AN IMPROVED VALVE FOR SINGLE ACTING ENGINES, AND THE MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING THE SAME, WHICH INVENTION IS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THREE CYLINDER ENGINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Whitehead, of Fuime, Austro-Hungary, at present
residing at 19, Cork Street, in the County of Middlesex, Torpedo Maker, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED VALVE FOR SINGLE ACTING ENGINES, AND
THE MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING THE SAME, WHICH INVENTION IS ESPECIALLY
APPLICABLE TO THREE CYLINDER ENGINES."
Sealed the 20th January 1880, and dated the 29th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Whitehead at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th October 1879.
ROBERT WHITEHEAD, of Fuime, Austro-Hungary, at present residing at 19, Cork
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Torpedo Maker. "AN IMPROVED VALVE FOR
SINGLE ACTING ENGINES, AND THE MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING THE SAME,
WHICH INVENTION IS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THREE CYLINDER ENGINES."
My Invention has reference to an improved valve for single acting engines, more
especially those of three cylinder type, and consists of an improved valve and the
mechanism for actuating the same.
The valve proper is of a hollow cylindrical form, and works in a bush or liner
fixed in the general framing or casing of the valve. In the lower part of the
cylindrical surface of the bush or liner are openings which communicate with an
annular chamber in free and close communication with the pressure end of the
cylinder of the engine. Beneath the valve is a pressure chamber which is in
constant communication through pipe connections with the reservoir of motive
power. The motive power presses against the underside of the bottom or diaphram
of the valve proper and constantly tends to raise the same, but the valve's position
in the bush or liner is regulated by the revolution of a cam fixed on the crank
shaft of the engine, which cam through the intervention of a connecting rod
between it and the valve determines the latter's position. The valve connecting
rod has in its forked head at the cam end a friction roller revolving on a pin
carried by the sides of the forked head. The valve connecting rod is guided in its
axial motion by the valve proper at one end, and at the other or cam end by guides
(fixed and in one with the general framing or casing of the valve) between which
the forked head slides.

page_text: The length of the valve connecting rod can be increased or diminished (within
certain limits) to properly adjust or "set" the valve, and also to vary, as may be
desired, the amount of "lead" given to the same.
This adjustment of the length of the valve connecting rod is obtained by making
the rod in two pieces and connecting them by a screwed socket, which after the
rod has been properly adjusted is secured by a cross pin passing through the screw.
The valve is not secured or fixed to its connecting rod, but is merely in touching
contact with it, the pressure of the motive power constantly keeping the valve up
against the end of its connecting rod. There is also a prolongation or central boss
from the underside of the bottom or diaphram of the valve, which allows the latter
to fall off from its connecting rod only to a very limited extent on the withdrawal
of the pressure from the motive power, thus preventing the valve escaping from
proper control.
A cam is used (by preference) for actuating the valve, as it enables a very
perfect action to be given to the valve with respect to the times of induction and
education.
The action of the valve is as follows:-Starting with the same in its relative position
with regard to the piston of the engine when the latter is just beginning its upward,
or in the case of three cylinder engines, its inward stroke, the under or outer side
of the bottom or diaphram of the valve will be above the level of the lower edge
of the openings in the bush or liner the amount desired for "lead."
As the piston of the engine rises in its cylinder the valve rises (by the pressure of
the motive power in its underside, according as it is permitted to do so by the regu-
lating action of the cam), thus with respect to the bush or liner increasing the
area of passage way into the cylinder of the engine, and this increasement of
area goes on until the valve has reached the highest level the cam will admit it
to attain. In this position the passages in the bush or liner will be open to their
fullest extent (or to the utmost desired, depending on the "setting" of the valve
and form of cam).
The valve remains in this position for a certain period of time, and then begins.
to descend until it closes the induction passages at the point it is wished to cut
off, which it does before the eduction is opened (the piston still continuing its
upward stroke), the motive power being for the period between these positions
of the valve for expanding in the cylinder of the engine. On the valve further
descending the eduction begins by reason of the eduction passages in the valve
proper opening communication with the passages in the bush or liner, and by
means of these latter passages with the annular chamber opening into the cylinder,
and by the time the piston of the engine bas arrived. at the end of its upward
stroke the eduction or exhaust passages will be almost fully open.
During about half the return stroke of the piston the eduction passages remain
fully open, after which the valve begins to rise, and continues doing so until the
eduction passages are closed, which takes place a short time before the opening of
the induction, the piston still continuing its return stroke, and by the time the
latter has reached its lowest position the valve has risen and opened the induction
to the amount of the "lead."
The engine cylinder and valve case or framing are, by preference, made in one
piece. Also the cover to the before mentioned cylinder, and the lower portion of
the casing of annular chamber (between the cylinder and bush or liner), and
pressure chamber beneath the valve are in one piece, and can be easily removed
thus making the different parts of the valve very accessible.
The valve itself may also be readily extracted from its position without removing
any of the before mentioned parts by simply unscrewing a screw plug at the lower
end of the pressure chamber, which on its removal gives an opening of sufficient
size to allow the valve to be withdrawn.
In communication with the annular chamber opening into the cylinder there is
an air vessel fitted with ball valve which take up any water (or other fluid, as the

page_text: ansa may be) that is imprisoned in the cylinder of the engine by reason of the
exhaust being cut off before the completion of the down stroke.
The ball valve is by preference made not perfectly tight, so that the water (or
other fluid) within the vessel will be gradually drawn out and passed away
It will be seen from the foregoing description that the
through the exhaust.
openings in the cylindrical parts of the valve are only used as eduction passages,
while the similar openings in the bush or liner are alternately used my induction
and eduction pessages.
The principal features of this Invention is the greatly improved action obtained
In the times of induction, cat off, and oeduction, the large area of the induction and
eduction openings in the valve and bush or liner.
The close union of valve with its cylinder, and the saving thereby of motive
powers through the shortness of the length of the passage between them, the
accessibility of the parts generally, and the great facility the arrangements of the
parts give for manufacture.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Whitehead in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th April
1880.
"AN IMPROVED VALVE FOR
ROBERT WHITEHEAD, of Fiume, Austro-Hungary.
SINGLE ACTING ENGINES, AND THE MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING THE SAME, |
WHICH INVENTION 18 ESPECIALLY AFFLICABLE TO THREE CYLINDER ENGINES.“
My Invention consists in an improved valve for single acting engines (more
especially those of the three cylinder type), and in the mechaniam for actuating -
the same.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I will proceed to ]
describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings. Fig. 1 shows my improved valve
applied to a three cylinder single acting engine of a torpedo, one valve and the
various chambers connected therewith being shown in section, and the two others
in elevation; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one of the cylinders and its
accompanying cylindrical valve; Fig. 3 is a part horizontal section; Fig. 4 is a plun¨}
of the inside of the cylinder cover and chamber connected therewith; Fig. 5 is a
horizontal section through the passages in the cylindrical valve and the pages
of the bush or liner surrounding the same; Fig. 6 is a cross section of the bearing
at the crank and of the connecting rod with a portion of that rod in elevation;
Fig. 7 is a face view of one of the rings for holding together the above mentioned 1
boarings; and Fig. 8 is an end view of crank shaft and counterweight. The valve
is of a hollow cylindrical form, and works in a bush or liner b fixed in the
general framing or casing o of the valve. In the lower part of the cylindrical
surface of the bush or liner b are openinga b', which communicate with an annular
chamber d, in free and close communication with the premuro cud af the cylinder e
of the engine. Beneath the valve a in a pressure chambor, which in in constant.
communication through pipe connections with the roservoir of motive power.
The motive power prosses against the underside of the bottom or diaphragm
a of the valve a, and constantly tends to raise the same, but the position of the
valve a in the buah or liner b is regulated by the revolution of the cam g
fixed on the crank shaft h of the engine, which cam, through the intervention of
connecting rod i between it and the valve a, determines the latter's position. The
valve connecting rod i has in its forked. head at the cam end a friation roller
Tho valve
rovolving on a pin is carried by the sides of the forked bead i
connecting rod is guided in its axial motion by the valve a at one and, and at the
other, or cam end, by guides e' in the general framing or casing c, between which
the forked head slides. The length of the valve connecting rod i can be increased
or diminished (within certain limits) to properly adjust or "set" the valve, and
also to vary, as may be desired, the amount of lead given to the same.
This adjust-
ment of the length of the valve connecting rod is obtained by inaking the rod in
two pieces, and connecting them by a screwed socket it, ib, which after the red has
bean properly adjusted, is secured by the cross pin is passing through the screw of
the socket. The valve a is not secured or fixed to its connecting rod, but is merely
in touching contact with it, the pressure of the motive power constantly keeping.
the valve up against the end of its connecting rod. There is also a prolongation:
or central boss a projecting from the underside of the bottom or diaphragm of the
valvo a, which allows the latter to fall off from its connecting rod only to a very
limited extent on the withdrawal of the pressure from the motive power, thus
preventing the valve escaping from proper control. A cam is used (by preference)
for actuating the valve, as it enables a very perfect action to be given to the valve
with respect to the times of induction and eduction. The action of the valve is as

page_text: follows:-Starting with the same in its relative position with regard to the
piston of the engine when the latter is just beginning its upward, or in the case of:
3 cylinder engines, its inward stroke, the under or outer side of the bottom or
diaphragm of the valve will be above the level of the lower edge of the openings
in the bush or liner b the amount desired for "lead." As the piston of the engine
rises in its cylinder, the valve rises (by the pressure of the motive power on its
underside; according as it is permitted to do so by the regulating action of the cam),
thus with respect to the bush or liner increasing the area of passage way into the
cylinder of the engine, and this increase of area goes on until the valve has reached
the highest level the cam g will admit it to attain. In this position the passages b'
in the bush or liner b will be open to their fullest extent (or to the utmost extent
desired, depending on the setting of the valve and form of cam). The valve remains
in this position for a certain period of time, and then begins to descend until it
closes the induction passages at the point it is wished to cut off, which it does
before the eduction passage a³ is opened (the piston e' still continuing its upward
stroke), the motive power being for the period between these positions of the
valve expanding in the cylinder of the engine. On the valve further descending
the eduction begins, by reason of the eduction passages as in the valve a opening
communication with the passages 6' in the bush or liner, and by means of these
latter passages with the annular chamber d opening into the cylinder e, and by
the time the piston of the engine has arrived at the end of its upward stroke, the
eduction or exhaust passages will be almost fully open. During about half the
return stroke of the piston e' the eduction passages a³ remain fully open, after
which the valve a begins to rise, and continues doing so until the passages a³
are closed, which takes place a short time before the opening of the induction
passage, the piston e still continuing its return stroke, and by the time the latter
has reached its lowest position the valve a has risen and opened the induction to
the amount of the "lead." The engine cylinder and valve case or framing are, by
preference, made in one piece, also the cover e² of the before mentioned cylinder
and the lower portion of the casing of the annular chamber (between the cylinder
and bush or liner) and pressure chamber f beneath the valve are in one piece, and
can be easily removed, thus making the different parts of the valve very accessible.
The valve itself may also be readily removed from its position without displacing
any of the before mentioned parts by simply unscrewing a screw plug f at the
lower end of the pressure chamber f, which on its removal gives an opening of
sufficient size to allow the valve a to be withdrawn. In communication with the
annular chamber d opening into the cylinder e there is an air vessel j, fitted with
a ball valve j, which takes up any water (or other fluid, as the case may be) that
is imprisoned in the cylinder of the engine by reason of the exhaust being cut off
before the completion of the down or outward stroke. The ball valve j¹ is, by
preference, made not perfectly tight, so that the water (or other fluid) within the
vessel will be gradually drawn out and pushed away through the exhaust. It will
be seen from the foregoing description that the openings in the cylindrical part of
the valve a are only used as eduction passages, while the similar openings in the
bush or liner b are alternately used as induction and eduction passages. The
principal advantages of this Invention are,-
Firstly, the greatly improved action obtained in the times of induction, cut off,
and eduction; secondly, the large area of the induction and eduction openings in
the valve and bush or liner; thirdly, the close union of valve with its cylinder,
and the saving thereby of motive power through the shortness of the length of
the passage between them; and, lastly, the accessibility of the parts generally,
and the great facility that the improved arrangement of the parts gives for
manufacture.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention is, first, the
improved valve for single acting engines, substantially as shewn and described;

page_text: secondly, the mechanism for actuating the valves of single acting engines,
substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Whitehead, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
ROBT. WHITEHEAD. (L.S.)