Improvements in Rotary
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar.. 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
Improvements in Rotary
A communication by WILLIAM COWDRY SMITH, Gentleman, and HARLAN PAGE
WHEELER, both of Herald Building, Warren Street, Syracuse, in the State
of New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster and 31 High Holborn in the County
of Middlesex Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to rotary engines, and to that class in which the head
which carries the pistons is concentric with the case and the pistons are not
reciprocated during the rotation of the head.
The object is to produce an improved engine, in which the head is concentric
with the case, in which the steam is cut off by a main cut-off valve, in which the
case is recessed from the exhaust, both ways substantially to the top of the case,
and valves are provided to open or close said recesses, actuated by a reversing
lever, which lever is also connected to the rotary cut-off, whereby when said lever
is shifted, said cut-off is reversed also, so as to admit steam to the other side of the
pistons.
The invention consists of the several novel features of construction and operation
hereinafter described.
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation on a line diametrical to the case, showing
the head and pistons, and the reversing lever and links connecting it to the valves
in the anti-packing recesses.
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on a line at a right angle to that of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the engine, omitting the reversing mechanism
and showing only one of the anti-packing recesses ahead of the pistons and between
the exhaust and the rotating abutment, whereby the engine is only adapted to run
in one direction.
A is a cylindrical case, provided with an off-set a in which the rotary cut-off
and abutment is seated, and b' is an adjustable bearing block engaging with said
valve; c is a recess in said valve across its face, said valve being mounted upon a
A shaft n journaled
shaft d journaled in the face plate e or in a stuffing box.
substantially as shown, carries the piston-head n' concentric with the casing, and
radial pistons p are mounted in said head and adjusted as to their projection by
screws 7.
The casing is also provided with an exhaust port S, diametrically opposite to the
abutment. is a steam inlet pipe.
In this invention the abutment shaft d is sectional, the section 2 being secured to
the abutment to rotate it, and having its inner end tubular and provided with a
port 3 coincident with the port 4 through the abutment and opening into the
recess c; the section 5 is a steam pipe and is reduced exteriorly to fit into the

page_text: section 2, is tubular having its inner end closed by a plug 6, the pin 7 holding it in
place and is also provided with ports 8 and 9, each adapted to register with the
port 3 as hereinafter described, and also with the cut-off ports 10 and 11 in
alignment with the steam inlet-pipe. This section extends out through the face-
plate e and is rotatably journaled, and a reversing lever 12 is secured to its outer
end, so that by swinging this lever, this shaft section is rotated and this partial
rotation causes the cut-off port 11 to register with the inlet-pipe and the inlet-port 9
to register with the port 4 of the abutment; while the lever is thrown back for the
engine to go ahead the port 10 will register with the inlet-pipe and the port 8 with
the port 4.
In the cut-off valve chamber recesses 13 and 14 are provided on opposite sides
to receive the steam from the port 4, the recess on the right being on the go-ahead
side and that on the left on the reversing side, so that as the cut-off valve rotates
in the ratio of the number of pistons, as shown, twice for one rotation of the head,
so when the steam enters the recess 13 the engine will go ahead and when it enters
the recess 14 it will be reversed and run in the opposite direction, as is necessary
for marine and other purposes.
In the case, vent-passages 15 and 16 are created by coring, angular towards the
top as at 17 opening into the valve chambers 18 19 and thence opening by
passages 20 21 into the recesses 13 and 14, by means of the links 22 and 23
connected to the tubular cut-off valves 24 and 25 respectively, seated in the
chambers 18 and 19 respectively, the rod 26 connecting seid links, and the lever 27
connected to the link 23 at its junction with the rod 26 and to the reversing lever,
said valves are rotated.
As shown in Fig. 1, the valve 24 is closed and the valve 25 is opened, and the
engine is in position to run ahead, the steam entering the recess 13 and as a piston
passes the exhaust port, all of the air or vapor carried ahead of it will flow freely
into the recess 14 and through the passage 21, valve 25 and passage 16 back to the
exhaust. So when said lever is shifted the link mechanism will close the valve 25
and open the valve 24, and as then the steam enters the recess 14 the engine is
reversed, so then all of the air or vapor carried ahead of a piston will be forced
into the recess 13 and through the passage 20, valve 24 and passage 15 back to the
exhaust. Thus, whichever way the engine runs, all packing and compression of air
or vapor ahead of a piston is absolutely prevented.
As will be readily seen the rotation of the piston head through the gearing 27
and 28 rotates the cut-off valve; also, that as the steam is cut off at the cut-off
valve instead of at the inlet pipe, at each revolution of the cut-off valve all the
steam between it and said pipe is saved.
In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the engine is only adapted to run in one
direction, all of the reversing mechanism being omitted, and only one anti-packing
rece is shown and this is shown as a groove in the inner wall of the casing
extending from the exhaust port nearly to, but not opening into the abutment
chamber, but said recess may be cored out like 16 in Fig. 1, but in such a case an
opening must be provided connecting it to the piston chamber, adjacent to the
abutment chamber, through which the air or other vapor ahead of a piston may
escape into said recess.
A slotted quadrant 29 and set screw 30 enable my correspondent to set the
reversing lever at any desired point to regulate the flow of steam.
Dated this 6th day of December 1894.

page_text: A communication by WILLIAM COWDRY SMITH, Gentleman, and HARLAN PAGE
WHEELER, both of Herald Building, Warren Street, Syracuse, in the State of
New York, United States of America.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 31 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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:—
This invention relates to rotary engines and to that class in which the head which
carries the pistons is concentric with the case and the pistons are not reciprocated
during the rotation of the head.
The object is to produce an improved engine, in which the head is concentric
with the case, in which the steam is cut off by a main cut-off valve, in which the
case is recessed from the exhaust-port, both ways substantially to the top of the
case, and valves are provided to open or close said recesses, actuated by a reversing
lever, which lever is also connected to the rotary cut-off, whereby when said lever
is shifted, said cut-off is reversed also, so as to admit steam to the other side of
the pistons.
The invention consists of the several novel features of construction and operation
hereinafter described and which are specifically set forth in the claims hereunto
annexed.
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the drawings accompanying
the Provisional Specification, in which,
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation on a line diametrical to the case, showing
the head and pistons, and the reversing lever and links connecting it to the valves
in the venting recesses.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on a line at a right angle to that of
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the engine, omitting the reversing mechanism
and showing only one of the venting recesses ahead of the pistons and between the
exhaust and the rotating abutment, whereby the engine is only adapted to run in
one direction.
A is a cylindrical case, provided with an off-set a in which the rotary cut-off and
abutment b is seated, and ¿¹ is an adjustable bearing block engaging with said valve;
c is a recess in said valve across its face, said valve being mounted upon a shaft d
journalled in the face plate e or in a stuffing box. A shaft n journalled substantially
as shown, carries the piston-head n' concentric with the casing, and radial pistons p
are mounted in said head and adjusted as to their projection by screws r.
The casing is also provided with an exhaust port S diametrically opposite to the
abutment. is a steam inlet pipe.
In this invention the abutment shaft d is sectional, the section 2 being secured to
the abutment to rotate it, and having its inner end tubular and provided with a port 3
coincident with the port 4 through the abutment and opening into the recess c:
the section 5 is a steam pipe reduced exteriorly to fit into the section 2, and has its
inner end closed by a plug 6, a pin 7 holding it in place; it is provided with ports 8
and 9, each adapted to register with the port 3 as hereinafter described, and also
with the cut-off ports 10 and 11 in alignment with the steam inlet-pipe. This
section extends out through the face-plate e and is rotatably journalled, and a
reversing lever 12 is secured to its outer end, so that by swinging this lever, this

page_text: shaft section is rotated and this partial rotation causes the cut-off port 11 to register
with the inlet-pipe, and the inlet-port 9 to register with the port 4 of the abutment;
while the lever is thrown back for the engine to go ahead, the port 10 will register
with the inlet-pipe and the port 8 with the port 4.
In the cut-off valve chamber recesses 13 and 14 are provided on opposite sides to
receive the steam from the port 4, the recess on the left being on the go-ahead side
and that on the right on the reversing side, so that as the cut-off valve rotates in
the ratio of the number of pistons, as shown, twice for one rotation of the head, so
when the steam enters the recess 13 the engine will go ahead and when it enters the
recess 14, it will be reversed and run in the opposite direction, as is necessary for
marine and other purposes.
In the case, vent-passages 15 and 16 are created by coring, angular towards the
top as at 17, opening into the valve chambers 18, 19 and thence opening by
passages 20, 21 into the recesses 13 and 14. By means of the links 22 and 23
connected to the tubular cut-off valves 24 and 25 respectively, seated in the
chambers 18 and 19 respectively, the rod 26 connecting said links, and the lever 27
connected to the link 23, at its junction with the rod 26 and to the reversing lever,
said valves are rotated.
As shown in Figure 1, the valve 24 is closed and the valve 25 is opened, and the
engine is in position to run ahead, the steam entering the recess 13, and as a piston
passes the exhaust port, all of the air or vapour carried ahead of it will flow freely
into the recess 14, and through the passage 21, valve 25 and passage 16, back to the
exhaust. So when said lever is shifted the link mechanism will close the valve 25
and open the valve 24, and as then the steam enters the recess 14, the engine is
reversed, so then all of the air or vapour carried ahead of a piston will be forced
into the recess 13 and through the passage 20, valve 24 and passage 15 back to the
exhaust. Thus whichever way the engine runs, all packing, and compression of air
or vapour ahead of a piston is absolutely prevented.
As will be readily seen the rotation of the piston head through the gearing 27
and 28 rotates the cut-off valve; also, that as the steam is cut off at the cut off
valve instead of at the inlet pipe, at each revolution of the cut-off valve all the steam
between it and said pipe is saved.
In the construction shown in Figure 3, the engine is only adapted to run in one
direction all of the reversing mechanism being omitted, and only one venting recess
is shown and this is shown as a groove in the inner wall of the casing extending from
the exhaust port nearly to, but not opening into the abutment chamber but said
recess may be cored out like 16 in Figure 1, but in such a case an opening must be
provided connecting it to the piston chamber, adjacent to the abutment chamber,
through which the air or other pour aed of a piston may escape into
recess.
id
A slotted quadrant 29 and set screw 30 (Fig. 1) enable my correspondents to set
the reversing lever at any desired paint to regulate the flow of steam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a case, a piston head therein and a
rotating cut-off valve, of recesses 13, 14, within and on opposite sides of the valve
chamber, adapted to take steam to drive the piston head in opposite directions.
2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a case, a piston head therein and a
rotating cut-off valve and provided with a steam port, and a tubular shaft provided
with a port adapted to register with the port in said valve, of recesses 13, 14, within
and on opposite sides of the valve chamber, adapted to take steam to drive the
piston head in opposite directions.
3. In a rotary engine, a cut-off valve provided with a steam port and mounted
up on a tubular shalt provided with a port registering with that of said valve, a steam
pipe within said shalf provided with ports adapted to register with said shaft and

page_text: valve ports, and means to rotate said steam pipe independently, to change the
engagement of said ports, in combination.
4. In a rotary engine, a cut-off valve provided with a steam-port and mounted
upon a tubular shaft provided with a port registering with that of said valve, a
steam pipe within said shaft provided with ports adapted to register with said shaft-
port, and means to rotate said steam pipe, ports, in combination with recesses in the
walls of said valve chamber and on opposite sides thereof.
5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a case, a rotating piston head and
its pistons mounted therein, and an exhaust port, of passages in said case and
opposite sides thereof connected to the exhaust port, and means to close one passage
the other, according to the direction of the rotation of said head.
and
open
6. In a rotary engine, the combination with a case, a rotating piston head and its
pistons mounted therein, a cut-off valve mounted in a chamber upon said case,
recesses in the walls of said valve chamber and upon opposite sides thereof and an
exhaust port, of passages in the opposite walls of said case connected at one end to
said exhaust port and at their other ends to the respective recesses aforesaid, and
means to close one passage and open the other when the rotation of the piston head
is reversed.
7. In a rotary engine, the combination with a steam-inlet pipe, of a rotatable
steam pipe provided at one end with inlet ports, always registering therewith and
at the other end with discharge ports, one of which normally registers with the
cut-off valve, a cut-off valve, and means to rotate said steam pipe to throw one of
said discharge ports into register and the other out of register with the said
cut-off valve.
Dated this 14th day of March 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.