IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND VALVE GEAR FOR THE INDUC- TION AND EDUCTION OF STEAM TO AND FROM THE CYLINDERS OF STEAM ENGINES, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND VALVE GEAR FOR THE INDUC-
TION AND EDUCTION OF STEAM TO AND FROM THE CYLINDERS OF STEAM ENGINES,
PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."-A communication from
abroad by Addison Crosby, Simeon Savage, and Herman Swift Stearns,
all of Fredonia, in the County of Chautauque and State of New York,
United States of America.
Sealed the 27th September 1860, and dated the 15th May 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by tho said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th May 1860.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND VALVE GEAR FOR THE
INDUCTION AND EDUCTION OF STEAM TO AND FROM THE CYLINDERS OF STEAM ENGINES,
PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention consists in a valvo of the oscillating kind
constructed with an opening extending transversely through it, and with two
opposite faces excentric to its axis of oscillation, and fitted to a double seat of
correspondently excentric form, and which contains opposite ports or openings,

page_text: which are covered and closed by the faces of the valve whenever the valve bears
upon its seat; such valve when used in a steam engine or other apparatus,
in which there is pressure of steam or other fluid, being subject when closed to
just sufficient pressure to keep it tight, but being perfectly balanced as soon
as it commences to open, and working entirely without friction between its face
and seat. This construction of valve may be employed for the induction or
eduction valves of steam engines, and may also be used as a throttle or stop
valve, or as a substitute for a cock, in many cases.
The second part of the Invention consists in certain improved mechanism
intended to be employed in combination with two induction valves, constructed
and applied according to the first part of the Invention, or with two induc-
tion valves of any other suitable construction to admit steam to opposite ends
of the cylinder of a steam engine, for the purpose of effecting the induction of
the steam with such amount of "lead" as may be desired, and of liberating
the valve to permit them to be closed quickly by a spring or weight, to cut off
the steam from the cylinder at any required point in the stroke of the piston
under the control of a governor, or of suitable means of adjustment at the
command of the engineer.
The third part of the Invention consists in certain improved mechanism
intended to be employed in combination with two eduction valves constructed
and applied according to the first part of the Invention, or with two eduction
valves of other construction capable of being operated by an oscillating or
rocking stem or rock shaft, whereby such valves are made to open quickly at
the commencement of the stroke of the piston of the engine, and to remain
wide open during nearly the whole stroke, but to close so gradually as to pre-
vent slamming, when valves of such construction as to be liable to slam in
their seats are used.
I would remark that the mechanism for working valves may be applied not
only for working the valves, above referred to, but other constructions of
valves, which require to be actuated by motions analogous to those of the
improved valves above mentioned.
The peculiar features of novelty sought to be protected by Letters Patent
are, 1st, oscillating valves constructed with transverse openings right through
them, and with two excentric faces fitted to a double seat of corresponding
excentric form, and which seat contains opposite ports or openings that are
covered and closed by the faces of the said valve whenever the valve is in
contact with the said seat. 2nd, the adaptation of a reciprocating rod to work
the stems or shafts of the induction valves by means of dogs attached to the
said stems or shafts, and also the use of catch bars or their equivalents attached

page_text: to the reciprocating rod. The catch bars or their equivalents are so constructed
and applied to the reciprocating rod, and so controlled as to liberate the dogs
during the stroke of the engine by a positive movement away from the dogs
and transverse to the movement of the reciprocating rod. Also the controlling
of the liberation of the catch bars by means of blocks or their equivalents
applied to slide on the reciprocating rod, from which the valves derive their
opening movement. Also providing for the variation of the lead of the induc-
tion valves by constructing the catch bars attached to the reciprocating rod
with adjusting screws at their ends, so as to be capable of being lengthened or
shortened, as required. 3rd, the combination of a reciprocating rod with the
stems or shafts of the eduction valves by means of arms provided with wrist
pins; these arms are mounted on the stems or shafts of the valves, and the
wrist pins work in slotted links, which are jointed or attached to the recipro-
cating rod, so that as the rod reciprocates the slotted links will act on the wrist
pins and arms and thereby operate the valves.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th November 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign
did, for Herself, Iler heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND VALVE GEAR FOR THE INDUCTION AND
EDUCTION OF STEAM TO AND FROM THE CYLINDERS OF STEAM ENGINES, PART OF WHICH
IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," being a communication from abroad, upon
the condition (amongst others), that I, the said William Edward Newton, by

page_text: an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the samo
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 I, the said William Edward Newton, 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The first part of this Invention consists in a valve of the oscillating kind,
constructed, as herein-after described, with an opening extending transversely
through it, and with two opposite faces excentric to its axis of oscillation, and
fitted to a double seat of correspondingly excentric form, and which contains
opposite ports or openings, which are covered and closed by the faces of the
valve whenever the valve bears upon its seat. This valve when used in a
steam engine or other apparatus (in which there is pressure of steam or other
fluid) is subject when closed to just sufficient pressure to keep it tight, but the
pressure is perfectly balanced as soon as the valve commences to open, and it
works entirely without friction between its face and seat. This construction of
valve may be employed for the induction or eduction valves of steam engines,
and may also be used as a throttle or stop valve, or as a substitute for a cock
in many cases.
This part of the Invention is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accom-
panying Drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents a transverse section of the valve
and its seat; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view of the valve; and Fig. 3 exhibits a
central longitudinal section of the cylinder of a steam engine, shewing the
manner of applying a set of such valves for induction and eduction. A
(Figures 1 and 2) is the valve, composed of two excentric segments, which
may be united at one end, as shown, or at both ends, and which may be pro-
vided with a journal; at one end, as shewn, or at both ends, to work in a
suitable bearing or bearings in the end or ends of the valve box, or in the side
or sides of the steam chest, which contains the valve seat. The faces a, a, of
the two segments are described from two different centres b, b, Fig. 1, which
are equidistant from, but on opposite sides of the centre of oscillation c of the
valve, and their excentricty to the centre c is made apparent in Fig. 1 by the
representation of the red circle, which is concentric with the centre c; d, d, is
the opening through the valve, extending nearly from one end to the other
between the two excentric seguients. The valve so constructed may have its

page_text: sides parallel with its axis, or be made of taper form. The seat for this valve
has two faces e, e, (sec Figures 1 and 3,) which correspond in form with the
faces a, a, of the valve, so that the valve may fit steam tight therein, and in
each seat there is a port f. It is proposed generally to make the seat in a
box, which can be inserted within the steam chest or other place where the
valve is to be used, and it may be removed therefrom with facility. In
applying these improved valves to a steam engine, a set of four is necessary, viz'.
two for induction and two for eduction; the induction valves being arranged
on one side and the eduction valves on the opposite side of the cylinder, as
shown in Fig. 3, where A, A, represent the induction and A', A', the eduction
valves. The valve boxes B, B, which contain the induction valves, have a
somewhat different arrangement of passages in connection with their ports f,f,
from the arrangement in the hoxes B', B', which contain the eduction valves;
but these arrangements of passages need no particular description, as it will be
obvious to the engineer that the arrangement may be varied almost indefinitely.
The direction in which the steam passes through the valves, ports, and passages
is indicated in Fig. 3 by arrows.
It will be readily understood by reference to the dotted outline of the valve
in Fig. 1, representing it open, and by reference to the left-hand induction and
the right-hand eduction valves in Fig. 3, that as soon as the valve is opened in
the slightest degree it is entirely surrounded by steam, and is therefore per-
fectly balanced. It will also be understood by a comparison of the bold outline
and the dotted outline of the valve in Fig. 1, that as the valve opens, its faces
leave the scat, and it is only while the valve is closed that it touches the seat,
and hence it works without any friction but that of its journal or journals.
which is inconsiderable, and without any wear of its faces. And it will be
understood by reference to the bold outline of the valve in Fig. 1 and to the
left-hand induction valve and right-hand eduction valve in Figure 3, which are
closed, that the pressure of the steam on the excess of surface presented by
the sides g, 9, of the segments of the valves will tend to keep the valve closed
tightly. This excess of surface is, however, so slight that the pressure upon
it causes comparatively little resistance to the opening of the valves.
This valve, it might be observed, bears some resemblance to two well-known
kinds of valve, viz, the butterfly valve and the rolling valve, but yet differs
essentially from both. It resembles the butterfly valve in its having two
excentric faces, but differs from it in having one opening right through it
between its faces, and in having its ports opening into the faces of its seat, so
that they are closed by being covered by its own face; and further, in its not
baving a spindle subject to lateral pressure. In its construction it resembles

page_text: some of the rolling valves in all essential points but in the excentricity of its
own faces and those of its seat; and this point of difference changes entirely
the character of its operation, for it is not only kept tight by the pressure to
which it is subjected when closed, but is free of its seat as soon as it com-
mences to open, while those other valves remain as closely in contact with
their seats during their whole or nearly their whole movement, as they do
when perfectly closed, and if they fit properly are subject to friction.
The second part of the Invention consists in certain improved mechanism
intended to be employed in combination with two induction valves constructed
and applied according to the first part of the Invention, and shewn in Fig. 3,
and herein-before described; or, with two induction valves of any other
suitable construction to admit steam to opposite ends of the cylinder of a steam
engine for the purpose of effecting the induction of the steam with such amount
of "lead" as may be desired, and of liberating the valve to permit them to be
closed quickly by a spring or weight to cut off the steam from the cylinder at
any required point in the stroke of the piston under the control of a governor,
or of suitable means of adjustment at the command of the engineer.
This part of the Invention is shewn in Figures 4 and 5; Fig. 4 is a side
view of the cylinder and working parts of a horizontal steam engine, having
a system of valves like that represented in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan of the
same.
The cylinder E of the engine is furnished with a square casing. The steam
pipe E admits steam to both of the two steam chests A, A'; a, a', are the
stems or shafts of two oscillating or rolling induction valves, fitted to ports in
the two steam chests A, A¹, at opposite ends of the cylinder E; one of the
valves effects the induction of steam to one end, and the other to the other
end of the cylinder. Each of the stems or shafts a, a', has secured to it,
outside of its steam chest, a plate B or B', having a boss d on its outer face,
and these plates are connected by links b, b', with opposite ends of a strong
spring C, which is held by a bracket D secured to the cylinder E, so applied
as to exert a constant tendency to turn each plate in the direction indicated
by an arrow upon it in Fig. 4, so as to close its respective valve, and oach
valve, if not of such construction as to be prevented from moving in the direc-
tion in which it closes further than is necessary to close it, must have a stop
applied to prevent such further movement. Each of the plates B, B', has
attached to it, outside of its boss d, a lever-like dog F or F¹, which is capable
of swinging freely on the pin e by which it is attached, and each of these dogs
has applied to it a spring f which is attached to the boss d of its respective
plate B or B', and which acts upon it in such a manner as to press the upper

page_text: end of it toward the boss, and through the lower end out therefrom. The dogs
are applied on the sides of the bosses of the two plates B, B. which are
opposite each other, and are arranged in such a manner that when pressure
is applied to the toes 7, 9, of the dogs, in such a manner as to force the
other ends of the dogs into contact with their bosses d, d, it tends to turn
the plates in the opposite direction to that in which the spring C tends to turn
them, and hence to open the valve. G is a rod arranged below the plates
B, B', parallel with the piston rod II of the engine, and with a plane passing
through the axes of both stems or shafts a, a, in guides I, I, in which it is
fitted to slide longitudinally. This rod derives a reciprocating rectilinear
motion from a wrist i carried by the crank shaft K of the engine, by its being
connected with the wrist by means of a connecting rod J, the wrist being so
arranged relatively to the crank pin Q as to give the rod G the lead of the
piston, (that is to say,) to cause it to commence its stroke in either direction
before the commencement of the stroke of the piston in that direction. L is a
block firmly secured to the rod G, and having attached to it by two pins j, j,
above the rod, one end of each of two similar bars M, M', each of which is
supported at some distance from its other end on one of two rollers k, k³, each
of which rollers is fitted to one of two blocks N, N'. These blocks N, N',
are fitted to slide upon the rod G, and are connected by two rods O, O', ono
for each, with opposite arms of a lever P, which is arranged to work on a
stationary fulcrum 1, for the purpose of adjusting the position of the blocks
N, N'. The two bars M, M', which may be termed catch bars, are free to
work vertically, or in a plane parallel with the face of the plates B, B', on the
pins j, j, and are straight, with the exception that each has a recess m, n, in its
upper side, and has, some distance further from its pin j, a step p on its under
side. The bars M, M', move along with the rod G, and in such movement
work between the plates B, B, and upright guide pins 9, 7, which are secured
in the guides I, I.
The operation of this cut-off' gear is as follows:-Shortly before the stroke
of the piston towards the left hand of Fig. 4 terminates, the rod G commences
moving in the opposite direction, carrying with it the catch bars M, M', the
toc g of the dog F being at the time in the recess m, n, of the bar M,
and just as the stroke of the piston terminates, or is about terminating, the
end n of the recess m, n, comes into action on the toe 9 of the aforesaid dog,
and, as the movement of the rod G continues, turns the plate B in the opposite
direction to that indicated by the arrow shown on it in Fig. 4, thus opening
the valve to admit steam to drive the piston to the right. The valve is
caused to remain open after the recess m, n, passes out of the way of the

page_text: dog F, for, after the end n of the recess leaves the toe g, the latter rests on
the top of the bar, and continues to do so till, in the continued movement of the
bar M with the rod, the step p of the bar M passes over the roller k, aud lets
the bar drop far enough to clear the toc of the dog, and so leaves the plate B
entirely under the influence of the spring C, which instantly acts upon the
plate to close the valve. In this movement of the rod G the bar M pushes
the dog F out of its way, till the recess m, n, of the bar M arrives under the
dog F¹, when the toe of the latter drops into the recess to be ready to be
acted upon by the end n thereof, during the movement of the rod G in the
opposite direction, which commences just before the stroke of the piston, and in
which movement the dog F and plate B are operated upon by the bar M' and
spring C, under the control of the roller k, in the same manner as the dog F
and plate B were operated upon by the bar M and spring C, under the control
of the roller k, the dog F being in the meantime moved out of the way of the
bar M by the bar itself, till the dog F drops into the recess m, n, of the bar, to
be ready for the movement of the rod G to the right again. The liberation of
the dogs F, F, from their respective bars M, M', to permit the closing of the
valves, and cutting off of the steam is made to take place earlier in the stroke
of the piston, by moving the lever P to set the roller blocks N' further apart
and later in the stroke, by moving the same lever so as to bring the blocks N'
nearer together, and by providing for a proper range of these blocks N, N¹, the
cut off may be effected at any point in the stroke, or steam may be cut off
altogether, or admitted through the whole stroke of the piston. The lever P
may be connected with a governor to regulate the engine by the cut off, or it
may be adjusted by the engineer to cut off at a fixed point in the stroke of the
piston. To provide for the variation of the lead of the valves the catch bars
M, M', are made each in two pieces, connected together near the joint
pins j,j, by double nuts 1, 2, fitting to a right hand screw on one piece, and
a left hand screw on the other, which enables the bars to be shortened and
lengthened, at pleasure, by turning the nuts r, r. By setting the wrist i to
give the rod I the greatest amount of lead that may be desired, and adjusting
the length of the bars M, M', so that the ends n of their recesses m, n, come
into action on their respective dogs F, F', sooner or later after the commence-
ment of the movement of the rod, the lead may be made more or less, as
desired, the less motion between n, n, and the dogs, the greater the lead, and
vico versa. This induction and cut-off gear may be made applicable in con-
nection with slide, puppet, or other induction valves, by a proper connection
of such valves with two shafts arranged like a, a', without any change of the
mechanism represented and described.

page_text: The third part of the Invention consists in certain improved mechanism
intended to be employed in combination with two eduction valves constructed
and applied to a steam engine, as shown in Fig. 3, or with two eduction valves
of other construction capable of being operated by an oscillating or rocking
stem or rock shaft, whereby such valves are made to open quickly at the com-
mencement of the stroke of the piston of the engine, and to remain wide open
during nearly the whole stroke, but to close so gradually as to prevent
slamming, when valves of such construction as to be liable to slam in their
seats are used.
This part of the Invention is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and in Fig. 6,
the latter of which represents only the ends of the eduction valve stems or
shafts, and the mechanism from which the movements of the stems or shafts
are derived.
s and are the stems or shafts of two oscillating eduction
valves fitted to ports in chests at opposite ends of the steam cylinder E.
These stems or shafts are parallel with each other, and have secured to them
arms R, R', furnished with wrists t, t', one arm and one wrist on each stem
or shaft. The valves and their seats are so constructed that the former will
be opened and closed with a small amount of movement, say about one-
twelfth of a revolution of the stems or shafts in either direction. S is a rod
arranged above the arms R, R', parallel with the piston rod II of the engine,
and with a plane passing through the axes of the two valve stems or shafts 8, 8',
in fixed guides T, T, in which it is fitted to slide longitudinally. This rod
derives a reciprocating rectilinear motion from its connection by a rod U with
a wrist u carried by the crank shaft K of the engine, such wrist being so
arranged relatively to the crank V, as to be about forty-five degrees behind
the main crank pin Q in its revolution. To this rod there are secured two
collars W, W, to which there are connected one to each by pin joints v, v², two
slotted links X, X', whose slots a, a, receive within them the wrists t, t'.
The two valves are arranged to open and close by movements in opposite
directions, as will be understood by reference to Figures 4 and 6, where
arrows are shown near the stems or shafts s, s', to indicate the direction in
which they move to close the valves, and the arms R, R', are so arranged
upon the stems that they have an inclination away from each other, each one
having when closed an upward inclination from its shaft at an angle of about
twenty degrees to the rod S, as illustrated by the position of the arm R',
represented in black in Fig. 6, and by the position of the arm R represented
in red in the same Figure. The distance between the joints v, v', of the two
links X, X', is so much less than that between the valve stems or shafts s, s',

page_text: that each of the joints v, v, just arrives directly over its respective valve, stem,
or shaft at the termination of its stroke.
The operation of this eduction gear is as follows:-As the piston arrives
near either end of the cylinder, the wrist tor of the open valve at that end
is struck by the upper end of the slot in its respective link X or X', and is
moved in a direction to close the valve, and a little later either before or at
the termination of the stroke of the piston the lower end of the slot of the
other link X' or X meets the wrists t' or t of the closed valve at the other
end of the cylinder, and moves it in a direction to open the valve. The
movement of both valves terminates with the stroke of the rod S, one having
been closed and the other having been opened wide, and both having been
moved the same distance, though the closing valve first commenced to move.
The peculiar character of the movement will be understood by reference to
Fig. 6, where the black outlines represent the condition of the mechanism
when the piston rod has very nearly terminated its stroke to the left, the
rod S moving in that direction, and having just brought the upper end of the
slot of the link X into contact with the wrist t. The valve belonging
to the wrist t is now closed and the other one open, but the continued move-
ment of the rod S in the same direction causes the arm I to move toward
the position shown in red and its respective valve to close slowly, and with a
diminishing velocity till perfectly shut, and the same movement when that
valve is nearly closed brings the lower end of the slot a¹ of the link X' into
contact with the wrist t', and cause the valve belonging to that wrist to open
quickly. The red outlines represent the position of the parts at the termi-
nation of the stroke of the rod S. The reason why the closing valve is moved
slowly and the opening one quickly is, that the link which effects the closing
movement is approaching a position at right angles to the rod S, and hence a
considerable movement of the rod is necessary to effect a slight longitudinal
movement of the link, but the link which effects the opening movement is
approaching a position parallel with the rod S, and its longitudinal movement
is nearly equal to that of the rod. In the return stroke of the rod the
slots,, pass along the wrists t, t, without moving the valves till the stroke
of the piston is again nearly completed, when the operation of the links is on
the wrists and valves precisely reversed, the link X' acting upon the wrist t¹ in
the same manner as X has been described as acting upon t, and the link X
acting upon in the same manner as X has been described as acting
upon t¹.
This eduction valve gear may be applied in combination with slide puppet

page_text: or other valves without any change of the mechanism represented, by making
suitable connections between such valves and two rocking stems or shafts
arranged like 8, s³. To provide for giving such a degree of lead to the eduction
valves as may be desirable, the links X, X' are made each in two pieces con-
nected by right and left hand screw threads and double nuts y, y', to lengthen
and shorten them. The lead is increased by shortening the links, and dimi-
nished by lengthening them.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to me as
aforesaid, I claim the mode herein set forth of constructing and adapting
oscillating valves. I also claim the mode herein set forth of working the
stems or shafts of valves, and of controlling the action of the valves, and of
providing for the variation of the lead of induction valves.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)