IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND PARTS CONNECTED THERE WITH FOR DIRECT ACTING STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND PARTS CONNECTED
THERE WITH FOR DIRECT ACTING STEAM ENGINES." -A communication frora
abroad by George F. Blake, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States
of America.
ealed the 22nd July 1873, and dated the 7th February 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th February 1873.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND PARTS
CONNECTED THEREWITH FOR DIRECT ACTING STEAM ENGINES," a communication,
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in arranging a single slide valve in combina-
tion with suitable ports in such a manner that the said single slide valve
.

page_text: shall perform the functions both of the main valve and of a secondary
valve when operated as herein-after described.
The secondary cylinder is placed at a right angle to the centre line of
the main cylinder. The leading ports of the engine communicate with
the ends of the main cylinder and with the slide valve. The connection
between the secondary piston and the slide valve is formed by means of
a flat pin which passes through the plunger and enters the top of the
slide valve in such a manner that the said plunger carries the slide valve
when it moves in the direction of its length, and when the slide valve is
moved by the valve rod the plunger receives a slight partial rotation. A
yoke surrounds the slide valve, to which the valve rod is rigidly attached.
The slide valve is free to move in the said yoke in the direction of the
longitudinal centre line of the plunger, but is confined in and moved by
the said yoke. The valve rod is placed in the direction of the longitu-
dinal centre line of the main cylinder.
The valve rod operated by the main piston moves the slide valve until
steam is admitted into one end of the secondary cylinder, and exhausted
from the other through the ports. This operation causes the secondary
piston or plunger to move the said valve in a direction at a right angle
to its previous movement by the valve rod, it being free to move within
a yoke, and reverses the motion of the main piston.. In the first move-
ment of the said valve by the valve rod the action of the valve on the
plunger by means of the connecting pin gives the plunger a slight
partial rotation, so that it is free to move when steam is admitted, and
starts more readily than if in a state of rest at that time.
It will be seen that in a full revolution of the engine the valve is
moved in four directions, videlicet, first in the direction of the longitudinal
centre line of the main cylinder by the valve rod; second, in a direction
at a right angle to the direction of the first movement by means of steam
admitted to the secondary piston or plunger by the first movement;
third, in a direction opposite to that of the first movement; fourth, in a
direction opposite to that of the second movement. And by this arrange-
ment of ports, and the secondary piston or plunger I am enabled to
operate the engine by combining therewith the single valve.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
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 AND PARTS CONNECTED THEREWITH FOR DIRECT ACTING
STEAM ENGINES," a communication to me from abroad by George F. Blake,
of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification.
This Invention consists in arranging a single slide valve in combina-
tion with suitable ports in such a manner that the said single slide valve
shall perform the functions both of the main valve and the secondary
valve of the engine when operated substantially as herein-after described.

page_text: Figure 1 is a cross section of the main cylinder, and a longitudinal
section of the secondary cylinder of an engine arranged for my improved
valve; Figure 2 is a plan of the main cylinder; and Figure 3 is a cross
section of the secondary cylinder, and a longitudinal section of the
upper part of the main cylinder.
A is the main cylinder; B, the secondary piston or plunger; C, the
slide valve; E, the secondary cylinder placed at a right angle to the
centre line of the main cylinder. The ports a, b, are the leading ports
of the engine, and communicate with the ends of the main cylinder and
with the slide valve C, as shewn in the Drawing, Figure 2. c is the main
exhaust port; d, e, are the ports through which steam is conducted to
and exhausted from the secondary cylinder. The connection between
the secondary piston and the slide valve is formed by means of the flat
pin G, which passes through the plunger and enters the top of the slide
valve in such a manner that the said plunger carrics the slide valve when
it moves in the direction of its length, and when the slide valve is moved
by the valve rod the plunger receives a slight partial rotation. A yoke Ḥ
surrounds the slide valve C, to which the valve rod K is rigidly attached.
The valve C is free to move in said yoke in the direction of the longitu-
dinal centre line of the plunger, but is confined in and moved by the
said yoke, and the valve rod attached in the direction of the longitudinal
centre line of the main cylinder.
The valve rod operated by the main piston moves the valve C until
steam is admitted into one end of the secondary cylinder, and exhausted
from the other through the ports d, e. This causes the second piston
or plunger to move the valve C in a direction at a right angle to its
previous movement by the valve rod (it being free to move within the
yoke H), and reverses the motion of the main piston. In the first
movement of the valve C by the valve rod the action of the valve on the
plunger by means of the connecting pin G gives the plunger a slight
partial rotation, so that it is free to move when steam is admitted, and
starts more readily than if in a state of rest at that time.
It will be seen that in a full revolution of the engine the valve is
moved in four directions, namely, first, in the direction of the longitudinal
centre line of the main cylinder by the valve rod; second in a direction

page_text: at a right angle to the direction of the first movement by means of steam
admitted to the secondary piston or plunger by the first movement;
third in a direction opposite to that of the first movement; fourth in a
direction opposite to that of the second movement. And by this arrange-
ment of ports and the secondary piston or plunger I am able to operate
the engine by combining therewith the single valve C. The arrangement
of the secondary piston and its cylinder and the other parts of the engine
may be varied, though I prefer the arrangement shewn.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I
wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The slide valve C, constructed as described, and combined with
suitable ports, so that by movement in four directions it acts both as the
main valve and the secondary valve of the engine, substantially as set
forth.
Second. The combination and arrangement of the slide valve C, rod K,
yoke H, ports a, b, c, d, e, plunger B, and flat pin G, with the main
piston of a direct acting engine, all constructed and operating in the
manner and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
JAMES EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)