Improvements in Compound Locomotive Engines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compound Locomotive Engines.
I, RICHARD HERBERT LAPAGE, of No. 17A Great George Street in the City of
Westminster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
--
In compound locomotive engines as hitherto constructed there have been one high
pressure and one low pressure cylinder placed side by side inside or outside the
frame and working on one axle. When it is desired to increase the size of the
cylinders in order to obtain sufficient power to work heavy trains the cylinders
arranged as described above become too large in diameter to go between tlie inside
frames and if they are placed outside the frames the crank pins have to be made very
long and there is danger of the cylinders themselves fouling the loading gauge,
existing platforms, tunnels and the like.
According to the present invention these defects are obviated by the use of two
low pressure cylinders of which the combined capacity may be equal to that of a
single low pressure cylinder.
In one arrangement the two cylinders are placed one above the other each having
its separate piston and rod, the two piston rods are connected together by a cross-
head to which a single connecting rod is pivotted. This rod works onto a crank of
the same driving axle on which the rod of the high pressure cylinder also works. The
two low pressure cylinders are supplied from one steam chest, the ports being so
arranged as to deliver steam from the valve chest to both cylinders at the same time,
the exhaust also taking place in the usual way. If desired, there may be more than
one steam chest, but I prefer to work the low pressure cylinders with one valve gear.
Valves for working both the low pressure cylinders and the high pressure cylinder
may be placed in any position, either above, below, or at the sides of the cylinders.
When the low pressure valve is placed either above or below the cylinders, the steam
passes direct through one cylinder to the other by a port which unites the two
cylinders. It is obvious that the low pressure cylinders may be placed in any
convenient position to attain this object. In some cases, as for example when a
leading hogie is not used, it is advantageous to place the leading axle as close to the
cylinders as possible. In such case, and with cylinders placed between the frames,
the axle may be arranged between the two low pressure piston rods. The high
pressure cylinder must then also be fitted with two, rods attached to one piston.
Low pressure cylinders arranged as described above may be fitted to compound
locomotives which have the high pressure cylinders attached to a separate frame from
that to which the low pressure cylinders are attached, these latter may then be fitted
onto the tender or onto a swivelled frame.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compound Locomotive Engines.
I, RICHARD HERBERT LAPAGE late of No. 17A Great George Street, in the City
of Westminster, now of 17 Austin Friars, in the City of London, Civil 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 :-
In compound locomotive engines as hitherto constructed there have been one high

page_text: pressure and one low pressure cylinder placed side by side inside or outside the frames
and working on one axle. When it is desired to increase the size of the cylinders in
order to obtain sufficient power to work heavy trains as for instance when it is not
desirable to increase the pressure in the boiler but still obtain the necessary cylinder
capacity, the cylinders, arranged as described above become too large in diameter
to go between the wheels and the frames and if they are placed outside the frames
the crank pins have to be made very long and there is danger of the cylinders
themselves fouling the loading gauge, existing platforms, tunnel and the like.
According to the present invention these defects are obviated by the use of two
low pressure cylinders of which the combined capacity may be equal to that of a
single low pressure cylinder. By this means the use of a large overhanging low
pressure cylinder is obviated, and when the cylinders are placed between the frames,
longer crank journals may be obtained.
In one arrangement the two cylinders are placed one above the other, each having
its own piston and rod the two piston rods being connected together by a cross bead
to which a single connecting rod is journalled. This rod works onto a crank of the
same driving axle as that on which the rod of the high pressure cylinder also works.
The two low pressure cylinders are supplied from one steam chest, the ports being so
arranged as to deliver steam from the valve chest to both cylinders at the same time,
the exhaust also taking place in the usual way. If desired, there may be more than
one steam chest, but I prefer to work the low pressure cylinders with one valve
Valves for working both the low pressure cylinders and the high pressure
cylinder may be placed in any position either above. below, or at the sides of the
cylinders. When the low pressure valve is placed either above or below the cylinders,
the steam passes direct through one cylinder to the other by ports which unite the
two cylinders. It is obvious that the low pressure cylinders may be placed in any
convenient position to attain this object. In some cases as for example when a
leading bogie is not used, it is advantageous to place the leading axle as close to the
cylinders as possible.
gear.
In such case, and with cylinders placed between the frames, the axle may be
arranged between the two low pressure piston rods. The high pressure cylinder must
then also be fitted with two rods attached to one piston.
Low pressure cylinders arranged as described above may be fitted to compound
locomotives which have the high pressure cylinders attached to a separate frame from
that to which the low pressure cylinders are attached; these latter may then be
fitted onto the tender or onto a swivelled frame.
Referring to the accompanying three sheets of drawings
Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through the two low pressure cylinders of a
compound locomotive arranged according to my invention so much of the locomotive
necessary to illustrate the application of my invention thereto being shewn in
as
elevation.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section, through the exhaust passages of the high and low
pressure cylinders and the smoke box of the locomotive.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 illustrating a modification.
Figs. 2 and 3 are drawn to larger scales than Fig. 1.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is a high pressure cylinder and 2, 2 are two low
pressure cylinders of an outside cylinder compound locomotive engine. The two low
pressure cylinders are, in the example shewn, arranged one directly above the other
and provided with one steam chest 3 and with one distributing valve 4 (Fig. 1) that
is operated by a link motion in the ordinary manner.
The upper of the two cylinders 2 is formed with steam and exhaust ports and
passages 5 and 6 respectively of the ordinary form, and communicates with the lower
cylinder at each end by connecting ports or passages 7. By this construction the two
low pressure cylinders, which are of equal diameter and length; both receive steam
from the steam chest at the same time, the exhaust from each also taking place
simultaneously. S is the steam pipe for conveying high pressure steam to the high
pressure cylinder 1; and 9 is a connecting pipe for conveying exhaust steam from

page_text: this cylinder to the low pressure cylinders 2. This connecting pipe may be fitted with
a valve case 10 containing combined intercepting and starting valves 10 and 10
respectively constructed to operate in an automatic manner substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth in the specifications of Letters Patent granted
to me dated 8th Jan. 1887 No. 310.
The intercepting valve in this example is a disc valve 10 carried by a guide
plunger 10, and the starting valves are in the form of plungers 10€.
The pistons of the two low pressure cylinders are connected by their rods 11 to
one slide block or crosshead 12 that is guided in the ordinary manner and coupled to
one end of a connecting rod 13 the other end of which is coupled to the crank pin 14
of the driving shaft in the usual manner. 15 is the ordinary exhaust or blast pipe
common to both low pressure cylinders.
In Fig. 3, the distributing valves 4, 4 for the two low pressure cylinders, and the
high pressure cylinder respectively are shown arranged to work at the sides of these
cylinders, instead of above them as in Figs. 1 and 2. In other respects the
construction and arrangement of the high and low pressure cylinders shewn in Fig. 3
is similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The intercepting valve 10 shown in
Fig. 3 is of the hinged flap type combined with one starting valve 10 of plunger
form.
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. In a compound locomotive engine, a single high pressure cylinder and two
connected low pressure cylinders to both of which steam is admitted simultaneously
and from both of which it is exhausted simultaneously.
2. In a compound locomotive engine having three cylinders as referred to in the
preceding claim, connecting the pistons of the two low pressure cylinders to a
common connecting rod substantially as described.
3. In a compound locomotive engine the hereinbefore described arrangement of
the two low pressure cylinders in combination with a steam chest common to both
cylinders.
4. In a compound locomotive engine having 3 cylinders as referred to in claim 1
effecting the distribution of low pressure steam by means of a single distributing
valve common to both cylinders the ports and passages controlled by such valve being
arranged to deliver steam from the valve chest to both cylinders at the same time
and the exhaust taking place from both cylinders simultaneously substantially as
described.
5. My improved compound locomotive engine in which the high pressure cylinder
and the two connected low pressure cylinders are connected by a pipe provided with
combined intercepting and starting valves arranged to operate in an automatic
manner, as described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1 and 2; or as in Fig. 3
of the drawings annexed.
Dated 1 ot
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.