Improvements in Blowers, Pumps, Engines, and Meters.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left. 24th Dec., 1888-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Blowers, Pumps, Engines, and Meters.
I, HENRY SKINNER, of 43 Singlewell Road, Gravesend, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
--
According to this invention I form a pump or blower or engine or the measuring
mechanism for a meter of a cylinder closed by a cover at each end and having within
an inner cylinder carried by an axis which passes through one or both of the end
covers the inner cylinder being eccentric to the outer cylinder and meeting it or
approximately so at one point of its circumference.
To the periphery of this inner cylinder two or more flaps or curved blades are.
hinged or jointed by joints which are parallel with the cylinders axis. The flaps or
curved blades can either lie closely against the circumference of the inner cylinder
or be turned outwards therefrom so that their outer ends come against or in close
proximity to the interior of the outer cylinder.
Inlet and outlet passages are formed to the outer cylinder one on one side of where
the inner cylinder is nearest to the outer cylinder and the other on the opposite side.
And I place the ports at such a distanco apart that the distance between them exceeds
the distance between the outer extremities of the flaps so that the outer end of one
flap is always resting against the portion of the outer cylinder which is between the
ports and there is no necessity for the inner cylinder to fit closely to the outer cylinder
at one part of its circumference.
The other ends of the two ports I make to terminate at such a distance from one
another that one flap passes the end of the inlet port and commences to make its
effective stroke just before tho other comes over the outlet port. There is thus always
one flap fully acting and equal power or very approximately so is required
throughout a revolution to turn the inner cylinder.
To keep the outer ends of the flaps or curved blades in close proximity to the inner
circumference of the outer cylinder I in some cases joint their outer ends to curved
segments which work in concentric grooves formed in the end covers.
The curved segments may be narrow segments or they may extend from the inner
circumference of the outer cylinder nearly to its centre.
In place of the outer ends of the flaps being jointed to curved segments which
lie in grooves in the end covers they may be jointed to a bar which passes from a
groove in one end cover to a groove in the opposite end cover in close contiguity with
the inner circumference of the outer cylinder.
Or two flaps or two or more pairs of flaps may be carried by the inner cylinder and
one flap as it is carried round to where the inner and outer cylinders meet and where
it is consequently turned inwards is caused to push the opposite flap outwards and
away from the inner cylinder. This may be done by means of a rod passing centrally
through this cylinder from the one to the other.
... 2011 1
TI
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Blowers, Pumps, Engines, and Meters.
I, HENRY SKINNER of 43 Singlewell Road, Gravesend, in the County of Kent,
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 :-
According to this invention I form a pump or blower or engine or the measuring
mechanism for a meter of a cylinder closed by a cover at each end and having

page_text: within it an inner cylinder, coupled to an axis, which passes through one or both
of the end covers the inner cylinder being eccentric to the outer cylinder and
meeting it or approximately so at one point of its circumference. The way in
which prefer to carry the inner cylinder and to couple it to its driving axis is
hereinafter fully explained.
To the periphery of this inner cylinder two or more flaps or curved blades are
hinged or jointed by joints which are parallel with the cylinder's axis. The flaps
or curved blades can either lie closely against the circumference of the inner
cylinder or be turned outwards, therefrom so that, their outer ends may at all times
come against or be in close proximity to the interior of the outer cylinder.
Inlet and outlet passages are formed to the outer cylinder one on one side of
where the inner cylinder is nearest to the outer cylinder and the other on the
opposite side. I place the ports at such a distance apart that the outer end of
one flap is always resting against the portion of the outer cylinder which is between
the ports and there is no necessity for the inner cylinder to fit closely to the outer
cylinder at one part of its circumference.
The other ends of the two ports I make to terminate at such a distance from
one another that one flap passes the end of the inlet port and commences to make
its effective stroke just before the other comes over the outlet port. There is thus
always one flap fully acting and equal power or very approximately so is required
throughout a revolution to turn the inner cylinder.
To keep the outer ends of the flaps or curved blades in close proximity to the
inner circumference of the outer cylinder I in some cases joint their outer ends to
curved segments which work in concentric grooves formed in the end covers.
The curved segments may be narrow segments or they may extend from the inner
circumference of the outer-cylinder nearly to its centre. Or one may extend to the
centre and the others be formed as blocks which can slide somewhat over its circum-
ference to allow for the slight movement of the outer ends of the flaps towards or away
from one another as the flaps turn on their hinge joints. Or the construction may be
reversed and the onter ends of the flaps be jointed to pins projecting from a disc which
is concentric with the outer casing whilst the inner ends of the flaps in place of being
jointed to one inner cylinder are jointed to separate cylinders ranged side by side on
the same axis to allow the inner ends of the flaps to move somewhat towards or away
from one another.
In place of the outer ends of the flaps being jointed to curved segments which lie
in grooves in the end covers as herein before mentioned they may be jointed to a bar
which passes from a groove in one end cover to a groove in the opposite end cover
in close contiguity with the inner circumference of the outer cylinder forming as it
were a slipper at the end of the flap to make a tight joint between it and the inner
circumference of the outer cylinder. Similarly a slipper piece can be used at the
ends of the flaps when the movement of the flaps is controlled by segments or discs as
previously explained.
My improvements are shown in the drawings hereunto annexed. Figures 1 and 2
are transverse sections and Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a pump or blower or
motive engine constructed in the manner I prefer.
The section Figure 3 is taken through the line A B Figure 1.
The transverse sections Figures 1 and 2 shew the parts in two different positions.
In these figures A is the outer cylindrical casing. B is the inner cylinder. CC
are the inlet and outlet ports respectively. D D D are three flaps jointed to the
circumference of the inner cylinder. The inner cylinder B is mounted on a tubular
bush E which extends inwards from one end of the inner casing. F is the shaft by
which the inner cylinder is to be driven, if the apparatus is to be used as a pump; or
which is to be driven by the inner cylinder if the apparatus is to be used as an engine
for obtaining motive power.
The shaft F passes through the tubular bush E its outer end has a driving wheel fixed
upon it whilst the end within the casing carries a disc G, a crank pin projects from
this disc and enters a hole in the end of the inner cylinder.

page_text: It is advantageous to mount the inner cylinder upon a tubular bush fixed to one end
of the outer casing as above described, as the cylinder is kept in its proper position
parallel with the axis of the outer cylinder quite independently of the shaft that drives
it and as the bush affords a large bearing surface not liable to become worn, the flaps
carried by the cylinder can readily be kept in their proper working position and a tight
joint be maintained between their outer ends and the inner circumference of the
outer casing.
The way in which I prefer to joint the flaps to the inner cylinder is clearly shewn
in Figures 1 and 2.
There is a cylindrical enlargement at the end of the flap and this enlargement is
slidden endwise into a correspondingly formed groove made in the circumference of the
cylinder parallel with the axle.
J, J, J, are the segment pieces, a pin J¹ projects from each and enters a hole formned
in a flap near its outer end."
The inner circumference of each segment rests against a pin K. fixed to the end
cover of the outer casing. There is a recess in this end cover around the pin, into
which a projection on each segment extends so that a more extended bearing surface
for the segments is obtained. The extension of each projection also fits to the
circumference of the recess so that the segments are restrained from moving outwards
away from the centre. Each segment may be recessed at the back to allow of fluid
getting between them and the cylinder cover to counterbalance as nearly as may be
the pressure upon their faces. L is a cup, washer by which a tight joint is obtained
around the axis F. When the apparatus is used as a blower the axis F is driven
preferably in the direction shewn by the arrow in Figure 1. The pressure of the fluid
then tends to turn the flaps inwards towards the centre but they are held out close
up to the inner circumference of the outer casing by the segments. The inward
thrust of the segments is taken by the pin K which being at the centre and being of
comparatively small diameter there is but little friction to impede the rotation of the
segments.
As before stated it is not essential that each of the segments should be made to
extend to and take a bearing upon the pin K one of them may be formed as a disc
capable of revolving around the pin, and the others may simply be curved blocks
resting upon the circumference of this disc and capable of a certain amount of to and
fro movement over this circumference whilst at the same time they revolve with it.
A back view of such a disc and sliding blocks is shewn at Figure 4.
One of the pins J¹ which pass into the flaps is as shown fixed to the disc the other
pins Jare carried by two blocks X which can play to and fro in slots cut out from
the circumference of the disc. Z is a boss standing out from the centre of the disc to
enter the recess in the end cover of the outer casing.
As above stated the outer ends of the flaps may in place of being jointed to segments
be jointed to bars which are kept in close contact with the inner circumference of the
outer cylinder and form slipper pieces at the ends of the flaps to ensure tight joints.
Figure 5 is a cross section of an engine suitable for being used as a motor engine
formed in this manner with slipper pieces N at the ends of the flaps the ends of the
slipper pieces are made to extend into grooves formed concentrically around the end
covers of the outer casing.
The engine is shewn to be provided with four flaps in place of with three as in the
construction shewn at Figures 1 and 2.
A recess P is sometimes formed at the back of the slipper pieces of such a length
as to nearly counterbalance the outward pressure of steam or other gas on the blades.
In the case of a steam or compressed air engine the steam or air can be cut off at
any required point of the stroke by shortening the inlet port Q.
At Figures 6 and 7 I have shewn how slipper pieces for obtaining tight joints may
be applied to the ends of the flaps when the flaps are controlled by segments as herein-
before described.
It is obvious that in place of employing segments as hereinbefore described to hold
the outer ends of the flaps in close proximity to the inner circumference of the casing

page_text: the outer ends of the flaps might if two flaps only are used be jointed to two discs one
at either end of the onter casing and capable of revolving concentrically within it.
It is also obvious that in place of the inner ends of the flaps being coupled to the
driven or driving shaft and the outer ends being employed to make tight contact
with the surface against which they revolve the functions of the two might be inter-
changed and the outer ends of the flaps might be coupled to the shaft while the inner
ends make tight contact with the external circumference of the internal cylinder.
Such an interchange of functions of the corresponding parts of the machine would not
be in any way-a-departure from my invention. In such case suitable-provision.inust.
be made for allowing the inner ends of the flaps to move somewhat around the axis of
the inner cylinder towards and away from one another in a similar manner to that in
which the outer ends of the flaps in the forms hereinabove described have been free to
make such movement.
At Figures 8 and 9 I have shewn transverse and longitudinal sections of apparatus
constructed in this manner. I have shewn the apparatus as being formed with two
flaps but the same construction may be used in apparatus formed with three or more
flaps.
In these figures A is the outer cylinder CC¹the inlet and outlet ports in the outer
cylinder. DD are two flaps jointed at one end to cylinders or discs B set side by side
on a fixed axis F which in this case forms the inner cylinder and at the other end jointed
to pins J which project from a disc J. This disc is fixed upon a shaft K which passes
out through one of the end covers of the outer casing.and which can be driven if the
apparatus is to be used as a pump.
NN are slipper pieces fitting to the exterior of the outer ends of the flaps.
The joints between the flaps and the cylinders.or discs Beach extend from_one_side
of the outer cylinder to the other so as to make a tight joint. Each cylinder or dise
is for this purpose formed with an arm extending sidewise from it where the joint is
formed as shewn in the separate view of one of these cylinders or discs at Figure 10.
With the above construction the inlet and outlet ports might if preferred be formed
on opposite sides of the fixed axis on which the two cylinders B turn the axis being
made hollow and divided longitudinally to divide it into two passages one for an inlet
the other for an outlet, ports also being formed through the sides of the cylinders B.
With this construction the outer ends of the flaps might be jointed to the inner
circumference of the outer casing and the whole of this casing might then be made to
revolve.
The application of what I have called slipper pieces to the outer ends of the flaps of
apparatus constructed as hereinbefore described, so as to give an extended surface
where the outer end of the flap fits to the inner circumference of the outer cylinder is
applicable not only to these apparatus but also to other forms of rotary pumps, blowers
engines or meters in which sliding flaps are used.
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 I
claim is
1. A pump or blower or engine or the measuring mechanism of a meter consisting
of two parallel cylinders one within and eccentric to the other the inner one having
flaps jointed to its circumference and the outer ends of the flaps being maintained
always in close proximity to the inner surface of the outer cylinder-the outer
cylinder being also provided with inlet and outlet ports so disposed that the outer
end of one or other of the flaps is always against the outer cylinder between the
ports substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. An arrangement converse to that described and claimed in the first claim
in which the functions of the various parts are interchanged in the manner herein-
before described.
3. Constructing a pump, blower, engine or meter substantially in the manner herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

page_text: 4. Constructing a pump, blower, engine or meter substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figure 5.
5. Constructing a pump, blower, engine or meter substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 8 and 9.
6. Mounting the inner cylinder of such pumps blowers, engines or meters, on a
hollow stud fixed to one end of the outer cylinder substantially as herein described.
7. Jointing the flaps in such pumps, engines blowers or meters to the inner
cylinder substantially in the manner illustrated in the drawings annexed.
8. Taking the inward thrust of the flaps in such pumps, engines, blowers or meters
upon a pin at the centre of the end of the outer cylinder.
9. The means substantially as herein before described for keeping the flaps in such
pumps engines blowers or meters up to the inner surface of the outer cylinder.
10. Jointing bearing blocks or "slippers" to the outer ends of the flaps or slides of
the inner revolving cylinders of rotary pumps, blowers, engines or meters.
Dated this 24th day of December 1888.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.