Year: 1888

page_text: I THOMAS ELCOATE of Crown Hotel Clayton Street Newcastle on Tyne Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
This invention relates to valves for steam engines, more especially to engines worked
with two or more grades of expansion.
At the present time there are a great number of triple expansion engines being
constructed, and compound engines being converted into triple expansion engines,
and, with the exception of the piston valve, there is no valve which can be used
advantageously for the high pressures required in such engines,-pressures, say, of
150 pounds to the square inch and upwards.
Now the object of my invention is to construct a valve which can be used advan-
tageously with all classes of steam engines to which a slide or piston valve is
applicable, but which is more especially suitable for high pressure engines, particularly
those worked with two or more grades of expansion.
In carrying out my invention, I construct an oscillating or rotary disc valve
provided with the necessary ports, and I mount it within a steam chest on the engine
cylinder so as to work against a suitable cylinder also formed with the requisite ports.
The valve may be connected by means of its central spindle and suitable mechanism,
with one of the moving parts of the engine, or with an auxiliary engine.
In the drawings appended hereto by way of illustration, there are shown the
various details of the invention together with a few typical examples of the manner
in which the invention may be applied to steam engines.
In these drawings :-
:
Figures 1 and 2 are similar transverse sections through an oscillating valve and
its enclosing steam chest.
Figure 3 an elevation of the back of said valve and its actuating crank.
Figure 4 is an elevation of its cylinder face.
T
motion through a owlinds Rond a rotary valve.

page_text: Figure 7 is a view of the cylinder face of same.
Figure 8 is sectional plan showing one way in which the above rotary valve
may be applied to a triple expansion engine.
Figure 9 is central section on line y y, Figure 14, of a combined valve as
constructed for and applied to a triple expansion engine, part of the cylinders of said
engine being shown in plan.
Figure 10 is an elevation of the above cylinders and their cylinder face.
Figure 11 is a section of the combined valve taken on the line x, x, Figure 9, and
looking towards the cylinder face.
When converting compound engines into triple expansion engines, the smallest
cylinder of the latter is usually placed on the top of the smaller cylinder of the
original engine, and its valve worked from the valve spindle of the lower cylinder.
In a case of this kind, I use the oscillating disc valve shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The valve A is preferably circular and is provided with a central spindle A¹ about
the axis of which it is oscillated against the cylinder face B, Figure 4, within a
suitable steam chest B¹. The steam chest is also, by preference, circular and the
valve A is placed eccentrically therein, as the steam space is required principally on
one side of the valve only. The cylinder face is provided preferably, with four
openings b, b', the openings b, b, communicating with the steam ports, and the open-
ings b', b', with the exhaust port or ports. The valve A is also provided on its face
preferably with four openings a, a, a², see Figures 1, 2 and 3. Two of these a¹, a¹,
are for the exhaust and have no communication with the steam chest. Of the other
two, one a is used for the admission of steam, and oscillates past the openings b, b,
on the cylinder face B, and has a passage through the side of the valve into the
steam chest as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The other opening a² is similar to
the opening a, and is placed diametrically opposite to it in order to balance
the valve. One of the cylinder exhaust ports b', may, if desired, be suppressed, and
the two valve ports a', a', may be extended round the valve so as to form one port,
the port a² and the side opening thereof being, in this case, suppressed. To take the
weight off the valve face a ring C runs all round the back of the valve, and is kept
tight by set bolts, tightening up some elastic packing, as in Figure 1, or it may
kept tight by being formed like a piston with a packing ring C, adjusted by springs
or otherwise as in Figure 2. The small space at the back of the valve communicates
preferably by a small pipe C2, with the condenser of the engine. The valve may be
worked from the slide valve spindle of the lower cylinder or otherwise, the connection
being preferably made by a connecting rod D and crank D', as shown.
1
be
The position of the crank pin d from the centre of the valve is preferably made
adjustable, so that the throw of the valve may be adjusted to suit various grades of
expansion. One method of adjustment is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The crank
pin d is carried by a block d', which may be adjusted within a slot d in the crank by
means of a screwed spindle d³, provided with a hand wheel.
In Figures 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a valve E, which is adapted to be rotated
instead of oscillated. The valve is worked by a crank D', and connecting rod, as in
the oscillating valve A, and the said rod may receive its notion from any suitable
moving part of the engine, or of an auxiliary engine. The steam ports F on the
cylinder face F are placed opposite each other on each side of the exhaust port F1,
as in Figures 5 and 7. The valve has two ports e, e¹, in its face, corresponding to the
cylinder ports F. One of them e, opens through the side of the valve into the steam
chest, E', while the other opens into the recess e² at the centre of valve, the said
recess heing in communication with the exhaust port F¹ as seen in Figure 5.
The mode of action of this valve is as follows:
The valve, in revolving, admits steam from the steam chest E', through its port e,
into, say, the lower cylinder port F. While this port is receiving steam, the port F
at the opposite end of the cylinder is exhausting into the interior of the valve, and
into the exhaust port F1, through the valve port el.
At the next half revolution of the valve this action is reversed.

page_text: Figure 8 shows one way in which rotary valves such as above described, may be
applied to a triple expansion engine. The valves may be driven in tandem by
means of a coupling rod D' which is actuated from any convenient moving part of
the main engine or of an auxiliary engine, or they may each be driven by separate
and independent mechanism. The relative positions of the cranks D₁ and valves E
with respect to the engine cranks, is such that they regulate the passage of the steam
to and from their respective cylinders at the proper moment.
In Figures 9, 10 and 11, a simple rotary valve is shown, which is practically a
combination of the three valves shown in Figure 11, and is especially applicable to
small steam launches and yachts, more particularly when their engines are compound
engines with two or more grades of expansion. J, K, L, are the three cylinders.
The cylinder ports j, k, l, m, all open into one cylinder face M, within a circular
chest M. The steam enters the central recess n', of the valve, by a steam supply
port N, and passes by the valve port j', into one of the ports of the cylinder J.
From one of the latter ports it passes through the valve port, into the valve port k¹,
and thence into one of the ports of the cylinder K. From one of the later ports
it passes by the valve ports k³, 1, into one of the ports of the cylinder L, and thence
it escapes into the outer exhaust port m by the valve ports 1, m². The course of
the steam is clearly indicated by the arrows in Figure 11. The relative angular
advance of the ports in the valve face or in the cylinder face, or in both, determines
the relative periods at which the steam shall be cut off or exhausted from the
various cylinders.
It will be obvious that the invention may be varied in many different ways, without
departing from the main principles thereof. I do not, therefore, confine myself to
the exact details shown in the drawings or described herein.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: the Means of Applying and Actuating the same.
I, THOMAS ELCOATE of Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham, late
of 1 Kingscote Villas, East Ville, Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Master
Mariner, do bereby 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:-
This invention relates to valves for steam engines, more especially to engines
worked with two or more grades of expansion.
At the present time there are a great number of triple expansion engines being
constructed, and compound engines being converted into triple expansion engines,
and, with the excoption of the piston valve, there is no valve which can be used advan-
tageously for the high pressures required in such engines,-pressures, say, of 150
pounds to the square inch and upwards.
Now the object of my invention is to construct a valve which can be used advan-
tageously with all classes of steam engines to which a slide or piston valve is
applicable, but which is more especially suitable for high pressure engines, particularly
those worked with two or more grades of expansion.
In carrying out my invention, I construct an oscillating or rotary disc valve
provided with the necessary ports, and I mount it within a steam chest on the
engine cylinder so as to work against a suitable cylinder also formed with the
requisite ports. The valve may be connected by means of its central spindle and
suitable mechanism, with one of the moving parts of the engine, or with an auxiliary
engine.
In the drawings accompanying the provisional specification, and appended thereto
by way of illustration, there are shown the various details of the invention, together
with a few typical examples of the manner in which the invention may be applied to
steam engines.
In those drawings:
Figures 1 and 2 are similar transverse sections through an oscillating valve and its
enclosing steam chest.
Figure 3 an elevation of the back of said valve and its actuating crank.
Figure 4 is an elevation of its cylinder face.
Figure 5 is a section through a cylinder B and a rotary valve.
Figure 6 is a view of the valve face of same, part being in section.
Figure 7 is a view of the cylinder face of same.
Figure 8 is a sectional plan showing one way in which the above rotary valve may
be applied to a triple expansion engine.
Figure 9 is central section on line yy. Figure 11 of a combined valve as
constructed for and applied to a triple expansion engine, part of the cylinders of said
engine being shown in plan.

page_text: Figure 10 is an elevation of the above cylinders and their cylinder face.
Figure 11 is a section of the combined valve taken on the line xx Figure 9, and
looking towards the cylinder face.
Referring also to the supplemental drawings accompanying this complete specifi-
cation, in which
.
Figure 12 is an elevation showing a cylinder face fitted with an adjustable
false face.
Figures 13 and 14 are respectively elevation and transverse section of the said
false face detached.
When converting compound engines into triple expansion engines, the smallest
cylinder of the latter is usually placed on the top of the smaller cylinder of the
original engine, and its valve worked from the valve spindle of the lower cylinder.
In a case of this kind, I use the oscillating disc valve shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The valve A is preferably circular and is provided with a central spindle A¹ about the
axis of which it is oscillated against the cylinder face B, Figure 4, within a suitable
steam chest. B. The steam chest is also, by preference, circular and the valve A is
placed eccentrically therein, as the steam space is required pricipally on one side of
the valve only. The cylinder face is provided preferably, with four openings b, b¹,
the openings b, b, cominunicating with the steam ports, and the openings ',, with
the exhaust ports or ports. The valve A is also provided on its face preferably with
four openings a, a, a³, see Figures 1, 2 and 3. Two of these a¹, a', are for the
exhaust and have no communication with the steam chest. Of the other two, one a
is used for the admission of steam, and oscillates past the openings b, b, on the
cylinder face B, and has a passage through the side of the valve into the steam chest
as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The other opening a² is similar to the opening a, and
is placed diametrically opposite to it in order to balance the valve. One of the
cylinder exhaust ports 6, may, if desired, be suppressed, and the two valve
ports a¹, a', may be extended round the valve so as to form one port, the port a² and
the side opening thereof being in this case, suppressed. To take the weight off the
valve face a ring C runs all round the back of the valve, and is kept tight by set
bolts, tightening up some elastic packing, as in Figure 1, or it may be kept tight
by being formed like a piston with a packing ring C³, adjusted by springs or other-
wise as in Figure 2. The small space at the back of the valve communicates
preferably by a small pipe C2, with the condenser of the engine. The valve may be
worked from the slide valve spindle of the lower cylinder or otherwise, the connection
being preferably made by a connecting rod D and crank D', as shown.
The position of the crank pin d from the centre of the valve is preferably made
adjustable, so that the throw of the valve may be adjusted to suit various grades of
expansion. One method of adjustment is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The crank
pin d is carried by a block d¹, which may be adjusted within a slot d³ in the crank
by means of a screwed spindle d³, provided with a hand wheel.
In Figures 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a valve E, which is adapted to be rotated
instead of oscillated. The valve is worked by a crank D¹, and connecting rod, as
in the oscillating valve A, and the said rod may receive its motion from any suitable
moving part of the engine, or of an auxiliary engine. The steam ports F on the cylinder
face Fare placed opposite each other on each side of the exhaust port F¹, as in
Figures 5 and 7. The valve has two ports e, e', in its face, corresponding to the
cylinder ports F. One of them e, opens through the side of the valve into the steam
chest, E¹, while the other opens into the recess at the centre of valve, the said
recess being in communication with the exhaust port F' as seen in Figure 5.
The mode of action of this valve is as follows:-
The valve, in revolving, admits steam from the steam chest E', through its
port e, into, say, the lower cylinder port F. While this port is receiving steam, the
port F at the opposite end of the cylinder is exhausting into the interior of the valve,
and into the exhaust port F1, through the valve port el.
At the next half revolution of the valve this action is reversed.
For obtaining a finer grade of expansion with the above valve, the arrangement

page_text: shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14, may be employed. G is a false face which is
provided with openings 3, corresponding to the ports in the cylinder face. The
false face is placed against the cylinder face, and is capable of an angular adjustment
thereon by being turned about its concentric collar g'. The adjustment may be
accomplished by a hand nut H or its equivalent, which turns upon a screwed
spindle H, on the outside of the steam chest E. The spindle H¹ passes through
a stuffing box H in the steam chest, and is connected with the edge of the false face
by a link H. Two bars carried by the cylinder face project through the
openings g in the false face G to the level of its outer surface and serve as stops E
to limit the movement of the face in one direction. The grade of expansion may be
altered at will by turning the false face so that it partially covers the cylinder
ports F.
. Figure 8 shows one way in which rotary valves such as above described, may be
applied to a triple expansion engine. The valves may be driven in tandem by means
of a coupling rod D which is actuated from any convenient moving part of the
main engine or of an auxiliary engine, or they may each be driven by separate and
independent mechanism. The relative positions of the cranks D' and valves E
with respect to the engine cranks, is such that they regulate the passage of the
steam to and from their respective cylinders at the proper moment.
In Figures 9, 10 and 11, a simple rotary valve is shown, which is practically a
combination of the three valves shown in Figure 8, and is especially applicable to
small stean launches and yachts, more particularly when their engines are compound
engines with two or more grades of expansion. J, K, L, are the three cylinders.
The cylinder ports j, k, l, m, all open into one cylinder face M, within a circular
chest M¹. The steam enters the central recess n of the valve, by a steam supply
port N, and passes by the valve port j', into one of the ports ; of the cylinder J.
From one of the latter ports it passes through the valve port 1, into the valve
port kl, and thence into one of the ports of the cylinder K. From one of the latter
ports it passes by the valve ports ³, 1, into one of the ports 1 of the cylinder L, and
thence it escapes into the outer exhaust port m by the valve ports 12, m. The course
of the steam is clearly indicated by the arrows in Figure 11. The relative angular
advance of the ports in the valve face or in the cylinder face, or in both, determines
the relative periods at which the steam shall be cut off or exhausted from the various.
cylinders.
It will be obvious that the invention may be varied in many
different ways,
without
departing from the main principles thereof. I do not, therefore, confine myself to
the exact details shown in the drawings or described herein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A steam engine valve, consisting of a disc A, adapted to be oscillated as described
within a steam chest, and against a plane cylinder face B, provided with two steam
ports b, and with preferably two exhaust ports 61, the face of said disc valve being
provided with a steam port a, and with preferably two exhaust ports a¹, the former
communicating constantly with the steam chest, B', and alternately with one of the
cylinder steam ports b, and the latter also communicating alternately with one of the
cylinder steam ports b, and constantly with the cylinder exhaust ports 6¹ substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A steam engine valve consisting of a disc E, adapted to be rotated as described,
within a steam chest E', and against a cylinder face F provided with a central
exhaust port F1, and with two similar diametrically opposite steam ports F, the face
of said valve being provided with two approximately diametrically opposite ports e, e¹,
the one e communicating constantly with the said steam chest, and alternately with
each of the steam ports F, and the other e', also communicating alternately with each
of the steam ports F, and constantly with the exhaust port F', substantially as and for
the purpose-described.

page_text: 3. A steam distribution device, especially applicable for compound engines, having
two or more grades of expansion, consisting of a plane cylinder face M, in which
the port openings of the respective cylinders are arranged in approximately
diametrically opposite pairs upon concentric circles around a central steam supply
port N, and within an outer exhaust port m, in combination with a disc valve rotating
with its plane face against the said cylinder face, and provided with a series of ports
corresponding to the ports in the cylinder face, the said valve ports intercommuni-
cating in such a manner as to effect the steam distribution in proper sequence, and
the relative angular advance of the ports on the valve face or on the cylinder face or
on both, being such as to effect the various cut off and exhausts at the proper relative
periods, substantially as described and shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11.
4. In combination with an oscillating disc valve such as herein described, a
crank D for operating the same, having its crank pin d, adjustable to and from
the axis of oscillation, whereby the throw of the valve, and consequently the point
of cut off, may be altered at will, substantially as set forth.
Detail this 17th day of November 1588
WM. P. TMOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.