IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY ENGINES APPLICABLE AS PUMPS OR MOTIVE POWER ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jules Marie Xavier Terlinden of Brussels in the Kingdom
of Belgium, gentleman for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY
ENGINES APPLICABLE AS PUMPS OR MOTIVE POWER ENGINES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jules Marie Xavier
Terlinden at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August
1882.
JULES, MARIE, XAVIER TERLINDEN of Brussels in the Kingdom of Belgium
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY ENGINES APPLICABLE AS PUMPS OR
MOTIVE POWER ENGINES
"
My invention relates to that class of rotatory engines in which radial pistons or
vancs slide to and fro in slots formed in a drum mounted excentrically in a cylinder
or casing and it consists in the improvements hereinafter described by which the
required radial motion is given to the said pistons or vanes and the sides and ends
of the said pistons or vanes are caused to work fluid tight in the cylinder or casing
Within a suitable cylinder or casing provided at each end with a suitable cover
and upon an axis traversing the said covers excentrically to the centre of the said
cylinder or casing I mount a cylindrical revolving drum so that a part of its outer
surface is constantly in contact with a part of the inner surface of the cylinder
or a metal plate inserted therein and adjustable by means of a set screw or
otherwise.
In the said revolving drum are radial slots forming slides in which slide in and
out pistons or vanes arranged so as to be at their outer ends constantly in contact
with the inner surface of the cylinder or casing. For the purpose of giving the
required radial motion to the said pistons or vanes and in order to form a fluid
tight packing between their ends and the inner surface of the cylinder or casing I
form at the outer ends of each of the said pistons or vanes a longitudinal groove of
circular section in which fits so as to be capable of partial rotatory motion therein
a tube or a roller of suitable metal the ends of which project beyond the sides of
the piston or vane and are formed so as to engage each in an annular groove

page_text: formed in each of the covers or in adjustable plates attached within the said covers.
The said grooves being formed close to the inner surface of the cylinder or casing,
by the engagement of the projecting ends of the tubes or rollers therein the pistons
or vanes are at the proper times drawn out from their slots or slides or caused to
recede within them and as the said tubes or rollers project slightly above the grooves
in the pistons or vanes, they are constantly in fluid tight contact with the iuner
surface of the cylinder or casing. The cylinder or casing is provided with suitable
inlet and outlet pipes for the admission and discharge of the steam water or other
fluid acting upon the pistons or vanes or being acted upon by them.
When the engine is to be used as a motive power engine and actuated by steam
the ends of the drum are rendered fluid tight by a plate or disc affixed upon each
end of the said drum, such disc or plate projecting into a depression formed to
receive it in the cover, and the ends of the pistons or vanes are rendered fluid tight
by the said pistons or vanes having formed in them at each end a slot or slide in
which engages a metal plate which is pressed outwards by the action of steam as
follows: In the middle of the length of the pistons or vanes and just below the tube
or roller is a valve disposed so as to open at either side of the said piston or vane
according as the steam presses on one side or other the said valve admits steam
into a passage to the under part of the piston or vane conducting into the slot or
slide of the drun underneath the said piston or vane, it then enters behind the
metal side plates of the piston or vane and presses them against the cylinder covers
thus forming a fluid tight packing. The steam passes also into the obturating
guido tube at the top of the said piston or vane which tube has formed in it an
aperture for tho passage of the steam into it and each projecting end is stopped by
a plug which is pressed by the steam against the annular groove in the covers
hereinbefore described
Instead of the ends of the drum and the sides of the pistons or vanes being
rendered fluid tight as hereinbefore described the same may be effected by cach
cylinder cover being provided with an inner adjustable plate suitably guided and
fitting into the said cylinder or casing the said inner plates being adjusted in
position by set screws or other suitable means by which it may be brought to bear
against the drum and pistons or vanes so as to form a fluid tight packing thereto.
At the end of the pistons or vanes the tube or roller may be dispensed with and
the piston and roller be in one piece with a cylindrical stud at each end to take
into the annular groove hereinbefore described, and if preferred the said stud and
the top of the piston or vane may be covered by metal rings connected together
by a band or segment of the same and the annular groove in the cylinder covers
may be provided with adjustable rings which may be regulated by set screws.
When the engine is to be used as a high speed motive power engine, I cause the
steam to enter the machine through the axis or shaft of the engine which is made
hollow the steam passing into the engine from the axis through suitable ports
therein gives motion to the pistons or vanes and is caused to pass out on the other
side through a suitable valve.
When used as a motive power engine I prefer to arrange two such engines side
by side one shaft being used for the two and the points where the drums are in
contact with the cylinders or casings being opposite each other, by this means the
action will be continuous and regular the positions of the pistons or vanes in each
cylinder being such as to compensate each other. Each engine may be fed
separately with steam or the steam having passed through one engine may be
caused to work expansively in the other.
The pistons or vanes may be made in two or more parts one within the other
so as to be capable of elongation and shortening as a telescope

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Jules Marie Xavier Terlinden in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th February 1883.
JULES MARIE XAVIER TERLINDEN of Brussels in the Kingdom of Belgium
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATORY ENGINES APPLICABLE AS PUMPS OR
MOTIVE POWER ENGINES."
e
My invention relates to that class of rotatory engines in which radial pistons or
vanes slide to and fro in slots formed in a drum mounted excentrically in a cylinder
or casing and it consists in the improvements hereinafter described by which the
required radial motion is given to the said pistons or vanes and the sides and ends
of the said pistons or vanes are caused to work fluid tight in the cylinder or casing
Within a suitable cylinder or casing provided at each end with a suitable cover
and upon an axis traversing the said covers excentrically to the centre of the said
cylinder or casing I mount a cylindrical revolving drum so that a part of its outer
Burface is constantly in contact with a part of the inner surface of the cylinder or a
metal plate inserted therein and adjustable by means of a set screw or otherwise.
In the said revolving drum are radial slots forming slides in which slide in and
out pistons or vanos arranged so as to be at their outer ends constantly in contacte
with the inner surface of the cylinder or casing. For the purpose of givit
required radial motion to the said pistons or vanes and in order to form a fluid
tight packing between their ends and the inner surface of the cylinder or casing I
form at the outer ends of each of the said pistons or vanes a longitudinal groove of
circular section in which fits so as to be capable of partial rotatory motion therein
a tube or a roller of suitable metal the ends of which project beyond the sides of
the piston or vane and are formed, so as to engage each in an annular groove formed
in each of the covers or in adjustable plates attached within the said covers. The
said grooves being formed close to the inner surface of the cylinder or casing by
the engagement of the projecting ends of the tubes or rollers therein the pistons or
vanes are at the proper times drawn out from their slots or slides or caused to
recede within them and as the said tubes or rollers project slightly above the
grooves in the pistons or vanes they are constantly in fluid tight contact with the
inner surface of the cylinder or casing. The cylinder or casing is provided with
suitable inlet and outlet pipes for the admission and discharge of the steam water
or other fluid acting upon the pistons or vanes or being acted upon by them
When the engine is to be used as a motive power engine and actuated by steam
the ends of the drum are rendered fluid tight by a plate or disc affixed upon each
end of the said drum such disc or plate projecting into a depression formed to
receive it in the cover and the ends of the pistons or vanes are rendered fluid tight
by the said pistons or vanes having formed in them at each end a slot or slide in
which engages a metal plate which is pressed outwards by the action of steam as
follows In the middle of the length of the pistons or vanes and just below the
tube or roller is a valve disposed so as to open at either side of the said piston or
vane according as the steam presses on one side or the other the said valve admits
steam into a passage to the under part of the piston or vane conducting into the
slot or slide of the drum underneath the said piston or vane it then enters behind
the metal side plates of the piston or vane and presses them against the cylinder
covers thus forming a fluid tight packing. The steam passes also into the
obturating guide tube at the top of the said piston or vane which tube has formed
in it an aperture for the passage of the steam into it and each projecting end is
stopped by a plug which is pressed by the steam against the annular groove in the
covers hereinbefore described.

page_text: Instead of the ends of the drum and the sides of the pistons or vanes being
rendered fluid tight as hereinbefore described the same may be effected by each
cylinder cover being provided with an inner adjustable plate suitably guided and
fitting into the said cylinder or casing the said inner plates being adjusted in
position by set screws or other suitable means by which it may be brought to bear
against the drum and pistons or vanes so as to form a fluid tight packing thereto.
At the end of the pistons or vanes the tube or roller may be dispensed with and
the piston and roller be in one piece with a cylindrical stud at each end to take
into the annular groove hereinbefore described and if preferred the said stud and
the top of the piston or vane may be covered by metal rings connected together by
a band or segment of the same and the annular grooves in the cylinder covers may
be provided with adjustable rings which may be regulated by set screws.
When the engine is to be used as a high speed motive power engine I cause the
steam to enter the machine through the axis or shaft of the engine which is made
hollow the steam passing into the ongino from the axis through suitable ports
therein gives motion to the pistons or vanes and is caused to pass out on the other
side through a suitable valve
When used as a motive power engine I prefer to arrange two such engines side
by side one shaft being used for the two and the points where the drums are in
contact with the cylinders or casings being opposite each other. By this means the
action will be continuous and regular the positions of the pistons or vanes in each
cylinder being such as to compensate each other. Each engine may be fed
separately with steam or the steam having passed through one engine may be
caused to work expansively in the other.
The pistons or vanes may be made in two or more parts one within the other so
as to be capable of elongation and shortening as a telescope
Having explained the nature of my invention I will proceed to describe with
reference to the accompanying drawings the manner in which the same is to be
performed
Figure 1 is a cross section and Figure 2 an elevation of a rotatory motive power
engine constructed according to my invention. Figures 3 4 5 6 7 and 8 are
detailed views of parts of the engine drawn to a larger scale
Similar letters refer to similar parts in Figures 1 to 8 both inclusive
Within a suitable cylinder or casing a provided at each end with a suitable
cover and upon an axis a traversing the said covers excentrically to the centre
of the said cylinder or casing a I mount a cylindrical revolving drum b so that a
part of its outer surface is constantly in contact with a part of the inner surface of
the cylinder a.
In the drum b are four radial slots b' forming slides in which slide in and out
the pistons or vanes f so arranged as to be at their outer ends constantly in contact
with the inner surface of the cylinder or casing a
cc are two steam chambers one for the inlet and the other for the exhaust of the
steam or actuating Buid. The said chambers communicate with the outside of the
cylinder or casing by the pipes d d and with the inside of the said cylinder or
casing by suitable ports as seen in Figure 1 the two chambers cc together present
somewhat the figure of a crescent divided in the middle by a partition c³ and
separated from the interior of the cylinder or casing a by a suitable partition c
as shown in Figure 1 and according as the actuating fluid is caused to enter at d
or d' one or the other of the said chambers c will be for the inlet of the said fluid
and the other for the discharge of the same.
Two of the said engines a a¹ are placed end to end as seen in Figures 1 and 2
(the parts of the engine a' being shown in dotted lines in Figure 1). Each of the
engines a a¹ may be actuated separately and be worked at the same pressure. The
second cylinder may be inverted or the steam or fluid from one of the cylinders
may be caused to pass into the second cylinder to act expansively therein
In both cases the engines will be caused to work continuously uniformly and
regularly for the pistons or vanes of one of the engines being set at an angle

page_text: of 45 degress to those in the other engine the unequal velocities imparted to the
shaft by each of the drums equalize each other eight times and compensate each
other eight other times during each revolution. The reaction of the second engine
on the first engine diminishes the effect of the latter in case of the steam or other
fluid being used expansively as hereinbefore described thus tending to equalize the
nction of both engines.
If the engine is to work expansively a two way cock e enables the steam or fluid
to be cut off as required or the motion of the engine to be reversed.
The sections of this cock and those of the tubes ports and pipes are of equal
area and are equal to those required for the exhaust, but each of the tubes is
provided with a cock by which the area of the feed may be reduced so as to admit
only the required amount of steam.
When regularity of motion is not required a single engine may be used instead
of two as hereinbefore described.
I will now proceed to describe the arrangement for causing the drum b and
pistons or vanes f to work fluid tight against the covers of the cylinder a and for
causing the outer ends of the said pistons or vanes f to work fluid tight against
the inner surface of the cylinder or casing a and also for causing the said pistons
or vancs to slide in and out of the slots b₁ as required.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of part of one of the pistons or vanes f (Figure 1)
Figure 4 is an end view of the same Figure 5 is a cross section through the
line EF Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the line CD Figure 7 is a
horizontal section through the line A B and Figure 8 is a transverse section
through part of one of the covers of the cylinder or casing a. The said Figures 3
4 5 6 7 and 8 are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2.
In order to make the ends of the drum to work fluid tight with the covers of the
cylinder each of the ends of the drum is covered by a slightly tapering disc g
(Figures 3 and 4) a part of the said disc g being made to enter and work in a
depression formed to receive it in the covers h.
In order to make the ends of the pistons or vanes work fluid tight with the inner
surface of the cylinder or casing a the outer end of each of the said pistons or
vanes f is formed with a cavity or groove in which fits a metal roller or tube i
(which may be solid or hollow) The said roller or tube i projects upwards slightly
above the end of the piston or vane and is capable of partial rotation therein-it
also projects beyond the sides of the piston or vane and the projecting ends of the
said roller or tube fit each into a circular groovej formed in the covers h h tho
width of the said grooves being rather less than the full diameter of the said roller
or tube-The said grooves j serve as guides to the pistons or vanes causing them
to slide in and out of their slots b¹ (Figure 1) during the rotation of the drum b
so as to keep their ends constantly in intimate contact with the inner surface of
the cylinder or casing a The upper parts of the rollers or tubes i are throughout
their length at (Figure 4) curved to the radius of the cylinder or casing a and at
their opposite side at 2 where they enter the grooves j they are curved concentrically
If it be desired to increase the contact of the ends of the roller or tube i with the
bottom of the groove; the ends of the tube i may be fitted with a separate plug or
end piece (Figures 3 and 7) arranged so as to be pressed outwards by a spring
or by the action of the steam or fluid.
The sides of the pistons or vanes fare made to work fluid tight against the
covers of the cylinder or casing a as follows:-On each side of the piston or vane
is a slot or channel in which slides a plate of suitable metal m as shown in
Figures 34 and 6 one end of the said plate m rests upon the body of the piston
or vane at m³ (Figure 3) its other end bears against the roller or tube i. Behind
the slot or channel in which slides the plate m is a depression n (Figures 3 and 6)
into which steam is caused to flow or in which is a suitable spring.
In the middle of the length of the piston or vane f and just below the roller or
tube i is formed a passage.o (Figures 5 and 6) in which is mounted a double acting
valve p. The valve p being pressed upon by the steam or fluid on one side of the

page_text: piston or vane ƒ opens one of the apertures o¹ o² and closes the other. The steam
or fluid enters the passage o passes into the tube i where it presses the plugs or
end pieces into the grooves j and passing down the said passage o enters the slot
or slide b¹ pressos forward the piston or vane f against the inner surface of the
cylinder or casing and entering the passages n presses the plates m against the
cylinder covers. When springs are used the said valve p may be omitted a spiral
spring being then placed in the roller i and a flat spring in the depression n behind
each of the plates m.
Figures 9 and 10 represent in cross section and in longitudinal section
respectively parts of a motive power engine constructed according to my invention
and illustrating modifications in the construction of such engines as herein before
described in reference to Figures 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8 In Figures 9 and 10 a is
the outer cylinder or casing b the rotatory drum formed with slots or slides b' in
which the pistons or vanes cccc slide in and out. The said pistons or vanes c
consist of two parts c c which work one within the other like the tubes of a
telescope. The pistons or vanes c are made semi-cylindrical at their outer ends f
with a projecting cylindrical stud at each side to take into the grooves c and
the said studs may be covered by metal ferrules or rings connected together by
segmental bands as represented in Figures 11 and 12. The said ferrules and
segmental bands may be flattened as represented at k and Figure 4. The bottom
of each of the circular grooves e may be provided with a flat annular plate rendered
adjustable by set screws or springs
The sides of the drum band of the pistons or vanes c c are made to work fluid
tight in the cylinder a by the covers of the said cylinder or casing a being each
provided with an inner adjustable cover or plate 9 carried and guided by pins or
studs g¹ or by other suitable means and the said inner covers g may be adjusted in
position and their contact with the drum b and pistons or vanes c c¹ may be
maintained so as to insure their working fluid tight as required by means of set
screws h h or otherwise.
Figures 9 and 10 represent in cross section and in longitudinal section
respectively a motive power engine constructed according to my invention and
illustrating modifications in the construction of such engines as herein before
described in reference to Figures 9 and 10. In Figures 94 and 10 a is the outer
cylinder or casing-b the rotatory drum c c are the pistons or vanes working in the
slots or slides b' of the said drum d d' are the inlet and outlet passages for the
steam or fluid, the said passages & d' being provided with stop cocks or plugs d²
by which that passage used for the inlet of the steam or fluid may be partially
closed so as to admit only the required quantity of steam to the engine whilst the
exhaust is left completely open. According to this modification of the invention
only one of the cylinder covers k is provided with an inner adjustable cover g the
other outer cover being bolted onto the cylinder (or it may be cast upon the
cylinder). The inner cover g has upon it a collar g' and the said cover g may be
adjusted in position upon the shaft by means of a nut in the stuffing box or
otherwise. The grooves e in the covers kg by which the pistons or vanes care
guided instead of being formed at the outer circumference of the said covers are
formed so as to be taken into by studs or rollers f projecting from the lower end of
the pistons or vanes c. By this means the said piston c during the rotation of the
drum b instead of being drawn out of the slots or slides b' are pushed out of thein.
The outer ends of the vanes or pistons care covered with metal plates c³ pressed
outwards by suitable springs As seen in Figure 94 the grooves e instead of being
circular as in Figure 9 are curved having a form somewhat resembling that of a
pear. By this means the outer ends of the vanes or pistons c touch the inner
surface of the cylinder only during a portion of the revolution of the drum as
shown by the dotted lines. By causing the said vanes or pistons to move in
contact with the inner surface of the cylinder during about a quarter of a revolution
at that part where the said vanes or pistons project to a nearly equal extent the
motion of the engine will be sufficiently regular. A metal segment a¹ turned

page_text: concentrically with the cylinder may be let into that part of it where the ends of
the pistons or vanes c come in contact with its inner surface so as to insure a
uniform and regular motion to the engine each of the pistons or vanes c being thus
acted upon in succession by the steam or fluid during the same portion of a
revolution and presenting the same surface to the action of the steam or fluid
without reaction from the other three pistons or vanes.
The said motive power engines may be actuated either by steam air or any other
suitable fluid.
In small engines to be worked at a high speed and to revolve always in the samo
direction I cause the steam to enter through the drum shaft. The steam is caused
to pass through suitable ports formed in the said shaft and opening into the slots
of the drum where it presses forward the pistons or vanes against the inner surface
of the cylinder or casing and passing into the said pistons or vanes through suitable
passages formed therein it issues out through suitable openings into the spaces
between the pistons or vanes to propel the engine.
The said engines may be made to rotate in either direction by providing two
outlets for the steam regulated by a two way cock and by forming in each of the
pistons or vanes two apertures one on each side governed by suitable valves. This
arrangement is represented in Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings. To reverse the
motion after having emptied the engine the pistons or vanes are turned by hand
into a horizontal position when the proper valves open. Steam is then admitted
on the side of the cylinder or casing to give motion in the required direction.
Figures 15 and 16 represent in cross section and in longitudinal section respec-
tively the application of my invention to a pump. a is the outside cylinder or
casing b is the drum in the slots or slides c of which drum two pistons or vanes d
work a¹ and a² are the inlet and outlet passages for the liquid and e is the shaft
or axis upon which the drum b is mounted. As herein before described with
reference to Figures 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8 the ends of the pistons or vanes & are
provided with rollers or tubes i represented in detail drawn to a larger scale in
Figures 17 18 19 and 20. Figure 17 being a front elevation of part of one of the
pistons or vanes d. Figure 18 a section through the line CD Figure 17. Figure 19
a section through the line A B Figure 17 and Figure 20 a cross section of part of
the cylinder cover. The ends of the said rollers or tubes i as in the motive power
engine above described (Figures 3 and 4) project beyond the pistons or vanes so as
to take into the grooves which act as guides. The said rollers or tubes i are
closed at their ends by plugs or pistons pressed outwards by the spiral screw i³.
The rollers i may be made solid instead of being tubular and the spring may be
dispensed with or the rollers or tubes i may be dispensed with altogether by
making the ends of the pistons or vanes of semi-circular section with a cylindrical
stud or projection at each end and covering the ends of the pistons or vanes and]
the said studs or projections with ferrules or metal rings and segments as repro-
sented in Figures 11 and 12. As in this case only two pistons or vanes d are used
an annular plate is placed in each of the grooves as to close the said grooves and
the said annular plates being taken into by the rollers or tubes i are drawn round
by them in their rotatory motion
If required a small channel & Figure 20 may be made from the outside to behind
the pistons or vanes to facilitate the action of the said pistons or vanes in their slots
or slides. As it is not necessary that the pistons or vanes of pumps should work as
perfectly fluid tight as those of motive power engines the sides of the pistons or
vanes and of the drum work directly against the covers as seen in Figure 16. The
cylinder covers may however be provided with one or two adjustable inner covers
or plates similar to those represented at g Figure 10 and Figure 10ª.
In some cases the width of the circular grooves a³ may be equal to the whole
length of the piston or vane which then has the form of a rectangular parallelopiped
having on one side a rounded or semicylindrical surface and on the other two
recesses one at each end. The parts subjected to friction may be covered with
removeable pieces of soft metal as herein before described. The grooves a³ instead

page_text: of being circular as represented may be shaped like the grooves e represented in
Figure 94. Where the pump is intended to supply small quantities of liquid the
piston or vane is simply a roller.
Having now described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my
invention.
But I claim as my invention
Firstly The combination and arrangement of parts of rotatory engines applicable
as motive power engines or as pumps substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Secondly In rotatory engines wherein radial pistons or vanes slide to and fro
in slots formed in a drum or hub mounted excentrically in a closed cylinder or
casing causing the ends of the said drum and the pistons or vanes to work fluid
tight against the cylinder covers-by means of an inner adjustable cover or plate
such inner adjustable cover or plate being supported by the outer cylinder cover and
being adjustable by means of a screw nut in the stuffing box substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 10 and 10ª of the drawings.
Thirdly The arrangement for causing the ends of the pistons or vanes to work
fluid tight against the inner surface of the cylinder and for guiding the said pistons
or vanes and giving them the required motion by means of hollow or solid rollers
capable of partial rotation in slots or cavities formed in the ends of the said pistons
or vanes the ends of the said rollers projecting beyond the sides of the said pistons
or vanes and the projecting ends taking into circular or other grooves formed in
the covers so that in the rotatory motion of the drum the pistons or vanes engaged
with the said grooves are caused to move alternately to and fro in the slots of the
drum. Also the modified arrangement herein before described in which the pro-
jecting ends of the said rollers are inclosed in ferrules segments or removeablo
pieces essentially as described.
Also the modified arrangement hereinbefore described in referenco to Figures 11
and 12 wherein the upper end and projections or studs on the sides of the pistons
or vanes are covered by ferrules or rings and segments of soft metal substantially as
described.
In witness whereof I the said Jules Marie Xavier Terlindon have hereunto
sot my hand and seal this fourteenth day of February in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
JULES MARIE XAVIER TERLINDEN (L.S.)