IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Cuthell, of Lancaster, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
Sealed the 27th January 1865, and dated the 29th September 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Cuthell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
.29th September 1864.
I, ALEXANDER CUTHELL, of Lancaster, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLIDE AND CUT-OFF VALVES FOR STEAM ENGINES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists of certain improvements in the mode of cutting off
steam, and which are effected in the following manner :-The ports at each
end of the slide valve are divided into several small ports, a moveable plate
having openings therein corresponding with the last-mentioned ports being
placed on the back of the valve. A lever or quadrant is attached by the outer
end thereof to the back of the plate, the other end or centre of the lever or
quadrant being fixed or made in one piece with a spindle, which is carried
through the valve box cover. A disc plate is fixed on the outer end of the
spindle, and provided with two blocks and studs placed on the face thereof,
between which is arranged a tapered piece moveable endways by the governor,

page_text: and being guided in a frame, the upper part of which passes over the centre
of the said spindle, a screw being provided to bear thereon through a slot hole
in the tapered piece. These arrangements admit of several variations and
modifications. The disc-spindle and tapered piece may be placed at the end
or side of the valve box, and moved by a spindle or rod connected to the plate
inside. The disce plate and blocks may be dispensed with, the tapered piece
only being placed in an opening through the centre of the spindle. The plate
above mentioned may be so arranged as to oscilate on a centre or spindle,
and checked by the tapered piece. A tapered piece may be placed in guides
across the inside of the valve box cover so that the plate shall come in contact
with the said tapered piece, which, by reason of the governor being attached
thereto, is moved in a direction transverse to the motion of the valve.
The last-mentioned arrangement may be applied on the outside of the valve
box, and connected to the plate inside by a rod or spindle carried through the
valve box.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Cuthell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th March 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
CUTHELL, of Lancaster, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alexander Cuthell, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander
Cuthell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Alexander Cuthell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLIDE AND CUT-OFF VALVES FOR STEAM ENGINES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Cuthell,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention; and in what manner the same

page_text: 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 Alexander Cuthell, 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is
to say:
:
My said Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction.of
the slide valves of steam engines, and whereby steam is at all times. admitted
to the piston at the same pressure as it is indicated in the .boiler, a variable
cut off being also effected, and the speed of the engine regulated, by reason.of
the governor acting on the cut-off part of the valve. The port at each end of
the valve is divided into several small ports, a moveable plate having openings
therein corresponding with the said last-mentioned ports being placed on the
back of the valve. A crank, lever, or quadrant is attached to the back of the
plate, the said crank or its equivalent (as the case may be) being fixed to or
made in one piece with a spindle, which is carried through the valve box
cover. A disc plate is fixed on the outer end of the spindle, and provided
with two swivel blocks and studs placed on the face thereof, between which is
arranged a tapered piece of metal, moveable endways by the governor, and
being guided in a frame, the upper part of which passes over the centre of the
said spindle, a screw being furnished to bear thereon through a slot hole in
the said tapered piece, or on a plate fixed on the top of the studs, such plate
being provided with an elastic bearing for the screw.
My said Invention will be more clearly, understood by reference to the
annexed Drawings.
Figure 1 represents the valve in section. A, A, A, is the slide valve; B, B,
the frame attached to the valve spindle; C is the top plate; D is the crank;
E, the packing box; F, the spindle; G, the disc plate; H, the swivel blocks,
and I, I, the tapered piece. In Figure 2, J is the crank, and K, the spindle.
Figure 3 is a plan shewing the swivel blocks at L, L. M is the tapered
piece; N, N, the guides; O, the set screw, and P, P, the plate on the top
of the blocks.
My said Invention admits of several variations and modifications being made
in the above described arrangements, without departing from the main features
or principles of my said Invention. Thus the disc, spindle, and tapered piece
may be placed at the end or side of the valve box, and moved by a spindle or
rod connected to the plate inside. The disc plate, and blocks, may be dis-

page_text: pensed with, the tapered piece only being placed in an opening through the
centre of the spindle. The plate above mentioned; may also be so arranged
as to oscilate on a centre or spindle, and to be checked by the tapered piece.
A tapered piece may be placed in: guides across the inside of the valve box
cover, so that the plate shall come in contact with the said tapered piece,
which being attached, to the governor is moved in a direction transverse to
the motion of the valve..
:
The last-mentioned arrangement-may be applied on the outside of the valve
box, and connected to the plate inside by a rod or spindle carried through the
valve box..
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that
I do not claim the several parts of the arrangements and mechanism herein;
before mentioned separate and apart from each other; but what I consider
novel and original; and therefore claim as constituting my said Invention is,
the combination and arrangement of parts and mechanism for effecting the
purposes aforesaid, as herein-before substantially set forth and described, or
any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I; the said Alexander Cuthell, have hereunto set
my-hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
ALEXANDER CUTHELL: (L.S.).