IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM VALVES, AND IN COMBINED STEAM AND AIR VALVES FOR RAILWAY BRAKES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gresham, of the Firm of Gresham and Craven, of
Craven Iron Works, Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and
Machinists, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM VALVES, AND IN
COMBINED STEAM AND AIR VALVES FOR RAILWAY BRAKES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Gresham at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April 1881.
JAMES GRESHAM, of the Firm of Gresham and Craven, of Craven Iron Works,
"IMPROVEMENTS
Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and Machinists.
IN STEAM VALVES, AND IN COMBINED STEAM AND AIR VALVES FOR RAILWAY
BRAKES."
Firstly. My Invention relates to valves used for admitting to and exhausting
steam from cylinders used for actuating brakes generally placed on locomotive
engines and tenders, and consists in combinations and arrangements of mechanism.
By one arrangement a spindle is made to slide in a casing in which two cone
seatings are formed, which cones are at the opposite end of a cylindrical part. The
spindle has two cone valves upon it, each cone with a length of cylinder attached
of the size and to fit the cylindrical part between the said two cone seatings.,
When the spindle is moved in one direction and one cone is against its seating, the
steam from the boiler is cut off, and the other cone valve on the spindle being then
away from its seating, a passage is opened between the steam brake cylinder and
the exhaust or atmosphere. But when the spindle is moved in the opposite
direction until the other cone is against its seating, the passage between the steam
brake cylinder and exhaust is closed, and the steam from the boiler can enter and
act upon the piston of the brake cylinder.
But when the spindle is moved from one position to the other to open one valve,.
the said cylindrical portions attached to each cone valve act to keep both valves
closed, and to shut one valve fully before the other is opened.
Another modification of this part of my Invention consists in making one valve

page_text: larger in diameter than the other, and in arranging the larger valve so as to be
movable upon the spindle and kept against a shoulder upon the spindle by a
spring, the force of which can be adjusted by screw nuts.
The valves thus arranged are actuated as herein before described, but the large
movable valve can be closed more or less firmly by the action of the spring, and
will thus admit as arranged more or less steam into the steam brake cylinder,
according to the compression put upon the spring.
Secondly. My Invention relates to valves actuated by one movement of the
handle or spindle, so as to simultaneously admit steam into the steam brake
cylinder on the engine or engine and tender, and air to automatic vacuum brakes
of the vehicles of an attached train, the air to the vacuum brakes being admitted
a little in advance of the steam to the steam brakes, and my Invention consists in
combining in one apparatus one or other of the modifications of steam valves
herein before referred to with a valve for air connected by pipes with the vacuum
brakes of the vehicles of the train, the valve for the air being a disc valve, by
preference mounted upon the spindle for the steam valve, so that the first portion
of the movement of the spindle admits the air to the vacuum brakes before the
complete movement of the spindle admits steam to the steam brake.
My improved arrangement and combination of valves herein before described are
or may be arranged to be worked automatically as well as by hand.
'
The valves herein before described are or may be worked by a lever giving
direct end movement or by a screw,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Gresham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th October
1881.
JAMES GRESHAM, of the Firm of Gresham and Craven, of Craven Iron Works,
Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and Machinists. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM VALVES, AND IN COMBINED STEAM AND AIR VALVES FOR RAILWAY
BRAKES."
Firstly. My Invention relates to valves used for admitting steam to and
exhausting it from cylinders used for actuating brakes which are generally placed
on locomotive engines and tenders, and consists in combinations and arrangements
of mechanism.
By one arrangement a spindle is made to slide in a casing in which two
cone seatings are formed, which cones are at the opposite ends of a cylindrical
part.
The spindle has two cone valves upon it, each cone with a length of cylinder
attached, of the size and to fit the cylindrical part of the bore between the said
two cone seatings,

page_text: When the spindle is moved in one direction and one cone is against its seating,
the steam from the boiler is cut off, and the other cone valve on the spindle being
then away from its seating a passage is opened between the steam brake cylinder
and the exhaust or atmosphere."
But when the spindle is moved in the opposite direction until the other cone is
against its seating the passage between the steam brake cylinder and exhaust is
closed, and the steam from the boiler can enter and act upon the piston of the
brake cylinder.
But when the spindle is moved from one position to the other to open one valve
the said cylindrical portions attached to each cone valve act to keep both valves
practically closed, and to shut one valve before the other is opened.
Another modification of this part of my Invention consists in making one valve
larger in diameter than the other, and in arranging the larger valve so as to be
moveable upon the spindle and kept against a shoulder upon the spindle by a spring,
the force of which can be adjusted by screw nuts.
The valves thus arranged are actuated as herein before described, but the large
moveable valve can be closed more or less firmly by the action of the spring, and
will thus admit, as arranged, more or less steam into the steam brake cylinder
according to the amount of compression put upon the spring.
Secondly. My Invention relates to valves actuated by one movement of the
handle or spindle so as to simultaneously admit steam into the steam brake
cylinder on the engine, or engine and tender, and air to the automatic vacuum
brakes of the vehicles of an attached train, the air to such vacuum brakes being
admitted, if desired, a little in advance of the steam to the steam brakes; and my
Invention consists in combining in one apparatus one or other of the modifications
of steam valves hereinbefore referred to with a valve for air connected by pipes
with the automatic vacuum brakes of the vehicles of the train, the valve for the
air being a disc valve, by preference mounted upon the spindle for the steam valve,
so that the first portion of the movement of the spindle (if so desired) admits the
air to the vaccum brakes before the complete movement of the spindle admits
steam to the steam brakes.
My improved arrangement and combination of valves herein before described are
or may be arranged to be worked automatically, that is, by connection with the
automatic vacuum brakes as well as by hand.
The valves herein before described are or may be worked by a hand lever giving
direct end novement or by a handle and screw.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation; Fig. 2 is a partial side sectional elevation on the
line A-B, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line C-D, Fig. 1.
These three views illustrate a valve for actuating a steam brake according to the
first part of my Invention.
a is a casting bored out to fit a spindle b and prepared with a seating for a cone
valve upon the spindle. It is also bored and screwed to receive a gland part a¹
which is screwed in the casting a, and this gland part is bored out to fit the
spindle b, and has a cone seating formed upon it for a cone or valve facing upon
the valve spindle.
The end of the spindle b which projects through the gland part a¹ has a slot in
it for the lever handle c which has its fulcrum c¹ on a projection formed on the
casting a. There is a small hole, shown in dotted lines, drilled diagonally in the
spindle from one side to the other to convey any steam which may pass to the space
between the bore and the end of the enlarged part 6x of the spindle to the
exhaust.
The casting a has a flange a² by which it is connected with the steam pipe from
the boiler, and it has branches a³ and at, shown by Figs.
and 3, and passages
shown by Fig. 3.
One passage a³ conveys the steam passing from the boiler when the valve is
opened to the pipe which takes it to act upon the piston of the steam brake
cylinder.

page_text: There is also a passage from the pipe of the steam brake cylinder to the cone
exhaust valve, and a passage a from the valve to the branch at which conveys the
exhaust steam away.
In the casting a is formed a small cylinder a fitted with a suitable piston d
having a rod passing through a guide in the lid as of the cylinder.
This cylinder is connected by a pipe e with the train pipe of the automatic
vacuum brake, so that when a vacuum exists in the train pipe the piston d will
be drawn inwards, and its rod, which is connected with the lever handle c of the
steam valve, will thus bring pressure upon the spindle 6 to keep shut the valve
admitting steam from the boiler, but when the vacuum in the train pipe is
destroyed the handle c is released and the steam will then be admitted immediately
after to the steam brake cylinder to put on the steam brakes.
If the vacuum in the train pipe is partially destroyed the pressure acting upon
the lever c will be diminished in proportion; and when the vacuum is sufficiently
reduced more or less, steam will be admitted to act upon the steam brake piston.
There is a lever handle f having its fulcrum f¹ on the lid of the small cylinder a
which has a hook to catch upon a pin c¹ in the side of the lever handle c and hold
it so that the steam valve will be kept shut when required when the vacuum is
not acting upon the small piston d; but when it is so acting, or when it first begins
to act, one end of a slot in the piston rod will come against an arm f2 from the
hook lever f and release it from the pin c¹, and the piston rod will then bring
pressure upon and will hold the lever handle ready to be operated automatically
when the train brakes are put on by admitting air to the train pipe, consequently
the putting "on of the automatic vacuum brakes will put "on" the steam brakes.
Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation of a valve similar to that shown by Figs. 1, 2,
and 3 (see Fig. 3, and compare it with Fig. 4), except that there is no piston d to
be actuated by the formation of vacuum in the train pipe, and the spindle b of
the valve is worked by a screw and handle, and the force of the steam is more or
less reduced and balanced by a spring.
There is a gland part a¹ screwed into the easting a which is bored and screwed
to receive a screwed hollow spindle g, the outer end of which is made steam tight
by a gland and packing. g' is the handle for turning the screw.
h
The stem of the valve spindle 6 passes into the hollow screw spindle g, and
there is an helical spring placed round the valve spindle stem, which at one end
abuts upon a shoulder on the spindle, and at the other end against a washer louse
on the spindle which comes against the end of the hollow screw g, as shown.
Thus arranged, the steam valve will act to reduce more or less, as required, the
full pressure of the steam passing from the boiler through the valve to the steam
brake cylinder.
Fig. 5 is a side sectional elevation of a modification of a steam reducing valve
according to the first part of my Invention for admitting and exhausting the steam
for actuating the pistons of steam brakes.
a is a casting bored out and screwed and prepared with a seating for the cone
valves.
One end is formed into a gland to make the spindle b steam tight, which
spindle is actuated by a handle c having its fulcrum el on a part 2 screwed on the
casting a, which part also forms a guide and notched sector 3 for the handle c,
which has a lever spring catch c jointed to it, as shown.
The other end of the casting is screwed to receive the screwed end of another
casting a, which is bored out, and is screwed to be connected with a pipe that
conveys aways the exhaust steam.
The first named casting a has a branch and flange a² to connect it with the steam
from the boiler, and has another branch a³ to connect it with a pipe passing to the
cylinder of the steam brake.
Upon the valve spindle b there is a tubular part b₁ of larger diameter than the
steam adinission valve, which tubular part is arranged to slide freely on the stem
of the valve spindle b, upon which there is a helical spring 62, one end of which

page_text: comes against a screw 63 having spaces to allow the steam to pass, the other end of
the spring abuts upon a shoulder in the inside of the hollow tubular part 61, upon
the exterior of which the cone valve facing is formed to fit the cone seating for it on
the casting a.
The tubular part b¹ has longitudinal ribs or projections on its exterior, same as
ordinary cone lifting valves, which fit the bore of the casting, and act to keep it
central in its end movements.
When the handle c is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5, the cone of
the steam valve is close against its seating, and thus the steam from the boiler is
shut off, but in this position the large exhaust valve on the tubular part is away
from its seating, and the valve is open, and the steam can escape or exhaust from
the steam brake cylinder.
But when the handle e is moved from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5.
to the first notch in the sector c³, not only is the steam cone above its seating, but
the cylindrical part of the tube 61 which fits the bore for the spindle is then just
clear of the seating for the steam cone, and thus steam is allowed to pass to the
steam brake cylinder, but it cannot pass to the exhaust, as the cone facing on the
tubular part b is against its seating, and the cylindrical part above the cone facing
of the exhaust valve also fills the bore.
When the steam, which has been allowed to pass through the steam valve, has
attained a pressure in the steam brake cylinder greater than that which the
spring 62 will sustain, the tubular part 1 is moved upon the spindle b, and the
cylindrical part of the tube 6 near the cone of the steam valve is drawn away from
the steam valve, and within the bore so as to fill it, and thus any further supply
of steam from the boiler to the brake cylinder is shut off, except the slight
amount which escapes from imperfect fit past the cylindrical part, which com-
pensates for a similar small escape of steam past the cylindrical part of the exhaust
valve.
The further the handle c is moved to admit the steam from the boiler, and the
greater will be the pressure acting upon the steam brake piston, and when the
bandle c is placed and held in the extreme notch of the sector the inner edges of
the wings of the screw nut 3 are close against the end of the tubular part b', and
the cone facing of the exhaust valve will be close against its seating; and the full
boiler pressure of the steam will then act upon the steam brake piston, so that if
the spring 62 should by accident fail or break the valve will still act perfectly (as a
non-reducing valve) to apply the brakes, but the pressure of the steam from the
boiler acting upon the brake piston cannot be modified until the spring is again
made perfect.
Fig. 6 is a front sectional elevation, and Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation, but
one section is taken at a right angle to the other; and Fig. 8 is a section on the
line AB, Fig. 6.
These Figures illustrate a combined valve for admitting steam to and
exhausting it from a steam brake cylinder, and for admitting air to the train
pipe of automatic vacuum brakes according to the second part of my Invention.
a is a casting bored out, screwed, and prepared to receive a valve spindle b, one
end of which projects through a gland made steam tight by packing, as shown.
The end of the spindle has a slot for the arm of a lever c having its fulcrum c¹
on a projection from the casting a.
The spindle b has a cone facing or valve and cylindrical part for the steam from
the boiler, and has another cone facing and cylindrical part screwed on the end of
the spindle to fit a seating in the casting, as shown, to which another casting at is
screwed, having the pipe attached for conveying away the exhaust steam.
There is a branch a² and flange on the casting for a junction with the steam from
the boiler, and a passage and branch a³ for connection with a pipe passing to the
steam brake cylinder.
There is a hollow screw plug.i with a cone end to fit a cone seating in the

page_text: casting, through which oil or other lubricant can be poured to pass on to lubricate
the piston of the steam brake cylinder.
In the casting a, and round the gland for the valve spindle b, a cavity ax is
formed, which has a branch and junction aº for connection with a pipe passing to
the train pipe of the automatic vacuum brake.
The two sides of the annular cavity a* are faced for a flat ring valve j, having
india rubber or other suitable material attached to its face by screws, as shown.
This ring valve ; has arms which connect it with a boss fitting upon the end of
the steam valve spindle b, and this boss is slotted for the arm of the lever c to pass
through, so that when the lever cis moved to open the steam valve the ring valve j
for admitting air to the train pipe is also opened, and one or the other of the
valves may be made to open a little before the other if desired, according to the
arrangement of the lever c in relation to the slots in the spindle 6, and in the boss
for the ring valve.
I have now particularly described the nature of any said Invention, and
the manner in which the same may be carried into effect, and claim as my
Invention,―
Firstly. The arranging of two cone valves with cylindrical parts on a spindle
when combined with steam brakes, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The several combinations and arrangements of valve apparatus when
used combined with steam brakes, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of a cone valve on a spindle with an enlarged tubular
valve sliding on the spindle, and acted upon by a spring, substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Fourthly. The diagonal hole in the spindle or its equivalent, substantially as
and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of
the Drawings.
Fifthly. The arrangement and combination of the hook lever (f), and the mode
of actuating it in combination with automatic vacuum and steam brakes, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2,
and 3 of the Drawings.
Sixthly. The combination of valve apparatus for actuating steam and automatic
vacuum brakes, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
illustrated by Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Gresham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
JAMES GRESHAM. (L.S.)