IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY ENGINES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Tetley, late of Bradford, in the County
of York, Gentleman, but now of Skinner Street, in the City of
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY
ENGINES."
Sealed the 5th July 1858, and dated the 18th May 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Tetley
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th May 1853.
I, CHARLES TETLEY, late of Bradford, in the County of York, Gentle-
man, but now of Skinner Street, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTA-
TORY ENGINES" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a cylinder fixed on a hollow axis, and
having on its periphery a projecting thread or screw; this cylinder fits
into a hollow cylinder or drum, and revolves therein. Through one part
of the outer fixed cylinder there is a curved opening, in which part of a
circular ring slides, and constantly closes the opening and renders it

page_text: fluid-tight; such ring is caused to move through the opening by means
of the projecting thread or screw on the rotating cylinder, one end of
the screw entering a notch in the ring as the other end of the thread or
scrow leaves another notch; hence the portion of the ring, which for the
time being is within the cylinder and across the hollow chamber
thereof, forms a stop or abutment for the fluid to press against, and,
consequently, the opposite pressure of the fluid will press against the
thread or screw, and move the inner cylinder round when it is to be
worked by the fluid, but the reverse action takes place when the engine
is caused to be moved by power with a view to move or propel fluids.
The fluid passes into and out of the engine through the axis.
Another mode of effecting the object is, by substituting, in place
of the aforesaid circular ring with notches therein, a series of metallic
stops revolving externally to the outer fixed cylinder, through an
opening, not curved, but in a straight line, which stops are brought
through the said opening in succession, so as to form always an endless
abutment for the fluid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Tetley in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 12th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
CHARLES TETLEY, late of Bradford, in the County of York, Gentleman,
but now of Skinner Street, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Tetley, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Tetley, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Tetley, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the terni
therein expressel, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and

page_text: vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROTATORY ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Charles Tetley, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Tetley, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of a cylinder fixed on a hollow axis, and
having on its periphery a projecting thread or screw; this cylinder fits
into a hollow cylinder or drum, and revolves therein. Througli one part
of the outer fixed cylinder there is a curved opening, in which part of
a circular ring slides, and constantly closes the opening and renders it
fluid-tight; such ring is caused to move through the opening by means
of the projecting thread or screw on the rotating cylinder, one end of
the screw entering a notch in the ring as the other end of the thread
or screw leaves another notch; hence the portion of the ring, which
for the time being is within the cylinder and across the hollow chamber
thereof, forms a stop or abutment for the fluid to press against, and,
consequently, the opposite pressure of the fluid will press against the
thread or screw, and move the inner cylinder round when it is to be
worked by the fluid, but the reverse action takes place when the
engine is caused to be moved by power with a view to move or propel
fluids. The fluid passes into and out of the engine through the axis.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed
to describe the means of performing the same.

page_text: section. It will be seen that this ring tapers in the direction from c,
to d, so that by means of the dise a, a, being pressed upon by
the pulley, the notched ring is always pressed down to fit closely
into the opening of the hollow cylinder, and by this tapering a
means is obtained, first, of making the joint tight, and, second, of
compensating for wear. ff, is an external side view of the hollow
stationary cylinder or drum. The distance between notch and notch
in the ring is the same distance as the internal distance between
the two ends of the hollow cylinder in the direction of its axis.
The ring now described is caused to revolve by the blade or screw
inside the cylinder f. f. As this screw or blade cannot be clearly
shewn in this Figure, reference must now be had to Figure 7, in which
all the letters above used indicate the same parts. This Figure is a
side view of Figure 6, the dotted lines representing internal parts, and
the full lines an external view. The two curved dotted lines g. 9, 9, 9,
shew a hollow rotatory cylinder with the two hollow shafts h, h. The
hollow shafts h, h, pass through stuffing boxes marked i, i. The fluid
is admitted through one of these hollow shafts and discharged through
the other, the internal channels or passages for such fluid being shewn
in Figure 5. The degree of curvature given to the hollow rotatory
cylinder 9, is such that the lower edge of the ring c, d, is in close
contact with the cylinder g, 9, 9, 9, all its length, so as to form a joint at
the two rubbing surfaces. The dotted lines h, h, shew the blade or
screw fixed upon the hollow cylinder 9: J. J, J, and rotating with it.
This blade or screw is made to taper in the direction from its centre
towards its circumference, and the notches in the rotating ring for the
reception of such blade are made to taper in an opposite direction, so
that when the ring c, d, is pressed close down by the pulley e, (or any
other equivalent means) the blade h, h, fits close in the notches of the
ring c, d, and the ring c, d, fits close in the opening for that purpose in
the case ff; and it will be seen that the closer the ring is pressed in
and the closer all the rubbing parts will be in contact with cach other,
so as to form joints sufficiently fluid-tight, while at the same time the
wear admits of being at all times compensated by increasing the pres-
sure upon the disc a, a, by the means of the pulley e, and lowering the

page_text: shaft 6 accordingly. It must be observed, however, that the notches in
the ring c, d, are to be cut at the same angle as is the angle of the
blade h, h. There are holes in the hollow cylinder y, g, for the passage
of the fluid into and out of the case ff, which cannot be shewn in this
Figure, but which are seen in Figure 2, and marked j, j. It will now
be understood, that the rotating ring forms an abutment for the fluid,
while the blade h, forms a piston, and by the rotation of the hollow
cylinder, with its blade, the fluid passages of inlet and outlet
pass under the edge of the ring c, d, at each revolution, and so the
rotation is kept up and is continuous, and the wear of all the joints will
make them more perfect.
The principle on which the machine acts will now be understood
from the preceding description, and therefore I would observe that the
same cud may be accomplished by varying the machine in the respect
of substituting, in place of the aforesaid circular ring with notches
therein, a series of metallic stops revolving externally to the outer
fixed case ff, through an opening in a straight line, and bringing.such
stops through the said opening in succession, so as to form always an
abutment for the fluid. My principal object so far is to show the mode
of making the joints in such way as to compensate for wear.
I will now proceed to explain the remaining Figures. Figure 4,
shows an external view of an arrangement in which there are two
slides or abutments marked K, K, used for the same purpose as the
circular one before described. These slides or abutments have not a
rotating but reciprocating motion. This is produced by varying the
blade h, h, in such way that, instead of such blade traversing once
completely all round the cylinder g. 9, 9.9, it only traverses balf way
round in one direction, and then traverses the other half round in an
opposite direction, so as to form what is called the blade of a right-
hand screw for half the circle, and a left-hand screw for the other half,
whereas in the previous example the blade made a complete screw in
one direction.
The remaining Figures will be understood by the
Drawings alone, bearing in mind the same letters have always refer-
ence to the same parts. The water, steam, or fluid passages being
indicated by Figures 5, and Figure 2. I would observe, that when the

page_text: induction hole in the revolving hollow cylinder or drum 9, 9, 9, 9, has
passed both the blades or abutments K, the fluid is exerting all its
pressure between the screw h, and the last of such abutments, while at
the same time the exhaustion hole is operating on the contrary side
of the first abutment.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
best manner I am acquainted with for performing the same, I would
have it understood that I do not claim any of the parts separately,
nor do I confine myself to the details. But what I claim is, the
combination of parts. herein described whereby the wear of the working
parts is compensated for, as herein explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Tetley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
year
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
CHARLES TETLEY. (L.S.)