Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1899
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
I, JOHN SPENCE, of 910, East Eleventh Street, Erie, Pennsylvania, United
States of America, Gentleman, 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:
1
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in steam-engines, and
especially to a rotary eccentric piston type, in which a steam-chest is provided
with a rocking valve designed to open and close alternately two ports which
merge into one duct immediately before the interior of the steam-cylinder is
reached, whereby steam may be fed at the proper moment to the two diametrically
opposite wings carried by the rotary disc."
The invention relates, further, to the provision of suitable packing rings which
are spring-actuated and designed to bear against the faces of the rotary disc,
said disc being provided with spring-actuated wings, at the edges of which wings
are strips for producing steam-tight contact between the wings and the cylinder-
heads.
To these ends and to such others as the invention may appertain the same
consists, further, in the novel construction, combination, and adaptation of parts,
as will be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically defined in the
appended claim.
My invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my engine, showing one of the cylinder-heads
removed.
Figure 2 is a sectional view through one of the wings carried by the rotary
disc.
Figure 3 is a detail view of one of the wings, showing the spring-actuated strip
at the end to take up wear and make a steam-tight contact with the cylinder-
head.
Referring now the drawings by letter, A designates the casing or cylinder, in
which is journaled the shaft B, carrying the rotary disc C. Mounted in recesses
in said disc are the wings D, which are spring-actuated, the springs E being
provided to force the wings outward to receive the impact of the steam, which is
fed from the steam-chest. Each end of the wings is grooved, as at F, to receive
a packing-strip G, and each packing-strip has pins G₁, designed to be seated in
holes D in the wing, a spring H being provided to throw the strip out from
the wing toward the cylinder-head K. Seated in the faces of the disc are the
semi-circular rings M, a spring or springs M¹ are provided, which are seated in
the grooves channeled to receive said semi-circular rings. These sectional rings
are designed to be thrown out against the cylinder-heads to form a steam-tight
contact with the same.
The portion of the chamber surrounding the rotary disc is enlarged, as at A¹, in
which enlarged portion the wings are disposed when receiving the impact of the
steam, and at one end of this space is an exhaust-port R, while at its opposite
end is a duct S, having branching ducts S1 and S2, which latter ducts lead into the
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page_text: steam-chest T. Mounted in this chest. is a shaft Q, to which is fastened the
rocking shoe or cut-off valve J. This cut-off valve conforms to the curved surface
of the steam-chest and is of sufficient length to close both of the ducts S1 and S2,
but when rocked to alternately open and close said ducts. The valve is rocked by
means of an eccentric connection with the main shaft, as shown.
In operation it will be observed that by the arrangement of the ducts leading
away from the steam-chest and opening at one end of the enlarged space in the
steam-cylinder the steam is allowed to force one of the wings throughout the
length of the enlarged space in the cylinder from steam coming from one duct S₁
or S, and by the time the second wing comes adjacent to the outlet of the duct S
the cut-off valve will have rocked back, so as to open a steam-duct and allow steam
to propel the second wing.
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 concentric engine the combination with the casing, the shaft
mounted therein and disc carried by said shaft, the spring-actuated pistons D
having their ends slotted as at F, the spring-actuated packing-strips having
pins designed to be seated in holes in the said recesses, the semi-circular packing-
rings M and springs M¹ disposed about the outer faces of said disc adjacent to its
circumference, the steam-chest having a rocking cut-off valve, from which steam-
chest the branching ducts S1 and S2 lead, and merged into a single duct S before
entering the steam-cylinder, all substantially shown and described.
Doted this 1st day of August 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.