IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Cutler, of Windsor and Eton Waterworks,
Eton, Buckinghamshire, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROTATORY STEAM ENGINES."
Scaled the 4th June 1880, and dated the 8th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Cutler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1879.
WILLIAM HENRY CUTLER, of Windsor and Eton Waterworks, Eton, Bucking-
hamshire, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY STEAM ENGINES."
This Invention of improvements in rotatory steam engines relates to those
engines where the motion caused by the steam is not reciprocating but continuous
in one direction, or as hereinafter described. It consists in one form of a web or
disc fixed on an axle, the diameter and thickness of the disc varying according to
the requirements of the engine. The disc on one or both sides of it is divided into
several compartments concentric with the disc, each alternate compartment carrying
sets of straight or curved blades or projecting plates sot not radially with the axle,
but at such an angle with the radius or such a curve or series of curves from the
radius as may be desired. The depth of these webs or projecting plates may be
parallel, or they may increase in depth from the compartment. The steam first
enters to the compartment nearest to the exhaust, the object being to provide a
greater space for the expansion of the steam, and at the same time a greater surface
for the steam to act upon. The disc between the compartments which carry the
blades or projecting plates is a plain web. An outer case divided up the centre or
otherwise encloses the discs and plates, and within which the disc and plates rotate,
and where the disc is a plain web the outer case carries a set of fixed guide plates
somewhat similar in forin to those on the disc, but set at an opposing angle or curve.
These guide plates correspond in depth with the depth of the spaces on the disc
between the blades or projecting plates, so that they do not touch the disc.
In action, the steam being admitted to an interior compartment, passes through
the first set of guide plates and presses against the opposing angle of the first set of
disc plates, and causes the disc and shaft to revolve. As it passes from the first
compartment of disc plates it enters the second set of guide plates, and there having
071

page_text: expanded somewhat it enters the second compartment of disc plates, and so into
and through the several sets of guide plates and compartments of disc plates till
from the final compartment it enters the exit or exhaust and escapes, but the steam
may first enter a compartment of projecting plates on the disc if so desired.
The description applies to the application of the steam, firstly, at or near the
centre of the machine, and expanding to the outside of the circle of the disc, but
the engine may be arranged for the steam to act upon it in the opposito direction,
that is to say, the steam may act firstly on the disc plates nearest to the periphery
and expand toward the centre. In this case the disc plates will project much more
from the disc as they approach the centre than they will at or near the periphery
of the disc.
The compartments of blades or projecting blades may be arranged on the outside
of a cylinder or cone the spaces between them, into which spaces the guide plates
fixed on the inside of a cylindrical or cone shaped casing would project, in which
caso the steam would flow in the direction of the axle of the shaft or at an angle
thereto.
One or two or more discs or cylinders or cones may be fixed on the same shaft
or axle.
It is possible in any of these cases to have a double rotation, that is, the disc or
cylinder or cone with the compartinents of projecting plates or blades revolving in
one direction, and the casing with the guide plates may be mounted on bearings
to rotate in the opposite direction, so that the velocities may be reduced and a
compound motion obtained that would be useful in many cases.
The outer edges of the projecting blades or plates may be joined together by a
ring or band, and the same with the guide plates.
Either form of engine inay be steam jacketted.
In the description given the apparatus is intended to work as a high pressure
engine, but the engine may have added to it the usual adjuncts of a condenser, that
is, a condenser may be applied to the exhaust.
2

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Cutler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
Juno 1880.
WILLIAM HENRY CUTLER, of Windsor and Eton Waterworks, Eton, Bucking-
hamshire, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY STEAM ENGINES."
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Figure 2 an end elevation, Figure 3
an elevation, and Figure 4 elevation partly in section of Figure 3; Figure 5, diagram
of compartment and blades; Figure 6, diagram and compartment of blades on disc;
like letters showing like parts.
This Invention of improvements in rotatory steam engines relates to those
engines where the motion caused by the steam is not reciprocating but continuous
in one direction, or as herein after described. It consists in one form of a web or
disc a fixed on an axle b, the diameter and thickness of the disc varying according
to the requirements of the engine. The disc on one or both sides of it is divided
into several compartiments c concentric with the disc, each alternate compartment
carrying sets of straight or curved plates d, or disc plates, or projecting plates set
not radially with the axle, but at such an angle with the radius, or such a curve or
series of curves from the radius as may be desired, as shewn in Figures 5-6. The
depth of these webs or projecting plates may be parallel, or they may increase in
depth, as shewn in Drawing, Figure 4, from the compartment the steain first enters
to the compartment nearest to the exhaust, the object being to provide a greater
space for the expansion of the steam, and at the same time a greater surface
for the steam to act upon. The disc between the compartments which carry
the blade or projecting plates is a plain web. An outer caso e divided up the centre
or otherwise encloses the disc and plates, and within which the disc and plates
rotate, and where the disc is a plain web the outer case carries a set of fixed guide
plates, somewhat similar in form to those on the disc, but sot at an opposing
angle or curve. These guide plates correspond in depth with the depth of the
spaces on the dise between the blades or projecting plates, so that they do not touch
the disc.
In action, the steam being admitted to an interior compartment, passes through
the first set of guide plates, and presses against the opposing angle of the first set
of disc plates, and causes the disc and shaft to revolve. As it passes from the first
compartment of disc plates it enters the second set of guide plates, and there having
expended somewhat it enters the second compartment of disc plates, and so into
and through the several sets of guide plates and compartments of disc plates, till
from the final compartment it enters the exit or exhaust and escapes; but the
steam may first enter a compartment of projecting plates on the disc if so desired.
The description applies to the application of the steam, firstly, at or near the
centre of the machine, and expanding to the outside of the circle of the disc, but
the engine may be arranged for the steam to act upon it in the opposite direction,
that is to say, the steni may act firstly on the disc plates nearest to the periphery
and expand toward the centre. In this case the disc plates will project much more
from the disc as they approach the centre than they will at or near the periphery
of the disc.
The compartments of blades or projecting plates may be arranged on the outside
of a cylinder or cone, with spaces between them, into which spaces the guide plates
fixed on the inside of a cylindrical or cone shaped casing would project, in which
case the steam would flow in the direction of the axle of the shaft or at an angle
thereto.
One or two or more discs or cylinders or cones may be fixed on the same shaft or
axle. It is possible in any of these cases to have a double rotation, that is, the disc
or cylinder or cone, with the compartments of projecting plates or blades revolving

page_text: in one direction, and the casing with the guide plates may be mounted on bearings to
rotate in the opposite direction, so that the velocities may be reduced and a compound
motion obtained that would be useful in many cases.
The outer edges of the projecting blades or plates may be joined together by a
ring or band, and the same with the guide plates.
Either form of engine may be steam jacketted.
In the description given the apparatus is intended to work as a high pressure
engine, but the engine may have added to it the usual adjuncts of a condenser, that
is, a condenser may be applied to the exhaust.
Figure 7, enlarged sectional view.
The Drawings sufficiently explain the inlet and exhaust ports and passages for
the steam.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim is,―
First. The rotatory engine, as described, composed of a rotating disc carrying
blades revolving in compartments, and opposed to fixed guide plates, substantially
as described.
Second. In a rotatory engine, as described, the application of the steam either
from the centre to the outside, or from the outside to the centre.
Third. The conical form of the engine, as described, the guide plates being fixed
on the interior of the casing.
Fourth. The double form of rotatory engine, as described, where the disc or
cylinder revolves in one direction, and the casing or guide plates rotate in the other,
so that a compound motion is attained.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Cutler, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.