Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
I, ALFRED LINDSAY FORSTER, of the Victoria Works, Gateshead, in the
County of Durham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
-
My invention has for its object improvements in steam engines. According
thereto an aangement for effecting the distribution of steam in two cylinders of
A single-acting engine where the cylinders are placed side by side and have then
respective pistons connected to two cranks, placed diametrically opposite on the
same shaft 15 as follows:-
Assuming the engine to be a vertical one, and the valve of the piston-valve type,
the valve is made hollow, with an internal transverse partition, the space above it
being an inlet passage foi live steam and the space below the partition an exhaust
steam space
Steam enters through the upper passage in the valve which passage
at its lower part has a circumferential port As the valve moves up and down in
the casing, the live steam is admitted aliciuately to the two top cylinder ports,
which are placed one a suitable distance above the other and cach carried all
ound the casing.
The formation of the valve above and below its cncumferential port is such that
the exhaust will take place alternately from the two cylinder ports one exhausting
into a space outside the valve smrounding that portion of it which contains the
upper or live steam passage, the other exhausting direct into the lower space or
exhaust passage
A suitable passage conducts the exhaust steam from the space
around the upper portion of the valve to the lower space or exhaust passage, the
upper part of the valve constituting a trunk that works steam-tight through the
cover of the side exhaust-passage. To convey the exhaust steam from around
the upper part of the valve to the lower space within the valve-casing, a poit may
be formed through the valve itsolf.
In a non-condensing engine, the two lower cylinder ports are arranged between
the lower ends of the cylinders and the valve casing so that the exhaust stenin 18
free to pass to the lower sides of the pistous as well as the exhaust pipe.
In a condensing engine, the communication with the exhaust pipe or passage is
intercepted by a valve, so arranged that exhaust steam from the low space 18
admitted to the spaces in the cylinders under the pistons on the upward strokes,
and is only finally exhausted to the condenser on the downward strokes, thus
ensuing that the vacuum shall uevor take effect above the pistone. Such au
intercepting valve may be applied to non-condensing engines if desired
The distribution of steam herenbefore described, may obviously be similarly
effected in a horizontal engine, the words "upper” and “lower" being understood
to distinguish the opposite ends of the respective parts.
Although I have described the nature of the foregoing part of my invention with
especial reference to a valve or valves of the piston type; by suitably arranging
the ports and passages the distribution may be effected according to my invention
by means of a valve or valves of the flat side pattern.
"
In an engine of the "closed in type, arrange a pump to draw oil from the
crank pit or other suitable receptacle, and deliver it through pipes to the working
parts of the engine, which parts I enclose in a casing fitted with suitable doors so
J

page_text: that the oil cannot splash about, but is led back to the receptacle from which it is
again drawn by the pump for further use, the operation being continuous and the
same oil being used repeatedly.
A controlling device is or may be inserted in the system whereby the supply of
oil can be readily stopped and the casing opened while the engine is running, without
excessive splashing of oil, as the working parts themselves do not dip into the oil.
This controlling gear may be so arranged as to prevent the casing doors being
opened until the supply of oil is stopped.
I, ALFRED LINDSAY FORSTER, of the Victoria Works, Gateshead, in the
County of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement
-
My invention has for its object improvements in steam engines. According
thereto an arrangement for effecting the distribution of steam in two cylinders of a
single-acting engine, wherein the cylinders are placed side by side and have their
respective pistons connected to two cranks placed diametrically opposite on the
same shaft, is as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in connection with the
two intermediate pressure cylinders and also with the two low-pressure cylinders
of a vertical triple expansion single acting condensing engine,
Fig. 1 showing, in part, a central vertical section thereof,
Fig. 2 a vertical section at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3 a horizontal section through the low pressure cylinders and valve chest.
I will first describe my invention in connection with the distribution of steam in
the two low pressure cylinders of the engine.
1 is the distributing valve of the pau of low pressure cylinders 2 and 3. It is
made hollow, with an internal transverse partition 4, the space 5 above it being an
inlet passage for working steam, in the present example that exhausting from the
pan of intermediate pressure cylinders 2ª, 3* above, and the space 6 below the
partition an exhaust steam space Steam enters through the upper passage 5 in
the valve, which passage at its lower part has a circumferential port 7 As the
valve moves up and down in the casing 8, which is fitted with a liner, the working
steam is admitted alternately to the two top cylinder ports 9 and 10 of the cylinders 2
and 3 respectively, these poris being placed one a suitable distance above the other
and each carried all round the casing 8. As will be seen from the drawing, the
formation of the valve 1 above and below its circumferential port 7 18 such that the
exhaust will take place alternately from the two cylinder puits 9 and 10, one,
oz. 9, exhausting into a space 11 outside the valve and surrounding that portion
of it which contains the upper or live steam passage 5; the other-us. 10, exhausting
direct into the lower space or exhaust passage 6 A suitable passage 12 in the
valve casing 8, (see Fig. 2) seives to conduct the exhaust steam Tom the space 11
around the upper portion of the valve to the lower space or exhaust passage 6, the
upper part of the valve constituting a trunk that works stoain-tight through the
cover of the exhaust-passage 12. Or ustead of the passage 12 in the casing
the exhaust steam may be conveyed from around the upper part 11 of the valve to
the lower space 6 within the valve-casing by one or more ports 13" formed through the

page_text: valve itself, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, of which Fig. 4 18 a vertical section of the
valve, and Fig. 5 a section on the line X Y Z of Fig. 4.
A similar construction and arrangement of cylinder passages, ports and distributing
valve is shown in connection with the adjacent pan of intermediate pressure
cylinders 2 3, where like parts are indicated by like referenco figures but with
the addition of the index letter a.
The two lower cylinder ports of the pan of cylinders in the case of a simple
engine or of each pan of cylinders in the case of a multiple expansion engine, are,
as shown at 14 and 15, arranged to communicate with the valve casing below the
valve so that exhaust steam can pass from the upper to the lower sides of the
pistons, as well as to the exhaust pipe.
In a condensing engine, the communication between the valve casing and the
two lower ports of the pan of cylinders in the case of a simple engine, or of the
last pan of cylinders in the case of a multiple expansion engine, is as shown in
connection with the pair of low pressure cylinders 2 and 3, controlled by an
intercepting valve 16 so that exhaust steam from the lower space 6 is admitted
over the ends of the valve 16 to the lower cylinder ports 17 and 18 and spaces in
the cylinders 2 and 3 under the pistons on the upward atrokes, and is only finally
exhausted into the condenser through a space 19 outside the valve 16 and an
exhaust passage 20, on the downward strokes, thus ensuring that the vacuum shall
never take effect above the pistons. Such an intercepting valve may, if desired, be-
used in connection with the pair of cylinders of a simple uon-condensing engine, or
of the last pan of cylinders of a multiple expansion non-condensing engine, but its
use is essential to the working of a condensing engine.
I will non describe the operation of the triple expansion engine shown in Figs |
and 2, premising that the distributing valve 21 of the adjacent pair of high pressure
cylinders 2, 3b is a hollow valve of piston type supplying steam alternately to the
upper ports 22 and 23 of the two cylinders from aunular stonin spaces 24 and 25 m
the valve and valve case respectively and exhausting over its ends, into the space 26
which is in communication with the two lower ports 27 and 28 of the said cylinders,
nud with the steam apace 5" of the distributing valve 1 of the pair of intermediate
pressure cylinders 2ª, 3* below. The pistons on the left-hand side of the engine
are shown at the top of their strokes those on the right-hand side of the engine
being at the bottom of their strokes, the valves being shown in the corresponding
positions .e., just opening the ports of the left-hand cylinders to the incoming steam.
With the parts in this position, live steam is admitted from the inlet branch 29
(Fig. 2) through the steam spaces 24 and 25 and port 22 to the top of the left hand
high pressine cylinder 2, while bigh pressure steam that has done duty in the right-
band high pressure cylinder passes from the top of this cylinder through the port 23
10to the space 26 whence it passes partly through the passages 27 and 28 to the
lower ends of the two high-pressure cylinders and partly to the space 5* withm_the
valve 1 which allows it to pass to the top of the left-hand intermediate pressure
cylinder 2 through the ports 7 and 9. The steam that has done duty in the
Light hand intermediate pressure cylinder 3 simultaneously passes from the top of
this cylinder, through the port 10 into the space 6 whence it passes partly to the
lower ends of the cylinders 2" 3" through the passages 14, 15 and partly to the
space 5 of the valve 1 which allows it to pass by the ports 7 and 9 to the top of
the left hand low pressure cylinder 2 and the steam that has done duty in the right-
hand low pressure cylinder 3 simultaneously passes from the upper to the lower end
of this cylinder through port 10, space 6, and port 18 whilst the lower end of the
left-hand low pressine oylinder 2 is at this time in communication with the condenser
through the port 17 space 19 and port 20. The left hand pistons now make their
downstroke, under steam, and the night hand pistons, the pressures on the two
sides of which are now in equilibrium, then upstroke.
When the left-band pistons have arrived at the bottom of their stroke and the
valves have consequently been moved down, steam will exhaust from the upper
ends of the left-hand cylinder 2, 2*, and 2 respectively through the port 22 uto

page_text: the space 26; the port 9, space 11 and pasange 12 into the space 6; and the
poit 9, space 11 and passage 12 into the space 6, and steam will pass from the stenin
spaces 25, 26, and 6 to the upper onds of the cylinders 3b, 3, and 3 respectively
the pistons in which will then make their down stroke and the left hand set of
pistons their upstroke. At this time the lower end of the cylinder 2 is in communi-
cation with the space 6, whilst that of the cylinder 3 18 in communication with the
exhaust port 20 through the port 18 and space 19.
By suitably arranging the compression of the steam above the pistons on the
upward stroke, the pressure on the crank pin bearings can be maintained always in
a downward direction, thus doing away with any tendency to huuck.
The distribution of steam hereinbofore described, may obviously be similarly
effected in a horizontal engine
Although I have described the nature of the foregoing part of my invention
with especial reference to a valve or valves of the piston type, by suitably arranging
the ports and passages the distribution may be effected according to my invention
by means of a valve or valves of the flat side pattern.
Although I have described my invention in connection with pains of intermediate
and low pressure cylinders in a triple expansion engine, a valve of the construction
descubed may be applied to any pair of cylinders of a single acting engine, whether
the expansion be carried on in one, two, or more stages, provided that the cranks
to which the lines of pistons are coupled are displaced from one another by 180°.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what claim is ..
1. In a single acting steam engine, a pan of cylinders arranged side by sido with
their pistous working onto diametrically opposite cranks ou the same shaft and
having then steam distributing ports and passages arranged as set forth and
controlled by a distributing valvo constructed and operating substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the example illustrated in the drawings annexed,
whether or not an intercepting valve such as described be used for the purpose
specified.
2 The improved construction and arrangement of the cylinder passage-, ports
and distributing valves of a single acting steam engine substantially as berembefore
described.
•
Dated this 10th day of babu 190C
A LINDSAY FORSTER.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Applicant's Agent.