IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Van den Bergh, of, Lacken, by Brussels, in
the Kingdom of Belgium, Proprietor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Charles Van den Bergh.at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 20th January 1855, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
VAN DEN BERGH, of Lacken, by. Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Pro-
prietor, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROTATORY STEAM ENGINES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto
me, my executors, administrators, and assigns; Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I verily believe myself.to
be the true and first Inventor thereof:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Van den Bergh, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, reference being had; to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to
say:-
My Invention is of great simplicity of construction, occupying but small
comparative space, will be found economical in price; and the expence of
keeping it in repair exceedingly moderate, consequent upon the small number
of mechanical parts composing the engine. :

page_text: In the Drawing it will be seen that Figure 1 is a vertical projection of
the machine; Figure 2, an elevation, at A, B, at Figure 1; Figure 3, a
vertical projection of the interior of the machine, taken at A, B; Figure 4
and Figure 9 represent an escapement to open the valves; Figure 5, a vertical
projection of the cock; Figure 6, an horizontal plan of the same; Figure 7,
a piston; Figure 8, a valve, baving its place in the stuffing boxes.
The Drawing represents a rotatory engine, composed of a single piston
in each space; the mechanism for opening the valves is made in such wise
that the size of each space may easily be doubled, that is, they may be
made square without impediment to the mechanism in opening the valves,
and this facility is obtained in consequence of the length of the lever. The
power of my machine may be increased in three ways; first, by enlarging the
plates and the wheel of circles, and, in proportion, the spaces; secondly, by
enlarging the spaces by means of enlarging the circles; thirdly, increasing the
number of pistons and stuffing boxes; to do which, the additional mechanism
shewn at Figure 4 and Figure 9 is employed.
Two circular plates A, A, (cast iron or other metal) having each two grooves,
following the circumference of the two circles B, C, (also of cast iron or
other metal), and which form with the plates when they have entered the
grooves two spaces O, in which are two pistons, so placed that one shall be
the distance of a quarter of a circle from the other, to hinder the machine
being brought to a dead stop, see Figure 3, so that if the pistons be in one
space under the valve, in the other space the piston is in full motion. In
introducing the steam into the compartments O it will impinge on the pistons,
and naturally on the wheel of circles, giving them a circular movement as
required, backward or forward; fast or slow, and the machine can also be
stopped instantaneously. This movement is governed by the cock J, see
Figures 5 and 6, and which being turned to the right or the left, to change the
direction of the steam, or to shut it more or less off, according to the rate at
which it is desired the machine should work. The vapour or steam conducted
by the pipes I enters through two stuffing boxes E, placed on the two plates,
the one in face of (or opposite) the other. These stuffing boxes are placed to
receive the. two valves L, which enter into the spaces O, in such wise as
to form a stop partition or fulcrum for the steam; these valves open only to
allow a passage to the pistons D, and then close immediately the movement
is given by an escapement M, placed on the shaft N, which drive back the
spring piece, to which the valves L are attached, which in opening cuts off
the openings of the steam; the entrances give the steam access to the spaces O
when the valves are shut. Figure 3 shews the interior movement of the

page_text: machine. The shaft N, which carries the wheel of circles B, C, being turned
to the left by the entrance of the steam through the openings of the plates
A, which will be found on the left of each stuffing box, and (the steam) will
go out by the openings which are made at the right of each of these two
stuffing boxes; vice versa, if the steam be introduced through the openings on
the left, the shaft will turn to the right. On the shaft or spindle N may be
fixed gearing wheels or other apparatus, according to the uses to which the
machine is to be applied. The two plates A are attached to each other by
bolts, capable of being screwed up at will, in order that the circles B, C, may
be well secured to A. The grooves formed on the plates are to be furnished
with stuffing boxes to prevent the escape of the steam. The plates A are firmly
attached to a tressle or other support, according to the application of the
machine. The piston and valves are provided with spring drawers, which press
against the four faces which form the space O. To give greater strength or
force to the plates, iron bars are attached thereto, through which the shaft N
passes, retaining them in the centre.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which I carry it into effect, I wish it to be understood that while I have given
the best description and illustration (in the Drawing) in my power, I do not
confine myself to the exact proportions therein shewn, as such may be modified
or varied in some degree without departure from the principle of my Inven-
tion; nor do I claim the parts of the machine or apparatus described and
shewn, taken as parts, and not in combination or for the purposes of my
Invention, which I declare to be, and I claim, the combination of mechanical
parts herein-before described and shewn, forming, when so combined or put
together, a rotatory steam engine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Van den Bergh, have hereunto
affixed my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
0
Witness,
HYPOLITE BIEBUYCK,
Rue du Commerce, Brussels.
CH. VAN DEN BERGH. (L.s.)