IMPROVEMENTS for the Invention of VALVES FOR STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Edlyn Outridge, of Catford Bridge, in the
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
County of Kent, Engineer, for the Invention of
VALVES FOR STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES."
Sealed the 2nd May 1873, and dated the 7th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Edlyn Outridge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th November 1872.
I, JOSEPH EDLYN OUTRIDGE, of Catford Bridge, in the. County of
Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES," to be as
follows:
This Invention relates to improvements in valves for steam and other
engines. The inlet valves are preferably double, and work against or
over ports upon the upper or outside faces of boxes, between which an
exhaust or outlet valve is free to move. The valves are for the purpose
of working the steam expansively, and their length of stroke can be
increased or diminished by rods actuated by one or more cams or
excentrics in connection or not with the governor.

page_text: The exhaust valve is open at the centre to the full exhaust outlet, its
ends covering and uncovering the exhaust ports from the cylinder
alternately. The inlet valves, whether for single or double cylinders or a
pair of cylinders, can be floated in steam to equilibrate them by the
addition of knees or straps. In the case of double inlet valves with an
exhaust valve between them I carry the strap across from one to the
other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Edlyn Outridge in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
EDLYN OUTRIDGE, of Catford Bridge, in the County of Kent, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant me, the said Joseph Edlyn Outridge, Her special
licence that I, the said Joseph Edlyn Outridge, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Edlyn Outridge,
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 FOR STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Joseph Edlyn Outridge, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Edlyn Outridge, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:―
This Invention relates to improvements in valves for steam and other
engines. The inlet valves are preferably double, and work against or
over ports upon the upper or outside faces of boxes, between which an.
exhaust or outlet valve is free to move. The valves are for the purpose
of working the steam expansively, and their length of stroke can be
increased or diminished by rods actuated by one or more cams or
excentrics in connection or not with the governor.
The exhaust valve is open at the centre to the full exhaust outlet, its'
ends covering and uncovering the exhaust ports from the cylinder
alternately. The inlet valves, whether for single or double cylinders or a
pair of cylinders, can be floated in steam to equilibrate them by the
addition of knees or straps. In the case of double inlet valves with an
exhaust valve between them I in some cases carry the strap across from
one to the other.
.
,
The inlet valves and the exhaust have an independent motion from.
separate rods, and each can be set to travel at different speeds and
distances.
The Invention will be understood by reference to the annexed Sheet
of Drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a face view of the valve chest a
with the cover removed; b is the valve as seen more clearly in the
sectional view, Figure 2, as working upon the face of two steam inlet
boxes c, c, when drawn to and fro by the rod d, and the connection e
leading from the excentric strap f. 9 is a valve working between the
two inner side faces of the side boxes c, c, and when the respective
ports h, h, or i, i, are covered by it, as it moves to and fro by its rod j,
the inlet ports become shut, and steam is only admitted through the top
inlets as they are uncovered, the valve being at the opposite end and
over the top inlets at that end. In this position the valve g which is
hollow in the central part, like that described in the Specification of my
former Patent, No. 2420, of the year 1868, is so placed that the hollow'
opens the communication for the exhaust steam from the cylinder
through the side portions of the inlet ports, from which it passes into
.

page_text: and through the hollow, thence into the exhaust outlets in the central
parts of the two boxes c, c, away to the condenser, or otherwise.
The rod of the valve g is also connected to the excentric strap ƒ by
the rod 1, the pins of the two connections being so arranged that the
valve moves a greater distance than the valve 9 for their proper
working. The strap f has a bowl or roller k upon it, and this works in
a slot in a fixed piece m to preserve the requisite action of the strap
when moved by the excentric. The roller is fitted loosely upon a pin n,
and this is embraced on its outer end by a plate p with a slot cut in
it at an angle, so that the plate can be set in the required position to act
upon the governor through the rod r by tightening up the nuts upon
the pin, or the plate can be used for adjusting the valves for the proper.
cut-off of the steam.
q
The mode of fitting the two connections e and to the strap is clearly
shown in Figure 3, so that each one is attached to separate slide blocks
in the guide t of the valve rods d and j.
The valve b, which is the important feature in this Invention, is held
down upon the two boxes c, c, by knee or angle pieces u, u, the side
portions of which are adjustable by screws v, v, whose heads are upon
the outside of the valve chest a, as shown.
The valve can be recessed upon the top surface for the purpose of
permitting steam to enter between it and the knee pieces for floating the
valve, so to speak, and allowing it to be equilibrated, or the under faces
of the knee pieces can be recessed in lieu of the valve, or both of them
may be recessed or channelled if desired.
The knee pieces are shown as only projecting over a portion of the
valve b, but a strap may be arranged to bear upon the valve and the
knee pieces upon the strap if required.
The arrangement shown in the Drawing is of the simplest character
for a single cylinder double acting engine, and is sufficient to enable my
Invention to be clearly understood by practical engineers, but I do not
confine myself to this simple arrangement, as the valve may be fitted to
act in a compound manner for more than one cylinder, according to the
construction and purpose of the engine to which it is fitted.
Having therefore clearly defined the nature of my Invention and the
manner by which it may be practically carried into effect, I declare that

page_text: I claim, the improvements in valves for steam and other engines when
said valves work upon, against, or over inlet ports upon the upper or
outside faces of boxes which have an exhaust valve between them, as
described and shown.
Secondly. I claim the method, described and shown, by which two
valves working in unison as set forth are acted upon by the same
excentric strap.
Thirdly. I claim the special combination of appliances for producing
the cut-off or regulation of such valves, as described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Edlyn Outridge, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-three.