Improvements in Rotary Motors or Turbines.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Motors or Turbines.
We, THOMAS UNDERWOOD GRAY, Physician and Surgeon, of 340, Essex Road,
and FREDERICK BASS, Ophthalmic Surgeon, of 9, Upper Wimpole Street, both in
the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
Our invention relates to a rotary motor or turbine which is adapted to be
actuated by the pressure of a fluid, either gaseous or liquid, such as steam or water,
and is so constructed that its action is capable of being readily reversed, and the
use of pistons, vanes, buckets, and similar contrivances that are common to rotary
motors and turbines can be dispensed with.
Our improved rotary motor or turbine comprises a cylindrical chamber having
an opening near each of its ends, for the entry and exit of the actuating fluid.
Through this cylindrical chamber there passes longitudinally a shaft which within
the cylinder has keyed to it a series of metal discs arranged one in contact with
the other. Some of these discs are of less diameter than the others and are so
disposed that those of larger diameter alternate with those of smaller diameter.
The peripheries of the larger discs therefore project beyond those of the smaller
discs.
The larger discs, at the part where they project beyond the smaller ones, are
perforated with one or more series of apertures or channels, such series being
arranged circularly around the axis of the shaft. These apertures or channels do
not have their longitudinal axes perpendicular to the plane of the disc, but inclined
at an angle thereto, all of them having the same inclination to the plane of the
disc and its radius and all the apertures or extremities of the channels on each side
of the disc are concentrically arranged and are with respect to series, at the same
radial distance from the centre. The central or longitudinal axis of the apertures
or channels themselves is preferably straight.
The inner surface or wall of the said cylindrical chamber is furnished with a
series of annular projections corresponding to and somewhat closely fitting the
projecting discs and the alternate non-perforated discs. Apertures or channels are
formed in each of the annular projections that lies between two of the projecting
peripheries of the larger discs, such apertures or channels being in all respects,
save one, similar to those formed in the aforesaid larger discs, that is to say the
direction of the apertures or channels in the annular projections is opposite to that
of the apertures or channels in the larger discs. During the working of the motor
the apertures in the annular projections of the cylinder and those in the discs
coincide at some portion of the rotation of the shaft. The said annular projections
on the inner wall of the cylinder may be conveniently formed by a series of rings.
bolted to each other and to the cylinder. The number and dimensions of the discs
and corresponding annular projections depend upon the circumstances and require-
ments of the purpose for which the motor is designed.
To minimize end-thrust and consequent tendency to friction between the discs

page_text: and annular projections each end of the cylinder is somewhat prolonged beyond the
entry and exit openings for the actuating fluid to form chambers for the reception
of end discs rigidly fixed to the shaft. One surface of each of these discs faces
inward and the rest of the surface lies in close proximity to the inner surface of
the cylinder and cylinder-cover, thus causing the steam impact to be taken mainly
between the said end-disc and the adjacent perforated disc, instead of between the
cylinder cover and the perforated disc. This last mentioned device is not an
essential element of the construction but is in most cases preferable.
It will be readily understood that when steam or other fluid under pressure is
admitted to one end of the cylindrical chamber, said steam will in its passage
through the inclined channels in the annular projections on the cylinder and in
the discs, cause the longitudinal shaft to revolve.
When the rotary motor or turbine is in operation a suitable lubricant is forced
under pressure into the cylinder.
Instead of employing a series of alternately large and small discs on the longi-
tudinal shaft of the motor we may, if found advantageous, substitute for such discs
a single cylindrical block formed with annular recesses at equidistant intervals.
in its cylindrical surface.
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Rotary Motors or Turbines.
We, THOMAS UNDERWOOD GRAY, Physician and Surgeon, of 340, Essex Road,
and FREDERICK BASS, Ophthalmic Surgeon, of 9, Upper Wimpole Street, in the
County of London, 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: —
Our invention relates to a rotary motor or turbine which is adapted to be actuated
by fluid pressure such as steam or water, and is so constructed that its action is.
capable of being readily reversed, and that the use of pistons, vanes, buckets, and
similar contrivances that are common to rotary motors and turbines can be
dispensed with.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect, we will now proceed to describe the same fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of one form of engine made
according to our invention.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the fluid distribution valve shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 is a section through a single pair of rings showing the direction of the
chanuels.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the engine shown in Figure 1 facing one,
of the larger perforated discs.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the engine shown in Figure 1 facing one
of the smaller discs.
Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of a modified form of our engine.
The fundamental type of our improved rotary motor or turbine comprises a,
cylindrical chamber A, Figure 1, having an opening B near each of its ends, for
the entry and exit respectively of the actuating fluid, the direction of the flow of
which from one opening to the other is capable of being reversed by suitable

page_text: mechanism such as valves or taps, arranged in the course of the power supplied.
Such valve may conveniently consist of a valve box V containing a slide valve v
attached to the end of a screw rode which passes through a suitable stuffing box
and is operated by means of a hand wheel W mounted in a stationary bracket wc.
This valve opens one of the cylinder ports to the exhaust X whilst the other is in
communication with the fluid supply pipe y, and it is obvious that by shifting
the position of the valve by means of the hand wheel the direction of the flow of
the actuating fluid through the engine, and consequently the engine itself, can
be reversed.
Through the cylindrical chamber A there passes a central longitudinal shaft C
which has keyed to it, within the cylinder, a series of discs D) and d arranged in
contact and concentrically with one another and with the shaft C. The discs d
are of less diameter than the discs D with which they are arranged to alternate;
so that the peripheries of the larger discs project beyond those of the smaller discs
and form the projections D¹.
These projections D₁ are perforated transversely with one or more series of
tubular channels E such series being arranged circularly and concentrically with
the axis of the shaft C. Only one such series is shown in the drawings throughout.
All of the channels of each series have the same inclination to the plane of the disc
and its radius and all the apertures or extremities of the channels in each series
on each side of the disc are arranged concentrically, and with respect to series the
extremities of these channels are either at the same radial distance from the
central shaft on both sides of the disc, or their extremities at one side of the disc
may be at greater radial distance than their extremities at the opposite side of
the disc.
The longitudinal axis of each of the tubular channels is preferably, but not,
necessarily straight. The inner surface or wall of the said cylindrical chamber A
is furnished with a series of annular projections or projecting. rings F and f corre
sponding to and somewhat closely adapted to the peripheries of the discs and D,
respectively.
The rings which correspond with and encircle the larger discs are imper-
forate; but the rings F which correspond with and encircle the discs d are furnished
with transverse tubular channels e. These channels e are so arranged that they
connect and are set at an angle to the channels E so that during the working of
the motor the passages e and E coincide at intervals as the shaft C rotates.
If the longitudinal axes of the channels E are arranged perpendicularly, to the
plane of the disc, the channels e must be arranged at an angle to the plane of the
rings F or vice versa; or the channels E and c may both he set at an angle to
the planes of the discs and rings respectively. In all cases however the channels E
must be arranged at an angle to the channels e.
The rings and f may be conveniently formed by a series of rings bolted to
each other and to the cylinder by means of screw bolts b and nuts b. The number,
dimensions, and amount of mutual over-lapping of the discs D), d and rings F, f
and the number of series of channels and the angular relation of the same, depend
upon the
purpose for which any particular motor is designed.
For convenience of construction these discs may if preferred be respectively made
in pairs, (a large and small disc or a large and a small ring in each pair). Or the
rings may be made in halves and bolted up so that one half may be fixed in the
cylinder, then the discs in system placed in position; then the other half of
the rings put in position. In this case the cylinder would also be cast or made in
halves, so that in putting the machine together the pairs of discs and rings may
be inserted into the cylinder alternately.
When the discs and the rings are properly keyed and bolted respectively, and
the cylinder heads closed and fastened, it will be readily understood that when
the actuating fluid under pressure is admitted to one end of the cylindrical
chamber it will in its passage through the inclined tubular channels of the rings
and axial discs, cause the longitudinal shaft to revolve.

page_text: When the rotary motor or turbine is in operation a suitable lubricant may be
forced under pressure into the cylinder.
If required we may diminish end thrust on the cylinder head by keying to the
shaft Ca disc or discs M, Figures 1 and 4, without perforations or channels, and
situated so that the steam or other actuating fluid entering by one of the aper-
tures B passes between it and the first disc of the system. The thrust being taken
in great part by this imperforate disc instead of by the head of the cylinder.
The shaft bearings may be of any known construction.
It may be advisable, in order to lessen the weight of the engine, to remove the
central portion of all the discs D, d, and mount them in ring form on a hollow
drum D, Figure 4, by keys or bolts or other convenient means; the drum D²
being keyed to the shaft C. For convenience of construction in this case it is best
for the cylinder and rings to be made in two halves..
The imperforate discs M M to reduce end thrust on the cylinder heads may also
be mounted on the drum in a similar way.
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. A rotary motor or turbine so constructed that it may be readily reversed,
substantially as described.
2. In a rotary motor or turbine a number of perforated rotary dises in operative
connection with a number of perforated rings fixed in a cylinder or case, the per-
forations in the discs being at an angle to the perforations in the rings and
communicating therewith during the working of the motor substantially as
described.
3. A. rotary motor or turbine constructed and operating substantially as described]
with reference to. Figures 1 to 3, or with reference to Figure 4, of the accompanying
drawings, for the purposes specified.,
Dated this 6th day of August 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.