AN IMPROVED ROTARY ENGINE
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Georges Schorb, of the Town of Lyons, now of
No. 60, Boulevart de Strasbourg, Paris, in the Empire of France,
Practical Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ROTARY ENGINE
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Georges Schorb at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
October 1864.
I, GEORGES SCHORB, of the Town of Lyons, now of No. 60, Boulevart de
Strasbourg, Paris, in the Empire of France, Practical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED ROTARY ENGINE,
ACTUATED BY THE DOUBLE-ACTION OF STEAM OR ANY OTHER MOVING FLUID," to be as
follows:-
This improved rotary engine is composed of a central piece through which
are cut or fitted the steam ports; a moveable cylinder or wheel is keyed fast
on a shaft and runs around the central steam duct piece; the latter projecting
out of the cylinder is carried by a stout stand and connected with the induction
and escape pipes; the portion entering into the cylinder is divided into four
compartments by cross arms or partitions, two of the compartments being
intended for the steam inlets, and two for the outlets.
The cylinder or wheel carries inside four moveable paddles, the axles of
which move in the bottom and top of the cylinder through stuffing boxes.
The paddles are so disposed within the steam wheel that two of them at both
ends of a same diameter are driven by steam, whilst the two other paddles

page_text: are folded back in recesses cut in the surrounding crown, leaving escape freely
into the outlet compartments after having been driven on during a quarter of
a revolution; thus there is no time lost, two of the paddles being constantly at
work. The shafts of the paddles are fitted with cams outside of the cylinder
at both ends, and the ends of swing springs suitably disposed on the periphery
of the said cylinder insure the proper working of the paddles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Georges Schorb in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGES
SCHORB, of the Town of Lyons, now of No. 60, Boulevart de Strasbourg,
Paris, in the Empire of France, Practical Engineer, send greeting."
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Georges Schorb, Her special licence that I, the said Georges
Schorb, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Georges Schorb, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN Ix-
PROVED ROTARY ENGINE ACTUATED BY THE DOUBLE-ACTION OF STEAM OR ANY OTHER
MOVING FLUID," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Georges
Schorb, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Georges Schorb, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Many rotary steam engines have been tried, but until now none of them

page_text: could keep the steam for a long time, and one accomplishing this desideratumi
would shortly supersede the alternate or reciprocating motion engines in
general use, on account of its simplifying the machinery by doing away with
the pieces used, for transmitting or transforming the motion, which pieces
waste away in useless friction 15 to 20 per cent. of the motive power.
.
By the engine of my Invention I get directly a rotary motion, not of a
piston in the cylinder, as hitherto done with engines of this kind, but of the
cylinder around the piston, which has never been done before.
My rotary engine is impelled by a double action of the steam or any other
fluid, that is to say, that the said steam, gas, or compressed air exerts at the
same time its action, at both ends of a same diameter of the cylinder, on
moveable paddles upon which it presses and cannot escape, being prevented
by suitable metallic and expansible packings.
Four paddles are adjusted in the cylinder, being fitted on shafts, the ends of
which run through both tops of the cylinder in stuffing boxes; the outer ends
of the said shafts are fitted with cams carrying small rollers, and spring beams
bear at both ends on the rollers to help the regular motion of the paddles.
The said paddles are so combined that they work two at once by turns, viz.,
two opposite paddles are impelled at the same time by steam, whilst the two
other ones suffer it to escape after running a quarter of a revolution under its
pressure. The effect produced by steam or any other fluid working at tho
outer end of the radius of a running cylinder according to my system may bo
compared to the effect of water working at the end of the radius of a water
wheel; but for radii of the same length in the first case the effect produced is
double, since the steam works at the same time at the end of two opposite.
radii.
.
It is obvious that the power obtained by such a machine will be proportionate
to the length of the radius of the cylinder, but as the chambers or compart-
ments receiving the steam can be enlarged, or their size restricted at pleasure,
a larger cylinder could be made to spend no more steam than a smaller one..
The rotary engine of my Invention is represented on the annexed Sheets of.
Drawings, the same pieces being indicated by the same letters. in. all, the
Figures, which I will now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the complete engine; all the other Figures on.
both Sheets are shewn on a scale double that of Figure 1.
Figure 2 (Sheet 2) is a cross section made in the middle of the steam
cylinder R; Figure 3 is a similar section made lengthways through the axis.;.
and Figure 4 is an outside view or plan of the said cylinder.
The Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, (Sheet 1) are several views of the piston or steady

page_text: inner block, the end P of which is divided into compartments or chambers C
and C' by the arms p,p; this part of the piston is placed within the cylinder R,
whilst the other part Q outside of the said cylinder is carried by a chair X.
The delivery and escape channels A and E which are cut out within the
part of the piston open into the chambers C and C³, whilst they are in
connection within the sleeve M, the first ones with the induction pipe V, the
second ones with the escape pipe W, as shewn, Figure 7, by dotted lines.
The cylinder R is keyed fast on the main shaft B, which carries it along in its
rotary motion; the said shaft runs in braces fitted in the bearings G. The
shaft B may be provided with a fly-wheel as at Figure 1; but with this
system of engine a fly-wheel is useless, because the cylinder R running with
great speed acts itself as a fly-wheel.
The cylinder is composed, firstly, of a bottom embodied with a centre block N
projecting inside and outside, in which the shaft B is keyed at h, as before
stated; secondly, of a cylindrical external wrapper r; thirdly, of an inward
crown O, shaped with four recesses 0¹, for receiving the paddles when they
are not actuated by steam. When the portion P of the piston is placed
within the cylinder, the latter is closed up with the bottom L, which must be
tightly fitted both on the wrapper r and the crown O, it is screwed tight by
bolts e, e, e, which must be placed as close as possible to the crown so as to
prevent any steam leakage.
The paddles D, one of which is shewn detached, Figures 9 and 10, are
located in recesses of the crown O suitably arranged; the said paddles and their
shafts F are made of wrought iron. The Figures 9 and 10 shew clearly how
they are adjusted; three stems g are driven through the shaft E, on which
they are riveted. Their shaft of cylindrical shape, and made very true, runs
through the bottom and cover of the cylinder, which are provided for that
purpose with stuffing boxes K shewn detached in plan and section, Figures 11
and 12; the parts of the crown through which run the said shafts F are
accurately bored to the size of the shafts, and the latter are snugly adjusted
therein, so as to prevent any leakage of steam. A square place is filed out at
each end of the shafts (Figure 11), and cams H provided with rollers, as
shewn, Figures 3 and 4, are fastened on said shafts. Spring beams S, S,
(Figures 1 and 4) are carried at their curled middle part by bolted rods T
running through the bottom and cover of the cylinder outside of the wrapper,
the curved ends of the spring beams bear on rollers a running on pegs carried
by the cams H, so that motion of a paddle actuated by steam is in con-
nection with the motion of the next paddle, which suffers it to escape. This
is clearly shewn, Figure 2, where both the paddles D, which impelled by

page_text: steam drive the cylinder in the direction indicated by the blue arrows, are on
the vertical diameter, whilst both the other cams are in the horizontal
diameter, folded back in their respective recesses, and the steam which has
impelled them for a quarter of the circumference escapes freely through the
outlets E¹ to run in the chambers C, whence it runs away through the
channels E.
เ
The red arrows show the way of the motion of steam or any other fluid
impelling the engine; it issues from the port A of the steady piston, and rushes
through the narrow passage to enter the recess v behind the paddle, which it
actuates, the shaft F of said paddle, which moves forward till its end, fitted
with a free metallic packing n, touches on the surface of the piston, as shewn
at D. The steam continuing to flow behind the paddle, the latter carries
along the cylinder R, with which it is connected by its axle. The parts
marked with red lines are those where the steam begins to flow-behind the
paddles D, whilst the paddles D¹, which are then come opposite to the
outlets E, suffer it to enter the chambers C¹ of the piston, whence it
runs at E.
;
It is to be remarked that there is no time lost; the steam impels constantly
two opposite paddles; there can be no discontinuance in the resistance or
power, as in the reciprocate engines, for the passage of the dead point of
cranks; the frictions are besides very easy on account of the expansible
metallic packings used. The portion P' of the steady piston, shewn separately,
Figures 5, 6, and 7 (Sheet 1), which is within the cylinder, is as high as the
crown O of the said cylinder; it is lightly squeezed between the bottom and
cover of the said cylinder, which revolves with the shaft, the latter runs freely
through the piston, as shewn, Figure 8. Both the bottom and cover of the
cylinder have circular grooves, within which are lodged metallic packings I, i,
made of brass or white metal, which rub against the corresponding parts of
the piston, thus preventing the steam running from a chamber to the next
one. The circular grooves where the packings are lodged are cut into crowns J
projecting out of the bottom and cover of the cylinder, and in the middle
boss N of the bottom the packings are gently pressed against the rubbed parts
of the piston by springs suitably disposed from place to place, and bent to the
right tension by screws b, b. Instead of internal springs and screws as shewn,
Figure 3, the packings may be acted upon by springs fitted outside bearing on
pegs running through holes bored through the bottom and cover. The
straight packings I running from the circular packings I to the crown O
stop the passage of the steam which might issue at P¹ between the inlet
chamber C and the outlet ones C². Other similar packings G' are lodged in

page_text: recesses at the end of the partitions and outside of the portion P¹ of the steady
piston; the paddles when at the position D¹ and the crown O rub against the
convex part of the said packings, whilst the bottom and cover of the cylinder
rub against the ends of the same. The paddles are also provided with
expansible packings in their whole periphery, those rubbing against the convex
surface of the piston, shewn in section at n, Figures 2 and 10, can wear out
almost their whole thickness without suffering the steam to escape, and without
requiring any repair; the packings of the ends c, Figure 9, which form a joint
with the bottom and cover, are pressed up by the steam itself, which ingressing
into the recess f, Figures 9 and 10, runs through the small holes & drilled length-
ways. Lastly, the system of packing is completed by a tow packing betwixt
the shaft B and the outer portion of the piston. The shaft runs clear
through the said piston, as shewn, Figures 3 and 8, and the steam or other
fluid which may enter in the free space between the shaft and piston is stopped
by the tow packing squeezed by the piece U, Figures 6 and 8. The squeezer
U
is held in its place by the helical spring S¹ fitted on the shaft and stopped by
a nut N screwing on the shaft as required.
..It is obvious from the foregoing description that the steam or any other
moving fluid is used in the best way to produce the greatest useful duty, and
the system of packing used stops perfectly and in a complete manner the steam
which can neither be wasted away nor oppose itself to the forward motion. The
friction upon the packings being very light takes up but a small portion of
the driving power, and produces but very little wearing out of the rubbing
surfaces owing to the system of packings, which are caused to expand, either
by springs or steam acting behind. The packings are carefully made with
metallic alloys, giving a soft and unctuous friction; and besides, I have a
permanent system of lubrifying by means of a reservoir Y, filled up either with
grease or oil, and placed above the end of the external part of the piston; this
reservoir is in communication with the ports by a pipe provided with a stop-
cock, and the lubricating liquid which drops in the steam ports when the cock
is turned open is carried away by the steam into the chamber A of the piston,
whence it runs in all the rubbing parts. Two blowing-off cocks are placed at
the end of tubes running through both the wrapper and crown of the cylinder ;
they open in the chambers A; the said cocks are turned open as the engine is
set moving in order to blow off the condensed water, which might militate
against its free working or endanger its pieces after a while; when the cylinder
is hot enough the blowing-off cocks are shut by stopping the engine after 8
or 10 revolutions.
The engine which has just been described revolves but in one way, which

page_text: is shewn by blue arrows in Figure 2. This is enough for steady engines, but
to apply it for propelling boats or driving railway trains, it is sometimes
required to run in both directions, then by a combination of cog-wheels, as
shewn, Figure 1, it can be driven either way; this requires only to find out
the right combination.
.:
The annexed Sheets of Drawings contains the views of an engine with a
horizontal main shaft running on suitable bearings; but the moving engines'
of my improved system may likewise and according to requirements be fitted:
on a vertical shaft running then in a horizontal plan; in this case it would be:
preferable if the engine were propelled by water; the bottom of the cylinder.
should be provided with a rounded or out-flanged crown, which crown would
run on lightly grooved or rounded rollers, whilst the shaft would be merely.
maintained at its upper end and run into a brass collar.
>
Having now particularly described the rotary engine of my Invention, I³
wish to have it understood that I do not restrict or confine myself to the precise.
details as herein-before set forth, so long as the particular character of my
Invention is retained, and I claim,-
Firstly, constructing an improved rotary engine actuated by the double
action of steam or any other fluid, either liquid or gaseous.
Secondly, the mode of action of the steam or any other fluid working, in the.
same time on two movable paddles fitted at both ends of the same diameter of
a cylinder or wheel, which thus receives an endless rotary motion, and runs
upon a central steady block or piston, through which run the ingress and
egress steam channels.
Thirdly, the connection obtained by means of spring beams fixed outside,
and bearing upon cams carried by the shafts of the paddles, so as to insure the
regular work of two next paddles, one of which is receiving the steam in the
same moment when the other one suffers it to escape.
Fourthly, the system of expansible metallic packings such as described, to
prevent any leakage of steam or other fluid betwixt the rubbing parts, either
of the cylinder on its faces or of the paddles on the periphery of the piston.
Fifthly, the system of permanent lubrification of the internal rubbing surfaces
of the cylinder by means of a receiver containing the lubricating stuff which
drops slowly by a self-acting motion into the inlet channels of steam, which
carries it along in the inner chambers, whence it spreads over the rubbing pieces
of the engine.
Sixthly, the right of disposing, according to requirements, the shaft of my
improved rotary engine, either in a horizontal direction, as the one represented

page_text: on the annexed Sheets of Drawings; or in a vertical one; in the latter instance
the cylinder should run on rollers suitably disposed as before described.
Lastly, I claim the right of applying rotary apparatuses constructed according
to my herein-before described system, as forcing or sucking pumps, and also
as blowing machines.
It is well understood that the moving engines of my Invention are susceptible
of being applied for performing any work now done by steam engines in actual
use, either as steady engines for driving works of any kind for marine pro-
pellers, or drawing railway trains by modifying them as required to be applied
to any of the said duties.
It is scarcely needful to mention that the rotary steam engines of my
Invention will be provided with all the safety organs used with all other moving
engines, such as steam guage, level glass guage, guage cocks, safety valves,
self-acting lubricators, and other.
In witness whereof, I, the said Georges Schorb, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Signed and sealed in the presence
of the witness,
BREYTON.
GEORGE SCHORB. (L.s.)