Improvements in Steam Pumping Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Pumping Engines.
I, WILLIAM WALLACE COREY, Jr., of Chemical Building, in the City of St. Louis,
State of Missouri, United States of America, Gentleman, 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, and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein :-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a steam pump embodying my
invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the steam-chest.
Figuro 3 is a cross-sectional view through the steam-chest, on line 3—3,
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through the steam-chest, on line 4-4,
Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the steam-chest, the mechanically-
operated slide-valve being removed.
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the mechanically-operated slide-valve.
Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the steam-thrown valve.
Figure 8 is an enlargod view showing the valves and valve-stem of the water side
of the pump:
Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of one of the plugs.
This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in steam pumps, and
consists, generally stated, in the construction of the steam-thrown valve, which is
somi-circular in cross-section; the construction of the mechanically-operated slide-
valve; the combination of the steam-chest, steam-thrown valve, and mechanically-
operated slide-valve, all of which parts having co-operating ports, whereby, the
piston in the cylinder is caused to reciprocate by a preponderance of pressure being
alternately admitted to the two ends thereof, while the mechanically-operated
slide-valve controls the admission and exhaust of the steam at the ends of the
steam-thrown valve. Other features of invention reside in the construction,
arrangement and combination of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described
and afterwards pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, A indicates a cylinder, B the piston, C the piston-rod on the
other end of which is arranged a plunger D, operating in the pump cylinder E.
F indicates valves in the water side of the pump, which are of the usual arrangement,
to control the suction and discharge of the water.
The steam-cylinder A is shown in the drawings as having separate inlet and
exhaust ports at its ends, whereby, the piston is cushioned. This, however, is
unimportant, as it is obvious that a single port could be used for the inlet and
exhaust.
G indicates a steam-chest, which is bolted, or otherwise secured to the cylinder A.
This steam-chest has port openings in its bottom, which register with the ports
in the cylinder A, the port openings in the steam-chest terminating at the semi-
circular valve-seat. H indicates a steam-thrown valve which is semi-circular in
cross-section, its upper face being flat, and on a plane with a rib g extending
upwardly alongside of the valve-seat. The object of this rib is, that should the
valve become worn in its use, that the upper half of the steam-chest could be removed,
the valve ground into its sent, so as to make a tight joint, and the rib and valve

page_text: planed off together to the same plane. In this manner it is possible to take up the
wear of the valve at the expense of very little labor and time. These ribs could be
dispensed with and the valve and casing planed off together, without departing from
the spirit of my invention.
I indicates a mechanically-operated slide-valve, which is arranged to operate upon
the upper faces of the ribs g and valve H, the central portion of said slide-valve being
reduced, or formed as a bridge, whereby, the steam being admitted into the steam-
chest above said valve, will have easy access on top of the valve H. J indicates two
plugs inserted in the ends of the steam-chest and secured in position by suitable
bolts j.
These plugs are preferably semi-circular in cross-section and of larger
diameter than the valve H, so that when said valve is being ground in its seat, its
ends may extend beyond the shoulder against which the plugs J abut, thereby,
enabling the valve H to grind an even seat the entire length of its stroke. These
plugs J, at their inner ends, are on the same plane as the ribs g and the upper face of
the valve H, and support, or help to support, the ends of the slide-valve I, which valve I
always closes the space between the plugs and the ends of the valve H. When the
ribs are being planed flush with the upper face of the valve H, these plugs are
placed in position and planed with the ribs and valve, so as to make an even surface
for the valve I.
Valve I is arranged on the end of a rod I', which is operated in any suitable manner,
from the piston-rod but preferably by means of a lever I", so that when the piston B
is at the inner ond of its cylinder, the valve I will be thrown to the outer end of the
steam-chest.
The port arangements are as follows: 1 and 2 indicate inlet and exhaust ports
respectively, leading from the hottom of the seat of valve H to the inner end
of cylinder A, and 3 and 4 indicate inlet and exhaust ports respectively, leading
from the bottom of the seat of valve H to the outer end of cylinder A. 5 indicates
an exhaust passage leading from the middle of the seat of valve H to any suitable
point. Steam is admitted into the upper part of the steam-chest through openings 6.
Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, the steam in the
steam-chest will pass beneath the slide-valve I and into chambers 7 and 8 of the
stean-thrown valve. From chamber 8 it passes through an opening which registers
with the inlet port 1 and passes down to the inner end of cylinder A. In this
view the slide-valve I has just been moved to the inner end of the chest which
opens a port 10, establishing communication between the steam-chest and the
space at the left hand side of the slide-valve, which tends to force said valve to the
right. The space at the right hand side of the valve H is exhausted through a port 11
opening into the bottom of the valve-seat a little distance within the plug J, which
port communicates with a port 12 in the bottom of plug J which terminates at
the upper face of said plug. The slide-valve being moved to the right as shown,
will register a cross-port 13 at its end with the port 12 and with a port 14 also
opening into the top of the plug, which port 14 is connected to a passage 15
extending along the side of the steam-chest and connected to the exhaust port 5,
as shown by dotted lines in Figure 5. When the valve H is thrown from its
position to the left, as shown in Figure 1, to its position to the right, its opening 9
will pass beyond the inlet port 1 and an opening 7", leading from chamber 7, will
register with inlet port 3. The exhaust port 4 will now be closed and the exhaust
port 2 will be opened and in communication with the exhaust 5. When the piston
reaches the inner end of the cylinder, the slide-valve will be moved from its position
as shown in Figure 1, to the left, which will close port 10 and ports 12 and 14, opening
port 16 which corresponds with port 10, the cross-port 17 corresponding with cross-
port 13, connecting ports 18 and 19, corresponding with ports 12 and 14, which
permits the exhaust of the left hand end of the valve H through the medium of
the passage 20 which corresponds to the passage 15. Port 21 connecting the end
of the valve chamber with the port 18, corresponds with the port 11. From the
above description, it will be seen that the construction is such that the valve will last
a long time, being capable of regrinding constantly, without detracting from its

page_text: efficiency. The slide-valve controls the position of the fluid-thrown valve, which in
turn, controls the admission and exhaust of the motive fluid to and from the cylinder
containing the pump-driving piston.
In Figure 8, I have shown an approved form of a removable valve-stem for the
valves on the water side of the pump. Heretofore, great trouble has been
experienced in the removal of this style of valve-stem in order to replace valves
or valve-seats. I have devised a valve-stem which is threaded at its outer end so
as to engage the pump casing, the inner end of the valve-stem extending down
and engaging the hub of the valve-seats, which are in line with each other. A
square shank is arranged on the outer end of the valve-stem by which it may be
turned out, as is obvious. A cap is introduced on the external threaded portion of
the stem, which not only serves to make a water-tight joint, but also acts as a jamb
nut. Mindicates the valve-stem, m the squared shank on its end, n the cap, I the
valve, p the valve-seat, p' the hub of the valve-seat, and 9 the springs for holding the
valves to their seats.
I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement and
combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those
herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle
of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination with a steam-chest formed with a concaved valve-seat, of a
semi-circular fluid-thrown valve arranged therein, and a mechanically-operated
slide-valve which engages the flat face of the fluid-thrown valve, substantially as
described.
2. The combination with a steam-chest, of a fluid-thrown valve which is semi-
circular in cross-section, plugs in the steam-chest for limiting the movement of said
valve, and a slide-valve which is mounted upon the flat faces of the fluid-thrown valve
and plugs, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a steam-chest formed with a concaved valve-seat, of a
fluid-thrown valve arranged in said seat, ono face of which is flat, and a slide-valve
which is arranged upon said flat face of the fluid-thrown valve, whereby, should the
fluid-thrown valve be worn, it can be ground into its seat, and the casing and valve
planed off to be flush with each other, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a fluid-thrown valve having three chambers, two of which
are constantly open to the live motive fluid, and the other to the exhaust, of a slide-
valve for controlling the admission and exhaust of the motive fluid to and from the
onds of said fluid-thrown valve, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a semi-circular fluid-thrown valve which is formed with
three chambers, two of which are constantly open to the live motive fluid, and the
other to the exhaust, of a slide-valve operating above the fluid-thrown valve, the ends
of said slide-valve resting upon the ends of the fluid-thrown valve, and its casing, so
as to form closed chambers at the ends of the fluid-thrown valve, substantially as
described.
6. The combination with a fluid-thrown valve, of a steam-chest in which said valve
is mounted, ports 11 and 21 in said steam-chest which lead from 'the ends of the
fluid-thrown valve-chamber, ports 15 and 20 which lead into the exhaust, plugs J,
ports 12 and 14, and 18 and 19, in said plugs, ports 10 and 16 in the plugs for
admitting live motive fluid to the ends of the fluid-thrown valve, and a slide-valve
having ports 13 and 17 for co-operating with the ports 12 and 14, and 18 and 19
respectively, said slide-valve also co-operating with the inlet ports 10 and 16,
substantially as described.
7. The combination with a steam-chest, of a semi-circular fluid-thrown valve
arranged therein, said valve being provided with three chambers, two of which are
constantly open to the live motive fluid, and the other to the exhaust, of a slide-valve

page_text: provided with cross-ports in its ends which co-operate with suitable ports to control
the exhaust from the ends of the fluid-thrown valve-chamber, and inlet ports which
open into the steam-chest and to the ends of the fluid-thrown valve-chamber, which
inlet ports are also controlled by the slide-valve, substantially as described.
8. The combination with a steam-chest formed with a concaved valve-seat, of ribs
extending along the side edges of said valve-seat, a fluid-thrown valve arranged in
said seat, one face of which is flat and flush with said ribs, and a mechanically-operated
valve co-operating with the flat face of said fluid-thrown valve, and with the upper
faces of the ribs at the ends of the chest, substantially as described.
9. The improved construction and arrangement of valve stem substantially as
described and illustrated in Fig. 8.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London,
For the Applicant.