Year: 1885

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from
Daniel Azro Woodbury of Rochester in the County of Monroe and State of New
York United States of America) and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to that class in which the valve is operated beneath a
relief plate and has for its objects; First: a more perfect balancing of the steam
pressure. Second more convenient and accurate means for adjusting the relief
plate. Third provision for forcing back the relief plate so as to give extraordinary
relief when starting the engine until the ports have acquired their normal tem-
perature with a suitable stop or guide by which the measure of relief is readily
restored to that of ordinary working when this is attained. Fourth: increasing
the area of the admission openings without interfering with the exhaust. Fifth:
the protection of the wearing surfaces of the relief plate from the attrition caused
by the action of the exhaust steam when it impinges directly upon it. Sixth: to
provide more convenient means for adjusting the position of the stuffing box and
guide to obtain and preserve the alignment of the valve rod.
I seek to attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which―
Figure 1 is an elevation of a steam chest suited to be used on the side of the
cylinder and shown with the cover and relief plate removed Figure 2 a horizontal
longitudinal section through the centre Figure 3 a transverse section through the
same Figure 4 a detail showing the manner of supporting and adjusting the relief
plate Figure 5 an elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the application of the
invention to a tropezoidal valve Figure 6 a transverse Section through the centre
of the same figures 7. 8. 9. 10. 11 12. 13 and 14 show modifications in the mechanism
by which the reliefs are operated.
In all of the figures 1 is the Cylinder 2 the Steam Chest 3 Valve 4 Relief plate
5 Wedges 6 Cross bar joining the wedges 7 Supports 8 adjusting Screw or rod

page_text: 9 adjusting wheel or lever 10 Supplemental steam openings in the valve 11 Con-
necting passages 12 Supplemental exhaust openings 13 Cylinder Steam ports
14 Exhaust post 15 D exhaust Cavity in the Valve 16 return passages for the
Supplemental exhaust 17 point at which the two exhaust currents unite 18 pro-
tection plate 19 Steam port balance recess 20 exhaust do 21 opened portion of the
Steam port 22 ditto of the Supplemental steam opening. 23 adjustable bracket
24 guide box 25 Guide 26 Valve rod 27 Stuffing box flange 28 barrel or body of
stuffing box 22 securing nut. The remaining numbers have not so general an
application and will be mentioned as the uses arise.
The Cylinder 1 is provided with the usual openings or ports but they are made
wider in the direction of the valve movement to accommodate the Supplemental
openings in the valve. The Steam Chest 2 is shewn cast in one piece with the
Cylinder but may be separate if desired. The valve 3 is provided with a central
exhaust or D Cavity two Supplemental exhaust openings 12 and two supplemental
steam openings 10, the latter being connected by the passage 11. The top or roof
of the exhaust cavity 15 is pierced by the two openings 16 leaving the protection
plate 18 between. The valve rod 26 is attached firmly and rigidly to the valve
(except in figure 5) by being screwed into one end of it.
In the position of the valve as shewn in Figures 1. 2 and 5 the Steam can enter
directly into the Cylinder port at 22 and at 22' it can enter the recess 19 thence
through the opening 10 into the Cylinder port. At the opposite end of the valve
it can enter from above and below at 21 into the opening 10 thence through the
passage or passages 11 to the corresponding opening 10 at the other end of the
valve and into the Cylinder port 13. At the same time the exhaust Steam can
escape directly from the Cylinder Steam port 13 into the exhaust cavity 15 thence
into the exhaust port 14 also through the opening 12 recess 19 and passage 16 into
the exhaust Cavity and uniting at 17 with the flow from the other side the two
currents pass on together into the exhaust port An important advantage in this
arrangement is that the flow of the exhaust Steam is in easy and natural currents
instead of being broken into eddies and Counter Currents as in those of the
ordinary construction when supplemental openings are used It will be seen that
the plate 18 effectually protects the surfaces of the relief plate except when the
two currents are of nearly equal volume when the outer one is sufficient to
counterbalance the other and the united currents flow on together into the
exhaust port.
This prevents the attrition which wears these surfaces away when the exhaust
steam impinges directly upon them-It will readily appear that by this arrange-
ment of openings and passages, four points of induction are provided and two for
eduction.
These provisions particularly for admission are especially important when the valve
is used for an automatic Cut off Engine thus performing the double functions of
distribution and cutting off; as otherwise the induction opening is very small when
cutting off at short points of the stroke. It also gives what is practically a very
quick opening and closure of valve. Even if the passages 11 are quite small they
render important aid just at the opening and closing of the ports and of the short
points of Cut off-The openings 10 are enlarged at the ends to give a larger con-
nection with the passages 11. In a tropezoidal form of valve as shewn in Figures 5
and 6 it is preferable to use but one of these passages through the thickest edge of
the valve. I am aware that Steam passages corresponding with those shewn at 10
have been used by carrying passages through or over the exhaust cavity but both
preclude the use of the supplementary exhaust openings 12 and require the use of
a thicker and heavier valve all of them important disadvantages.
In order to offer as little resistence as possible to the inflowing Steam the valve
rod is screwed into the end of the valve and is thereby rigidly attached to it.—
This necessitates the adjustment of the position of the stuffing box and guide to
obtain and preserve the alignment of the rod. To accomplish this as conveniently
ד

page_text: as possible the end of the steam chest is faced off truly and a bracket 23 bearing
the stuffing box and guide is fitted to it in such a manner as to be adjustable along
this face. The barrel or body 28 of the stuffing box extends through both the wall
of the chest and the flange of the bracket. It fits snugly in the flange but the
opening in the wall of the chest to receive it is enlarged leaving the annular
space 38 around it of sufficient size to admit of all needful adjustment. The
flange 27 is made large enough to not only cover this space but the packing ring
or gasket 33 also. The nut 29 is screwed down firmly when everything is in
position pressing the flange tightly upon the packing making a steam tight joint
and at the same time assisting the bolts 30 fig. 5 in retaining the bracket in place.
The stuffing box consisting of that portion outside of the nut 29 might be made
separate and attached to it in any suitable way. The guide box may be of any
approved form or a guide may be attached to the bracket and its counterpart be
the moving portion.
The relief plate 4 is kept from longitudinal movement by a dowel or pin set in
its edge and fitting into a slot or groove cut across the inner edge of the packing
flange of the steam chest or other convenient means It rests upon suitable bearings
in the Steam chest and pressure of the Steam upon it is sustained upon the wedges 5
which bear upon the supports 7. For convenience in fitting, these supports are
made of the same height as the thickness of the valve and worked down evenly
and truly with it.
The wedges 5 are let into recesses or rabbits in the edges of the relief plate as
shewn so that the surface bearing upon the supports may be just even with the
surface of the relief plate so as to be scraped or ground by the same operation.
The width of the wedge may be taken from that of the supports as shown in
figure 12 bringing their outer edges even with the back of the valve and working
face of the relief plate and placing them in position, furnish them with the valve
instead of with the relief plate. In this case the whole surface of the relief plate
except the recesses 19 and 20 are finished to a common plane.
In some cases it may be preferable to fit the wedges into channels or grooves
formed near the edge of the relief plate but it has the disadvantage of requiring a
wider plate.
The arrangement of the wedges longitudinally gives the relief plate support at
points as near as possible to that of its greatest load and being of uniform taper
throughout their movement effect is equally at both ends-The wedges are also
made of sufficient length to prevent any tendency to rocking or alternate depression
of the opposite ends of the relief plate as the pressure is shifted toward one end or
the other by the movement of the valve beneath. By these means the working
faces of the cylinder and relief plate are kept perfectly parallel under all circum-
stances this obviates a great defect of almost every balance valve now in use. The
wedges are also connected so as to move simultaneously and thereby both edges of
the relief plate are equally affected by their every movement.
This connecting
bar is so constructed and arranged that the valve will in part work beneath it,
giving it greater stiffness and economising room in the chest.
By these provisions the uniform bearing of the relief plate at all points is
maintained under all circumstances The wedges might be made separate and
adjusted by another wedge acting upon both at the same time or be connected by
other means so as to move simultaneously but I prefer them joined as shewn,
When the ports are thus fitted and bear evenly over the entire surface a very
slight forward movement of the wedges will bring the entire pressure or as much
of it as is desired upon them relieving the valve. The best measure of
pressure for
ordinary working is that of just enough to keep the wearing faces true and bright.
A variation of much less than a one thousandth part of an inch in the distance
between the faces of the cylinder and relief plate is sufficient to make all the
difference between a valve working tightly and yet with smoothness and ease and
one that moves with so much friction as to require very strong gearing to operate

page_text: it with safety This difference being so very slight there is danger that in starting
an engine the unequal expansion of the parts before they become heated to their
normal temperature particularly if the working faces have become a little rusty
while standing may cause the valve to stick or be so pressed as to break or
overthrow the valve gearing To avoid this means are provided affording extra-
ordinary relief, in other words for forcing the relief plate away from the valve
beyond the proper position for ordinary working with a suitable stop or guide by
which the return movement which is made at pleasure is or may be arrested when
the proper working position is regained. In the construction shewn in Figures 1
and 2 the moving force is applied through a hand wheel and screw fitting a thread
in the stuffing box and taking bold upon the cross-bar 6 of the wedges by the
collar 32 fitting into a mortice in the bar. The stop consists of the end of the
stuffing box which is screwed through the wall of the chest just far enough to give
the proper adjustment for ordinary working when the bar is in contact with it
at 35 It is secured in position and from leakage by the jam nut 29¹. It will be
readily seen that this makes an adjustable stop for convenience in obtaining the
required adjustment in the first instance and for readjustment to compensate for
the wear of the parts. The position of the parts when the wedges are at their
extreme forward position is shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 4 also in Fig. 12
where the space between the relief plate and valve is shewn at 40. In the con-
struction shewn in Fig. 5 in which most of the features of my invention are
represented as applied to a trapezoidal-valve, the movement is made by a lever
connected by the rod 8 to a single wedge arranged under the guide bar 39 which
is made with a taper to correspond with that of the wedge. The relief is obtained
by forcing the valve transversely towards the wider space between the faces of the
cylinder and relief plate. The top consists of the pin 33 placed in one of the holes
in the guide 36. Two or more rows of these holes may be provided arranged
intermediately if desired. There is also provision for adjustment by means of the
screw & jam nut 45. As it requires considerable transverse movement to obtain
any extraordinary relief the valve rod is connected to the valve in such a manner
as to permit of this without bending the rod. As shown the guide bar 39 is
restrained from longitudinal movement by the T head screw 40 but any other
approved means may be substituted. In the construction shown in Figures 7
and 8 the wedges are moved by the screw thread upon the rod fitting into a
corresponding thread in the yoke 44-The screw is rotated by means of the
lever and the stud 35º constitutes the stop which is adjustable along the slot in
the semicircular plate 34.
As shown in Figures 9. 10. 11. and 12 the force is applied by means of a lever
and rod taking hold on the cross bar of the wedges and two stops are provided, one
the pin 35¹ the other a sort of double wedge 353 placed inside of the chest having
an adjustment across it by means of the screws 41.
The points 42 on the bar form the points of contact with the wedges.
The two stops may be utilized when two points of stoppage are desired by using
the pin 35¹ for the first or intermediate point and removing it when it is desired to
reach the final stop 353-Or 35¹ may be used to hold the lever in its extreme forward
position, and even three stops may be provided to control the movement at points
where stoppage is desired-Figure 13 shows the application of a lever and sort of
toggle joint for effecting the movement and the stop 355 consists of the extreme of
the return movement-The adjustment is made by means of a screw thread upon
the rod 8 and jam nut 45¹-Figure 14 shows the application of a dial 34¹ and
indicator 35 showing when the point or points of adjustment are reached so that
the operator may arrest the movement at the proper place-The index is adjustable
around the rod 8 by means of the set screw 4-These several modes of carrying
out or applying this part of my invention are given merely as examples for I do
not confine myself to any particular construction or arrangement of parts for this
purpose as they are capable of almost infinite variations still retaining the two

page_text: essential features, that is to say of suitable mechanism for moving the wedges
forward and back, with a stop or guide by means of which the return movement
may be arrested at the proper point or points of adjustment-It would be equi-
valent and might sometimes be advantageous when two certain points of adjustment
are desired to use one stop to arrest the forward movement at the position required
for the one, and another to arrest the return movement at the proper point for the
other. For a locomotive when running with the steam shut off as upon a down
grade these features of this invention enable the relief plate to be forced entirely
away from the valve as shewn at 46 Figure 12 and by the dotted lines in Figure 4)
allowing the air to circulate freely through and around the valve and from one end
of the cylinder to the other without lifting the valve from its seat. It also
answers the same purpose in other engines when running by the momentum of the
machinery after the steam is shut off. It will be found a great convenience upon a
locomotive when used for shunting or other purposes requiring it to be often
reversed as it enables the pressure to be removed so as to permit reversing without
shutting off the steam.
This part of this invention is applicable to almost every form of balanced valve
in use; including piston, oscillating, and rotating valves.
If such a valve te enclosed in a case one half of which is mounted upon wedges
it may be relieved by operating the wedges as herein before shown and described.
If the valve be tapering or conical in form and working within a rigid case; the
relief may be obtained by applying some form of the device to give the valve itself
a longitudinal, or transverse movement. The invention is also applicable when
the relief-plate is supported upon inclined surfaces, and the adjustment obtained by
means of a movement of the plate itself upon these surfaces; by applying it in
some suitable form to the moving of the plate.
I do not claim the use of a single wedge as shown in Figure 5 for giving
ordinary relief but only the application of a single wedge to a trapezoidal valve as
embraced in the 4th 5th 6th 7th and 8th claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated
to me by my foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is
1. In a balanced side valve the combination of the valve having supplemental
openings 10 and 12 of a relief plate having recesses 19 and 20 and suitable means
of restraint from longitudinal movement; the same being arranged upon wedges
with suitable means for controlling the wedges substantially as shown and
described.
2. The combination with a valve and relief plate supported upon wedges of the
cross bar by means of which the wedges are moved simultaneously the whole being
constructed and operating substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination with a valve and relief plate supported upon wedges, of
wedges so arranged that one of their bearing edges will be upon the same plane as
the back of the valve and working face of the relief plate substantially as shewn
and described and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination with a valve and a relief plate arranged upon wedges of
mechanism by means of which in its forward movement the relief plate is forced
away from the valve to any desired distance with a stop or guide for arresting the
return movement when the proper point of adjustment for ordinary working is
reached substantially as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination with a valve and a relief plate arranged upon wedges with
means for giving the wedges a forward and return movement and a stop or guide
for arresting the return movement substantially as set forth of a stop or guide made
adjustable to compensate for the wear of the parts substantially as described.
6. In a valve the combination with the supplemental steam openings 10 of the
connecting passage or passages 11 substantially as set forth.

page_text: 7. In a valve having supplemental exhaust openings 12 and operated under a
relief plate having recesses 19 the passages 16 and protection plate 18 substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
8. The combination with a valve having the rod or spindle rigidly attached to
it of an adjustable stuffing box constructed and operating substantially as shown
and described.
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