Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
ANDREW NICOL PORTEOUS 1 Viewforth, Edinburgh Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The
My invention relates to improvements in rotary engines and consists of two set
of pistons which revolve upon the same centré line they have also a differential
motion towards each other as they revolve, if preferred the cylinders may take the
place of one set of pistons in this case the pistons will have a reciprocating motion
within the cylinders as they revolve together, the cylinders may be made in the
usual form or they may be annular or spherical, when the cylinders revolve
circular pistons are fitted therein and kept steam tight in the usual manner.
shafts, of the pistons pass through a stuffing box one shaft within the other and on
the end of each an arm or disc is fitted with a blade attached to it by a pivot or
journal. The driving shaft. of the engine is placed with its shaft and centre line
excentric. to the centre or central line of the cylinders and pistons and upon the
end of this shaft a large head is formed with a slot cut accross its face and the
aforesaid blades are fitted into this slot to slide.
As the pistons revolve round their central line the shaft will also revolve and
the blades will have a vibrating motion upon their pivots and a sliding motion
within the slot the pistons having a corresponding motion as they revolve. The
-blades. & slot being outside the steam space may be enclosed in a chamber
containing oil, steam & exhaust passages may pass round a fixed valve. Compressed
air or other motive force may also be used in this engine.
00-1
1001
A. N. PORTEOUS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
I, ANDREW NICOL PORTEOUS, of 1 Viewforth Edinburgh, 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 improvements in rotary engines and consists of two set
of pistons which revolve upon the same centre line, they have also a differential
motion to each.other as they revolve; if preferred the cylinders may take the place
of one set of pistons, in this case the pistons will have a reciprocating motion
within the cylinders as they revolve together, the cylinders may be made in the
usual form, or they may be annular or spherical, when the cylinders revolve,
The
circular pistons are fitted therein, and kept steam tight in the usual manner.
shafts of the pistons pass through a stuffing box, one shaft within the other, and
on the end of each, an arm or disc is fitted with a blade attached to it, by a pivot
or journal. The driving shaft of the engine is placed with its centre line, eccentric
to the centre or central line of the pistons, and cylinders, and upon the end of this
shaft a large head is formed with a slot cut across its face and the aforesaid. blades
are fitted into this slot to slide.
As the pistous revolve round their central line, the shafts will also revolve, and
the blades will have a vibrating,,motion upon their pivot, and a sliding motion in
the slot, the pistons having a corresponding motion as they revolve. The blades
and slot being outside, the steam space may be enclosed in a chamber 'containing

page_text: :
"
oil. Steam and exhaust passages may pass round a fixed valve. Compressed air
or other motive force may also be used in this engine.
But in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect, I will proceed to. describe a few modifications of same with
reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which the same reference
figures denote similar parts.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 which are. respectively a longitudinal section, and
. a cross section on line X, Y, of a rotary engine, having a cylinder and a pair of
pistons. A is the driving shaft, which is formed at its one end, with a hub B which
has a slot b, cut in it so as to permit of two blades C and D, working therein as
well as against each other; each of the said blades C and D, are provided with
driving pins E and F, which work in journals G and H formed in a crank which
forms the end of each of the piston shafts J and K, which are secured to the
pistons Land M, in such a manner as to revolve with them, as well as to reciprocate
to and from each other. The said pistons L and M work in a cylinder P, and are
kept steam tight by the pads and m, and springs land m', shown more particularly
in Figure 2. On the outside of the cylinder's end cover p is formed a valve seat pl
in which works a revolving valve R; the said valve being driven by means of an
arm S, attached to the end of shaft K; the said valve regulating the supply of
steam from the inlet pipe T, through the supply port U, which is uncovered as the
pistons L and M pass it, the exhaust steam escaping through the port V. The
whole of the said parts are enclosed in a suitable casing which is formed with oil
chamber W, in which the hub B, blades C and D, pins E and F, and cranks G
and H, revolve so as to ensure smooth working.
The modification shown in Figure 3 in longitudinal section and in detail Figures 4
and 5, consists of forming the piston M as a circular piston which is so mounted, as
to work laterly in socket formed in the end of shaft K, by means of a sliding
square or flat rod and nut m².
The said circular pistón M is also formed as a nut, so as to work upon a screw L'
formed on the end of the shaft J, and which takes the place of. the piston L. As
the piston M revolves it has a reciprocating motion, and in one half revolution
goes faster than the screw L', and in the next half revolution slower, this revolving
differential motion is thus converted into a reciprocating notion upon which the
steam acts by means of the. piston M.acting as its own valve by uncovering the
.ports U and V in its motion.
Figure 4 is an elevation and Figure 5 a cross section of a modification of
connecting the piston M, to the screw L' by means of suitably shaped friction
"rollers 1.
The modification shown in Figure 6, in longitudinal section consists in forming
the cylinder as a revolving cylinder and securing it to the piston L, and shaft J,
so as to obtain its revolving motion. The piston M on shaft K has a differential
**motion in the said cylinder P, as they revolve together. To the end cover p which
has the steam ports U and V formed in it, is fitted a revolving valve box X, which
works in a suitable journal a, and so forms a supporting journal to the cylinder P;
inside the said box I mount the revolving valve R, which in this case is driven by
arod or projection Y, fitted into the side of the box X. The centre of the said
valve R works in a journal s placed eccentric to the centre line of the cylinder P
so as to cause the valve R to have a sliding motion upon the revolving valve seat,
and, so uncover the steam ports U and V, the latter of which exhausts into the oil
chamber W, and thence to any convenient exit; the steam supply pipe T is
formed in the fixed shaft Z, upon the internal end of which the valves journal & is
formed.
г.
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:-
f.
1st. The differential motion obtained by the mechanical parts connecting a

page_text: driving shaft to two revolving pistons which are placed eccentric to it, and
consisting of two blades sliding upon each other and also sliding in a slot in a hub
formed on one end of the driving shaft and each of them carried upon a pin and
journal which is placed on the end of an arm forming part of each piston and
vibrating upon this pin and journal as all the parts revolve together, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The enclosing of this mechanical motion within a chamber containing oil
placed outside of steam cylinder and the general arrangement of cylinders and
pistons connected to it to form a motive power engine, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of October 1891
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.