PULSATING VALVES OR GOVERNORS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Silver, of Philadelphia, U. S., Gentleman,
for the Invention of "PULSATING VALVES OR GOVERNORS."
Scaled the 30th September 1858, and dated the 30th March 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Silver at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
March 1858...
I, THOMAS SILVER, of Philadelphia, U. S., Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "PULSATING VALVES OR GOVERNORS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to the application of a spring, counterweight, or their
equivalents, to a throttle valve or apparatus for regulating the admission of
steam to steam engines; and consists in so arranging an ordinary single or
double disc throttle valve, or such like valve apparatus, as being hung sus-
pended or made to work eccentrically, or otherwise unbalanced, enables the
overbalanced portion to effect the position of the valve during the passage of
the steam, in accordance with the difference or proportion existing between
the greater or lesser surface; but such action is resisted by a metal or other
spring or its equivalent, which may be attached to an external lever fitted
upon the valve spindle.
In the ordinary form of single disc throttle valve, which being fitted
eccentrically or unbalanced according to this Invention, the spindle passing
through the throttle valve box has a valve spanner or lever, which,. instead

page_text: of being connected with the governor rod, has a spring (or its equivalent)
attached thereto, as before described, it being subject to regulation or
adjustment as to the counteracting force or weight to be exerted. In
order to avoid the necessity of arranging the axis of motion of the ordinary
valve eccentrically, or unbalancing the common double disc valve, an incline
vane may be attached to an arm extending from the said valve, which vane
will resist the flow of steam, thereby be moved on the principle upon which
the vane of a windmill or the blades of a screw propeller act. In a similar
way I connect any other suitable form of throttle valve with a spring or its
equivalent for the purpose of governing and regulating the admission of steam
to a steam engine; and by any of the ordinary well-known means for the
adjustment of the force or action of the spring or its equivalent, I am
enabled to determine the extent to which steam may be admitted at any
moment, and thus regulate the flow of steam to the engine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Silver in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
September 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SILVER, of Philadelphia, U. S., Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Silver, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Silver,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Silver, my 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 lawfully 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 "PULSATING VALVES OR
GOVERNORS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Silver, an instrument in writing under my or hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Silver, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing:-
This Invention relates to the application of a spring, counterweight, or
their equivalents, to a throttle valve or apparatus for regulating the admission
of steam to steam engines; and consists in so arranging an ordinary single or
double disc throttle valve, or such like valve apparatus, as being hung, sus-
pended, or made to work eccentrically, or otherwise unbalanced, enables the
overbalanced portion to affect the position of the valve during the passage of
the steam, in accordance with the difference or proportion existing between
the greater or lesser surface; but such action is resisted by a metal or other
spring or its equivalent, which may be attached to an external lever, wheel,
or pulley fitted upon the valve spindle. In the ordinary form of single disc
throttle valve, which being fitted eccentrically or unbalanced according to this
Invention, the spindle passing through the throttle valve box has a valve
spanner, or lever, or a pulley, or wheel, which, instead of being connected
with the governor rod, has a spring (or its equivalent) attached thereto, as
before described; it being subject to regulation or adjustment as to the
counteracting force or weight to be excrted. In order to avoid the necessity
for arranging the axis of motion of the ordinary valve eccentrically or un-
balancing the common double disc valve, an incline vane may be attached to an
arm extending from the said valve, which vane will resist the flow of steam, and
thereby be moved on the principle upon which the vane of a windmill or the
blades of a screw propeller act. In a similar way I connect any other suit-
able form of throttle valve with a spring or its equivalent for the purpose of
governing and regulating the admission of steam to a steam engine; and by
any of the ordinary well-known means for the adjustment of the 'force or
action of the spring or its equivalent I am enabled to determine the extent to
which steam may be admitted at any moment, and thus regulate the flow of
steam to the engine.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation of a steam pipe fitted
with an unbalanced throttle valve and spring connections according to my
Invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of Fig. 1, and exhibits the throttle
valve mounted upon the valve spindle; Fig. 3 is a transverse section. of
Figs. 1 and 2 taken through the valve box; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section.
of Fig. 1 taken on the line A, B, shewing one of the brackets for supporting
the sliding rod m; Fig. 5 exhibits an arrangement of double disc valve
employed as a substitute for the ordinary form of throttle valves.

page_text: In Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4, a, a, refers to the steam pipe; b, the box containing
the throttle valve; c, the throttle valve; d, the spindle or axis of valve; e, the
gland; f, a wheel placed upon the end of valve spindle instead of a spanner;
9, a stud, against which a projection on the wheel comes into contact to
prevent the valve opening too far, and which admits of regulation or adjust-
ment; h, a chain, one end of which is attached to the wheel and the other
end is connected to a socket, to which is secured a spiral spring; i, the socket'
to which the end of the chain and the spring are attached; k, the spiral'
spring, the one end of which is attached to the socket i, and at the other to.
the socket ; this socket has a square rod with a screwed end m projecting
therefrom, upon which screwed end a fly nut n is-fitted, and extends or other-
wise regulates the tension of the spring k; o, o, are two brackets in which
slides or works back and forward the sliding bar of the socket i¹.
The action of the valve arrangement, shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4, is as
follows: The valve is mounted excentrically on the spindle or shaft, and is
prevented from opening too far by means of the stop g; when the steam is
not passing, or is only flowing through freely, and in exact proportion to the
requirements of the engine, the valve remains in or about the position shewn
in Figs. 2 & 3 at rest, the steam flowing in the direction indicated by the
arrows, but immediately that the velocity of the steam increases from a
sudden increase of motion in the engine the valve is inmediately blown to 'or
closed in proportion to the increase of velocity and the pressure due thereto,
which operating upon the larger surface of the unbalanced valve overcomes the
tensional force of the spring which keeps the valve open, its normal state or
position; and when by the entire or partial closing of the valve the flow of the
steam is stopped or checked, the velocity of the engine is reduced, its require-
ment for steam becomes less, and when the quantity of steam required and
the speed of its flow agree with the amount to which the reacting spring has
been previously adjusted, the valve opens and steam is permitted to pass at
the requisite speed and to the requisite extent; thus, when the equilibrium is
disturbed the valve acts, closing when any sudden increase of velocity occurs
in the engine.demanding an increased quantity of steam beyond. that to which
the force of the spring. has been adjusted, and opening when the velocity of
the engine has become reduced, so as to require less steam, and by: which the
equilibrium is restored between the pressure on each side of the valve, and it
then assumes its normal position. By means of the spring k-and the ad-
justing nut and screw the valve is regulated, and the force. which may be
necessary. to operate upon it is predetermined and made suitable to the duty
which the engine is required to perform, and this is subject to adjustnient, and

page_text: may be altered at pleasure by slackening out or increasing the tension or force
of the spring.
Although I have described a spring as I prefer to employ it instead of
any equivalent means, I do not confine myself thereto, as in some situations
and under some circumstances other well-known and equivalent means may
be employed for keeping the valve open, and with any required pressure upon
increased
it; but by adopting a spiral spring I am enabled to give any
or increased ratio of resistance to tension by suitably disposing the number,
position, and combination of the coils of the spring, and the extent to which,
by means of the screw, it is operated upon.
power
In Fig. 5 a double disc valve is shewn, which is acted upon or controuled
by a spring or its equivalent in the same manner as the valve, already
described. a, a, the steam pipe, which in this Figure is shewn much larger
in diameter in proportion to the area of the passages into and through the
valves; b, a valve box or enlargement to the steam pipe to admit of the
double disc valve, and its seatings being fitted therein; c, c, the double disc
valve; d, a diaphragm or plate, having a steam passage way through it, and
two valve seats cast thereon; this diaphragm or plate with the double disc
valves working in the manner shewn, is shewn secured between the two
flanches of the steam pipe, although it may be cast in a box-like form, and
the passage ways have a suitably large area in proportion to the area of the
main steam pipe, or any other more convenient arrangement may be adopted;
e is a spanner or lever, which being fitted on to the middle of a spindle, shaft,
or axle, is free to vibrate up or down; the point of this lever or spanner works
in a suitable recess formed in the valve c, c, for the purpose of raising the
dises off or keeping them firmly down upon their seats. Upon the outer end
of the spindle or shaft of the spanner or lever e a wheel, as at Figs. 1 & 3,
or any similar or equivalent arrangement, is fitted, and thus a spring or its
equivalent is caused to operate upon the valves, and keep them open to the
degree or extent requisite and necessary.
In Fig. 5 the valves are shewn quite closed, and shutting entirely the
passage of steam to the engine, whilst the normal condition of the valves is
partially open, by which free access is permitted for the steam to enter the
engine to the extent to which it is desired. I should here observe, that when
instead of employing a spring I employ a weight, I substitute for the wheel
or pulley, shewn in Figs. 1 & 3, an eccentric drum, cam, or quadrant,
around which the chain or rope carrying the weight passes, and by its
increasing diameter the suspended weight is caused to exert an increased
power over the valve for the purpose of closing it.

page_text: Having described my Invention, and by way of illustration in the accom-
panying Drawing shewn applications of my said Invention to two well-known
forms of valves (although it may be applied to any other form), I claim as
my Invention the employment of eccentrically hung or otherwise unbalanced
valves in combination with spiral or other springs or their mechanical equiva-
lents for regulation or governing the admission or flow of steam, or gas, air,
or any other fluid to machines in motion.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Silver, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
GEORGE CHURCHILL,
18, Salisbury Street, Adelphi.
THOMAS SILVER. (L.S.)