An Improved Rotary Engine, applicable for use as a Rotary Pump or Rotary Blower:
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar.,
1892
Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
'
An Improved Rotary Engine, applicable for use as a Rotary Pump
or Rotary Blower:
We MATHEW REID of Frederick Street, Newcastle, Engineer and JAMES
BOWDITCH of 116 Darby Street, Newcastle, Engineer, both in the Colony of New
South Wales do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
he same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :--
This invention has for its object, the construction of a rotary engine, the motive
force used being steam, air, gas or water under pressure.
For convenience we will assume that steam is the medium used for operating the
engine. It enters into an annular space in the outside of a ring, fitted into a casing;
annular spaces are also provided in the outer periphery of the ring for the exhaust.
A disc keyed on a spindle, capable of revolving in bearings, inside the ring has
slides fitted in recesses in such a manner, that as it revolves, they (the slides) by
centrifugal force are always in contact with the inner surface of the ring; inlet and
outlet ports or passages are provided, which connect the outer annular spaces with
chambers inside. The medium used enters the chambers through the inlet ports,
acts against the slides, constraining the disc to revolve in its bearings, and exhauste
into annular spaces provided for it through the exhaust ports. By varying the area
of the chambers and the position of the ports, the engine may be worked expansively,
the medium used being allowed to expand from one chamber to the other, the latter
being of greater capacity than the former.
By revolving the disc by any mechanical means externally, the engine may be
used as a pump or fan.
To facilitate explanation we annex drawings of which
Figure 1 is a section at A B in Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a section at C D in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front elevation.
Figure 4 is a view of the slides.
Our invention consists of a casing a of brass, iron, or other suitable metal in
which are the inlet b and the exhaust or outlet c. Although the casing is shown
circular in front elevation, may be of any other suitable shape; attached or cast
to the casing is the bed d. A cover e is screwed or bolted or otherwise secured to
the casing; the bearings fand g shown as part of the casing and cover respectively
may be separate and bolted to them.
A ring of brass, iron, or any other suitable metal is fitted securely into the
casing a and has in its outer periphery the annular space; which is the inlet space,
and the annular spaces k and which are the outlet or exhaust spaces; the
number of annular spaces may be varied to suit requirements.
In the inner surface of the ring h are the chambers m; the annular space j is in
connection with the chambers, by means of the inlet ports n, and the annular spaces k
and by means of the outlet or exhaust ports o.
On the spindle p (which revolves in the bearings f and g) is keyed or other-
wise secured to the disc g of brass, iron, or other suitable metal, which is turned
In the diso 9 are
to fit the inner circumference of the ring h at the surfaces r.
the recesses s in which fit the slides t. The slides t shown in Figure 4 are
grooved at the pressure side at u, and clearance is provided at the bottom or back
edge as at v.
These provisions are made to prevent the possibility of the slides remaining in the
recesses, from the pressure in the chambers m.

page_text: Power may be taken from the spindle p by means of a crank, pulley, or any other
know method.
We will further explain our invention.
Steam, air or water under pressure, or whatever medium is used, enters through
the inlet 6 to the annular space j, and passing through the inlet ports n, acts
against the slidest in the direction of the arrows, compelling the disc to revolve;
as it revolves the slides t at their outer extremities, owing to centrifugal force, press
against the inner surface of the ring h, preventing leakage, until they reach the
exhaust ports o, when the medium used escapes into the annular spaces k and I and
to the outlet e a continuous rotation of the disc resulting.
By revolving the disc q by any mechanical means externally, the engine will act
as a pump or fan.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a rotary engine a disc having recesses in which are fitted slides, sub-
stantially as specified and shown on the drawings and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a rotary engine, a ring having annular spaces in its outer periphery, which
are connected by means of ports, with inner chambers substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
3. The combination of the ring / with the outer casing, substantially as described
and shown on the drawings.
4. The combination of the disc q with the ring h substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
5. In a rotary engine, the slides t having a groove or grooves cut in the back
and recessed on the inner edge, substantially as described and shown on the drawings
and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 10th day of February 1892,
AYRTON & THOMAS,
Agents for the Applicants.