IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cooke, of Langley Old Hall, in the County
of Durham, Mining Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS.”
Scaled the 31st August 1875, and dated the 6th March 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cooke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th March 1875.
I, JOHN COOKE, of Langley Old Hall, in the County of Durham,
Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS," to
be as follows:-
This Invention consists in improvements in the construction of rotary
engines and pumps, especially with reference to such rotary engines and
pumps as are described in the Specification of an Invention for which
Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date the Twentieth day of April
1868, and numbered 1279, and has for its object the obtaining of an

page_text: +
equable or nearly equable flow of the fluid or gas without using
duplicate machines on opposite or nearly opposite centres, as is at
present necessary.
The object of the present Invention is effected by introducing a
partition or partitions into the casing in which the eccentric drum revolves
so as to divide the former transversely into two or more equal lengths.
For small machines it is preferable to fix a blade or blades upon the
periphery of the drum, and which blade revolves therewith, and fits the
casing so as to form, say, for instance, two air-tight or nearly air-tight
compartments in the same case, whilst for larger machines the partition
is fixed to the casing, and divides the drum into two parts, or two separate
drums mounted on the same centre may be used. Shutters are then
disposed in as many equal lengths as are intercepted by the partitions,
and so as to divide the circle described through their shaft centres, likewise
into equal portions. In this case the fluid or gas passes in cach inter-
cepted portion through the same entrance and exit port respectively.
The shutter shafts are all made to come opposite to the same crank
pin, and each lever is then connected to the same with its own con-
necting rod.
It is not necessary practically to divide the machine with more than
one such partition as aforesaid, and when this is done the two shutters
are made one to oscillate symmetrically below its shaft on each side of
its centre of gravity or thereabouts, and the other above its shaft in like
manner. The one may thus be said to swing and the other to rock about
a vertical line through its shaft, and it is preferable to let that which
swings be next the crank pin above mentioned, prolonging the shaft of
that which rocks to the required length.
Another mode of carrying this Invention into effect is to use the
partitions as hercin-before described, but where only one partition is
thought desirable, for example (thus making two equal portions to the
drum), the circle is not equally divided by the shutter shafts as in the
former method, but the respective centres of gravity of the two shutters
are made to swing symmetrically about a line about 15 degrees from the
perpendicular, and making the exit port of one such portion correspond
to the inlet port in the other portion, the fluid being conducted to onc
portion by the channel corresponding to that which conducts it from the

page_text: other, and suitable connections made with the fluids to be acted
upon.
It will be found most convenient in carrying out this latter mode of
applying the Invention to arrange the shafts at an angle of 14 degrees
more or less above the horizontal line through the centre of the
casing.
A combination of the methods above described may if desired be
employed, but either of them with only one such partition is sufficient
practically to effect the desired purpose, and the other end of the drum
or piston shaft is thus left free for any driving crank or wheel or sheave
that may be desirable or suitable.
A secondary and incidental improvement secured by this Invention is
the introduction of a light balance-weight at long leverage instead of a
heavy weight within the circumference of the eccentric, thus greatly
lessening the revolving weight.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Cooke in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th September 1875.
JOHN
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I,
COOKE, of Langley Old Hall, in the County of Durham, Mining
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Cooke, Her special licence
that I, the said John Cooke, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Cooke, 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 term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN

page_text: THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Cooke, my executors or admi-
nistrators, 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 tho date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Cooke, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say:
•
My Invention consists in improvements in the construction of rotary 1
engines and pumps, especially with reference to such rotary engines and
pumps as are described in the Specification of an Invention for which
Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date the Twentieth day of
April 1868, and numbered 1279, and has for its object the obtaining of
an equable or nearly equable flow of the fluid or gas without using 2
duplicate machines on opposite or nearly opposite centres, as is at
present necessary.
The object of the present Invention is effected by introducing a
partition or partitions into the casing in which the eccentric drum
revolves, so as to divide the former transversely into two or more equal 2
lengths. For small machines it is preferable to fix a plate or blade, or
plates or blades, upon the periphery of the drum, and which plate or
blade, or plates or blades, revolves or revolve therewith, and fits or fit
the casing so as to form, in the case of one plate or blade being so
employed, two air-tight or nearly air-tight compartments in the samo 3
case, whilst for larger machines the partition is fixed to the casing and
divides the drum into two parts, or two separate drums mounted on the
same centre may be used. Shutters are then disposed in as many equal
lengths as are intercepted by the partitions, and so as to divide the circle
described through their shaft centres likewise into equal portions. In 3
this case the fluid or gas passes in each intercepted portion through the
same entrance and exit port respectively, that is, it passes all the shutter

page_text: hinges either before or after it passes through the casing, as may be
suited to the circumstances.
The shutter shafts are all made to come opposite the same crank pin,
and each lever is then connected to the same with its own connecting
rod.
It is not necessary practically to divide the machine with more than
one such partition as aforesaid, and when this is done the two shutters
are made, one to oscillate symmetrically below its shaft on each side of
its centre of gravity or thereabouts, and the other above its shaft in like
manner. The one may thus be said to swing and the other to rock
about a vertical line through its shaft, and it is preferable to let that
which swings be next the crank pin above mentioned, prolonging the
shaft of that which rocks to the required length. This method of carrying
out my said Invention is shown in Sheets 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Another mode of carrying this Invention into effect is to use the
partitions as herein-before described, but where only one partition is
thought desirable, for example (thus making two equal portions to the
drum), the circle is not equally divided by the shutter shafts, as in the
former method, but the respective centres of gravity of the two shutters
are made to swing symmetrically about a line about 45 degrees from the
perpendicular, and the exit port of one such portion is made to corre-
spond to the inlet port in the other portion, the fluid reaching the hinge
of one shutter before passing the casing and reaching that of the other
after such passage, and being conducted to one portion by the channel
corresponding to that which conducts it from the other, and suitable con-
nections made with the fluids to be acted upon.
It will be found most convenient in carrying out this latter mode of
applying my present Invention to arrange the shafts at an angle of 14
degrees more or less above the horizontal line through the centre of the
casing. This method of applying my said Invention is shewn in
Sheets 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying Drawings.
When this method is employed, by varying the arrangement so as to
introduce two partitions such as described, each as far from the middle
of the casing as from its end, the drums can be made to balance each
other perfectly, while all on one shaft and between two bearings or
carriages, the drum intercepted between the two partitions is opposite or

page_text: 180 degrees from the drums, intercepted between the partitions and the
ends of the casing, which drums are clearly each of them half as long
as the middle drum. The shutter shaft of the middle drum is carried
round 180 degrees to correspond therewith, which takes it to a position
28 degrees or thereabouts from that of the shutters corresponding to 5
the end drums. The air passages are made less circuitous, while the
bearings for the shutter shafts are got as near the foundations as possible
by placing them below the casing each 14 degrees or thereabouts from
the vertical line through its centre. In this modification the crank
driving one shutter is at one end of the drum shaft and that driving the 1
other shutter is at the other end. This modification is shewn in Sheets 9
and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
A combination of both the methods herein-before described may, if
desired, be employed, but either of them with only one such partition as
described is sufficient practically to effect the desired purpose, and the 1
other end of the drum or piston shaft is thus left free for any driving
crank or wheel or sheave that may be desirable or suitable.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings, which
represent my Invention as applied to the ventilation of mines, and from
which the nature of my said Invention will be more clearly under- 2
stood.
Sheet 1 is a plan of a mine ventilator constructed according to the
method first described. A, A, is the ventilating house; B, the shaft of
the mine; C, C, the cylindrical casing in which the drum or drums
revolves or revolve; D, the shutter which oscillates below its shaft and
which I call the swinging shutter; E, the partition which divides the
casing and drum into two equal portions, and which has a recess for the
revolution of the balance weight; F, G, is the crank on the drum shaft
to which both shutters are connected; II is the connecting rod to the
swinging shutter D; and I the connecting rod to the other or rocking
shutter; K and Lare respectively the shafts of the swinging and rocking
shutters; M, the shaft of the drum or drums; N is the engine crank;
and O the engine by which the machine is worked; P and Q are respec-
tively the levers for the rocking and swinging shutters.
Sheet 2 is a transverse section through the line A, B, Sheet 1. A, A,
is the ventilating house; B, the mine shaft; O, the cylindrical casing;
D, the swinging shutter; E, the partition; F, the drum; G and II are

page_text: respectively the shafts of the swinging and rocking shutters; I is the
drum shaft; K, K, the chimneys for the exit of the foul air.
Sheet 3 is a transverse section through the line C, D, Sheet 1. A, A,
is the ventilating house; B, the passage from the mine shaft; O, the
cylindrical casing; D, the rocking shutter; E, the drum; F, the shaft
of the rocking shutter; and G, the drum shaft; II is the chimney.
Sheet 4 is a transverse section through the lino E, E, Sheet 1. A, A,
is the ventilating house; B, the passage from tho mine shaft; C, the
crank to which both shutters are connected; D and E are respectively
the connecting rods to the swinging and rocking shutters; and F and G
are respectively the levers of the swinging and rocking shutters.
Sheet 5 is a plan of a mine ventilator constructed according to the
second method herein-before described. A, A, is the ventilating house;
B, the mine shaft; C, C, the cylindrical casing in which the drums
revolve; D and E are the two shutters; F, the partition; G, the crank
to which the two shutters D and E are respectively connected by the
rods H and I; K and L are the two levers; M and N, the two shutter
shafts; O, the drum shaft; and P, the crank to which the engine Q is
attached.
Sheet 6 is a transverse section through the lino A, B, Sheet 5. A, A,
is the ventilating house; B, the air passage from the mine shaft ;
C, C, the cylindrical casing; D, one of the shutters; E, the drum;
F, the shutter shaft; G, the drum shaft; and I, the chimney.
Sheet 7 is a transverse section through the line C, D, Sheet 5. A, A,
is the ventilating house; B, the mine shaft; C, the cylindrical casing;
D, tho shutter; E, the drum; F, the partition; G and H are the shutter
shafts; I is the drum shaft; and K, K, the chimneys.
Sheet 8 is a transverse section through the line E, F, Sheet 5. A, A,
is the ventilating house; B, the mine shaft; C, C, the chimneys; D, the
crank to which the shutters are connected by the rods E and F; G and H
are the shutter levers; I and K, the shutter shafts; and L, the drum
shaft.
Sheets 9 and 10 represent a mine ventilator constructed according to
the modification described in reference to the second method of carrying
out my Invention, and in which two partitions and three drums are
employed. In Sheet 9, Figure 1, is a plan; A is the cylindrical casing

page_text: in which the three drums revolve; C and D, the shutter levers; E and F
the connecting rods. The cranks at each end of the drum shaft being
shown at G, Figure 2, H and I are respectively the engine shaft and fly
wheel driving the machine by one of the shutter cranks. Figure 2 is a
detached view of the drums, A, A, being the two outside drums, and B
the middle drum; G, G, are the cranks at each end of the drum shaft,
to one of which the fly wheel of the driving engine is connected.
Figure 3 is an end clevation. A is one of the shutter levers; B, the
connecting rod; C, the engine fly wheel; and D, the die in the fly
wheel which fits on to the crank pin. In Shect 10, Figure 1, is a
section through the line A, B, Figure 1, Sheet 9. A, A, is the casing;
B, one of the end drums; C, the shutter; D, the shaft of the two end
shutters; and E, the other shutter shaft; and Figure 2 is a section
through the line C, D, Figure 1, Sheet 9. A, A, is the casing; B, the
centre drum; D, the shutter; E, the shaft of the shutter D; and F, tho
shaft of the other shutters.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the
hercin-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction of rotary
engines and pumps in the manner and for the purposes herein-before set
forth and described, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Cooke, have hereunto sct
my hand and seal, this Third day of September, in the year of 2
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
R. S. MORDAUNT VAUGHAN,
Patent Agent,
Darlington.
JOHN COOKE. (L.S.)