An Improved Rotary Engine.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1895-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1895
•
An Improved Rotary Engine.
I, LADISLAV VOJÁČEK, of 16' Southwark Road, London S.E., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
rotary engines.
My invention consists in fitting wheels or drums, geared together in pairs so as
to rotate simultaneously, in contrary directions, in a suitable casing. The motive
power may consist of steam, water, gas, air or other suitable fluid, or such fluids in
combination with semi-fluids, or solid particles of matter may be used, or such
particles of matter alone may be applied for driving the wheel or drums. The
wheels are so mounted that their peripheries very nearly touch each other. The
peripheries may be smooth or rough, or formed with small shallow perforations, or
turbine, buckets, ratchet teeth, or analogous, formations, for receiving and utilising
the force of the motive fluid; the tangential action of which passing through and
between the wheels and impinging upon their peripheries, causes their rotation.
In some cases I form grooves in the peripheries, of a semi-circular, or other
suitable section, in which grooves conical buckets are arranged for receiving the
thrust of the motive fluid. I also sometimes utilise one wheel only, and fit thereto
a concave to act as a guide to the fluid.
In some cases I construct the adjacent oircumferences so that one of them
presents a sharp edge, or several parallel edges, very nearly fitting into corresponding
grooves in the other wheel; and I direct the jet of fluid, not exactly into the place
of nearest contact, but very closely thereto, so as to impinge directly upon the sharp.
edges of the first named wheel, without shock. The most advantageous position is
found experimentally. The jet spreads into a thin layer to both sides of each
wheel-edge, and fills up the small space between the two wheels, where it forces
itself through and turns the wheels.
Two or more wheels may be turned from one jet, and the axes need not be
exactly parallel, nor must they necessarily lay in one and the same plane.
The apparatus will act in any position, but, when the motive fluid is steam,
I prefer to admit it from the underside, and pass it upwards to a funnel at the top,
by which the exhaust escapes, the exhaust being utilised in inducing currents of
air into the casing of the apparatus. Condensed water is carried away through
perforations in the bottom of the casing.
In using steam, air, carbonic acid, or the like, I prefer to construct the adjacent
wheels with cylindrical surfaces or nearly so, and almost in contact with each other,
where the fluid impiuges. The jet in such a passage is therefore very thin and is
spread almost in a plane, tangential to both wheels. The tube which carries the
Huid to the wheels is flattened and spread at its delivery eud, so as to deliver the
fluid in the most advantageous form. The well-known "Serpollet" (flattened)
steam tubes may be used for this purpose, the water being pumped into the heated
tubes.
It is not necessary that the two or more wheels should be of equal diameters, and
in some cases one may be inside the other.
In some cases I double the outlet of the spout for operating upon sharp contact
edges, to reduce vibration.
1

page_text: If the outlet of the jet is made spiral, the fluid will issue in a spiral direction, and
the wheels will move with reduced velocity, but with increased power.
Dated 4th October 1894.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
I, LADISLAV VOJÁČEK, of 16 Southwark Road, London S.E., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
rotary engines.
My invention consists in fitting wheels or drums, geared together in pairs so as
to rotate simultaneously, in contrary directions, in a suitable casing. The motive
power may consist of steam, water, gas, air, or other suitable fluid, or such fluids in
combination with semi-fluids, or solid particles of matter may be used, or such
particles of matter alone may be applied for driving the wheels or drums. The
wheels are so mounted that their peripheries very nearly touch each other. The
peripheries may be smooth or rough, or formned with small shallow perforations, or
turbine buckets, ratchet teeth, or analogous formations, for receiving and utilising
the force of the motive fluid; the tangential action of which, passing through and
between the wheels and impinging upon their peripheries, causes their rotation:
In some cases I form greoves in the peripheries, of a semi-oircular, or other
suitable section, in which grooves conical buckets are arranged for receiving the
thrust of the motive fluid. I also sometimes utilise one wheel only, and fit thereto
a concave surface to act as a guide to the fluid.
In some cases construct the adjacent circumferences so that one of thein
presents a sharp edge, or several parallel edges, very nearly fitting into corresponding
grooves in the other wheel; and I direct the jet of fluid, not exactly into the place
of nearest contact, but very closely thereto, so as to impinge directly upon the sharp
edges of the first named wheel, without shock. The most advantageous position is
found experimentally. The jet spreads into a thin layer to both sides of each
wheel-edge, and fills up the small space between the two wheels, where it forces
itself through and turns the wheels.
.
Two or more wheels may be turned from one jet, and the axes need not be
exactly parallel, nor must they necessarily lay in one and the same plane.
The apparatus will act in any position, but, when the motive fluid is steam,
I prefer to adinit it from the underside, and pass it upwards to a funnel at the top,
by which the exhaust escapes, the exhaust being utilised in inducing currents of
air into the casing of the apparatus. Condensed water is carried away through
perforations in the bottom of the casing.
In using steam, air, carbonic acid, or the like, I prefer to construct the adjacent
wheels with cylindrical surfaces or nearly so, and almost in contact with each other,
where the fluid impinges. The jet in such a passage is therefore very thin and is
spread almost in a plane, tangential to both wheels. The tube which carries the
fluid to the wheels is flattened and spread at its delivery end, so as to deliver the
fluid in the most advantageous form. The well known "Serpollet" (flattened)
steam tubes may be used for this purpose, the water being pumped into the heated
tubes.
It is not necessary that the two or more wheels should be of equal diameters, and
in some cases one may be inside the other.

page_text: In some cases I double the outlet of the spout for operating upon sharp contact
edges, to reduce vibration.
If the outlet of the jet made spiral, the Auid will issue in a spiral direction, and
the wheels will move with reduced velocity, but with increased power.
In the following description the fluids and semi-fluids hereinbefore referred to,
are intended to be included in the general term "impelling medium "; and I wish it
to be understood that the principle of my invention consists in the utilisation of the
adhesion of the impelling medium with the surfaces operated upon.
And in order that my said invention'may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 2 is an edge view, also partly in
section, illustrating a method of carrying out my invention by means of a single
wheel A, fast on the shaft z. The groove u is formed as shown in the upper part of
Fig. 2, the sides of the groove being smooth. This form of wheel is driven by the
impelling mediumi, by means of a pipe or nozzle a, placed at a tangent to the
groove or the wheel may be fitted with projections forming portions of
vanes pp. as shown, and the impelling medium may be driven througli a series of
guides r r.
10,
Fig. 3 is an elevation and Fig. 4 an edge view, showing another form of wheel,
with three grooves, having sharp edged partitions to, dividing the grooves.
a is the pipe. placed at a tangent to the grooves, to carry the impelling medium into
and along the grooves, which is forced thereinto without any shock or vibration,
producing upon the side walls sufficient compression and adhesion to drive the
wheel A tlins forming a simple and effective rotary engine.
In the following figures examples of rotary engines are shown, which are
composed of two or three wheels.
Fig. 5 is an elevation and Fig. 6 a plan of a rotary engine with two wheels A
and A', the projecting periphery 2 of the wheel A' entering the corresponding
groove 7 in the wheel A; or the same wheels may be formed with U and channel
edges. The nozzle a may be directed (as shown in Fig. 1) upon the edge 2 of the
wheel A, by which it is divided without shock, and carried through the small space
left between the two nearest surfaces of the wheels. For adjusting the contiguity
of the peripheries, the bearings of the shaft may be adjusted by means of a screws,
actuating the fork 3, 4, carrying the bearings of the axle. Other obvious means
of adjustment may be employed. Also the number of grooves and projections may
be increased, and two or more nozzles and jets may be employed. In the arrange-
ment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the nozzle a is fitted so that the impelling medium
may be directed upon the edge 2, by a single jet, as shown in Fig. 18, or the nozzle
may have a slotted mouth a' a³, as shown in Fig. 17, whereby the current is
divided.
Figs. 11 and 12 show the general arrangement of a pair of wheels A and A', in
which the jet is placed tangentially to both wheels, a section of the mouth of the
nozzle being shown at a in Fig. 12.
Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate another form of wheels and nozzle.
When the wheels are grooved, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and also in Figs. 9
and 10, I cause the impelling medium to act with useful effect upon their peripheries
by passing the jet in an annular form, with the aid of conoidal projections 8, 11,
and 13, as shown; in some cases adding a spring 14 to the stem 12. "The adjusting
screws 10 and nuts 9 are provided for regulating the position of the cones 8 and 13,
and thus governing the area of the annular jet.
It will also be understood that one of the wheels A or A' may be held stationary
while the other revolves, or a concave stationary block may be substituted for one
of the wheels.
Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate alternative meeting peripheries for those shown in
Figs. 5 and 6, and in other diagrams.
Fig. 19 is a transverse elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 20 is a longitudinal

page_text: elevation, partly in section; and Figs. 21 and 22 are similar views of other forms
of nozzle, adapted for use with my invention.
Fig. 20 is a horizontal plan, partly in section, of Fig. 20; and Fig. 21ª is a
similar plan of Figs. 21 and 22.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 19, 20, and 204, the nozzle consists of two
parts a and a', screwed together; is the inlet, the nozzle being fitted with a
sharp wedge 8 retained in position by screws 11 between the side plates 10, the
latter being secured by screws 12. The wedge 8 is secured in such a position as to
secure the best mechanical effect from the impelling medium. This construction
is advantageous if the impelling medium is used expansively; but, in other cases,
the forin shown in Figs. 21 and 22, may suffice, with only one wheel. This nozzle
is open on one side, and a plate 9 is fitted and sorewed to the same side, leaving an
elongated slot for the outlet o, through which the impelling medium issues.
Figs. 23, 24, 25, 26, illustrate an arrangement of my invention, which is
particularly adapted for working with steam expansively, for the impelling mediuni.
A is the main wheel or pulley and A' is the secondary wheel or pulley. The jet
is carried (preferably upwards) through the nozzle a, in a live which is tangent to
both wheels. The steam or other impelling medium, as it escapes from the
peripheries of the wheels into the chimney M, propels the air from inside the
casing, and not only keeps it clear from steam or other impelling medium, but also
cools the bearings, which might otherwise become heated, especially if the impelling
medium should have a tendency to cause such a result. The wheels usually run at
great speed. The velocity may however be reduced by means of a worm 16
gearing into a worm-wheel 17, the latter being keyed to the axle W. The nozzle a
can be fixed to the frame K, and to the steam pipe t by means of screws. and
nuts 13, 14, 15, as shown in Fig. 23, or in any other convenient manner.
Fig. 27 illustrates another method of forming the peripheries of the wheels A
and A', the outer edges being in close contact and a groove e being provided for
the passage of the impelling medium. Various methods of forming the nozzles a
are illustrated in Figs. 28, 29, 30, 30³, and 30°, which will be readily understood
from the drawings.
If the impelling medium has not expended it useful force when it leaves the two
tangent wheels A, A', as shown in Fig. 30, the issuing stream may be carried into
and through a funnel p', and the jet directed to the meeting edges of a second
pair of wheels A2 A, and to other wheels in a similar manner until all the
available force is expended and utilised. Any combination of toothed wheel
gearing may also be used with my invention.
Figs. 31 and 32 illustrate an arrangement having both inuer and outer gearing.
The nozzle p' throws a jet between the inner surface of the flange of the wheel H,
and the periphery of the wheel H'; and the nozzle p2 throws a jet between the
wheel H and the wheel H2, the current impinging against the buckets formed in
the outer rim of the wheel H.
Figs. 37 and 38 illustrate the application of my invention to three bevel
wheels C, C1, C2; and Fig. 39 illustrates its application to the peripheries of a
group of three wheels D, D', D', by means of one jet.
One or more of the tangent wheel or wheels may be provided with buckets,
projections, or cavities, as illustrated in Figs. 33 and 34, with V shaped grooves.
In using two tangent wheels or discs it may be advantageous to secure equal
peripheral velocity for both wheels, either by frictional contact or gearing.
Fig. 35 illustrates the application of my invention to annular V grooves formed
on the face of a wheel, and Fig. 36 illustrates the application of the same to
V grooves formed inside the circular periphery of a drum.
Fig. 40 is a diagrammatical section illustrating the application of my invention
to a series of wheels fast on one spindle and enclosed in cases.
The impelling medium is first applied to the largest wheel, so as to utilise the the
highest speed and greatest force upon that wheel. The fluid then passes to the
second and third wheels, thus utilising the reduced speed, and, in connection with

page_text: the smallest wheel a jet of cold water is applied (if the impelling medium is
steam) in order to condense the steam and utilise the caloric in heating the water.
for use as feed water or otherwise, the water being carried by means of an annular:
shield 60.
Figs. 41 to 46 illustrate methods of operating upon single wheels, in which the
action of the impelling medium is rendered effective by fitting the same with,
guards.
According to this part of my invention, I fit annular discs or shrouds, which are
attached to and carried round with the wheel. Fig. 41 is a side view, and
Fig. 42 an edge view, partly in section. 1 is the internal wheel, and 2, 2, are tho
annular discs or shrouds:
Fig. 43 illustrates another form of disc, which becomes necessary when the
periphery of the wheel 1 is formed with an open centre, as, shown, the dises being
curved inwards at 3. as shown.
Fig. 44 illustrates another form, for the same purpose, which will be understood
from the drawing.
Fig. 45 shows the application of the same device to a wheel formed with a
number of parallel rims or discs t t.
Fig. 46 is a sectional elevation, Fig. 47 a horizontal section, and Fig. 48 a
detail section of the nozzle. The wheel A is fast on the vertical axle x, which
carries a worm 53 gearing into a worm wheel 54, fast on the axle 57, fitted with a
driving pulley 58. The screw propeller 55 drives out the impelling medium,
after performing its work upon the wheel A. The apparatus is enclosed in a
case 56.
Fig. 49 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 50 a transverse section,
showing a method of constructing the nozzle a, which will be readily understood
from the drawings.
The characteristic and new principle of my adhesion turbine wheel or rotary
engine, may be illustrated in a popular manner by two pulleys having between
them a straight rope, or a single pulley with a rope over it. If the rope is pulled,
it will make the pulleys or pulley rotate, if only the adhesion between the rope
and the pulley is sufficient. By means of rills or grooves, especially if they are
wedge shaped, and if the rope has obtained sufficient tension, the adhesion can be
easily created. It is understood that the peripheral velocity of the wheel or
wheels will be nearly the same as the velocity of the moving rope. Let the rope
be replaced by a jet of compressed liquid, ateam, gas, or a like moving medium,
and we have my new motor in its principle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
clain is:-
1. In a rotary engine actuated by the adhesive properties of the impelling
medium as aforesaid, the combination of a single wheel, pulley, disc, or the like A,
provided with one or any number of V or U or other wedge-shaped circunferential
ribs r, v, v, v, into which a tangential or nearly tangential jet, or several jets, of
the impelling medium is forced, thus causing the pulley or wheel to rotate with or
upon its shaft, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings.
2. In a rotary engine of the description aforesaid, the combination of two or
more wheels, pulleys, disce, or the like, A, A', H, H³, H², C, C, C, D, D¹, D³,
mounted as wheel gear, having smooth circumferences, between which, where they
nearly touch each other, a jet or several jets of the impelling medium is forced,
thereby causing the rotation of such wheels, pulleys, discs, or the like with or upon
their shafts, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings.
3. In a rotary engine of the description aforesaid, the combination of one or more
wheel or wheels, discs, pulleys, or the like, driven by one or more jet or jets of

page_text: the impelling medium, into or upon its or their periphery or peripheries,.
tangentially, or nearly so, and acting by adhesion; such peripheries or one or
more of the same being provided with buckets, cavities projections, vanes, or the
like, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. The general construction, and the several and respective arrangements and
combinations of parts, together forming my invention of an improved rotary
engine, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated 16th July 1805
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.