Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
I, JULES AMABLE RADIGUET of 23 Boulevard de Strasbourg Paris France, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to rotary engines, and is designed to improve the con-
struction of the same.
In carrying my said invention into practice provide a disc having suitable
passages or ports provided in it. These passages or ports are arranged radially, and
their orifices are provided with a corresponding number of hinged pieces or arms
fitted in suitable recesses provided in the said disc so as to form doors to the passages
or ports which when closed prevent the passage of any gas or liquid through the
said passages or ports.
These hinged pieces or arms perform moreover when open or partially open the
office of pistons when passing through pressure chambers or recesses provided in the
peripheral wall of the casing in which the said disc is fitted to rotate. The said
pressure chambers or recesses act thus as cylinders and are so formed that the said
hinged pieces or arms are permitted to open more and more as they advance towards
the centre of the said pressure chambers or recesses, and are then as gradually
closed until completely shut when leaving the said pressure chambers or recesses.
A central distributing valve or distributor is also provided consisting either of a
cylindrical piece, or of a disc having holes or apertures coinciding with the above
mentioned passages or ports in the revolving disc for the admission of steam or other
gas or liquid. I sometimes moreover provide a regulating device that allows of the
engine being driven either at the full pressure, or expansion to be employed.
My improved rotary engine is adapted to work either by the pressure of steam or
other gas, or by means of water power or other liquid.
In applying my said invention to a rotary steam engine intended to work
expansively, I provide a suitable disc having admission passages or ports arranged
radially and provided with six or other suitable number of hinged pieces or arms so
arranged that when they are closed they shut into recesses provided for that purpose
in the disc and close the said passages or ports. This disc is fitted upon a hollow shaft
through which passes the steam or other agent employed for driving the engine.
This hollow shaft carries a distributing piece or valve or distributor hereinafter
described having admission hole or apertures of a number equal to that of the steam
or pressure chambers or recesses provided in the peripheral wall of the outer casing
of the apparatus. Anti-friction wheels or rollers are moreover fitted to rotate in the
said casing between the steam or pressure chambers or recesses, the said anti-friction
wheels or rollers, thus forming also means of separation or partitions between the
said steam or pressure chambers or recesses. Any suitable number of steam or
pressure chambers or recesses may be employed, but the said number must be in
every case unequal to that of the hinged pieces or arms.
The hinged pieces or arms are preferably formed of bronze but any other suitable
material may be employed. In order to ensure a tight joint each of the said hinged
pieces or arms is provided with a metal or other suitable packing piece arranged in
the following manner, that is to say, the said packing piece is folded in two and
introduced into a suitable groove provided in the said hinged piece or arm. The
packing piece is retained in this groove so that its free extremities project to a
suitable distance from the same by means of a pin driven into the upper part or
portion of the said packing piece, so as to expand or spread the latter in a
cylindrical hole or enlargement provided at the upper extremity of the said groove.
Similar packing pieces are provided in the peripheral wall of the outer casing

page_text: between the steam or pressure chambers or recesses to prevent leakage from one to
the other.
The action of the hinged pieces or arms when in operation is as follows, that is to
say when two of the said hinged pieces or arms have completed their stroke or travel
and uncovered the exhaust holes or apertures, two more of the said hinged pieces or
arms are in such a position as to be ready to enter the steam or pressure chambers
or recesses, and their admission ports or apertures are about to open to the distributing
piece or valve or distributer, at the same time that the other or remaining two
hinged pieces or arms are closing the distributing or admission ports or passages in
the same proportion as the others are opening them.
After turning to the right for a space equal to the dimensions of the orifices of the
admission ports or passages the hinged pieces or arms above mentioned are completely
open and will work under full pressure during a space corresponding to the said
dimensions of the orifices of the admission ports or passages of the distributing
valve or piece or distributer, during which time the steam will be acting expansively
upon two of the other hinged pieces or arms in their steam or pressure chambers or
recesses and the remaining two hinged pieces or arms are approaching the beginning
of the next or consecutive steam or pressure chambers or recesses, and occupy a
similar position to that herein before described.
The operation continues in this manner, under the action of the steam or other
motive power the said hinged pieces or arms being successively operated two by
two.
Exhaust apertures leading from the above described steam or pressure chambers or
recesses are moreover provided.
The expansion device comprises a shaft having a suitable disc firmly attached
thereto or forming part of the same and provided with suitable holes or passages
corresponding with those provided in the said shaft, and with the hollow central shaft
or tube through which the steam air or other gas or liquid for driving is delivered.
Between these two is arranged a sleeve or socket so as to be an easy fit. This sleeve
or socket is also provided with radial holes or apertures separated by full portions.
These holes or apertures are situated in that portion of the said sleeve or socket
corresponding to that of the distributing holes or apertures. By turning this sleeve
or socket upon the hollow central shaft either by, hand, or by means of a regulator,
the full portions which previously left the holes or apertures in the said hollow shaft
completely uncovered can be made to close these holes or apertures, more or less, and
can even be caused to close them entirely.
The closing of the holes or apertures in the hollow shaft to a greater or lesser
extent, by the full portions of the said sleeve or socket allow of longer or shorter
periods of communication with the ports or passages in the disc or plate, thus
ensuring longer or shorter periods of expansion. A lever suitably attached to the
above mentioned sleeve or socket and operated either by hand, or by means of any
suitable form of regulator or governor, is moreover provided. This lever is fitted
with a pointer or index adapted to indicate upon a suitably graduated plate or dial
the degrees of expansion from full steam pressure, up to the complete or absolute
closing of the admission ports or passages.
In order to compensate for the wear in the distributing device I sometimes employ
the following arrangement. A central tube or pipe is provided for supplying the
stean or other motive power to the apparatus, the distributing piece or medium being
placed upon the outside of or surrounding the said central tube or pipe. This
distributing piece or medium is provided with four or other suitable number of holes
or apertures, and is bored out, and provided with a long sleeve or socket, having at
its upper extremity four or other suitable number of holes or apertures. The lower
extremity of this sleeve or socket is firmly fixed so as to retain it in a suitable
position, by means of cross pieces. Four segments of a ring having suitable
intervals or spaces between them determine the distribution to the said distributing
piece or medium. Between these segments are provided suitable wedge pieces having
springs attached to the hereinbefore mentioned sleeve or socket against which

page_text: moreover is also adapted to bear the motive power thus tending to spread the said
segments and to press them against the bore of the distributing piece or medium,
and thus take up, or compensate for any wear that may occur, and moreover ensure a
perfectly tight joint between the turning piece and the above described ring segments
which fulfil the duties of a distributing valve or piece. Projections upon the sleeve or
socket engage with the said segments throughout their entire length, in order to
prevent them from turning. Screw threaded glands are moreover provided to form
joints round the central tube or pipe and the sleeve or socket.
The compensating action of the segments can be produced by means of any other
suitable form of spring, such as springs round or flat in transverse section, or by
means of any other mechanical device such as screws, cones or the like.
The segmental distributing valve or piece may in some cases be caused to turn
instead of being fixed as above described and may moreover consist of cylindrical
conical or spherical segments.
When my improved rotary engine is more especially intended to work by the
pressure of water or other fluid I prefer to employ a simplified construction herein-
after described.
In this case the apparatus consists essentially of two main parts or portions, one
fitted upon the other. That is to say, the first part or portion carrying the ring or
peripheral wall of the outer casing containing the pressure chambers or recesses, and
the supply pipe or tube bringing the water or other fluid. The second part or
portion or disc contains the hinged pieces or arms, and the supply passages or ports
which distribute the water to the said pressure chambers or recesses.
The exhaust holes or apertures are placed in the said second part or portion or
disc in a suitable position between the supply passages or ports. The supply pipe or
tube is provided with four or other suitable number of holes or apertures for
distributing the water or other liquid.
The water or other liquid can be introduced indifferently through either of the
said hoies or apertures of the central supply pipe or tube, those not required for use
being closed.
In
Either the outer casing or peripheral wall, or the internal disc can be caused to
rotate at will by rendering immovable or fixing the one not required to rotate.
this manner the direction in which the engine travels can be reversed when desired.
Although I have herein before described convenient and advantageous methods of
carrying my said invention into practice it is obvious that I can somewhat further
modify the construction of my improved rotary engine without departing from the
nature of my said invention.
Dated this 28th day of November 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
I, JULES AMABLE RADIGUET, of 23, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, France, 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:
My invention relates to rotary engines, and is designed to improve the construction
of the same.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a disc having suitable
passages or ports provided in it. These passages or ports are arranged radially, and
their orifices are provided with a corresponding number of hinged pieces or arms
fitted in suitable recesses provided in the said disc so as to form doors to the
passages or ports which when closed, prevent the passage of any gas or liquid
through the said passages or ports. These hinged pieces or arms perform moreover,

page_text: when open or partially open, the office of pistons when passing through pressure
chambers or recesses provided in the peripheral wall of the casing in which the said
disc is fitted to rotate. The said pressure chambers or recesses act thus as cylinders
and are so formed that the said hinged pieces or arms are permitted to open more
and more as they advance towards the centre of the said pressure chambers or
recesses, and are then as gradually closed until completely shut when leaving the said
pressure chambers or recesses.
A central distributing valve or distributor is also provided consisting either of a
cylindrical piece, or of a disc-having holes or apertures coinciding with the above
mentioned passages or ports in the revolving disc for the admission of steam or other
gas or liquid. I sometimes moreover provide a regulating device that allows of the
engine being driven either at the full pressure, or expansion to be employed.
My improved rotary engine is adapted to work either by the pressure of steam or
other gas, or by means of water power or other liquid.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the figures of which are
hereinafter referred to.
Figures 1 and 2 of the said drawings represent a steam engine working with
variable expansion, which is constructed according to this invention, Figure 1 being a
vertical section, and Figure 2 a horizontal section.
In applying my said invention to a rotary steam engine intended to work
expansively I provide a suitable disc A having admission passages or ports B arranged
radially and provided with six or other suitable number of hinged pieces or arms C
so arranged that when they are closed they fit into recesses provided for that purpose
in the disc and close the said passages or ports. This disc is fitted upon a hollow
shaft D through which passes the steam or other agent employed for driving the
engine. This hollow shaft carries a distributing piece or valve or distributor K
hereinafter described having admission holes or apertures in number equal to that of
the steam or pressure chambers, or recesses E, provided in the peripheral wall F of
the outer casing of the apparatus. Anti-friction wheels or rollers L are moreover
fitted to rotate in the said casing between the steam or pressure chambers or recesses,
the said anti-friction wheels or rollers, thus forming also means of separation or
partitions between the said steam or pressure chambers or recesses. Any suitable
number of steam or pressure chambers or recesses may be employed, but the said
number must be in every case unequal to that of the hinged pieces or arms.
The hinged pieces or arms C one of which is represented separately in Figure 2ª, are
preferably formed of bronze but any other suitable material may be employed. In order
to ensure a tight joint each of the said hinged pieces or arms is provided with a metal
or other suitable packing piece arranged in the following manner.
That is to say, the
said packing piece G is folded in two and introduced into a suitable groove H
provided in the said hinged piece or arm. The packing piece is retained in this
groove so that its free extremities project to a suitable distance from the same by
means of a pin I driven into the upper part or portion of the said packing piece, so
as to expand or spread the latter in a cylindrical hole or enlargement provided at the
upper extremity of the said groove. Similar packing pieces G₁ are provided in the
peripheral wall of the outer casing between the steain or pressure chambers or
recesses, to prevent leakage from one to the other.
The action of the hinged pieces or arms when in operation is as follows. That is to
say, when two of the said hinged pieces or arms 22, Figure 2, have completed their
stroke or travel and uncovered the exhaust holes or apertures, two more of the said
hinged pieces or arms 1, 1 are in position as to be ready to enter the steam or
pressure chambers or recesses, and their admission ports or apertures are about to
open to the distributing piece or valve or distributer K, at the same time that the
other or remaining two hinged pieces or arms 3, 3 are closing the distributing or
admission ports or passages in the same proportion as the others are opening them.
After turning to the right for a space equal to the dimensions of the orifices of the
admission ports or passages the hinged pieces or arms 1, 1 above mentioned are
completely open and will work under full pressure during a space corresponding to

page_text: the said dimensions of the orifices of the admission ports or passages of the
distributing valve or piece or distributer, during which time the steam will be
acting expansively upon two of the other hinged pieces or arms 3, 3 in the steam
or pressure chambers or recesses, and the remaining two hinged pieces or arms 2, 2,
are approaching the beginning of the next or consecutive steam or pressure
chambers or recesses, and occupy a similar position to that occupied at the
commencement by the hinged pieces or arms 1, 1.
The operation continues in this manner, under the action of the steam or other
motive power the said hinged pieces or arms being successively operated two
by two.
or
Exhaust apertures M leading from the above described steam pressure
chambers or recesses E are moreover provided.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the distributing device for variable expansion, which
I use for this motor.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show in horizontal section three different. positions of the
expansion device.
The expansion device comprises a shaft a having a suitable disc b firmly attached
thereto or forming part of the same and provided with suitable holes or passages
corresponding with those provided in the said shaft, and with the hollow central
shaft or tube e through which the steam, air or other gas or liquid for driving is
delivered. Between these two is arranged a sleeve or socket d so as to be an
easy fit.
This sleeve or socket d is also provided with radial holes or apertures separated
by full portions m m m m. These holes or apertures are situated in that portion
of the said sleeve or socket corresponding to that of the distributing holes or apertures.
By turning this sleeve or socket d upon the hollow central shaft c either by hand,
or by means of a regulator, the full portions m which previously left the holes or
apertures n n n n in the said hollow shaft e completely uncovered, can be made to close
these holes or apertures more or less, and can even be caused to close them
entirely.
The closing of the holes or apertures n in the hollow shaft to a greater or less
extent, by the full portions m of the said sleeve or socket allow of longer or
shorter periods of communication with the ports or passages in the disc or plate a,
thus ensuring longer or shorter periods of expansion. A lever suitably attached
at e to the above mentioned sleeve or socket d'and operated either by haud, or by
means of any suitable form of regulator or governor, is moreover provided. This
lever is fitted with a pointer or index adapted to indicate upon a suitably graduated
plate or dial the degrees of expansion from full steam pressure, up to the complete
or absolute closing of the admission ports or passages nn nn.
Figure represents the full portions m of the sleeve or socket d completely
uncovering the ports or passages 'n of the hollow shaft c.
Figure represents these ports or passages only partly covered, and Figure 6
represents them completely closed by the full portions.
Figures 7 and 8 represent in longitudinal section and in horizontal section
improved means designed to compensate for the wear of the parts of the distributing
device.
A central tube or pipe g is provided for supplying the steam or other motive
power to the apparatus, the distributing piece or medium being placed upon the
outside of or surrounding the said central tube or pipe at h. This distributing
piece or medium is provided with four or other suitable number of holes or
apertures iiii, and is bored out, and provided with a long sleove or socket j,
having at its upper extremity four or other suitable number of holes or apertures kkkk.
The lower extremity of this sleeve or socket is firmly fixed so as to retain it in a
suitable position, by means of cross pieces o.
Four segments of a ring pppp having suitable intervals or spaces 9 between,
them (see the interior view Figure 9) determine the distribution to the said.

page_text: 10
distributing piece or medium h. Between these segments p are provided suitable
wedge pieces rrrr having springs ss ss attached to the herein before mentioned
sleeve or socket j against which, moreover is also adapted to bear the motive power
thus tending to spread the said segments p and to press them against the bore of the
distributing piece or medium and thus take up, or compensate for any wear that
may occur, and moreover ensure a perfectly tight joint between the turning piece and
the above described ring segments which fulfil the duties of a distributing valve or
piece.
Projections tttt upon the sleeve or socket j engage with the said segments p through-
out their entire length, in order to prevent them from turning. Screw threaded
glands and are moreover provided to form joints round the central tube or
pipe g and the sleeve or socket j.
--
The compensating action of the segments can be produced by means of any other
suitable form of spring, such as springs round in transverse section, as shown in
Figure 10 and 11 or flat in transverse section, or by means of any other mechanical
device such as screws, cones or the like.
The segmental distributing valve or piece may in some cases be caused to turn
instead of being fixed as above described, and may moreover consist of cylindrical
conical or spherical segments.
Figures 12 and 13 represent in longitudinal section and in horizontal section a
greatly simplified arrangement of my rotary motor arranged more especially for
operating by water pressure.
As shown in the drawing, the apparatus consists essentially of two main parts or
portions, one fitted upon the other. That is to say, the first part or portion
carrying the ring or peripheral wall of the outer casing containing the pressure
chambers or recesses and the supply pipe or tube, for the water or other fluid.
The second part or portion or disc y contains the hinged pieces or arms y¹, and the
supply passages or ports y² which distribute the water to the said pressure chambers
or recesses.
The exhaust holes or apertures w are placed in the said second part or portion or disc
in a suitable position between the supply passages or ports. The supply pipe or tube z
is provided with four or other suitable number of holes or apertures for distributing
the water or other liquid.
The water or other liquid can be introduced indifferently through either of the
said holes or apertures of the central supply pipe or tube z, those not required for use
being closed.
Either the outer casing or peripheral wall, or the internal disc can be caused to
rotate at will by rendering immovable or fixing the one not required to rotate.
In this manner the direction in which the engine travels can be reversed when
desired.
Figures 14 and 15 represent an engine which is simpler in construction, and which
permits of the reversal in the direction of movement of the motor, and the realization
of a prolonged expansion.
Figure 14 is a longitudinal section on the line 1-2 of Figure 15 and
Figure 15 is a transverse section on the line 3-4 of Figure 15.
The steam chambers in which the active hinged pieces or arms move are kept
concentric; and the number of these pieces, which is not necessarily unequal to that
of the packing pieces can vary and can even be reduced to a single hinged piece per
cylinder as shown in Figures 14 and 15.
On the other hand, I dispense with the rollers which, in the first described
arrangement, form with the contiguous packing pieces the partition between the
eccentric steam chambers. In the arrangement described these packing pieces are
alone sufficient, the pressure of the steam forcing them against the casing to make a
tight joint.
The engine is composed of a cylinder J in which a concentric drum N which
carries the hinged pieces turns the drum N being keyed upon the central shaft O. In
the example represented the drum N is provided with two hinged pieces C C₁

page_text: pivoted to the said drum, but placed in inverse directions with relation to each other
to enable the movement in one or the other direction at will only one is turned
outward at a time, the one which is not turned outwards and which consequently does
not act being kept applied to the bottom of the recess provided for the same through
the medium of a spring .
Between the shaft and the interior of the nave P of the drum is inserted a
sleeve which is movable either in the direction of its circumference or in the
direction of its length. The displacement is effected by means of a lever not
represented in the drawing, the forked. extremity of which takes between the flanges
of a socket m' which forms one piece with the sleeve Q.
By operating this sleeve the direction of the rotation of the drum N in the
cylinder J is changed at will. For this purpose the sleeve Q is provided with an
orifice n which is placed opposite one or the other of the passages C² or 0³. The
said passages terminate, one below the hinged piece C and the other below the
hinged piece so that the steam, coming from the casing of the cylinder through
the pipe T and the hollow shaft O, passes through the passage 02 or C³, raises the
said hinged piece C or the hinged piece C¹ and presses it against the interior side of
the cylinder, the drum commences to turn to the right hand side, Figure 15, if the
orifice n¹ is opposite C2, and to the left hand side if the orifice n is opposite C³. The
escape of the steam takes place through the orifice M¹, the hollow interior of the
drum, its open bottom R the hollow cover S of the cylinder and the pipe V.
The arrangement of a single hinged piece enables the greatest passage for the
expansion of the steam. To obviate in this arrangement, the inconvenience of the
dead point at the moment of the passage of the hinged piece C below the packing
piece V, and also the irregularity of motion resulting from a prolonged expansion
with a single packing piece, I arrange in succession to one another upon the same
shaft two rotary drums N N¹; the cylinder is then divided into two lengths separated
by a segment crown ✗ which connects the two drums. In this second cylinder the
double hinged piece C C¹ with its two passages C2 C³ is at 180 degrees to the hinged
piece C of the first cylinder, and the sleeve Q has a second orifice n through which
the steam is admitted to the second cylinder.
In the two cylinders the hinged pieces C are in prolongation so that the hinged
pieces of one of the cylinders receives the steam in full when that of the other passes
before the packing-piece.
If three drums are arranged in succession to one another the hinged pieces will be
at 120 degrees. The number of the drums can be varied. This arrangement enables
the utilization of steam at a great expansion, as in engines for multiple expansion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
First. In a rotary engine as described and represented, comprising a rotary piston
constituted either by a solid or hollow disc or by a fly-wheel having arms, and
carrying a certain number of binged pieces at its periphery and in which the admission
passages are formed.
Second. A casing in which the disc moves, and comprising chambers performing
the part of cylinders, of which chambers there can be any number, but the latter
must always be unequal to that of the hinged pieces.
Third. A distributing device for variable expansion composed of a hollow sleeve
through the interior of which the motive fluid passes, and the orifices of which can
be closed entirely or partly, according to the degree of expansion desired.
Fourth. A device for compensating for wear by means of wedges pressed against
the friction-pieces, and constantly applying them upon their joint through the medium
of springs aided by the pressure of the motive fluid.
Fifth. The improved construction of the steam chambers in which the hinged
pieces move, this arrangement permitting a change of motion being constituted by
a sleeve which can be moved by hand, and is provided with an orifice which is placed

page_text: opposite one or the other of the passages terminating behind one or the other of the
two hinged pieces, thereby producing the movement in one or in the other direction,
as set forth.
Sixth. The combination of several successive drums upon the same shaft for
producing a prolonged expansion of the steam.
.
Seventh. The improved arrangement of the rotary motor more especially applicable
when water under pressure is used; and also any arrangement permitting it to be
rendered reversible, that is to say, for permitting a change of motion.
Dated this 28th day of August 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.