IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I WALTER ALFRED BARLOW of 6 St Pauls Churchyard in the City of London
Patent Agent and Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES a communication from abroad by Gustav
Dietz and Edward Tamsen, Engineers both of Hamburg in the German Empire
to be as follows:-
This engine is constructed either with one or more pistons rotating within
a stationary cylindrical ring of the machine frame and attached to the machine
shaft by means of radial arms or by means of a disc.
This cylinder ring is for each piston furnished with corresponding steam inlet
and escape channels and with reversing gear for forward and backward working
of the machine.
A radial slide is arranged between each set of inlet and outlet channels by means
of which slide the ring section can alternatively be closed and opened. When these
slides are drawn out from the ring, the pistons can pass through the ring under-
neath the slides, whilst new steam is introduced into the ring as soon as the slides
have been closed.
Instead of one cylinder ring two or more rings acting upon one mainshaft may be
applied to produce a more uniform rotation of the machine; these rings may also
be of different section or width, if the machine has to be constructed after the
compound engine system.
The pistons may be of square or other convenient shape to fit the section of the
cylinder ring and they are furnished with steel sliding bars at the sides. The
inner part of the ring is closed by means of conical metal rings steam-tightened
by spring bolts and intermediate rings of composition or soft metal. The slides as
well as the valve gear can be moved from the main shaft by levers, eccentric discs,
arms or other appliances
The steam passages can be formed of a large number of small openings in the
wall of the cylinder-ring, instead of one or two channels as commonly in steam-
engines. The object is to reduce friction and wear and tear of the revolving
pistons.

page_text: improvements in Kotary Engines.
I, WALTER ALFRED BARLOW of 6 St Pauls Churchyard in the city of London
Patent Agent and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention a com-
munication from abroad by Gustav Dietz and Edward Tamsen both of Hamburg
in the German Empire, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This engine is constructed either with one or more pistons rotating within
a stationary cylindrical ring of the machine frame, and attached to the machine
shaft by means of radial arms or by means of a disc. This cylinder ring is for
each piston furnished with corresponding steam inlet and escape channels, and
with reversing gear for forward and backward working of the machine. A radial
slide is arranged between each set of inlet, and outlet channels by means of which
slide, the ring section can alternatively be closed and opened.
When these slides are drawn out from the ring the pistons can pass through the
ring underneath the slides, whilst fresh steam is introduced into the ring as soon
as the slides have been closed.
Instead of one cylinder ring two or more rings acting upon one main-shaft inay
be applied to produce more uniform rotation of the machine, these rings may
also be of different section or width if the machine has to be constructed after
the compound engine system.
The pistons may be of square or other convenient shape to fit the section of the
cylinder ring and they are furnished with steel sliding bars at the sides. The
inner part of the ring is closed by means of conical metal rings steam-tightened
by spring bolts and intermediate rings of composition or soft metal. The slides
as well as the valve gear can be moved from the main shaft by levers eccentric
discs, arms, or other appliances.
The steam passages can be formed of a large number of small openings in the
wall of the cylinder ring instead of one or two channels as commonly in steam
engines. The object is to reduce friction and wear and tear of the revolving
pistons.
In the accompanying drawings Sheet 1:-Fig. 1 is a front view partly in
section, Fig. 2 a central vertical section, Fig. 3 a view seen from the side opposite
to that shown in Fig. 1 with front bracket and valve box cover removed.
Fig. 4. is a cross section through upper part of the cylinder and valve box.
Figs. 5 to 10 Sheet 2. represent parts of cylinder ring and piston in section.
These figures are on larger scale than those of sheet 1.
The construction of the illustrated machine is as follows:-
Within the stationary cylinder ring R three pistons A are arranged, which
pistons are by means of radial arms T fastened to a disc B attached to main
shaft W. The connecting arms T are passed through the wall a¹ of the cylinder
ring R in which wall these arms are tightened or packed by conical rings B that
rotate with the pistons during operation of the machine. From the valve box x
two channels or ways a and b communicate with the cylinder either of which
channels can be covered by valve S for the exhaust steam so as to preserve the
motion of the machine.

page_text: The steam coming from the boiler through pipe M enters the valve box through
valve C and exits through tube D. Between channels a. and b. a slide E is attached
to cylinder ring R which slide will be lifted to allow piston A. to pass, by a lever
arrangement, that will be more fully described in the following part of the speci-
fication. As soon as the piston has passed slide E, the said slide E descends and
closes one section of the cylinder ring and valve C is opened by another lever
arrangement and kept open as long as steam has to be admitted. The steam rushes
through channel a into the cylinder ring between slide E and piston A and so
forces the piston to move forward within the ring until it reaches the next slide E,
where the same action is repeated. At the other side of piston A the exhaust steam
will find exit through channel b covered by valve S.
Each piston (sheet II) consists of a rectangular metallic body A tightened to the
walls of the surrounding cylinder-ring by four steel bars r. pressed to the walls of
the ring by means of intermediate springs S, as will be understood from Fig. 5.
of the drawings. The lower bars 7 (Figs. 6. 7 and 10) at same time press the
upper conical ring B. inward, and secure steamtight closure of this ring. Both
rings B are connected by screw bolts p (Figs. 1 & 2) and strong spiral springs
and these rings, following the movements of arms T rest and turn within conical
recesses 3. (Fig. 7) of the cylinder whilst the machine is in motion. Between the
rings B. are placed two conical rings i (Fig. 5. 7 & 10) of soft composition metal
which give by the pressure of rings B a full and steam tight closure. Slide valve S,
(Fig. 4) covers the channel for the exhaust steam and communicates by tube D
with the open air or with a receiver. The lever arrangement for moving the steam
valves E is driven by disc F (Figs. 2. 3 & 4). Each of the projections 4 of dics F
drives a lever 5, attached to shaft 6. At the end of shaft 6 is fastened disc 7. with
crank bolt 8. Rod 9 drives lever 10 by which valve C is lifted. Slides E are
driven from cam G (Figs. 1 & 2) upon the edge of which acts roller 11. attached
to the free end of lever 12 that fulcrums on the bolt Z. 13 is a counterweight
attached to the opposite end of lever 12 which latter by an angle arm 14 acts upon
rod 15, moving roller or disc H. To disc H are attached as many driving rods 16
as there are slides E employed. All the rods 16 jointed at 17 move simultaneously
all slides E. Instead of two large channels for inlet and exit of steam, each channel
can be replaced in the cylinder wall by a number of small ways or sieve like
openings or borings a and b. This will reduce friction and wear and tear of the
revolving pistons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
Firstly. In rotating engines, the pistons of rectangular section attached to the
main shaft and rotating in a ring shaped cylinder.
Secondly. The rings B revolving with the pistons and tightening the arms T
connecting the pistons, and main shaft of the machine.
Thirdly. The lever motion F, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10. for operating the valves C.
Fourthly. The lever motion G, 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16 & 17 for driving slides E
and
Fifthly. The small ways or sieve like openings a and b in the wall of the
cylinder ring in lieu of large steam channels all constructed and operating
substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
Dated this lot dow of Tule, 1006
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