IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES
Year: 1881

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to James Lyle, of No. 32, Dartmouth Park Road, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY
ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lyle at the Office
of the, Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd April 1881.
JAMES LYLE, of No. 32, Dartmouth Park Road, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES."
The object of this Invention is improvements in rotary engines, and consists
chiefly in causing the force of the steam, hot air, or explosive agent to act in a
direct manner upon the travelling piston formed from the crank, this being
enclosed within a drum or cylinder.
1st. In my improved rotary engine the crank will be used as the means of
obtaining power. 1 put a cylinder over the crank, and on the crank 1 fasten
another cylinder or barrel; the difference between the two diameters forms the
steam cylinder, and the part of the crank that projects beyond the inner barrel
forms the piston. This part of the crank is hollowed out to receive fitting pieces
and springs, which fit against the top and sides of the cylinder steam tight. This
gives a strong reliable engine for marine or other purposes where the engines are
subjected to heavy strains.
2nd. To avoid the friction due to centrifugal force, which in a quick running
engine soon wears the cylinder, I place in the piston pawls, one end being attached
to the fitting piece, and the other resting against loose weights let into the body
of the crank. The centre works on steel pins which strengthen the piston; with
the same force with which the fitting piece is thrown against the cylinder are the
weights thrown against the pawls, thereby causing equilibrium.
3rd. The cylinder is quite distinct from the main bearings, thereby avoiding
the intense heat due to the conduction of heat from the cylinder to the main
bearings, giving facilities for adjusting the shaft and allowing if requisite a
circulation of cold water round the shaft.
4th. The steam stop or abutment is carried outside the cylinder and swings in
bearings: it is not intended that the piston should touch it, therefore it will be

page_text: lifted by a small steam cylinder acting' on a wiper, or by a spring or springs, or by
both; the spring will work as follows:-The steam entering, forces down the stop
with such force that it compresses the spring, and so long as the pressure remains,
the stop will remain closed; when however the piston has nearly completed a
revolution the exhaust opens: the pressure being gone the spring shoots out,
thereby lifting the stop and allowing the piston to pass.
5th. To reverse the engines use a sliding block carrying a stuffing gland.
through which the steam stop passes; it slides in grooves provided with springs to
keep it steam tight; the valve does not shift in this case. The valve port is in
the centre and I shift the stop from one side to another, providing suitable gear
for this purpose.
The stop may be stationary, and then I have two ports and two valves for
admitting steam.
6th. A rotary air pump on the same principle as the engine is provided with
suitable valves to prevent the return of water or air to the condenser.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Lyle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd October
1881.
JAMES LYLE. of No. 32, Dartmouth Park Road, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES."
The object of this Invention is improvements in rotary engines, and consists
chiefly in causing the force of the steam, hot air, or explosive agent to act in a
direct manner upon the travelling piston formed from the crank, this being
enclosed within a drum or cylinder.
My Invention will be clearly understood by the annexed Drawings, in which
Figure is a transverse section, and Figure 2 a longitudinal section of the
engine.
A is the crank shaft; A', the crank forming the piston. The end of the crank
or piston is hollowed out to allow a packing piece B to be let in, this packing
piece being kept against the cylinder C to keep it steam tight.
The pauls D. D, and the weights E. E. are intended to balance the centrifugal
force with which the part marked B would be thrown against the cylinder C.
To ensure that the steam will exert its power advantageously I fasten the
barrel F to the crank A' between the barrel F and the cylinder C.
G is a space
which forms the steam cylinder, the part of the crank A' which projects into the
space forming the piston.
The steam stop or abutment. H is carried outside the cylinder C, and is lifted by
a wiper 1, which is actuated by the side covers J, J. which revolve with the
crank A. There are two bearings K. K. shown, in which it swings; these can be
adjusted at any time from the outside; it is kept steam tight by having a filling
piece L, L. the same as the extremity of the piston. In addition there are two
side pieces M.M. Each piece is in two parts, and has a spring between, which presses
at top and at the bottom to keep them tight, while a spring at the back forces them
out and keeps them tight sideways. On the top is shown another fitting piece,
also in two halves, with a spring N between, and bears against the semi circular
part of the stop, the longitudinal part of the cylinder. and the two sides to keep
the cylinder steam tight. On top of the cylinder is a cover P. by which the stop
or valve can be adjusted at pleasure.
Qis the foundation, and forms the main bearing for carrying the shaft A. The
cylinder is secured to it, as shown, and if required chocks can be fitted between
the bolts when bolting down.
The space R is fitted with a ring, which will prevent the steam from passing
over the side covers J, J. S is a cover, which is bolted to the cylinder, and secures
the ring in position.
Figure 3, 4, and 5 show modifications of the same engine. In these views I
have shown the barrel F as a cylinder with the piston A' dove-tailed into the
barrel, and the barrel secured to the shaft A by the feathers a, a. In small
engines this will simplify and cheapen the cost of construction.
I have also shown the cylinders as cast in one piece and the sides bolted to it.
This also is another modification of construction, and does not affect the system.
The cylinder can be in two halves. and bolted together, in which case the sides
would be solid and the bottom half might be cast with pedestals. These details
can be arranged to suit the different classes of engines.
It will be seen that the exhaust opens early, and from the position of the
exhaust so will depend the speed of the engine. It is essential that the steam
stop should be lifted before the piston touches it, but this can be determined by

page_text: practice. The position in which I have shown the exhaust should give ample
time for the spring to lift the stop in an engine running at a moderate speed. The
packing for the steam stop and piston will be the same, but for the sides it will
be better to arrange it as in Figure 4. It will be seen in the Drawing, Figure 4,
where the steam stop comes through the cylinder sides, having simply a gland to
keep it steam tight. Between this gland and the wiper there is room to draw
back the gland and pack it. when necessary. The wiper looks up in Figure 4, and
is to be actuated by a spring or a small cylinder, or by both, when the valve U is
moved by the rod V and cam W. The entering steam forces down the stop with
such force that the blow will be cushioned. This can be effected by lifting the
stop by providing a spring, so that the steam on entering will force down the stop
and keep it hard over, according to the pressure. Directly the piston passes the
exhaust the steam escapes (the pressure being gone); the spring will at once faise the
stop. It might be advisable to provide means or flanges so that the engine could
be worked with either steam cylinder, springs, or both. The bearings to carry the
stop can be cast or bolted to the side covers, and the steam cylinder or spring
might be attached to it. The fitting piece for the steam stop is shown in a different
position in Figure 4. The cam and eccentric can be arranged, varied, or done
away with. All that is needed is something to shut off the steam and admit it..
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The construction and arrangement of parts forming a rotary engine, as.
shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawings, especially the employment of
the solid crank as the piston, as described.
Secondly. claim, the construction and arrangement of the modified rotary
engine shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5.
Thirdly. I claim the particular method described of actuating the steam stop in
rotary engines.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lyle, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty first day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JAMES LYLE. (L.S:)