Improvements in Rotary Steam Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1800
Improvements in Rotary Steam Engines.
We, MaxGus PEDER ELGEN, CALES REINSTRAND, and JOHN JONAS MOE, all
of West Superior, Wisconsin, and MARTIN SMITH, of Duluth, Minnesota, all
of U.S.A., Inventors, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements
in rotary engines whereby an engine of the kind is produced which is of simple
construction and exceeding efficient and economical.
An engine constructed in accordance with this invention comprises a suitable
base which supports the cylinder having a horizontal bore fitted with suitable
covers.
A piston-cylinder or drum is rotatably and excentrically mounted.in the bore
of the cylinder between its end covers. The drum is in contact with the inner
surface of the bore at its uppermost part, and, inasmuch as it is of smaller
diameter than the bore it is a considerable distance removed from the surface of
the bore at its lowest part. The drum has a diametrical longitudinal opening
through it in which plates are fitted in such manner as to be reciprocated therein
by reason of their outer edges being in contact with the surface of the bore as the
drum revolves. A spring or springs are inserted between the inner edges of the
plates to keep them normally pressed outwards.
Steam ports extend through the cylinder casting from the bore at points on
each side of the drum where it runs in contact with the surface of the bore.
These ports terminate in a chamber fitted with a rock valve having two ports in
it which can be brought alternately to coincide with one or the other of the
cylinder ports according to the direction in which the engine is to run. The
valve can be manipulated by a lever or other suitable means.
The ports in the rock-valve coincide with ports or pipes connecting it with a
rotary valve operated and carried by the piston-drum and which regulates the
inlet of steam. The valve cuts off the steam at the required moment to permit of
its expansion before the piston has made a complete revolution. In order to
permit of the expansion being more efficiently performed the surface of the bore
of the cylinder is formed with a cavity on each side of the respective ports.
It will be understood, that as the piston revolves, the plate, being operated
upon by the steam, will gradually extend, and its area be proportionately increased
as the pressure of the steam decreases after being cut off.
One reciprocating plate instead of two can be employed if preferred, but in
order to compensate for wear two plates, with a spring between them; are better,

page_text: Instead of the springs a small stoom duct may be made through the drum to the
centre of the opening to permit of sufficient steam entering behind the plates
to keep them extended.
لسد
5
1 1000
1. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicants.
Improvements in Rotary Steam Engines.
We, MANGUS PEDER ELGEN, CALES REINSTRAND, and Joux Joxas MoE,
of West Superior, Wisconsin, and MARTIN SMITH, of Duluth, Minnesota, all
of U.S.A., Inventors, 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: —
This invention relates to improvements in rotary engines and particularly to the
construction of the valve and cut-off,
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Figure is a side elevation, partly broken away, Fig. 2 is a vertical cross
section through the inner piston cylinder and inlet valve. Fig. 3 is a vertical
section longitudinally of the valve and cylinder.
A represents the engine, and 2 a central piston chamber which is connected
with a rotary valve B by ducts 3 and 4; expansion chambers 5 being formed
in the wall of the piston-chamber adjacent to the ducts.
C represents the inner cylinder formed with discs 6 fitting in the slots 7 in
opposite sides of the engine casing, said dises 6 being provided with a suitable
driving shaft 8. As will be seen the cylinder C is positioned in the upper portion
of the piston chamber against the wall 9 which divides the duets 3 and 4.
Sliding pistons 10 are arranged in the slot 1 of the inner cylinder C and are
separated and held in contact with the wall of the piston-chamber by a coil
spring 12.
The numeral 13 represents a steam inlet-pipe which connects with the enlarged
upper end of the passage 15 extending through the valve.
As shewn in Fig. 3 the lower end of the passage 15 communicates with a pipe 16
leading to a rotary cut-off valve D. This rotary cut-off valve ]) consists of
ports 17 and 17ª formed in the projecting face 18 of one of the discs 6. The
pipe 16 connects the passage 15 with one side of the port 17 and a pipe 19 the
opposite side of the port 17 with one of the longitudinal passages 20 formed in
the side of the valve B (Fig. 1). These longitudinal passages 20 which are
formed in each side of the valve connect with the ducts 3 and 4, and are also
connected by a transverse passage 21 which communicates with a valve-controlled
port 22.
The steam as it passes through the duct 3 to the piston chamber will expand
in the expansion chambers 5. then acting on the piston to operate the engine,
and then passing out through the duct 4 and through exhaust port 24.
By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the steam will be shut off as soon
as the slot 17 is carried past the pipe 16 the same operation taking place when
the slot 17 comes into communication with the pipes. There are two inlets of
steam to each revolution of the cylinder. The valve B is provided with a
handle 25 by which it may be turned to bring the passage 15 into communication
with the pipe 19 when the operation of the engine is reversed.
The piston chamber is provided with the usual drainage pipe 26.

page_text: The valve-controlled port 22 normally remains closed and is adapted to be
opened to allow an inlet of steam to start the engine when the pipes 16 and 19
stand between the ports 17 and 17 and also when desired to serve as an additional
inlet of steam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
(1) In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder having suitable
inlet-ports, of the rotary valve arranged between said inlet-ports and the source
of steam supply, the piston cylinder provided with sliding abutments, the rotary
cut-off valve operated by said piston-cylinder, said rotary cut-off valve com-
municating with the main rotary valve and to control the cut-off steam.
(2) In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder, having suitable
passages leading to the piston-chamber, of the inlet-valve the piston-cylinder
having sliding abutments, the rotary-cut-off valve D with the inlet steam-port,
and with ports leading to the piston-chamber..
(3) In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder provided with a
piston-chamber and steam passages leading thereto, the rotary valve arranged
between said passages and the source of steam supply, the piston-cylinder, the
rotary cut-off valve D carried thereby, the main rotary valve being provided
with a diametric passage which connects the inlet-steam port with a conduit
leading to the cut-off valve and being also supplied with a conduit which connects
the cut-off valve with the piston chamber.
(4) In a rotary engine of the class described, the combination of the cylinder
having a piston-chamber, and expansion chambers formed in the walls of said
piston-chamber, the piston-cylinder arranged in said chamber, the rotary cut-off
valve carried by said piston cylinder and being provided with a pair of ports,
the main rotary valve having a diametric passage normally connecting the inlet-
steam pipe with a pipe leading to one of the ports of the cut-off valve and having
passages connecting a second pipe leading to the port of the cut-off valve with the
piston-chamber, whereby the inlet of steam is cut off by said cut-off valve as the
piston-cylinder rotates.
Dated this 9th day of Decembar 18OO