the levers f
and f. The valves in the steam chest g are connected to the valve rod g',
which is worked by the elbow lever g² and the tripper bar d', fixed to the
hammer block d. The peculiar construction of the valves will be fully
described hereafter, and the object of the two valves in the valve box f is to
regulate the passage of the steam, so that it may be made to act both below
and above the piston in the cylinder b, or only to the former when required.
Figure 3 represents a steam hammer, to which a modification of my im-
provements is applied. In this view the framing and cylinder are partly
broken away, and the parts marked a, b, c, d, d, f, f, g, and g² are similar
to those above referred to. The valve rod g¹ is connected to the lever g³, to
which is suspended the rod 9º, passing through the buffer box g'; the lower
end of the rod go passes through the shot bolt g, the end of which is acted
upon by a spring 9°. The rod 9° is held up by a catch in the shot bolt, the
other end of which bears against the parallel bar g10, which is acted upon by
one end of the crank lever g¹¹, the other end of which is acted upon by the
upper bar d¹. The crank lever g" is supported by a link connected to the
lever f, which is also acted upon when required by the operator. When it is
desired to increase the force of the blow to the greatest intensity, the other
end of the lever fo is raised, thereby lowering the crank lever 9", until the
tripper bar d' only comes in contact with the crank lever g" at the instant
that the hammer block comes in contact with the object on the anvil, the
crank lever g being acted upon by the tripper bar d', again acts upon the
parallel bar 90, which drives back the shot bolt 98, and disengages the rod g
from the catch in the shot bolt; the rod 9" then drops, and the lever 95, acting
on the rod g', admits steam to the under side of the piston, by which the
hammer block is raised in the usual manner. The lever g² is connected to the
rod gs, and when the tripper bar d¹ rises, the lever g³ raises the rod 9º until
the lower end again catches on the shot bolt 98, by which it is retained until
the hammer block drops, as before described. When it is desirable to reduce
the force of the blow, the end of the lever f is depressed, thus raising the
crank lever g¹¹,, and by reversing the action of the various parts. admitting
steam sooner to the under side of the. piston; by this means the force of the

page_text: blow can be regulated to any degree of intensity to that of a mere touch, if
required.
Figure 4 represents part of a steam.hammer, the valve of which is to be
worked by hand; the lever f' is connected to a valve similar to that shewn in
Figure 8, of Sheet 2, or to any other suitable valve; this lever is guided by the
segment f, through which are holes for a stop pin, the position. of which can
be regulated according to the intensity of the blow required. By this means
steam can be admitted both below and above the piston, or only below, when
a moderate blow is to be given.
On Sheet 2, Figure 5 is a transverse section, Figure 6 a section through
A, B, and Figure 7 a section through C, D, of one of my improved double-
acting equilibrium valves for steam hammers. bis part of the steam cylinder;
61, 2, and 3, the ports of the usual construction; k is a cylindrical case
forming the steam chest, which is bolted to the face of the steam cylinder; the
case is closed at each side by the lids'k', provided with stuffing boxes for the
valve rod k² and guide rod k³. To the rod ² is fixed the cylindrical valve 1,
fitting within an inner shell of the case k; this inner shell is provided on
each side with three ports, the area of which is equal on both sides; these
ports communicate respectively with the ports 61, 63, and b³. To one end of
the valve are cast or fixed the segmental projections ; these projections,
when the valve is turned partly round, cover the ports in the inner shell of the
case k, and partially or entirely shut off the steam from one end of the
cylinder. It will be seen that the steam both enters and escapes from opposite
sides of the valve, thus not only balancing the action of the valve, but reducing
the size to one-half of that requisite for a single-action valve. When a valve
of this construction is applied to a steam hammer similar to that shewn in
Figure 1, the requisite to-and-fro motion in the direction of the valve rod is
given by the lever g³, but it may be worked by hand, as in Figure 4, the
partial rotary motion requisite for bringing the segmental projections / over
the ports must be given by the attendant when it is desirable to shut off the
steam either wholly or partially from the upper end of the cylinder. *
Figure 8 is a section of another of my improved valves suitable for steam
hammers or other steam engines; in this arrangement the steam chest m is
rectangular, and the valve n fixed on the spindle g', slides on the face of the
cylinder above the valve. n is the balance plate n¹; this plate has ports or
passages p', p³, and p³, through it, corresponding in area to the ports 62, 63, and 63
in the cylinder; the spring n³ presses upon the plate n¹ to prevent it rising off
its seating. The object of the ports in the balance plate 'n¹ is not only to

page_text: keep the valve constantly in equilibrium, but also to admit an equal quantity
of steam to and from both sides of the valve, thus reducing to one-half the size
of the valve while the ports in the cylinder remain of the size required for
valves of the usual construction.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section, Figure 10 a transverse section, and
Figure 11 a plan, partly in section, of a modification of my improved valves,
applicable to steam hammers and to steam engines in general. f is the valve-
box, and g the steam chest, similar to those shewn and described in reference
to Figures 1 and 2 of Sheet 1. The rod f' is attached to the slide valve o,
which opens or closes the passage o¹ to admit or shut off the steam to the
valve n, by which the passage of steam is governed to the upper end of the
cylinder, and the rod f³ is attached to the slide valve o³, which opens or closes
the passage o³ for conveying the steam to the valve n³, by which the steam is
admitted to the under side of the piston. The valves n and n³ have each a
balance plate n³, furnished with ports, as described in reference to Figure 8.
The valves n and n³ are attached to the rod g', which receives its motion in the
manner described in reference to Figure 1. The steam chest g is divided into
two parts by the partition gs, through which is a passage for the piston block g
fixed to the rod g; a similar passage is provided in the lid of the steam chest
for the piston block g. The object of these piston blocks is as follows:-When
the valve o² is open to admit steam to the valve n³, and the valve o is closed,
the steam acting on the under side of the piston block g works the valves n
and n in the direction of the arrow. When the valves o and 02 are both
open, the steam entering both ends of the steam chest g of the piston block g'
is then in equilibrium, and the steam acting on the piston block g³ actuates
the valves as before; a small opening is left above the piston block g³ for the
admission or escape of air. When these double valves are applied to steam
engines of the ordinary construction, the valves and o³ and the piston
blocks g and g are not required.
Figure 12 is a section of another modification of my improved valves,
particularly applicable to double or single-acting steam hammers that are
worked by hand, but which may be applied to the ordinary vertical steam
engines; the valve n is connected to the valve rod g', and is provided with the
balance plate n', as before described.
Figure 13 is a section of another modification of my improved valves, par-
ticularly applicable to single-acting steam hammers that are worked by hand.
By means of these improvements in the construction of valves, their area and
consequently their weight is greatly reduced; they are therefore capable of

page_text: being worked with very little power, which renders them particularly suitable
for steam hammers, and for marine or other steam engines of large
dimensions.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described several modes
of carrying the same into operation, I wish it to be understood that I do
not intend to limit myself to the details given, as the same may be con-
siderably varied or modified according to the peculiar arrangement or
construction of the steam hammer or steam engine to which my improvements
are applied; and I declare that I claim,-
First, the improved arrangement of valves and valve gearing by which the
steam may be admitted both below and above the pistons of steam hammers;
as shewn and described in reference to Sheet 1.
Secondly, the improved double-acting equilibrium valves for steam hammers
and steam engines, as shewn and described in reference to Sheet 2.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wilson, of Patricroft, near the City of Man-
chester, Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
HAMMERS AND IN VALVES APPLICABLE TO THE SAME, AND TO OTHER STEAM
ENGINES."
Sealed the 29th April 1862, and dated the 5th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
November 1861.
I, ROBERT WILSON, of Patricroft, near the City of Manchester, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM HAMMERS AND IN VALVES APPLICABLE TO THE SAME, AND TO OTHER
STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention of improvements in steam hammers consists
in an improved arrangement.of valves and gearing for working the same,
by which the steam may be admitted both below and above the piston to
which the hammer block or ram is connected, or only to the former when
required.
My improvements in valves for steam hammers and other steam engines
consist in so constructing them that their area, and consequently the weight
and power required for working them, are greatly reduced.
Price 8d.]

page_text: In constructing slide valves, according to my improvements, the valve piece
works between two faces, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent,
granted to me on the Fifth day of September One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six, No. 2070, and the balance plate is provided with steam and exhaust
ports of the same area as those on the opposite face, by which means the valve
piece can be reduced to half the usual size, the steam being admitted to the
cylinder, and exhausted from both sides of the valve simultaneously.
In constructing cylindrical valves for steam hammers, the case in which the
valve works is provided with ports of an equal area on both sides, and the
valve has segmental projections at one end, which projections; when the valve
is turned partly round, cover the ports, and partially or entirely shut off the
steam from one end of the cylinder. In applying the improved flat slide
valves to steam hammers with self-acting motion, I use two valves in separate
steam chests, one valve to supply steam to the top, and the other to the
bottom of the piston, and the gearing is so arranged as to shut off the steam
from the top valve when not required; when this valve is worked by hand one
only is required, and the steam is admitted to the top of the piston by
increasing the length of the stroke; the velocity of steam hammers can
thus be greatly accelerated and the force of the blow increased.
0
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WILSON, of Patricroft, near the City of Manchester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Wilson, Her special license that I, the said Robert
Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Robert Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM HAMMERS AND IN VALVES APPLICABLE TO THE SAME,

page_text: AND TO OTHER STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Robert Wilson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Robert Wilson, 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 of improvements in steam hammers consists
in an improved arrangement of valves and gearing for working the same, by
which the steam may be admitted both below and above the piston to which
the hammer block or ram is connected, or only to the former when required.
My improvements in valves for steam haminers and other steam engines
consist in so constructing them that their area, and consequently the weight
and power required for working them, are greatly reduced.
In constructing slide valves, according to my improvements, the valve piece
works between two faces, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me on the Fifth of September, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six,Number2070, and the balance plate is provided with steam andexhaust
ports of the same area as those on the opposite face, by which means the
valve piece can be reduced to half the usual size, the steam being admitted to
the cylinder and exhausted from both sides of the valve simultaneously.
In constructing cylindrical valves for steam hammers, the case in which the
valve works is provided with ports of an equal area on both sides, and the
valve has segmental projections at one end, which projections, when the valve
is turned partly round, cover the ports, and partially or entirely shut off the
steam from one end of the cylinder. In applying the improved flat slide
valves to steam hammers with self-acting motion, I use two valves in separate
steam chests, one valve to supply steam to the top and the other to the bottom
of the piston, and the gearing is so arranged as to shut off the steam from
the top valve when not required, and the steam is admitted to the top of the
piston by increasing the length of the stroke; the velocity of steam hammers
can thus be greatly accelerated and the force of the blow increased.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the two accompanying Sheets of
Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.

page_text: On Sheet 1, Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 an edge view, of a steam
hammer to which my improvements are applied. a, a, are the side frames;
b, the steam cylinder; c, the piston rod; d, the hammer, block, or ram; and
e, the anvil, which parts are made in the usual manner; fis the valve box,
shewn on an enlarged scale in Figures 10 and 11 of Sheet 2; and g is the
steam chest. The valves in the box fare connected to the rods f and f², and
the position of the valves is governed by the operator acting on the levers f³
and . The valves in the steam chest g are connected to the valve rod g',
which is worked by the elbow lever g² and the tripper bar d', fixed to the
hammer block d. The peculiar construction of the valves will be fully
described hereafter, and the object of the two valves in the valve box / is to
regulate the passage of the steam, so that it may be made to act both below
and above the piston in the cylinder b, or only to the former when required.
Figure 3 represents a steam hammer, to which a modification of my im-
provements is applied. In this view the framing and cylinder are partly
broken away, and the parts marked a, b, c, d, d¹, f³, f, g, and g² are similar
to those above referred to. The valve rod g¹ is connected to the lever g³, to
which is suspended the rod go, passing through the buffer box g7; the lower
end of the rod y passes through the shot bolt gs, the end of which is acted
upon by a spring go. The rod g is held up by a catch in the shot bolt, the
other end of which bears against the parallel bar g10, which is acted upon by
one end of the crank lever g11, the other end of which is acted upon by the
upper bar d. The crank lever g" is supported by a link connected to the
lever f, which is also acted upon when required by the operator. When it is
desired to increase the force of the blow to the greatest intensity, the other
end of the lever fo is raised, thereby lowering the crank lever gl, until the
tripper bar only comes in contact with the crank lever g" at the instant
that the hammer block comes in contact with the object on the anvil, the
crank lever being acted upon by the tripper bar ', again acts upon the
parallel bar glo, which drives back the shot bolt g³, and disengages the rod 96
from the catch in the shot bolt; the rod g then drops, and the lever go, acting
on the rod g', admits steam to the under side of the piston, by which the
hammer block is raised in the usual manner. The lever g² is connected to the
rod go, and when the tripper bar & rises, the lever g² raises the rod g6 until
the lower end again catches on the shot bolt gå, by which it is retained until
the hammer block drops, as before described. When it is desirable to reduce
the force of the blow, the end of the lever 15 is depressed; thus raising the
crank lever g, and by reversing the action of the various parts admitting
steam sooner to the under side of the piston; by this means the force of the

page_text: blow can be regulated to any degree of intensity to that of a mere touch, if
required.
Figure 4 represents part of a steam hammer, the valve of which is to be
worked by hand; the lever fo is connected to a valve similar to that shewn in
Figure 8, of Sheet 2, or to any other suitable valve; this lever is guided by the
segment f, through which are holes for a stop pin, the position of which can
be regulated according to the intensity of the blow required. By this means
steam can be admitted both below and above the piston, or only below, when
a moderate blow is to be given.
On Sheet 2, Figure 5 is a transverse section, Figure 6 a section through
A, B, and Figure 7 a section through C, D, of one of my improved double-
acting equilibrium valves for steam hammers. b is part of the steam cylinder;
b, b, and 63, the ports of the usual construction; k is a cylindrical case
forming the steam chest, which is bolted to the face of the steam cylinder; the
case is closed at each side by the lids c¹, provided with stuffing boxes for the
valve rod and guide rod ³. To the rod is fixed the cylindrical valve 1,
fitting within an inner shell of the case k; this inner shell is provided on
each side with three ports, the area of which is equal on both sides; these
ports communicate respectively with the ports 61, 62, and 63. To one end of
the valve are cast or fixed the segmental projections ; these projections,
when the valve is turned partly round, cover the ports in the inner shell of the
case k, and partially or entirely shut off the steam from one end of the
cylinder. It will be seen that the steam both enters and escapes from opposite
sides of the valve, thus not only balancing the action of the valve, but reducing
the size to one-half of that requisite for a single-action valve. When a valve
of this construction is applied to a steam hammer similar to that shewn in
Figure 1, the requisite to-and-fro motion in the direction of the valve rod is
given by the lever g, but it may be worked by hand, as in Figure 4, the
partial rotary motion requisite for bringing the segmental projections l¹ over
the ports must be given by the attendant when it is desirable to shut off the
steam either wholly or partially from the upper end of the cylinder.
Figure 8 is a section of another of my improved valves suitable for steam
haminers or other steam engines; in this arrangement the steam chest mis
rectangular, and the valve n fixed on the spindle g¹, slides on the face of the
cylinder; above the valve n is the balance plate n'; this plate has ports or
passages p, p,and p³, through it, corresponding in area to the ports 61,62, and 63
in the cylinder; the spring n² presses upon the plate n¹ to prevent it rising off
its seating. The object of the ports in the balance plate n³ is not only to

page_text: keep the valve constantly in equilibrium, but also to admit an equal quantity
of steam to and from both sides of the valve, thus reducing to one-half the size
of the valve while the ports in the cylinder remain of the size required for
valves of the usual construction.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section, Figure 10 a transverse section, and
Figure 11 a plan, partly in section, of a modification of my improved valves,
applicable to steam hammers and to steam engines in general. is the valve
box, and g the steam chest, similar to those shewn and described in reference
to Figures 1 and 2 of Sheet 1. The rod f' is attached to the slide valve o,
which opens or closes the passage o' to admit or shut off the steam to the
valve n, by which the passage of steam is governed to the upper end of the
cylinder, aud the rod f2 is attached to the slide valve o², which opens or closes
the passage o³ for conveying the steam to the valve n³, by which the steam is
admitted to the under side of the piston. The valves n and n³ have each a
balance plate n', furnished with ports, as described in reference to Figure 8.
The valves and n³ are attached to the rod g', which receives its motion in the
manner described in reference to Figure 1. The steam chest g is divided into
two parts by the partition g³, through which is a passage for the piston blocky4
fixed to the rod gl; a similar passage is provided in the lid of the steam chest
for the piston blocky. The object of these piston blocks is as follows:-When
the valve o is open to admit steam to the valve n³, and the valve o is closed,
the steam acting on the under side of the piston block g4 works the valves n
and n³ in the direction of the arrow. When the valves o and o2 are both
open, the steam entering both ends of the steam chest g of the piston block g4
is then in equilibrium, and the steam acting on the piston block 95 actuates
the valves as before; a small opening is left above the piston block g³ for the
admission or escape of air. When these double valves are applied to steam
engines of the ordinary construction, the valves o and 2 and the piston
blocks g¹ and y are not required.
Figure 12 is a section of another modification of my improved valves,
particularly applicable to double or single-acting steam hammers that are
worked by hand, but which may be applied to the ordinary vertical steam
engines; the valve n is connected to the valve rodg',and is provided with the
balance plate n', as before described.
Figure 13 is a section of another modification of my improved valves, par-
ticularly applicable to single-acting steam hammers that are worked by hand.
By means of these improvements in the construction of valves, their area and
consequently their weight is greatly reduced; they are therefore capable of

page_text: being worked with very little power, which renders them particularly suitable
for steam hammers, and for marine or other steam engines of large
dimensions.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described several modes
of carrying the same into operation, I wish it to be understood that I do
not intend to limit myself to the details given, as the same may be con-
siderably varied or modified according to the peculiar arrangement or
construction of the steam hammer or steam engine to which my improvements
are applied; and I declare that I claim,-
First, the improved arrangement of valves and valve gearing by which the
steam may be admitted both below and above the pistons of steam hammers,
as shewn and described in reference to Sheet 1.
Secondly, the improved double-acting equilibrium valves for steam hammers
and steam engines, as shewn and described in reference to Sheet 2.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
ROBERT WILSON. (L.s.)