Improvements in Rotary Steam Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
Improvements in Rotary Steam Engines.
I, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MURPHY, Farmer, of Burlington, in the County of Boone,
and State of Missouri, one of the United States of America, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in steam engines of the rotary type.
The invention consists of the combination with a suitable containing casing, of a
rotary piston mounted in the same and provided with a plurality of sliding wings
which extend diametrically therethrough so as to be alternately projected from opposite
sides of said piston. The invention also consists of certain other novel constructions,
combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more
particularly set forth and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,
Figure 1 represents an end elevation of the engine embodying my invention.
Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the same.
Figure 3 represents a central vertical longitudinal section through said engine,
and
Figure 4 represents an enlarged detailed perspective view of the two sliding plates.
or wings and their mode of connection.
1 in the drawings represents the base of my improved engine, 2 the cylindrical
casing, 3 the rotary piston, 4, 4 the sliding wings or blades, and 5 the valve disk.
Said casing 2 is cylindrical in formation and is rigidly secured upon the upper
concaved side of the base 1. This casing is provided, upon its upper side, with a valve
casing 6 suitably secured thereto, the interior of said casing 2 is formed with an
enlargement 7 adapted to fill a portion of the space between the interior of said casing
and the periphery of the piston. Inlet passages 8 and 9 respectively, are formed in
the casing 2 and this enlargement 7, so as to discharge at the opposite inclined ends 10
of the latter. These passages 8 and 9 open into the steam chest 6 and are adapted to
be alternately uncovered by the rotary disk valve 5, which latter is provided with a
vertical spindle 11 which passes upward through a suitable packing gland at the top
of the steam chest, and is provided at its outer end with a laterally projecting arm 12.
This arm 12 is connected to a pivoted lever 13 mounted upon the casing 2 by means
of a pivoted plate 14; said lever being adapted to travel over a segmental rack 15,
also secured to the casing 2. Said lever is provided with a spring pressed pawl 16,
adapted to engage said rack and hold the lever in any of its adjusted positions; the
pawl 16 being operated by a pivoted finger lever 17 and a connecting link 18.
It will be observed from the foregoing description, that by moving the lever 13 back
and forth the disk valve 5 will be oscillated so as to bring either one or the other of
the ports located therein in alignment with the ports of the passages 8 and 9. By
this means the steam is thrown from the steam chest into either of the
passages 8 and 9 and the engine may thus be instantly reversed when so desired.
An exhaust pipe 19 is connected to an exhaust passage 20 formed through the base 1
and opening into the lower portion of the cylindrical casing 2. The piston 3 is

page_text: mounted concentrically within the casing 2 and is provided with diametrically
arranged slots or passages 21 in which the sliding wings or blades 4 are mounted.
Each of these wings or blades is of greater length than the diameter of the piston so
that one end of the same must always project from the periphery of said piston. In
order to relieve the excessive friction that may occur between the outer ends of said
wings and the inner wall of the casing 2 and the enlargement 7, I provide said ends
with anti-friction rollers 22 suitably set in sockets formed in said ends. I also provide
said ends with packing strips 23 so that steam tight joints are formed between them
and the interior wall of the casing. One of said wings 4 is provided, at its middle
with a slot 24 through which the reduced portion 25 of the opposite wing passes.
By this construction said wings may slide by one another without in any wise
interfering.
4
It will be observed from the foregoing description that as the piston 3 rotates the
projecting end of the wing upon one side will strike one of the inclined ends of the
enlargement 7 and will thus force the wing through the piston so as to project its
opposite end. By this means the projecting end of the wing is forced into the piston
shortly after it has passed the exhaust and again forced out into the path of the live
steam after it has passed the inlet. This is the case, no matter in which direction
the engine is moving, as the incline 10, 10 engage said projecting ends and positively
force them into the piston with the consequence that the opposite ends are projected
upon the opposite sides of the piston. Said piston 3 is mounted upon a suitable
shaft 26 which is journaled in brackets 27, mounted upon the casing 2. One end of
said shaft is provided with a balance wheel 28 and on the opposite end is mounted a
belt wheel 29 by means of which the power of my improved engine is communicated
to any machinery desired.
By the peculiar construction of my engine the same may be instantly reversed
when so desired and will run equally well in either direction. The construction and
operation of the several parts are very simple and cheap and the absence of all
springs in my improved construction renders the engine less liable to injury and
displacement. The operation of the respective wings or blades is positive, but at
the same time attended with but very little friction, as the anti-friction balls located
at the respective opposite ends of said wings reduces the friction to a minimum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. The combination with a containing casing, of a rotary piston mounted therein
and sliding wings extending diametrically through said piston and adapted to be
alternately projected upon opposite sides of said piston, substantially as described.
2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a suitable containing casing, of a
rotary piston mounted therein, sliding wings extending diametrically through said 4
piston and adapted to be projected alternately on opposite sides of the same, and a
valve for throwing the steam into the casing either in one or the other direction,
whereby the engine may be reversed at will, substantially as described.
+
3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a suitable casing, of a rotary piston
mounted therein, sliding wings extending diametrically through said piston and 4
adapted to be projected alternately upon opposite sides of the same, and anti-friction
devices mounted on the outer ends of said wings, substantially as described.
4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a suitable containing casing having an
enlargement formed about a portion of its interior surface, of a rotary piston mounted
in said casing, and sliding wings extending diametrically through said piston and 5
adapted to be projected alternately upon opposite sides of the same by engagement
with the enlargement, substantially as described.
5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a suitable containing casing having an
enlargement extending about a portion of its interior, of a rotary piston mounted in
said casing, wings extending diametrically through said piston and adapted to be 5
alternately projected upon opposite sides of the same by engagement with said

page_text: enlargement, and a valve for throwing the steam to the opposite ends of said
enlargement at will to reverse the engine, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a suitable containing casing having an enlargement
extending about a portion of its interior, a rotary piston mounted in said casing,
sliding wings extending diametrically through said piston so as to be alternately
projected upon opposite sides of the same by engagement with said enlargement,
anti-friction rollers mounted on the opposite ends of said wings, an exhaust pipe
opening into the lower portion of said casing, and a valve for throwing the steam to
either one or the other end of said enlargement for reversing the engine at will,
substantially as described.
Dated this 10tL 1
T
1000
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.