AN IMPROVED ROTARY STEAM ENGINE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firin of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED ROTARY STEAM ENGINE." A communication from abroad
by Mathieu Antoine Théodore Averseng, of Paris, France.
led the 7th December 1877, and dated the 22nd June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED ROTARY STEAM ENGINE. [A
communication from abroad by Mathieu Antoine Théodore Averseng, of Paris,
France.]
丫
This Invention relates-to a novel steam engine, acting by centrifugal force, and
which I call a "steam turbine," because the manner in which the steam operates
therein is similar to the manner in which water acts in turbines.
The said engine is constructed with a series of casings or coverings, placed one
behind the other, within each of which is a wheel provided with paddles or vanes
keyed upon a driving shaft."
The said engine is provided with a steam jacket, and the steam which enters
through a tube provided for the purpose fills, at first, the space comprised between
the said steam jacket and the said casings. The steam jacket, which is well known
and used in ordinary engines, is also employed in my said improved engine, but it
may be dispensed with if desired.
In my said engine the steam coming from the boiler, or from a space provided
within the steam jacket, enters a short pipe and passes therefrom into the interior
of one of the casings through an orifice provided for the purpose. The steam there-
fore acts immediately on the paddles or vanes of the wheel, and notwithstanding the
centrifugal force (apparent force) arrives at the interior circumference of the
apparatus. The steam then escapes from this casing, and enters the next one
through another pipe, similar to the one herein-before described, then it acts upon
the wheel within this casing as it acted upon the first one, escapes from the casing,
and enters the next one, and traverses in a similar manner successively all the
casings, actuating in its passage all the revolving apparatus contained therein.

page_text: When the steam has produced its effect upon the last one of the said wheels, it
escapes by a pipe into a condenser, or into the atmosphere if the engine has no con-
denser. It will be seen that in my said engine the steam acts successively upon a
series of revolving apparatus, the first of which is subjected to the full pressure and
the last is open to the exhaust.
In each of these partial actions the pressure of the steam is lowered to the
advantage of the revolving apparatus, which has imparted to it the active force
which the steam loses.
In each apparatus the steam passes from the circumference to the centre; calcu-
lation has proved that in my said engine this direction of movement is the most
advantageous. The fluid may be caused to circulate from the interior circumference
to the exterior circumference, as in the well-known "Fourneyron" turbine. I do
not confine myself to either one of the above-described arrangements, altho' I prefer
to have the steam enter at the circumference of the wheels.
An important feature in the construction of this engine is the absence of packing
between the revolving apparatus and their casings, otherwise it would not be
entirely centrifugal, and it would partly resemble other engines or machines already
known.
The number of revolving parts to be employed will depend upon various circum-
stances, as, for instance, first, the value of the full pressure and of the pressure at the
exhaust. Secondly, the speed of rotation of the driving shaft. It is evident, for
example, that all things being equal the introduction of the condenser necessitates
an increased number of such parts, and the acceleration of the speed of rotation
allows a diminution of their number.
The driving shaft may have any desirable number of parts for the transmission of
the motive power, such as pulleys, gear wheels, friction cylinders, or cones; it may
also operate upon the accessory appliances with which this engine might be
furnished, such as an air pump, a cold water pump, a feed pump regulator, or the
like.
The orifices through which the steam enters the casings may be in the same engine
of greater or less dimensions, and arranged in such a manner as to cause the power
to vary according to the work required to be performed. The apparatus producing
this result may be operated by hand or automatically.
The casings enclosing the revolving apparatus, as well as the steam jacket, may
be provided with outlet cocks. Condensation will certainly be produced within the
enclosed spaces traversed by the steam, even if only during stoppages, which will
render these cocks necessary..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
December 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. AN IMPROVED ROTARY STEAM ENGINE." A
communication from abroad by Mathieu Antoine Théodore Averseng, of Paris,
France.
This Invention relates to a novel steam engine acting by centrifugal force, and
which according to its form I call either a cylindrical steam turbine, or a conical
steam turbine, because the manner in which the steam operates therein is similar to
the manner in which water acts in other turbines.
In order that the said Invention may be clearly understood I have shewn in the
accompanying Drawing two examples thereof.
Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal and transverse sections of a cylindrical steain
turbine Figure 3 is a plan of the same drawn to a reduced scale.
Figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal and transverse sections of a conical steam
turbine.
The following description refers more particularly to the said cylindrical steam
turbine, but it will be seen that this description is also applicable to the said conical
steam turbine.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the said engine is constructed with a series of
casings or coverings A, B, C, D, placed one behind the other, within each of which
is a wheel shewn at A, B, C¹, provided with paddles or vanes keyed upon a
driving shaft. The Drawing shews the said engine provided with a steam jacket R, S,
and the steam which enters through a tube M provided for the purpose fills first
the space between the said steam jacket, and the said casings A, B, C. The steam
jacket, which is well known to be very advantageous in ordinary steam engines, is
equally so in my improved engine, but it may be dispensed with if desired without
changing essentially the action of the said engine, which is as follows, that is to
sayThe steam coming from the boiler or from a space provided within the steam
jacket enters a short pipe or passage V, and passes therefrom into the interior of
the casing A through an orifice, occupying a position analogous to that of the
orifice q in Figure 2. The steam therefore acts immediately on the paddles or vanes
of the wheel A, and notwithstanding the centrifugal force (apparent force) arrives
at the interior circumference of the said apparatus; the steam then escapes from
this casing A, and enters the next one through another pipe similar to the pipe U
in Figure 2, then it acts upon the wheel B₁ as it acted upon the wheel A¹, escapes
from the casing B, enters the next one C, and traverses in a similar manner
successively all the casings, actuating in its passage all the revolving parts contained
therein.
When the steam has produced its effect upon the last one of the said wheels or
turning parts it escapes by a pipe N into a condenser, or into the atmosphere if the
engine has no condenser. It will therefore be seen that in this engine the
steam acts successively upon each of a series of revolving parts, the first of which is
subjected to the full pressure, and the last is open to the exhaust.
In each part of its action the pressure of the steam is diminished to the advantage
of the revolving apparatus, which has imparted to it the active force which the
steam loses. The pressure of steam being diminished as it passes over the
successive relative parts of the engine, and its volume being consequently increased
I prefer to employ revolving parts of different diameters, that is to say, increasing
in size from the first that the steam acts upon to the last of the series in such
a manner as to compensate by an increase of the effect or resistance of the
centrifugal force for the diminution of pressure, which the diminished density of the
fluid tends to produce. I can thus obtain equal pressures for all parts of my

page_text: apparatus, and can consequently diminish greatly their number, and I can effect
an arrangement similar to that shewn in Figures 4 and 5, in which the steam passes
in the same direction, and acts in the same manner as above described.
The progressive enlargement of the diameters of the rotating parts of the said
apparatus may be such as to compensate either entirely or partially for the extension
or widening of the said parts in the direction of their axis of rotation, as herein-
before specified.
In some cases it may be desirable that this widening should not exist, or should
be negative, that is to say, made in a contrary direction, if the enlargement of the
diameters of the said rotating parts is sufficient.
Having demonstrated by calculation that the circulation of the steam from the
centre to the circumference of the rotating parts of the said engine or apparatus is
not advantageous, I wish it understood that my Invention relates, only to centrifugal
steam engines in which the steam circulates in each part of the apparatus in the
other direction, that is to say, from the circumference to the centre.
The direction and actual velocity of the steam entering to the turning parts of
the said apparatus may cause a shock to the first part of the vane wheel; in other
words, it is possible that in the said engine or apparatus the absolute velocity of the
entering steam may not be the resultant of the circumferential speed, and of the
speed of circulation along the said vane wheel. I do not however seek to avoid this
effect, but, on the contrary, desire that it should exist, as although with a non-
elastic fluid such. a shock would cause a loss of force, that is to say, a diminished
useful result in working, this is not the case with an elastic fluid, in fact the shock
will be converted by the transformation of a certain quantity of the visible energy
of the fluid into invisible energy or heat.
In a hydraulic engine or machine the elevation of the temperature of the water
imparting a shock to a vane or paddle could not be practically utilized any more
than that resulting from the swelling and eddying or whirling of the mass of fluid,
if any exist; it is therefore highly necessary to avoid the production of these shocks,
swells, or eddies, but in an engine wherein an elastic fluid is used the elevation of
temperature resulting from such circumstances causes necessarily an augmentation
of pressure or of volume, and consequently may contribute to the useful effect; but
on the other hand in providing for the production of a shock upon the first part of
the vane wheel, other things being equal, the velocity of the engine's rotation will
be diminished, and for this reason I seek the production of this shock. The steam
therefore will act upon each of the rotating parts of the apparatus, first by a shock,
and then by the difference of pressure upon the two faces of each compartment, if
its absolute movement is considered in pushing an imaginary piston, which is the
centrifugal force if the relative or apparent movement of this steam is considered.
An important feature in the construction of this engine is the absence of packing
between the revolving apparatus and their casings, otherwise they would not be
completely centrifugal, and they would somewhat resemble the so called rotary
engines of which there are so many existing varieties.
The number of revolving parts of the said engine to be employed will depend
upon various circumstances; for instance, first, the value of the full pressure, and of
the pressure at the.point of exhaust; secondly, the speed of rotation of the driving
shaft. It is evident, for example, that all things being equal the introduction of
the condenser necessitates an increased number of such parts, and the acceleration
of the speed of rotation allows a diminution of their number.
The driving shaft may have any desirable number of parts for the transmission of
the motive power, such as pulleys, gear wheels, friction cylinders, or cones; it may
also operate upon the accessory appliances with which this engine might be
furnished, such as an air pump, or cold water pump, a feed pump, regulator, or
the like.
The orifices m, n, o, p, q, s, through which the steam enters the casings may be
in the saine engine of greater or less dimensions, and arranged in such a manner. as

page_text: to cause the power to vary according to the work required to be performed. The
apparatus producing this result may be operated by hand or automatically.
The casings enclosing the revolving apparatus, as well as the steam jacket may be
provided with outlet or discharge cocks. Condensation will certainly be produced
within the enclosed spaces traversed by the steam, even if only during stoppages,
which will render these cocks necessary.
In some instances I may construct these improved engines sufficiently small to be
contained in the steam dome or chamber of a steam boiler or generator.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of perforining the same, I wish it understood
that these improved engines are applicable or adapted for use in workshops or
factories for locomotive or marine purposes, and for all branches of manufacture; and
I claim,
A steam engine provided with a number or series of vane wheels secured
separately upon the same shaft, or upon a number of shafts coupled together
consecutively, and turning each one as a single piece, and without packing in a
casing or chamber, into which the steam enters in acting upon the vanes from the
circumference to the centre, as above set forth.
Also the construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying
Drawing, or such portions thereof, or such modifications of the number and form of
the vane wheels or other parts of the engine as may be useful or advantageous for
carrying the said Invention into practise, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)