IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES
Year: 1888

page_text: I JOHN STEBBING of Glanmore Cottage, Potterspury in the County of Northampton-
shire Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROTARY ENGINES," to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to obtain by a simple and reliable means rotary
motion imparted direct to the piston of a novel form of Engine, which motor can and
may be worked by steam compressed air or other means.
Instead of a tubular cylinder or one the length of which would be equal to or
greater than its diameter I adopt a flat circular plate formed with a flange or shroud
round the periphery of the same, and a centre boss through which the shaft passes,
within this flange and round the boss are fitted rings which are let into recesses or
slots round the circular plate (the joints of which must be steam tight) inside the
flange or shroud above mentioned and also round the central boss.
Under these rings are spiral springs and tension screws to raise the rings and take
up wear and tear; joining and fixed to these rings is an abutment or straight
bar which I designate "the piston," which rises with the rings also to take up
wear and tear.
The joints where the rings and piston are let into the plate or side of the
cylinder must be so well fitted that they will be steam tight, to prevent the steam
escaping from the cylinder, the whole of this half (including rings and piston) to
revolve with the axle.
For the other side of the cylinder there is a fixed circular plate faced up true
for the first half of the cylinder just described to butt up to; there is a slot in
this stationery half to allow of a stop to rise and fall through it.
The stop to have two springs forcing out two pieces of metal to take up side wear,
the mechanism for thrusting the stop into the cylinder and raising it out can be
variously arranged by ordinary mechanical methods.
This engine could be made double with great advantage, the two revolving halves of
the respective cylinders being placed back to back.

page_text: The abutment or piston already referred to consists of a single lip or rib, and would
be taper to allow of the difference in length of the travelling orbit.
The inlet and outlet ports would by preference be arranged on the bottom side of
the cylinder, and thereby facilitate the escape of water and condensed steam.
Unlike most rotary engines yet introduced, this engine throughout has no joints,
(working or steam) inside the cylinder in which there is not ample provision for taking
up wear and tear.
.
I JOHN STEBBING of Glanmore Cottage, Potterspury in the County of Northampton
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 :-
The object of this invention is to obtain by a simple and reliable means rotary
motion imparted direct to the piston of a novel form of engine, which motor can and may
be worked by steam compressed air or other means.
Instead of a tubular cylinder or one the length of which would be equal to or
greater than its diameter I adopt a flat circular plate formed with a flange or shroud
round the periphery of the same, and a central aperture through which the shaft
passes, within this flange are fitted rings which are let into recesses or slots round the
circular plate (the joints of which must be steam tight) inside the flange or shroud
above mentioned.
Under these rings are springs and tension screws to press against the rings and
take up wear and tear; joining and fixed to these rings is an abutment or straight bar
which I designate the piston or flyer which adjusts itself with the packing rings also
to take up wear and tear.
The joints where the rings and piston are let into the plate or side of the cylinder
must be so well fitted that they will be steam tight, to prevent steam escaping from
the cylinder, the whole of this half (including rings and piston) to revolve with
the axle.
For the other side of the cylinder there is a fixed circular plate faced up true to
receive the first half of the cylinder just described; there is a slot in this stationary
half to allow of a stop to reciprocate through it.

page_text: The stops to have two springs forcing out two pieces or metal to cake up wear, one
mechanism for thrusting the stop into the cylinder and releasing the same can be
variously arranged by ordinary mechanical methods.
This engine could be made double with great advantage, the two revolving halves
of the respective pistons cylinders being placed back to back.
The abutment or piston already referred to consists of a single arm or rib and might
if desirable be taper being in that case wider near the centre and narrower farthest
from the same.
Unlike most rotary engines yet introduced this engine throughout has no joints
(working or steam) inside the cylinder in which there is not ample provision for taking
up wear and tear.
By the aid of the annexed Drawings I will now proceed to more specifically describe
my new form of engine.
In Fig. 1 the same is shewn in elevation, the upper portion or steam chest
having the cover removed in order that the action may be more clearly understood.
In Fig. 1A A are the cylinders fixed or stationary B B representing the annular
discs rotating inside the former, an arm or piston rotating with the discs these being
keyed or otherwise secured to the main shaft A', springs and tension screws B¹ B₁
Fig. 1 with packing pieces or rings are inserted to prevent. the steam passing from
the steam to the exhaust side of the piston past the ends of the revolving discs,
see B¹, B', in Fig. I.
The rotating disc carrying the arm or piston M is shewn on a plainer scale
in Fig. IV.
The revolving disc in this Fig. IV. being shewn with the rings and arm or piston
removed in order to make the same clearer and more easily understood, the arm or
piston being fitted in a slot or recess formed in the revolving disc at M, this acting
as a driver for the two rings which find their place at C C Fig. IV. and are connected
by the arm or piston fitting into the recess at M.
These rings which at their edges are turned and faced quite true are kept up to the
inside surface of the moveable casing or cylinder by means of the flat springs and
adjusting screws shewn at B¹ B B B₁ Figs. 1 and IV., loose metal rings with
suitable flexible packing rings of leather, india rubber or like material being also
inserted between the sides of the outer ring and the revolving piston, so that on
setting up the screws and springs at B₁ B Figs. 1 and IV., the flexible rings or
packing are squeezed out and thus rendering the joint between the fixed and revolving
cylinders steamtight in the manner now described.
By means of Fig. 5 these details will be more clearly understood, as the same are
there shewn in section, and lettered the same as in Figs. 1 and IV.
Again in Fig. I. c is the steam chest receiving and distributing the steam prior to
its reaching the cylinders A A, the steam inlet being at J, Fig. II., the outlet or
exhaust to the atmosphere or condenser being at h¹; this steam chest as will be seen
at Fig. I. is divided into two compartments, in the lower part is placed a circular
valve D¹ worked by the eccentric D fixed to the main shaft and placed centrally
between the 2 cylinders, this eccentric & valve opens and closes the passage D", thus
regulating the admission & cut off of the steam each revolution of the Engine; the
joint of this valve with its spindle is also a special feature the same having a
certain amount of freedom longitudinally to allow of the proper adjustment
of the valve to its seat this being shewn in a somewhat exaggerated form at or in
Fig. 1 at D¹.
In the upper compartment of the steam chest are two steam ports g, g, and the
central or exhaust port open to the atmosphere or condenser through the pipe /¹
Fig. II. covering these ports is an ordinary slide valve not shewn for reasons
previously stated in Fig. 1, this valve being moved and regulated by hand only when
necessary to reverse the direction of rotation of the engine, the slotted plate g
with wing nut and screw Figs. I. and II. by which this is effected are there
represented.

page_text: The steam then passes down through either the top or the bottom port according to
the position of the slide valve just referred to, and enters the cylinders A A on either
one side or the other of the stop or valve E, thus determining the direction of rotation
of the revolving arm or piston, this will be more clearly understood by reference to
the diagrams Fig. 3. and the rotating arm or disc Fig. IV., these two Figs. not being
drawn proportionally correct, nor are the several parts shewn in their correct relative
positions; the same however serve to shew more plainly the action of the steam with
its admission and distribution to the Engine.
In Fig. 3 E is the valve or stop dividing the steam from the exhaust side of the
piston, the steam inlet and outlet g', g', being on opposite sides of the valve or stop E,
this latter being drawn clear once each revolution to allow the arm or piston M to pass,
see Figs. 3 and IV.
The mechanism by which these stops E, E, are actuated are shewn in Fig. I. and
consist of the levers E', E', friction rollers E", E", being fitted to the same, these
rollers in turn being actuated by the cams F F, F F¹, and springs E' not included in
Fig. 1 but are represented in Fig. II.
The steam chest c is supported by the iron plating c¹ and stays c".
The main shaft and moveable discs attached and fixed to the same are mounted in
and carried by the bed or sole-plate and pedestals A" A" A", brasses or bearings and
caps being fitted in the usual way.
The plates screws and studs shewn at B1 Fig. 1 are for the purpose of taking up
the wear caused by the friction of the revolving discs at the ends or edges of the same
or where they come in contact with the outside or fixed cylinders A, A.
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 :-
A rotary engine the various features and parts of which combined are substantially
as above set forth and as shewn in the annexed Drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of Dagambar 1000
JOHN HAYES,
Agent for Applicant.