Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Rotary Engines.
We, LEONARDUS ARNOLDUS VAN SCHIE, of Jacobus Straat 42, Rotterdam,
Holland, Engineer, FELIX BEZEMER, of Velp, near Arnhem, Holland, Merchant,
and TAMMO JACOB BEZEMER, of Wageningen, Holland, Tutor, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to an improved construction of rotary engine.
of the type in which the motive fluid chamber which takes the place of the
cylinder in an ordinary reciprocating engine is annular, is internally of circular
form, as seen in cross section, and is fitted with a piston that travels in a
circular course. The annular chamber is constructed in two halves, suitably
bolted or fastened together in a fluid-tight manner and the piston is carried
by a disc or wheel that is fixed upon the main shaft of the engine, whose
axis is coincident with that of the annular chamber. The connection of the
piston to the disc is or may be in the form of a bracket or pair of arms. There
is an annular opening at the inner circumference of the annular chamber;
the disc that carries the piston works in this annular opening, a fluid-tight
joint being made by packing rings which, in one arrangement, are screwed.
Motive fluid is admitted to the annular chamber by a suitable cock or valve.
In one arrangement the plug of the cock is mounted on a spindle provided with
arms through which it is actuated in a rotary sense in one direction by means
of a cam mounted on the engine shaft and in the opposite direction by means
of a spring. An anti-friction wheel is or may be interposed between the cam
and the arm it actuates.
In connection with the interior of the annular chamber, there is a valve chest
or casing which is in communication with a chamber formed in the engine
casing and which is adapted to receive a valve or door, which, in one extreme
position, forms a partition across the annular chamber, and, in the other extreme
position, affords free passage for the piston.
This valve or door has connected to it a rod which passes fluid-tight through
the wall of the valve chest or casing, into a slotted guide tube or equivalent
device, in which there is a block or head to which the connecting rod is secured,
which block or head can slide in, and is guided by, the guide tube or
equivalent.
With the sliding block or head there engages a lever adapted to reciprocate
or move radially about a pivot, and which is provided with a pin furnished
with an anti-friction roller located in a cam groove formed in the periphery of
a disc or wheel.
One part of the groove is so curved as, by operating the lever, to impart
longitudinal movement to the connecting rod before mentioned, first in one
direction and then in the reverse direction, thus at the proper times moving
the valve or door already referred to into position across the annular chamber,
and into its reverse position clear of the said chamber for allowing the piston
to pass.
At the opposite sides of the curved portion of the cam groove, there
are blocks or parts formed with recesses, and each provided with a spring

page_text: or plate of a form corresponding to the contour of this part of the groove, these
springs or plates constituting the opposite sides of this part of the groove,
for the purpose of obviating shock.
When the sliding valve or door is across the annular chamber, the cock is
opened to allow actuating fluid to enter the annular chamber between the valve
or door, and the piston, so as to drive the piston forward.
Motive fluid that has done duty in the annular chamber, escapes by an
exhaust opening provided for the purpose.
The details of construction may be more or less varied,--thus, by making suit-
able provision for admission and emission of motive fluid to and from the
annular chamber, by additional inlet and outlet, engines according to this
invention may be adapted to be capable of reversal, as may in some cases be
desirable, for example in engines for marine purposes; also, by means of an
additional cylinder or cylinders, engines according to this invention may be
compounded. Such engines may be adapted for triple expansion, or other-
wise.
i
.
We, LEONARDUS ARNOLDUS VAN SCHE, of Jacobus Straat, 42, Rotterdam,
Holland, Engineer, FELIX BEZEMER, of Velp, near Arnhem, Holland, Merchant,
and TAMMо JACOB BEZEMER, of Wageningen, Holland, Tutor, 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:-
This invention has reference to an improved construction of rotary engine
of the type in which the motive fluid chamber which takes the place of the
cylinder in an ordinary reciprocating engine is annular, is internally of circular
form, as seen in cross section, and is fitted with a piston that travels in a
circular course.
Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings Fig. 1 is an end elevation
of a rotary engine according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but
with the bearing removed, and part of the cylinder broken away. Fig. 3 is
an elevation of the reversing arrangements. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the
line a a Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views hereinafter referred to. Figs. 7
and S are enlarged sectional views of the motive fluid admission cock. Fig. 9
is a similar view to Fig. 10, but shewing an arrangement whereby the engine
can be caused to drive in either direction. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on
the line bb Fig. 4. Figs. 11 to 14 are detail views hereinafter referred to.
1 is the bed plate of the engine on which is mounted an annular chamber 2
formed in halves, one of which is formed with a foot or base 2ª by which it is
secured to the bed plate; the two halves are fastened together by bolts 3 and
are formed with inwardly extending webs 2b formed with central apertures 2°
fitted with bearings 4 through which the main shaft 5 of the engine extends
the said shaft is provided at one end with a fly wheel and its other end

page_text: portion is supported in a bearing 7. There is an annular opening 8 at the
inner circumference of the annular chamber 2 and the peripheral portion of a
disc or wheel 9 fixed upon the engine shaft extends into this annular opening,
a fluid tight joint being made by packing rings 10 which, as shewn in Figs. 4
and 5 are formed with screw threads and are screwed into annular recesses or
grooves 11 in the opposite surfaces of the two halves of the chamber. The inner
sides of the packing rings 10 are formed with teeth 10 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) that
mesh with pinions 11ª so that on rotation of said pinions the rings 10 can be
caused to press more or less tightly against the surface of the disc or wheel 9
and take up the wear on the rings without opening the chamber.
12 is a piston fitting the chamber 2 and carried by the disc or wheel 9 to
which it may be connected by means of a bracket or pair of arms 13. 14 is a
valve chest or casing which is in communication with a chamber or enlarged
part 15 of the chamber 2 and is adapted to receive a valve or door 16, which,
in one extreme position forms a partition across the annular chamber 2, and, in
the other extreme position, affords free passage for the piston 12. The valve
or door 16 has connected to it a rod 17 which passes fluid-tight through the
wall of the valve chest or casing, into a slotted guide tube or equivalent device 18
where it is secured to a block or head 19, shewn to an enlarged scale in
Fig. 11, which can slide in, and is guided by, the guide tube 18. With the
sliding block or head 19 there engages a lever 20 adapted to oscillate or move
radially about a pivot 21, and which is provided with a pin 22 furnished with
an antifriction roller 23 located in a cam groove 24 formed in the periphery of
a disc or wheel 25 keyed upon the engine shaft. One part of the groove 24
is so curved as to so operate the lever 20 as to impart longitudinal movement
to the connecting rod 17, first in one direction and then in the reverse direction,
thus at the proper time moving the valve or door 16 from its position across
the annular chamber into the chest or casing 14 so as to allow the piston to
pass and then back again so as to serve as an abutment against which the steam
acts. The opposite sides of the curved portion of the cam groove 24, are formed
of spring blades or plates 25ª of a form corresponding to the contour of this
part of the groove, which are supported at intervals by recessed blocks 26
(Figs. 13 and 14). The springs 25 are formed with upwardly turned hooks 25°
that engage with recesses 26ª formed in the underside of the block 26 to hold
the springs in position the blocks 26 being secured to the wheel 25 by bolts 25b.
In some cases the springs 25ª may be secured to the blocks 26 by means of screws
or bolts. By means of these spring blades or plates the antifriction roller 23
is allowed to pass rapidly through the curved part of the cam groove without
shock, the springs yielding sufficiently for this purpose. To the lever 20 there
is pivoted one end of a piston rod 20ª having at its other end a piston 20b working
in a cylinder 20° that is open to the atmosphere at 20d.
When the piston
passes the opening 20ª, air is compressed between the end of the cylinder and
the piston thereby acting as a means for starting the movement of the valve or
door 16 in either direction, and preventing the sudden pull or jerk that would
be given to the valve or door.
Motive fluid such as steam is admitted to the annular chamber 2 through a
suitable cock or valve 27 (Figs. 7 & 8) which is shown connected to the valve
chest 14 through which the steam passes. The plug of the cock is formed with
vertical slots or holes 27, which when the cock is open coincide with similar
holes in the casing 27h, and is mounted on a spindle 28 provided with arms 29,29*
through which it is actuated in a rotary sense in one direction by means of a
cam 30 mounted on the engine shaft and acting against the arm 29, and in the
opposite direction by means of a spring 31 connected to the arm 29*. 32 is an
anti-friction wheel which may be interposed between the cam 30 and the
arm 29.
The cam 30 is so set upon the shaft 5 in relation to the curved portion of the
cam groove 24 and the piston 12 that, when the sliding valve or door has been

page_text: moved into position across the annular chamber, the cock 27 is opened to allow
actuafing fluid to enter by way of the valve chest 14 the annular chamber 2
between the valve or door 16 and the piston 12 so as to drive the piston forward.
In the case of steam or other expansive fluid the cam 30 will be shaped so as to
cut off the supply at the required time to allow the fluid to expand as may be
desired. Motive fluid that has done duty in the annular chamber, escapes by
an exhaust opening 33 formed through the wall of the chamber in proximity
to the valve or door 16.
'As will be seen from Fig. 10, the exhaust side of the valve or door 16 fits
close up against the wall of the chamber, whilst on the other side there is a
space for the passage of fluid from the valve chest, but the cock may, if desired;
be connected direct to the annular chamber.
The details of construction may be more or less varied by providing inlets
for the admission of motive fluid to the annular chamber upon either side of the
valve or door 16 at will so as to enable engines according to this invention to
be reversed as may in some cases be desirable, for example in engines for marine
purposes. Figs. 3 and 9 shew such an arrangement. In this case there are
two slide valves 34, 35 one on each side of the valve 16, and two exhaust
openings 36, 37. The valves 34, 35 are operated from the cam 30, through
bell crank levers 38, 39, pivoted. at. 40, 41 to the annular chamber 2 and
links 42, 43 connected to the valve spindles. Each of the levers 38, 39 is
provided with an antifriction roller 42, 43, adapted to be held in contact. with
the cam 30 by means of a spring 45. 44 is a handle that can be moved into
two positions, in either of which it bears against one of the levers 38, 39 and
holds the antifriction roller. thereon out of contact with the cam 30, thereby
causing one of the valves 34. or 35. to remain out of action. Also by means of
an additional annular chamber or chambers, engines according to this invention
may be compounded. Such engines may be adapted for triple expansion. or
otherwise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A rotary engine of the type referred to having an annular motive. fluid
chamber formed with an annular opening through which extends the peripheral
portion of a disc.or wheel that is secured to the main shaft and carries a piston
fitting said chamber, the opposite walls of said annular opening being formed
with screw threaded annular grooves adapted to receive screw threaded packing
rings, substantially as described. for the purpose specified.
2. A rotary engine of the type referred to wherein a movable valve or door
which in one position serves as a partition across said annular chamber has
coupled. to it a lever carrying a pin or projection that engages with a peripheral
cam groove, in a rotary disc or wheel, the laterally curved portion of said cam
groove having its sides formed of spring blades or plates substantially as
described as and for the purpose specified.
3. Rotary engines of the type referred to constructed, arranged and operating
as described with reference to. and shown in the accompanying drawings.
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For the Applicants,
.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.