IMPROVE- MENTS IN DIRECT ACTING PUMPS WORKED BY STEAM, COMPRESSED AIR, OR WATER, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO MOTIVE-POWER DEADURA WORKED BY STEAM COMPRESSED AIR. OR WATER.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Parker, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Moulder, and Philip Alfred Weston, of Coalbrookdale,
in the County of Salop, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DIRECT ACTING PUMPS WORKED BY STEAM, COMPRESSED AIR, OR
WATER, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO MOTIVE-POWER
DEADURA WORKED BY STEAM COMPRESSED AIR. OR WATER.'
"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Parker and
Philip Alfred Weston at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 23rd October 1874.
We, THOMAS PARKER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Moulder, and PHILIP ALFRED WESTON, of Coalbrookdale, in the County
of Salop, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT ACTING PUMPS WORKED BY STEAM, COMPRESSED
AIR, OR WATER, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO MOTIVE-POWER
ENGINES WORKED by Steam, Compressed Air, or Water,” to be as follows:-
Our Invention has reference principally to the construction and
working of the valves of the said direct acting pumps, and consists of

page_text: after described.
Although our improvements are especially applicable to the said direct
acting pumps, they may also be applied to motive-power engines worked
by steam, compressed air, or water.
We will describe our improvements in connection with a direct acting
steam pump: We arrange at each end of a rod two exhaust and two
steam valves, as well as two pistons. The said pistons are of larger
diameter than the valves, and are situated at the extreme ends of the
rod. The exhaust valves are next the said pistons, and the steam valves
are still more distant from the ends of the rod, that is to say, the two
steam valves are nearest the middle of the rod, the two exhaust valves
are nearer the extremities of the rod than the exhaust valves, and the
pistons are at the ends of the rod. The said parts are symmetrically
arranged upon the said rod, one piston, one exhaust valve, and one steam
valve being on each side of the middle point of the said rod. The
exhaust valves are of less area than the pistons described, but of greater
area than the steam valves. The acting faces of the exhaust and steam
valves are turned in opposite directions, the exhaust valve closing when
the motion is towards the middle point of the rod, and the steam valve
closing when the motion is from the middle point of the rod.
The parts described are situated within the steam chest or valve box,
which is suitably formed for the working therein of the pistons, and is
furnished with seats for the steam and exhaust valves described. Thero
are also small ports near the ends of the steam chest, cach having a
small valve with a seat at each ond. The action is as follows:-As the
piston approaches one end of the steam cylinder it passes the small port
at the end of the cylinder. A small quantity of steam is thereby admitted
to the back of the exhaust valve at that end of the cylinder by the
action of which the exhaust valve is closed and the steam valve opened,
the exhaust valve at the other end of the cylinder being opened and the
steam valve closed. The steam piston is thereby moved to the other end
of the cylinder, on nearing which the valves at that end are acted upon
in a manner similar to that described, and the contrary motion of the
steam piston produced. The movement of the valves is produced by
the action of the steam on the exhaust valve, the area of which is
greater than that of the steam valve,

page_text: The admission of steam to the back of the exhaust valves can be
regulated by a valve inserted in the steam piston, the said valve being
of a cylindrical form, and having two seats or faces and grooves so
arranged that steam cannot pass to either side of the piston, but will have
free access to a recess round the piston, which recess admits steam to
the port which conveys steam to the back of the exhaust valve.
The steam may be worked expansively by the use of one or more
small ports furnished with small valves or studs for closing or opening
them. These ports are made at each end of the cylinder. By opening
one of the said ports the steam is admitted to the back of the piston
valve. This steam closes the two valves which shut off steam from the
arrangement of valves first described. The steam may be cut off at the
required point by opening the small port at the required length of the
cylinder.
The said valves or studs may be made of a cylindrical form reduced
at one end, the reduced parts fitting upon seats. The steam from the
boiler acts on and around the reduced part, the area so exposed being
sufficient to lift the valve, and also to overcome the resistance of a spring
which may be employed to keep the valve to its seat when open to
the cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Parker and Philip Alfred Weston in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th April 1875.
THOMAS
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
PARKER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Moulder, and
PHILIP ALFRED WESTON, of Coalbrookdale, in the County of Salop, .
Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said Thomas Parker and
Philip Alfred Weston, Her special license that we, the said Thomas
Parker and Philip Alfred Weston, our executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Parker and Philip
Alfred Weston, our 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 law-
fully 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 DIRECT ACTING PUMPS WORKED BY STEAM,
COMPRESSED AIR, OR WATER, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO
MOTIVE-POWER. ENGINES WORKED BY STEAM, COMPRESSED AIR, OR WATER," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Parker and
Philip Alfred Weston, our executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and
seal of one of us or them, 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 we, the said Thomas Parker and Philip Alfred
Weston, 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 thereof, that is to
say :-
Our Invention has reference principally to the construction and
working of the valves of the said direct acting pumps, and consists of
the arrangements or combinations of the parts of the said valves hercin-
after described.
Although our improvements are especially applicable to the said direct
acting pumps they may also be applied to motive power engines worked
by steam, compressed air, or water.
We will describe our improvements in connection with a direct acting
steam pump-We arrange at each end of a rod two exhaust and two
steam valves, as well as two pistons. The said pistons are of larger
diameter than the valves, and are situated at the extreme ends of the
rod. The exhaust valves are next the said pistons, and the steam valves
are still more distant from the ends of the rod, that is to say, the two
steam valves are nearest the middle of the rod, the two exhaust valves
are nearer the extremities of the rod than the steam valves, and the

page_text: pistons are at the ends of the rod. The said parts are symmetrically
arranged upon the said rod, one piston, one exhaust valve, and one steam
valve being on each side of the middle point of the said rod. The
exhaust valves are of less area than the pistons described, but of greater
area than the steam valves. The acting faces of the exhaust and steam
valves are turned in opposite directions, the exhaust valve closing when
the motion is towards the middle point of the rod, and the steam valve
closing when the motion is from the middle point of the rod.
The parts described are situated within the steam chest or valve box,
which is suitably formed for the working therein of the pistons, and is
furnished with seats for the steam and exhaust valves described. There
are also small ports near the ends of the steam chest, each having a
small valve with a seat at each end. The action is as follows:-As the
piston approaches one end of the steam cylinder it passes the small port
at the end of the cylinder. A small quantity of steam is thereby admitted
to the back of the exhaust valve at that end of the cylinder by the
action of which the exhaust valve is closed and the steam valve opened,
the exhaust valve at the other end of the cylinder being opened and the
steam valve closed. The steam piston is thereby moved to the other end
of the cylinder, on nearing which the valves at that end are acted upon
in a manner similar to that described, and the contrary motion of the
steam piston produced. The movement of the valves is produced by the
action of the steam on the exhaust valve, the area of which is greater
than that of the steam valve.
The admission of steam to the back of the exhaust valves can be
regulated by a valvo inserted in the steam piston, the said valve being
of a cylindrical form, and having two seats or faces and grooves so
arranged that steam cannot pass to either side of the piston, but will
have free access to a recess around the piston, which recess admits steam
to the port which conveys steam to the back of the exhaust valve.
The steam may be worked expansively by the use of one or more small.
ports furnished with small valves or studs for closing or opening them.
These ports are made at about the middle of the cylinder. By opening
one or more of the said small ports the steam is made to act two
valves which shut off steam from the arrangement of valves first
described. The steam may be cut off at the required point by opening
the small ports at the required length of the cylinder.
upon

page_text: The small valves or studs for closing the ports may be made of a
cylindrical form reduced at one end, the reduced parts fitting upon seats.
The steam from the boiler acts on the valves which shut off steam from
the steam chest, their areas being such that the steam lifts the valves
and overcomes the resistance of a spring which may be employed to
press the valves to their seat.
Having explained the nature of our Invention, we will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in
wlíich the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal vertical section, Figure 2 in cross
section, and Figure 3 in plan the steam cylinder of a direct acting pump
containing valve mechanism constructed according to our Invention.
c is the
The section, Figure 1, is taken on the line a, a, of Figure 3, and the
section, Figure 2, is taken on the line b, b, of Figure 1. The same letters
of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
steam cylinder, and d is the steam chest or valve box; e is the steam
pipe opening into the middle of the steam chest or valve box d; and f
is the exhaust pipe. In communication with the valve box d arc ports
g, h, opening to each end of the steam cylinder, by means of which ports
steam passes alternately to and exhaust steam is conveyed from each
end of the cylinder c. In the valve box d is a horizontal rod i carrying
two steam valves, two exhaust valves, and also two pistons. On the
extreme ends of the rod i are the two exhaust valves marked respectively
k, l, and behind the said exhaust valves are pistons ², 12, of larger
diameter than the exhaust valves. Each exhaust valve and its piston is
made in one piece. m, n, are the two steam valves situated near the
middle of the rod i.
By an examination of Figure 1 it will be seen that the parts described
are symmetrically arranged upon the rod i, one piston, one exhaust
valve, and one steam valve being on each side of the middle point of the
rod. The areas of the several valves are shown in the Drawing, the
exhaust valves k, l, being of less area than the pistons ², l², but the
valves k, l, are of greater area than the steam valves m, n.
The acting
faces of each pair of exhaust and steam valves k, m, and 1, n, are turned
in opposite directions as represented. The steam chest or valve box dis
constructed at its ends for the working therein of the pistons ², 1º, and
it is also provided with seats for the steam and exhaust valves. The

page_text: seats of the exhaust valves k, l, are marked k³, 1º, and the seats of the
steam valves m, n, are marked m², n².
When the valve rod i carrying the several valves moves in the
direction of the arrow, Figure 1, the exhaust valve k seats itself upon its
seat ³ and cuts off communication between the exhaust pipe fand the
port h, the exhaust valve at the opposite end of the rod i being lifted
from its seat 13 and thereby opening communication between the exhaust
pipe fand the port 9. By the same motion the steam valve m is lifted
from its seat m², and communication between the steam pipe e and
port is established while the steam valve 12 is closed and communi-
cation between the said steam pipe e and port g is cut off, as will be
understood by an examination of Figure 1. Near the ends of the valve
box & are small ports marked p, q, which ports p, q, open respectively
near each end of the steam cylinder c. In the steam piston " a double
acting valve s is inserted for regulating the admission of steam to the
small ports p, q, for working the valve mechanism in the box d. The
said valves has cut-away parts in its periphery and its ends or faces
respectively scat themselves upon the seats 72, 73, at each end of the
recess in the piston » in which the valve works. The said recess in the
piston opens by the radial slot 7 into the annular groove 7 around the
piston ", which groove 1 when it is brought by the motion of the piston
opposite one or other of the small ports p or q admits steam to the said
port, which steam is conveyed to the back or piston of one or other of
the exhaust valves k or l.
When the steam piston » moves in the steam cylinder c in the direction
indicated by the arrow the steam in the said cylinder causes the face of
the double-acting valves to seat itself upon the seat, and thereby
prevent steam passing to the opposite side of the piston, as seen in
Figure 1. When the steam piston " moves in a direction contrary to
that indicated by the arrow the position of the valve s is reversed, the
said valve seating itself on the seat ³. Instead of a valve of the con-
struction represented a spherical valve may be employed with like
effect.
The action of the valve mechanism is as follows:-When the parts
are in the respective positions represented in Figure 1 the steam valve m
is open, and steam passes through its seat m² and the port h to the steam
cylinder c, the exhaust valve k being kept closed by the greater area of
the piston k, to which the steam has free access through the port p.

page_text: The steam valve n at the opposite end of the valve box d is closed, and
the exhaust valve / is open, and exhaust steam escapes through the valve
seat to the exhaust pipe f. As the steam piston approaches the
bottom of the cylinder c the annular groove in it comes opposite
the small port q, and a small quantity of steam is admitted by the said
port to the back or piston & of the exhaust valve 1, which puts the
two backs or pistons and ² in equilibrium. As the area of the face of
the exhaust valve k is greater than the area of the back of the steam
valve n, on which the steam is now pressing, and as the two backs or
pistons and are, as aforesaid, in equilibrium, the pressure on the
greater area of the exhaust valve k causes it to overcome the resistance
of the pressure on the back of the lesser area of the steam valve n. This
consequently gives motion to the said valves in a direction contrary to
that indicated by the arrow, and the positions of the valves and ports are
reversed, that is, the exhaust valve is closed, and the exhaust valve k is
opened, the steam valve n being at the same time opened, and the steam
valve m closed. The steam piston now makes its return stroke, and
when the annular groove 15 in it comes opposite the small port p steam
passes to the back or piston ² of the exhaust valve k, and by acting on
the said exhaust valve again reverses the positions of the valves and
ports in the manner before explained, and so on.
Instead of placing the double-acting valve (or ball valve) in the piston
for regulating the admission of steam to the back of one of the exhaust
valves double-acting valves (or ball valves) in connection with the small
ports may be placed in the steam cylinder. This arrangement is repre-
sented in Figures 4 and 5, where the double-acting valves are marked
t, u. The said valves work in the recesses at v, w, in the cylinder c, each
recess having branch pipes v³, v³, and u³, u³, respectively. The valves
are closed in one direction by the steam first entering the cylinder, which
steam passes by the pipe v or w³, and presses the valve or u to the
opposite end of the recess v or w, so that steam from the cylinder cannot
enter the port por q until the steam piston has passed the pipe v³ or
w³, that is to say, as the piston r approaches the cover end of the steam
cylinder, and passes the pipe ³, steam entering the said pipe forces the
valve to its seat towards the pipe v³, and communication between the
pipe and the port p is open, and the steam acts on the exhaust valve,
and reverses the ports, as before explained. Steam now entering the
cylinder at the cover end passes into the pipe v³, and reverses the

page_text: cylinder.
Figure 6 represents in longitudinal section, Figure 7 in plan, Figure 8
in cross section, and Figure 9 a portion of the same also in cross section
the steam cylinder of a direct-acting pump provided with valvo
mechanism of the kind hercin-before described, with which is combined
expansion valve machanism, constructed according to our Invention, for
cutting off the supply of -stcam to the cylinder at any desired range of
motion of the steam piston at the side of the steam' passages 1, 2, by
which steam is supplied to the middle of the steam chest or valve box;
d is a divided chamber 3 in which two expansion valves 4, 5, work, tho
said valves seating themselves when closed against the seats at 4, 5ª,' on
the faces of the passages 1, 2. At the back of each of the valves 4, 5,
is a coiled spring 6 which tends to force the valve home against the
pressure of the steam entering by the pipe 7, the entering steam when
the parts are in their normal positions opening the said expansion
valves 4, 5, and compressing the coiled springs at their backs. The arcas
of the two opposite faces of the valves 4, 5, are alike. The inner ends
of the screw pins 8, 8, act as abutments for the springs 6, and also as.
stops to limit the motion of the valves. In connection with the
chambers at 3, 3, in which the expansion valves 4, 5, work are ports 10,
11, 12, 13, opening into the steam cylinder. Two pairs of ports are.
shown in the Drawing, the pair 10, 11, being connected with the hori-
zontal passage 14 and the latter by the passage 15 with the chamber in
which the valve 4 works, and the pair of ports 12, 13, being connected
with the horizontal passage 16, and the latter by the passage 17 with
the chamber in which the other expansion valve 5 works. One pair of
ports, 10, 13, or 11, 12, is only used at a time, the other pair of ports
being temporarily closed by small valves, one of which is represented in
Figures 8 and 9, and marked 18. These small valves 18 are closed by
driving home the screw pins 19. By using one or other of these pairs of
ports the steam may be worked expansively, the steam being cut off at a
greater or less range of the motion of the steam piston, as may be
desired. We will suppose that the two ports 10 and 13 are in use, the
other ports 11 and 12 being closed by the small valves 18. When the
steam piston moving in the direction of the arrow, Figure 6, has passed
the port 10, steam from the cylinder enters the said port and passing by
the passages 14 and 15 to the chamber of the expansion valve 4 acts on.

page_text: the back of the said valve-4. The pressure of the said steam combined
with that of the spring 6 overcome the resistance of the steam pressing
on the front or acting face of the said expansion valve 4, and the said
valve is closed and cuts off the supply of steam entering by the said
valve, as seen in Figures 7, S, and 9. As the steam piston passes the
port 13 steam is conducted to the back of the expansion valve 5, and in
a like manner closes the said valve and completely cuts off the supply
of steam to the cylinder. In this arrangement the exhaust passage is
situated at the side of the steam cylinder instead of at the top as in the
arrangement first described. The said exhaust passage is marked 20.
Figure 10 represents in cross section, Figure 11 in longitudinal section,
and Figure 12 in plan a portion of the steam cylinder of a direct acting
pump, containing a modification of the expansion valves last described.
In this arrangement the expansion valves 4, 5, are situated vertically,
and their bottom faces have greater arcas than their acting upper faces,
which said upper faces seat themselves against the seats 1, 2, in the
steam pipe 7. No springs are necessary in this arrangement to assist in
overcoming the pressure of the entering steam, to close the said valves to
cut off the steam. It will be seen that the entering steam acts on the
smaller areas of the valves, and keeps the said valves open so long as the
bottom or larger areas are not acted upon by the steam from the cylinder.
21, 22, are the small ports opening into the chambers in which the
expansion valves 4, 5, work, and also opening into the steam cylinder. The
position of the ports 21 and 22 is best seen in the plan, Figure 12. When
the steam piston has passed the port 21., steam passes by the said port to the
under side of the expansion valve 4, and acting on a larger area of the
said valve than the entering steam acts upon, closes the said valve, as
seen in Figure 10, and thereby partly cuts off the supply of steam to the
cylinder. On the steam piston passing the other port 22, the expansion
valve 5 is closed in a like manner so as to completely cut off the supply
of steam to the cylinder.
For some arrangements of cut off one only of the valve 4, 5, be
may
used. In this case the steam passage has only one seat for the single
valve to seat itself upon to cut off the supply of steam to the valve
chest. This arrangement may be used in conjunction with the sets or pairs
of ports and closing valves in connection therewith described with

page_text: expanded ends of the valves 4, 5, (Figures 10, 11 and 12), it may
pass to the exhaust pipe 20 by the holes or passages at 23, Figure 10.
The valve mechanism described and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5, and the arrangements of expansion or cut-off valves, and the ports
and their closing valves described and represented in Figures 6 to 12 may
be used independently of one another.
Although we have only described our improvements as applied to a
direct acting pump worked by steam, yet the improvements described
and represented with respect to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 may also be
applied to pumps worked by compressed air and water, and also to motive-
power engines worked by steam, compressed air, or water, and the improve-
ments described and represented with reference to Figures 6 to 12, both
inclusive, in which the steam is worked expansively may also be applied
to pumps and engines worked by compressed air.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that
we do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein described and
illustrated, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature
of our Invention, but we claim as our Invention of improvements in
direct acting pumps and motive-power engines worked by steam,
compressed air, or water,—
First. The construction and arrangement and working of the valves
of the said pumps and engines, hercin-before described and illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say,
arranging in the steam chest or valve box two pistons, two steam (or
compressed air or water) valves and two exhaust valves, the said pistons
and valves being carried by the same rod, the steam chest or valve box
being formed for the working therein of the pistons, and being provided
with seats for the steam (or compressed air or water) valves and exhaust
valves, the movement of the valves for changing the ports being
produced by the action of the steam (or compressed air or water) from
the cylinder upon the back or piston of one or other of the exhaust
valves, the area of which is greater than that of the steam (or com-
pressed air or water) valves, substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. Regulating the admission of steam (or compressed air or
water) to the pistons of the exhaust valves by means of double-acting
valves or ball valves in connection with ports near the ends of the valve

page_text: box and cylinder, as herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 4
and 5 of the accompanying Drawings, or by means of a double-acting
valve or ball valve in the piston of the cylinder as herein-before described
and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings, also the
arrangement of passages in the said piston for conveying the steam,
compressed air, or water to the said ports.
Thirdly. The improvements in valves or valve mechanism for cutting
off the steam or compressed air so as to work it expansively, and for
giving any desired range of cut off herein-before described and illustrated
in Figures 6 to 12, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings, that
is to say, arranging in connection with the steam or compressed air
passages to the chest or valve box one or two expansion valves, the said
valves being constructed, combined, and worked, substantially as
described and illustrated; also arranging in the steam or compressed air
cylinder a series of small ports in connection with the expansion valve
or valves, the said small ports being provided with valves or stops for
closing or opening them, whereby the steam or compressed air may be
cut off at any desired length of the piston's stroke, substantially as
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Parker and Philip
Alfred Weston, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-five.
THOMAS PARKER.
(L.S.)
Witness to the signature of
Thomas Parker,
W. J. WIGGINS.
Coalbrookdale.
Witness to the signature of
Philip Alfred Weston,
W. J. WIGGINS,
PHILIP. ALFRED WESTON. (L.S.)
Coalbrookdale,
Shropshire.