Improvements in Motive Power Engines Operated by Steam, Water, Gas, or other Fluid Pressure.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Motive Power Engines Operated by Steam, Water,
Gas, or other Fluid Pressure.
I, ROBERT THORNTON MOORE, of Colombo, Ceylon, Lieutenant Royal
Artillery, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The engine constructed according to my invention consists of a drum capable of
revolving and having an axis from which the motive power is obtained by a pulley
or otherwise on the periphery of this drum is a series of buckets pivoted to the
drum at each side thereof. Their cheeks which lie within the periphery of the
drum are connected which may be effected by a rod which protrudes a short distance
outside each cheek the back of each bucket or that part joining the two ends is
curved to lie on the exterior periphery of the drum when the bucket is depressed.
A box is provided its cheeks overlapping the periphery of the drum.
There may
be one two or more of these boxes. The edges of the cheeks towards the axis of
the drum are concentric with the said axis. The boxes have a flap or door at one
end which end contains the supply pipes for the motive fluid the opposite end being
open.
Guide plates are provided and fixed in such manner that the connection or bar
or pins of the buckets come in contact with their inward sides.
As cach bucket approaches the door or flap in the box the guide plate causes the
bucket to be depressed on to the periphery of the drum so that it passes under the
door. The said bucket is then opened by another guide plate. The motive fluid
acts upon the buckets as they pass through the aforesaid boxes in their elevated
position.
Dated this 24th day of July 1890.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Motive Power Engines Operated by Steam, Water,
Gas, or other Fluid Pressure.
I, ROBERT THORNTON MOORE, of Colombo, Ceylon, Lieutenant Royal
Artillery, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The engine constructed according to my invention consists of a drum wheel or
carrier capable of rotating on an axis from which wheel drum or carrier the motive
power is obtained for utilization by a pulley or otherwise. On the periphery of
this wheel or drum is pivoted a series of buckets or abutments each having two
cheeks and a closed top or back. The checks of these buckets lie within recesses
in the outer sides of the periphery of the drum and are connected by a rod which
protrudes a short distance outside each cheek. The top or back of each bucket or
that part joining the two cheeks is curved to correspond to the curve of the
exterior periphery of the drum or wheel so as to form a continuation thereof when
the bucket is depressed into its non-operating position. A box is or boxes are
provided having cheeks or flanges overlapping the sides of the periphery of the
drum or wheel. One end of each box is closed or in case of a continuous or annular
box, diaphragms are provided therein at suitable distances apart, and to these closed
Price Sd 1

page_text: ends or to the diaphragms or near thereto is connected the supply pipes for the
motive fluid the said box or each box being open or provided with exhaust pipes
for the motive fluid. Guides are provided fixed in such manner that projections
from or castors or rollers on the buckets come in contact with the said guides in
such manner that as each bucket approaches the closed end of a box or a diaphragm
the guides cause the bucket to be depressed into the recess in the periphery of the
drum or wheel so that the said bucket passes under the closed end or diaphragm.
The bucket is then caused by the guides to open out or project above the periphery
of the drum or wheel. The motive fluid acts upon the buckets as they pass in
their elevated position through the aforesaid box or boxes the said buckets being at
the required periods returned by the guides into their former position level with
the periphery of the drum.
And in order that my invention may be well understood I will describe with
reference to the accompanying drawings the manner in which the same may be
performed.
Figure 1 is an elevation of an engine constructed according to my invention part
being shewn in section.
Figure 2 shews two of the buckets drawn to a larger scale one being shewn in
section.
Figure 3 shews one of the boxes separately and
Figure 4 shews one of the buckets or abutments separately in perspective.
A is the motor wheel drum or carrier having on its periphery abutments or
buckets B pivoted at Lat equal distances from each other round the said periphery.
The buckets consist each of two plates or cheeks fhim Figure 2 similar to each
other connected by a plate J. The edge f h is an arc of a circle of the same
diameter as the drum and the edges hi and f m are arcs of a circle described from
the centre L, m being a point in the arc fm such that if the line mi were produced
to cut the arc fh produced towards h, the tangent to the arc at the point of inter-
section would contain with the line mi produced, an angle less than a right angle.
This ensures the hereinafter mentioned castor or roller carried by the bucket
not jamming with the guide plates and hence the more acute this angle is made the
less will be the friction. The remaining side mi is the line drawn from m tangential
to the arc hi to the point where it meets this arc.
The top J of the bucket consists of a plate of suitable thickness to lie within.the
recess in the periphery of the drum and of a breadth equal to that of the drum.
The cheeks are fastened to or formed in one with this plate which is of the same
curvature as the drum so that when the buckets are folded as in Figure 2 they are
coincident with the periphery of the drum. The lower corners of the buckets near
the point m are connected within the drum by bars or rollers O which keep the
cheeks apart and also when the buckets are working share the strain with the
pivots L. These bars may project on opposite sides of the buckets to carry
the castors or rollers F to lessen the friction on the hereinafter described guide
plates D D.
C are boxes fixed by any suitable supports round the periphery of the drum A.
They are of rectangular section so that the buckets fit into them the curved
plate n. r. y. Fig. 3 constituting the top of the box being placed concentric to
the drum and is of a curvature coincident with the circle described, being of a
radius equal to the distance from the centre of the drum to the points of the
buckets when raised by the guides into working position. The length of the box
or boxes C is such that a bucket entering at H closed, can rise at a suitable place
into, and remain in its operative position as at Figure 1 till another bucket is
brought into position to receive the pressure of the motive fluid. The sides nr t
of the boxes are of such a breadth that they overlap the drum A and the pivots
of the buckets.
The said boxes are each provided with a closed end yn pz which is shewn
as containing the inlet pipe E leading from the main passage the said inlet

page_text: pipe may however enter at or towards this end of the box itself. The lower edge of
the closed end of the box C is in close contact with the drum, the buckets as they
pass under it allowing no escape of fluid between it and the top of the bucket. On the
under sides of the edge (i.e.) the sides touching the plates J Figure 2 as they pass
under, may if necessary be provided with packing or other means to ensure a good
fit and no loss of fluid. The interval on the periphery of the druin between each
two adjacent buckets is filled up by casting with or fitting to the drum pieces I
which being shaped as in Figure 2 make the surface of the drum at these parts.
when the buckets are closed, flush with the tops of the buckets so that no fluid
escapes as the buckets pass into the box. The pieces I render the side faces of the
drum, when the buckets are in any position, flush and allows no escape of fluid between
the drum and the sides of the boxes C. The side faces of the drum against which the
cheeks of the buckets work may be provided with packing or other means to ensure
no loss of fluid between the cheeks and the drum when a bucket is working. The
ends of the boxes C opposite to the inlet pipes E are open to allow the buckets free
exit.
Or the boxes C may be connected together so as to form an annular box
surrounding the drum A (as shown in Figure 5) and provided at suitable intervals
with diaphragms similar to the closed ends y np of the boxes hereinbefore
referred to. The motive fluid inlet pipes E may be connected to these diaphragms
or to the sides or to the periphery of the box in close proximity thereto as most
convenient exhaust pipes M for the motive fluid being also provided in any suitable
position between the diaphragms for the escape of the exhaust fluid.
Curved guide plates D are fixed at both sides of the drum supported by the
boxes C or in any suitable manner so that the rollers or castors F on the buckets
run along them and cause the buckets to fold down flush with the periphery of
the drum as they pass under the end of the box C or under a diaphragm therein
and after passing thereunder cause them to rise until their exit from the boxes C
or at other part of their travel when they are again required to be turned down.
Additional guide plates D' parallel to the driving guide plates D should be
provided at such distance from the latter that the castors or rollers F can move
freely between or on either of the plates so as to prevent the buckets opening in
jerks and jarring the machine.
The guide plates D' may be continued both ways to form a continuous curve
round the axis of the drum. The guide plates D consist of curved plates fixed at
right angles to the planes or faces of the drum the curves being as follows:-
From 2 to 3 the radius is preferably equal to the radius of the drum but struck
from a centre eccentric to the drum centre and is rigidly fixed.
From 3 to 4 is a
similar curved plate which may be of flexible metal or be so constructed as to
ensure the buckets folding into the drum and remaining closely folded as they pass
under the closed ends of the boxes or under a diaphragm therein. From 4 to 5 is
another curve the end 4 being at a point at such a distance from the periphery of
the drum that the castors or rollers F must move on to it its object being to
prevent the buckets flying outward (opening) with a jerk the point 5 therefore is
so placed that the bars or rollers in the buckets run smoothly into working
position onto blocks N or equivalent supports carried on the under side of the rim
or periphery of the drum (see Fig. 2).
The guide plate D' at the line 6, 7, 8 is parallel to and similar to the guide
plate D at 2, 3, 4 before described except that the plate D¹ may be a rigidly fixed
plate from 7 to 8. This part of D' prevents the buckets closing with a jerk.
The part 8 to 9 is the working part of the guide plate the castors or rollers F
run up on this SO as
to raise the buckets to the working position shewn
at Figure 1. Each plate D is continued to the point P¹ in an arc described
from the axis of the drum and as close up to the boxes C as to allow the bars O
to rest on the blocks N without jamming the rollers or castors F which should be
able to move quite freely on or above the plate. This plate may be continued as

page_text: shewn to the plate D¹. The guide plates may with advantage terminate in spring
plates of suitable strength or be otherwise constructed so as to ensure complete
folding and raising of the buckets.
To ensure no loss of fluid between the plates J of the buckets and the tops of
the boxes na²y a plate fly with or without packing may be fixed to J
(see Figure 2) so as to lie flush with its outer surface when not working a window
or recess being made in J beneath the said plate to allow the pressure of the
motive fluid to act thereon to press it against the top of the box thereby preventing
the escape of the fluid.
A similar arrangement may be secured to the cheeks of the buckets as shewn
in Figure 2 by the dotted, lines c and the window or recess at a. The bars or
rollers O bear on the rests N when the buckets are in their working position.
These rests may be formed in any convenient way for instance by one or more
internal ribs on the drum recessed below, or by separate rests like N recessed
more or less as shewn in Figure 2. These rests relieve the pivots L of a
considerable part of the circular thrust. The motor is shewn in the drawing as
working in a vertical plane but it may be otherwise arranged and when used in a
horizontal plane and heavy motive fluid (such for example as water) is employed
the then top side of the box C may be dispensed with and the bottom of the box
made to incline towards an outlet for the motive fluid.
Each inlet pipe and also the main can be governed by taps or cocks.
Instead of the cheeks of the buckets B being made to overlap and fit into
recesses in the outer sides of the periphery of the drum A as hereinbefore described
the buckets may be arranged, as shewn in Figures 5, 6 and 7, to work in openings
formed in the periphery of the drum, in which case the front of the buckets must be
closed as shewn at E2 Figures 6 and 7 for the motive fluid to act against, the top
being also closed as in the arrangement Figures 1 to 4 to form, when the buckets
are closed, a continuous surface with the periphery of the drum. The boxes C are
made to bear fluid tight against the top and sides of the periphery of the drum as
shewn in Figure 7 to prevent the escape of motive fluid. The castors or rollers F
which travel on or in the curved guide D are mounted on studs O on opposite sides
of the buckets and take onto the blocks N to relieve the strain on the pivots L of
the buckets, the bars O in the first described arrangement being dispensed with.
The guide DI prefer to make in the form of a continuous cam groove in a plate
which may be fixed to the boxes C or to other suitable supports. The portions
of the cam groove from 1 to 2 and from 3 to 4 are curves struck from the centre
of the drum and these portions are connected together by easy curves as shown
in Figure 5 to ensure the buckets folding into the drum and rising into working
position without jerks. The checks and other contact surfaces of the buckets B
may be packed with any suitable material to prevent leakage of the motive fluid.
E are the motive fluid inlet pipes and M exhaust pipes.
The cheeks of the buckets may if desired be dispensed with and the plates J
themselves be hinged to the drum A. and suitably packed to prevent the passage
of the motive fluid between them and the box C. In this case the castors or rollers F
are carried on arms projecting from the plates J.
The advantage of an engine constructed according to my invention as compared
with a turbine are that the speed of my engine can be reduced to any extent while
working which would materially impair the efficiency of a turbine but not of my
motor. Its adaptability to slow motion obviates expensive shafting or gearing and
the consequent wear and tear of the latter. It can be used with a supply of water
however small (or large) in the event of the work becoming excessive to the power
of the water available, the water would not run to waste as in a turbine but would
be stopped by the motor.
Its action depends on the pressure of the motive fluid admitted to the boxes C
and not on centrifugal force, yet when running at a high speed no doubt the
centrifugal force of the motive fluid would increase the efficiency of the engine.

page_text: 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 :-
1. A motive power engine constructed or arranged substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a motive power engine a drum or rotating carrier having on its periphery
a series of centered buckets or hinged abutments in combination with a stationary
box or with stationary boxes into which the motive fluid is admitted, and means for
operating the buckets or abutments so that they rise in the box or boxes into
position to receive the pressure of the motive fluid and afterwards return to their
non-operating position substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 30th day of January 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.