Improvements in Rotary Engines or Machines Embodying same.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug,, 1899-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines or Machines Embodying same.
A communication from THE EMPIRE ENGINE AND MOTOR COMPANY, Corporation
organized and existing under Laws of State of New York, and having its
principal place of business in the City of Orangeburg, Rockland County, N.Y.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London,
Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to produce improvements in rotary engines, or
machines embodying the same, adapted to be operated by compressed air, or other
fluid, whereby the structure and operation of the machine are simplified and
facilitated, and its efficiency and durability increased.
In the accompanying drawing:
Fig. I is a side elevation of my engine complete, in its simplest form of
embodiment;
Fig. II is a central vertical longitudinal section thereof, transverse to the
blades of the piston;
Fig. III is a similar view, showing the blades in side elevation, and the
intermediate packing member in section; and the addition of reducing gears;
Fig. IV is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. I, the piston being in the
position illustrated in Fig. 11;
Fig. V is a perspective view of the intermediate packing member detached,
with the packing strips in position;
Fig. VI is a similar view, showing the same, with the packing strips detached
and the packing strip actuating springs in place;
Fig. VII is a central longitudinal section of an embodiment of my invention
in the form of a power driven drill provided with an improved feed cylinder;
Fig. VIII is a section on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. VII;
Fig. IX is a top plan view of a further modified form of embodiment of
my invention adapting it for use as a breast or hand drill;
Fig. X is a section of the subject matter of Fig. IX and taken transversely to
the axis of the piston;
Fig. XI is a section taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. X and
illustrating the addition of a breast plate, omitted for convenience of illustration
from Figures IX and X;
Fig. XII is a view similar to Fig. X, showing a modified form of handle
substituted for the breast plate shown in Fig. XI.
Referring to the numerals on the drawings:
1 indicates one portion of a two-part cylinder, and 2 the other portion thereof.
Each portion is provided with opposite longitudinal flanges 3 and 4, respectively,
which are constructed to make close joints one with the other, and when united,
as by screw bolts 5, to complete the cylinder. The flanges 3 and 4 are shorter

page_text: than the length of the cylinder sections, as clearly shown in Fig. I, in order to
provide space upon the opposite ends for exterior screw threads 7. (See for
example Fig. II). The screw threaded ends of the completed cylinder are adapted
to accommodate internally screw threaded flanges or rims 8, that extend, res-
pectively, in opposite directions from the cylinder heads 9. The rims 8 are of
required diameter to fit the completed cylinder, and are carried, as by flanges 10
upon cylinder-head cylinder sections 11. The term last employed is used to
designate hollow portions of the cylinder heads which, being of equal diameter
with the cylinder and exactly coaxial therewith, constitute, when the respective
heads are secured to the cylinder sections, extensions of the cylinder within
which the concentric portion of the piston rotates.
The construction of the cylinder sections within the opposite heads embodies
an important structural feature of my invention, constituting, as it does, desirable
means for taking the machine apart, when required, and also facilitating the
production of that degree of nicety and exactitude of fit that is essential to the
perfect operation of the machine.
The cylinder heads 9 are provided with opposite coaxial bearing pieces 12,
within which are, respectively, secured bushings 13 that support, respectively,
piston shafts 14.
The inner end of each head 9 is provided with an annular flat-faced projec-
tion 16 that in the two heads are designed to abut, respectively, against the ends
of the piston. Around the interior_end of each of the bushings 13, within the
bearings 12 and the projection 16, I provide an annular recess 17. Each recess
carries a suitable packing ring 18, of any ordinary, simple, or compound structure,
and which, being projected outwardly, as by a spring or springs 19, constitutes
a suitable packing working against the head of the piston.
Each of the shafts 14 is secured to, or preferably made in one forging with
a piston head 20, and each piston head includes an annular flange or rim 21,
from which projects an oblique annular wall 22, that carries upon its extremity
an annular bearing flange 23, which preferably works in a cylinder head cylinder
section 11. The employment of the flange 23 and wall 22 is preferred on account
of lightness, but that particular structure is not essential, the object being to
employ in connection with the flange or rim 21, an exterior flange 23 that
projects well into and fits the interior of the cylinder-head cylinder section.
As clearly shown in Fig. II, for example, of the drawings a preferable con-
struction is illustrated, in which the flange 23 extends outwardly beyond the
face of the piston head 20.
The rims or flanges 21 are designed to fit on the ends of and thus to accom-
modate and properly assemble the two sections 24 and 25 of a two-part rotary
piston, which may be provided, respectively, with lugs 28 (see Fig. IV) by
means whereof the piston sections may be secured to the piston heads through
the aid of screws or bolts 29.
The lugs 28, however, may be omitted, if preferred, and bolts, extending from
one piston head to the other, may serve to draw the piston heads snugly and
securely against the ends of the piston sections, which means, constituting an
obvious mechanical expedient, do not appear to require special illustration.
The piston sections are provided, respectively, with plane walls 30, which,
as is clearly shown in Fig. IV, are in the complete piston, parallel to each other,
and separated by off-sets 31, so as to define an oblong parallel-sided space 32
within the piston. The space 32 may be of suitable and preferred extent and
shape, and is designed to accommodate an intermediate packing member 33,
which is, as shown in Fig. V, longitudinally co-extensive with the piston, but
which is, transversely, considerably narrower than the space 32, as shown in
Fig. IV.
The object of the employment of the walls 30 and the off-sets 31 to define the
space 32 is to eliminate in a measure, the source of friction between the piston
blades 34 and the ways provided for them in the piston.

page_text: In other machines of this class the blades work between the two portions of
a piston, and in contact with the continuous walls thereof.
By my present invention a portion of the frictional contact is dispensed with
through the interposition of the space 32.
The packing member is provided with well-known L-shaped packing strips 35,
and is also upon opposite sides provided with packing boxes 36, within which
the ends of the blades 34 may be embedded. Springs 37, within the packing
boxes 36, are preferably employed to yieldingly urge the blades in opposite
directions.
By the employment of the packing boxes 36, the passage of the actuating fluid
from one side of the blades 34 to the other is prevented, while, at the same time,
it is unnecessary to make a close joint between the piston blades and the opposing
walls of the piston sections between which the blades move.
By the employment of the springs 37, in connection with the intermediate
packing member 33, the blades 34 are reversible in practice, so that when their
outer edges become worn the inner edges may be set to make contact with the
interior wall 38 of the cylinder.
It should be noted in this connection that the interior wall 38 of the cylinder
is not strictly cylindrical, but is slightly elliptical in cross-section, for reasons
already known and understood in the art.
Referring particularly to Fig. IV, 40 and 41 indicate inlet and outlet passages
formed preferably in the wall of the cylinder section 1, which communicate,
respectively, with the interior of a valve chamber 42, within which is contained
a suitable valve 43. The chamber 42 is provided with an actuating fluid supply
pipe connection 44.
It is frequently desirable in adapting machines of the class to which my
invention belongs to special uses, to provide within the machine a form of
reducing or multiplying gear, which will not materially increase the size or
weight of the machine or disfigure the symmetry of its exterior form. For this
purpose, I propose to provide a spindle 55, which is revolubly carried in co-axial
alignment with the shaft 14, and upon the contiguous end of the shaft a pinion 56
secured thereto.
Meshing with the pinion 56 I provide a gear 57, rotatably mounted, as upon
a stud 58, the gear 57 being provided with or secured to a second pinion 59.
The second pinion meshes with a gear 60 that is secured to the spindle 55.
By this arrangement is provided a compact and self-contained system of
reducing gear that may be concealed within a housing 61 that constitutes merely
an enlargement of the cylinder head 9. Multiplying gear could be substituted
for that illustrated by use of proper gears and pinions.
In Fig. VII of the drawings, I illustrate an improved feed mechanism com-
prehending a cylinder head 46, provided with an extension cylinder 47. A
partition diaphragm 48, with a box 49 for the shaft is illustrated. The extension
cylinder contains a reciprocatory piston head 50, connected with a piston rod 51,
which, working through a packing box 52 in a cylinder head 53, is connected
with a suitable supporting frame 54. In the wall of the extension cylinder I
provide steam supply passages 62 and 63 communicating with a valve chamber 64
within which works a valve 65 controllable by means of a lever 66.
67 indicates an exhaust port. 68 indicates a fluid pressure supply pipe com-
municating with the interior of the valve chamber 64. Through manipulation of
the lever 66, steam may be admitted to one side or the other of the piston 50,
thereby feeding the motor to or from its work. By constructing the cylinder
head 46 and the cylinder head extension 47 in one piece, I am not only able
to increase the compactness and adaptability of my machine, but I am able to
make, in that manner, the ordinary cylinder head and cylinder head extension
interchangeable, so that any engine of the ordinary type may be converted into
a self-feeding engine simply by the addition of a combined cylinder head and
cylinder extension of required size.

page_text: In Figures IX to XII inclusive, of the drawings, I illustrate in views corre-
sponding substantially to those shown in Figures I to IV, inclusive, a form of
embodiment of my invention mutatis mutandis, adapted for use as a hand or
breast drill.
Referring to the figures on these drawings:
71 indicates a cylinder or case, 72 the cylinder heads, 73 the piston, 74 the
piston blades and 75 the piston shaft, corresponding to similar elements previously
described. 76 indicates a hollow body or bowl, that carries a tool supporting
stem 77 and is provided with a rim 78, to which is secured a gear 79 intermeshing
with gears or pinions 80 upon the opposite ends of the shaft 75. This tool
should be provided with suitable means for adjusting and holding it to the work
it has to perform.
In Figures IX and X handles 81 adapted for that purpose and transverse to the
axis of the shaft 75 are shown.
In Figure XII a single handle 82, extending coaxially with the stem 76
upon the opposite side of the cylinder 71 is illustrated.
In Fig. XI a tubular supporting piece 83 corresponding in location to the
handle 82 in Fig. XII is illustrated, provided with a breast piece 84, by aid
whereof the drill may be used as a breast drill in the usual manner.
The form of embodiment of my invention at present under consideration com-
prehends special means for practically reversing the operation of the shaft 75
whenever required and I accomplish that object by the employment of a reversing
valve immediately hereinafter described.
85 indicates the valve chamber which is preferably provided at its opposite
ends with fittings 86 and 87 that serve to limit the reciprocal movement of a
sliding valve 88. The valve chamber 85 and valve 88 within the same are
preferably located transversely to the axis of the piston 73, as illustrated.
The fitting 87 terminates in its outer end in a stuffing box 89 within which
works a valve stem 90 that is secured at one end, as illustrated, to the valve SS,
and at the other end is loosely secured, as indicated at 91, to a rock bar 92.
The rock bar is pivotally mounted upon the handle of the tool, either directly
as illustrated in Figures IX and X, or upon an intermediate stud 93, as shown in
Fig. XII. The rock bar may itself constitute a handle, as illustrated in Fig. XII,
or it may be provided with one or more extensions 94 that act as handles.
more than one extension 94 are employed, as illustrated in Fig. X, one may, be
located upon one side of the tool handle and the other upon the other side
thereof.
If
The operation of the rock bar is adapted, through aid of the valve stem 90, to
provide reciprocal movement of'the valve 88 within its chamber 86.
The valve chamber is provided upon one side with a threaded connection 95
for the purpose of connecting a fluid supply pipe and the bore of the connection
communicates with an interior annular recess 96 formed in the interior wall
of the chamber 85.
The valve 88 is provided with a corresponding recess 97 formed in its exterior
wall.
The recesses 96 and 97, when united, constitute a flattened, or elongated
annular recess in the opposing walls of the chamber 85 and valve 88. Through
these recesses, by means of the reciprocation of the valve in its chamber, com-
munication between the supply pipe connection and the passages 98 and 99,
respectively, of the cylinder may be made and broken, the valve being provided
at its opposite ends with annular walls 100 and 101, respectively, that work
across the mouths of the passages 98 and 99, respectively, as illustrated in
Figures X and XII.
The interior of the valve 88 is provided with an open chamber 102, which
communicates with the interior of the open valve chamber through openings 103
in the opposite ends of the valves. The openings may be defined by skeleton
heads 104 in the opposite ends of the valve which serve to define the central

page_text: chamber 102 and afford means of connection between the valve and the valve
stem 90.
Through the presence of the interior annular recess 96 in the valve chamber and
the exterior annular recess 97 in the valve, the valve is steam or fluid balanced
upon all sides. It is preferably supported at its opposite ends with springs 105
and 106, respectively, which, resting at one end, respectively, against the
fittings 86 and 87, and at the other end against the interior of the valve, serve
to yieldingly confine the valve in the inoperative position illustrated in Fig. X.
The operation of my machine in its several forms of embodiment herein illus-
trated will, doubtless, appear clear to one skilled in the art from the foregoing
description, but by way of brief summary it may be added that the fundamental
principle of the engine is the same throughout the various forms of embodiment
and that the modifications illustrated in Figures VII, VIII and IX to XII,
inclusive, respectively, are intended to illustrate only exemplifications of its
adaptation to special uses, which adaptations may be indefinitely extended within
the scope of my invention.
It is proper also to note that where additional reference numerals are employed
as descriptive of the same parts, as in Figures IX to XII, inclusive, they are
employed only for the purpose of facilitating the reading of this specification
as a whole, and not as indicative of differences of structure.
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. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder and rotatory piston
fitting within the same, the piston being longer than the cylinder, of cylinder
heads secured to the cylinder, and provided with annular cylinder extensions
within which the piston works, substantially as set forth.
2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder having externally screw
threaded ends, and a rotatory piston of greater length than the cylinder, fitting
within the same, of cylinder heads provided with cylinder extensions within
which the piston works, and internally screw threaded rims, respectively, adapted
to screw upon the ends of the cylinder, substantially as set forth.
3. In a rotary engine, the combination with a two-part cylinder, of longi-
tudinally disposed flanges and bolts for uniting the two parts of the cylinder
sections, the flanges being of less extent than the cylinder, of a rotatory piston
fitting within the cylinder, and cylinder heads provided with rims, screw threads
for uniting the cylinder and the rims of the cylinder heads, and a cylinder
extension within the respective heads for the reception of the piston, substantially
as set forth.
4. In a rotary engine, the combination with its cylinder of the two-part piston
containing movable piston blades, piston heads provided with inward projecting
annular rims which fit over the ends of the two parts of the piston and properly
assemble them, and means for uniting the two piston heads, substantially as
set forth.
5. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder and the piston
carrying the movable blades, of the piston heads provided with inward extending
rims which are adapted to fit over the ends of the piston, the oblique walls
projecting from the said rims, and annular bearing flanges which are carried
by the said oblique walls, and are adapted to fit within cylindrical extensions of
the cylinder, substantially as set forth.
6. In a rotary engine, the combination with its cylinder, piston and piston
heads, provided with inward extending rims, of oblique walls extending outward
from the said rims, and annular bearing flanges carried upon the walls, fitting
within the cylinder and extending outwardly beyond the heads, substantially
as set forth.
7. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, piston, and walls within

page_text: the piston defining an open space therein, of a packing member working
between the walls of the space, packing boxes in the opposite sides of the packing
member, and piston blades working through suitable apertures in the piston,
supported at their inner edges by the packing boxes, and making contact at
their outer edges with the bore of the cylinder, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with a rotary engine cylinder and piston shaft, of a
cylinder head upon the cylinder, provided with a wall or diaphragm, and a closed
shaft box in the diaphragm for the piston shaft, of a cylinder extension upon
the cylinder head coaxial with the shaft box in the diaphragm, a piston working
within the cylinder extension, a head upon the end of the cylinder extension,
a piston rod connected with the cylinder and passing through the head of the
cylinder extension, a supporting frame connected with the piston rod, and means
for supplying power alternately to the opposite sides of the piston, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
9. The combination with a terminally screw threaded cylinder, piston, and
piston shaft of a rotary engine, of a terminally threaded movable cylinder exten-
sion adapted to screw upon the end of the cylinder, a fixed piston within the
movable cylinder co-operating therewith, and a diaphragm within the cylinder
extension provided with a closed shaft box to accommodate the piston shafts,
whereby interchange between the cylinder extension and an ordinary cylinder
head may be conveniently effected, as required, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
10. The combination of the cylinder, the piston therein, a fluid supply pipe
and the passages leading therefrom to the interior of the cylinder on opposite
sides of the piston, a sliding reversing valve adapted to control the openings to
the said passages, and the springs which bear upon the said valve and normally
hold it in a position to cover the openings of both of the said passages, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Noted this 8th dow of Au 1900
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.