Year: 1888

page_text: 1, JAMES NEWLANDS MILLER, residing at Broomlea, Joppa, in the County of
Midlothian, and of no occupation, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
It consists of a method for controlling the movements and the position of the Piston
by a cam or a Roller on an Oscillating Lever, along with a cylindrical Collar with a
suitable Notch or depression in it, and also a Double-acting Cog.
The Oscillating Lever interlocks the Piston and is attached to one of the ends of a
cylindrical Barrel having Flanges, or to one of those Flanges. The Cain or the Roller
on that Lever projects towards the adjacent end of the Cylinder. The cylindrical
Collar projects inwards, is fixed to the inner face of the adjoining end of the Cylinder,
and is concentric with it. The Double-acting Cog is also fixed to it in suitable
juxtaposition to the Notch in the Collar.
The Flanges of the Cylindrical Barrel; which is fixed concentrically to a revolving
Shaft, are circular, are in contact with the concave surface of the Cylinder, and
have each a groove in its inner side. The space between them may be termed the
Steam Channel. The cylindrical Barrel has a Slot in it. In that Slot and in those
Grooves the Piston moves radially both outwards and inwards. The outer surface of
the Piston has a convexity corresponding to the concavity of the Cylinder.
A Steam-Block is, through an aperture in the side of the Cylinder, inserted into
the Steam Channel. It bears on its bottom and on its sides. It is fixed to the
Cylinder. At either side of it Steam may be admitted into, and escape from, the
Steam Channel.
The Cam or the Roller on the Oscillating Lever-by bearing on the convex
surface of the cylindrical Collar--compels the Piston, while Steam is urging it, to
remain in contact with the concave surface of the Cylinder. By pressing against
either side of the Double-acting Cog, when the Piston has approached sufficiently
ለ'

page_text: near to the Steam-Block-it also compels the Piston to move inwards, to clear the
Steam-Block, and to allow the Steam to escape. It moreover-by pressing on either
side of the Notch in the cylindrical Collar-compels the Piston, after having cleared
the Steam-Block, to move outwards into contact with the Cylinder.
The Engine may have wore Pistons than one, with the requisite mechanism
for them.
It may, by any suitable mechanism, be made to work expansively and to reverse.
Corresponding mechanism may be fitted, at corresponding positions, on the other
ends of the Cylindrical Barrel and of the Cylinder respectively.
Suitable Packing may be applied, if any be, and wherever it may be, required.
The engine may be propelled by Steam, by Water, or by Gas.

page_text: Improvements in Rotary Engines.
I, JAMES NEWLANDS MILLER, residing at Broomlea, Joppa, in the County of
Midlothian, and of no occupation 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 :-
It consists of a method, which is illustrated by the accompanying figure, of
controlling the movements and position of the Piston, (represented by O'0',) by
means of a Pin or Cam, represented by Q, (or a Roller instead of it) on an Oscillating
Lever, represented by L M of a Cylindrical Collar, represented by HIJK, of the
sides of a suitable Notch, Depression, or Indentation, represented by U, in that
Collar, and of a suitable double-acting Cog represented by T.
The Oscillating Lover interlocks the Piston. It may do so, as represented in the
figure, through enclosing in a Slot in it a l'in, represented by R, which projects from
the shoulder of the Piston. Or, it may otherwise interlock it. The Oscillating Lever
is connected, by an axle represented by P, with a Cylindrical Barrel or Cylindrical
Frame represented by DE F, having at each of its ends a Flange represented
by ADEBCF, or with one of those Flanges. The peripheries of those Flanges
are circular, and are in contact with the concave surface, represented by A B C, of
the Cylinder. The space between those Flanges may be termed the Steam Channel.
The Cylindrical Barrel or Cylindrical Frame D E F is rigidly fixed to the driving or
revolving Shaft, represented by G, with which and with the Cylinder and the
Cylindrical Collar it is concentric.
The Pin or Cam Q on the Oscillating Lever L M projects outwards towards the
adjacent end of the cylinder. The Roller, if employed instead of it, would encircle
a cylindrical Pin projecting similarly with the Pin or Cam from that Lever. The Pin
or Cam Q, or the Roller instead of it, would consequently move along with that Lever
when it moves.
The Cylindrical Collar H I J K and the double-acting Cog T, which is in suitable
juxtaposition to it, are fixed in suitable positions to allow the Pin or Cam Qor the
Roller instead of it each of which is sufficiently long for that purpose-to bear or
press on them. This may be done by fixing them rigidly to the inner side of that end
of the Cylinder which adjoins the Oscillating Lever. They both project inwards, but
not so far as to press either on the Cylindrical Barrel or Cylindrical Frame, or on the
Oscillating Lever.
In the inner sides of the Flanges of the Cylindrical Barrel or Frame are Grooves
opposite to each other, and extending from it to the peripheries of the Flanges. In
the Cylindrical Barrel or Cylindrical Frame D E F is a Slot, Recess or Chamber
represented by N N', whose sides are parallel to each other, and which has an opening
into the Steam Channel just sufficient to allow the Piston to slide outwards and
inwards through it and in the Grooves in the Flanges. In the figure, the piston OO¹
is represented as being in those Grooves, which its sides fit; and thereby the escape

page_text: of steam at its sides is prevented or checked. The Slot, Recess or Chamber N N'
and those grooves are bisected by a plane passing through the axis of rotation; and
in them the Piston can Oscillate or move radially to and fro. The shoulder of the
Piston may be thicker and deeper than the rest of it. The outer end of it may exactly
fit the outer end of the Slot, Recess or Chamber N N¹, which outer end of the latter
may act as a Stop to the Piston.
A Steam-Block, represented by S, of any suitable form, is inserted into the Steam
Channel through an aperture in the Cylinder. Its botton and sides exactly fit those
of the Steam Channel. It is rigidly fixed to the Cylinder in a suitable position.
There may be passages in or at its sides for the inlet and outlet of steam.
The Cam Pin or Q, or the Roller instead of it, and the Cylindrical Collar H I J K
are so adjusted with reference to each other as that when the Pin or Cam or Roller
bears, as is represented in the figure, on the convex surface of that Collar, it forces
the Oscillating Lever L M to compel the Piston (whose outer surface O¹ may be
convex) to be in contact with the concave surface of the Cylinder, and to close the
Steam Channel. The escape of steam at the outer surface O¹ of the Piston is thereby
checked or prevented. The Piston, as the figure represents, is in this position while
steam is pressing on it in either rotary direction. The steam accordingly forces it to
rotate and to cause the driving Shaft to revolve with it.
When the Piston approaches sufficiently near to the Steam Block S, the Pin or
Cam Qor the Roller instead of it presses on the adjoining side of the double-acting
Cog T, and forces the Oscillating Lever to compel the Piston to move inwards, and
out of the Steam Channel, and to allow the steam to escape. The Piston, being
thus drawn inwards out of the Steam Channel, is carried by the momentum of the
rotating parts and of the Fly Wheel, if the Engine require one, beneath and past the
bottom of the Steam-Block S, thereby clearing it.
The Piston, after it has been drawn inwards out of the Steam Channel, is compelled
to remain out of it, until it has cleared or passed under the bottom of the Steam
Block S, through the Pin or Cam or the Roller instead of it pressing on the bottom or
inmost side of the Cog T.
Immediately after the Piston has cleared or passed the bottom of the Steam-Block,
that Pin or Cam or that Roller-by pressing on the adjoining side of the Notch
Depression or Indentation U in the Cylindrical Collar H I J K-forces the Oscillating
Lever to compel the Piston to move outwards into renewed contact with the Cylinder,
and to come anew under the propulsive action of the steam.
Stops may be fixed on the end of the cylindrical Barrel or cylindrical Frame to
check the Oscillating Lever from urging the Piston either too far inwards or too far
outwards.
A corresponding Oscillating Lever with a corresponding Pin or Cam or Roller or
it may be similarly fitted at the other end of the cylindrical Barrel or cylindrical
Frame, or on the other Flange. A Corresponding Cog and a corresponding Cylindrical
Collar, with a corresponding Notch or Indentation in it, may be similarly fitted at
the other end of the Cylinder.
The Engine may have more Pistons than one with the requisite mechanism for them.
It may be worked expansively by cutting off the steam at any stage required by
any suitable mechanism. It is reversible, inasmuch as steam can be admitted and
can escape at either side of the Steam-Block.
Suitable Packing may be applied, if any be, and wherever it may be, required.
The Engine may be propelled by Steam, by Water, or by Gas.
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
claim is :-
1. The employment to regulate and control the movements and position of the
Piston of a Pin or Cam or of a Roller on a Pin, which Pin or Cam or which
Roller projects from the side of an Oscillating Lever, which Lever interlocks the
Piston, and is connected by an axle with a cylindrical Barrel or Cylindrical

page_text: Frame fixed concentrically to the driving Shaft, or with a Flange on said Barrel or
Frame.
2. The employment of a stationary cylindrical Collar, concentric with the
Cylinder and having a Notch Depression or Indentation in its convex side, to
compel the outer surface of the Piston, while the Piston is under steam, to be in
contact with the concave surface of the Cylinder and thereby to close the Steam
Channel-through the foresaid Pin or Cam or Roller bearing on the convex surface
of said cylindrical Collar.
3. The employment of a stationary Cog to compel the Piston, when approaching
sufficiently near a stationary Steam-Block inserted within the Steam Channel, to
move inwards and out of the Steam Channel, through the foresaid Pin or Cam, or
Roller pressing against either side of that Cog.
4. The employment of the bottom or inmost side of foresaid Cog to compel the
Piston to remain out of the Steam Channel, until it has cleared or passed the
bottom of foresaid Steam-Block-through foresaid Pin or Cam or Roller pressing on
the bottom or inmost side of said Cog.
5. The employment of either side of foresaid Notch Depression or Indentation in
foresaid cylindrical Collar to compel-through foresaid Pin or Cam or Roller pressing
against said side-the Piston to move outwards into contact with the concave surface
of the Cylinder.
6. The employment of the combination of a Slot Recess or Chamber (whose
sides are parallel) in foresaid cylindrical Barrel or Frame, and of Grooves in the
inner sides of Flanges on the ends of said Barrel or Frame, to guide the Piston,
to steady it, and to check or prevent the escape of steam at its sides.
7. The combination of the foresaid specified contrivances, or of any mere modi-
fication of them, for regulating and controlling the movements and position of the
Piston of a Rotary Engine propelled by Steam, by Water, or by Gas.
ז
1000