IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES FOR GOVERNING AND ESCAPE PURPOSES IN COMPOUND ENGINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Lonsdale Beckwith and Charles Wilden King,
both of 21, St. Swithen's Lane, in the City of London, Engineers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES FOR GOVERNING
AND ESCAPE PURPOSES IN COMPOUND ENGINES."
Sealed the 4th November 1879, and dated the 12th August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Lonsdale Beckwith
and Charles Wilden King at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
12th August 1879.
EDWARD LONSDALE BECKWITH and CHARLES WILDEN KING, both of 21, St.
Swithen's Lane, in the City of London, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO VALVES FOR GOVERNING AND ESCAPE PURPOSES IN COMPOUND
ENGINES."
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in valves for governing the speed
of compound engines and permitting the escape of water from the low pressure
cylinders of compound engines, whether such engines be used for marine or land
purposes.
In compound engines when by a sudden or gradual acceleration of speed the
governor is brought into action, the effect is the closing of the throttle valve in the
high pressure steam pipe, thus cutting off the steam supply to the high pressure
cylinder. Although this will be sufficient in a simple high pressure engine, there is
in a compound engine, being a high and low pressure engine, a considerable amount
of energy stored in the steam contained in the receiver, low pressure casing, and
cylinder, as well as in the vacuum in the condenser, which is unaffected by the
closing of the high pressure throttle valve, and in consequence of which the speed
of the engines is only partly checked.
Our Invention has for its object the overcoming of the beforegoing defects in the
governing of compound engines, and consists in governing compound engines in
the following manner:-In carrying our Invention into practice we connect the
top and bottom of the low pressure cylinder by a pipe or passage either leading
into the condenser direct or into the main eduction pipe into the condenser.
a cock, valve, or other
Between this pipe or passage and the condenser we place
known device for the purpose of shutting off communication between the condenser

page_text: and the low pressure cylinder. This cock or valve is actuated by a governor, which
may also work the throttle valve of the high pressure cylinder, and by opening the
said cock or valve both the top and bottom sides of the low pressure piston are
placed in communication with the condenser, thereby putting the low pressure
cylinder into equilibrium.
In engines of large power we propose to fit to the top and bottom covers of the
low pressure cylinder valves which shall serve the double purpose of ordinary
escape valves as well as governing valves. This we propose to effect in the following
manner: The escape or governing valve is kept shut by the pressure of steam (at
boiler pressure) on a piston, which piston exerts its force in keeping the valve shut
until the pressure is removed by the governor coming into action.
This opening
of the governing valve may be effected in several ways; firstly, by taking the steam
pipe which supplies steam to the back of the governing piston from the high pressure
valve casing, so that when the high pressure throttle valve is shut the supply of
steam is cut off from the back of the governing piston, and consequently the pressure
removed.
We can also put the back side of the governing piston into communication with
the condenser upon the governor coming into action. The effect of the removal of
the steam pressure and substitution of a vacuum upon the back of the governing
pistons is the immediate opening of the valves and an instantaneous and direct
communication being made between the condenser and top and bottom sides of low
pressure piston equilibrium ensues.
When acting as an escape valve, instead of a spring we employ the pressure of
the steam upon the back of the aforesaid piston, which is so proportioned that the
valve must open by a sudden accumulation of water in the cylinder, thus permitting
the escape of the water and preventing the fracture of any portion of the engine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Lonsdale Beckwith. and Charles. Wilden King in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th February 1880.
EDWARD LONSDALE BECKWITH and CHARLES WILDEN KING, both of 21, St.
Swithen's Lane, in the City of London, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO VALVES FOR GOVERNING AND ESCAPE PURPOSES IN COMPOUND
ENGINES."
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in valves for governing the speed
of compound engines and permitting the escape of water from the low pressure
cylinders of compound engines, whether such engines be used for marine or land
purposes.
In compound engines, when by a sudden or gradual acceleration of speed the
governor is brought into action, the effect is the closing of the throttle valve in the
high pressure steam pipe, thus cutting off the steam supply to the high pressure
cylinder. Although this will be sufficient in a simple high pressure engine, there is in a
compound engine, being a high and low pressure engine, a considerable amount of

page_text: energy stored in the steam contained in the receiver, low pressure casing, and
cylinder, as well as in the vacuum in the condenser, which is unaffected by the
closing of the high pressure throttle valve, and in consequence of which the speed
of the engines is only partly checked.
Our Invention has for its object the overcoming of the beforegoing defects in the
governing of compound engines, and consists in governing compound engines in the
following manner :-In carrying our Invention into practice we connect the top
and bottom of the low pressure cylinder by a pipe or passage, either leading into
the condenser direct or into the main eduction pipe into the condenser. Between
this pipe or passage and the condenser we place a cock, valve, or other known
device for the purpose of shutting off communication between the condenser and
the low pressure cylinder. This cock or valve is actuated by a governor, and may
also work the throttle valve of the high pressure cylinder, and by opening the said
cock or valve both the top and bottom sides of the low pressure piston are placed
in communication with the condenser, thereby putting the piston of the low pressure
cylinder into equilibrium.
In engines of large power we propose to fit to the top and bottom covers of the
low pressure cylinders valves which shall serve the double purpose of ordinary
escape valves as well as governing valves. This we propose to effect in the
following manner:-The escape or governing valve is kept shut by the pressure of
steam (at boiler pressure) on a piston, which piston exerts its force in keeping the
valve shut until the pressure is removed by the governor coming into action. This
opening of the governing valve may be effected in several ways. Firstly, by taking
the steam pipe which supplies steam to the back of the governing piston from the
high pressure valve casing, so that when the high pressure throttle valve is shut
the supply of steam is cut off from the back of the governing piston, and conse
quently the pressure removed.
We can also put the backside of the governing piston into communication with
the condensers upon the governor coming into action. The effect of the removal of
the steam pressure and substitution of a vacuum upon the back of the governing
pistons is the immediate opening of the valves and an instantaneous and direct
communication being made between the condenser and top and bottom sides of
low pressure piston equilibrium ensues.
When acting as an escape valve, instead of a spring we employ the pressure of
the steam upon the back of the aforesaid piston, which is so proportioned that the
valve must open by a sudden accumulation of water in the cylinder, thus permitting
the escape of the water and preventing the fracture of any portion of the engine.
The before going being the nature, object, and purposes of our Invention, we will
now proceed to describe more in detail how the same may be carried out into
practical effect, and for that purpose we have hereunto attached a Sheet of
Drawings marked with letters and figures of reference corresponding with those in
the following explanation. Like letters and figures of reference are used to denote
the same or corresponding parts throughout the various views or figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrative of the method which we employ to open
communication between the top and bottom of the low pressure piston, either to
cause an equilibrium by introducing steam into both ends of the cylinder, or to
place both ends of the cylinder in communication with the condenser.
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation showing our Invention arranged with two
valves actuated by pistons receiving motion by steam from an auxiliary valve
actuated by a governor.

page_text: C, C¹, are arranged to be worked simultaneously by any suitable gear receiving
motion from any ordinary governor. When the cocks are open a communication
is effected between the top and bottom of the cylinder and the condenser, thereby
the piston of the cylinder A is placed in equilibrium.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the valve C is arranged to serve
the double purpose of an ordinary escape valve, as well as a governing valve. The
valve C is kept shut by the pressure of steam at boiler pressure on the piston D,
steam being supplied through the pipe E. The supply of steam through the pipe
E is regulated by the action of the governor F, which operates the small piston
valve H, Figure 3, which is supplied with steam from the boiler through the pipe
a, and communicates with the eduction pipe or condenser through the pipe b. The
pipe a takes the steam from some point between the throttle valve and the boiler,
so that when such piston valve is shut the supply of steam is cut off from the back
of the pistons D of the valves C, C¹, and consequently the pressure is removed. The
governor F draws in the piston of the valve H, and opens communication between
the pipe E and the pipe b, thus allowing the valve Cor C¹ to open, and open com-
munication between both ends of the cylinder A and the condenser through the
pipe B, thus placing the piston of the cylinder A in an equilibriumn. The backside
of the governing piston D is also put into communication with the condenser by
the action of the valve H opening communication between the pipes E and b. The
effect of the removal of the steam pressure and the substitution of a vacuum on the
back of the governing pistons D is the immediate opening of the valves C, C', and
a direct communication being made between the condenser and top and bottom
sides of the low pressure piston an equilibrium ensues. J is a cock placed on the
pipe B between the cylinder and the condenser for the purpose of shutting off
communication between the condenser and the low pressure cylinder, or opening
communication between the condenser and the low pressure cylinder as illustrated
at Figure 3. The movement of the lever X actuates the throttle valve of the high
pressure cylinder to which it is connected by suitable gear.
When acting as an escape valve instead of a spring we employ the pressure of
steam on the back of the piston D and the valve C, which are so proportioned that
the valve must open by a sudden accumulation of water in the cylinder A, the
water escaping to the condenser through the pipe B.
Having now described and ascertained the nature, object, and purposes of our
Invention, and shown how the same may be carried out into practical effect, what
we claim as our Invention is,―
Firstly. The arrangement and construction of valves for governing and escape
purposes in compound engines, as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement and construction of the governing and escape valves
C, C, Figures 2 and 3, of the accompanying Drawings, as herein described.
Thirdly. The combination of governing and escape valves, or governing valves
only, such as C, C, with a pipe or passage such as B, leading to the condenser, and
with a governor and controlling valve such as F, H, communicating by suitable
pipes with the pistons D of the valves C, C¹, as herein described, or set forth and
shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edward Lonsdale Beck with and Charles
Wilden King, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
EDWIN LONSDALE BECKWITH. (L.S.)
CHARLES WILDEN KING.
(L.S.)