IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES TO BE DRIVEN BY STEAM, OR ANY VAPOUR, FLUID, OR GAS, AND IN BOILERS OR GENERA- TORS TO BE USED IN GENERATING STEAM OR GAS FOR DRIVING THE AFORESAID OR OTHER ENGINES, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, of the
United Patent Offices, 16, Castle Street, Holborn, Middlesex, for
the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES TO BE DRIVEN
BY STEAM, OR ANY VAPOUR, FLUID, OR GAS, AND IN BOILERS OR GENERA-
TORS TO BE USED IN GENERATING STEAM OR GAS FOR DRIVING THE
AFORESAID OR OTHER ENGINES, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES."-A commu-
nication.
Sealed the 19th November 1853, and dated the 20th May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Edouard
Loradoux Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 20th May 1853.
I, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of the United Patent
Offices, 16, Castle Street, Holborn, Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES TO
BE DRIVEN BY STEAM, OR ANY VAPOUR, FLUID, OR GAS, AND IN BOILERS OR
GENERATORS TO BE USED IN GENERATING STEAM OR GAS, FOR DRIVING
THE AFORESAID OR OTHER ENGINES, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES:"

page_text: The description of rotary engine to which these improvements relate
is that consisting of an outer fixed cylinder having open ends, with an
inner cylinder or wheel so fitted to it as to close its ends and leave a
channel or steam way within it outside the said inner cylinder or wheel;
the outer or fixed cylinder having one or more abutments which
project from its inside and fit to the periphery of the inner cylinder or
wheel; and the latter having sliders or wings upon which the steam,
vapour, fluid, or gas is made to act for the purpose of giving rotation
to it by being admitted between them and the abutment or abutments;
the said sliders or wings being moved towards the axis in order to
pass the abutments, by means of the gradual rising of the latter.
The first part of my Invention consists in so supporting the outer
cylinder of a rotary engine that it is capable of rocking, moving, or
yielding in any direction necessary to enable to preserve at all times
the proper position in relation to the inner rotating cylinder or wheel,
and the working parts thereto 'attached, notwithstanding any inequality
in their wear, or any other cause which might induce them to work
out of line.
The second part of my Invention consists in forcing out the sliders
or wings upon which the steam, gas, fluid, or vapour acts against the
inner periphery of the outer cylinder by means of small pistons or
analagous devices attached to them, and acted upon by the steam, gas,
fluid, or vapour only at such times as the sliders or wings themselves
are severally acted upon by it; the pressure upon the said pistons
ceasing as soon as the exhausting commences at the back of the sliders
or wings to which they are attached, and before the commencement of
the withdrawal of the latter to pass the abutments, so that no resist-
ance is offered to ther withdrawal.
The third part of my Invention relates to a certain method, herein-
after described, of forming tight working joints, with a very small
amount of friction between the outer cylinder and the inner rotating
cylinder or wheel and the working parts attached.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to boilers or generators for
generating steam or gas by heat, and has for its object the economy of

page_text: fuel. It consists in increasing the radiating surfaces of the tubes or
plates by corrugation, indentation, or abrasion, while the opposite
heating surfaces are left plain or smooth, as is commonly the case.
To enable those skilled in the art of engineering to construct and
use this Invention a full description will now be given with reference
to the accompanying Drawing, in which, Fig. 1, is a side elevation of
a rotary steam engine constructed according to these improvements;
and Fig. 2, is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3, is a vertical
section of the cylinder and working parts taken directly through and
in line with the axis; and Fig. 4, is a vertical section of the same
transversely to the axis in the line X, X, shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is
a section of one half of the cylinder and working parts in the line *, *,
in Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a section of part of the cylinder and one of the
abutments taken in a plane radial to the axis of the cylinder. Fig. 7,
is a section of the abutment in the line X, X, of Fig. 6. Fig. 8, is a
face view of the abutment packing. Fig. 9, is an outside view of a
boiler tube made according to these improvements; and Fig. 10, is a
longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 11, is a section of a plate
exhibiting a modification of the principle illustrated in Figs. 9, and 10.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts where they are
used in different Figs.
A, (Figs. 1, and 2,) is a quadrangular framing, supporting on
opposite sides the two plummer blocks B, B, which receive the journals
of the main shaft S, to which the inner cylinder or steam wheel I),
(see Figs. 3, and 4,) is secured. C, is the outer cylinder, which is bored
true and parallel, and faced at the ends; it is surrounded by a double
steam pipe or band E, and is furnished with two lugs F, F, on opposite
sides of its axis; the lower faces of the said lugs being convex, and
resting on suitable bearing faces a, a, on the top of the framing, at
a suitable height to keep its axis in line with the axis of the shaft S.
The convexity of the lower faces of the lugs is to make them serve as
rockers, upon which the cylinder is capable of vibrating to a certain
extent. The double steam pipe or band has two passages b, b', both
entirely encircling the cylinder, but independent of each other; the

page_text: former communicating with the interior of the cylinder through openings
c, c, and d, d, shown in Fig. 4, and the latter communicating with the
same through openings c', c', and ', il', whose positions are indicated
in the above Fig. by dotted lines. The passages b, b', communicate
by means of ports e, e', with the interior of the steam chest G, on
the top of the cylinder; the said steam chest being provided with
an exhaust portf, between e, e', and being furnished with a slide
valve H, which is capable of being moved by a handle I, so as
to open either steam port, and bring the other into communication
with the exhaust port, or to close both steam ports. J, is the steam
pipe, and K, is the exhaust pipe, which is furnished with a butterfly
valve L.
The inner cylinder or steam wheel D, is connected by four arms h, k,
h, h, with its hub g, which is firmly secured by keying or otherwise to the
shaft S. Its outside is perfectly true, and its ends are faced to make
the length precisely the same as that of the outer cylinder. Heads
M, M, which are faced true on both sides, and turned to the same size
as the bore of the outer cylinder, are secured tightly by bolts to the
ends of the inner cylinder D. The arms h, h, h, h, of the inner cylinder
have radial slots i, i, i, i, to receive the sliders or wings N, N', N", N
and corresponding slots are made in the heads M, M, extending to the
outer edges; the slots are planed or otherwise made truc inside, and
are wide enough to allow of a small amount of steam room on either
side of the sliders. The sliders extend all across to the outer faces of
the heads M, M, with which their ends are flush, and they have arms
j, one on each side, extending some distance through the heads (see
Fig. 5). The heads M, M, have other heads 0, 0, bolted by bolts v, v,
to their outside faces; the latter heads being faced to fit closely to the
former, and being turned to the same size, but having each a flange P,
all round its outer side; they have, also, slots k, k, (see Fig. 5,) to
allow the arms of the sliders to pass through the said slots, extending
only far enough towards the outside of the heads to allow of the move-
ment of the arms when the sliders are thrown out. Q, Q, are stiff'
metal packing rings, which are bored to correspond with the size of the

page_text: interior of the outer cylinder, and faced to fit closely to its ends, and
are fitted tightly, by grinding or otherwise, over the inner heads M, M,
and that part of the outer ends 0, 0, which corresponds in size with
M, M; these packing rings are caused to press tightly against the
ends of the outer cylinder by set screws 1, 1, working in female
screws in the flanges P, P, of the outer heads, and thus make a
steam-tight working joint between the outer and inner cylinders,
moving always with the latter and the heads. So much of the outer
corners or edges of the sliders as extend beyond the ends of the cylinder's
must be made of metal that is soft enough to batter up when pressed
by the steam against the inside of the packing rings, and thus wear off,
to make up for the wear of those parts of the edges within the cylinder
and of the interior of the cylinder.
R, R, are the cylinder abutments, which are secured to the interior
of the outer cylinder, and packed to fit closely to the inner cylinder and
to the inside of the heads M, M. The face packing m, m, is made in
two peices, (see Figs. 6, and 8,) with a draw or tongue joint, and each
peice has a lug n, near the outer end, with an inclined face. It
is kept tight to the face of the inner cylinder by screws o, o, which
work in female screws through the cylinder, and press upon a follower
p, and to the heads by wedges q, q, which are made to act on the
inclines on the lugs by means of screws 7, 7, which work in female
screws through the cylinder. Side packing pieces S, S, are attached to
the face packing by draw or tongue joints (see Figs. 6, and 7). The
abutments rise with an easy curve above and below, in order that the
sliders may have an easy motion.
T, T, are the small pistons, by which the sliders are moved outwards
towards the inner face of the cylinder C, and made to form tight joints
with it; they are connected by rods t, t, to the ends of the arms j, j, which
project through the slots k, k, and work in small cylinders U, U, U, U,
outside the heads O, O; these small cylinders are radial to the large
cylinder, and are formed partly in bosses cast on the heads O, O, and
partly in plates u, u, u, u, bolted to the said bosses; they are open at
their outer but closed at their inner ends. The reason for thus

page_text: making the cylinders U, U, U, U, in two parts is, that the connection
may be properly made between their rods and the sliders, which could
not well be clone without removing the outer sides of the cylinders.
The plates u, u, u, u, also cover and close the slots k, k; one of them
is removed in Fig. 1, to show the inside of the cylinder U.
The operation of the engine is as follows:-The steain, when the
engine is working, is admitted to the inside of the cylinder C, through
either of the ports c, c', and pipes or passage b, b', according to the
direction in which its rotation is required; the exhaust being made
through the opposite port and passage to those through which the
steam is admitted. When the engine is at rest both parts c, and c',
are closed by the valve H. Before starting, the valve L, in the exhaust
pipe must be closed, as shown in Fig. 4, in order to make the steam
when it is admitted force out the pistons U, U, U, U, to draw out the
sliders. The steam, when admitted, fills all the steam space within the
engine, and reaches the pistons through the small space in the slots in
the arms of the inner cylinder and the heads M, M, and O, O. The
valve I, is opened as soon as the sliders are drawn out; the exhaust
then commences and the engine starts. The pressure of the steam on
the sliders forces their exhaust sides close up against the inside of the
slots in the arms of the inner cylinder and in the heads M, M, and
makes tight joints; and the pressure on the pistons makes a tight joint
between the sliders and the cylinders C. For the sake of illustrating
the operation more perfectly, suppose the steam port e, to be open as it
is shown in the Drawing, the passage or pipe b, is kept constantly filled
with steam, which enters the cylinder C, through the openings c, c, and
d, d, causing the inner cylinder to rotate in the direction of the arrow
shown in Fig. 4, and, after performing its duty, escaping through the
openings ', d', into the passage b, which is in communication with the
exhaust passage. In the position represented in Fig. 4, the steam is
acting on the sliders N, N", and the spaces between N, N', and between
N", and N, are open to the exhaust pipe, so that the sliders N, N", in
consequence of the pressure being all on one side of them, are pressed
closely against the exhaust sides of the slots in which they work, and a

page_text: small space is left on the steam side of the slots for the passage of the
steam to the pistons. The spaces, between the sliders N', N, are the
abutments, have had the steam exhausted from them, so that there is no
pressure on the latter sliders, nor on their pistons; they will, therefore,
as the rotation of the cylinder D, proceeds, be drawn in by coming in
contact with the rising parts of the abutments, without any resistance
other than their weight and the friction of the pistons, which is but
slight. The positions of the steam openings in the cylinder C, are such
that each succeeding slider is drawn out in equilibrio by the steam before
the exhaust is made forward of it, and the exhaust is made forward of
the preceeding sliders before it is required to move in, so that in
drawing the pistons either out or in only the weight of the sliders and
pistons have to be made with the addition of the friction of the latter.
To stop the engine both steam ports are closed by the valve H; and to
reverse, the part c', is opened, and c, brought into communication with
the exhaust port.
It is not necessary that the outer cylinder C, of a rotary engine should
be rapidly fixed; all that is necessary is to prevent its turning, and to
keep it steady. In order to secure good joints and reduce friction in
rotary engines of this or other construction it is necessary that the
cylinder c, should be allowed to more or yield in such a manner as at
all times to keep in the same relative position to the rotating parts
within it. This desideratum is obtained by supporting or placing the
said cylinder in the way herein described.
. The boiler tube shown in Figs. 9, and 10, is intended to have the
fire or heat applied to the inside. It is corrugated on the outer side,
but the same result may be obtained by making a fine screw thread, or
by any indentation, abrasian, or impression, to increase the radiating
surface. A tube thus formed has been proved by experiment to radiate
heat with the same fire in the proportion of 23 to 33 in time, as com-
pared with a plain flue of the same weight, and with the same heating
surface; it is superior to one corrugated or indented on both sides.
An equally good result may be obtained by similarly increasing the
radiating surfaces of plates applied for heating otherwise in the form
of tubes, or by similarly increasing the inner surfaces of tubes, and

page_text: 1st. Supporting the outer cylinder C, or wliat is commonly the fixed
cylinder of a rotary engine, upon lugs or rockers F, F, or in any other
way substantially the same, whereby it is made capable of rocking,
moving, or yielding in any direction necessary to enable it to assume
or preserve all times a proper position in relation to the working parts
contained within it, as herein set forth.
2nd. The manner herein described of moving the sliders or wings
N, N', N, N, outwards by the steam, gas, fluid, or vapour, and
causing a joint to be formed between their edges and the interior of
the cylinder by its pressure acting upon pistons U, U, U, U. or their
equivalents.
3rd. The manner herein described of making the moving joints
between the ends of the outer cylinder C, the rotating heads of the
inner cylinder or steam wheel D, and between the steam and ex-
haust sides of the ends of the sliders, by means of stiff metal rings
Q, Q, adjustable, as described, by set screws or their equivalents, and
by making the sliders exceed in length the space between the heads, to
enter slots or recesses therein; so much of the outer corners or edges
of the sliders as exceed the length of the space between the heads
being of soft metal; the several parts operating as set forth.
4th. The employment, for the heating parts of boilers or other vessels
for for generating steam or gas by heat, of metal in the form of tubes
or sheets, or in any form, with the heating surface smooth or even, as
commonly used, but with the radiating surface corrugated, abraised,
chased, impressed, indented, raised, or otherwise made uneven, for the
purpose of increasing the extent of the said radiating surface propor-
tionally to that of the heating surface.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford in the Great
Seal Patent Office, on the 19th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of the United Patent Offices,
16, Castle Street, Holborn, Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford,
Her special licence that I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, 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, communicated to me by a foreigner
residing abroad, for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES TO BE DRIVEN BY
STEAM, OR ANY VAPOUR, FLUID, OR GAS, AND IN BOILERS OR GENERATORS TO
BE USED IN GENERATING STEAM OR GAS FOR DRIVING THE AFORESAID OR
OTHER ENGINES, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 inonths next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say):
The description of rotary engine to which these improvements
relate is that consisting of an outer fixed cylinder having open ends,

page_text: with an inner cylinder or wheel so fitted to it as to close its ends and
leave a channel or steam way within it outside the said inner cylinder
or wheel; the outer or fixed cylinder having one or more abutments
which project from its inside and fit to the periphery of the inner
cylinder or wheel; and the latter having sliders or wings upon which
the steam, vapour, fluid, or gas is made to act for the purpose of giving
rotation to it by being admitted between them and the abutment or
abutments; the said sliders or wings being moved towards the axis in
order to pass the abutments by means of the gradual rising of
the latter.
The first part of my Invention consists in so supporting the outer
cylinder of a rotary engine that it is capable of rocking, moving, or
yielding in any direction necessary to enable it to preserve at all times
the proper position in relation to the inner rotating cylinder or wheel
and the working parts thereto attached, notwithstanding any inequality
in their wear, or any other cause which might induce them to work out
of line.
The second part of my Invention consists in forcing out the sliders
or wings upon which the steam, fluid, gas, or vapor acts against the
inner periphery of the outer cylinder by means of small pistons or
analogous levices attached to them, and acted upon by the steam,
gas, fluid, or vapour only at such times as the sliders or wings them-
selves are severally acted upon by it; the pressure upon the said pistons
ceasing as soon as the exhausting commences at the back of the sliders
or wings to which they are attached, and before the commencement of
the withdrawal of the latter to pass the abutments, so that no resistance
is offered to their withdrawal.
The third part of my Invention relates to a certain method, herein-
after described, of forming tight working joints with a very small
amount of friction between the outer cylinder and the inner rotating
cylinder or wheel and the working parts attached.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to boilers or generators for
generating steam or gas by heat, and has for its object the economy of
fuel. It consists in increasing the radiating surfaces of the tubes or
plates by corrugation, indentation, or abrasion, while the opposite heat-
ing surfaces are left plain or smooth, as is commonly the case.

page_text: Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a rotary steam engine constructed
according to these improvements; and Fig. 2, is an end elevation of
the same. Fig. 3, is a vertical section of the cylinder and working
parts taken directly through and in line with the axis; and Fig. 4, is a
vertical section of the same transversely to the axis in the line a, a,
shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a section of one half of the cylinder and
working parts in the line *, *, in Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a section of part
of the cylinder and one of the abutments taken in a plane radial to
the axis of the cylinder. Fig. 7, is a section of the abutment in the
line +, +. of Fig. 6. Fig. 8, is a face view of the abutment packing.
Fig. 9, is an outside view of a boiler tube made according to these
improvements; and Fig. 10, is a longitudinal section of the same.
Fig. 11, is a section of a plate exhibiting a modification of the principle
illustrated in Figs. 9, and 10. Similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts where they are used in different Fig*.
A, (Fig 1, and 2,) is a quadrangular framing, supporting on opposite
sides the two plummer blocks B, B, which receive the journals of
the main shaft S, to which the inner cylinder or steam wheel D,
(see Fig. 3, and 4.) is secured. C, is the outer cylinder, which is
bored true and parallel, and faced at the ends; it is surrounded
by a double steam pipe or band E, and is furnished with two lugs
F, F, on opposite sides of its axis; the lower faces of the said lugs
being convex, and resting on suitable bearing faces a, a, on the top of
the framing, at a suitable height to keep its axis in line with the axis
of the shaft S. The convexity of the lower faces of the lugs is to make
them serve as rockers, upon which the cylinder is capable of vibrating
to a certain extent. The double steam pipe or band has two passages
b, b. both entirely encircling the cylinder, but independent of each
other; the former communicating with the interior of the cylinder
through openings c, c, and d, d, shown in Fig. 4, and the latter com-
municating with the same through openings c', c', and d', d', whose
positions are indicated in the above Fig. by dotted lines. The pas-
sages b, b', communicate, by means of ports e, e', with the interior of the
steam chest G, on the top of the cylinder; the said steam chest being
provided with an exhaust port f, between e, e', and being furnished

page_text: with a slide valve H, which is capable of being moved by a handle I,
so as to open either steam port, and bring the other into communica-
tion with the exhaust port, or to close both steam ports. J, is the
steam pipe, and K, is the exhaust pipe, which is furnished with a
butterfly valve L.
The inner cylinder or steam wheel D, is connected by four arms h, h, h, h,
with its hub g, which is firmly secured by keying or otherwise to the
shaft S; its outside is turned perfectly true, and its ends are faced to
make the length precisely the same as that of the outer cylinder.
Heads M, M, which are faced true on both sides, and turned to the
same size as the bore of the cylinder (the outer one), are secured
tightly by bolts to the ends of the inner cylinder D.
The arms
h, h, h, h, of the inner cylinder have radial slots i, i, i, i, to receive the
sliders or wings N, N', N", N, and corresponding slots are made in
the heads M, M, extending to their outer edges; the slots are planed
or otherwise made true inside, and are wide enough to allow of a
small amount of steam room on either side of the sliders. The sliders
extend all across to the outer faces of the heads M, M, with which their
ends are flushed, and they have arms J, J, one on each side, extending
some distance through the heads (see Fig. 5). The heads M, M,
have other heads 0, 0, bolted by bolts v, v, to their outside faces;
the latter heads being faced to fit closely to the former, and being
turned to the same size, but having each a flange P, all round its
outer side; they have also slots k, k, (see Fig. 5,) to allow the arms of
the sliders to pass through the said slots, extending only far enough
towards the outside of the heads to allow of the movement of the
arms when the sliders are thrown out. Q, Q, are stiff metal pack-
ing rings, which are bored to correspond with the size of the interior
of the outer cylinder, and faced to fit closely to its ends, and are fitted
tightly, by grinding or otherwise, over the inner heads M, M, and that
part of the outer ends o, o, which corresponds in size with M, M;
these packing rings are caused to press tightly against the ends of
the outer cylinder by set screws 1, 1, working in female screws in the
flanges P, P, of the outer heads, and thus make a steam-tight working
joint between the outer and inner cylinders, moving always with

page_text: the latter and the heads. So much of the outer corners or edges
of the sliders as extend beyond the ends of the cylinders must be
made of metal that is soft enough to batter up, when pressed by the
steam against the inside of the packing rings, and thus wear off, to
make up for the wear of those parts of the edges within the cylinder
and of the interior of the cylinder.
R, R, are the cylinder abutments, which are secured to the interior
of the outer cylinder, and packed to fit closely to the inner cylinder,
and to the inside of the heads M, M. The face packing m, m,
is made in two pieces, (see Fig. 6, and 8,) with a draw or tongue
joint, and each piece has a lug n, near the outer end, with an
inclined face. It is kept tight to the face of the inner cylinder by
screws 0, 0, which work in female screws through the cylinder, and
press upon a follower p, and to the heads by wedges q, q, which are
made to act on the inclines on the lugs by means of screws 1, 2,
through the cylinder, which work in female screws.
Side packing
pieces s, s, are attached to the face packing by draw or tongue joints
(see Figs. 6, and 7). The abutments rise with an easy curve above
and below, in order that the sliders may have an easy motion.
T, T, are the small pistons by which the sliders are moved out-
wards towards the inner face of the cylinder C, and made to form
tight joints with it; they are connected by roils t, t, to the ends of the
arms jj, which project through the slots k, k, and work in small
cylinders U, U, U, U, outside the heads 0, 0. These small cylinders
are radial to the large cylinder, and are formed partly in bosses cast on
the heads 0, 0, and partly in plates u, u, u, u, bolted to the said bosses;
they are opened at their outer but closed at their inner ends. The
reason for thus making the cylinders U, U, U, U, in two parts is, that
the connection may be properly made between their rods and the
sliders, which could not well be done without removing the outer sides
of the cylinders. The plates w, u, u, it, also cover and close the slots k, k;
one of them is removed in Fig. 1, to show the inside of the cylinder U.
The operation of the engine is as follows:--The steam, when the
engine is working, is admitted to the inside of the cylinder C, through
either of the parts c, c³, and pipes or passage b, b', according to the direc

page_text: tion in which its rotation is required; the exhaust being made through
the opposite port and passage to those through which the steam is
admitted. When the engine is at rest both ports c, and c', are closed
by the valve H. Before starting, the valve L, in the exhaust pipe
must be closed (as shewn in Fig. 4), in order to make the steam, when
it is admitted, force out the pistons U. U, U, U, to draw out the
sliders. The steam, when admitted, fills all the steam space within the
engine, and reaches the pistons through the small space in the slots in
the arms of the inner cylinder and the heads M, M, and O, O. . The
valve L, is opened as soon as the sliders are drawn out; the exhaust then
commences, and the engine starts. The pressure of the steam on the
sliders forces their exhaust sides close up against the inside of the slots
in the arms of the inner cylinder, and in the heads M, M, and makes
tight joints; and the pressure on the pistons makes a tight joint
between the sliders and the cylinders C. For the sake of illustrating
the operation more perfectly, suppose the steam port e, to be open, as
it is shown in the Drawing, the passage or pipe b, is kept constantly
filled with steam, which enters the cylinder C, through the openings c, c,
and d, d, causing the inner cylinder to rotate in the direction of the
arrow shown in Fig. 4, and, after performing its duty, escaping through
the openings d', ', into the passage b, which is in communication with
the exhaust passage. In the position represented in Fig. 4, the steam
is acting on the sliders N, and N", and the spaces between N, and N',
and between N, and N, are open to the exhaust pipe, so that the
sliders N, N, in consequence of the pressure being all on one side of
them, are pressed closely against the exhaust sides of the slots in which
they work, and a small space is left on the steam side of the slots for
the passage of the steam to the pistons. The spaces between the
sliders N, N, and the abutments have had the steam exhausted from
them, so that there is no pressure on the latter sliders, nor on their
pistons; they will, therefore, as the rotation of the cylinder D, proceeds,
be drawn in by coming in contact with the rising parts of the abut-
ments, without any resistance other than their weight and the friction
of the pistons, which is but slight. The positions of the steam openings
in-the cylinder C, are such that each succeeding slider is drawn ont in

page_text: equilibrio by the steam before the exhaust is made forward of it, and
the exhaust is made forward of the preceding slider before it is required
to move in, so that in drawing the pistons either out or in only the
weight of the sliders and pistons have to be moved, with the addition of
the friction of the latter. To stop the engine both steam ports are
closed by the valve H; and to reverse, the port c', is opened, and c,
brought into communication with the exhaust port.
It is not necessary that the outer cylinder c, of a rotary engine should
be rigidly fixed; all that is necessary is to prevent its turning, and to
keep it steady. In order to secure good joints and reduce friction in
rotary engines of this or other construction it is necessary that the
cylinder C, should be allowed to move or yield in such a manner as at
all times to keep in the same relative position to the rotating parts
within it; this desideratum is obtained by supporting or placing the
said cylinder in the way herein described.
The boiler tube shown in Figs. 9, and 10, is intended to have the
fire or heat applied to the inside; it is corrugated on the outer side,
but the same result may be obtained by making a fine screw thread,
or by any indentation, abrasion, or inpression, to increase the radiating
surface. A tube thus formed has been proved by experiment to radiate
heat with the same fire in the proportion of 23 to 33 in time, as com-
pared with a plain flue of the same weight and with the same heating
surface; it is superior to one corrugated or indented on both sides.
equally good result may be obtained by similarly increasing the radia-
ting surfaces of plates applied for heating otherwise than in the form of
tubes, or by similarly increasing the inner surfaces of tubes, and making
the outside smooth, when the heat is applied outside, and the inner
surface is the radiating surface.
An
I claim, 1st. Supporting the outer cylinder c, or what is commonly
the fixed cylinder of a rotary engine, upon lugs or rockers F, F, or in
any other way substantially the same, whereby it is made capable of
rocking, moving, or yielding in any direction necessary to enable it to
assume or preserve at all times a proper position in relation to the
working parts contained within it, as herein set forth.
2nd The manner herein described of moving the sliders or wings

page_text: N, N', N, N, outwards by the steam, gas, fluid, or vapor, and causing
a joint to be formed between their edges and the interior of the cylinder
by its pressure acting upon pistons U, U, U, U, and their equivalents.
3. The manner herein described of making the moving joints be-
tween the ends of the outer cylinder c, the rotating heads of the inner
cylinder or steam wheel D, and between the steam and exhaust sides
of the ends of the sliders, by means of stiff' metal rings Q, Q, adjust-
able, as described, by set screws or their equivalents, and by making
the sliders exceed in length the space between the heads to enter slots
or recesses therein; so much of the outer corners or edges of the sliders
as exceed the length of the space between the heads being of soft metal;
the several parts operating as set forth.
4th. The employment, for the heating parts of boilers or other vessels
for generating steam or gas by heat, of metal in the form of tubes or
sheets, or in any form, with the heating surface smooth or even, as
commonly used, but with the radiating surface corrugated, abrased,
chased, impressed, indented, raised, or otherwise made uneven, for the
purpose of increasing the extent of the said radiating surface pro-
portionally to that of the heating surface.
In witness whereof, I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth
day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
cight hundred and fifty-three.
A. E. L. BELLFORD. (L.S.)
A. E. L. BELLFORD. (L.S.)