IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE GEAR FOR STEAM ENGINES AND WINDING, STEERING, CYLINDERS " AND OTHER FOR STEAM HOISTING, HAULING, APPARATUS HAVING TWO OR MORE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Paul, of Dumbarton in the County of Dum-
barton, North Britain, Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VALVE GEAR FOR STEAM ENGINES AND
WINDING, STEERING,
CYLINDERS
"
AND OTHER
FOR STEAM HOISTING, HAULING,
APPARATUS HAVING TWO OR MORE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Paul at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th October 1883.
ANDREW PAUL, of Dumbarton in the County of Dumbarton, North Britain,
Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALlve gear for stEAM ENGINES AND FOR STEAM
HOISTING, HAULING, WINDING, STEERING, AND OTHER APPARATUS HAVING TWO OR
MORE CYLINDERS
"
This Invention has for its object to simplify and otherwise improve the valvo
gear of steam engines having two or more cylinders, and is also advantageously
applicable to hoisting, hauling, winding, steering, and other apparatus in which the
motive power is supplied by means of two or more steain cylinders.
In carrying out the Invention in the case of an engine or apparatus having two
steam cylinders a single eccentric on the crank shaft or on a counter shaft is
arranged to work the valves of both cylinders, and this eccentric is made inovable
on the shaft for the purpose of reversing the engine or of altering the cut-off. Any
suitable arrangement or construction of the eccentric and the devices for moving it
on the shaft may be adopted, but preference is given to those described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to the present applicant and dated 19. April
1883. (N° 1975.)
The present improvements are specially designed for application to combinations
of cylinders which act on separate cranks. The single eccentric is, by preference so
placed on the shaft as to act in as direct a manner as possible, and in the ordinary
way, upon the valve of one of the cylinders; and for working the valve of the
other cylinder thero is provided a rocking shaft having on one part of it a lever
suitably placed for being connected to the valve rod, and on another part opposite
to the eccentric, there is a lever connected by a link to the strap or outer ring of
the eccentric, at a point situated relativoly to the point of attachment of the rod
working the first valve, so as to correspond with the angle between the two
cranks
፡
In an arrangement of inverted cylinder launch engines or engines for driving
a screw propeller, the valve casing of one cylinder is placed at the end of the
engines and directly over the crank shaft and the eccentric is placed directly

page_text: beneath and connected directly to the valve rod. The valve casing of the other
cylinder is placed at the side of the engines and the valve rod is connected to a
lever on one end of a rocking shaft placed parallel to the crank shaft but at a
somewhat higher level, and a lever on the other end of the rocking shaft is
connected by a link to the side of the strap or ring of the eccentric. The cranks
are at right angles; and whilst the eccentric gives a vertical motion to the valve
directly over it, it gives a horizontal (or approximately horizontal) motion to the
end of the lever on the rocking shaft, this horizontal motion being however
converted into a vertical motion in its transmission to the other valve, and the
result being that the motions of the valves are properly adapted to the relative
positions of the cranks.
In an arrangement of steam winch with the improved valve gear the cylinders
are placed horizontally or nearly so at opposite ends of the bed plate with their
valve casings on their inner sides. The eccentric is placed in line with one valve
casing and connected directly to the valve rod, whilst a suitable part of the strap
or ring is connected by a link to a lever on one end of a rocking shaft which extends
towards the other end of the bed plate and has on its other end a lever connected
to the valve rod of the other cylinder.
In an arrangement of steam crane with the improved valve gear the cylinders
are placed vertically at opposite sides of the framing with their valve casings on
their inner sides and the eccentric, the rocking shaft and the connections are
placed relatively to the cylinders in the same positions as in the case of the
winch.
In steering engines with two cylinders, when the cylinders are placed apart the
valve gear may be arranged relatively to them as in the winch or crane, and can
be adapted with slight modifications to other arrangements of the cylinders.
When three cylinders are combined as in some steam engines for driving the
screw propeller, the valve of one cylinder will be actuated directly from the single
movable eccentric, and the valves of the other two cylinders will be actuated
through separate rocking shafts, which may conveniently be on opposite sides of
the cylinders when these are placed vertically. The points of the eccentric strap
or ring to which the links of the rocking-shaft levers are jointed may, conveniently,
be each 60 degrees of the circle from the point of the directly acting rod, instead of
120) degrees.
In any of the arrangements herein before described the valve said to be directly
connected to the strap or ring of the eccentric may be actuated through a rocking
shaft if considered more convenient in any case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Andrew Paul in the Patent Office on the 24th April 1884.
ANDREW PAUL, of Dumbarton in the County of Dumbarton, North Britain,
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE GEAR FOR STEAM ENGINES AND FOR STEAM
HOISTING, HAULING, WINDING, STEERING, AND OTHER APPARATUS HAVING TWO OR
MORE CYLINDERS
"
My said Invention has for its object to simplify and otherwise improve the valve
gear of steam engines having two or more cylinders, and is also advantageously 4

page_text: applicable to hoisting, hauling, winding steering, and other apparatus in which the
motive power is supplied by means of two or more steam cylinders.
In carrying out my Invention in the case of an engine or apparatus having two
steam cylinders, a single eccentric on the crank shaft or on a counter shaft, is
arranged to work the valves of both cylinders, and this eccentric is made movable
on the shaft for the purpose of reversing the engine or of altering the cut-off. Any
suitable arrangement or construction of the eccentric and the devices for moving it
on the shaft may be adopted, but I prefer to employ those described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and dated 19 April 1883 (N° 1975).
My present improvements are specially designed for application to combinations
of cylinders which act on separate cranks. The single eccentric is by preference so
placed on the shaft as to act in as direct a manner as possible, and in the ordinary
way upon the valve of one of the cylinders; and for working the valve of the
other cylinder there is provided a rocking shaft having on one part of it a lover
suitably placed for being connected to the valve rod, and on another part opposite
to the eccentric, there is a lever connected by a link to the strap or outer ring of
the eccentric, at a point situated relatively to the point of attachment of the rod
working the first valve, so as to correspond with the angle between the two
cranks,
When three cylinders are arranged to act on three separate cranks the valve of
one cylinder will be actuated directly from the single inovable eccentric, and the
valves of the other two cylinders will be actuated through separate rocking shafts,
which may conveniently be on opposite sides of the cylinders when these are placed
vertically
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append ten sheets of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing various examples of steam engines
and apparatus as fitted with my improved valve gear. In these drawings the same
reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In an arrangement of inverted cylinder launch engines, or engines for driving
a screw propeller, and which is shown in side and end elevation in figures, 1, and 2,
on sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings, the valve casing, V 1, of one cylinder, C 1,
is placed at the end of the engines and directly over the crank shaft, S, and the
eccentric, E, is placed directly beneath and connected directly to the valve rod R 1.
The valve casing V 2, of the other cylinder, C 2, is placed at the side of the engines,
and the valve rod, K 2, is connected to a lever L 2, on one end of a rocking shaft, A,
placed parallel to the crank shaft, S, but at a somewhat higher level, and a lever L 1,
on the other end of the rocking shaft, A, is connected by a link B, to the side of
the strap or ring of the eccentric, E. The cranks of the main shaft, S, are at right
angles, and whilst the eccentric E gives a vertical motion to the valve rod R1,
directly over it, it gives a horizontal (or approximately horizontal) motion to the
end of the lever, LI, on the rocking shaft, A, this horizontal motion being, however
converted into a vertical motion in its transmission to the other valve rod, R 2, and
the result being that the motions of the valves are properly adapted to the relativo
positions of the cranks.
The parts shown in figures, 1, and 2 for moving the eccentric E on the shaft, S,
consist of a hand lever, D, fixed on a rocking shaft F, which has also fixed on it a
fork, H connected to a ring fitted loosely between collars on a spindle, J, which
extends into the end of the main shaft, S, made tubular for the purpose. The
spindle, J, acts on the eccentric E in the manner described in my earlier
Specification hereinbefore referred to, and as hereinafter described with reference
to figures, 8, 9 and 10, sheet 4.
Figures 3 and 4, sheet, 2, are side and end elevations of screw propeller engines
having two inverted cylinders C1, C2, with one valve casing, V 1, at one end of
the engines whilst the other valve casing, V 2, is at the other end instead of being
at the side as in figures, 1, and 2. To suit this modified arrangement tho
lovers L1, L2, on the rocking shaft A have simply to be made somewhat longer.

page_text: The lever, L1, is also shown as jointed to a bar, K, which is fixed to the strap or
ring of the eccentric, E, whilst a jointed link M connects the same strap or ring,
to the valve rod R1 which is directly over the eccentric.
Figure, 5, sheet, 3, is a sectional plan of a steam winch; figure, 6, sheet 4, is a
front elevation of parts of the winch and figure, 7, is an end elevation, whilst
figures 8, 9 and 10, are sections showing the devices for shifting in the eccentric, E.
In this arrangement the cylinders, C1, C2, are placed horizontally or nearly so at
opposite ends of the bed plate, with their valve casings, V 1, V2, on their inner
sides. The eccentric E, is placed in line with one valve casing, V 1, and connected
directly to the valve rod R‍1, whilst a suitable part of the strap or ring is connected
by a link, B, to a lever, L1, on one end of a rocking shaft, A, which extends
towards the other end of the bed plate and has on its other end a lever, L2,
connected to the valvo rod, R 2, of the other cylinder, C2. The part of the crank
shaft, S, on which the eccentric, E is placed is made tubular as shown in figures, 8, 9
and 10, and has fitted inside of it a spindle, J, which has fixed in it a cross pin, N,
extending through two short longitudinal slots in the shaft, S, and into inclined
slots in a pair of steel plates P, fixed in the eccentric E, at each side of an opening
through which the shaft passes. The plates, P, are fitted to slide upon flattened
parts of the shaft S, and are made to so slide as required for reversing or for
altering the cut off, by the action in their inclined slots of the cross pin, N, when
moved along the shaft. In the arrangement shown in figures, 8, and 9, the
spindle, J, is moved along the shaft by means of another cross pin, T, extending
through longitudinal slots in the shaft, S, and fixed in an external ring, U, which
is grooved for being acted upon independently of the rotation of the shaft by a
fork, H, on a rocking shaft, F, having on it a hand lever, D.
Figure, 11, sheet, 5, is a side elevation of the motor details of a steam crane and
figure, 12, sheet, 6, is a corresponding back elevation. In this arrangement, the
cylinders, C1, C2, are placed vertically at opposite sides of the framing with their
valve casings, V1, V2, on their inner sides; and the eccentric, E, the rocking
shaft A, and the connections are placod relatively to the cylinders in the same
positions as in the case of the winch, the arrangement of the devices for shifting
the eccentric, E, being also similar.
Figures 13 and 14, sheet 7, are a back elevation and a side elevation of an
arrangement of steering engines, with the cylinders, C1, C2, placed apart, in
which arrangement the valve gear is like, that of the winch herein before described.
In steering engines with other dispositions of the cylinders my improved valve
gear may be applied with slight modifications in the arrangement. In the
arrangement shown in figures, 13 and 14, the rocking shaft F, by means of which
the eccentric, E, is shifted has fast on it a lever, W, forked to engage between
collars on a shaft, X, having on it a worm gearing with a wormwheel, Y, on the
shaft of the barrel which acts on the rudder chains. This worm shaft, X, has also
on it a long pinion, Z, which gears with a spurwheel, a, moved, through bevil
gear, b, and shafting, c, by the handwheel, d. When the hand wheel is moved so
as to turn the worin shaft, X, the action of the worm on the worm wheel, Y,
makes the shaft, X, move on end, and shift the lever, W. This action causes the
steam engine details to operate, but as the barrel turns the worm wheel, Y, acts on
the worm of the shaft X, like a pinion on a rack and by reversing the movement
of the lever, W, brings the engines to rest as soon as the desired movement of tho
rudder has been accomplished. Other known devices for effecting a similar action
may also be easily adapted to act in combination with my improved valve gear.
Figures, 15 and 16, sheet, 8, are a sectional side elevation and a sectional half
plan showing the application of my improved valve gear to a locomotive steam
engine. The arrangement of the eccentric, E, and the connections with. the valve
rods, are the same as in other applications. The eccentric, E, is also moved by a
central spindle, J, working in the crank shaft, S, made tubular at the part, the
spindle, J, being itself moved by means of an external grooved ring, U. The
ring, U, is moved by means of a ring fitting loosely in its groove and formed with

page_text: pins, entered into eyes in the prongs of a fork, H which is fixed upon a vertical
spindle, e, geared by bevil wheels or sectors to a horizontal spindle, f. This
spindle, f, has a lever, g, fixed on its outer end and connected by a link, h, to the
reversing hand lever, j.
Figures, 17, and 18, sheet, 9, are a plan and a side elevation, and figure, 19, on
sheet, 10, is an end elevation of three-cylinder engines for driving the screw
propeller. The valve casing, V 1, of the high-pressure cylinder, C 1, is at the end,
the valve casing, V 2, of the intermediate cylinder, C, 2, is between that cylinder
and the high-pressure cylinder, and the valve casing, V, 3, of the low-pressure
cylinder, C3, is at the other end of the engines. The valve rods, R1, R2, R3, are
all in the vertical plane of the crank shaft, S, the rod R 1, of the high-pressure
cylinder, C 1, being directly jointed to the rod fixed to the ring or strap of the
eccentric E. Separate rocking shafts A1, A2, placed one on each side of the
engines serve for transmitting proper motions to the valves of the intermediate
and low-pressure cylinders, C2, C3, each rocking shaft A 1, A 2, having on it a
lever, L1, connected by links, B, to the ring or strap of the eccentric E, and
another lever, L2, connected to the respective valve rod. The cranks of the
main shaft, S, are 120 degrees apart; but with the arrangement of levers, L1, L2,
and rocking shafts, A 1, A. 2, shown in the drawings and described the points of
attachment to the ring or strap of the eccentric, E, have to be 60 degrees apart;
they may however be arranged at 120 degrees apart with a suitable disposition of
the other parts although perhaps less conveniently. The arrangements for shifting
the eccentric, E, are the same as those herein before described with reference to
figures 1 and 2.
Any of the arrangements hereinbefore described may be modified by introducing
a rocking shaft or lever to work the valve stated to bo directly connected to the
ring or strap of the eccentric.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
The improved valve gear for steam engines and for steam hoisting, hauling,
winding, steering and other apparatus having two or more cylinders which act on
separate cranks, and consisting of a single shifting eccentric arranged to act
directly or through a rocking shaft or lever on the valve of one of the cylinders
and combined with one or more rocking shafts and suitably disposed levers for
acting on the valve or valves of the other cylinder or cylinders.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Paul, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty-second day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four.