IMPROVEMENTS IN A ROTARY STEAM ENGINE
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Wills Uren, of Hoomeavy-Meavy, in the
County of Devon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN A ROTARY
STEAM ENGINE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Wills Uren at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th February 1860.
I, EDWARD WILLS UREN, of Hoomeavy-Meavy, in the County of Devon, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN A ROTARY
STEAM ENGINE," to be as follows:-
The engine consists of an enclosed wheel or wheels forming a cylinder or
cylinders revolving with an equal number of grooves or slits in the periphery
and sides of each cylinder, (where the paddles work) of sufficient depth and
to admit of the same number of slides or paddles which will act as revolving
pistons to slide out and in, or up and down. The slides or paddles are
connected by connecting rods which pass through orifices in the boss of the
cylinder, and through the axle or shaft, and slide in and out of the grooves in
an opposite direction to. each other. There are orifices in the centre of the
boss of each cylinder for the axle or shaft to pass through to which the
cylinder or cylinders, are securely keyed or fastened. Between each cylinder
and close to them at each side, and at the outside of end cylinders, there are
plates witli an orifice in the centre of each for the axle or shaft to pass through
and revolve. There is an aperture also. at one side of each under plate for
the steam to escape from the first to the second cylinder through the vacuum
or screw cylinders, and from thence to the others, propelling the slides or
paddles, (when a vacuum is used.) and turning the shaft or axle propelling

page_text: whatever may be attached to it. On the outside of the cylinder or cylinders
on the top and bottom and between the side plates there are semicircular
plates to each cylinder of two different diameters, with flanges being securely
fastened to each other, and to the middle plates and end or outside plates,
the one being at a certain distance from the periphery of each cylinder
to allow of a steam space, and the slides passing out from the grooves of each
cylinder to the inner side of the largest semicircular plate forming a space for
the paddles to slide out and in and for the steam to pass through on leaving
the boiler through an aperture and in its progress from one cylinder to the
other, the steam acting with its full power of pressure on the slides or paddles
forcing them forward with the full power of the steam and turning the axle or
shaft and propelling whatever may be attached to it. The other semicircular plate
is of the same radius as the cylinder, and will not admit of any steam to pass
between them, forming a semicircular cylinder of two diffirent diameters, and
secured to the plates and to each other. These semicircular plates when
secured to the middle and outer plates form alternately a complete range of
cylinders of two different diameters for the cylinders with the paddles to revolve
in, the cylinders touching one as they revolve, and at a distance from the other
to admit of a steam space, and by the action of the steam on the paddles or
slides which work in this space, forces them forward until they come to the
incline plane, there being one incline plane to each extremity of the small
semicircular plate the slide then ascends the incline plane and being pressed
back into the groove of the cylinder forces the opposite one into the steam
space for the action of the steam to press against the pistons or paddles and
forcing them forward, and the cylinder or cylinders round until they come to
the incline plane, where the aperture for the steam to escape is; the steam
escaping through the aperture for that purpose to the next cylinder, and the
slides ascending the incline plane by the pressure of the steam on the next paddle
or slide in rotation, and on the opposite and alternate slides, and so on in pro-
gression as fast as the power of the steam will admit. When the semicircular
plates are secured together, they form semicircular cylinders of two different
diameters for the revolving cylinders to revolve in, and can be of any
length as may be required. Occasionally there will be screws with fly fans
attached to them used with the paddles working in cylinders fór that purpose, and
properly keyed or secured to the axle or shaft. They can be used either
alternately with the cylinders containing the paddles, or in a range of cylinders
independent to the paddles, and the cylinders containing them; these cylinders
for the screws are truly bored for that purpose, and properly secured to the
shaft or axle and to the plates as specified for the others, the steam acting on

page_text: the fly fans and the fans of the screws propelling them with the axle or shaft,
and escaping through the aperture of the middle plates, and passing from one
cylinder to the other as in the former where paddles are used.
For stationary and marine engines there are to be cylinders with fly fans
and screws in such number as may be required to increase the required
power. These screws with fly fans work in cylinders truly bored, as the first
are and can be arranged in any required position, horizontal, circular, or
diagonally; there will be pipes to conduct the steam from the first range of
cylinders to the first cylinder on the outside, and from the first to the second,
from the second to the third, and so on from one to the other until the steam
shall have passed through the whole range of the outside cylinders, acting on
the fly fans and screws, and turning them and the shaft or axle with the force
of the steam. These screws are secured to axles or shafts, which pass out
through the ends of the boiler with eccentrics attached to the ends of their
axles, and connecting rods to the eccentrics on the main axle or shaft. After
the steam leaves these outside screw cylinders, it is conveyed to the smoke
funnel, the smoke and hot air mixing with the steam, and escaping over screws
and fly fans fixed on axles in the smoke funnel for that purpose, turning them
with the power of the steam and hot air combined as it escapes. Those
screws and fly fans are attached to an axle or axles, which are attached to the
main shaft or axle by proper connections, as may be required, with eccentrics
and connecting rods. At regular distances between each set of cylinders, and
where required, there are vacuum cylinders between the others to receive the
steam on leaving the one cylinder until it can be admitted into the next by the
regular action of a revolving steam valve, and so on; the steam will proceed
through the whole length of the engine until it arrives at the last cylinder to
blow off or escape; the steam acting with its full power on the paddles or
revolving pistons of all the cylinders in the engine and on all the screws at the
same time proceeds on from cylinder to cylinder with the same pressure as
when it first leaves the boiler until it makes its final escape. When there is
a vacuum there are revolving valves to each steam escape aperture of the
centre plates, worked by eccentrics from a shaft outside the engine in the
boiler, and out through the ends of the boiler, and attached to the axle by
connecting rods and eccentrics. The engine can be worked either within the
boiler or on the outside; when worked within the boiler, the steam will leave
the engine after passing over or under all the required cylinders with the
paddles and screws at the same height of pressure as when at first entering.
There are two longitudinal plates, one on each side of the engine, for the semi-
circular cylinders, and centre and end plates to be secured to as well as the

page_text: boiler. There are also semicircular plates fixed under the engine transversely
to take the weight of the engine, and are to be secured to the longitudinal
plates, or otherwise fastened or fixed so as to resist or sustain whatever
pressure or force that might be put on the engine, thus forining a machine of
any required length and power as may be necessary, from the same steam
being worked over as many revolving cylinders and through the cylinders with
the screws, working the screws as may be required to produce tlíat power.
The engine and boiler will be securely fastened together, the sliaft and
cylinders, with the paddles and screws, revolving by the pressure of the steam.
There are pipes, with double taps fixed at proper intervals at or near each end
of the boiler and engine, one of each to convey the steam on to the engine, the
others to allow the steam to escape to the smoke funnel. By the arrangement
of these pipes the engine can be reversed by reversing the steam from one end
of the engine to the other without the use of any other or the usual means.
There is also a pipe to the boiler for blowing off the steam, with a proper
safety valve. The are pipes with taps at the bottom of each cylinder to
draw off the condensed steam.
The fire-place is constructed for the fire to play round the boiler in 'the
usual way when coal or coke is used, and the smoke and hot air to ascend the
funnel with the steam, assisting the steam to act on the fly fans and screws
that are placed in the funnel for that purpose.
There will be gas, fluid, or other agencies to cause motive power used for
some of the engines (instead of coal and coke), which will be manufactured
on the engine as consumed, and conveyed to the boiler in pipes or by other
contrivances, as may be required, the heat and smoke (should any arise) to be
conveyed to the smoke funnels, as before described, acting with the steam on
the fly fans and screws fixed in the smoke funnels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Wills Uren, in the Great-Seal Patent Office on
'the 4th August '1860.
TO ALL TO 'WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
WILLS UREN, of Hoomeavy-Meavy, in the County of Devon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty' Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Hérself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Edward Wills Uren, 'Her special licence that I, .the said

page_text: Edward Wills Uren, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Edward Wills Uren, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN A ROTARY STEAM ENGINE," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Edward Wills Uren, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Wills Uren, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is.
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement -
My Invention consists of a rotary steam engine, which consists of an
inclosed wheel or wheels, or cylinder or cylinders, or screw and fan, or screws
and fans revolving, with an equal number of slits or grooves in the periphery
and sides of each cylinder (where the paddles work), of sufficient depth and
to admit of the same number of slides or paddles, which will act as revolving
pistons to slide out and in, or up and down. These slides or paddles are con-
nected by connecting rods which pass through orifices in the boss of the
cylinder, and through the axle or shaft, and slide in and out of the grooves in
an opposite direction to each other. There are orifices in the centre of the boss.
of each cylinder for the axle or shaft to pass through, to which the cylinder or
cylinders are securely keyed or fastened. Between each cylinder and close to
them on each side and at the outside of end cylinders there are plates, with an
orifice in the centre of each for the axle or shaft to pass through and revolve-
There is an aperture also at one side of each inner plate for the steam to.
escape from the first to the second cylinder, through the vacuum or screw.
cylinders, and from thence to the others, propelling the slides or paddles when.
a vacuum is used) round, and turning the shaft or axil together, and propelling
whatever may be attached to it. On the outside of the cylinder or cylinders.
on the top and bottom, and between the side plates, there are semicircular
plates to each cylinder of two different diameters, with flanges, being securely
fastened to each other, and to the middle plate and end or outside plates, the

page_text: one being at a certain distance from the periphery of each cylinder, to allow of
a steam space, and the slides passing out from the grooves of each cylinder to
the inner side of the largest semicircular of the plate, forming a space for the
paddles to slide out and in and for the steam to pass through on leaving the
boiler through an aperture, and in its progress from one cylinder to the other,
the steam acting with its full power of pressure on the slides or paddles,
forcing them forward with the full power of the steam, and turning the axle
or shaft, and propelling whatever may be attached to it. The other semi-
circular plate is of the same radius as the cylinder, and will not admit of any
steam to pass between them, forming a semicircular cylinder of two different
diameters, and secured to the plates and to each other. The semicircular
plates when secured to the middle and outer plates form alternately a complete
range of cylinders of two different diameters for the cylinders with the paddles
to revolve in, the cylinders touching one as they revolve, and at a distance
from the other to admit of a steam space, and by the action of the steam on
the paddles or slides which work in this space, forces them forward until they
come to the incline planes, there being one incline plane to each extremity of
the small semicircular plate; the slide then ascends the incline plane, and
being pressed back into the groove of the cylinder, forces the opposite one into
the steam space for the action of the steam to press against the pistons or
paddles and forcing them forward and the cylinder or cylinders round, until
they come to the incline plane where the apperture for the steam to escape is.
The steam escaping through the aperture for that purpose to the next cylinder,
and the slides ascending the incline plane by the pressure of the steam on the
next paddle or slide in rotation, and on the opposite or alternate slides, and so
on in progression as fast as the power of the steam will permit. When the
semicircular plates are secured together they form semicircular cylinders of
two different diameters for the revolving cylinders to revolve in, and can be of
any length as may be required. Occasionally there will be screws with fly fanns
attached to them used with the paddles, working in cylinders for that purpose,
and properly keyed or secured to the axle or shaft; they can be used either
alternately with the cylinders containing the paddles, or on a range of cylinders
independent to the paddles and the cylinders containing them. The cylinders
for the screws are truly bored for that purpose, and properly secured to the
shaft or axle, and to the plates, as specified for the others, the steam acting on
the fly fanns, and the fanns of the screws propelling them with the axle or
shaft, and escaping through the aperture of the middle plates, and passing
from one cylinder to the other as in the former, where paddles are used.
For stationary and marine engines there are to be cylinders with fly fans

page_text: and screws in such number as may be required to increase the required
power. These screws with fly fans work in cylinders truly bored as the first
are, and can be arranged in any required position, horizontally, circular, or
diagonally; there will be pipes to conduct the steam from the boiler or the
first range of cylinders to the first cylinder on the outside, and from the first
to the second, from the second to the third, and so on from one to the other
until the steam shall have passed through the whole range of the outside.
cylinders, acting on the fly fans and screws, and turning them and the shaft or.
axle with the force of the steam. These screws are secured to axles or shafts
which pass out through the ends of the boiler, with eccentrics or cranks
attached to the ends of their axles, and connecting rods to the eccentrics on
the main axle or shaft. After the steam leaves these outside screw cylinders.
it is conveyed to the smoke funnel, the smoke and hot air mixing with tho:
steam, and escaping over screws and fly fans fixed on axles in the smoke.
funnel for that purpose, turning them with the power of the steam and hot air.
combined as it escapes. These screws and fly fans are attached to an axle or
axles, which are attached to the main shaft or axle by proper connections as:
may be required, with eccentrics or cranks and connecting rods.
At regular,
distances between each set of cylinders, and where required, there are vacuum
cylinders between the others to receive the steam on leaving the one cylinder.
until it can be admitted into the next, by the regular action of a revolving
steam valve, and so on; the steam will proceed through the whole length of the.
engine until it arrives at the last cylinder to blow off or escape, the steam
acting with its full power on the paddles or revolving pistons of all the
cylinders in the engine, and on all the screws, at the same time proceeds on
from cylinder to cylinder with about the same pressure as when first it leaves,
the boiler until it makes its final escape. When a vacuum is used there are
revolving valves to each steam escape aperture of the centre plates, worked by:
eccentrics from a shaft outside the engine in the boiler, and out through the
ends of the boiler, and attached to the axle by connecting rods and eccentrics,
or cranks. The engine can be worked either within the boiler or on the
outside. When worked within the boiler the steam will leave the engine after
passing over or under all the required cylinders, with the paddles and screws
at about the same height of pressure as when at first entering.
There are two longitudinal plates, one on each side of the engine, for the
semicircular cylinders, and centre and end plates to be secured to as well as
the boiler; there are also semicircular plates fixed under the engine trans-
versely to take the weight of the engine, and are to be secured to the longitu-
dinal plates or otherwise fastened or fixed, so as to resist or sustain whatever

page_text: pressure or force that may be put on the engine, forming a machine of any
required length and power, as may be necessary from the same steam being
worked over as many revolving cylinders, and through the cylinder with the
screws working the screws as may be required to produce that power. The
engine and boiler will be securely fastened together; the shaft and cylinders
with the paddles and screws revolving by the pressure of the steam. There
are pipes with double taps fixed at proper intervals at or near to each end of
the boiler and engine, one of each to convey the steam on to the engine, the
others to allow the steam to escape to the smoke funnel. By the arrange-
ment of those pipes the engine can be reversed by reversing the steam from
one end of the engine to the other, without the use of any other or the present
usual means; there is also a pipe to the boiler for blowing off the steam with
a proper safety valve: There are pipes with taps at the bottom of each
cylinder to draw off the condensed steam or water. The fire-place is con-
structed for the fire to play round the boiler in the usual way when coal or
coke is used, and the smoke and hot air to ascend the funnel with the steam,
assisting the steam to act on the fly fans and screws that can be placed in the
funnels for that purpose. There will be gas, fluid, or other agencies to cause
motive power used for some of the engines (instead of coal and coke), or in.
combination therewith, which can be manufactured on the engine as consumed
or otherwise, and conveyed to the boiler in pipes or by other contrivances, as
may be required. The heat and smoke (should any arise) can be conveyed to
the smoke funnels, as before described, acting with the steam on the fly fans.
and screws fixed in the smoke funnels. There will be valves placed at proper
intervals to admit and to cut off the steam from the cylinder containing the
screws and fans.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed similar letters refer to similar parts of
the machinery.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the engine
containing the vacuum cylinders and paddles; the engine is shewn working.
within the boiler; Figures 7 and 8 are front and end elevations of the engine
heated with gas, fluid, or by other agencies to cause motive power; the engine
is shewn to work within the boiler. a, fire-place; b, double taps or valves to
regulate the steam, and to let the steam on from the boiler into the engine,
and to let the steam off from the engine through the pipe x, in Figure 3;
they are also used to reverse the engine; b, b, single taps or valves to allow
the steam to blow off; c, safety valves; d, d, tranverse bearers, to support

page_text: the engine and boilers; e, axle or shaft; m, excentricts or crank fixed to main
ishaft and shaft of revolving valves; 1, shaft of revolving valves; 2, pipe to
draw off the condensed steam or water; a², in Figure 7, pipes to convey the
gas from the gas holder to pipes or other appliances for heating the boiler; m,
crank attached to the axle in Figure 8; Figure 3 an horizontal section in the
line A, A, of Figure 2; Figure 9 an horizontal section on the line E, E, of
Figure 8, shewing the top of the engines as fixed within the boilers; h, boilers;;
i, revolving valves; v, longitudinal bearers to support the engines and boilers;
d, d, transverse bearers to support the engine and boilers; 2, semicircular
plates of two different diameters with flanges secured to centre and end plates
to form a cylinder for the revolving cylinders to revolve in, 'and 'to admit of 'a
steam space on the one side to allow the paddles or pistons to be forced out
into the steam space for the steam to act on; 2, 2, middle plates to divide one
cylinder from the other, also the outer or end plates; y, y, flues to convey the
fire and heat around the boiler and the smoke up the funnel or chimney; e,
main shaft or axle; 1, shaft to work revolving valves; m, eccentrics or cranks
to work revolving valves. Figure 5, section through the line of C, C, of
Figure 4. Figure 6, section through the line D, D, of Figures 1 and 4. h,
'boiler; e, shaft; o, paddles or pistons; r, connection rods; n, revolving cylin-
ders with grooves or slits in the sides and periphery for the slides to work out
into the steam-space; s, steam space; w, pipes to convey the steam from the
boiler to the steam space in the cylinder; a, pipes to convey the steam from
the engine to the funnel or chimney; b, double taps or valves to regulate the
steam and to let the steam off from the engine through the pipe x; they can
also be used to reverse the engine; b, b, single taps to allow the steam to be
blown off; d, d, transverse bearers to support the engine and boiler; t, incline
planes for the slides to ascend, there being a groove in the incline to admit the
back steam to escape; y, an aperture for the steam to pass from one cylinder
to the other; y, y, flues to convey the fire and heat around the boilers and
the smoke up the funnel or chimney; a, fire-place; z, semicircular plates of
two diameters or different radius for the revolving cylinders to revolve in, and
to admit of a steam space on the one side to allow the paddles or pistons to bė
forced out into the steam space s for the steam to act on; they are secured to
the centre or end plates; 2, pipes to draw off the condensed steam or water
from the cylinders. Figure 4, section through the line of B, B, of Figure 2.
Figure 10, section through the line of F, F, of Figure 8. h, boiler; 7, shaft
to work revolving valves; n, revolving cylinders propelled by the action of the
steam on the slides or paddles o when forced into the steam space S by ascending
the incline plane sliding in and out through a groove or slit in the sides and peri-

page_text: phery of the cylinders at p; r, connection rods; e, shaft; u, vacuum cylinders;
.u, collars of shaft; z, semicircular plates for revolving cylinders to revolve in;
.z, z, middle plates to divide one cylinder from the other, also the outside or
end plates; a, fire-place; y, y, flues to convey the fire and heat around the
boiler and the smoke up the funnel or chimney; a¹, a small aperture for the
condensed steam or water to escape from the cylinders into the pipe a³; a³,
pipes for heating the boilers; y, an aperture for the steam to pass from one
cylinder to the other. Figure 11, a section through the line of G, G, of
Figure 10. Figure 12, a section through the line of H, H, of Figure 10, and
through the line F, F, of Figure 8; h, boiler; e, shaft; o, paddles or pistons;
?, connection rods; n, revolving cylinders, with grooves or slits in the slides and
periphery for the slides to work out into the steam space; s, steam space; w,
pipes to convey the steam from the boiler to the steam space in the cylinder of
the engine; x, pipes to convey the steam from the engine to the funnel or
chimney; b, double taps or valves to regulate the steam and to let the steam
from the boiler unto the engine, also to let the steam off through the pipe x,
and to reverse the engine; b, b, single taps to allow the steam to blow off;
d, d, transverse bearers to support the engine and boiler; t, incline planes for
the slides to ascend, there being a groove in the incline to admit of the
back steam to escape; y, apertures for steam to pass from one cylinder to
the other; y, y, flues to convey the fire and heat around the boiler and the
smoke up the funnel or chimney; a³, pipes to supply with gas, or other
agencies, for the heating the boiler; z, semicircular plates of two different
diameters, or different radius, for the revolving cylinders to revolve in and to
admit of a steam space on the one side to allow the paddles or pistons to be
forced out into the steam space S for the steam to act on; they are secured to
the centre and end plates; ², pipes to draw off the condensed steam and
-water from the cylinders; Figure 18 an end elevation, and Figure 14 a plan
of the top, being part in section of a combined number of cylinders for the
screws and fly fans to work in; by the action of the steam on the screws and
fans the whole of their cylinders, or any number can be placed either within
the boiler or on the outside, and heated on the same principle as described for
heating the other boilers; or they can be used in conjunction with either of the
before-described Figures, or separately. These cylinders can be arranged to
work in a straight line, or in any other form or position as may be required.
a, cylinders containing the screws and pins to be propelled by the steam;
e, axle; w, pipes to convey steam from the boiler to one of the cylinders, and
from thence to the next, from one cylinder to the other through the whole of
the cylinders, and from them up the funnel or chimney to act on the screws and

page_text: fans placed there for that purpose; m, eccentrics or cranks and connection rods;
bare screws in the cylinders (part in section and part in elevation; c, c, fly
fans; E, axle; o, apertures for steam to enter the cylinders and pass from one
cylinder to the other; y, y, flues to convey the fire and heat around the boiler
and to the funnel or chimney to act in conjunction with the steam on the
screws and fans placed there; h, boiler; k, funnel or chimney, in which are
fixed the screws and fans. The whole of the cylinders can be connected to a
crank or shaft. Figures 15 and 16 are plans and section of a fan. a, fau; c, c,
blades of fan; E, axle.
Having now described my Invention of improvements in a rotary steam
engine, and the best means with which I am acquainted for carrying the same
into effect, I do observe, that I do not mean or intend to confine myself rigidly
to the precise arrangement or construction of parts herein shewn and described,
as they may, perhaps, be varied in some particulars without departing from
the nature and object of my improvements.
In conclusion, I claim as the Inventor, which I claim to secure by Letters
Patent, first, improvements in a rotary steam engine composed of one or more
cylinders fixed and worked either inside the boiler or outside the boiler, the
description and particulars of which are fully described in the foregoing
Specifications and Drawings.
Second, I also claim the re-using of the steam from one cylinder to one or
more others by the particular arrangements of valves, cocks, and machinery, as
is set forth and described in the Specification and Drawings.
Third, I also claim the particular arrangements of the form and several
parts of the machinery to carry out the said improvements in a rotary steam
engine, as described in the foregoing Specification, and shewn in the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Wills Uren, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
EDWARD WILLS UREN. (L.S.)