Improvements in or applicable to Compound Locomotive Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Compound Locomotive Engines.
I, JOHN AUDLEY FREDERICK ASPINALL, of Horwich, in the County of
Lancaster, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway,
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention, to be as follows:-
My invention relates to compound locomotive engines having one high and one
low pressure cylinder, though applicable where there are two high and one large
low pressure cylinders or two high and two low or two low and one high, and my
invention refers to improved arrangements and valve mechanism whereby the
engine may be worked as a compound engine when the boiler steam will pass
through the high to the low pressure cylinder and then to the exhaust pipe, or as
a simple engine in which the boiler steam will pass directly to both the high and
low pressure cylinders, and then from each cylinder directly to the blast pipe as in
an ordinary simple engine, this latter mode of working being used more especially
when first starting a train into motion.
By my improved arrangements the engine may be made to work as a compound
or simple engine by moving valve mechanism from one position to another.
The steam from the exhaust of the high pressure cylinder is conveyed by a pipe
in the smoke box to a cylindrical valve casing fixed over the steam chest of the
low pressure cylinder in which cylindrical casing a cylindrical valve fits--one end
of this valve is open so that the steam can freely enter its interior and the other
end is closed.
This cylindrical valve has two ports in its cylindrical side so arranged that when
the cylindrical valve is in one position the exhaust steam from the high pressure
cylinder can pass from the interior of the cylindrical valve through one port in it
to the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder, the other port from the interior of
the cylindrical valve to the blast pipe being then closed, the exhaust steam from
the low pressure cylinder passing through passages on the exterior of the cylindrical
valve casing to the blast pipe.
When the cylindrical valve is oscillated to its other position the port from its
interior to the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder is closed, and the port in
it to the blast pipe is opened so that steam from the exhaust of the high pressure
cylinder will then pass directly through the interior of the cylindrical valve to
the blast pipe.
In moving this cylindrical valve to its last named position a cam surface upon it,
acts upon the projecting lower end of a flat or cone seated lifting valve placed in
the exterior casing of the cylindrical valve, which lifting valve is connected by a
small pipe with steam supply direct from the boiler and the lifting of the valve
allows steam to pass by a passage on the exterior casing of the cylindrical valve to
the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder.
The cylindrical valve has recesses in it to receive plates curved and machined
to the interior face of the cylindrical casing and these plates come over the port
which has to be closed in each position to make these plates a steam tight fit,
steam is allowed to get to the back of each plate so as to press them firmly against
the ports they are to close.
The cylindrical valve is oscillated from one position to the other by a spindle
passing through a stuffing box in a lid or cover at the end of the casing for the
cylindrical valve.
The spindle is oscillated by an arm secured on its outer end and a rod jointed to

page_text: the arm which passes to a lever or other handle in a convenient position on the
foot plate of the engine.
Dated this Twenty-first day of October 1891.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Compound Locomotive Engines.
I, JOHN AUDLEY FREDERIOR ASPINALL, of Horwich, in the County of
Lancaster, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway,
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: -
My invention relates to compound locomotive engines having one high and one
low pressure cylinder, though applicable where there are two high and one large
low pressure cylinders, or two high and two low, or two low and one high pressure
cylinders, and my invention refers to improved arrangements and valve mechanism
whereby the engine may be worked as a compound engine when the boiler steam
will pass through the high to the low pressure cylinder, and then to the exhaust
pipe, or as a simple engine in which the boiler steam will pass directly to both the
high and low pressure cylinders, and then from each cylinder directly to the blast
pipe as in an ordinary simple engine, this latter mode of working being used more
especially when first starting a train into motion.
By my improved arrangements, the engine may be made to work as a compound
or simple engine by moving valve mechanism from one position to another.
The steam from the exhaust of the high pressure cylinder is conveyed by a
pipe in the smoke box to a cylindrical valve casing fixed over the steam chest of
the low pressure cylinder in which cylindrical casing a cylindrical valve fits, one
end of this valve is open so that the steam can freely enter its interior.
This cylindrical valve has two ports in its cylindrical side, so arranged that
when the cylindrical valve is in one position the exhaust steam from the high
pressure cylinder can pass from the interior of the cylindrical valve through one
port in it to the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder, the other port from the
interior of the cylindrical valve to the blast pipe being then closed, the exhaust
steam from the low pressure cylinder passing through passages on the exterior of
the cylindrical valve casing to the blast pipe.
When the cylindrical valve is oscillated to its other position the port from its
interior to the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder is closed, and the port in it
to the blast pipe is opened, so that steam from the exhaust of the high pressure
cylinder, will then pass directly through the interior of the cylindrical valve to the
blast pipe.
In moving this cylindrical valve to its last named position a cam surface upon it,
acts upon the projecting lower end of a flat or cone seated lifting valve placed in
the exterior casing of the cylindrical valve, which lifting valve is connected by a
small pipe with steam supplied direct from the boiler and the lifting of the valve,
allows steam to pass by a passage on the exterior casing of the cylindrical valve to
the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder.
The cylindrical valve has recesses in it to receive plates curved and machined to
the interior face of the cylindrical casing and these plates come over the port which
has to be closed, in each position, to make these plates a steam tight fit, steam is
allowed to get to the back of each plate so as to press them firmly against the ports
they are to close.
The cylindrical valve is oscillated from one position to the other by a spindle
passing through a stuffing box in a lid or cover at the end of the casing for the
cylindrical valve.

page_text: The spindle is oscillated by an arm secured on its outer end and a rod jointed to
the arm which passes to a lever or other handle in a convenient position on the foot
plate of the engine.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section in a plane passing vertically through the line A—A
Figs. 2 and 4.
Fig. 2 is a plan view with the parts in section in a plane passing horizontally in
the line B-B Figs. 1 and 3 and through B-B' Fig. 4.
Fig. 3 is a section in a plane passing vertically through the line C—C Figs. 1
and 2, and
Fig. 4 is a section in a vertical plane passing through the line D-D Figs. 1
and 2.
The casing a, is in one casting with a plate a', that forms a cover plate for the
ordinary valve chests of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders and is secured
thereto by studs.
b, is the cylindrical part of the valve, which is turned on its exterior to fit the
bored out interior of the casing a, in which it oscillates. This cylinder b, is open
at both ends.
There are webs 61, from the interior of the outer end of the cylinder b, to a
central boss 6, in a hole in which the end of the actuating spindle b*, is fitted and
secured by a cottar 64, and there is a collar, on this spindle which comes against
the interior of the plate or cover a³, which gives access to the valve b, and closes.
the casing a.
In the plate a, there is a stuffing box for the spindle 6, the exterior end of
which is squared to fit an arm 66, which is secured on the outer end of the spindle
or shaft by a screw nut, this arm 66, is jointed to one end of a rod, the other end
of which extends to within convenient reach of the driver.
In the cylinder b, there is a port ', which when opposite one a³, in the casing a
allows steam to pass to the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder (or cylinders if
more than one).
In the exterior of the cylinder b, there is a cavity formed to receive a loose
plate 8, which on its exterior is machined to fit the interior bore of the casing a.
This loose plate 68, when in the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 4,
covers and closes the port a³, leading to the valve chest of the low pressure
cylinder.
There is a small hole 6, in the curved plate 68, to allow steam to get to the cavity
in the cylinder b, at the back of the plate to keep it close against the margins of
the port a³.
There is a plate 6, in a cavity in the exterior of the cylinder b, Figs. 2 and 3.
for closing the port a', in the casing a, leading to the blast pipe of the engine,
which plate b", is arranged in a manner similar to the plate 6, except that in this
case, the small hole 6, is through the side of the cylinder b, and admits steam
pressure from the interior of the cylinder b, to the cavity for the cover plate be.
On the upper side of the casing a, there is a branch in the interior of which a
casing or bush is fitted which forms the seating and guide for a lifting valve c.
In Figs. 1 and 4 this valve c, is shown lifted from its seating when it allows high
pressure steam from the boiler, (brought by a small pipe c¹, communicating with
the pipe that supplies high pressure steam to the high pressure cylinder) to go by
a passage a, in the side of the casing a, see Figs. 2 and 4 to the valve chest of the
low pressure cylinder, but when this lifting valve c, is lowered, the supply of high
pressure steam is cut off from the low pressure valve chest.
This lifting valve c, is actuated by a cam or inclined groove 6º, on the exterior of
the cylinder, (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4) that comes opposite to the inner end of the
stem of the lifting valve c.
The steam from the exhaust of the high pressure cylinder or cylinders is brought
to the casing a, of the valve b, by a pipe d, forming a junction with a branch on the
casing a.
The exhaust steam from the low pressure cylinder or cylinders leaves through

page_text: the passage a, in the casting a, and the exhaust from the high pressure cylinder
when passing from it directly to the atmosphere goes through the valve b, and
port a', directly into the passage a*, which communicates with the lower end of the
blast pipe e.
In starting the engine, the lever or arm 66, is moved into the position marked 1
Fig. 4 (in which the valves b, and c, will be in the position shown in the drawings)
when the exhaust steam from the high pressure cylinder or cylinders will pass into
the interior of the valve b, and directly from it through the port at, to the blast
pipe e.
The port a', to the low pressure valve chest will be closed but the valve c,
will be open and will allow high pressure steam to pass to the low pressure valve
chest.
When the engine has started, the arm 6, is placed in the position marked 2
in Fig. 4, in which position of the valve cylinder b, the valve c, will be closed and
the outlet from the cylinder b, through the port a', directly to the atmosphere will
be closed, and the port a³, will be open, so that all the steam from the exhaust
of the high pressure cylinder or cylinders will pass directly to the valve chest
of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders, and will exhaust from them to the blast
pipe e.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The combination of a cylindrical valve with its casing, which casting and
valve communicates with the exhaust from the high pressure cylinder or cylinders,
the valve chest or chests of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders and the blast
pipe, the cylindrical valve being also combined with and actuating a lifting valve,
which combined mechanism can be operated to supply steam at boiler pressure to
both high and low pressure cylinders for starting the engine, and allow the exhaust
from both to pass directly to the atmosphere, or allow the exhaust steam from the
high pressure to pass to the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders
for working the steam compound, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by the drawings.
2. The combination of valve mechanism and arrangements substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of March 1892.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.