Air Engines, and Apparatus for Actuating the same.
Year: 1884

page_text: Air Engines, and Apparatus for Actuating the same.
WILLIAM FREAKLEY, Engineer, Longport, Staff, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for AN IMPROVED COMPOUND EXPANSIVE SLIDE VALVE FOR
STEAM OR AIR ENGINES AND APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING THE SAME to be as
follows:-
My invention consists of a Slide Valve for Steam or Air Engines, in which the
whole of the conditions of the Supply cut off Expansion or exhaustion of the
Steam or Air from such steam or Air engines, shall be fulfilled by the motion of
a single valve rod, or spindle, or by one eccentric or its equivalent. The period, if
cut off being however variable without affecting the periods of supply and
exhaustion. The variation being caused either by the governor, or it may be
regulated by hand. In order to accomplish this object, I so make the slide valve,
as to perform the functions of an ordinary slide valve, as regards the surface which
slides immediately over the steam parts of cylinder, while at the same time, I so
form the back of the valve, so as to allow of one or more cut off valves or plates
working upon it. Suitable faces or seats being provided for the purpose. The
motion of the said cut off valves or plates is transverse with that of first or main •
valve, through which suitable parts or passages are formed. The valve spindle or
rod passes through the main valve in the usual way, but is free to revolve in the
said valve, and also in the stuffing boxes through which it works. Upon said valvo
spindle or rod, I fix securely one or more levers, which are so formed, as to work
into slots or Grooves, formed in the before named cut off valves or plates in such
manner, that if the valve spindle or rod be turned through a segment of a circle,
the arc described by the end of the said lever or levers, would cause the cut off
valves or plates to slide on their faces; and open or close the passages which are
formed in the main valve. The faces on which said cut off valves or plates work
are so made, that when the passages through valve are open at one end, they will
be closed at the other end, and supposing the valve spindle or rod to have a motion
imparted to. it in the direction of its length by means of an eccentric or other-
wise, the steam would be admitted and exhausted in the usual way, the steam
being cut off at a period of the stroke of Engine piston :-according to the
amount of lap on, and degree of motion of the main slide valve. If however
the valve spindle or rod be turned or moved in a circular direction, the cub

page_text: J
off valves or plates would be moved on their faces, and stop the passage of steam
through main valve, thus cutting off steam from the engine cylinder, and leaving
the rest of the stroke to be performed by expansion. That is to say, the valve
spindle may be turned either to the right or left, causing the cut off valves to
move on their faces, and open or close their respective ports, such motion being
quito independent of the reciprocatory motion of main valves, thus enabling the
steam to be cut off from the engine cylinder at any part of the pistons travel by
simply causing the valve rod or spindle to twist one way or the other, according
to the requirements of the engine. The cut off valve may in some cases, be made
of circular form, corresponding seats being bored out of main valve body, the
direction of their motion being however the same. In order to secure the circular
motion or Twist of valve spindles occuring at the proper time, I use an apparatus
constructed and operating as follows:-On a convenient part of valve spindle, I fix
a collar or boss termed an armature, having one or more spiral wings or inclined
projections formed upon it, such armature being firmly attached to spindle. On
each side of said armature, I arrange two or more sliding blocks, called "arrest
blocks: The said "arrest blocks" are so arranged, as to be able to approach
towards or recede from each other by means of a right and left hand screw, or other
suitable means. The said blocks being carried in suitable slides or grooves, formed
in a suitable frame or support. The positions of the "arrest blocks" nearest to
the before pamed armature, are formed so that their surfaces shall correspond to
the spiral or inclined surface of said armature. It will be evident therefore, that
if the "arrest blocks" be brought sufficiently near to each other, so as to cause the
wings of armature to come in contact with them, as the valve spindle moves
backward and forwards in order to operate the main valve. The wings or spiral
surfaces of armature acting on the corresponding surfaces of "arrest blocks," will
impart to the valve spindle a circular motion, and by means of the levers acting
upon the cut off plates, cause the latter to open or close the ports formed in main
valve. Thus regulating the period of cut off, and if the "arrest blocks" be so
attached to, a suitable governor, in such manner as to cause them, to approach each
other on the governor rising in consequence of the increased speed of Engine, or
to recede from each other as the governor falls, due to decreased speed of engine..
It is evident that the steam will be cut off earlier or later, according to Buctuation:
of load to be driven. It will be seen that the apparatus may in most cases be
applied to, existing engines, having the ordinary slide valve and one valve spindle,
converting them at once into economical expansive Engines, and resulting in great,
economy of fuel. The apparatus is however equally applied to new engines.
I claim as my invention, the construction of a slide valve as herein described
called a "compound expansive slide valve," in which all the functions of supply
cut off expansion or exhaustion, are performed by a single valve spindle. Said 4
. valve spindle having a circular or twist motion imparted to it, by means of an
armature secured to said spindle. Said armature having inclined surfaces or wings,
which (as the valve spindle moves end wise); come in contact with similarly formed
inclined surfaces, formed on blocks: called "arrest blocks," by means of which the
valve spindle is turned partially round, thereby operating the cut off valves on back
of main valve. The said "arrest blocks" being caused to approach each other, or
to recede from each other by means of suitable gear, which may be operated, either
by, the governor or by hand, substantially as described.

page_text: Air Engines, and Apparatus for Actuating the same.
*WILL FAM FREAKLEY, Engineer Longport, Staff do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for AN IMPROVED COMPOUND EXPANSIVE SLIDE VALVE FOR
STEAM OR AIR ENGINES & APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING SAME and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention consists of a Slide Valve for steam or Air Engines, in which the
whole of the conditions of the supply cut off expansion or exhaustion of the steam
or air from such steam or air engines shall be fulfilled by the motion of a single
valve rod or spindle, or by one eccentric or its equivalent. The period of cut off
being however variable without affecting the periods of supply and exhaustion.
The variation being caused either by the governor, or it may be regulated by hand.
In order to accomplish this object, I so make the slide valve as to perform the
functions of an ordinary slide valve, as regards the surface which slides immediately
over the steam ports of cylinder A while at the same time, I so form the back of
the valve B as to allow of one or more cut off valves or plates E working upon it:
Suitable faces or seats being provided for the purpose. The motion of the said cut
off valves or plates, is transverse with that of first or main valve: B, through which
suitable ports or passages are formed. The valve spindle or rod C passes through
the main valve in the usual way; but is free to revolve in bush J fitted in the said
valve, and also in the stuffing box F through which it works. Upon said valve
spindle or rod C, I fix securely one or more levers D, which are so formed as to
work into slots or grooves formed in the before named cut off valves or plates E,
in such manner, that if the valve spindle or rod C be turned through a segment of
a circle, the are described by the end of the said lever or levers D, would cause the
cut off valves or plates E to slide on their faces, and open or close the passages
which are formed in the main valve B. The faces on which said cut off valves or
plates E work, are so made, that when the passages through main valve are open
at one end, they will be closed at the other, and supposing the valve spindle or
rod C to have a motion imparted to it in the direction of its length by means of
an eccentric or otherwise, the steam would be admitted and exhausted in the
usual way, the steam. being cut off at a period of the stroke of engine piston
according to the amount of lap on, and degree of motion of the main valve B. If
however the valve spindle or rod C be moved in a circular direction, the cut off
valves or plates E would be moved on their faces, and stop the passage of steam
through main valvo B, thus cutting off steam from the Engine cylinder, and leaving
the rest of the stroke to be performed by expansion, that is to say, the valve
spindle C may be turned either to the right or the left, causing the cut off valves E
to move on their faces, and open or close their respective ports; such motion being
quite independent of the reciprocatory motion of main valves B, thus enabling the
steam to be cut off from the Engine cylinder at any part of the pistons travel, by
simply causing the valve rod or spindle C to twist one way or the other according

page_text: to the requirements of the Engine. The cut off valves E may in some cases be
made of circular form, corresponding seats being bored out of main valve body, the
direction of their motion being however the same. In order to secure the circular
motion or twist of valve spindle occuring at the proper time, I use an apparatus
constructed and operating as follows. On a convenient part of valve spindle C,
I fix a collar or boss G termed an armature, having one or more spiral wings or
inclined projections formed upon it, such armature being firmly attached to
spindle C.-On each side of said armature G, I arrange two or more sliding
blocks H called "arrest blocks." The said "arrest blocks' are so arranged as to
be able to approach towards or recede from each other by means of a right and
left hand screw I, or other suitable means. The said blocks H being carried in
buitable slides or grooves formed in a suitable frame or support L. The portions of
the "arrest blocks" H nearest to the before named armature G, are formed so that
their surfaces shall correspond to the spiral or inclined surface of said armaturo G.
It will be evident therefore that if the "arrest blocks" H be brought sufficiently 1
near to each other, so as cause the wings of armature G to come in contact with
then as the valve spindle C moves backward and forward, in order to operate the
main valve B. The wings or spiral surfaces, of armature G, acting on the corre-
sponding surfaces of "arrest blocks" H, will impart to the valve spindle Ca
circular motion, and by means of levers D acting upon the cut off plates E, cause
the latter to open or close the ports formed in main valve B, thus regulating the
period of cut off, and if the "arrest blocks" H be so attached to a suitable governor
in such manner, as to cause them to approach each other on the governor rising, in
consequence of the increased speed of Engine, or to recede from each other as the
governor falls, due to decreased speed of Engine. It is evident that the steam will. 2
be cut off earlier or later according to fluctuation of load to be driven. It will be
seen that the apparatus may in most cases be applied to existing engines, having
the ordinary slide valve, and one valve spindle, converting them at once into
economical expansive Engines, and resulting in great economy of fuel. The
apparatus is however equally applicable to New Engines.
I claim as my invention
3
The construction of a slide valve as herein described, called a compound
expansive slide valve," in which all the functions of supply, cut off, expansion, or
exhaustion, are performed by a single valve spindle: said valve spindle having a
circular or twist motion imparted to it by means of an armature secured to said 3
spindle said armature having inclined surfaces or wings, which as the valve
spindle moves end-wise, come in contact with similiarly formed inclined surfaces,
formed on blocks called "arrest blocks," by means of which the valve spindle is
turned partially round, thereby operating the cut off valves on back of main valve.
The said "arrest blocks" being caused to approach each other, or to recede from 4
each other by means of suitable gear, which may be operated either by the governor
or by hand, substantially as described.
BALL •