Improvements in Rotary Explosion Engines or Motors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
Improvements in Rotary Explosion Engines or Motors.
I, ANDRÉ BEETZ, of 4 Rue Gustave Doré, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to an improved equilibrated rotary engine or motor working
by means of an explosive mixture of gases with two explosions for each revolution
and with previous compression of the explosive mixture.
The construction of my improved motor will be readily understood from the
following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are
given by way of example only, and in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved motor,
Figure 2 is a plan. showing in part the arrangement for the admission of the
explosive mixture.
Figure 3 is a plan of the said motor.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of the said motor through the admission-valves.
Figure 6 shows, in elevation, one of the slides or abutments.
Figure 7 represents respectively in vertical section and in plan, an arrangement for
working the slides or abutments of my motor, comprising bevel gearing.
Figure 8 shows in plan another arrangement of working the slides or abutments by
means of cams.
Figure 9 shows in part an injector for the employment of oil.
Figure 10 shows the said injector in section on the line 1-2, Figure 9.
Figure 11 is an end view of the said injector.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
As will be seen in the drawings, my improved rotary motor comprises a hollow
annular shell R generated by the revolution around the axis X, Y, in its plan, of a
curve a, b symmetrical relatively to a line O, Z normal to the said axis. This curve
has its concavity turned towards the axis of rotation and is projected at each of its
extremities by a tangential part (Figure 5). In this shell turns a disc U, of which the
section c, d, e, f is such that it forms with the shell a closed annular chamber which
serves for the working of the gases after the manner of an engine-cylinder. It is
provided with two surfaces in the form of truncated cones c, d and e, f in contact
with those generated by the tangents to the curve of the shell, and a curved face
intermediate between d and e having a concavity opposed to that of the fixed shell.
The two first serve to ensure fluid tightness by means of suitable packing or of
circular frictional segments s, s, the intermediate face being in contact with the
obturator slides or abutments T, T¹, see Figure 4, which are only withdrawn to
permit the passage of two enlargements V formed with the disc U diametrically
opposite each other. These enlargements V completely close the hollowed-out section
of the annular chamber and work as pistons. To compensate for wear they.
are provided with sliding pistons » which bear and rub against the fixed shell. Their
form is determined by the relative speed of withdrawal of the discs U in such a
manner that the contact of the slides or abutments with the enlargements or pistons V
does not cease to subsist during the passage of the latter.
The slides or abutments T, Tare fitted in guides forming part of the fixed shell,
diametrically opposite to each other, in order to obtain the maximum expansion of the
gases of explosion. They may, however be given any other suitable position upon
:

page_text: the circumference, and, if desired, may not be diametrically opposite to each other.
In this case, the gases burnt may be carried between the two pistons during a fraction
of the revolution without any gain in working from expansion, and the withdrawal of
the slides or abutment at the moment of the passage of the piston may be effected by
motion communicated through bevel and toothed gearing as in Figure 7, or by a
system of levers worked by a cam on the motor-shaft as in Figure 8. This movement
of withdrawal may be obtained by the direct pressure of the pistons V upon the slides
or abutments, which arrangement will simplify the apparatus. It is only necessary
for this purpose to give the piston a suitable form as in Figure 4.
After the passage
of the piston, the slide or abutment is returned to its original position by a spring,
and, if desired, secured by a bolt until the moment of passage of the succeeding
piston.
On one side of the slide or abutment T the admission of the explosive gas takes
place through the medium of a distributor A communicating by an aperture with
the annular space, and on the other side is the valve B for the delivery of the
compressed air (Figures 3, 4 and 5). On one side of the slide or abutment T¹ is
an opening in the fixed shell for the escape of the gases of combustion, and
on the other side, an opening 1 for the drawing-in of the air to be compressed,
Figure 4.
Assuming the machine to be working and the explosion to have taken place,
the gases expanding, the first piston arrives at the second slide which is then
withdrawn. After its passage, the gases of combustion
escape through the
opening at the side of the slide or abutment. The disc continuing its rotation,
the first piston commences the compression in the part D-B of the shell. During
this time the same phenomena are successively produced with the second piston
in the same revolution. The air compressed is collected in an independent
reservoir W. The admission is effected by the distributor A (see Figure 5)
which is composed of two boxes or casings each comprising two chambers furnished
with their valves, the upper casing being inverted relatively to the lower casing,
and being placed directly above the same; the said upper casing communicating
at the top with the reservoir of compressed air. The chambers and m
cominunicate with each other through a pipe. The chambers and n communicate,
the first, with the inlet of the carburettor E (see Figures 1 and 3) and the second
with the outlet or return passage thereof. A bell-crank-lever p, q, r acts
simultaneously upon the stems of the valves placed in land m or kand according to
the direction of movement of the arms p, q. The joint is connected to a rod u, u
terminating in a roller z which rolls against a cam y capable of sliding upon the
motor-shaft. This cam is displaced upon the said shaft by the action of a regulator p.
When the valves k and n are opened by the passing of the cam beneath the roller, the
admission of carburetted air takes place. When on the contrary the valves and m
are opened by the inverse movement of the arms p, q, the compressed atmospheric air
enters alone into the part of the shell serving as the explosion-chamber. And when
the cam releases the roll z, there is no admission. The same conditions can be realized
by the employment of a slide, and I reserve the right to apply the same instead of the
valves above described.
The ignition is effected by an electric spark or by an incandescent device q¹
(Figure 4) on the shell which is uncovered by the piston as soon as the admission
is closed.
By reason of the combustion of the air the carburation is easily effected by the aid
of a tube immersed in petroleum or gasoline, the height of the liquid to be traversed
by the air being regulated so as to obtain the necessary degree of carburation, and to
maintain this height constant. If it is desired to employ illuminating gas, it will be
sufficient to use the compressed air from the reservoir to cause, at each admission given
by the regulator, the working of an injector which draws into the pipe for the gas
(opened only during the introduction) the necessary volume for the explosion, and
drives it into the explosion-chamber, the proportions of air and gas being determined
by the regulation of a cock on the gas-pipe.

page_text: If it is desired to employ purified petroleum, an injector can be used arranged as
shown in Figure 9. A levert which receives its motion through a roller in contact
with the cam, opens the valve 8 for compressed air and moves forward a piston 4
which drives out the quantity of petroleum necessary for the explosion; this petroleum
is conducted through the pipe 5 and flows into the injector where it is atomized
between two jets of compressed air. A ball-valve 7 prevents the passage of the gases
of explosion into the petroleum reservoir.
The form, details, accessories, materials and dimensions of my improved motor may
obviously be varied without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Dated this 27th day of July 1896
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, ANDRÉ BEETZ, of 4 Rue Gustave Doré, Paris, in the Republic of France,
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:-
My invention relates to an improved equilibrated rotary engine or motor working
by means of an explosive mixture of gases with two explosions for each revolution,
and with previous compression of the explosive mixture.
The construction of my improved motor will be readily understood from the
following description, reference being had to the drawings accompanying my
Provisional Specification, which are, given by way of example only, and in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved motor,
Figure 2 is a plan showing in part the arrangement for the admission of the
explosive mixture.
Figure 3 is a plan of the said motor.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of the said motor through the admission-valves.
Figure 6 shows, in elevation, one of the slides or abutments.
Figure 7 represents respectively in vertical section and in plan, an arrangement for
working the slides or abutments of my motor, comprising bevel-gearing.
Figure 8 shows in plan another arrangement of working the slides or abutments by
means of cams.
Figure 9 shows in part an injector for the employment of oil.
Figure 10 shows the said injector in section on the line 1-2, Figure 9.
Figure 11 is an end view of the said injector.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
As will be seen in the drawings, my improved rotary motor comprises a hollow
annular shell R generated by the revolution around the axis X, Y, in its plan, of
a curve a, b symmetrical relatively to a line O, Z normal to the said axis. This
curve has its concavity turned towards the axis of rotation and is projected at
each of its extremities by a tangential part (Figure 5). In this shell turns a
disc U, of which the section c, d, e, f is such that it forms with the shell a closed
annular chamber which serves for the working of the gases after the manner of an
engine-cylinder. It is provided with two surfaces in the form of truncated
cones c, d and e, f in contact with those generated by the tangents to the curve of the

page_text: shell, and with a curved face intermediate between d and e having a concavity opposed
to that of the fixed shell.
The two first serve to ensure fluid tightness by means of suitable packing or of
circular frictional segments s, s, the intermediate face being in contact with the
obturator slides or abutments T, T', see Figure 4, which are only withdrawn to
permit the passage of two diametrically opposite enlargements V formed with the
disc U. These enlargements V completely close the hollowed-out section of the
annular chamber and work as pistons. To compensate for wear they are provided
with sliding pistons v which bear and rub against the fixed shell. Their form is
determined by the relative speed of withdrawal of the slides T, T¹ to the angular
velocity of the disc U in such a manner that the contact of the slides or abutments
with the enlargements or pistons V does not cease to subsist during the passage of
the latter.
The slides or abutments T, T' are fitted in guides forming part of the fixed shell,
diametrically opposite to each other, in order to obtain the maximum expansion of the
gases of explosion. They may, however, be given any other suitable position upon
the circumference, and, if desired may not be diametrically opposite to each other.
In this case, the gases burnt may be carried between the two pistons during a
fraction of the revolution without any gain in working from expansion, and the
withdrawal of the slides or abutments at the moment of the passage of a piston
may be effected by motion communicated through bevel and toothed gearing as
in Figure 7, in which the abutments T are moved towards the centre by means of
the mutilated gear-wheel T acting on the rack T³, and are moved outwards by the
inclines V2 on the disc U, Figure 4. Or the said slides or abutments can bo
reciprocated by a system of levers worked by a cam on the motor-shaft as in
Figure 8. This movement of withdrawal may be obtained by the direct pressure of
the pistons V upon the slides or abutinents, which arrangement will simplify the
apparatus. It is only necessary for this purpose to give the piston a suitable form
as in Figure 4. After the passage of the piston, the slide or abutment is returned to
its original position by a spring, and, if desired, secured by a bolt until the moment
of passage of the succeeding piston.
On one side of the slide or abutment T the admission of the explosive gas takes
place through the medium of a distributor A communicating by an aperture with tho
annular space, and on the other side is the valve B for the delivery of the compressed
air (Figures 3, 4 and 5). On one side of the slide or abutment T is an
opening in the fixed shell for the escape of the gases of combustion, and
on the other side an opening D for the drawing-in of the air to be compressed,
Figure 4.
Assuming the machine to be working and the explosion to have taken place, the
gases expanding, the first piston arrives at the second slide which is then with-
drawn. After its passage, the gases of combustion escape through the opening Cat
the side of the slide or abutment. The disc continuing its rotation, the first piston
commences the compression in the part D-B of the shell. During this time the
same phenomena are successively produced with the second piston in the same
revolution. The air compressed is collected in an independent reservoir W. The
admission is effected by the distributor A (see Figure 5) which is composed of
two boxes or casings each comprising two chambers furnished with their valves,
the upper casing being inverted relatively to the lower casing, and being placed
directly above the same; the said upper casing communicating at the top with the
reservoir of compressed air. The chambers and m communicate with each other
through a pipe. The chambers k and n communicate, the first, with the inlet of the
carburettor (see Figures 1 and 3) and the second, with the outlet or return passage
thereof. A bell-crank-lever p, q, acts simultaneously upon the stems of the valves
placed in and m or k and n according to the direction of movement of the arms p, q
The joint r is connected to a rod u, u terminating in a roller z which rolls against a
cam y capable of sliding upon the motor-shaft. This cam is displaced upon the said
shaft by the action of a regulator p. When the valves k and m are opened by the

page_text: passing of the cam beneath the roller, the admission of carburetted air takes place.
When on the contrary the valves 7 and m are opened by the inverse movement of the
arms p, q the compressed atmospheric air enters alone into the part of the shell
serving as the explosion-chamber. And when the can releases the roll, there is no
admission. The same conditions can be realized by the employment of a slide, and I
reserve the right to apply the same instead of the valves above described.
The ignition is effected by an electric spark or by an incandescent device q¹
(Figure 4) on the shell, which is uncovered by the piston as soon as the admission is
closed.
By reason of the compression of the air, the carburation is easily effected by the
aid of a tube immersed in petroleum or gasoline, the height of the liquid to be
traversed by the air being regulated so as to obtain the necessary degree of carburation,
and to maintain this height constant. If it is desired to employ illuminating gas, it
will be sufficient to use the compressed air from the reservoir to cause at each
admission given by the regulator the working of an injector which draws into the
pipe for the gas (opened only during the introduction) the necessary volume for the
explosion, and drives it into the explosion-chamber, the proportions of air and gas
being
determined by the regulation of a cock on the gas-pipe.
If it is desired to employ purified petroleum, an injector can be used arranged as
shown in Figure 9. A lever t which receives its motion through a roller in contact
with the cam, opens the valve 8 for compressed air and moves forward a piston 4
which drives out the quantity of petroleum necessary for the explosion; this petroleum
is conducted through the pipe 5 and flows into the injector where it is atomized
between two jets of compressed air. A ball-valve 7 prevents the passage of the gases
of
explosion into the petroleum reservoir.
The forin, details, accessories, materials and dimensions of my improved motor may
obviously be varied without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is
1. A rotary explosion engine or
features, viz. :-
motor having the following characteristic
(a.) The annular explosion-chamber constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described and having the peculiar shape in transverse section substantially as
shown in the drawings, for the purposes specified.
(b.) The distribution by means of valves which serve for the direct admission of
carburetted or pure compressed air into the explosion-chamber, the quantity
admitted being regulated according to the velocity at which the motor rotates,
substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.
(c.) The storage, in an independent reservoir, of compressed air for use in
carburetting under pressure, substantially as herein before described.
(d.) The method of obtaining a cycle of operations comprising two explosions
per revolution by means of a compressed explosive mixture, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. The improved engine or motor constructed, arranged and operating substantially
as above described with reference to the drawings.