Double ported steam valve history??

[crueby]

Hi all,
I've been doing research on some early large marine engines, around the 1850s, and have a history question. Maybe some of us are that old, but probably not...      A type of valve that I first saw on the Ohio battleship engine (from around 1900) is the double-ported or multi-ported D valve. It was used to get more port opening area and exhaust flow from a given valve movement distance, for engines with very large piston diameters. They look like this diagram I found:

The steam openings in the slide valve extend out the sides of the slide valve to take steam from the chest, and the extra passages/openings around the perimeter allow an volume of exhaust.

My question is, does anyone know when this type of valve was invented? The engines I am researching have a very wide steam chest that COULD fit this kind of setup, but I don't know if this type existed then? If not, I'll assume a standard 3-port setup. So far my searching has not turned up any info on these other than diagrams like this in books published around 1900.

Thanks for any info!Chris

[Michael S.]

Could these be the so-called Trick sliders? Invented by Mr. Trick in 1855.

[crueby]

Could these be the so-called Trick sliders? Invented by Mr. Trick in 1855.

Thats a very interesting valve layout, I had not seen that one before.  Thats a possibility - I'll go searching on that one, and see what else it leads to. Thanks!!

[crueby]

Perfect! Searching on the 'Trick' valve of 1855 led me to pages 159/160 of "Handbook on the Steam Engine" by Hermann Haeder, which shows several variants, and mentions the original double ported valve like I showed in the first post was invented by John Penn (of the Penn Valve Gear fame). That puts this style valve well before the engine I am researching (one of the engines in Brunel's Great Eastern, the engine built by James Watt And Son (well after Watt and his son were gone, the company kept the name)). Interesting to have another tie-in to Penn, considering that my next build will be the engine from the Diesbar paddle steamer, using a Penn engine!

Thanks again Michael - you have been a great resource on several engines. I bought copies of several of Haeder's books on your recommendation, did not have this particular book (yet).
 

[Michael S.]

Hi Chris,

I'm glad I could help. I got the information from the book "The Development of the Steam Engine" by Conrad Matschoss, published in 1908. It's the best book on steam engines in the German-speaking world. The original 1908 edition is available, or the two volumes were reprinted in the 1980s in West and East Germany.

Regards, Michael    

[Michael S.]

There is also a book that deals exclusively with the controls of steam engines.

[crueby]

Great - I will look up those books!