IM- PROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES FOR STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Office of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.;
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES FOR STEAM ENGINES." A com-
munication from abroad by Jérome Wheelock, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 28th December 1878, and dated the 25th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1878.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Office of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES
FOR STEAM ENGINES." [A communication from abroad by Jérome Wheelock, of
Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to valves for steam engines, and consists partly in employing
two cut-off valves and two double-acting valves, also in novel arrangements for
regulating the duration of the oscillating movement of the valves.
The said Invention also comprises a novel method of arranging the valves by
using trunnions of hardened steel, and adjustable brushes also made of hardened
steel. It also comprises combining the cut-off valves in such a manner that they
are double acting, and I also provide a new arrangement designed to prevent the
steam which is not used from entering the principal valve chamber.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shewn as a specimen a cylinder of a steam
engine to which valves constructed and arranged according to this Invention are
applied.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the cylinder, with the different parts
which actuate the valves; Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section of the same,
shewing the respective positions of the valves.
Figure 3 represents separately the counterweights which produce the closing of
the cut-off valve.

page_text: Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 show different views of the particular form of valves
and trunnions constructed according to the said Invention.
Figure 10 represents the part connecting each cut-off valve with the neigh-
bouring double-action valve.
a is the cylinder; b, the steam chest, at the two extremities of which is a cut-off
valve c, and a double-action valve d. These valves are hollowed out in such a
manner as to form laps e, e¹, ell, ell; they are provided with trunnions made of
hardened steel actuated by a reciprocating rotating motion, and well centred in
relation to each valve.
The valves are maintained upon their seats by the pressure of the steam which
acts from one side only, and they are not liable to come in too intimate contact
with their seats, in consequence of the centreing of the said trunnions; as these
valves are of a conical section, they may be adjusted in the direction of the axis,
the collars of the trunnions coming in contact with the extremities of the
coupling box or sleeve, which permits the broadest extremity of the valves to fit
well to the smaller extremity of the seat.
The upper lape of each valve establishes alternately the communication between
the orifice o, the valve chamber, and the exhaust port. The lower lap e' serves to
maintain the valve in contact with a surface placed close to the seat; it also
intercepts the communication between the valve chamber and the escape pipe. The
lap e¹ has nearly the same surface as the lap e; it ought not to be larger than is
necessary, in order to diminish the friction as much as possible.
The ends of the trunnions g of the valves are made of hardened steel, as herein-
before stated; they may be fixed upon the valve in any manner desired; these
ends fit into bushes also made of hardened steel. These bushes may be easily
adjusted, they are fixed by the aid of a regulating screw ' which passes into a
groove or notch.
The valves are adjusted upon their seats in a peculiar manner by means of
moveable packing which can be placed or removed at pleasure, and of which the
interior extremity forms a joint resting upon a shoulder formed on the trunnion of
the valve which dispenses with the employment of a stuffing box. The valves and
their seats have inclined faces, so that the pressure of the steam is exerted from one
side only, as above stated, which tends to maintain the collar ¹ in contact with the
coupling box or sleeve i surrounding the trunnion of the valve.
The bushes of the trunnions or stems of the valves may be lubricated by means
of suitable cavities g' cut in the packing or bushes. These cavities communicato
by a tube o¹ with the escape pipe o".
In order to prevent as much as possible the cooling of the steam and consequently
condensation in the chamber where the valves are, I employ by preference an
envelope or jacket in which will circulate the steam which has operated before
escaping to this end I give greater thickness to the lower wall of the valve
chamber, and I provide therein a hollow space or cavity of sufficient dimensions.
A bent lever m arranged on the trunnion of the double-acting valve d is con-
nected to the excentric of the engine by a rod k, which can be engaged or dis-
engaged at will in order to enable the valves to be worked by hand, so that they
will advance or retire.
The lever mis jointed with a simple lever p connected by a coupling box or
sleeve to another similar lever p'; the extremity of this lever p' is jointed with a
bent lever m¹ mounted at the extremity of the trunnion of the other double-acting
valve d. These levers are solidly fixed upon the corresponding trunnion by the aid
of keys or by any other convenient means.
The trunnions of the cut-off valves are provided with a bell-crank lever 1. In
order to close the cut-off valve after it has been disconnected I employ a counter-
weight 6'. These counterweights are arranged in such a manner as to fall freely
until they have arrived at a small distance from the level where the pieces which
receive them are situated. These counterweights are provided with an air cushion
which stops in an efficacious manner-and without noise the movement of the valve.

page_text: It may moreover oscillate upon its base at c¹ (Figures 1 and 3) in order to be
able to follow the movement of the levers 1.
In order to connect together and in pairs the cut-off valves and the double-acting
valves, I employ a piece x of peculiar construction, see Figure 10. This piece is
jointed at one of its extremities to the bent lever m by the aid of an excentric pin
V. It is provided with a cylindrical rod u which carries a shoulder l¹ placed above
a jaw j. This connecting piece covers nearly the whole of the rod u, one of the
extremities of which is united to the piece or head w of the bent lever; the other
extremity of the piece x is jointed upon the excentric pin v; this pin can turn so as
to cause to advance or retire simultaneously the part c¹ of the piece x which acts
upon the head w, which permits a longitudinal adjustment of this same part. The
space between the shoulder and a shoulder y of the jaw c¹ is a little longer than
the ringf; in this manner when the head wis placed between the two shoulders, it
is forced to move at the same time as the piece x and as its rod u, thus causing the
cut-off valve to open.
In order to communicate to the cut-off valves their oscillating movement, I use
two arrangements as shewn in the Drawings..
The first consists in arranging upon the levers a cam or tappet r¹ acting upon
the part of the piece x. In the second arrangement, instead of the cam 7, I use
toothed sectors placed one upon one of the extremities of the lever s, and the other
upon the axis of the bent lever 7.
The cam lever s and the sectors turn upon their axes around a prolongation or
the cut-off valve.
According to the arrangement of the valves when the double-acting valve d has
completely closed the admission orifice, it begins to uncover the exhaust valve;
nearly at the same time one arm of the bent lever m ceases to cause the piece x to
move longitudinally, and causes it simply to oscillate upon the ring f¹ as long as
the orifice is closed to the exhaust.
In order to obtain the intermittent periods of rest of the bent lever which governs
the cut-off valve, while the double-acting valve opens to the exhaust, I give to the
arm of the lever m such a length, that during the exhaust the point where the
piece is united to the cut-off valve, and that where it is jointed with the arm m
when the cut-off valve closes, will be upon the same straight line with the axis of
the trunnion of the double-acting valve, and the head w which connects the rod u
to the bent lever r.
By this arrangement I obtain valves giving very advantageous results, and very
superior to those which are obtained by the distributing valves heretofore used.
The chief of these advantages are great simplicity and a strength of the mechanism,
a considerable economy in the expenditure of steam, rapid opening and closing of
the valves, and consequently the absence of leaks, and more regular working.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
January 1879.
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Office of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES
FOR STEAM ENGINES." A communication from abroad by Jérome Wheelock, of
Paris, France.
"
This Invention relates to valves for steam engines, and comprises the employment
of two cut-off valves and two double-acting valves, also novel arrangements for
regulating the duration of the oscillating movement of the said valves.
The said Invention also comprises a novel arrangement of the valves with
trunnions of hardened steel and adjustable bearings, also made of hardened steel. It
also comprises the construction of the cut-off valves in such a manner that they are
rendered double acting. Also a new arrangement designed to prevent the entrance
of the steam which is not used into the principal valve chamber. It also comprises
other features herein-after specified.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn only as an example a cylinder of a
steam engine to which valves constructed and arranged according to this Invention
are applied.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the said cylinder with the different parts which
actuate the valves; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, shewing the
positions of the valves.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, shew various parts of my improved mechanism herein-after
described.
Figure 7 shews the counterweights for closing the cut-off valve.
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, shew different views of valves and trunnions
constructed according to the said Invention.
a is the cylinder; b, the steam chest, at the two extremities of which I arrange a
cut-off valve c and a double-action valve d. These valves are chambered or
hollowed in such a manner as to form laps e, e'; they are provided with trunnions g
made of hardened steel actuated by a reciprocating rotating motion, and well centred
in relation to each valve.
The valves are maintained upon their seats by the pressure of the steam which
acts from one side only, and they are not liable to come in too intimate contact
with their seats in consequence of the centreing of the said trunnions; as these
valves are of a conical section, they may be adjusted in the direction of the axis,
the collars h¹ of the. trunnions coming in contact with the extremities of the
coupling box or sleeve which permits the broadest extremity of the valves to fit
well to the smaller extremity of the seat.
The upper lape of each valve establishes alternately the communication between
the orifice o, the valve chamber, and the exhaust port. The lower lap e' serves to
maintain the valve in contact with a surface placed close to the seat; it also
intercepts the communication between the valve chamber and the escape pipe. The
lap e' has nearly the same surface as the lap e; it ought not to be larger than is
necessary, in order to diminish the friction as much as possible.
The ends of the trunnions g of the valves are made of hardened steel as herein-
before stated; they may be fixed upon the valve in any manner desired; these ends
fit into bearings also made of hardened steel; these bearings may be easily
adjusted, and are fixed by the aid of a regulating screw k¹ (Figure 9) which passes
into a groove or notch.
The valves are adjusted upon their seats in a peculiar manner by means of
movable packing which can be placed or removed at pleasure, and of which the
interior extremity forms a joint resting upon a shoulder formed on the trunnion of
the valve which dispenses with the employment of a stuffing box. The valves and

page_text: their seats have inclined faces, so that the pressure of the steam is exerted from one
side only as above stated, which tends to maintain the collar h¹ in contact with the
coupling box or sleeve i surrounding the trunnion of the valve.
The bearings of the trunnions of the valves may be lubricated by means of
suitable cavities g₁ cut in the packing or bearings. These cavities communicate by
a tube o' with the escape pipe o".
In order to prevent as much as possible the cooling of the steam and consequent
condensation in the chamber where the valves are, I employ by preference an
envelope or jacket in which will circulate the steam which has operated before
escaping; to this end I give greater thickness to the lower wall of the valve
chamber, and I provide therein a hollow space or cavity of sufficient dimensions.
The aforesaid valves operate in the following manner:-A lever m arranged on
the trunnion of the double-acting valve d is connected to the excentric of the
engine by a rod which can be engaged or disengaged at will, in order to enable
the valves to be worked by hand, so that they will advance or retire.
The lever mis jointed with a rod or lever p connected by a coupling box or sleeve
q to another similar rod p¹; the extremity of this rod p' is jointed with a bent
lever m' mounted at the extremity of the trunnion of the other double-acting
valve d. These levers are solidly fixed upon the corresponding trunnion by the aid
of keys, or by any other convenient means.
The journals of the cut-off valves are provided with a bell-crank lever r. In
order to close the cut-off valve after it has been disengaged, I employ counter-
weights 6¹. These counterweights are arranged in such a manner as to fall freely
until they have arrived at a small distance from the level where the pieces which
receive them are situated. These counterweights are provided with an air cushion
which stops in an efficacious manner and without noise the movement of the valve.
It may moreover oscillate upon its base at c¹, Figures 1 and 7, to follow the
movement of the levers r.
In order to connect in pairs the cut-off valves and the double-acting valves, I
employ a piece of peculiar construction x, Figure 5. This piece is jointed at one of
its extremities with the bent lever m by the aid of an excentric pin v.
It is pro-
vided with a piece u which has a cylindrical rod u³, carrying a shoulder l placed
above a jaw j. This connecting piece x covers nearly the whole of the rod u, one
of the extremities of which is united to the head w of the bent lever r; the other
extremity of the piece x is jointed upon the excentric pin v; this pin can turn so
as to cause to advance or retire simultaneously the part cl of the piece x that acts
upon the head w, which permits a longitudinal adjustment of this same part. The
space between the shoulder ¹ and a shoulder of the jaw c' is a little longer than
the ring f¹, which can slide on the cylindrical part u', and is jointed to the head w
of the lever r in this manner; when the head w is placed between the two shoulders
it is forced to move at the same time as the piece x, and as its rod u, thus causing
the cut-off valve to open.
In order to communicate to the cut-off valves their oscillating movement, I use
two arrangements shewn in the Drawing.
The first, which is illustrated in Figure 4, consists in arranging upon the lever 8
a cam or tappet r¹ acting upon the jaw j of the piece x.
In the second arrange-
ment, shewn in Figure 3, instead of the cam r', I use toothed sectors 11, s', placed one
upon one of the extremities of the lever s, and the other upon the axis of the bent
lever r
The cam levers and the sectors turn upon their axes round a prolongation of the
cut-off valve.
According to the arrangement of the valves when the double-acting valve & has
completely closed the admission orifice, it begins to uncover the exhaust opening;
nearly at the same time the bent lever m ceases to cause the piece a to move
longitudinally, and causes it simply to oscillate upon the ring fi as long as the
orifice is closed to the exhaust.
In order to obtain the intermittent periods of rest of the bent lever which governs

page_text: the cut-off valve, while the double-acting valve opens to the exhaust, I give to the
arm of the lever m such a length, that during the exhaust, the point where the
piece x is united to the cut-off valve, and that where it is jointed with the arm m
when the cut-off valve closes, will be in a straight line with the axis of the trunnion
of the double-acting valve, and the head w which connects the rod u to the bent
lever T.
By this arrangement, I obtain a series of valves giving very advantageous results
not obtainable by the distributing valves heretofore used.
The chief of these advantages are great simplicity and strength of the mechanism,
économy in the expenditure of steam, rapid opening and closing of the valves
whereby leakage is avoided, and great regularity of working is ensured.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. Fhe machine consisting of the parts shewn in the Drawing, combined and
operating as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The employment of the two cut-off valves and the two double-acting
valves connected and operating, as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The combination of parts comprising the oscillating piece x, the excentric
bolt, the piece u, and its cylindrical rod, and the ring arranged and operating, as
and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the above parts of the rod t, the cam lever, the
lever r, and the piece 111, as and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The combination with the parts enumerated in the third claiming clause
of the rod t, the lever 8, and toothed sector s¹, the cam and toothed sector 1, the
lever r, and the piece 6111, as and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The valves provided with hardened or tempered steel trunnions and
adjustable bearings of hardened or tempered steel, as and for the purposes spe-
cified.
Seventh. The chamber or cavity formed in the centre of the cut-off valves
between the two laps, whereby a slight movement of these valves affords a double
admission orifice (as indicated by the arrows to the left in Figure 2), and a rapid
closing of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)