Improvements in and connected with Distributing Valves.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Distributing Valves.
I, JAMES MCCULLOCH, of Portreath, in the Parish of Illogan, and County of
Cornwall, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be ag
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with valves for con-
trolling the admission and exhaust of the working fluid in reciprocating engines
and other apparatus having a reciprocating action, such for example as direct-
acting steam hammers, caulking tools and the like.
An important fenture of my invention consists in providing in combination with
a slide valve preferably of the cylindrical type, an arrangement whereby working
fluid from the engine or cylinder is admitted at the end of each stroke of the piston
to the valve casing and serves to operate the valve.
In carrying my invention into practice I find it advantageous to construct the
valve of cylindrical form, and arrange it to work in a cylindrical chamber cast
with or firmly secured to the engine cylinder, preferably parallel therewith.
The valve and its casing are provided with passages or channels and ports s0
arranged that when the valve is moved to and fro, a communication is alternately
opened between the fluid supply chest and one or other of the ports leading to the
ends of the cylinder, the port which is not in communication with the fluid-supply
chest being at the same time opened to exhaust.
The movement of the valve is regulated by the piston in the cylinder, which
piston on nearing either end of its stroke, uncovers a passage leading from the
cylinder to the valve chamber, and in the same movement uncovers one of the
exhaust passages.
When either of the passages to the valve chamber is uncovered, part of the work-
ing fluid driving the piston flows into the valve casing and pressing on the end of
cylindrical valve, moves the same longitudinally, the direction of movement
depending on which of the passages it is that is uncovered by the piston.
The said passages are arranged to cross one another, so that the valve moves in
the opposite direction to that in which the piston is moving.
A valve constructed as above described enables a single acting engine to be
started at any point in its stroke. The action of the valve is thus independent of
the use of auxiliary valves, handles, tappets and levers, or other gear liable to be
thrown out of adjustment by slight wear.
1
1307
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Distributing Valves.
I, JAMES MCCULLOCHI, of Portreath, in the Parish of Illogan, and County of
Cornwall, Engineer, 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:-
:-
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with valves for con-
trolling the admission and exhaust of the working fluid in reciprocating engines
and other apparatus having a reciprocating action, such for example as direct-
acting steam hammers, caulking tools and the like.
An important feature of my invention consists in providing in combination with
a slide valve preferably of the cylindrical type, an arrangement whereby working
fluid from the engine or cylinder is admitted at the end of each stroke of the piston
to the valve casing and serves to operate the valve.
In carrying my invention into practice I find it advantageous to construct the
valve of cylindrical form, and arrange it to work in a cylindrical chamber cast
with or firmly secured to the engine cylinder, preferably parallel therewith.
The valve and its casing are provided with passages or channels and ports so
arranged that when the valve is moved to and fro, a communication is alternately
opened between the fluid supply chest and one or other of the ports leading to the
ends of the cylinder, the port which is not in communication with the fluid-supply
chest being at the same time opened to exhaust.
The movement of the valve is regulated by the piston in the cylinder, which
piston on nearing either end of its stroke, uncovers one of two passages leading
from the cylinder to the valve chamber, to the working fluid in the said cylinder,
and in the same movement uncovers the other of said passages to the exhaust.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will now proceed to more fully describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings:-
In which Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of a caulk-
ing tool constructed according to my invention.
Figure 3 is sectional elevation on line - Figure 2.
Figure 3 is a plan of the piston with part of the cylinder in section.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show cross sections on the lines 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4
respectively, in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 8 is a cross section on line y-y Figures 1, 2 and 3.
A is the outer case of the apparatus. P is the working piston which slides in
the cylinder C and is provided with recesses or channels p and p which respectively
open the passages c, c³, to the exhaust port e as hereinafter explained. is the
piston rod which passes through a metal washer a, suitable packing a¹ and the
head of the casting; its end being in contact with the end of a caulking tool B
fitted into the boss A' formed on or attached to the head of the case A. D is the
distributing valve which alides in the chamber c and has an annular recess d
formed at each end thereof and annular grooves , ³, and an exhaust passage d³
formed therein. c¹ c¹ and c³ are two passages which cross one another and con-
nect the opposite ends of the cylinder C and chamber c. e is the exhaust outlet
and F, F, are the working cylinder ports. The ends of the valve chamber c are
closed by metal blocks G, G, backed with rubber g, y or other suitable resilient
substance or its equivalent. S is the actuating fluid inlet and s is the fluid supply
chest. T is a push piece normally retained in its outward position, shutting off

page_text: the fluid supply, by means of the spring t. When the apparatus is in use the
push piece is pressed inwards by means of its head and the actuating fluid
admitted to the supply chest s.
When the valve D and working piston P are in the relative positions shown,
the said piston is nearly at the end of its stroke in one direction, the port F¹ is
open to the exhaust e and the port F is open to the fluid pressure. As the work-
ing piston now completes its stroke the end of the passage situated in the
cylinder C is uncovered and the actuating fluid thereby admitted from the cylinder C
to that end of the valve chamber c with which the passage communicates, and
at the same time the end of the passage c situated in the cylinder C is opened to
the exhaust by means of the piston channel p. When this takes place the valve D
is forced to the opposite end of the chamber c, thereby opening the port F¹ to the
steam pressure and the port F to the exhaust. Shortly after the return stroke
of the piston P has commenced it again closes the passages and c and as the
piston P completes the end of this stroke it opens the passage to the fluid
pressure, and opens the passage by means of the piston channel 71, to the exhaust,
the valve D being thus again reversed to the position shown in the drawings. This
action continues until the fluid pressure is cut off by releasing the push piece T;
the valve always moving in the opposite direction to that in which the piston is
moving owing to the fact that the passages c' and are crossed.
For convenience I have described my invention in connection with a caulking
tool but it is obvious that it may be applied to any kind of apparatus, machine, or
engine, to which a reciprocating piston is applicable.
It will be seen that this valve construction enables a single acting engine to be
started at any point in its stroke, and that its action is independent of the use of
auxiliary valves, handles, tappets, levers or other gear liable to be thrown out of
adjustment by wear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A distribution valve for reciprocating engines and similarly actuated
machinery actuated directly by fluid pressure from the working cylinder, for the
purpose specified.
2. In a distribution valve a valve chamber having its ends respectively connected
by means of crossed passages with the opposite sides of the working cylinder, for
the purpose specified.
3. In a distributing valve, the combination with a valve chamber having its
ends respectively connected by means of crossed passages with the opposite sides
of the working cylinder; of a working piston provided with means for opening
one of the said passages to the exhaust and the other to the fluid pressure at the end
of each stroke of the piston, for the purpose specified.
4. A distribution valve and working piston and cylinder constructed arranged
and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 18th day of October 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.