IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for.
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES."-A communica-
tion from abroad by John Jones, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.
Sealed the 30th September 1864, and dated the 14th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th May 1864.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES," to be
as follows:-
-
The object of this Invention is to produce the simplest engine that, will
operate by pressure of steam or gases. This is effected mainly by a peculiar
construction of the valve.
The engine consists mainly of a case forming å steam chamber, in which is
a block or core mounted on a shaft, and provided with a block which bears
against the valve. The valve has a cylindrical part which forms its pivot
as it vibrates, when working, and a flat part which bears against a shoulder.
It is also provided with a crank arm which is part of the valve pivot and is
set on the shaft, extending outside the case. The vibration of this arm is
seen by the engineer, and a coiled spring acting on it keeps the valve up

page_text: against the surface of the steam chamber except when thrown down into its
recess by the block. The outlet of steam is covered or nearly covered by the
block against which the valve bears. A hole is made through the valve from
side to side to equalize the pressure of the steam.
The block or core, fixed solid upon the central shaft, occupies the interior
of the case, and carries what I will term the packing piece. The steam
enters the case by a suitable opening, and by its pressure turns the block or
core and its shaft by means of the packing piece, which is simply fixed by a
dovetail or by screws to the curved surface of the block. This block closes
the chamber, and is furnished with packing, which by a spring at its base is
pressed against the interior surface of the chamber and closes the passage
against the steam. This packing piece turns to the point where the steam
escapes. At this point it strikes the valve, and sinks it to its cavity or recess.
This packing piece in its movement closes the escape of the steam gradually,
and pressing down the valve closes the inlet, but the outlet is opened at the
same time that the inlet is closed. There is, therefore, a moment when the
steam does not act to turn the shaft and the momentum must bear it past.
To avoid friction upon the valve, there is a hole bored through it, from side
to side, so that the steam will surround it, and so that there will be no friction
from the pressure of the steam at the sides. This valve is the chief point of
the Invention. It turns upon its cylindrical base, and while pressed by the
steam rests upon a shoulder. It does not therefore bear upon the convex
surface of the block or core, but it closes the passage by means of a packing
There
pressed out by a spring against the convex surface of the block or core.
is a stem upon the cylindrical part of the valve extending out through the case,
and on it is a crank arm with coiled spring as before mentioned. A circular
opening is made in the side of the case in which the works are shown, and is
closed with a cap to be bolted on or to screw in. On removing this cap the
works can be all examined and taken out or put in.
sible for cleaning.
All parts are thus acces-
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the
said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES," being a communication
from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-.
The aim of this Invention is to produce the simplest engine that will
operate by pressure of steam or gases. This is effected mainly by the peculiar
construction of the valves whereby the friction of the parts is reduced.
The inlet of steam is so arranged that it will barely cease operating at the
crossing of the valve before it recommences on the other side; the steam
always having an outlet.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shews, in outside elovation, my
improved rotary engine with a cap removed to exhibit the valves; Fig. 2 is
a cross section of the same, and Figs. 3.shew one of the valves detached.
1
A is the engine case; B, the steam chamber; C is a stop fixed by a dove-
tail or otherwise on a central block or core P keyed to the central shaft of
the engine; D is the flat part of the valve; E, the shoulder, against which it
is supported to avoid friction; F, the cylindrical part of the valve, on which
it pivots; G is a crank arm, which is part of the valve pivot, and is set on
the shaft extending outside the case (see detached views, Figs. 3). The
vibration of this arm is seen by the engineer, and a coiled spring acting ou

page_text: it keeps the valve up against the surface of the steam chamber, except when
thrown down into its recess by the stop C; H is a spring upon the crank
arm of the valve, and serves to keep the valve in operation up to the periphery
of the core P. The outlet for the steam is shewn at I, it being covered or
nearly covered by the block C; J, J, are recesses into which the valves fall;
L, L, are the inlet pipes; M is the arrangement for oiling the works; N, N,
are holes made through the valves, from side to side, to equalize the pressure
of the steam. The block or core P is fixed firmly upon the central shaft and
occupies the interior of the case A, as shewn at Fig. 2; Q is the packing of
the stop C, and R the packing of the valve. The steam enters the case by
either of the openings L, and by its pressure on the stop C turns the block or
core P and its shaft, the direction depending on which of the valves is in ope-
ration. This stop C closes the chamber B, and is furnished with packing Q
which by a spring at its base is pressed against the interior surface of the
chamber B and closes the passage against the steam. This stop C turns in
the direction of the arrow (when the valves are in the position shewn in the
Drawing) and striking the valve, which is in operation, presses it back into its
cavity or recess. In its movement, the stop C closes the escape for the steam
gradually, and by pressing down the valve closes the inlet, but the outlet is
opened at the same time that the inlet is closed, there is therefore a moment
when the steam does not act to turn the shaft and the momentum must bear
it past the dead point. The holes bored through the valves from side to side
equalize the pressure of the steam, so that there will be no friction at the
.sides.
surface
The construction of this valve (see Figs. 3) is the chief point of the Inven-
tion.
It turns upon the cylindrical base F, and while pressed by the steam
rests upon the shoulder E, it does not therefore bear upon
the convex
of the block or .core P, but it closes the passage by means of a packing R
pressed out by a spring against the convex surface of the block or core P.
By means of the crank arms G either of the valves may be moved into or out
of action, thus changing the direction of the revolution of the engine at plea-
sure. The circular opening made in the side of the case in which the works
are shown is closed with a cap to be bolted on or to screw in. On removing
this cap the works can, be all examined and taken out or put in. All the
parts are thus accessible for cleaning..
The machine is oiled at top; the lower stop-cock being closed, the upper
two are opened, and the bulb. M filled with oil. Then the upper stop-cocks
are closed and the lower one opened, and the oil enters upon the top surface
of the block.

page_text: llaving now described the Invention that has been communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I claim as the Invention secured to me by
Letters Patent as aforesaid, the mode of constructing and operating the valve
or valves as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.B.)