Fig. 3303.
The Allen double ported valve is one in which the second port increases the port opening for the admission only, as shown in [Fig. 3303], in which the valve is moving in the direction of the arrow; the port k will receive steam through the opening at g, and from a port passing through the valve, the steam entering it as shown by the arrow. The second port forms part of the lap of the valve, and enables the travel to be short enough to be cut off at early points in the stroke, without employing so much steam lap as to widely distort the points of cut off, this latter being a defect of the D valve.
Webb’s patent slide valve is circular, and is so arranged as to be free to revolve in the hoop of the valve rod, the effect being that the valve moves around, or to and fro in the hoop, without any special mechanism to produce such movement, and the result is, that the valve and port facings wear smooth and even without any tendency to become grooved.
BALANCED VALVES.
A balanced valve is one in which means are employed to relieve the back of the valve of the steam pressure, and thus prevent its being forced to its seat with unnecessary pressure.
In some of the most successful balanced valves this is accomplished by providing a cover plate, which may be set up to exclude the steam from the back of the valve which works (a sliding fit) between the valve face and the face of the cover plate. Such a method of balancing is sufficiently effective for all practical purposes, if the following conditions are observed: The valve rod must be accurately guided so as to avoid side strains; the valve must fit accurately to its seat and to the cover plate, and the adjustment so made that the valve slides freely at first, being steam tight, and yet allowing room for lubrication to enter. When the travel of a valve, balanced by a cover plate, is varied to alter the point of cut off, the construction must be such that the ends of the valve at the shortest stroke pass over the ends of the seat and cover plate faces, or otherwise the middle of the seat and cover plate faces will wear hollow.
The Buckeye, Porter-Allen, and Straight-Line Engines are examples of practically balanced valves. The first of these has a balancing device that follows up the wear; the second has an adjustment whereby the cover plate may be set up to take up the wear; and in the third the wear is reduced to a minimum, by accurately fitting and guiding the parts.
Fig. 3304.