Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Rotary Engines.
I, FRANK ALPHEUS BOYD, of 80, Winyah Avenue, New Rochelle, in the County
of Westchester, and State of New York, United States of America, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention relates to rotary engines adapted to be actuated by steam, com-
pressed air, or water under pressure used as a motive agent and it has for its object
to provide novel features of construction for an engine of the indicated character
whereby the engine is rendered simple, efficient, not liable to derangement of the
working parts in service, and capable of utilizing the motive agent to great
advantage.
The invention consists in a novel separable casing, a rotatably supported bucket
wheel therein, an adjustably supported bracket block through which motive fluid
or liquid passes, and which has engagement with the periphery of the bucket
wheel, a supply nozzle in the bracket block, and a discharge nozzle in said block.
The invention further consists in the special construction and combination of
parts, as is hereinafter described.
A suitable casing is provided which is adapted for support on a suitable base.
The casing consists of a rim portion which is supported on the base by bracket
stands which on their tops have shaft bearings wherein the main shaft is rotatably
sustained. The side walls of the engine casing are detachably secured upon the rim
near its edges and are each separated into two sections that are lap-jointed together
and secured one upon the other by screws, the lines of junction being opposite the
centre of the main shaft. The side walls of the casing are apertured for the recep
tion of the shaft eccentrically with regard to the rim portion of the casing and said
shaft projects at each side of a length to permit its engagement with the bearings
and also to receive pulleys. Preferably an arm is integrally formed at a proper
distance from each bearing, said upright arms receiving the set screws that loosely
engage the centres of the shaft and prevent end motion. On the driving shaft
within the casing is mounted and secured a circular bucket wheel which comprises
a disc provided with a centre hub which is affixed to the shaft, as before indicated,
and on the periphery of the disc that is of a predetermined breadth of face pro-
portioned to the capacity of the engine a continuous series of buckets is formed,
each consisting of a transversely disposed flange having one face or abutment
slightly under cut and the other wall sloped to approach the base of the next
abutment in sequence and in said sloped wall supplementary buckets are formed,
thus producing a continuous series of spaced angular buckets and supplementary
buckets around the circumference of the wheel that are essentially ratchet-toothed
in form. At each side of the wheel a track ring is secured, preferably with bolts
and nuts that hold both of the rings in position. Each of the track rings has its
periphery V-grooved for a purpose which will presently be explained.
The bucket wheel is preferably located so as to have a clearance within the casing
and the latter may have openings respectively at the upper and lower sides of the

page_text: peripheral wall of the same, the use of which will be hereinafter.described. In
the wider space that intervenes between the inner surface of the casing and the
periphery of the bucket wheel, a bracket block is introduced which has its face
that is nearest to the periphery of the bucket wheel rendered concave in the upper
portion thereof, representing the are of a circle, the radial centre of which is in
the axis of the shaft and is thus adapted to have a fluid or liquid tight contact with
the periphery of the bucket wheel. On the outer and convex side of the bracket
block, projecting portions are formed to receive bolts that pass through lugs which
extend from the inner side of the casing and the bolt holes in these lugs are some-
what elongated to permit an adjustment of the bracket block toward or from the
bucket vessel by means of a set-screw. On each side of the bracket block like
segmental plates are secured by transverse bolts and a packing joint is preferably
introduced between each side plate and the adjacent side wall of the bracket block
to prevent leakage from the buckets of the wheel. The concave edges of the
segmental side plates are bevelled to adapt each plate to enter its angular or
V-shaped edge within the V-shaped groove in the track ring, directly opposite
thereto. The bolt holes in the side plates are sufficiently enlarged to permit an
adjustment of the side plates edgewise towards the grooved edges of the track rings
so as to bed their angular edges steam or liquid tight in said grooves. The inward
movement of the side plates on the bracket block and their retention when adjusted
edgewise, is effected by means of set screw bolts which bear upon the outer edges
of the side plates and facilitate a graduation of pressure therefor upon the grooved
peripheries of the track rings.
The bracket block is recessed on the concave side to receive a facing or packing
strip which will form a durable and tight joint where it contacts with the periphery
of the bucket wheel and said engagement of the facing strip with the bucket wheel
is adjusted for pressure by one or more set screw bolts. The ends of the bolts which
are in contact with the facing strip may be circumferentially grooved so as to have
a swivelled engagement therewith whereby the bolts are adapted to withdraw the
packing strip as well as press it toward the bucket wheel and thus enable an. exact
adjustment to be manually effected. In the bracket block, preferably near the lower
transverse edge of the facing strip, a fluid or liquid induction nozzle is formed by
means of a converged passage formed diagonally therein which projects down-
wardly and inwardly and is provided with an adjustable gate which is held by one
end in a depression within the nozzle passage by a screw. The gate is formed of
spring metal and is adapted to yield to pressure on its free end so as to move said
end toward the opposite side of the nozzle passage and thus contract its area, the
resiliency of the gate returning the same to a normal position, when the pressure
is relaxed. The preferred means for effecting the adjustment of the gate consists
of a screw bolt which is screwed through a threaded orifice in the bracket block
so as to bear upon the gate. The outer end of the set screw bolt is loosely passed
through a perforation in the casing but is held at a desired point of longitudinal
adjustment by the jam nut seated upon the exterior of the casing.
In a perforation of the casing a tubular conduit for the fluid or liquid motive
agent, such as steam or water, is inserted and inclines toward the upper end of the
diagonally trending nozzle passage into which this end of the pipe is screwed or
otherwise secured, said pipe or conduit in completed form being extended to a
steam generator or a source of air or water under pressure for supplying the pre-
ferred motive agent to the engine. At a point near the lower extremity of the
bracket block an exhaust channel is formed wherein the spring gate is held at the
inner end thereof by a screw bolt. An adjusting bolt is inserted through an orifice
in the casing, the inner end of the bolt being screwed through an aligned threaded
perforation in the bracket block so as to press upon the gate. The bolt is provided
with a jam nut that engages the outer side of the casing and thus affords means
for graduating the pressure of the bolt upon the gate as may be desired. The
nozzle passage and channel are of the same width and each is rectangular in cross-
section, said formations in the bracket block being merged together by an inter-

page_text: vening channel which gradually diminishes in depth to a point midway between
the nozzle and exhaust channel. Preferably a small tube is inserted through a
hole in the casing towards the upper end of the facing strip for supplying a lubri-
cant thereto, said lubricant first entering a box that is packed with porous material.
If the engine is to be used as a water motor, water under pressure is conveyed
through the supply pipe to the nozzle and the force of the water jet is exerted on the
buckets that lie between the exit orifice of the nozzle and the inlet to the exhaust
passage.
It will be seen that the construction of the channel which extends between the
nozzle and the exhaust channel serves to enforce a contact of the liquid motive
agent with the abutments on the buckets of the wheel so that the full pressure of
the water will be exerted for rotation of said wheel. The provision of means for
the graduation of the area of the nozzle and exhaust channel as herein before
described enables the adjustment of said parts to suit the initial pressure or force
exerted by the motive agent and thus utilize said force economically and to obtain
the best results per cubic foot of liquid passed through the engine. The opening
in the lower side of the casing is to be connected with a sewer by a pipe to carry away
the water that has passed through the engine. And in case air or steam is the
motive agent the aperture may be used to carry off water resulting from the con-
densation of steam while the upper orifice takes away the air or exhaust steam.
It is evident that if desired the apparatus which has been described may be
duplicated to apply the motive agent to two portions of the bucket wheel simul-
taneously and thus increase power developed by the engine or more than two
bracket blocks and attachments therefor may be provided in a large engine of the
improved style.
1 ..
•
ד
1007
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
I, Frank AlpheUS BOYD, (Machinist), of 80, Winyah Avenue, New Rochelle,
in the County of Westchester and State of New York, United States of America,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:
-
This invention relates to rotary engines adapted to be actuated for development
of rotary motion and power, by steam, compressed air, or water under pressure
used as a motive agent, and the object of the invention is to provide novel features
of construction for an engine of the indicated character whereby the engine is
rendered simple, efficient, not liable to derangement of the working parts in service,
and capable of utilizing the motive agent to great advantage.
The invention consists in a novel separable casing, a rotatably supported bucket
wheel therein, an adjustably supported bracket block through which motive fluid
or liquid passes, and which has engagement with the periphery of the bucket wheel,
a supply nozzle in the bracket block, and a discharge nozzle in said block.
The invention further consists in the special construction and combination of
parts, as is hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

page_text: Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
3
Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the improved rotary engine, substantially
on the line 1-1 in Figure 3;
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional side view of a portion of the bucket wheel rim,
showing an important detail of the invention;
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the improvement, essentially on the
line 3-3 in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of detail, taken, substantially
on the line 4-1 in Figure 1;
Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of parts, taken substantially
on the line 5-5 in Figure 1; and
Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a portion of the engine
casing, showing the preferred means for securing together bisected side walls of
the same.
A suitable casing is provided which is adapted for support on a base 11, and said
casing may be cylindrical as shown, or of other construction. The casing for the
engine as now constructed, consists of the rim portion 10 which is supported on
the base 11 by bracket stands 13, which on their tops have shaft bearings 13"
wherein the main shaft 12 is rotatably sustained. The side walls 10" of the engine
casing are detachably secured upon the rim 10, near its edges, and are each sepa-
rated into two sections that are lap jointed together, and secured one upon the other
by screws, as shown at 10b in Figures 3 and 6, the lines of junction being opposite
the centre of the shaft 12. The side walls of the casing are apertured for the recep-
tion of the shaft 12, eccentrically with regard to the rim portion of the casing,
and said shaft projects at each side, of a length to permit its engagement with the
bearings 13 and also to receive the pulleys 12. Preferably an arm 13h is integ-
rally formed at a proper distance from each bearing 13", said upright arms
receiving the set screws 13° that loosely engage the centres of the shaft 12 and
prevent end motion. On the driving shaft 12 within the casing 10, the circular
bucket wheel 14 is mounted and secured. The wheel 14 comprises a disk that is
provided with a centre hub which is affixed to the shaft 12, as before indicated, and
on the periphery a of the disk, that is of a predetermined breadth of face pro-
portioned to the capacity of the engine, a continuous series of buckets b is formed.
The similar buckets beach consist of a transversely disposed flange, having one
face or abutment slightly under cut as shown in Figure 1, and the other wall of the
bucket sloped to approach the base of the next abutment in sequence, and in said
sloped wall supplementary buckets bare formed, thus producing a continuous
series of spaced angular buckets and supplementary buckets around the circum-
ference of the wheel 14, that are essentially ratchet toothed in form. At each side
of the wheel 14 a track ring 15 is secured; preferably with bolts and nuts that
hold both of the rings in position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Each of the track
rings 15 has its periphery V-grooved for a purpose which will presently be
explained.
The bucket wheel 14 is preferably located so as to have a clearance within the
casing as shown in Figure 1, and the latter may have openings c and d, respectively
at the upper and lower sides of the peripheral wall of the same, the use of which
will be hereinafter described. In the wider space that intervenes between the inner
surface of the casing 10 and the periphery of the bucket wheel, a bracket block 16
is introduced, which has its face that is nearest to the periphery of the bucket
wheel 14 rendered concave in the upper portion thereof, representing the arc of a
circle, the radial centre of which is in the axis of the shaft 12, and is thus adapted
to have a fluid or liquid tight contact with the periphery of the bucket wheel.
On the outer and convex side of the bracket block 16 projecting portions g, h,
are formed to receive bolts i that pass through lugs g, h, which latter extend
from the inner side of the casing 10, and the bolt holes in these lugs are somewhat

page_text: elongated to permit an adjustment of the bracket-block toward or from the bucket
wheel, by means of the set-screw k which is screwed through the casing.
On each side of the bracket block 16 like segmental plates 17 are secured by the
transverse bolts 7, and a packing joint 17" is preferably introduced between each
side plate 17 and the adjacent side wall of the bracket block, as shown in Figures 4
and 5, to prevent leakage from the buckets of the wheel 14.
The concave edges of the segmental side plates 17 are beveled to adapt each
plate to enter its angular or V-shaped edge within the V-shaped groove in the
track ring 15 it is directly opposite. As represented in Figure 1, the bolt holes in
the side plates 17 are sufficiently enlarged to permit an adjustment of the side
plates edgewise toward the grooved edges of the track rings 15, so as to bed their
angular edges steam or liquid tight in said grooves.
To conveniently effect the inward movement of the side plates 17 on the bracket
block 16, and their retention when adjusted edgewise, set screw bolts m are pro-
vided which have a threaded engagement with the perforated laterally projecting
cars m' on the sides of the bracket block near its outer face, which set screws bear
upon the outer edges of the side plates, and facilitate a graduation of pressure
therefor upon the grooved peripheries of the track rings 15.
The bracket block 16 is recessed on the concave side to receive a facing or pack-
ing strip 18, of metal or other suitable material which will form a durable and
tight joint, where it contacts with the periphery of the bucket wheel 14, and said.
engagement of the facing strip with the bucket wheel is adjusted for pressure, by
one or more set screw bolts n and nuts n¹ thereon.
The ends of the bolts n, which are in contact with the facing strip 18 may be
circumferentially grooved, so as to have a swivelled engagement therewith, whereby
the bolts are adapted to withdraw the packing strip, as well as press it toward
the bucket wheel, and thus enable an exact adjustment to be manually effected.
In the bracket block 16 preferably near the lower transverse edge of the facing
strip 18 a fluid or liquid induction nozzle 19 is formed, by the production of a con-
verged passage diagonally therein, and this induction passage which projects down-
wardly and inwardly as shown in Figure 1, is provided with an adjustable gate 20,
which is held by one end in a depression within the nozzle passage by the screw o, as
shown in said figure. The gate 20 is formed of spring metal such as brass, and is
adapted to yield to pressure on its free end, so as to move said end toward the
opposite side of the nozzle passage, and thus contract its area, the resilience of
the gate returning the same to a normal position when the pressure is relaxed.
The preferred means for effecting the adjustment of the gate 20, consists of the
screw bolt 21 which is screwed through a threaded orifice in the bracket block 16
so as to bear upon the gate.
The outer end of the set bolt 21 is loosely passed through a perforation in the
casing but is held at a desired point of longitudinal adjustment by the jam nut p,
seated upon the exterior of the casing wall 10, as is clearly shown in Figures 1
and 4.
In a perforation of the casing a tubular conduit 22 for the fluid or liquid motive
agent, such as steam or water, is inserted and inclines toward the upper end of the
diagonally trending nozzle passage 19, into which this end of the pipe is screwed
or otherwise secured; said pipe or conduit in completed form being extended to a
steam generator, or a source of air or water under pressure for supplying the pre-
ferred motive agent to the engine.
At a point near the lower extremity of the bracket block 16 an exhaust channel r
is formed, wherein the spring gate 23 is held at the inner end thereof by a screw
bolt s.
An adjusting bolt 24 is inserted through an orifice in the casing, the inner
end of the bolt being screwed through an aligned threaded perforation in the
bracket block 16, so as to press upon the gate 23.
The bolt 24 is provided with a jam nut that engages the outer side of the casing
wall 10 and thus affords means for graduating the pressure of the bolt upon the
gate 23, as may be desired.

page_text: The nozzle passage 19 and channel rare of the same width, and each is rect-
angular in cross section, said formations in the bracket block 16, being merged
together by the intervening channel w, which as shown in Figure 1, gradually
diminishes in depth to a point midway between the nozzle 19 and exhaust channel r.
Preferably a small tube 25 is inserted through a hole in the casing toward the
upper end of the facing strip 18 for supplying a lubricant thereto, as shown in
Figure 1, said lubricant first entering a box 25" that is packed with porous
material.
If the engine is to be used as a water motor, water under pressure is conveyed
through the supply pipe 22, to the nozzle 19, and the force of the water jet is exerted
on the buckets 6 that lie between the exit orifice of the nozzle and the inlet to the
exhaust passage or channel r.
It will be seen that the construction of the channel u, which extends between
the nozzle 19 and exhaust channel r, serves to enforce a contact of the liquid motive
agent with the abutments 61 on the buckets 6 of the wheel 14, so that the full
pressure of the water will be exerted for rotation of said wheel. The provision
of means for the graduation of the area of the nozzle 19 and exhaust channel r,
as hereinbefore described, enables the adjustment of said parts to suit the initial
pressure or force exerted by the motive agent, and thus utilize said force economi-
cally, and to obtain the best results per cubic foot of liquid passed through the
engine.
The opening d in the lower side of the casing 10 is to be connected with a sewer
by a pipe d' shown broken in Figures 1 and 3, to carry away the water that has
passed through the engine. And in case air or steam is the motive agent the
aperture & may be used to carry off water resulting from the condensation of steam,
while the upper orifice c takes away the air or exhaust steam.
d
It is evident that if desired, the apparatus, which has been described, may be
duplicated to apply the motive agent to two portions of the bucket wheel simul-
taneously, and thus increase the power developed by the engine, or more than two
bracket blocks 16 and attachments therefor may be provided in a large engine of
the improved style.
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
claim is:-
1. The combination with a rotatably supported bucket wheel, of a casing there-
for having removable sides, as specified.
2. The combination with a rotatably supported bucket wheel, of a casing there-
for comprising a cylindrical rim, and side walls removably secured upon the rim
at its edges, each side wall being formed of two sections, lapped where they join
and held together by screws, as specified.
3. The combination of the bucket wheel provided at each side near its periphery
with a track ring having a V-groove in its outer edge, and a channeled bracket
block having side plates whose inner edges are wedge-shaped to fit the V-grooves
of the track rings, the plates being adjustable in a substantially radial direction
relatively to the bracket block, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of the bucket wheel provided at each side near its periphery
with a track ring, and a channeled bracket block having side plates whose inner
ends are adapted to engage said track rings, the plates being adjustable in a sub-
stantially radial direction relatively to the bracket block, essentially as set forth.
5.-The combination of the casing, the rotatable bucket wheel located therein
eccentrically, and the bracket block channeled for the inlet and outflow of the
motive agent, substantially as described.
6. The combination of the casing, the rotatable bucket wheel located therein,
and the channeled bracket block arranged in the annular space between the casing
and the bucket wheel, said bracket block being adjustable toward and from the
bucket wheel, substantially as described.

page_text: 7. The combination of the casing, having two outlets, one at the bottom for
liquid material, and the other at the top for gaseous matter, the rotatable bucket
wheel within the casing, and the bracket block located adjacent to the bucket wheel
and channeled for the admission and discharge of the motive agent, substantially
as described.
8. The combination of the rotatable bucket wheel and the bracket block adjacent
thereto, said bracket block being an induction passage, an exhaust passage, and a
channel connecting the inner ends of said passages, said channel flaring from its
centre toward the said passages, substantially as described.
9. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing, a bucket wheel therein, a
transverse driving shaft on which the bucket wheel is secured, and track rings
secured on sides of the bucket wheel near its periphery, said rings having
V-grooves in their outer edges, of an adjustable concave faced bracket block sup-
ported from the casing, adjustable side plates on the bracket block, an induction
passage, and an exhaust passage being formed in the bracket block and having
communication with the buckets of the wheel, and an adjustable gate in the said
induction passage, and in the exhaust passage, as specified.
10. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotatably supported bucket wheel
having a plurality of buckets on its periphery, and each bucket furnished with a
series of buckets on its inclined face, of an adjustable bracket block, and inlet and
outlet nozzles arranged to convey a motive agent to and from the buckets of the
wheel, as specified.
11. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotatably supported bucket wheel
having a series of ratchet tooth-shaped buckets on its periphery, each tooth having
its inclined face serrated to form supplementary buckets, of an adjustable bracket
block having an adjustable inlet nozzle, an adjustable outlet nozzle, and a con-
verged passage between said nozzles, as specified.
Dated this 11th law of tu 1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.