Rotary Valves for Steam Engines
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June,
1000
1899
cented 10th Feb. 1900
Rotary Valves for Steam Engines an
WILLIAM THOMAS WRAY, Mechanic, 43, Old Road, Failsworth, near Man-
hester, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Rotary valves for steam engines and other engines whereby engines can be
un forward or backward by a special arrangement as described in the following
pecification the method of cut off being claimed as entirely new.
Two drawings are attached to show the nature of the invention, and are
numbered 1 and 2.
Sheet 1 shows sectional view and external view.
Sheet 2 shows details mentioned in the specification.
The steam chest is cast with the cylinder and is circular (A), and the diameter
of the face is the same as the bore of the cylinder. The ports in the cylinder
as in ordinary
are shown on the drawing, Sheet No. 1, and are the same
cylinders, but the entrances are radial.
Between the face on the cylinder and the valve is an intermediate piece (B)
which has exactly the same diameter as the valve, and also the same diameter
as the face on the cylinder.
The intermediate piece (B) has on it two apertures or slots (see Sheet 2
The said slots are cut
Figure 5) and these slots are opposite to each other.
out paralell from the centre and to the dimensions required (see Sheet 2
Figure 5).
On this intermediate piece (B) and in the said two slots are two slides or
movable pieces (see Sheet 2 Figure 5) and these two slides are worked by means
By this appliance the cut-off can be
of a spindle double eye C in each one.
regulated as required.
The valve itself is circular (see D) and has in it one radial aperture cut
through from back to face, and this aperture has the same radii as the entrance
to the ports, through the above said intermediate piece B, and also the same
radii as the port ways on the cylinder face.
The exhaust way in the valve is of the same radii as the apertures aforesaid
in the preceeding paragraph.
The valve is cast with a boss on it (E). This boss (E) is bored to a sufficient
depth to allow of a shaft (F) being fitted in and this shaft (F) goes through
the steam chest cover to the outside. By means of the said shaft the circular
valve is worked. The shaft has two keys in it and there are two key beds in
5 the circular valve.
10
The steam chest is also circular (sec Sheet 1 Figure 1 letter G) and the inside
is bored to the same diameter as the valve, the intermediate piece, and the face
on the cylinder. The boring of this steam chest is only carried so far as is
necessary to enable the valve to work.
On the outer end of the steam chest is a stuffing box (H) to carry the valve
shaft, and through which it works.
The outer rim on the steam chest has the same diameter as the outside
diameter on the face of the cylinder,

page_text: There are two stuffing boxes (I) opposite to each other and these carry the
spindle double eyes (C) which regulate the cut-off.
The steam chest cover, containing the valve and tits.connections, is fitted,
and bolted, on to the aforesaid cylinder face (see Sheet 1 Figure 2).
The spindle double eyes regulating the cut off are worked by means of two
levers (K) (Figure 2), which levers are supported in the middle by two double
eyed supports (L) and these supports are fixed to the outer rim of the steam
chost cover. The said levers are single eyed at one end, connected with the cut
off pieces, and doubled eyed at the other end. At the double eyed ends are
movable nuts (M) one nut is screwed right hand and the other left hand. In
the double eyed end of the levers sufficient space or slot is allowed to permit
the movement and working of the nuts.
The said two levers (K) are connected by a light shaft (N) and one end of
the said shaft is screwed right hand, the other left hand, to correspond with
the nuts in the levers. A journal in the middle of the shaft is made with a
collar at each side and is carried by a bracket which bracket is attached to the
outer rim of the steam chest cover.
On the end of the said light shaft (N) a wheel is fixed for the purpose of
turning the shaft, moving the levers and thereby regulating the cut off.
The valve is worked from the main shaft of engine by special wheel gearing,
which gearing is shown on Sheet 2 Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, and by this special
wheel gearing the engine can be run fore way or back way or reversed.
r
The special invention of the wheel on the main shaft is that it is loose on
the shaft, and on one side of the face almost half of the diameter is raised, that
is the raised part is nearly one half of the circle, consequently two shoulders
are on the wheel (see Sheet 2 Figure 7 letter A). These shoulders come in
contact with a pair of tongue clips (Figures 9 and 10 letter X), which clips
grip the shaft when screwed up. The tongue on the clips drives against the
said shoulder on the said loose wheel (Figure 7 Sheet 2). This loose wheel is
connected by gearing with the valve shaft (F) and thus the valve is worked.
The essential features claimed by the inventor are the rotary valve, the method
of cut-off, and the special driving arrangement on the main shaft of the engine.
Dated, in Failsworth, nr. Manchester, this Twenty-fourth day of June One
thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine.
Rotary Valves for Steam Engines and other Engines.
WILLIAM THOMAS WRAY, Mechanic, 43, Old Road, Failsworth, near Man-
chester, 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:-
Rotary valves for steam engines and other engines, whereby engines can be
run forward or backward by a special arrangement as described in the specifi-
cation the method of cut off being claimed as entirely new.
The drawings referred to in this Complete Specification are those left with
the Provisional Specification.
DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1 shows sectional view, and external view.
Sheet 2 shows detail mentioned in the specification.

page_text: aft, the boss on the valve, and the steam iniet.
Sheet 2 Figure 6 is detail of the movable pieces or slides for the cut off.
DESCRIPTION.
The steam chest is cast with the cylinder, and is circular (A) and the diameter
the face is the same as the bore of the cylinder. The ports in the cylinder
re shown on the drawing, Sheet No. 1, and are the same as in any ordinary
ylinder, but the entrances are radial.
Between the face on the cylinder, and the valve, is an intermediate piece (B)
hich has exactly the same diameter as the valve, and also the same diameter
s the face on the cylinder.
The intermediate piece (B) has in it two apertures or slots (see Sheet 2
Figure 5) and these slots are opposite each other. The said slots are cut out
paralell from the centre, and to the dimensions required (see Sheet 2 Figure 5).
In the intermediate piece (B), and in the said two slots, are two slides or
novable pieces (Sheet 2 Figure 5) and these two slides or movable pieces are
By this appliance
worked by means of a spindle double eye (C) in each one.
the cut-off can be regulated as required.
The valve itself is circular (D) and has in it one radial aperture, cut through
from back to face. This aperture has the same radius as the entrance to the
ports through the abovementioned piece (B), and also the
cylinder face.
same as on the
The exhaust way in the valve has the same radius as the apertures aforesaid
in the preceeding paragraph.
The valve is cast with a boss on it (E). This boss (E) is bored to a sufficient
depth to allow of a shaft (F) being fitted in, and this shaft (F) goes through
the steam chest cover to the outside. By means of the said shaft the valve
is worked. The shaft has two keys on it and there are two key ways in the
valve to suit the keys on the shaft.
The steam chest is also circular (Sheet 1 Figure 1 letter G) and the inside
is bored to the same diameter as the valve, the intermediate piece, and the face
of the cylinder. The bore of this steam chest is only carried so far as is
necessary to enable the valve to work.
On the outer end of the steam chest is a stuffing box (H) to carry the valve
shaft, and through which it works.
The outer rim of the steam chest has the same diameter as the outside diameter
on the face of the cylinder.
There are two stuffing boxes (I) opposite each other, and these carry the
spindle double-eyes (C) which regulate the cut off.
The steam chest cover, containing the valve and its connections, is fitted and
bolted on the aforesaid cylinder face (see Sheet 1 Figure 2).
The spindle double-eyes regulating the cut off are worked by means of two
levers (K) (Figure 2) which levers are supported in the middle by two double-
eyed supports (L), and these supports are fixed to the outer rim of the steam
chest cover.
The said levers are single eyed at one end connecting the cut
At the double-eyed end are
off pieces and double eyed at the other end.
0 movable nuts (M) one of which is screwed right hand, and the other left hand.
In the double eyed end of the levers sufficient slot is allowed to permit of the
movement, and the working of the said nuts.
The said two levers (K) are connected by a light shaft (N) and one end of
the said shaft is screwed right hand, and the other left hand, to correspond
journal in the middle is made with a collar at
35 with the nuts in the levers.

page_text: each side, and is carried by a bracket O, which bracket is attached to the outer
rim of the steam chest.
On the end of the said shaft (N) a wheel P is fixed for the purpose of turning
the shaft and moving the levers, the cut off being thereby regulated.
The valve is worked from the main shaft of the engine by special wheel
gearing which gearing is shown on Sheet 2 Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, and by this
gearing the engine can be run fore way or back way. The special invention of
the wheel on the main shaft is that it is loose on the shaft and on one side of
the face nearly half of the diameter is raised, that is, the raised part is nearly
one half of the circle, consequently, there are two shoulders on the said wheel
(see Sheet 2 Figure 7 letter R). These shoulders come in contact with a pair
of tongue clips (Figures and 10 letter X) which clips grip the main shaft.
When screwed up the tongue on the clips drives against the said shoulder
on the wheel (Figure 7 Sheet 2). This loose wheel is connected with the valve
shaft (F) and thus the valve is worked.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner. the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:―
1st. The rotary valve with radial apertures.
2nd. The method of cut off.
3rd. The special driving arrangement on the main shaft of the engine.
Dated in Failsworth, Manchester, this Twenty-fourth day of June One
thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine.
WILLIAM THOMAS WRAY.