Improvements in and relating to Rotary Engines applicable for use as Motors, Pumps, Blowers, or the like,
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Rotary Engines applicable for use as
Motors, Pumps, Blowers, or the like,
We, RUDOLPH LANZONE and EDWARD LANZONE, both of 132, Nassau Street,
Rooms Nos. 1122 and 1123, in the City, County, and State of New York, United
States of America, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to a rotary engine primarily designated for use as a motor,
when a fluid under tension, as steam for example, is employed therein, but which
is capable of being adapted for use as a rotary pump or blower with little or no
modification in construction.
An engine constructed according to our invention comprises a rotatable hollow
annulus or annular cylinder, fixed on a hollow shaft into which the fluid under
tension is admitted at one end and through which the said fluid is exhausted at the
other end, the hollow or bore in the shaft being closed by a partition at the proper
point to separate the inlet passage from the exhaust passage. The annular cylinder has
a cut-off slide or slides to close the annular chamber therein at proper points, these
slides, of which there will be two, arranged, by preference, opposite each other and
moving in and out radially or nearly so, performing the functions of cylinder-heads
when closed. There will be automatic mechanism for operating these cut-off
slides, one slide being closed and the other opened instantly thereafter, the move-
ments being nearly simultaneous. Just behind each slide is situated an inlet for
steam, or other fluid, and just in front of each slide is situated an outlet for the
exhaust, both the inlets and the outlets being controlled by valves actuated at
proper times by automatic mechanism.
In the annular bore of the cylinder or rotatable annulus above described, is
placed a relatively heavy gravity abutment having a cross-section corresponding
exactly to that of the annular bore--preferably circular-and fitting into it steam-
This
tight but so that the annulus may rotate and leave the abutment at rest.
abutment will be curved, of course, to the same radius as the bore in the annulus
or cylinder, and its length will be, by preference, equal to about one-third of the
length of said circular or annular bore.
It is most advantageous to mount the shaft of the engine in a horizontal plane.
and the cylinder or annulus will then rotate in a vertical plane. In this case if
the steam be admitted between the closed cut-off slide and the adjacent end of the
gravity abutment, the resistance offered by the inertia of the said abutment causes
the steam to drive the annulus or cylinder, imparting to it and its shaft a rotary
motion. Preferably the impingement of the rear end of the abutment (or a cam
thereon) on a suitable lever-mechanism, shifts the cut-off slides at proper times
and also actuates the valves.
When used as a motor, with steam under comparatively high pressure, a

page_text: governor is employed to cut off the steam at variable points, regulated by the speed,
so that the benefits of expansion are secured.
Another important feature in the engine is a passage from the exhaust side of
the closed cut-off slide to the front of the same for use when steam at a relatively
high tension is employed. In this passage is a check-valve which closes to the
exhaust side. The object of this relief device is to overcome the difficulty due to
the sudden admission of steam at full tension, which not only drives the rotating
cylinder forward but imparts a rearward movement to the heavy abutment, whereby
the latter, under the influence of acquired momentum, may move so far as to
momentarily reduce the tension of the steam by expansion below atmospheric
tension, or below that on the exhaust side of the cut-off slide. Should this take
place, the check-valve in the relief passage will instantly open and equalize the
pressure, thus establishing the proper equilibrium.
In adapting the engine for use as a pump or blower, this relief-device is not
required, and for such uses it may be omitted, or if on the engine, the check-valve
may be secured in its closed position by a screw or equivalent means.
The rotating cylinder or annulus may form the fly-wheel and pulley of the
engine, if desired.
Dated this 9th day of September 1897.
Improvements in and relating to Rotary Engines applicable for use as
Motors, Pumps, Blowers, or the like.
We, RUDOLPH LANZONE and EDWARD LANZONE, both of 132, Nassau Street,
Rooms Nos. 1122 and 1123, in the City, County, and State of New York, United
States of America, Engineers, 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:-
Our invention relates to a rotary engine primarily designated for use as a motor,
when a fluid under tension, such for example as steam, is employed therein, but
which is capable of being adapted for use as a rotary pump or blower with little
or no modification in construction. The engine comprises a rotatively mounted
hollow annulus, or annular cylinder, having two oppositely arranged radially
sliding cylinder-heads, and induction and eduction passages in the shaft which
carries said cylinder. The sliding cylinder-heads and the valves controlling the
induction and eduction ports of the engine are operated automatically, and in the
cylinder is a relatively heavy gravity abutment against which the steam. reacts
when the engine is used as a steam motor.
When steam of high tension or pressure is employed in an engine of this class,
the steam being cut off in order to get the full benefit of expansion, the sudden
admission of the steam at full pressure not only drives the cylinder forward, but
imparts an undue rearward movement to the heavy abutment which, under the
influence of acquired momentum, may move so far (after the steam is cut off) as to
momentarily reduce the tension of the steam, by expansion, below atmospheric
tension, or below that on the exhaust side of the cylinder-head or slide. The
present invention is designed to obviate this and to ensure an equalization of pres-
sure at such times on both sides of the abutment, whereby the engine may be used

page_text: as a motor with steam under high pressure, or, at will, as a pump or blower. The
means employed to attain these ends, together with other novel features of the con-
struction, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
whereof Fig. 1 is a side view of an engine embodying our improvements, same being
shown partly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 2 is a section on line in
Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in section, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the device for
equalizing the pressures; Fig. being a similar view, to a smaller scale, of a
slightly different construction of such device. Fig. 5 shows a modified arrange-
ment of equalizing device. Fig. 6 is a detail view, drawn to a larger scale than the
principal views, illustrating the valve-operating devices; Fig. 7 being a section
on line 7 in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 a side view looking in the direction of the arrow
in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a section taken through the valves. Fig. 10 is a view showing
the mounting of the valve-operating lever.
In the construction illustrated, 1 represents suitable bearings for a tubular
shaft 2, adapted to receive steam, when the engine operates as a motor, through a
suitable induction pipe 3 at one end, and to exhaust at the other or eduction end 4.
Fig. 9 shows how the two passages through the shaft are separated between the
valves.
Fixed on the shaft 2, in the manner of a fly-wheel or pulley, is the hollow annulus
or cylinder 5, which is here shown as adapted to serve also as a fly-wheel and pulley.
being furnished with a pulley-rim 6. Mounted in the cylinder 5, and arranged
oppositely and nearly radially, are two sliding cylinder-heads 7-7, which are
operated by automatic mechanism. It will suffice to say, at this point, that the
sliding heads are operated quickly, and that after one has been closed the other
will be instantly opened. The cylinder is provided with two induction inlets
or ports 8 and 8% and two eduction or exhaust ports 9 and 9" arranged respectively
a little in the rear and a little in advance of the respective sliding cylinder-heads.
The induction and eduction valves and mechanism will be hereinafter described.
In the bore of the annular cylinder is the gravity abutment 10, herein before
mentioned. This abutment is a simple heavy body having a cross-section of a size
and contour to fit substantially steam-tight in the bore of the cylinder, and curved
to fit said bore. Preferably this abutment will be made about one-third the length
of the annular bore of the cylinder. This abutment is represented in its most
advantageous position in Fig. 1, its weight being wholly supported by the pressure
of steam on its fore or lower end. The cylinder and shaft rotate in the direction
of the arrow d, Fig. 1.
The mechanism for operating the sliding cylinder-heads and the valves will now
be described.
Each sliding cylinder-head is enclosed in a guiding casing and may be connected
with a stem 11 (Figs. 2, 6 and 7), coupled by a link 12 to a lever-arm 13 pivotally
mounted on the cylinder 5. In a depression or pocket formed in the cylinder is
mounted a rock-shaft 14 (Fig. 10), having fixed thereon, within the cylinder, an
arm 15 carrying, by preference, an anti-friction roller at the extremity, which works
against the cam 10, on the rear end of the abutment 10, as the cylinder rotates,
the effect being to depress said arm into the pocket, as seen at the right in Fig. 1,
and rock the shaft 14. This shaft projects out through the side of the cylinder
and has keyed on it an arm 16 which also carries a roller; the latter bearing on
the lever-arm 13. During the first half of the swing or movement of the arm 16 it
acts through the arm 13, link 12 and stem 11, to close a sliding cylinder-head; the
last half of the movement of said arm 16 serving, through mechanism that will be
described, to open the other sliding cylinder-head. It may be said here, however,
that during this last half of the movement of the arm 16, it does not further move
the arm 13 as the latter is curved where the roller on arm 16 plays over it, the said
curve being drawn from the axis of the rock-shaft 14 as a centre.
On the stem of the sliding cylinder-head is fixed a cross-head 17 (Figs. 6 and 7),
which works between guides 18; and fixed to this cross-head, at one side (Fig. 7),

page_text: is a toe-piece 19, upon which bears the free end of a swinging arm 20, carried at the
outer end of the rock-shaft 14; and fixed on the rock-shaft, adjacent to the free
arm 20, is a short hook-arm 20°, which is adapted to take over or engage the arm 20
at the moment the open cylinder-head is closed, and acts, through the arm 20 and
toe-piece 19, to open the other cylinder-head
The valves are also actuated through the cross-heads 17, as will now be explained
with special reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Figs. 7 and 9 show the plug valves 21 and 21°, the former controlling the induc-
tion and the latter the exhaust. These valves are each furnished with two
pins 22, 22, one at each end of the plug (Fig. 7), for effecting the rocking of the
plug, this rocking being accomplished by means of hooks or toe-pieces carried by
the cross-heads 17. Each cross-head carries a hook 23, to operate the induction
valve 21, and a hook 23" to operate the eduction, or exhaust valve 21*. These
are clearly shown in Fig. 6.
In order that the induction valve may be closed quickly and so cut off the
influx of steam at a part of the stroke, a cut-off device is employed in connection
with a governor 24 (Fig. 2). The cut-off device is best illustrated, as to detail,
in Figs. 6 and 8. On the shaft 2, adjacent to the governor, is pivotally mounted
at, a spring arm 25, the free end of which has a slotted connection with a stud 26,
in the valve 21; and secured to the moveable sleeve of the governor is a fork 27,
the finger-tips of which loosely embrace the spring arm 25. Now, when the engine
is running slowly, and the governor inactive, the finger-tips of the fork 27 will be
(as in Fig. 6) co-incident with the point z where the spring-arm 25 is pivotally
mounted, and consequently there will be no cut-off and the valve will remain open
throughout the stroke, as the spring-arm will not be put under tension by the
fork but if the speed of the engine increases to an extent sufficient to cause the
balls of the governor to fly out, the moveable collar of the governor, and with it
the fork 27, will move toward the valve 21, and consequently the fingers of the fork
will be moved up along the spring-arm, thus putting it under tension, so that when
the hook 23 shall have opened the valve and then wiped past it, the spring-arm
will return the valve to its closed position. As the speed increases and the halls
fly out further, the fingers of the fork will be moved up nearer to the operating
end of the spring-arm, thus shortening and stiffening the latter and causing it to
close the valve more quickly.
Fig. 10 shows the preferred manner of constructing the mounting of the rock-
shaft 14 whereby a stuffing-box is dispensed with. The rock-shaft is formed with
a conical shoulder 14 which may be ground, like a valve, so as to fit into a conical
seat 14b. The shoulder is kept up to the seat by a set-screw 14° driven against the
enclosed end of the rock-shaft.
In order to equalize the pressure at the opposite sides of the cylinder-head, or
on the opposite ends of the abutment, when the pressure on the fore-end of the
latter falls below that of the atmosphere, a passage is provided connecting the two
parts of the cylinder, either through the abutment or about the cylinder-head, and
preferably the latter, and a check-valve is provided to normally close this passage,
said valve opening to that side of the cylinder-head where the induction port is
situated. Fig. 3 illustrates the preferred form of this pressure-equalizing device.
Mounted on the side of the cylinder so as to connect with ports or apertures 28
and 28 therein (Figs. 1, 3 and 4), is a branched casting 29 having a passage 29*
extending through it, the flow therethrough being controlled by a check-valve 30,
held up to its seat by a light spring 30. This valve is easily displaced by pressure
from the exhaust side 28*, but is held closed by pressure from the induction
side 28.
In the preferred construction, seen enlarged in Fig. 3, a screw 31 is provided,
which may be driven in so as to hold the check-valve 30 closed at all times, thus
rendering this equalizing device inert, as it may be and should be if the engine
is to be used as a blower or pump. In Fig. 4 this feature of setting the valve 30
tightly to its seat, is omitted as it may be where the engine is designed to operate

page_text: as a high pressure motor. In Fig. 5, the passage 29ª is shown as formed in the
abutment 10, and extending from end to end thereof, the check-valve 30 being
mounted at the fore-end of said passage. This construction is feasible, but it
reduces the weight of the abutment and the valve 30 is not so accessible as in the
construction before described.
It will be understood that the steam-passages in the shaft 2 are connected with
the ports in the annular cylinder 5 by suitable pipes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim):-
1. A rotary engine constructed or operating substantially as herein described
and comprising an annular rotating cylinder provided with sliding cylinder-heads,
and a heavy abutment mounted in said cylinder, the chambers of the cylinder at
the opposite ends of said abutment being connected by means of a passage controlled
by a check-valve.
2. A rotary engine comprising an annular rotating cylinder, with sliding
cylinder-heads, and a heavy abutment in said cylinder, a passage connecting the
chambers of the cylinder at the opposite ends of said abutment and formed in the
casting 29 mounted on the side of the cylinder, the check-valve controlling said
passage, and the spring adapted to hold said valve on its seat elastically, substan-
tially as set forth.
3. In a rotary engine, the combination of the cylinder 5, and the sliding cylinder-
head mounted therein, of the casting 29, mounted on the side of said cylinder and
having in it a passage which connects at its respective ends with the cylinder
at opposite sides of the said cylinder-head, the check-valve controlling said passage,
the spring which keeps said valve seated normally, and means for holding said
valve to its seat fixedly, when required, substantially as set forth.
4. In a rotary engine having a rotating annular cylinder, an abutment therein,
and a sliding cylinder-head, the combination, with the said cylinder-head and
abutment, and intermediate mechanism for operating said head, of the rock-
shaft 14, mounted in a recess in the cylinder, said shaft having a coned shoulder
occupying an annular seat in the cylinder, and the set-screw, bearing on the
enclosed end of said shaft, substantially as set forth.
1000
For the Applicants,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Chartered Patent Agent, 191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.