Improvements in Rotary Engines applicable also as Pumps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Rotary Engines applicable also as Pumps.
We, DAVID CARTER, Engineer, of 6, Ashtree Road, Stirchley, near Birmingham,
and CHARLES JOHN SMITH, Carriage Builder, of Godalming, in the County of
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:.
This invention relates to that class of rotary engine in which the cylinder
has an annular steam space the shaft being central and having fixed to it a radial
partition or "piston."
According to this invention the valve consists of a sleeve free to rotate on a
stationary shaft in which the admission and exhaust passages are formed the
sleeve having suitable ports in it.
The passages are in the form of radial tapering slots opening into pipes at the
ends of the shaft and two exhaust passages are provided having the admission
passage between them but only one of the exhaust passages is in use at any time
the other being used for reversing as hereinafter described.
The shaft and sleeve are at the axis of a cylindrical valve chest parallel to and
opening into the cylinder of the engine. The sleeve has fixed to it a number of
radial partitions fitting steam tight in the valve chest and one of them against
the engine shaft. The ports in the sleeve are formed between each pair of
partitions.
The partitions form teeth gearing with the piston so that in each revolution of
the engine shaft the piston comes against one of the partitions and gives a partial
turn to the sleeve. At the commencement of each revolution one of the partitions
is radial to the engine cylinder the port on one side of it being open to the supply
and the other to the exhaust. At the completion of the stroke the piston comes
against this partition and gives a partial turn to the sleeve momentarily closing
both the admission and exhaust ports. When however the piston has disengaged
itself from this partition the next partition has been moved to a position radial
to the engine cylinder again opening the admission and exhaust ports. In order
to reverse the engine a partial turn is given to the valve shaft so moving the
admission passage from one side to the other of the plane through the axes of the
valve and engine cylinders throwing one exhaust passage out of use and bringing
the other into operation.
Improvements in Rotary Engines applicable also as Pumps.
We, DAVID CARTER, Engineer, of 6, Ashtree Road, Stirchley, near Birmingham,
and CHARLES JOHN SMITH, Carriage Builder, of Godalming, in the County of
[Price 8d.]

page_text: Surrey, 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:-
This invention relates to that class of rotary engine in which the cylinder
has an annular steam space the shaft being central and having fixed to it a radial
partition or piston."
66
According to this invention the valve consists of a sleeve free to rotate on a
stationary shaft in which the admission and exhaust passages are formed the
sleeve having suitable ports in it.
The passages are in the form of radial tapering slots opening into pipes at the
ends of the shaft and two exhaust passages are provided having the admission
passage between them but only one of the exhaust passages is in use at any time
the other being used for reversing as hereinafter described.
The shaft and sleeve are at the axis of a cylindrical valve chest parallel to and
opening into the cylinder of the engine. The sleeve has fixed to it a number of
radial partitions fitting steam tight in the valve chest and one of them against
the engine shaft. The ports in the sleeve are formed between each pair of
partitions.
The partitions form teeth gearing with the piston so that in each revolution of
the engine shaft the piston comes against one of the partitions and gives a partial
turn to the sleeve. At the commencement of each revolution one of the partitions
is radial to the engine cylinder the port on one side of it being open to the supply
and the other to the exhaust. At the completion of the stroke the piston comes
against this partition and gives a partial turn to the sleeve momentarily closing
both the admission and exhaust ports. When however the piston has disengaged
itself from this partition the next partition has been moved to a position radial
to the engine cylinder again opening the admission and exhaust ports. In order
to reverse the engine a partial turn is given to the valve shaft so moving the
admission passage from one side to the other of the plane through the axes of the
valve and engine cylinders throwing one exhaust passage out of use and bringing
the other into operation.
Figure 1 of the drawings annexed shows an engine constructed according to
this invention with the cover plate removed, and Figure 2 is a vertical section
in a plane perpendicular to that of Figure 1.
r
a is the main shaft passing through the cylinder 6 and having keyed to it the
drum fitting steam tight to the ends of the cylinder and carrying the piston d
fitting steam tight by suitable packing to the sides of the cylinder. e is a sleeve
rotating on the shaft f and carrying the partitions g gearing with the piston d
and fitting steam tight in the cylinder h. In the engine shown there are six of
these partitions but other numbers may be employed. Between the partitions
are ports in the sleeve registering with the tapering passage in the shaft f
communicating with the steam supply and the passages m m¹ in communication
with the exhaust n.
In the position shown in the drawings steam is entering behind the piston
which is at the beginning of a revolution while the space in front of the piston
is open to the exhaust.
If it is desired to reverse the engine, the shaft f is rotated by means of the
handle f¹ for a sixth of a revolution thus bringing the inlet passage k to the left of
the plane containing the axes of the two shafts (Figure 1), putting the exhaust
passage m out of action and bringing the exhaust passage m¹ into action in the
position formerly occupied by the admission passage k.
These passages may be clearly understood from Figures 3 and 4 which shew
sections of the shaft f on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 Figure 2 both looking towards
the centre.
In order to avoid the sudden jar when the piston d comes against the partitions g
to rotate the sleeve e, we may form an extension on the sleeve passing outside
the co-ing and carrying a number (equal to the number of partitions g) of radial

page_text: arms o provided with pins at their extremities carrying rollers gearing with a
cam surface q on the main shaft or it may be on the fly wheel. Figure 5 is a face
view of these parts. By this means the rotation of the sleeve is not effected
wholly by the action of the piston on the partitions and as the rollers p always
being in contact with the surface q, jar is avoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a rotary engine, forming the valve of a sleeve with suitable ports free to
rotate on a stationary shaft in which are the admission and exhaust passages.
2. Reversing a rotary engine by means of the two exhaust passages substantially
as described.
3. Rotary engines substantially as described and shown.