Improvements in Valves and Valve Mechanism for the Distribution of Steam in Steam Engines, and for other like purposes
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1891-Accepted, 27th June, 1891.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves and Valve Mechanism for the Distribution
of Steam in Steam Engines, and for other like purposes
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Jacques Stoll of Paris in the Republic
of France) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved arrangement of distribution valves and
valve gear or mechanism more particularly adapted for steam engine cylinders
working with four valves the object being to combine a quick or practically
instantaneous opening and closing action with great simplicity in the construction
of the valves.
Wire drawing of the steam is obviated owing to the peculiar form of the valves
and valve seats and the period of admission is controlled by the governor of the
engine. These steam distribution valves are constructed according to this inven-
tion in the form of taper or conical hollow plugs presenting annular slots fitting
into seats or sockets of corresponding form so that a slight movement of the plug
or valve in the direction of its axis is sufficient to open the passage to the utmost
extent as hereinafter explained.
These valves are composed of two main parts namely:-
1. A box or case provided with two tubular unions or junction pieces, a valve
rod gland a bridge piece or valve rod guide and a taper or conical valve seat with
perforations or slots surrounded by a passage formed by a widening of the tube or
connection with the cylinder and in which the steam circulates before entering
latter.
2. A taper or conical valve with perforations working in the aforesaid seat and
provided with a pressure balancing disc and a valve rod working in the aforesaid
gland and having a roller at its outer extremity.
The valve rod is guided at the lower part by a transverse bar and at the upper
part by the said gland. One end of the valve is perforated with holes and a spring
is provided which tends to press the valve to its seat. These two parts namely
the valve and its seat are each formed by an equal number of horizontal rings of
the same thickness separated by narrow spaces or openings so as to form a species
of grating. These rings are connected together by bars arranged at right angles
to the rings for example, at suitable intervals so as to strengthen the rings and
maintain them at the proper distances apart and in the case of the valve the rings
are connected to a central boss attached to the valve rod.
The valve is displaced in the direction of its axis by means of a cam or other
suitable mechanical device acting on upper or lower end of the valve rod. According
to one arrangement a cam of cylindrical form for example is employed the
eccentricity or difference in the radii being equal to the width of one ring in the
valve or valve seat or in other words is equal to the stroke or displacement
ecessary to enable the valve to uncover the orifices or slots formed by the openings
between the rings forming the seat. The said cam rotates in contact with the
oller on the valve rod and the projection on the cam maintains the valve raised
r open during a period regulated by the dimensions of such projection. The same
am may be formed with different profiles or length of the projecting part advancing
y degrees from say 2 to 26 of the circumference and thus enabling the period
f opening of the valve to be regulated by simply displacing the cam in the direc-
on of its axis of rotation and such displacement may be effected by the action of
he governor

page_text: In place of a cylindrical cam with a projection a grooved or disc cam may be
employed having a positive connection with the valve rod and consequently enabling
the spring which is employed to keep the roller in contact with the cylindrical cam
to be dispensed with.
Valves of this improved construction are employed according to this invention
in combination with a steam engine cylinder constructed with four valve chests.
The two upper chests admit steam to the cylinder and the two lower valve chests
are for the exhaust. The former are inverted relatively to the latter but their
construction is the same.
The steam supply valves are worked by cams placed on a valve motion shaft and
united by a sleeve connected by a bell crank lever or by any other suitable
connection with the governor; a feather and key way enabling the sleeve and cams
to slide longitudinally on the said shaft whilst partaking of the rotary motion
communicated to the latter from the engine shaft.
The exhaust valves are worked by cams immoveably fixed on the valve shaft.
The profiles of the admission valve cams are graduated or have a varying develope-
ment but the exhaust valve cams are provided with uniform profiles or projections
extending over say one half of the circumference. It results from this arrange-
ment that the admission cams being adjusted for a given normal speed any diminution
or increase of speed has the effect of causing the governor to displace these cams
upon the valve motion shaft and of causing them to present a different profile to
the valve rods of the steam supply valves and the length of the period during which
the steam supply ports or orifices are opened is regulated accordingly. In all cases
both the supply and exhaust valves are instantaneous in their action and the steam
passes through the full or entire area of the parts without wire drawing or
contraction of the current.
Engines provided with distribution valves and valve mechanism according to this
invention possess the advantage of being absolutely reversible this not being the
case in other engines such as Corliss engines for example.
In order to balance the pressure and enable the valves to work with a minimum
of resistance the steam under boiler pressure is allowed to pass through the holes
herein before referred to in the end of the valve and acts on one side of the disc
connected to the valve which disc is acted on in like manner on the other side by
the steam when the valve is open. The edges of the disc may be packed and
work steam tight in a cylindrical chamber. The arrangement of the apparatus
is such as to require no lubrication and this constitutes an additional advantage.
The improved valves according to this invention may be constructed of any
suitable shape or dimensions and may be employed in any suitable manner in
combination either with steam engines or with other apparatus in which it is
required to obtain an instantaneous and regulated admission or passage of steam
or other fluid. The rotary motion and the longitudinal or axial displacement of
the cam may be obtained mechanically or automatically or by hand or by any other
suitable means.
Dated this 26th day of August 1890.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves and Valve Mechanism for the Distribution
of Steam in Steam Engines, and for other like purposes.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of 50
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Jacques Stoll of Paris in the Republic
of France, 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 an improved arrangement of distribution valves and 55

page_text: valve gear or mechanism more particularly adapted for steam engine cylinders
working with four valves the object being to combine a quick or practically
instantaneous opening and closing action with great simplicity in the construction
of the parts as hereinafter described.
Wire drawing of the steam is obviated owing to the peculiar form of the
valves and valve seats enabling the admission and exhaust ports or orifices to be
instantly set full open at the proper time and provision is made for enabling the
period of admission to be automatically controlled by the governor of the engine.
The steam distribution valves are constructed according to this invention in the
form of taper or conical hollow valves perforated with annular slots and fitting
into similarly perforated seats or sockets of corresponding form so that a slight
movement of the valve in the direction of its axis is sufficient to open the passage
to the utmost extent as hereinafter explained.
And in order that this invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in vertical section a valve
according to this invention and Figure 14 illustrates in side elevation an adjustable
cam employed for regulating the action of the valve.
Figure 2 represents the valve in a horizontal section taken on the line 1-2
Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate in longitudinal elevation and end elevation (partly in
transverse section) the application of the valves to a steam engine cylinder
constructed, with four distribution valves.
These valves are composed of two main parts namely.
1. A box or case A (Figs. 1 and 2) provided with two tubular flanged unions or
junction pieces a a', a valve rod gland, a bridge piece or valve rod guide c and a
taper or conical valve seat B presenting perforations or slots and surrounded by a
passage d formed by a widening or enlargement (Figure 2) of the tube a¹
communicating with the cylinder. The steam or fluid after passing through the
orifices in the valve D and valve seat B circulates in this passage d and passes
thence into the tube a'.
2. A taper or conical valve D likewise provided with perforations and working
in the aforesaid seat B. This valve is provided with a pressure balancing disc e
and a valve rod fcarrying a roller g at its outer extremity acted on by a cam E on
a rotating shaft N.
The valve rod is guided at the lower part by a transverse bar and at the
upper part by the gland b. One end of the valve D is perforated with holes i and
a spring acting on a nut or collar on the valve rod tends to press the valve to its
seat.
These two parts namely the valve D and its seat Bare each formed by an equal
number of rings 1 of the same thickness separated by narrow spaces or openings
so as to form a species of grating.
These rings are connected together by bars 2 arranged at suitable intervals so as.
to strengthen the rings 1 and maintain them at the proper distances apart and in
the case of the valve D the rings are connected to a central boss through which
the valve rod is passed being secured by a nut.
The valve D is displaced in the direction of its axis by means of the cam E or
other suitable mechanical device acting on any part of the valve rod. According
to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 14 a cam E of cylindrical form is
employed the excentricity or difference in the radii at m and n being equal to the
width or thickness of one ring in the valve seat B or in other words is equal to the
stroke or displacement necessary to enable the valve E to fully open or uncover
the orifices in the seat B. The cam E acts by rotating in contact with the roller
and the projection y z on the said cam maintains the valve in the open position
during a period regulated by the development or area of this projection. The

page_text: same cam may be formed with different profiles or lengths of the projecting part
advancing by degrees from say to of the circumference as indicated in
Figure 1 thus enabling the period of opening of the valve to be regulated by
simply displacing the cam in the direction of its axis of rotation such displacement
being effected by the action of the governor or otherwise.
In place of the cylindrical cam E and projection a. y. . a grooved or disc cam
may be employed having a positive connection with the valve rod f and consequently
enabling the spring which is employed to keep the roller.g in contact with the
cylindrical cam to be dispensed with.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a steam engine cylinder constructed with four
valves A' A2 A3 A4 which with slight modifications in the shape correspond with
the valve illustrated in Figure 1. The two upper valves A¹ A² admit steam and
the two lower valves A3 A4 are for the exhaust. The admission valves are
inverted relatively to the exhaust valves but their construction is the same.
The steam supply or admission valves are worked by cams E' and E³ carried by
a valve motion shaft N being united by a sleeve M connected by a bell crank
lever For by any other suitable connection with the engine governor represented
at R a feather and key way enabling the sleeve and cams to slide longitudinally on
the shaft N whilst partaking of the rotary motion communicated to the latter
from the engine shaft.
The exhaust valves A³ A are worked by cams E3 E' immoveably fixed on the
valve shaft N. The acting surfaces (.. Figure 1) of the admission valve
cams E are graduated or have a varying developement but the exhaust valve
cams E3 E are provided with uniform acting surfaces or projections extending
over say one half of the circumference.
It results from this arrangement that the cams El and E² being adjusted for a
given normal speed any diminution or increase of speed has the effect of causing
the governor to displace these cams upon the valve motion shaft N and of causing
them to present a different profile to the valve rods of the steam supply valves and
the length of the period during which the steam supply ports or orifices are opened
is reduced or regulated accordingly. In all cases the valves are instantaneous in
their action and the steam passes through the full or entire area of the ports without
wire drawing or contraction of the current. Similar advantages are obtained in
the case of the exhaust valves:
Engines provided with distribution valves and valve mechanism according to this
invention possess the advantage of being absolutely reversible this not being the case
in other engines such as Corliss engines for example.
In order to balance the pressure and enable the valves to work with a minimum
of resistance the steam under boiler pressure is allowed to pass through the holes i
herein before referred to in the end of the valve and acts on one side of a disc e
(Figure 1) connected to the valve which disc is acted on in like manner on the other
side by the steam when the valve is open. The edges of the disc e may be packed
and work steam tight in a cylindrical chamber. The arrangement of the apparatus
is such as to require no lubrication and this constitutes an additional advantage.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate modifications which differ from the construction
hereinbefore described merely in regard to the forms and dimensions of the valve
case E and other details of construction.
The principles of construction and action of the valves illustrated in
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are the same as in the case of the valve hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and the same letters of reference
are employed to indicate corresponding parts.
Figure 5 represents an arrangement in which the spring is dispensed with the
cam E acting on the lower extremity of the valve rod f to open the valve D which
closes by its own weight. In Figure 6 the cam E works in an eye or stirrup S
on the upper extremity of the valve rod f. The conical valve D is more obtuse
in form and the arrangements for balancing the pressure are also dispensed with
In Figure 7 the spring r is employed to assist in closing the valve D which is

page_text: opened by a cam E acting on a roller g on the lower extremity of the valve rod f.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 also illustrate different modifications in the form of the box
or case A which will be readily understood without further explanation by
referring to the drawing.
The improved valves according to this invention may be constructed of any
suitable shape or dimensions and may be employed in any suitable manner in
combination either with steam engines or with other apparatus in which it is
required to obtain an instantaneous and regulated admission or passage of steam
or other fluids. The rotary motion and the longitudinal or axial displacement of
the cam E may be obtained by hand or by any other suitable means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
First. A valve for the distribution of steam in steam engines or for other like
purposes constructed with a valve box A containing a perforated seat B in the
form of a truncated cone and a correspondingly perforated and coned valve D
capable of being quickly closed or opened to the utmost extent by means of a
relatively small movement or displacement of the parts substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
Second. A valve for the distribution of steam in steam engines or for other like
purposes constructed with a valve box A containing a conical seat B and a
conical valve D and having perforations or slots in combination with the holes i
a disc e and a spring all arranged in the manner and for the purpose substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
1'
Third. The combination of the valve and valve box A arranged and operating
as herein before described and claimed with a rod provided with a roller g acted
on by a cam E having an acting surface c. y. z arranged so as to be capable of
adjustment for regulating the period of admission of the steam or fluid or otherwise
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 1^, 3 and 4,
of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The valve and valve boxes A arranged and operating as hereinbefore
described and claimed in combination with a steam distribution system comprising
four valves or distributers one pair of valves A1 A2 being combined with
cams E' and E' having acting surfaces xyz capable of adjustment and connected
to the governor and another pair of valves (AA) being combined with cams E³ E¹
having constant or unchangeable acting surfaces in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting improved valves
and valve mechanism for the distribution of steam in steam engines and for other
like purposes substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
11
1001
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.