CERTAIN UNIVERSAL WHEELS, OR IMPROVED DIRECT ROTATORY ENGINES, TO BE WORKED BY STEAM, AIR, OR ANY OTHER ELASTIC POWERS
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANTHONY
BERNHARD VON RATHEN, of Putney, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Seventeenth day of
July, One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, in the eleventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Anthony Bernhard Von Rathen, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Anthony Bernhard Von Rathen, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Authony Bernhard Von Rathen, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Islands
of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN UNIVERSAL
WHEELS, OR IMPROVED DIRECT ROTATORY ENGINES, TO BE WORKED BY STEAM, AIR,
OR ANY OTHER ELASTIC POWERS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso, that I, the said Anthony Bernhard Von Rathen, shall cause a par-
ticular description of the nature of iny said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Anthony Bernhard Von Rathen, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being had to
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
+
The nature of my Invention consists in a new mode or method of develop-
ing or obtaining power from the expansive force of steam, air (compressed or
atmospheric), or other similar.elastic fluids or powers, and in the application
of the developed power to produce direct rotary motion. Thus a new descrip-
tion or class of rotary engines is formed, which by suitable arrangements may
serve for all the purposes to which the steam engine is generally applied, either
as stationary, marine, or locomotive, and I therefore have called them
"Universal Wheels," which denomination I shall herein-after use as synoni-
mous with my "Improved Direct Rotary Engines."
My Universal Wheels" belong neither to the class generally understood
by revolving pistons, nor to that of emitting or reacting engines, still they are
all propelled by reaction, and some of them have revolving pistons. The great
and general feature of distinction between my universal wheels and the com-
mon remitting and reacting rotary engines is, that in the latter, when the
steam is emitted from the aperture in an arm of the wheel, or otherwise
passing into the atmosphere or a vacuum, the expansive force still contained in
it is lost; whilst, on the contrary, in my "Universal Wheels," the steam issuing
from the supply pipe enters through one or more apertures or orifices into a
chamber enclosed on all sides but that opposite to the said apertures, and the
space of this chamber is enlarged from the aperture to the open end, whereby
the steam in its passage through it gradually and continually expands and
developes its elastic force, which, united to the original pressure of the steam so
emitted, will form the total amount of propelling power, inasmuch as the
steam does not make its exit from the open end of the enclosed chamber until
after its expansive force has been usefully applied.
The annexed Drawings shew various shapes which may be given to this
expanding chamber, and also various constructions of universal wheels, and of
the manner of applying the said chamber or the vessels containing or enclosing
it. In the title of my Inventin it is stated, that my universal wheels are to
be worked with steam, air, or compressed air, or any other elastic powers, but
if atmospheric air be used it can only be done by having a reservoir of a per-

page_text: manent vacuum at hand, or in connection with it, into which the expanded
atmospheric air can be allowed to pass from the universal wheel. Notwith-
standing that air (atmospheric or compressed) might be usefully applied to
nearly all the different forms of universal wheels, which will be herein-after
described, yet there are certain regulations to be observed and contrivances to
be introduced which have reference to the different temperatures of steam and
air in the progress of their expansion. The general rule is to apply all known
means to protect the steam pipes or vessels wherein steam is expanded as much
as possible against refrigeration by the atmospheric air; but as the tempera-
ture of compressed or atmospheric air sinks during the progress of expansion
below that of the atmosphere, the sides of the vessel containing the expanding
air ought therefore to be brought as much in contact as may be with the sur-
rounding air, in order to keep up its temperature. It will herein-after be
shewn how this can be done.
The rules for regulating any other of the elastic powers mentioned in the
title of this Patent must be deduced from the regulations to be observed for
steam or air, and according as during their expansion their temperature may
remain above or sink below that of the atmosphere, they will fall under the
classifications of steam or air, and are to be treated agreeably to the rules
and modifications laid down for one or the other. After this preceding
general definition and explanation of the nature of my Invention, I shall
now proceed to describe my "Universal Wheels," as applied especially to
steam, and also the different modes in which the chamber for the free expan-
sion of steam is used.
There are two principal divisions or classes of universal wheels, as well as of
the chambers for expansion connected therewith. The first of these divisions
consists of a wheel revolving within a stationary cylinder or cylindrical cover,
accurately fitted, in order to keep the rubbing surfaces steam-tight, the chambers
for expansion being formed by the sides of the revolving wheel and the cylindrical
cover. In the second division the wheels revolve with all their parts, the cham-
bers for expansion being formed of any of the differently shaped vessels or case
shewn in the annexed drawings, and which will be herein-after explained.
The latter description of "Universal Wheels" being the most simple and
efficient, I shall first proceed to describe, as being really of the first class.
Figure 1 is an elevation in section, and Figure 2 a transverse section of
the most simple and efficient specimen of my universal wheel, which in this
case revolves within a steam-tightouter casing. The chambers for the expan
sion of steam are formed by four conical vessels or funnel-shaped chambers
E, C, into which the steam enters by an aperture or orifice (a), which connects

page_text: them to the steam pipes or hollow arms P. The steam expands during its
progress through the chambers until it reaches the open ends of them at (b),
where it escapes from the wheel into the internal space of the outer casing,
from whence it is conducted by the pipe C, P, into the condenser. This outer
casing, wherein the wheel is rotating, must be constructed steam-tight, and
more especially at those parts where the main shaft passes through it. As it
is intended to work this wheel by a vacuum, it is evident that the steam in the
chambers of the vessels E, C, will exert its expansive power reactively upon
the sides of the chambers, and thus the whole expansive power, or nearly so,
contained in the steam (supposed to be high-pressure steam or otherwise) will
be made useful, which, in the case of the already known emitting or reacting
steam engines, is entirely lost, since it escapes immediately from the aperture
(a) into the atmosphere or vacuum, as the case may be. The better to illus-
trate how the progressively expanding steam acts in proportion to its degree of
expansion upon a larger area upon the sides of the vessel, I refer to Figure 14,
where a specimen of a funnel-shaped chamber is represented, the general
outline of which is conical, but which is composed of a number of con-
centric rings of gradually increasing diameters. Steam is admitted by a
sliding valve, made in the manner separately shewn in Figure 29, or of any
other suitable construction in the supply pipe from which it enters the box B,
and then passes up through the pipe L, through the boss and the hollow arms
or pipes P, into the before described expanding chambers E, C. The wheel
is fixed to and revolves with the main shaft, which passes steam-tight through
the outer casing, and has its bearings outside the case, where the force commu-
nicated to it by the wheel may be made available for useful purposes. Here
it may be as well to remark of this and the following exemplification of my
universal wheels, that however preferable and useful it would be to allow
the expanded steam to escape from the wheel into a vacuum produced in the
interior of the outer casing by its connexion with the condenser, yet that the
steam can, nevertheless, according to circumstances, be used on the common
high pressure or locomotive system, and when expanded in the chambers be
allowed to issue directly or through a surrounding case into the atmosphere.
Metallic bushes or packings i, i, are keyed to the main shaft, which prevent
either the escape of steam or the admission of air into the interior of the case,
which is presumed to be in immediate connection with the condenser. The
joints of these packings are further protected against becoming leaky by rings
of gutta percha, sulphurized caoutchouc, or similar substances; they are
placed in the box B over the joints, as shewn in the Drawing of the metallic
packings between the casing and shaft similar rings O, O, are placed to

page_text: prevent the admission of atmospheric air into the interior of the case, and
thereby preserve the vacuum, supposing the expanded steam to be condensed.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal elevation in section, and Figure 4 a transverse
section, both representing a universal wheel of double action, or capable of
being reversed. The general character of this wheel is the same as that of
the wheel shewn, Figures 1 and 2, but having several of the working parts
double, namely, a double set of chambers containing chambers for expanding
the steam,
the one set being placed so as to be in an opposite direction to the
other. To each set of chambers there are separate pipes and hollow arms for
conducting the steam through the corresponding apertures, so that when steam
is admitted through the pipe A¹ it will pass through the box B', the tube C¹,
and through the boss and hollow arms into the four corresponding chambers,
and will turn the wheel. If the supply pipe A¹ be closed (by a valve or other-
wise) and the steam be then admitted by A2, it would pass through the box
B, the tube C, and the hollow arms in the opposite set of chambers, and
would turn the wheel in the opposite direction. The expanded steam,
as in Figures 1 and 2, is conveyed into the condenser by the pipe C, P.
It is evident that upon reference to the Drawings, that in all those four Figures
the funnel-shaped vessels or chambers have only one orifice or small opening
into their cavity or chamber, but it might have a plate or convex piece of
metal placed at the aperture, with a number of small holes or orifices in it
similar to an Argand gas burner, as shewn in Figures 42, 43, 44, and 45. If
this plan should be adopted in conjunction with an atmospheric railway, on
the principle of Mr. Hallette and others, then a hollow arm, which would take
the place of the pipe C, P, would convey the expanded atmospheric air into
the main pipe after having worked the machinery.
The further arrangements for the use of atmospheric or compressed air
will be described by the explanation of Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a
longitudinal elevation in section, and Figure 6 an end elevation, partly
in section, of an engine similar to the foregoing just explained. The
principal difference consists in the different shapes, extension of chambers,
or partitions of the chambers, for expansion, and the different arrange-
ment of reversing arrangements which seem advisable in engines of great
power, where the propelling in one direction may be considered the rule,
and the reversing only the exception, as in steam boats. R, V, is the
revolving wheel placed like the foregoing in an outer casing O, C. The
shape of the expansion chamber is rectangular; two sides of it are parallel,
and the other two diverge from the aperture outward like two sides of a
triangle, where the third side opposite to the aperture is left open for the exit

page_text: of the expanded steam; the space for the expansion is thus left between the
two inclined sides, the divergency of the one from the other beginning at the
aperture. A series of such chambers is here united from S to C, for about two
thirds of the whole length of the engine; they are formed by two strong metal
plates diverging one from the other as much as it may be desired, to give
expansion to the steam entering by a slot or many holes at their approaching
edges. This main chamber is closed at both ends by transverse sheets of
metal, and is divided by other transverse and parallel partitions into a number
of small chambers. This division of the main chamber into small chambers
is not only for the purpose of giving greater strength to the two longitudinal
plates, but also for the further preserving and distributing the heat of the
expanding steam by bringing the outflowing steam in contact with the metallic
plates. The steam is admitted as before described by the supply pipe A',
through the box B' and the tube C¹, around the shaft into the four conducting
pipes C, P. Each of those conducting pipes is at its outer end connected with
a'main steam pipe M, P, from which steam by a slot or numerous holes is
allowed to issue into each and all of the chambers. The working of this
powerful engine is effected in exactly the same way as it has been explained
in the smaller one, by the pressure of the expansive force of steam against and
upon the area of the diverging or inclined side plates, aided by the original
pressure of the steam in the main pipe upon an area equal to the area of the
aperture in the chambers. The wheel is thus turned by reaction. The
expanded steam issuing from all the chambers enters, as in the engines before
described, into the space of the outer casing, and is from thence conducted into
the condenser. A farther illustration of the formation of these chambers is
given in Figures 7, 8, and 9. If an engine of this sort is to be used for the
expansion of air (compressed or atmospheric, then the partitions should have
an open space left between each of them for the passage of the atmospheric
air to assist in restoring the heat lost by expansion. Figures 44 and 45 are
illustrations of how this may be applied. If this wheel should be reversed,
then steam is admitted by the supply pipe A2, and conveyed to the chambers
for expansion exactly in the same manner as already described. The power
obtained in reversing will be only about the half of that in the former case, in
so much as the portion of the wheel devoted to this purpose is shorter; this
might in many cases be advisable when the going forward is the rule and the
reversing only the exception, as in the case of propelling a steam boat.
Figures 7 and 8 and 9 are Drawings, shewing in detail the sort of chambers
wherein steam is to be expanded, as those which have just been described.
Figures 10, 11, and 12 shew how a conical steam-expanding chamber

page_text: may be partitioned for the purpose of better utilizing and preserving heat.
Figures 13 and 18, both Figures included, shew how other forms of chambers
for the expansion of steam may be similarly partitioned off. Figures 14, 19,
and 20 are modifications of the chambers for the expansion of steam, which
may in certain cases be adopted in preference to those already, described.
Figures 21 and 22 are sectional elevations of an engine constructed
according to my aforesaid improvement, in which the cylindrical chamber A
is divided into compartments of a gradually enlarging sectional arc from the
point a, where the steam is entering by the webs or partitions B, B, which are
fixed upon the boss C, in a spiral direction, as shewn in Figure 22, so that
the steam has an expanding chamber, wherein its expansive force may be
made fully available, as in the engines already described. Figures 23 and
24 are nearly the same simple engine as has been shewn and fully explained
in Figures 1 and 2, the only difference being a still further simplification of
that engine, in so much as the case into which the expanded steam issues from
the chambers is fixed to the chambers themselves, and by them through the
arms to the shaft, so that the whole revolve in one piece, and the expanded
steam is conducted to the hollow pillar P, V, and from thence to the conden-
ser; no further description of this engine will be necessary, as the Drawing
clearly points out the other points in which it differs from the engines already
described.
The foregoing specimen of rotary wheels is more or less applicable to be
used with the application of atmospheric or compressed air as the motive
power, such modifications being adopted which the nature of air requires in
the progress of its expansion, and of which I have herein-before given the
necessary instructions, namely, to bring the expanding air in the vessel or
chambers as much as possible into contact with metallic surfaces exposed to
the influence of atmospheric air.
I will now describe the rotary wheel represented in the Drawings, Figures
25 and 26, which is of a similar construction with that already described in
Figures 3 and 4, only that in this case the vessels or cases for expansion are
double ones, so that the engine may either be used for propelling or the
reverse.
Figure 25 is alongitudinal section, and Figure 26 an external end elevation,
of an engine, supposed to be propelled by compressed air, with arrangements
for reversing the supply of compressed air into the vessels or chambers for
expansion, is accomplished in nearly the same manner as with steam. On
compressed air beingadmitted to the supply pipe A¹, then the wheel will revolve
in one direction, but if to be reversed it is admitted by A²; it passes in the one or

page_text: other case through the corresponding box pipes and boss of the wheel to the
corresponding arms and supply tube R, and is then admitted by numerous
small apertures round the atmospheric pipe A, P, into the cavity of the double
chambers or vessels for expanding the compressed air; when the compressed air
has been expanded to, or nearly to, the density of the atmospheric, it then
escapes through the opening O, directly into the atmosphere. If atmospheric
air should be used as the motive power, the wheel ought to be put in an air-
tight outer casing (such as described for steam in Figure 1 to Figure 6), with
an outlet from it into a vessel with a permanent vacuum.
I will now describe, so far as necessary, a class of universal wheels or rotary
engines, put in motion by steam, and its elastic force, which I call the imperfect
class, differing from the perfect ones by their having any part of the engine
fixed (such as the cylindrical cover), within which the wheel (commonly called
a revolving piston) revolves. This class is justly called the imperfect one,
from the necessity of many of its parts requiring packing or other protection
against leakage at their points of juncture, whereby friction is increased, and
also greater risk of loss of power from leakage. I have effected considerable
improvement on these engines, as compared with the present existing rotary
engines of this first and second class, known under the denomination of
revolving pistons, by putting them in motion on the same principle and manner
of obtaining the full effect of the force of the expanding steam.
Figure 27 is a longitudinal elevation in section, Figure 28 an end view in
section, and Figure 29 an external elevation, of an engine of the above
description, capable of being reversed. E, C, Figure 28, is the outer cylinder
or fixed part. R is the revolving wheel or piston; the side plates S, S, are
fixed to and turn along with it. The sides of the revolving piston, at their
junction with the cylindrical cover, are protected by metallic packing from
becoming untight or leaky. There is also a division, D, between each pair of
apertures, with a metallic packing to separate the cavities, so that the wheel
may be reversed at pleasure. The steam is applied (as represented in
Figure 27) to the wheel by the supply pipe A¹, which causes it to progress in
one direction, but when desired to be reversed it is supplied by A2. In
Figure 29 V is a slide valve by which the admission of steam is regulated.
The steam admitted by A¹ or A2 passes through the corresponding box B,
tube C, and the conducting pipe P, into the tube R, from which it enters by a
number of small holes a, a, into the cavity C, E, for expansion; at the end of
this cavity the expanded steam escapes through the tube and pipes S, into the
hollow pillar or box D, V, from whence it is conducted by a pipe to the
condenser.

page_text: The manner of rendering the boxes and tubes Band C steam-tight, where the
shaft passes through them, has already been described; reference may, however,
be made to Figure 30 for further illustration of the manner in which this is
accomplished. The steam coming out by the numerous apertures in the arms
must, before it can enter the space left between the valves and the arms D,
pass through the chamber and expand itself therein, as before explained.
Figure 34isa longitudinal section, and Figure 35 an end elevation in section,
of an engine, in which the valves V, V, are opened by cams K, K, in manner
commonly practised, and which, therefore, need not be further particularly
described. The valves are so arranged that when one is opening to let the
piston pass, the opening to the condenser O, C, will be shut; the steam during
the interval will be operating upon the other valve, when O, C, is open, then
the steam will enter the conducting pipe C, D, by which the expanded steam
is lead to the condenser
Figures 36 and 37 shew an engine of the same description as that shewn in
Figures 27, 28, & 29, only constructed to revolve in one direction.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as of my Invention
the "Universal Wheels," or improved direct rotary engines (defined herein-
before to be of my first class), when the expansive force of steam is obtained
and made available to produce direct rotary motion, in manner as herein-before
described; and that I claim also the general arrangement and combination of
such rotary wheels, in so far as regards the chambers or vessels wherein the
expansive force of steam is in each case developed, and the manner in which
the same is made available to produce direct rotary motion, as represented in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6, 23, and 24. A distinguishing feature of my "Universal
Wheels," or direct rotary engine of the first class, is the absence of all friction
of rubbing surfaces, except at the shafts. But I do not limit my claims of
the patent right upon those rotary engines to the several exemplifications
herein-before shewn of the form or shape proper to be given to the chambers
and vessels wherein the steam is to expand itself, neither to the precise modes
or manners in which the so developed expansive force is to be made available
to produce a direct rotary motion.
Second, I claim the application of the agency of atmospheric or compressed
air to actuate my "Universal Wheels," or improved rotary engines, instead of
and in a similar way as steam, with such modifications as may be required by
the qualities of the air developing itself in the progress of expansion, of which
I herein-before have given ample instructions, and as an exemplification thereof
I refer to Figure 25 and Figure 26.

page_text: Third, I claim the employment of any other suitable elastic fluid or power
in lieu of steam or air, to actuate the said "Universal Wheels," or improved
direct rotary engines, or other engines or wheels similarly constructed, as long
as the expansive force of such other elastic fluid or power is developed and
made available to produce direct rotary motion, by means the same as or
similar to those adopted by me in the case of steam or air, as herein-before
described.
And, fourth, I claim the improved rotatory wheels of the modified form of
construction represented in Figures 27, 28, 29, 34, 35, 36, and 37, herein-
before described as being of the second class, but only so far as it regards the
peculiar mode therein adopted for developing the expansive force of the steam,
air, or any other elastic power or fluid; and the manner of making the same
available to the production of direct rotatory motion. But I disclaim any ex-
clusive right to any other part or parts or contrivances in the combination and
construction of such rotatory engines, which, nevertheless, being inferior to my
first class herein-before claimed, on account of the large rubbing surfaces,
are still considered by me as improvements on the rotatory wheels' now
int use.
In witness whereof, I, the said' Anthony Bernhard' Von Rathen, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January, in'the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.
DEIVI
urolled the same Seventeenth day of January, in the year above writter
LONDON:
Printed by GEORGE EDWARD EYRE and WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE,
Printers to the Queen's most Excellent Majesty. 1855.