IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF ROTARY ENGINES, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE TO ROTARY PUMPS OR EXHAUSTERS, AND APPARATUS MRASHIDING LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Ivory, of the City and County of Edinburgh,
North Britain, Advocate, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF ROTARY ENGINES, THE SAME BEING
APPLICABLE TO ROTARY PUMPS OR EXHAUSTERS, AND APPARATUS
MRASHIDING LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS"
FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Ivory at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st October 1880.
ff
THOMAS IVORY, of the City and County of Edinburgh, North Britain, Advocate.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF ROTARY ENGINES,
THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE TO ROTARY PUMPS OR EXHAUSTERS, AND APPARATUS
FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS."
This Invention relates to that class of rotary engines which have a central
admission and central discharge of the motive agent.
My improvements consist essentially in the following particulars:-I arrange
within a cylindrical casing a revolving part, the centre of whose axis of revolution
is coincident with the centre or axis of the cylindrical casing, and a portion of
whose circumference, less than a quarter of the whole, is constantly in contact, or
almost in contact, with the interior of the cylindrical casing. The circumference of
this revolving part in its widest cross section is so constructed that every diameter
of it passing through its centre of revolution is of the same, or almost of the same,
length. In the outer cylindrical covering or casing two sliders are arranged, these
being rigidly connected by a bar or bars, sliding in one or both of the said
coverings in such a manner that they shall be both always in contact, or almost in
contact, with the circumference of the revolving part, and shall act alternately as
abutments. Close to one extremity of that portion of the revolving part's
circumference which is in contact with the casing, the steam or other motive agent
is admitted to the channel between the revolving part and the casing, and close to
the other extremity the discharge opening is arranged. That portion of the
revolving part on which the motive agent acts to produce motion is obtained by so
constructing the said portion of the revolving part at and for some distance back
from the admission opening that it provides the requisite area or surface for the
motive agent to act upon.
Several engines constructed as hereinbefore described may be combined together
for the purpose of working expansively.
The said engine, constructed according to the present improvements, may, like
other rotary engines, be used as a pump, or as an exhauster, or for measuring
liquids or fluids.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Ivory in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st March
1881.
THOMAS IVORY, of the City and County of Edinburgh, North Britain, Advocate.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF ROTARY ENGINES,
THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE TO ROTARY PUMPS OR EXHAUSTERS, AND APPARATUS
FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS."
My said Invention relates to that class of rotary engines which have a central
admission and central discharge of the motive agent, and the improvements
constituting my said Invention consist as follows:-I arrange within a stationary
cylindrical casing a revolving part, the centre of the axis of revolution of which
is coincident with the centre or axis of the cylindrical casing, and a portion of the
circumference of which, less than a quarter of the whole, is constantly in contact,
or almost in contact, with the interior of the cylindrical casing. The circumference
of this revolving part in its widest cross section is so constructed that every
diameter of it, or straight line drawn from one point of the circumference to another,
and passing through its centre of revolution, is of the same, or almost of the same,
length. In the outer covering or casing two sliders are arranged, these being
rigidly connected by a bar or bars sliding on one or both sides of the said covering
in such a manner that the said sliders shall be both always in contact, or almost in
contact, with the circumference of the revolving part, and shall act alternately as
abutments. Close to one extremity of that portion of the circumference of the
revolving part which is in contact with the casing, the steam or other motive agent
is admitted to the channel between the revolving part and the casing, and close to
the other extremity is the discharge opening. That portion of the revolving part
at which the motive agent enters and acts to produce motion is obtained by so
constructing it at and for some distance back from the admission opening that it
provides the requisite area or surface for the motive agent to act upon.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which
the same is or may be used or practically into effect, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
Figures 1 and 2 represent in vertical section, the sections being taken at right
angles the one to the other, an engine constructed or arranged according to my
Invention. An outer casing A, cylindrical in its interior, contains a revolving part
B, carried by or formed with the axis b, which is carried in trunnions or cylindrical
bearings a situated at the centre of the sides of the said casing A. The revolving
part B is so constructed that all straight lines drawn from any one part in
the circumference to the opposite point through the centre of revolution are the
same or nearly the same length. The diagram, Figure 3, illustrates the best
method with which I am acquainted for describing or designing the figure of the
said inner revolving part, which is performed as follows:-
Let 1, 8, 3, 1, be a circle, with centre 4 capable of revolving in contact, or almost
in contact, with the cylinder intended to contain the revolving part. From 1 draw
through the diameter 1, 3, and in it take the point 2 at a distance from 3 equal
to one fifth of the diameter 1, 3. Bisect the line 1, 2, at 5, and with 5, 2, as
radius describe the semicircle 2, 6, 1. Through 4 at right angles to 1, 2, draw the
line 6, 7, equal to the line 1, 2, touching the arc 2, 6, 1, at 6. Take the point 8 in
the circumference of the circle 1, 8, 3, 1, at a distance from the point 1 equal to 2, 3,
and find the point 9 equidistant from the points 8, 7, 2, and with the point 9 as
centre, and 9, 8, as radius, describe the arc 8, 7, 2; in this are take the point 10 at

page_text: such a distance from the circumference of the circle 1, 8, 3, 1, as will leave between
the revolving part and the cylindrical casing a sufficient area of discharge for the
exhaust, and from 10 through the centre 4 draw the line 10, 11, meeting the arc
2, 6, 1, at 11; with the point 4 as centre, and 4, 11, as radius, describe the arc
11, 12, meeting the straight line 1, 2, at 12. The line 1, 12, represents a section of
the surface which constitutes substantially the effective area against which the
steam acts, and 8, 10, represents the portion of the revolving part through which
the exhaust motive agent is discharged. The line 1, 8, 7, 2, 11, 12, 1, represents the
substantially operative part or figure of the main body of the revolving part, and
the line 1, 8, 7, 2, 11, 6, 1, represents the circumference of the caps at either end of
the revolving part with which the abutments are always in contact.
Again referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the portion of the
revolving part B at 62 is always in contact or almost in contact with the
interior of the outer casing A. In the outer casing A are two sliders C, C,
between which the revolving part B is embraced; the said sliders being
connected together or formed in one with bars c, at either side sliding in
grooves in the sides of the casing A, and slotted or formed to pass the axle b
which revolves with the part B; these sliders are formed with or carry abutting
surfaces C. These abutting surfaces may be constructed to slide in the rigid
sliders, and be thrust outwards by springs so as to ensure their constant
contact with the periphery of the part B, or any other equivalent arrangement
may be employed for the same purpose; these abutments bear upon the periphery
of the part B throughout its length or width, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 2,
and are alternately thrust out and in by the revolution of the part B. The steam
or other motive agent is admitted by the pipe at d to the hollow part of the axle b
at bs, and thence passes by the pipe e to the space between the exterior of the
part B and the interior of the casing A, the revolving part B being constructed as
before explained with a channelled or reduced part at b* for such admission of the
motive agent. The motive agent as it enters bears upon one or the other of the
sliders C, and thereby causes the part B to move through a partial rotation,
whereby the motive agent inlet passes the other slider C, upon which the motive
agent next bears, and so on alternately, and thus a continuous rotation is obtained,
there being always one of the abutments of the sliders C so bearing upon the
circumference of the revolving part as to prevent the live steam or other motive
agent from passing to the exhaust outlet. From the space at the back of the
abutment upon which the motive bears, as last mentioned, the exhaust steam
passes into the interior of the part B, and by the openings g into the hollow part h
of the axle b, and thence to the atmosphere, to the condenser, or to other place, as,
for example, to act expansively in another engine constructed according to my
Invention, for the engines constructed as described, may, it will be evident without
further description, be arranged to act as compound engines by arranging two or
more engines in proximity, so that the additional engine or engines receives or
receive the exhaust steam from the first engine, the said steam acting expansively
in the additional engine or engines. There may be openings c², c², in the casing A
at the back of the sliders C communicating with the recesses in which the said
sliders run to allow of the escape of any motive agent which may escape thereinto.
Ordinary arrangements to lessen friction may be adopted, such as antifriction balls,
or rollers, or the like.
The hereinbefore described engine, may, like other rotary engines, be used as a
pump, or as an exhauster, or for measuring liquids and fluids.
I intend to call the engine constructed according to my Invention the "Climax
rotary engine."
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I
wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, as the same may be

page_text: varied without departing from the nature of my Invention, but what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent, is,—
First. The general combination of parts constituting the rotary engine, arranged
as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Drawings, whether
the said engine be employed as a motive power engine, a pump, or exhauster, or
for measuring liquids or fluids.
Second. The combination in rotary engines of an inner revolving part (B)
constructed as before described with a rigid slider or sliders (C,C,) carrying
abutments, both of which constantly bear against the periphery of the said
revolving part, and so form between themselves and the said revolving part and
the outer casing two spaces or chambers, each of which spaces or chambers is
alternately a space or chamber into which the motive agent enters to propel the
engine, and alternately a space or chamber from which the exhaust escapes,
essentially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Ivory, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
THOMAS IVORY. (L.S.)