Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1894-Accepted, 21st July, 1894
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
We, HENRY ALONZO HOUSE, Senior, HENRY ALONZO HOUSE, Junior, both
of The Columbine Ship Yard, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, Engineers, and ROBERT
RINTOUL SYMON, of 20 Abchurch Lane, in the City of London, 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, that is to say :-
The subject of our present application for Patent is a new and improved form of
rotary engine adapted to be driven by steam or other vapour, or by compressed
air or other suitable expansible fluid, and of the general class known as cyclo-
motors."
The special object of the improvements which distinguish our invention is to
adapt such engines to marine propulsion, particularly to the running of high speed
launches, torpedo boats and the like, which require engines of high efficiency, great
power and speed in small compass, and the capability of ready and easy control and
reversibility. The improvements which we have introduced in our engine have
been devised with these objects in view, but of course engines constructed with these
improvements are applicable to other purposes.
These improvements consist in a means for reversing the direction of rotation of
the engine; in a novel and effective plan of compounding rotary engines, and 'in
special features of construction which will be described in detail below.
The annexed drawings illustrate an engine to which our improvements are
applied.
Figure 1 is an end view and part section of the engine on line y-y of Figure 3.
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic development of the engine illustrating the principle
or mode of operation.
Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section on line 2 of Figure 4.
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section on line a-x of Figure 3, drawn to a somewhat
larger scale than Figures 1 and 3.
A is the shaft which has its bearings in trunnions A¹ of the engine casing or frame,
which latter are journalled in supports A2 A2 and keyed thereto.
On the shaft A and keyed to the same is the rotary element of the motor con-
sisting of a casting B in the general form of a circular disc or wheel with peripheral
pockets, vanes, or any other similar and proper provision for rotation under the
action of steam, air, or other fluid pressure directed through ports tangential, or
approximately so, to the periphery of the disc.
The disc B is formed with a plurality of sets of pockets or vanes which bear to
one another a certain definite relation. The pockets of one set, designated as C in
the drawings, are formed in the central portion of greatest diameter of the disc by a
series of teeth or projections on the periphery thereof.
Next to these on one, or preferably on both, sides are other pockets D similarly
formed by teeth or projections on portions of the disc of somewhat reduced diameter
but of greater width, and on the sides of these are other similar pockets E in portions.
of the disc of still greater width and smaller diameter.
The casing and vanes for this disc are so constructed that the steam, for example,
under high pressure is directed into the pockets C from which it exhausts into
the pockets D, thence into the pockets E, and from thence into the air, so that
the capacity of the several series of pockets, and their peripheral speed, will be
proportioned to the pressure of the steam, or other motive fluid, acting upon
hem.

page_text: The construction which we have devised for this purpose is as follows:-At one
or more points the pockets C are closed by passing under a block as C¹ through
which extend and open ports C2 C2 as nearly as practicable tangentially to the disc
and in opposite directions. Beyond the edges of said blocks Care openings F in
webs F between which the central portion of the disc revolves, and through these
the steam, as it expands in the annular chamber O, passes into a second annular
chamber G formed by the webs F¹ and webs G' which latter extend down below
the series of pockets D. To reach the chamber G however, the steam must first
pass through ports H2 H2 in blocks H, similar in construction and arrangement to
those previously described, except that the area of the ports is greater, and through
which the steam is directed into the pockets D.
1
Beyond such blocks H are the openings I in the webs G' through which steam
from the pockets D passes to and through ports K into pockets E, and thence into
an annular chamber J, and thence to the main exhaust ports K'.
Practically, there are thus formed three discs of unequal diameter, each
containing in its periphery teeth, vanes or pockets of an area or capacity pro-
portioned to its diameter, and corresponding annular chambers, in which the said
discs are enclosed, communication between said chambers being through partitions
or blocks which close the pockets in the disc as they pass under them, and which
contain ports by means of which, and of openings in the partitions between the
annular chambers, the steam admitted to the first series of pockets exhausts
successively through the others.
The teeth or vanes which constitute the walls of the pockets are radial, and as
the ports through which the steam is directed into the pockets open in opposite
directions, the disc will rotate in one direction or the other according to the ports
through which the steam is admitted. We therefore provide with each pair of
ports a controlling valve or cock as M, having a handle M¹, and arranged to connect
the entering port, as M², with either of the ports, as C².
The stems of said valves or cocks are extended, when necessary, to bring their
handles into convenient position to be operated, and all the handles are made to pass
through slots in, or to otherwise engage with, a shell N mounted on the trunnions A¹
and capable of limited rotary movement, so that by turning said shell all the cocks
will be simultaneously turned in one or the other direction.
From the above description, and by reference to Figure 2, the operation of the
engine will be readily understood. Steam under high pressure is admitted through
the ports determined by the position of the cocks, into the pockets C. This sets
the disc in rotation, and the steam, escaping from the pockets as they pass from
under the blocks C₁, expands in the chamber O. The only passage for the steam
from this chamber is through the openings F F, ports H2 H2, and pockets D, into
chamber G, and, although it has expanded to greater volume, the greater area of
ports H, the increased capacity and slower speed of pockets D, enable it to do
useful work.
In like manner the steam, still further expanding in the chamber G, passes
through the ports K, which are of still greater area, into the pockets E, the capacity
of which is greater and the peripheral speed lower than those of the pockets D and
from thence the steam passes off through the exhaust.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we would have it understood
that we do not limit our invention to an engine with three sets of pockets or vanes
as herein described, as we may employ either a less or a greater number. On the
other hand we do not claim broadly the plan of compounding engines herein set
forth, as we are aware that in rotary as well as in other engines heretofore the
steam at different stages of its expansion has been utilised, but that what we
claim is :-
First. In a rotary engine a rotary element or disc having two or more sets of
vanes or pockets of different capacity and relative speed and ports of corresponding

page_text: capacity for each set of vanes or pockets communicating with the exhaust of those
of next smaller size and higher speed, as described.
Second. In a rotary engine the combination with a rotary disc having portions of
different diameters, formed or provided with peripheral vanes or pockets of a
capacity or area inversely proportional to their distance from the axis of the disc,
of a casing forming separate chambers for each set of pockets, and ports for
directing steam or other actuating fluid into the several sets of vanes or pockets, the
said chambers being connected through said ports in series as described.
Third. The combination with the rotary element of an engine of the kind
described having peripheral vanes or pockets therein, of ports for the admission of
steam or other actuating fluid to the vanes or pockets tangentially to the path of
noverment of said pockets and in opposite directions and valves or cocks for con-
trolling the passage of the steam or other actuating fluid through said ports, as
described.
Fourth. The combination with the rotary disc of an engine of the kind described
having a plurality of series of vanes or pockets of different capacity and speed, ports
for the admission of steam or other actuating fluid to the several series of pockets
tangentially and in opposite directions, valves for controlling the passage of the steam
or other actuating fluid through said ports, and a movable part to which all of said
valves are connected whereby they may be simultaneously operated, as described.
Fifth. The combination with the rotary disc having portions of different
diameters and width formed or provided with peripheral vanes or pockets, the
casing forming independent steam chambers for each series of vanes or pockets,
ports for admitting steam or other actuating fluid to the outer and smaller series of
pockets, tangentially and in opposite directions, similar ports for admitting the
exhaust steam or other actuating fluid from one series of vanes or pockets to that
of next greater capacity, valves for controlling the passage of steam or other
actuating fluid through said ports, and means for simultaneously operating all the
valves, as described.
Sixth. The combination of the rotary disc provided with series of peripheral
vanes or pockets of different capacity the casing forming chambers for the several
series of pockets, ports for the admission of steam to the several series, cocks or
valves for controlling said ports and the shell with limited rotary movement with
which the handles of said cocks engage, as described.
Seventh. The combination with the disc having a central series of peripheral
vanes or pockets and one or more series of similar vanes or pockets on opposite sides
in portions of the disc of less diameter and greater width of a casing forming
independent chambers for the several series of pockets, connected in series through
ports of areas proportioned to the width or capacity of their respective series of
pockets, as described.
H. A. HOUSE,
H. A. HOUSE, JUNR.,
R. R. SYMON.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.