Improvements in Valves for Steam Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Steam Engines.
THOMAS HUGHES of 31 Shenley Road Camberwell S.E. Engineer, and WILLIAM
EDWARD MILLETT of 31 Shenley Road Camberwell, S.E., Surveyor do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In carrying out our Invention we use a Cylindrical Steam Chest in which are
cast or fitted two dises at suitable distances which have openings or ports in
them and which serve as port Faces. A spindle passes through them on which
is fixed two other discs with openings corresponding with those of the port Faces:
these latter act as valves each of them working against each of the said port
Faces they are fitted in such a manner that on the rotary movement of the spindle
one of the ports is closed while the other is opened so that the steam passing
through the open port goes direct into the Cylinder the passage for which is
situated between the two port Faces, on the reverse movement of the spindle
this port is closed while the other is opened thus allowing the exhaust steam
to pass through and out of the other end of the above mentioned Cylinder. The
Cylinder is provided with two covers through one of which the spindle projects
the other is fitted for the passage of the exhaust. The motion for working these
valves is communicated by an Eccentric in the usual manner or they may be
worked by a Rod which may be fastened to the cross head or other suitable part
of the Engine, in this case the spindle is provided with an arm to which the
aforesaid Rod is attached.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1896
THOMAS HUGHES.
WILLIAM E. MILLETT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Steam Engines.
We THOMAS HUGHES of 12 King Edward Street, Lambeth, London S.W.,
Engineer, and WILLIAM EDWARD MILLETT of 5 Park Terrace, Highgate,
London, N., Surveyor, both formerly of 31, Shenley Road Camberwell London S.E.
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:-
This invention relates to improvements in valves for steam engines, and has

page_text: for object to provide a valve that can be fitted to either a horizontal or vertical
steam cylinder having a direct lead into the cylinder without the ordinary steam
passages cast in or fitted to the cylinder and dispensing with the valve-chest
and valve-slide or face as now used.
In carrying this invention into practice there is employed a cylindrical
steam chest in which are cast or fitted two discs at suitable distances apart
which discs have openings or ports therethrough and which serve as port-
faces.
A spindle passes through them from one side of the chest on which spindle
is fixed two other discs with port openings corresponding with those of the port
faces these latter act as valves: one of each of them working against one of each
of the said port faces. The spindle port-discs are fitted in such manner that on
the partial rotary or rocking movement of the spindle one of the set of ports
is closed whilst the other is opened so that steam passing through the open port
goes direct into the cylinder the passage for which is situated between the two
port faces.
On the reverse movement of the spindle the inlet port is closed while the
exhaust is opened thus allowing the exhaust steam to pass through and out of
the cylinder and through the exhaust valve dise and port face to wherever it
may be led.
The valve chest is provided with two end covers through one of which the
spindle projects. The other is fitted for the passage of the exhaust.
The motion for working the valves is communicated by an eccentric in sub-
stantially usual manner for obtaining a to and fro motion, or they may be worked
by a rod which may he fastened to the crosshead or other suitable part of the
engine. In the latter case the spindle is provided with an arm to which the
Tod is attached.
In order that the said invention may be well understood there is annexed
hereto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and reference will be made thereto
in the following description by figures and letters that is to say:-
Fig. 1, is a side view of the fitted valve chest and spindle.
Fig. 2, is a section of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. shows the rocking shaft and valve discs detached from the valve
chest.
Fig. 2 shows in section the valve chest with the valve spindle and valve
discs removed, but with the port faces in position and the cap of the exhaust
end of the chest enlarged for freedom of the outward passage of the exhaust
steam.
Fig. 4, is a diagram of the exhaust port face looking interiorly from the inlet
end of the valve chest.
Fig. 4, is a similar view showing the inlet port face leading the incoming
steam to the engine cylinder.
Figs. 5 and 54, are diagrams respectively of the inlet and exhaust valve-dises
(of the rocking spindle) in relatively cut off position to the port-faces Figs. 4
and 4.
Fig. 6, represents in elevation the application of this invention for the purpose
of direct driving of high speed engine as adapted to an air propeller but like
design may be used for other appliances, such for instance as a dynamo electric
machine centrifugal pump. propellor shaft and so forth.
A is the steam inlet. B the casing C is the spindle, carrying the port-discs c¹:
D D', are the fixed port faces in the cylindrical casing B. E is the inlet passage
to the cylinder of the engine and F the exhaust.
The two cylinders h h, have their trunks connected to the crank pin k
of the dise k, said disc being keyed or shrunk on to the propeller shaft m the
valve casing and valves n n'. being applied underneath each cylinder with con-
necting links o and leading off the eccentric p.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
The improvements in valves for steam engines constructed, combined, and
operating, as and for the purpose herein described and shown by the drawings.
Date 0.1 30 100
For the Applicants,
WALTER O. BARLOW,
306 High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Expert.