IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY ENGINES AND PUMPS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Timothy Murphy, of Clonmel, in the County of
Tipperary, Ireland, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROTATORY ENGINES AND PUMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Timothy Murphy at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th March 1871.
I, TIMOTHY MURPHY, of Clonmel, in the County of Tipperary,
Ireland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY ENGINES AND PUMPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
rotatory engine capable of being worked as a motive-power engine either
by steam, compressed air, gases, or water pressure, or of being used as a
rotatory pump by simply applying a driving power or motor thereto, and
consists in the employment of two cylinders placed one within the other

page_text: so as to leave an annular free space between the outer surface of the
inner cylinder, and the inner surface of the outer one for the steam or
other actuating medium to operate in. Both the cylinders may be left
free to revolve, in which case the two will revolve in opposite directions,
or one cylinder may be fixed whilst the other one revolves and gives off
the power of the engine. To the surface of one of the two cylinders (by
preference the inner cylinder) a projecting block or piston is attached
which works steam-tight against the interior of the outer cylinder. On
each side of this block are inclines leading by an easy ascent from the
surface of the inner cylinder to the top of the block or piston, thereby
forming a species of cam for acting upon a number of hinged or sliding
valves or stops fitted to the interior of the outer cylinder, such valves or
stops as they successively pass over or along the inclines being by such
inclines lifted or forced outwards so as to clear the block or piston. The
steam or other medium employed is admitted through passages made in
or near the centre of the inner cylinder and opening into the annular
space or chamber on each side of the block or piston, the pressure being
exerted between the said piston and the hinged or sliding valves or stops
before referred to. According as the steam is introduced on one or the
other side of the piston so will the engine rotate in one or the other
direction. The sliding valves or hinged stops are closed or depressed
again at the proper periods by means of rods working through stuffing
boxes in the outer cylinder, and acted upon by a cam surface exterior to
the said cylinder. The degree of pressure of the said valves or stops upon
the surface of the inner cylinder may be regulated by means of blade or
other springs. When the outer cylinder is allowed to rotate whilst the
inner one is held stationary the power may be taken off or transmitted
by means of a spur wheel or driving pulley fast on the end boss of the
outer cylinder and driving a spur wheel or a pulley, as the case may be,
fast on a second motion shaft.
If in lieu of using this engine as a motor in itself it be driven or
rotated by any well-known prime mover it may be employed as a
rotatory pump, in which case the steam passages previously referred to
will serve as the suction and discharge passages for the liquid to be
clevated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Timothy Murphy in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th September 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, TIMOTHY
MURPHY, of Clonmel, in the County of Tipperary, Ireland, Engineer,
'send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Timothy Murphy, Her special licence
that I, the said Timothy Murphy, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Timothy Murphy, 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, excrcise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY
ENGINES AND PUмps," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Timothy Murphy, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Timothy Murphy, 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:-
My said improvements comprise a peculiar construction and arrange-
ment of rotatory engine capable of being worked as a motive-power
engine either by steam, compressed air, gases, or water pressure, or of
being used as a rotatory pump by simply applying a driving power or.
motor thereto.
In effectuating the above improvements I employ two cylinders placed
one within the other, so as to leave an annular free space hatween th.

page_text: outer surface of the inner cylinder and the inner surface of the outer
one for the steam or other actuating medium to operate in. Both the
cylinders may be left free to revolve, in which case the two will revolve
in opposite directions, or one cylinder may be fixed whilst the other one
revolves and gives off the power of the engine. To the surface of one
of the two cylinders (by preference the inner cylinder) a projecting
block or piston is attached, which works steam-tight against the interior
of the outer cylinder. On each side of this block are inclines leading by
an casy ascent from the surface of the inner cylinder to the top of the
block or piston, thereby forming a species of cam for acting upon a
number of hinged or sliding valves or stops fitted to the interior of the
outer cylinder, such valves or stops as they successively pass over or
along the inclines being by such inclines lifted or forced outwards so as
to clear the block or piston. The steam or other medium employed is
admitted through passages made in or near the centre of the inner
cylinder and opening into the annular space or chamber on each side of
the block or piston, the pressure being exerted between the said piston
and the hinged or sliding valves or stops before referred to. According
as the steam is introduced on one or the other side of the piston so will
the engine rotate in one or the other direction. The sliding valves or
hinged stops are closed or depressed again at the proper periods by
means of rods working through stuffing boxes in the outer cylinder and
acted upon by a cam surface exterior to the said cylinder. The degree
of pressure of the said valves or stops upon the surface of the inner
cylinder may be regulated by means of blade or other springs. . When
the outer cylinder is allowed to rotate whilst the inner one is held
stationary the power may be taken off or transmitted by means of a
spur wheel or driving pulley fast on the end boss of the outer cylinder
and driving a spur wheel or a pulley, as the case may be, fast on a second
motion shaft.
If in lieu of using this engine as a motor in itself it be driven or
rotated by any well-known. prime mover, it may be employed as a
rotatory pump, in which case the steam passages previously referred to
will serve as the suction and discharge passages for the liquid to be
elevated.

page_text: describe the latter fully and in detail, by reference to the Drawings
accompanying these Presents, that is to say :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a double-action rotatory engine or pump.
A is the outer cylinder, and within it is placed the inner cylinder
formed by the parts C, Z, and W (as shown in transverse section,
Fig. 2). The axis or shaft M passes through the centre of both the
said cylinders and all round between the inner surface of the outer
cylinder A and the outer surface of the inner cylinder, the steam-tight
annular free space or chamber B is formed. Z is the part of the inner
cylinder which has a free revolving action between Cand W within the
cylinder A, and is formed on or fastened to the main central shaft M (as
shown in Fig. 2), and to the outer surface of Z the block or piston L is
adjusted which fits steam-tight the said chamber B, and is connected
with Z by the arms a, a, which are formed on or fastened to Z. The
inclines E, E, are also formed on or fastened to the surface of Z leading
by an easy ascent from the outer surface of the inner cylinder to or near
to the top of the block or piston L, and from the position of the inclines
E, E, at each side or face of the piston L a species of cam is formed on
the part of the outer surface of the inner cylinder which is formed by Z.
Any required number of hinged or sliding valves or stops D arc adjusted
in the inner surface of the outer cylinder A, and are each formed on or
fastened to a corresponding number of shafts P which are made to pass
out through one or both ends of the said cylinder (as shown in Fig. 2),
a corresponding number of arms or levers U being exteriorly fastened
to the two cylinders, each arm being provided with a roller Y adjusted
to them by the pins S. The cam is fastened exteriorly to the two
cylinders by means of arms on the main shaft M, and as the part of the
inner cylinder Z is also fastened on the said shaft M, as before stated,
both Z and h will maintain the relative positions to each other in which
they are placed. The outer cylinder A is fastened to the surfaces
C and W of the inner cylinder and held from revolving by the stops J, J,
formed on the bed frame E (as shown in Fig. 2), as the shaft M revolves
either way the hinged or sliding valves or stops D are continually pressed
in one after the other against the outer surface of the inner cylinder at
either side or face of the block or piston L, and near or at the base of the
inclines formed by E, E, and by the action of the inner surface of the
cam upon the rollers Y, thereby shutting the chamber B steam-tight

page_text: by being so pressed into it. The said valves D. are pressed out of the
chamber B at either side of the piston L by the inclines E, E, which
form a species of cam on the part of the inner cylinder formed by Z, to
which part the piston L and the shaft M are also attached as before
stated. Such a cam as is formed by E, E, can be fastened on the
shaft M exteriorly to the two cylinders, and thereby raise or assist in
raising the valves. D by its action against the rollers Y. The block or
piston L is in two parts and in the opening formed between said parts.
the two wedge-shaped parts or stop valves O, O, are fitted, and as these
parts O, O, are fitted on both sides or faces of the piston L the pressure
of the steam will press them tight at either side between the said
two ports of the piston L, and by being so pressed will shut the passage
between the said parts of the piston L and at the same time force the
two parts which form the piston L steam-tight both against the
inner surface of the outer cylinder and also against the outer surface of
the parts C and W of the inner cylinder. The press ports or stop valves
are kept to their places by means of springs at n, n. I, I, are stop valves
which form a steam-tight joint between the part of the inner cylinder Z
and the piston L; they are also kept to their places by springs.
The use of these stop valves is to keep a steam-tight joint between
Z and L (as they vary in position) to each other (caused by friction).
N, N, are passages passing along from the chamber B at each side of
the piston L through the port of the inner cylinder Z, and from Z are
extended along the shaft M until they pass out at or near its centre
through both ends (as shown in Fig. 2). The tubes carrying the steam
or other medium to and from the engine are connected with the
passages N, N, at the ends of the shaft M by means of socket or other
joints, which joints are provided with stuffing boxes, thus allowing the
shaft M to revolve on or against the said tubes, and at the same time
preserve a steam tight joint therewith. As the steam or other medium
employed enters the chamber B through cither of the passages N, N, it
will be resisted in its course in said chamber by the hinged or sliding
valves or stops D in one direction and by the block or piston L in the
other direction, thereby causing the outer cylinder A and the parts
C and W of the inner cylinder to revolve in a contrary direction from
the port of the inner cylinder Z; but to form a resistance to the steam
A or Z is held stationary (in this case A is held and Z will be revolved
by the piston L), thereby causing the shaft M to revolve and give off
the power of the engine. H forms a part of the circular surface of Z,

page_text: and is connected to it at the joint K by the pin T passing through both
of them, and H is fitted into the slots or grooves formed in Z at both its
ends; the connections both at the ends and at T are so arranged as to
allow H to have a free action in and a given distance, and as the part Z
is forced round by the piston L the steam will force itself between H
and Z at either end of H, and in so doing force back one of the
valves G and force itself along until it is stopped by the other valve G,
and when it is so confined between H and Z it will cause H to press
out and form a steam-tight joint against the valves or stops D as it
revolves with Z against said valves or stops D.
Fig. 2 transverse section of Fig 1. B is the annular free space or
chamber formed between the outer circular surface of the inner cylinder
and the inner circular surface and two flat surfaces forming the
cylinder A. C, Z, and W form the outer circular surface of the inner
cylinder, the part Z having a free revolving action between. C and W
and being formed on or fastened to the shaft M, which shaft passes
through the centre of both the cylinders. The flat surfaces of the
cylinder A, t, and W are made steam-tight on the outer circular surface
of C and W. T, T, are bushings supporting the outer cylinder A and the
circular parts C and W of the inner cylinder on the shaft M, said shaft
being free to revolve in said bushings; F'is a boss fastened to the end of
the cylinder A, and to its end the plate fis bolted. The circular part W
of the inner cylinder is pressed against Z by means of set screws in the
plate, thereby making the two joints between C, Z, and W steam-tight.
The flat surface G of the cylinder A is formed on the face of the circular
part m which fits steam-tight between the two circular surfaces of the
two cylinders, and is pressed by the set screw in the plate ƒ against the
ends of the hinged or sliding valves or stops, and the end of the block
or piston, thereby making both the valves and piston steam-tight against
said flat surfaces of the cylinder A in the chamber B. W and m are
fitted and held steady within the circular surface of the boss F, the
rings S, S, forming a part of m and being pressed forward from the
plate into the stuffing boxes q, q; m can be drawn back out of F by
removing the plate f; K, K, are stuffing boxes for the joints formed
between C, W, and Z acted upon by the rings R, R, pressed forward
from the plate fat one end, and from the flange of the bushing T at the
other end by the set screws V, V. The shafts P to which the valves or
stops in the chamber B are attached passes out through the stuffing
boxes O in the ends of the cylinder A. The cam / is fastened on the

page_text: are
shaft M, said cam pressing the said valves or stops into the chamber B
through its connection with rollers on the ends of the levers, which
levers are fastened on the said shaft P (as shown in Fig. 1). The
shaft M is fitted in suitable bushings on the bed frame H; J, J,
stops fastened to H which keep the cylinder A and the parts C and W
of the inner cylinder from revolving; Y is a wheel fastened on the
shaft M which gives off the power of the engine by I (as shown).
Bushings support the shafts P outside the stuffing boxes. In Fig. 3 is
shown the mode of reversing the action of the engine; G is a steam-
tight chamber, the steam from the boiler passing into same through the
tube S; M, M, are ports leading from G through which the steam
passes to and from the engine. Such ports being connected with the
passages N, N, at the ends of the shaft M by means of tubes as before
explained; E is the tube which discharges the steam as it comes from
the engine. The lid H is made to slide steam-tight over the ports M, M,
and E, and within its sliding surface is a cavity whereby a passage is
formed between either of the passages M, M, and E. Thus it will be
seen as the steam passes through one of the ports M to the engine it
will pass from the engine through the other port M and escape through E,
and for the reversing of the engine either way, H is made to slide
backwards and forwards across the passages M, M, by means of the rod O,
connected with a lever, worked as required by the hand at F, thereby
allowing the steam to pass to the engine through either of passages as
required.
For single-action engines said reversing apparatus is not required as
the steam will always pass round in the same direction. When the
block or piston is connected to the inner circular surface of the outer
cylinder, and the hinged or sliding valves or stops are connected to the
outer circular surface of the inner cylinder, the steam or other medium
employed in the working of the engine is admitted into the annular free
space or chamber through a passage in the circular surface of the outer
cylinder at one side of the block or piston, after passing round about
half the circumference of said cylinders it is allowed to discharge itself
through a suitable passage through the outer cylinder.
1
The above is best suited for a single-action engine to be worked
always in the same direction and is well adapted for water power.
This engine is provided with an improved regulating valve which is
placed in the supply tube, that is, the tube supplying the steam is cut or

page_text: parted and the mouths of said tubes so parted connected with two steam-
tight chambers, one at each side of said valve or valves, thus causing
the steam to pass through said regulating valves from one tube to the
other. Said valve or valves to be formed in a body, having either a flat,
a concave, or a circular surface through which any desired number of
passages is formed, such passages to be provided with a corresponding
number of lids which are made to slide backwards and forwards across
said passages as the engine varies in its motion.
Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sections, and Fig. 7 a transverse section of
said valves; B is a plate with a flat surface with any desired number
of passages of any form K, K, passing through it. Y, Y, are the lids
shown in Figs. 6 which are made to slide backwards and forwards over
the passages K, K, and against the plate B, the said lids are made fast
at their ends to the centre A, and are all made to slide together by the
action of the shaft P which is fastened in the centre A. The plate B
(as shown in Fig. 7) is provided with a rim E, which forms a flange at
both sides round its circumference, and to this rim is fastened at both
sides of the plate B two covers T and F, and by the connection of the
said covers with the rim E there is formed at both sides of the plate B
the two steam-tight chambers N and M; the lids Y have a free action
against the plate B in the chamber M, and are fastened to the shaft P
in the centre (A), which shaft passes out through the plate B and the
cover T, in which cover it is kept steam-tight by a stuffing box, and
to the outer end of this said shaft is fastened the arm H which is con-
nected at its lower end with a governor, and as the speed of the engine
varies from a given velocity, the arm H will work backwards and
forwards by the action of said governor upon it, thereby causing the lid
Y by action across the passages K, K, to admit the steam only in such
quantities, as is required for regular motion of the engine; O, O, is the
tube through which the steam passes from the boiler through the valves
in the plate B to the engine. The amount of pressure of the lids Y
against the plate B is reduced to the least possible fraction by the two
set screws ff against the centre of both ends of the shaft P. And
said valves or valve possess great quickness of cut-off and supply in
consequence of the great amount of space opened and shut by the
slightest action of the governor. These valves as exemplified in Figs. 5,
6, and 7, can be used as a safety valve for steam boilers in connection
with this or any other form of engine, by connecting the lever end of

page_text: the arm H by means of a rod to a piston W, as shown in Fig. 8; said
piston is made to work steam-tight in the cylinder Z (which is held
in any suitable position), into which cylinder the steam from the boiler
is conveyed through the passage G, and the pressure exerted against
the end of the said piston. As the piston is weighted to any desired
pressure from outside the cylinder Z by means of springs or other
weights, it will always resist a given pressure of steam, and thereby keep
the valves closed until the pressure of the steam becomes greater than
the pressure of the weight, when the piston W will be forced forward,
thereby causing the valves to open and relieve the boiler of the over
pressure. Two of these engines can be placed at any required distance
apart, and when so placed the supply and discharge steam passages are
in direct communication with each other by means of two tubes passing
from one to the other, said engines and tubes being connected and filled
with water or other fluid. Either one of said engines is driven by a
motive-power, and by being so driven will press the water round con-
tinually from one tube to the other, and thereby convey equal rotary
motion to the engine by forcing the water round through it from one
tube to the other. As the water in one tube balances the weight of the
water in the other in any position in which they are placed no power is
lost in conveying same from one to the other. In the raising water
from great depths two engines so connected by tubes can with great
advantage be placed one at the top of the well or mine, the other in
connection with a force pump at or near the bottom. The power can be
applied to the engine at the top of the well or mine, and as it is worked
the engine at the bottom will work with equal power and speed, thereby
causing the pump which is worked by said engine at the bottom of the
well to raise the water in a tube continued from the pump to or above
the top of the well or minc. One of these engines can be used as a
suction and force pump for above objects.
Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are plans of the piston L (as shown in the vertical
section, Fig. 1), and by such plans the arrangement by which it is
jointed and held to the two arms a, a, (as shown in Fig. 1), are shown.
P, P, are pins, as shown in Fig. 9, by which the said piston L is held
in its position against the arms a, a. In Fig. 10 is shown the means by
which the pins P are passed into their places through a passage from
the end of said piston, and by Fig. 11 the means are shown by which
said pins are kept in their places by the set screws e, said set screws

page_text: to be kept from twisting when set by means of a pin fitted into the
slot at its end and also into the corresponding slot in the end of the
piston L. When the block or piston is attached to the outer cylinder
and the hinged or sliding valves or stops are attached to the inner
cylinder, the steam or water or other medium employed in the working
of the engine is admitted into the annular free space or chamber
through a passage in the circular surface of the outer cylinder at one
side of the block or piston, and after passing round about half the
circumference of said cylinder in said chamber is allowed to discharge
itself through a passage formed through said outer cylinder. The above
is a single action, that is to be worked round in the same direction, and
is well adapted for water power.
Fig. 13 is a vertical section of said single action. The outer cylinder
is formed by the circular parts C and R, R, (as shown in the transverse
section, Fig. 14). A is the inner cylinder, and B the annular free space
or chamber formed between C and A. The hinged or sliding valves or
stops D are attached to the cylinder A on their shafts P.
C is the part
of the outer cylinder, which is free to revolve round its central axis M,
and between R, R, (as shown in Fig. 14); and to the inner circular
surface of part C is attached the block or piston L. E is an inclined
surface formed on or fastened to the inner circular surface of part C,
rising by an easy incline from the inner surface of C to or near to the top
of the piston L. By said incline a species of cam is formed on the inner
circular surface of C. The block or piston L is in two parts and in the
opening formed between these parts there is fitted at or near each end
the two wedge-shaped press parts or stop valves q and n; q is pressed
forward by the pressure of the steam or water or other medium, and n by
means of a key or spring. Both the two parts of the piston L will be
pressed steam-tight against the outer circular surface of the inner
cylinder A and against the inner circular surface of the parts R, R, of
the outer cylinder. S is a stop valve which presses forward by the force.
of the steam or other acting medium, thereby forming a steam-tight joint
between the piston L and the port O of the outer cylinder. I is a rod
connected to the inner part of the piston L made to pass out through C
and is provided with a nut or key exteriorly of C, by which said piston is
held steady in position. f is that part of C against which the valves or
stops work, and is fixed to its proper position as required so as to form
a steam-tight joint against the valves or stops D by means of the rods
G, G, pressed against it by keys or set screws acting upon their ends

page_text: in the passages m, m. When fis fixed to its proper position it is kept
steam-tight at its ends by the wedge-shaped stop valves Z pressed
forward by the rod O operated upon by a key or set screw in the
passage Y. The shaft M forms a central axis for both cylinders and is
fastened in the inner cylinder A. The part C of the outer cylinder is
supported by the two wheels Z, Z. The said wheels are fixed as required
by means of keys on the bushings K, K, which are free to revolve on
the shaft M (as shown in Fig. 14). The cam h is fastened either on
the centre or to the arms of the wheel Z, exterior to the two cylinders,
(as shown in Fig. 14). The shafts P, which the valves or stops Dare
formed on or fastened to, are made to pass out through the end of the
inner cylinder A through the stuffing boxes a (as shown in Fig. 14),
said shafts P have each an arm T (fastened on their exterior) to the two
cylinders, and to the lever ends of said arms the rollers U are adjusted
on the pins e. As the inner cylinder A revolves the valves or stops D
are raised or pressed into the chamber B and against the inner circular
surface of the outer cylinder after they pass round by the surface of the
piston L by the action of the rollers U on the incline surface, forming
the cam h, and said valves or stops D are pressed out of said chamber B
(after they pass the discharge passage N) by means of the cam E at the
end of the piston L. The port C of the outer cylinder is held stationary
by being cut at two opposite points by the bed frame H (as shown in
Fig. 14), the inner cylinder A and the parts of the outer cylinder R, R,
are made to revolve by the action of the steam or other medium
employed; said medium is admitted into the chamber B in a passage
through the part of the outer cylinder formed by C and H, said medium
when so admitted will be resisted by the block or piston L connected to
C and by the valves or stops D connected to the inner cylinder A, and
as both the valves and piston are made to stop said chamber B steam-
tight, the valves or stops D will be forced round in said chamber by
the pressure of the medium employed, thereby causing the cylinder A
and the parts connected to it to revolve, and with it will revolve the
shaft M. The medium employed discharges itself out of the chamber B
through the passage N passing through C. The weight of C and its
connections is relieved of the shaft M by means of a lever and weight
or spring, thereby reducing the friction on the said shaft. The hinged
or sliding valves or stops in this engine are four in number, but the
number can, if desired, be increased to a greater number or diminished
to a less number.

page_text: Fig. 14 is a transverse section of Fig. 13. A is the inner cylinder.
The parts T and G form the flat surfaces of A, and are fastened to it.
The ports of the outer cylinder R, R, are formed on or fastened to
T and G, and revolve within the inner cylinder A. B is the annular
free space or chamber, formed between the outer circular surface and
two flat surfaces of the cylinder A, and the inner circular surface of the
outer cylinder, formed by C and R, R; f is a ring or plate fastened to
the cylinder A by the bolts o. The part G of the cylinder A and the
part R of the outer cylinder is pressed forward against both the hinged
and sliding valves or stops and the end of the block or piston in the
chamber B, and against the flat surface of the part C of the outer
cylinder, thereby forming a steam-tight joint both against the ends of
said valves or stops, and against the ends of the block or piston in the
chamber B, and also making the two joints formed between the parts C
and R, R, which form the outer cylinder, steam-tight. Said part G is
pressed forward by the set screws U in the plate f; S is a stuffing box
for the part G of the cylinder A, exerted upon by the ring W, pressed
forward by set screws in the plate f; q, q, are stuffing boxes for the
two joints formed between C and R, R; M is the shaft fastened in
the cylinder A, and is free to revolve in the two wheels Z, Z, to the rims
of which the part C of the outer cylinder is fastened; H is the bed
frame, upon which the shaft M revolves on suitable bearings, and from
said shaft the power of the engine is given off. To relieve the pressure
of steam see Fig. 1 (vertical section), hinged or sliding valves or stops D
are provided at or near the level of the inclines E, by means of grooves
in the surface of Z, said grooves allowing the steam to pass under said
valves, thereby relieving the pressure of the steam on the valves D
before they are raised by the inclines E, thus reducing the friction.
The number of valves or stops employed is three for each of the two
actions, but the number is not limited, as a greater or less number
could be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed or carried out in practice, I hereby declare that I claim,
the Invention of "Improvements in Rotatory Engines and Pumps,"
as the same is herein-before set forth and described, and more particu-
larly as stated by the words preceding the words Description of the
Drawings. Individual constituent parts shown and described are not

page_text: claimed, except when adopted and used substantially as and for the
objects and purposes of this Invention, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, 'the said Timothy Murphy, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
TIMOTHY MURPHY.
(L.S.)
Witness,
ANDREW SHEA,
Mercantile Clerk,
Clonmel,
County of Tipperary,
Ireland.