Improvements in and relating to Steam-engine Valves and Valve-gear.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam-engine Valves and
Valve-gear.
I, WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the Firm of Horn & Son of 151 Strand, London in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, (a communication to me from abroad by
Wilson D. Haven, of Trenton, in the County of Mercer, State of New Jersey, U.S.A.
Inventor,) do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is directed to securing a greater accuracy of travel and greater
durability in steam-engine valves; and to this end it consists in certain parts and
combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly set forth.
My invention relates to a construction of supporting and guiding devices of the
valve-stem by which the valve is more accurately balanced, its bearing equalized; and
vibration of the valve-stem and valve prevented.
My invention also relates to a construction of the valve-ports by which the weight
of the valve is carried by the steam-pressure and relieved from the lower part of the
valve-seat, thereby rendering the wear upon all parts of the circumference of the
valve and case equal.
In the construction hereinafter described, the valves are both oscillating and
reciprocating; but such combined movements are not essential to obtaining all of the
advantages of my invention. The reciprocation of the valve regulates the exhaust
by way of passages, while the oscillation of the valve admits and cuts off the steam
in a well-known manner. Where the steam-admission ports of the valve are in the
form of long slits or openings, I have found that an unequal wear and chattering of
the valve in its seat takes place, due to the slight expansion of the hollow shell of
the valve and the forcing out of the edges of the ports so made. I have obviated
this difficulty to a considerable extent by forming the ports with one or more cross-
bridges, adapted to maintain the proper cylindrical shape of the valve, prevent the
forcing outward of the edges of the port, and unequal wear and chattering in the
valve-seat, resulting finally in a materially greater durability of these parts.
At the end of the valve-case next to the valve-gear there is formed the usual
stuffing-box, for the passage of the valve-stem from the interior of said case to the
valve-gear, which box forms a guide and support for one end of the stem and valve.
I have discovered by practical experiment that the peculiar movements of the valve
and stem incident to the use of a special valve-gear have a very objectionable and
serious effect in cutting away the valve, stem and casing.
I have, however, been able to obviate these serious results by combining with said
valve-gearing what may be termed an "outboard-bearing," which I will now describe
first referring, however, more particularly to the valve-gear above mentioned. It
comprises, essentially, a rock-lever or equivalent moving part, connected with the
valve-stem for reciprocating it, a bell-crank lever, mounted upon a pivot carried by.
said part, a means-such as a governor-rod-for oscillating the bell-crank lever
relative to aforesaid part, and connections-such as a rod and arm-between the
other end of the bell-crank lever and the valve-stem for oscillating the latter and
the valve. This mechanism causes a screw-like movement of the valve, which is,
however, unequal, being rapid or accelerated at one point resulting in a serious
deterioration of the valve and case. This I have obviated, as above stated, by
combining with said valve-gear and valve the following guiding and supporting
means.
The head of the valve-case is detachably secured in any suitable manner, as by
hooked bolts. This head is provided with a cylindrical sleeve, extending in a
direction or directions parallel with the valve-stem. A two-part bushing is mounted

page_text: in the sleeve, and is of such interior diameter as to properly fit the exterior of the
valve-stem. The lateral edges of the two parts of the bushing do not touch, but
are arranged to leave spaces, to permit of the lower half of the bushing being from
time to time adjusted upward to compensate for the wear which takes place between
said lower half and the stem. This adjustment is provided for by screws, which are
tapped into the under side of the aforesaid sleeve and bear against the lower half
of the bushing. A ring fitted in the inner end of the sleeve, and having between
it and said bushing a space for the reception of a suitable packing. The sleeve and
bushing above described are of such length as to permit the necessary reciprocation
of the valve-stem, and as a finish and to shut out from view the moving ond of said
stem, I provide the outer end of the bearing with a cap, which is adapted to be
secured upon the sleeve aforesaid.
The bearing above described serves to balance the valve-stem by exposing to the
outer air at this end of the valve-case an area equal to that of the cross section of
the valve-stem at the end next the valve-gear. To this end the cap is provided
with an opening through which atmospheric pressure acts upon the end of the
stem.
In order to further take off wear from the under side of the valve and stem, I
have constructed the upper port or ports of the oscillating valve-shell of a slightly
less area than that of the lower port or ports. It will be understood that of the
four steam-ports in the construction, those at the upper side of the valve are the
smaller. The difference in area will be proportionate to the weight of the valve
and to the steam-pressure under which the engine is constructed and adjusted to
run, and will of course vary in different engines. The result of this construction is
that the weight of the valve and stem may be entirely sustained by the live-steam
pressure and the friction and wear between the moving and stationary parts much
diminished.
D
03 1 1
A T
1000
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam-engine Valves and
Valve-gear.
1, WILLIAM WILSON HORN, of the Firm of Horn & Son of 151 Strand, London,
Middlesex, (a communication to me from abroad by Wilson D. Haven, of Trenton,
in the County of Mercer and State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Inventor), 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 is directed to securing a greater accuracy of travel and greater
durability in steam-engine valves; and to this end it consists in certain parts and
combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly set forth.
My invention relates to a construction of supporting and guiding devices of the
valve-stem by which the valve is more accurately balanced, its bearings equalized,
and vibration of the valve-stem and valve prevented.
My invention also relates to a construction of the valve-ports by which the weight
of the valve is carried by the steam-pressure and relieved from the lower part of the
valve-seat, thereby rendering the wear upon all parts of the circumference of the
valve and case equal.
In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the
accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into effect.
In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of so much of a steam-
engine as is necessary to illustrate my invention. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section
on a larger scale of a simple form of the outboard-bearing for the valve-stem.
Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross-section
on the line 44 of Figure 1.

page_text: Referring to the drawings, A indicates the steam-engine cylinder; B, the valve-
gear; C, the valve-stem; D, the valve-case or steam-chest into which the live steam
enters as indicated by the arrows, and E the valve or valves mounted therein and
secured to and actuated by the valve-stem C.
In the construction illustrated, the valves are both oscillating and reciprocating;
but such combined movements are not essential to obtaining all the advantages of my
invention. The reciprocation of the valve regulates the exhaust by way of passages e,
while the oscillation of the valve admits and cuts off the steam in a well-known
manner. Where the steam-admission ports of the valve are in the form of long slits
or openings, I have found that an unequal wear and chattering of the valve in its seat
takes place, due to the slight expansion of the hollow shell of the valve and the
forcing out of the edges of the ports so made. I have obviated this difficulty to a
considerable extent by forming the ports, as shown at a, with one or more cross-
bridges a', adapted to maintain the proper cylindrical shape of the valve, prevent the
forcing outward of the edges of the port, and unequal wear and chattering in the
valve-seat, resulting finally in a materially greater durability of these parts.
At the end of the valve-case next to the valve-gear there is formed the usual
stuffing-box d for the passage of the valve-stem from the interior of said case to the
valve-gear, which box forms a guide and support for one end of the stem and valve.
I have discovered by practical experiment that the peculiar movements of the valve
and stem incident to the use of the special valve-gear shown have a very objectionable
and serious effect in cutting away the valve, stem, and casing. I have, however, been
able to obviate these serious results by combining with said valve-gearing what may
be termed an "outboard-bearing," which I will now describe, first referring, however,
more particularly to the valve-gear above mentioned.
It comprises, essentially, a rock-lever or equivalent moving part E, connected with
the valve-stem for reciprocating it, a bell-crank lever G, mounted upon a pivot g¹,
carried by said part E, a means-such as a governor-rod H-for oscillating the bell-
crank lever relative to part E, and connections-such as the rod J and arm D-
between the other end of the bell-crank lever and the valve-stem for oscillating the
latter and the valve. This mechanism causes a screw-like movement of the valve,
which is, however, unequal, being rapid or accelerated at one point, resulting in a
serious deterioration of the valve and case. This I have obviated, as above stated, by
combining with said valve-gear and valve the following guiding and supporting
means.
Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, G indicates the head of the valve-
case detachably secured in any suitable manner, as by the hooked bolts g. This head
is provided with a cylindrical sleeve G¹, extending in the direction or directions
parallel with the valve-stem. g₁ g¹ indicate a two-part bushing mounted in the
sleeve G¹, and of such interior diameter as to properly fit the exterior of the valve-
stem. The lateral edges of the two parts of the bushing do not touch, but are arranged
to leave spaces, as shown in Figure 3, to permit of the lower half of the bushing being
from time to time adjusted upward to compensate for the wear which takes place
between said lower half and the stem. This adjustment is provided for by the screws g³,
which are tapped into the under side of the sleeve G', and bear against the lower half
on the bushing g'. 93 is a ring fitting in the inner end of the sleeve G', and having
between it and said bushing a space 9' for the reception of a suitable packing. The
sleeve and bushing above described are of such length as to permit the necessary
reciprocation of the valve-stem, and as a finish and to shut out from view, the
moving end of said stem, I provide the outer end of the bearing with a cap G', which
is adapted to be secured upon the sleeve G¹.
The bearing above described serves to balance the valve-stem by exposing to the
outer air at this end of the valve-case an area equal to that of the cross-section
of the valve-stem at the end next the valve-gear. To this end the cap G³ is
provided with an opening g', through which atmospheric pressure acts upon the
end of the stem.
In order to further take off wear from the under side of the valve and stem, I have

page_text: constructed the upper port or ports of the oscillating valve-shell of a slightly less area
than that of the lower port or ports. Referring to Figure 4 it will be seen that of
the four steam-ports a shown in the construction, there illustrated, those at the upper
side of the valve are the smaller. As this difference is in practice of small
account, I have indicated the larger ports by the letters y y and the smaller ports
by the letters xx. The difference in area will be proportionate to the weight of the
valve and to the steam-pressure under which the engine is constructed and adjusted
to turn, and will of course vary in different engines. The result of this construction
is that the weight of the valve and stem may be entirely sustained by the live-steam
pressure and the friction and wear between the moving and stationary parts much
diminished.
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. In an engine, the combination, with the valve, valve-stem, and casing, of a
moving part such as lever E-for reciprocating the valve, a bell-crank lever
mounted upon a pivot carried by said part, means for oscillating the bell-crank
lever relative to said moving part, connections between the bell-crank lever and the
valve for oscillating the latter, and an outboard-bearing situated at the end of the
valve opposite said valve-gearing and supporting the valve-stem, substantially as set
forth.
2. The combination, with the valve, the valve-stem, and the valve-casing provided
with the stuffing-box and bearing d, of the outboard-bearing provided with the
bushing g', divided horizontally, as described, and adjusting devices for raising the
lower half of said bushing, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the valve, the valve-stem, and the valve-casing having
the bearing d, of the outboard-bearing at the opposite end of said casing, consisting
of a sleeve G¹, flanged and divided bushing g', and the cap G², fitted and secured to
the end of said sleeve, and securing the flanges of said bushing between itself and
said sleeve, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with the valve-casing having ports on its upper and under
sides, of the hollow valve provided with corresponding ports adapted to simultaneously
open and admit steam to the cylinder through both the upper and under ports, the
upper of said valve-ports being of smaller area than the lower, substantially as set
forth.
Data thin and J.
EL 1000
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agent..