Improvements in or relating to Valve Gear for Steam and other Fluid Pressure Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 30th May, 1891
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Valve Gear for Steam and other
Fluid Pressure Engines.
WILLIAM HENRY OSBORNE TAYLOR 30 West Bar Street Banbury Oxon
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The first part of my invention has for its object improvements in valve gear for
steam and other fluid and gas engines and especially relates to releasing gear, con-
trolling the speed of engines by means of an automatic cut off.
The 2nd part in the mechanism for opening & closing the supply and exhaust
ports performing the operations with the absorption of less power and effecting
greater saving in wear & tear and relates to engines employing circular valves as
in the Corliss, slide, disc, piston or other valves.
The 3rd part of my invention is the application of the cut off mechanism to
marine and other governors.
I choose for the description of the principle of my invention its application to
the use of circular valves chiefly known as the Corliss. Each of the supply valve
spindles on the end projecting from the stuffing boxes has a crosshead or lever
fixed-one end of which rides on the arm of an oscillating lever working on a
central shaft between the two supply valves and has a catch or notch corresponding
to a catch or notch on the crosshead or lever fixed on the valve spindle.
This oscillating arm is held by a spring against the end of the valve spindle
crosshead-the other end of the crosshead is attached to the end of another lever
centered above or below the valve center according to the direction in which the
valve is desired to travel and the other end of this lever is subjected to the tapping
action of another lever rocking or moving with a rocking shaft and taps or strikes
it by the means hereafter described.
The motion thus imparted at the end of the lever (the other end of which is
attached to one end of the valve spindle crosshead) causes the valve to be turned
and the notch or catch on the lever, upon which the end of the valve spindle cross-
head rides is engaged with the notch or catch of this valve spindle crosshead and
is put into the position which corresponds to the supply port being fully opened on-
disengaging the notch or catch by depressing the end of the lever working on the
center between the two valves-the valve spindle crosshead catch is disengaged
and a spring attached to the valve spindle or lever with which it is connected
releases the valve and shuts it. The depression of the catch or notch end of the
oscillating lever is effected in the following manner.
On the shaft or center upon which it works is another lever hanging from it or
at an angle to it and on the central boss of which, is a lug projecting from it (by
preference on the periphery of the buss), a corresponding lug is on the boss of the
oscillating lever and the two levers resemble the appearance of a two-foot rule
the arms of which are at an angle to one another leaving a gap at the center point
formed by the ends of the arms which in the case of the rule on being fully
opened butt against one another. The end of the lever remote from the center
upon which it is free- to oscillate is connected to the end of an eccentric rod-a
reciprocating or oscillating motion being given by an eccentric on the crank shaft..
This motion at the end of the lever opens or closes the gap at the center making it
variable and the insertion of a wedge or other stop gap makes the two levers on
the common center rigid so that the end of the one having the notch or catch
engaging the valve spindle crosshead is depressed by the movement of the eccentric
and thus releases the catch or notch of the valve spindle crosshead and lever-

page_text: sooner or later according to the extent the wedge or stop-gap is inserted in the
variable gap of the two levers working on a cominon center like at the joint of a
two foot rule. I do not confine myself to the method of making the gap-but
should adopt it by preference-but any other suitable mechanism telescopic or
otherwise making a variable gap can be employed according to the requirements of
the construction. What is essential is that the mechanism forming the variable
gap should with the wedge or stop gap cause the release and the cut off. These
wedges or stop gaps are given a sliding motion by the action of any governor or
governors and as the speed increases the wedges or stop gaps are pushed further in
this causing an automatic release of the valves. This arrangement is in duplicate
one for the valve at each end of the cylinder but the same governor works both
which however does not exclude the use of more governors or supplementary
governors. This automatic release and cut off worked by the governor causing the
intervention of wedges or stop gaps curved or straight, in a variable gap or gaps-
the initial motion being given by the crank shaft constitutes the 1st part of my
invention.
a sort of
The second part of my invention relates to the opening and closing of supply
and exhaust valves. The lever or lever arrangement I have before described as
attached to one end of the valve spindle crosshead-and as centered above or below
the valve spindle or in any suitable position as found convenient-the other end of
which is moved or actuated by another lever centered on a shaft which may rock
with the lever or upon which the lever may rock is given motion to in the following
way, a lever or arm which may form part of the rocking lever making
T lever or a separate lever fixed on the rocking shaft has one end resting on the
surface of a revolving or sliding body (by preference a disc) upon which a suitable
projection or tappet is fixed so that as it comes in contact with the end of the lever
resting on the surface of the revolving or sliding body (by preference a disc) it
causes the rocking shaft-or if forming part of the rocking lever (this rocking
lever) to oscillate one end of which tapping or striking the lever arrangement con-
nected with one end of the valve spindle crosshead causes the valve to open and
immediately the projection has passed the point of contact with the rocking lever
or fixed lever on the rocking shaft.
The rocking lever is free to resume the position from which the projection has
removed it which it does before or when the action of the wedge or stop gap cut
off, releases the valve to the action of the closing spring. The exhaust or relief
valves are opened and closed by similar operations & mechanism a lever being keyed
on the same rocking shaft or free to rock on a fixed shaft-having the end as before
described riding on or near the surface of a revolving or sliding body (by preference
a revolving disc). This lever is connected by a link or small connecting rod to the
exhaust valve spindle crosshead-the same or a separate or a part of the same pro-
jection or tappet which actuated the rocking lever working the supply valve puts
in motion the exhaust or relief valve lever. The exhaust or relief valves at each
end of the cylinder are connected by a coupling rod attached at each end to the
crossheads or suitable levers on the exhaust valve spindles-so that when the pro-
jection or tappet actuates the exhaust valve lever at one end closing the exhaust
this action opens the exhaust at the other end and the projection or tappet on the
revolving or sliding body is prolonged on the path described by the lever at one
end until it picks up the lever at the other end thus making both opening and
closing of the exhaust a positive operation holding each exhaust open for the
necessary period of the stroke of the engine and closing instantaneously at the
proper time. Thus for the operation of opening and closing the supply exhaust
valves at each end of an engine cylinder there are by preference two rocking
levers riding on a revolving or sliding body (by preference a revolving disc)
common to all four ends situated at opposite positions of the revolving or sliding
body which are alternately actuated by a projection or projections brought into
action by the revolution or sliding motion of a suitable body (by preference a

page_text: revolving disc) such motion being given by suitable gearing from the crank shaft
proportioned so as to make the times of action of the projections or tappets
correspond to the double stroke of the engine.
An alternative arrangement for working the exhaust valves consists in dispensing
with the levers riding on the revolving or sliding body and making the rocking
lever that actuates the supply valve tap or strike a lever on the exhaust valve
spindle the two exhaust valve spindles being connected with a coupling rod as
before in this case the exhaust valves would have to be held in position after the
action of the tappet by a spring or catch arrangement-the construction is simpler
but by preference I employ separate levers for actuating the exhaust or relief
valves.
By placing the projection or tappet on a suitable position on the revolving, or
sliding body-with the valve levers corresponding the engine can be turned either
way and reversing effected by the ordinary method of shifting the eccentric-and
this with the method & mechanism for opening and closing the supply & exhaust or
relief valves of engines constitutes the 2nd part of my invention.
The third part of my invention consists in applying a valve or valves actuated
by similar mechanism and of suitable nature (by preference the circular or Corliss
valves) with the wedge or stop gap cut off to governors of suitable construction in
place of the ordinary throttle valves on the supply pipes or any intermediate
receptacle or steam chest for the purpose of controlling marine and other engines.
Dated the 7th day of June 1890.
WILLIAM HENRY OSBORNE TAYLOR.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Valve Gear for Steam and other
Fluid Pressure Engines.
WILLIAM HENRY OSBORNE TAYLOR Engineer Mechanical 30 West Bar
Street Banbury Oxon 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 that class of valve gear which has for its object the
more perfect control of the flow of steam gases and fluids in pipes passages and
vessels especially cylinders of engines using circular disc slide or other valves in
combination with automatic cut-off.
1st. In the combination of a wedge or stop gap with a variable-gap, the wedge
or stop-gap being inserted in the variable gap by any suitable mechanism such as
engine governors. The stoppage or filling of the gap causing the shutting or
opening of the valve or valves for the automatic control of the flow of the steam,
gas or fluid.
2nd. In the mechanisin for opening and closing the supply and relief valves of
engines using circular slide disc or other valves.
Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1 are views of the plan and elevation of a horizontal
engine cylinder shewing at A' A2 circular valves commonly called Corliss A³ A' are
the exhaust valves of the same. On the spindles of the two steam valves A' A* are
fixed the levers B B2, the ends of these two levers are so constructed that they
ride on the oscillating arms C C which are held against the notch or catch
extremities of levers B' B2 by the light springs Z1 Z2 and have catches or
notches D' D' corresponding and able to gear into similar notches or catches E' E'
on the oscillating arms C¹ C. The valve A' is shown in the position of open and
the notch or catch D¹ is engaged in the notch or catch E' on the lever C thus
holding the valve fixed in this position, while at the other end of the cylinder the
valve A is shown closed and the notch or catch D2 of the lever B2 disengaged with
the notch or catch E2 on the lever C2 and these positions alternate with the position

page_text: of the piston. The levers BB' attached to the valves A' A² are moved backwards
and forwards and turn the valves A' A through the necessary travel for opening
and closing the ports by means of the levers F F and G'G'. The levers G1 G2 are
shewn in the Figure 2 Sheet 1 with three arms one of which is constructed to ride on
revolving discs H1 H2 upon which are projections II placed in suitable positions
away from the centre of the discs H H so that these projections strike or tap the
levers G1 G2 at certain determined times as the discs H H revolve by a motion
given by the engine, this causes the levers G1 G2 to rock on the centres or rocking
shafts JJ and actuate the intermediate levers F1 F2 and finally the levers B¹ B2
thus opening or shutting the steam valves A1 A2 and causing the notches or
catches D D to engage with the notches or catches E¹ E2 on the levers CC²
which thus hold the valves A1 A2 positively in the position of full open.
The operation of turning the valve A by means of levers B' F'G' and the pro-
jection I has been effected against the action of a spring or dash pot K until the
notch or catch D¹ engages with the notch or catch E on the oscillating lever C¹,
the projection I has then passed contact with the arm of the lever Gleaving the
lever free to fall on the plane of the disc H which it does immediately the notch
or catch D is disengaged from the notch or catch E' of the oscilating lever C'.
This is effected in the following way-The oscilating lever C' works on a
centre Pupon which is placed another lever Q which is also free to oscilate by
the connection with one end to an eccentric rod R or any suitable moving part
deriving reciprocating motion from the engine.. On the bosses of these two levers C¹
and Qare raised projections M' M² which at the fullest travel of the oscilating
lever Qmeet in the same manner as the joint of a two foot rule meets when the
rule is opened out straight but at any other position leaves a gap at the periphery
of the central boss, this gap is shown at Land it is obvious that as the lever Q
oscilates the gap L is opened or closed. When the gap L is closed which it is at
the full stroke of the engine or before, the projection M on the boss of the lever Q
butts against the projection M¹ of the lever C and the two levers thus form a rigid
bell crank lever and the end of the lever C' having the notch or catch E' will be
depressed and this releases the catch or notch E from the catch or notch D³ on
valve lever B' which immediately shuts the valve A¹ by means of the spring or
dash pot K connected with the series of levers B F G It is easily seen that if
it be arranged that the full opening of the gap L to the closing of the same by the
oscilation of the lever Q represents one stroke of the engine the valve A' would
only be released at the completion of a stroke, but if the insertion of a wedge or
other stop gap were effected between the projections on the bosses forming the
gap L the lever C¹ would be depressed sooner and therefore the release of the
valve would be earlier. This I accomplish by the action of a governor the motion
of which introduces into the gap La stop gap N by preference I show this as a
wedge though the form of the gap and stop may be varied accordingito circumstances,
but it can be plainly seen that in the form of a wedge according to the extent it is
introduced by the speed of the governor so is the gap stopped and the valve.
released or in other words the cut off of the valve A varies as the travel of the
wedge N and therefore as the speed of the governors OO.
In Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1 the governors are indicated at OO, they actuate the
shaft S upon which are attached the levers T T which give the sliding motion (in
and out of the gap L) to the sliding wedges or stop gaps N N the end of the
oscilating levers QQ are connected with a coupling rod U and this works the
levers QQ backwards and forwards opening the gap at one end and closing it at
the other alternately. The exhaust or relief valves are worked by two or more
levers or series of levers connected with the arms of the levers G¹ G' described
before in connection with the working of the steam or inlet valves and actuated by
the same projections II on the discs H H. The revolving motion of the
discs H His given by any suitable gearing from the crank shaft of the engine.
The method shown in Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1 of working the exhaust is as
follows: To one of the arms of each of the three armed levers G G2 are attached

page_text: two links XX with slots engaged with the levers V1 V2 V₁ V2 actuating the
exhaust valves A³ A in such a manner that when the levers G G2 are acted upon
by the projections II so as to open the steam valves A' A² one of the arms of each
of the levers G'G' taps or strikes the levers V₁ V and so closes positively the
exhaust valves; when the steam valves for the respective ends are opened; and at
the same time opening the exhaust valve at the other end by reason of the coupling
rod Wattached to the continuation of the exhaust valve levers V2 V2. It is
obvious that the slotted links X X enable the rocking levers G G2 to fall on the
faces of the discs when the steam valves are released without affecting the position
of the exhaust. If at any point the vibration of the engines should have a tendency
to disturb the position of the exhaust valves a simple arrangement of light springs
as at YY may be used to hold the valves in the required positions.
Figures 3 and 34 Sheet 2 show the cylinder of a vertical engine with the
revolving dises H1 H2 and projections II in a different position and where for small
engines the variable gap L may be constructed in such a way that one lever Q with
two projections on the boss can actuate both levers C C and thus both sides of
the engine the variable gap being made as in figure. The revolving discs H1 H2
are geared together, and there are separate projections for steam and exhaust. The
steam projections II are shown on the back sides of discs, while the exhaust
projections are shown on the front sides. In revolving, these projections actuate the
projecting arms of the steam levers GG and exhaust levers VV thus causing
them to rock, and therefore actuate the steam valves A' A² and exhaust
valves A3 A4
Figures 4 and 4ª Sheet 2 show another arrangement and position in which.one
revolving disc H can be used. In this case the projection I pushes the steam
levers instead of lifting them as in Figure 2.
In
Figure 5 Sheet 3 shows an arrangement of a sliding or reciprocating body
actuating the levers for working the valve motion instead of a revolving disc.
this example the sliding body takes the form of a steam rod and the trip is effected
by the breaking of a knuckle joint by the 'depression of the levers C₁or C2 which
breaks the line of thrust in the steam rod by the means of the jointed levers H'H³
or HH2. These restore the rigidity of the steam rod when the springs ZZ
return them to their normal positions. The steam valves A' A2 are worked by the
levers B G and B32 G² respectively as before described only instead of the
levers GG being actuated by discs or revolving bodies the extremities are
attached to sliding sockets X'X' upon which the levers H H are fitted being
free to turn on the centres J1 J2. The same levers HH2 are fitted into corre-
sponding levers H3 H and a pin or centre Y
two levers H2 H to the thrust
thrust-rod-and-the-pin-or-centre Y Connect connects the levers HH to the
rod 0 The pins or centres Y Y may be fixed in the ends of one of: the.thrust
rods 01 02 allowing the levers H H H³ H to work freely thereon. The
levers H H are also attached by pins PT P² (acting as pivots) on the square part
of the sliding rod 1. It will be seen by the drawing Figure 54 Sheet 3: that the
sliding sockets X1 X2 are free to slide along the round part of the rod I and they
are connected to the levers G G-which work the valve levers B' B2 fixed. to the
valves A A. The levers H1 H3 and H H may gear into one another as. shown
or one pair may be forked. On the underside of the levers HH2 H3 H are placed
projections M' M2 M3 M to form abutments having the construction similar to the
joint of a two foot rule, the arms of which can shut or fold one way but which
cannot move beyond the position in which the rule is what is called opened out.
Figure 5A Sheet 3 shows the position when opened out forming a rigid rod.
Figure 5A Sheet 3 shows the position when the thrust rod O' has broken the
rigidity of the composite rod formed by the solid rod I and the moveable
levers H H³. The spring Z' acting upon the oscilating lever C₁ keeps by tension
of the rod O¹ the levers H H in the position of the two-foot rule opened out, and
on the depression of the lever C₁ which occurs by the action of the wedges NN
before described the abutment of the projections M M³ is destroyed. The action

page_text: .
of the spring K' in compression forces the slip socket X' in the position shewn in
Figure 544 Sheet 3; thus according as the wedge or stop gap N enters the variable
gap L so the lever C is depressed as before described by the oscilating action of
the lever Q and so the joint between M' M³ is destroyed and the release of the
valve A' effected. In order to secure a tendency to the rigidity of the composite
sliding rod the centres Y Y are in practice slightly raised above the centre line
joining centres J' P¹ and J² P², so as to ensure that the thrust of the stroke given
by the eccentric in its motion for opening either of the steam valves A¹ A², shall
be taken by the abutment formed by the projections M2 M3 M4 M². It is obvious
that this is the same for both ends of the cylinder, the breaking of the joints
formed by the levers H H and abutments M M' takes place in a similar manner.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 Sheet 4 show an arrangement of gear in which the exhaust
and steam levers have a separate and independent action worked by the projection I
situated as shown in which case, the engine is not reversible, but with the projec-
tion I placed as shewn in Figure 4 Sheet 2 and Figures 9 and 11 Sheet 4 the engine
can be made reversible by a reversing rod attached to the valve levers on one side
and so arranged as to drop the opposite lever C or C² and release the notch
holding the steam valve. Figure 5 Sheet 4 shows an arrangement where one
revolving disc 'is used with one projection I working independent mechanisms for
actuating the steam and exhaust valves. The principle of working the valves is
the same only the levers B' B2 attached to the steam valves A' A2 are worked by
intermediate levers F F F F attached to the levers GG. These last correspond
to the levers marked G G2 in all the other drawings, and are arranged so that they
can be struck or tapped by the levers V1 V2 In the arrangement shown in
Figures 5 and 7 Sheet 4, the levers V1 V2 are the tappet or striking levers and
keyed on to the rocking shafts JJ2 and the levers VV are likewise keyed on the
same spindles and the other extremities riding on the disc H and subject to the
action of the tappet or projection I cause the shafts J J2 to rock and so enable
the levers VVto strike or tap the levers G' G2 working the steam valves A' A²
The levers XX (to which are attached one end of the connecting links S' S² the
other ends of which are connected to the levers P P² on the spindles of the exhaust
valves A³ A) are free to rock on the shafts JJ; so that the levers actuating the
exhaust valves A' A are independent of the levers actuating the steam valves A' A²
and are moved on an independent path of the revolving disc and projections. It
is obvious that by the continuation of a part of the projection I the path of the
exhaust levers opening the exhaust valves can be continued to the desired extent;
while the projection actuating the steam valve levers stopping short enable the
levers VV to fall on the face of the disc and thus close the steam valves A¹ A²
(while) the exhaust valves A' A remain open. Figure 6 Sheet 4 shows a side
elevation of Figure 5 Sheet 4 and shews a mechanism connected with the governors
actuating the wedges N1 N2.
Figure 8 is a plan of the same shewing the wedges N1 N2 and variable
gaps LL. Figure 10 is a view showing a method of making the tappet or
striking levers V1 V2 actuate both the steam levers G G and the exhaust valve
levers PP, thus having only two levers riding on the revolving disc H' instead of
four.
Figures 9 and 11 show the position of the projection I when the engine is
required for reversing; placed in this position it can run either way and reversing
is effected by releasing the steam valve open and opening the valve that is shut.
This can be effected by a lever arrangement attached by preference to either or
both of the levers G' G.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that what I
claim is
The device for the automatic control of the flow of steam, gases and fluids in
pipes passages and vessels especially cylinders of engines using circular disc slide

page_text: or other valves by the device of the combination of a wedge or other stop gap
being interposed in a variable gap substantially as described and shown.
"
The device for opening and closing supply and relief valves by means of
revolving discs or sliding bodies with projections actuating levers as described and
shewn.
Dated this Ninth day of March 1891.
WILLIAM HENRY OSBORNE TAYLOR.