IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY
ENGINES." A communication from abroad by Joseph Lucien Malavard, of
Panis vonCA
ealed the 25th May 1880, and dated the 28th November 1879.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1879.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES." (A communication from abroad by Joseph
Lucien Malavard, of Paris, France.)
According to this Invention the engine is composed of a cylinder, having at its
lower part two orifices, one for admitting steam, the other for the escape, and
vice versa, when the engine is reversed.
The two covers of the cylinder are provided with their stuffing boxes in which
the transmission shaft turns freely. In each of the covers a circular groove is
formed in which there are two washers fixed by, say, six screws screwing into a
ring; this latter being eccentric in relation to the cylinder and in contact with it
at its lower part prevents the inlet and outlet steam orifices from communicating
at the bottom; it serves also as case to the two blades or pistons which become
completely removed therefrom, each in its turn at the moment of their passage at
the point of contact of the cylinder and ring. The blades are mounted hingewise
on the shaft; one of them fixed, the other loose.
There are washers for guiding the ring during its rotation, and to hold the two
parts of this same ring which is traversed throughout its length by two apertures
acting as guides to the slides which diametrically divide it; it allows also of the
taking to pieces and the putting together again of the whole system. A single one
may be used if required, the other forming part with the ring.
The slides thus jointed on the ring act in their turn as guides to the blades or
pistons sliding with but little friction in slots which are formed through them,
they also prevent the steam from entering to any extent the interior of the ring.

page_text: The blades are only diametrically opposite when vertical, in all the other positions
they form an angle which varies with that of the ring.
A single blade is fixed on the driving shaft, and is sufficient to set the whole in
motion; the other blade is simply jointed on the shaft and gets rid of the dead
point and the fly wheel which would be necessary with a single blade.
There are passages for the inlet and outlet steam. One valve distributes the
steain to the cylinder orifices according as to whether it is wished to go forward or
backwards by a hollow stem. A. single orifice is bored in this stein. According as
it is put in communication with one or other of the orifices of the cylinder the
steam is introduced on one or the other side, and consequently the machine operates
forwards or backwards.
The back of the stem of the valve is recessed so that the cut off operates freely
on which ever side the steam is introduced, by this arrangement the exhaust
becomes then common to the two directions.
To stop the machine it is only necessary to place the orifice of the stem in a
vertical position, so that none of the cylinder orifices are in communication
with it.
This construction of machine works forwards or backwards. According to its
arrangement it can be used as a centrifugal pump for suction and forcing without
clack valves.
The three operations, forward, backward, and stop, are then made by means of a
simple valve. The two first are executed forward and backward with great
rapidity.
A cut off slide valve, or a second cylinder, may be fitted to economise fuel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th May 1880.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES." (A communication from abroad by Joseph
Lucien Malavard, of Paris, France.)
This Invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawings. Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through the line C, D, of Figure 2,
which latter is a longitudinal section through line C, D, of Figure 3, which is an
end view of a rotary engine constructed according to this Invention, and Figure 4
is a plan, and Figures 5, 6, and 7 are detail views. Similar letters of reference refer
to like parts in all the Figures.
According to this Invention the engine is composed of a cylinder A, Figures 1
and 2, having at its lower part two orifices g and h, one for admitting steam, the
other for the escape, and vice versa, when the engine is reversed. B and B¹ (Figure 2)
are the two covers of the cylinder provided with their stuffing boxes in which the
transmission shaft a turns freely; in each of the covers a circular groove is formed
in which there are two washers d and d' (Fig. 2) fixed by, say, six screws
screwing into a ring D, this latter being eccentric in relation to the cylinder (see
Figure 1) and in contact with it at its lower part prevents the inlet and outlet
steam orifices from communication at the bottom; it serves also as case to the two
blades or pistons 6 and 6' which become completely removed therefrom, each in its
turn, at the moment of their passage at the point of contact of the cylinder and
ring. The blades are mounted hinge wise on the shaft, one of them fixed the other
loose;
d and d' are washers for guiding the ring D during its rotation, and to hold
the two parts of this same ring which is traversed throughout its length by two
apertures acting as guides to the slides which diametrically divide it; it allows also
of the taking to pieces and the putting together again of the whole system, a single
one may be used if required, the other forming part with the ring. The slides e
and e', Figure 1, thus jointed on the ring act in their turn as guides to the blades
or pistons sliding with but little friction in slots which are formed through them;
they also prevent the steam from entering to any extent the interior of the ring.
The blades and b' (Figure 1) are only diametrically opposite when vertical ;
in all the other positions they form an angle which varies with that of the ring.
A single blade, that one marked b, is fixed on the driving shaft a and is sufficient
to set the whole in motion; the other blade bis simply jointed on the shaft and
gets rid of the dead point and the fly wheel which would be necessary with a
single blade.
There are passages F and G (Figure 1) for the inlet and outlet steam. One
valve R (Figures 1 and 2) distributes the steam to the cylinder orifices g and h
according as to whether it is wished to go forwards or backwards by a hollow
stem I.
A single orifice K is bored in this stem according as it is put in communication
with the one g or other h of the orifices of the cylinder, the steam is introduced
on one or the other side, and consequently the machine operates forward or
backward.
The back of the stem of the valve is recessed at / so that the cut off operates
freely on whichever side the steam is introduced; by this arrangement the exhaust G
becomes then common to the two directions.
To stop the machine it is only necessary to place the orifices of the stem I in a
vertical direction so that none of the cylinder orifices are in communication with it.
This construction of machine works forward or backwards. According to its

page_text: arrangement it can be used as a centrifugal pump for suction and forcing without
clack valves.
The three operations, forward, backward, and stop are then made by means of a
simple valve.
The two first are executed forward and backwards with great
rapidity.
A cut off slide valve or a second cylinder may be fitted to economise fuel.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
The improvements in rotary engines, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings together with any mere modifications
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
BREWER