IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London,' for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES." A communication from abroad by
Timothy Edward Stewart, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th February 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES." A
communication from abroad by Timothy Edward Stewart, of Boston, Massa-
chusetts, United States of America.
The nature of my Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a
rotary engine, as will be herein-after more fully set forth.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my Invention appertains to
make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation,
referring to the annexed Drawings which form a part of this Specification, and in
which,-
-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved rotary engine; Figure 2 is a
transverse vertical section of the same, through the automatic journal lubri-
cating device; Figure 3 is an end view of said lubricating device.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the engine with the steam chest in section.
Figure 5 is another transverse vertical section of my engine; Figure 6 is a
longitudinal section of the same; and Figure 7 is a section through the head of the
valve.
A represents a cylindrical casing of any suitable dimensions, the body of which is
made in two parts having flanges at the ends united by screws or bolts, as shewn
to be perfectly steam-tight. Through the centre of the casing A passes a shaft B,
upon which is secured a circular wheel C of smaller diameter than the interior
diameter of the casing. This wheel is shown as formed with one piston D, but
more than one may be used if so desired, and the various devices of the engine are
shown as adapted for one piston only. This piston is of such size as to extend to
the interior surface of the casing, and is formed with straight side walls and its
outer surface curved. Extending from the centre shaft B radially along one side of

page_text: the wheel to the outer side of the piston D, across said piston and along the other
side of the wheel to the shaft on that side are a series of packing bars a, a, arranged
with overlapping joints, and with springs b, b, so placed in the wheel and piston as
to press the sectional packing bars or plates outward against the casing on all sides
and prevent any escape of steam. At the overlapping joints of the packing bars a
are inserted steel plates d, as shown in Figure 5, which allow of the contraction
and expansion of the packing bars, and prevent the ingress of steam behind said
bars. It is of course understood that the packing bars are placed in grooves made
in the wheel and piston. In the heads of the casing are also inserted packing
bars extending from the shaft B radially upwards, and into the abutment
chamber E formed on top of the casing A, these packing bars being also pressed
outward by means of springs b² In one end of the chamber E is hung the
abutment G, constructed substantially in the form shewn in Figure 6, and extending
down through a slot into the casing, so that the head of the abutment will rest on
the periphery of the wheel therein. In the head of the valve is inserted a packing
bar which is pressed outward by means of a spring e. The rod forming the
journal of the abutment G, and to which it is permanently secured extends beyond
the chamber E for a suitable distance on one side, and on this end of the rod or
shaft is fastened an adjustable arm or crank H, to the outer end of which is pivoted
an arm I having upon its lower end a stud with friction roller i. This stud and
roller extend into and work in an eccentric groove m in a wheel J fastened on
and revolving with the shaft B. On the stud is pivoted an arm K, the other end
of which is pivoted to the casing A. It will be seen that as the excentric J
revolves the abutment is raised and lowered by the movement of the arm 1 and
crank H.
The excentric is so arranged on the shaft B with relation to the wheel C and its
piston D that the abutment will be raised just as the piston reaches the same, and
be lowered again as soon as the piston has passed the abutment.
L represents the steam chest provided with two ports or steam passages n, n¹,
When the
extending into the interior of the casing, and with exhaust port n².
steam enters through the port n it exhaust through the ports n¹, n², and when it
enters through the port n' it exhausts through the ports n, n². Over the entrance
to these ports is placed a valve M which is used for reversing the engine by being
moved so as to open either of the ports n or n¹, and form communication between the
other one of said ports and the exhaust port. This valve is by a rod p connected with
a lever N pivoted to the side of the casing, and by which said valve is operated.
O is the steam inlet into the chest L, and within said chest between this inlet
and the valve M is a partition 8 with a single port through the same. Over this
port is placed a valve P with corresponding port, which valve is operated so as
to cut off steam just at the time when the piston D passes the abutment G,
allowing the steam at this time to work by expansion; but as soon as the piston has
passed the abutment the valve P opens, again admitting live steam to the engine.
The valve P is by a rod t connected to a longitudinally slotted link R, one end of
which is by a rod v flexibly connected to the outside of the casing A, and the upper
end of this rod is extended forming a lever or handle S which is held at any point
desired in a rack w attached to the casing, the rod thus forming the fulcruin on
which the link can oscillate. The other end of the link R is provided with a
pivoted arm V which extends toward the central shaft B, and its lower end
operated by an excentric W secured thereon. Thus by the revolution of the shaft B
the link R is oscillated up and down, operating thereby the valve P to shut off or
let on steam at the desired time.
The amount of oscillation of the link and consequent extent of the movement of
the valve is regulated by the position of the lever S in the rack w, such movement
of the lever bringing the point at which the rod t is connected to the link closer to
or farther from the fulcrum, which as stated is the rod v.
On the bearings for the shaft B I use an automatic lubricating device constructed
in the following manner:-The shaft B has its bearings in a box A' placed in a

page_text: stand B, and adjusted therein by means of set screws a¹, a¹, as shewn in Figure 3.
In the hottom of the box A' is a longitudinal groove fitting over a bar bin the stand
to relieve the strain from the set screws. On the top of the box A' is an oil cup
or reservoir C provided with a tube passing through the upper part of the box to
the shaft. In the bottom of the oil reservoir C' is a perforated cup h¹ in which is a
valve to close the upper end of the tube . From the valve il a rod f¹ extends
vertically upwards through the top of the oil reservoir, and above the same it is
connected to an arm extending from a vertical plunger rod k¹.
D represents an L shaped tube, the horizontal part of which passes inward
through the lower part of the journal box A¹. In this tube is placed a suitable
quantity of mercury, and on top of the same is a plunger m¹ from which the
rod extends vertically upward.
As long as the journal box is cold the mercury is contracted and the plunger of
course is down. The plunger and valve rods being connected the valve is also
closed. As soon, however, as the box gets heated the mercury expands, raising the
plunger, and with it also the valve, allowing oil to flow to the journal. By this
means the journal is oiled automatically whenever needed.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The packing bars a, a, made in sections with overlapping joints provided
with steel plates d in the joints, and pressed outward by means of springs b, b,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. The combination with the casing A having chamber E of the wheel C with
straight walled piston D, and the hinged abutment G provided with sliding bar ƒ
and spring e, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Third. The combination with the abutment G of the rod h, adjustable link H,
arm I, bar K, stud k, with roller i, and the eccentric J, all substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth.
Fouth. The combination with the casing A of the steam chest 1. with ports n, n³, n²,
and the valve M, operated by means of the lever N and rod 2, for reversing the
engine as herein set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the valve P with rod t, slotted link R, rod v, with
handle S, rack w, arm V, and excentric W, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the journal box A¹ of the oil reservoir C' with tube
and perforated cup, the valve with rod f¹, and the mercury tube D' with
plunger m and rod, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
HENRY JAMES NOONE.
W. ROBT. LAKE, (L.S.)