Improvements in and relating to Rotating Cylinder Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Rotating Cylinder Engines.
I, SAMUEL GLENVILLE BROSIUS, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at No. 86 Bay Street, in the City of Savannah, in the County of Chatham
and State of Georgia, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to rotating cylinder engines, and it has for its object to
make a powerful and compact machine which can be reversed, and further to
remove the working parts from the heat and action of steam pressure, and impart a
smooth and positive movement to the pistons.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal cross section of the engine, showing the
interior of the cylinder, steam chest, and working parts.
Figure 2 is a central cross section of the engine through the cylinder and steam
chest.
Figure 3 is an end view of the engine showing the cylinder and the compound
eccentrics, the rear pillow block being removed.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively central cross section and longitudinal cross
section and elevation of the piston.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are respectively, end, side, and plan views of the outer
packing strips.
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively end and side views of the inner packing strips.
Figures 11 and 12 are respectively end and side views of the end packing strips.
Figures 13 and 14 are each respectively, cross section and elevation of the end
and front views of the abutment.
Figures 15 and 16 are the elevation and plan views of the valve connecting rod
hook.
Figure 17 is an end elevation of the driving and working eccentrics and co-operating
parts, and illustrates by diagram the movement of said eccentric and co-operating
parts.
Figure 18 is a cross section and side elevation of the driving and working
eccentrics and co-operating parts.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.
The driving shaft N is mounted in pillow blocks, K, K'; which are secured to
base plate, W, and is firmly attached in the hub of rotating cylinder C, by which
it is driven. The cylinder is provided with the pistons, A, and B, which are
mounted by their respective shafts, A³, A', B3, B4, in suitable journal boxes
contained in cylinder heads C³, which are secured to cylinder, C, as shown in
Figures 1 and 3; said cylinder C is made in parts comprising two discs lettered C
also for convenience and provided with the internal rings C' said discs being
connected through the medium of the cylinder in ring segments C* joined at C
and securely bolted together by the screws C8 (see Fig. 2). The joint in the
cylinder is so located that the piston chambers C₁ may be readily finished inside,
and for convenience of assembling and repairing.
The abutment disk D has a central disk D which is provided with flanges D
against which the packing rings d of the inner cylinder rings C¹ pack. The
abutment I is secured to said central disk D2 which is provided with inlet of
exhaust passages a¹, y'. Said disk D is attached to the pillow block K¹ and
Гр

page_text: contains steam chest T (Fig. 1) which is provided with the cut-off valve T
(Figs. and 2) which controls the inlet and exhaust passages ay respectively,
through the ports and y in said valve T' (see Fig. 2). The steam enters through
pipe (Fig. 1) into chest T and passes through the valve T into the steam
chamber T of valve T and out through its inlet porta into the cylinder
through passage r', the exhaust steam passing through passage y', exhaust port t
and exhaust passage into exhaust chamber t³, and thence escaping through
exhaust pipe t¹, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
The valve T is controlled by valve rod R which is mounted in the journal
boxes R, and at its end is provided with double crank S³, S6, and handle bar R³,
as shown in Figure 15; the said double crank is controlled by the valve rod
connecting hook, S, S', S2, which is driven by the crank disk or eccentric Z, and
has the journal S, and, as shown in Figure 16, said hook is held in place by the
slide S which moves in a suitable groove and is provided with a slot S7 which
slides over pin S³ which holds said slide in position; said slide is also provided
with a projection or handle to facilitate its operation.
To disconnect said hook from crank S³ the slide S8 is pulled out and the hook
raised from the wrist pin. To reverse the engine, the crank S of the double crank
is thrown over by its handle bar R³ and is engaged by said connecting rod hook S',
the steam and exhaust passages a' and y' being thereby reversed; that is, valve T¹
is thrown around until its port y opens across passage y', which then becomes
steam passage, and exhaust port of valve T connects passage a' with passage t
which then becomes exhaust passage.
The abutment I as before described is attached to central disk D2 which fits in
groove 12 (Fig. 13), and it has the steam passage ways I¹ and is also provided with
the outer packing strips P, the end packing strips P2, and the inner packing strips P3;
the said abutment is formed to the curves which allow the piston free passage,
and at the same time reduce the steam clearance to a minimum. The outer packing
strips P, on their packing surface ¹ (Fig. 6) conform to the curve of the cylinder
and have the lugs r, which span, in passing, the opening of C in said cylinder.
Said packing also has the holes through which steam may be admitted to the
underside to press them out. The inner packing strips P3 are curved at J
(Fig. 10) to conform to the curve of the inner cylinder ring C¹, and span, in
passing, the opening of A'.
The end packing strips P2 conform to the end surfaces of the cylinder and are
provided with lug C which rests between packing strips P and P³ so that packing
strips will not go past the bearing surfaces of said packings, but will not prevent
them from separating and having full contact with the inner peripheries of the
cylinder. The various packing strips above described are held in contact with
the steam surfaces of the cylinder by steam pressure, springs, or both.
As shown in Figure 5, the piston is constructed with end disks A, cut away
at A to prevent uneven wear of the packing strips P'. Said disks A have in their
peripheries, packing rings p³, which pack them in suitable piston seats and are
connected by the wing A which has the recesses A² and is provided with the
packing in its face which fits over the central disk D2 and its flanges D¹,
packing the same steam tight. Said wing A¹ in passing abutment I drops back
into the piston chamber C of the outer cylinder ring C2 of said rotating cylinder;
said piston chamber C7 is provided with piston packing strips p, and is covered by
tongue C³, which is strengthened by rib C over which the recesses A² of the
piston pass; said ribs C also narrow the opening of C7 thereby allowing the lugs ŕ
of packing strips P to be shortened, as will be readily seen.
The inner cylinder ring C₁ is provided with the piston chambers A' which
receive the edges of said pistons which are packed by the packing strips P.
In Figures 1 and 3, referring now to piston A, the shaft A is provided with
crank A which is connected to lever E by link e through its journals e¹, e².
The lever E is provided with journal pin E' to which is attached the eccentric

page_text: •
rod a² which is secured to eccentric yoke a' and is operated by eccentric a which
is journaled and oscillates on shaft N and is controlled by connecting rod a*
through its crank a³ by journal a³, in which it moves. The connecting rod a* is
connected by journal pin a³ to crank H', which is securely attached to rocker
shaft H which is journaled in boxes h, h' secured to base pillow block K, and is
provided with crank H2 which is controlled by eccentric yoke and rod L, L², which
is operated by eccentric L, secured to shaft N and rotates with it. The said
eccentric L may be placed outside of pillow block K.
an
The eccentric a controlling through its co-operating parts the piston, gives
intermittent motion to it; during half the revolution when the piston is under
pressure and driving the rotating cylinder, it is substantially at rest, and through
the balance of the revolution it is oscillating or moving back into and out of the
piston chamber C' in passing abutment I of the rotating cylinder. This said
intermittent motion is accomplished by the oscillation of the eccentric a about the
shaft N; when the movement is in direction of rotation of said shaft N, there is
substantially a rest, but when the movement is against it, the eccentric a acts and
thereby causes a throw; the oscillations of said eccentric a are controlled by the
eccentric L through the connections hereinafter described; said lever E in con-
junction with crank A' and their connecting link e form a toggle joint, so that when
the piston is in position to receive pressure and is held against central disk D2, the
toggle joint is in a straight line and no friction, resulting from holding the same in
place when the piston is stationary with regard to the rotating cylinder, will come
on working parts.
-
The eccentric bis journaled and oscillates on sleeve a of eccentric a: with this
exception, the construction of eccentric b and the operation of piston B, is identical
with that of piston A. and eccentric a in its construction and its operations by means
of yoke bb, journal pin F', lever F, connecting rod f, and its journals f', f, and
its crank B and shaft B'.
The eccentric bis controlled through crank H by connecting rod in the same
manner as eccentric a. The eccentrics a and b are the working eccentrics and are
driven by the driving eccentric L through their connections as described. The
connecting rods a, b are curved in a suitable manner to avoid contact with
shaft N.
As shown in the figures, particularly 17 and 18, the eccentric L, rod a² and
yoke a of the eccentric a with the cylinder C revolve around shaft N as a centre.
The levers A and E are respectively mounted on cylinder C by the journals A
and E2 and are free to oscillate about them and rotate with said cylinder C. The
said eccentric a and cylinder C are securely attached to shaft N and are driven
thereby. The lever H oscillates about the point H, which is secured stationary.
with regard to the driving shaft N, and the said lever H' is driven at the point H³
by the eccentric L through its yoke and eccentric rod L', and is made to oscillate
through the arc M, M'. The end H³ of the lever H is also connected to and
drives the connecting rod at by its journal. The said rod a' by its journal a³
oscillates the eccentric a through the are M2, M3, M4, about shaft N, as a centre
and controls it by its wrist pin a. Said eccentric a is mounted on the driving
shaft N and oscillates about it as just described, while the eccentric L is secured
to shaft N and rotates with it and is driven by it.
Let shaft N, cylinder C which is mounted thereon, lever E which is mounted on
cylinder oscillating about journal E2 and eccentric L which is mounted on
shaft N revolve in the direction shown by the arrow O¹, then shaft N rotates as
shown by arrow O', driving eccentric L rotates as shown by arrow 02 and working
eccentric a will oscillate as shown by arrows (3 and O', as hereinafter described.
Let the centres of eccentrics a and L be located as shown at LA and 12-6,
respectively, then the lever H' will be oscillated and the movement will be in the
direction of arrow 0%, and said eccentric a, being controlled by connecting rod a* as
hereinafter described, is driven through the points 12, 11, 10, and 9.
Continuing the oscillation of lever H', the eccentric a continues its oscillation

page_text: through the points 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, to 12. This constitutes one revolution.
The lever E as hereinafter described, oscillates about journal E2 and rotates
around shaft N as a centre. The end E of said lever is made to pass through the
ラ
points Z, Z1, Z¹º, 2º, Z³, Z, Z, Z³, Z, Z³, Z³, Z, to Z12. This motion is produced
by the oscillation of eccentric a as heretofore described, said lever E being con-
trolled by eccentric rod a² and yoke a¹ of said eccentric. The end E¹ of lever E in
passing through the points just described oscillates through the arc ZU³ and
produces a variable motion, as shown by the diagram.
The lever A³ mounted and rotating as heretofore described is connected by the
connecting rod e which in turn is connected by its journals c¹ and e² respectively to
journal A of lever A³ and to journal E¹, of lever E. Said lever A³ has a similar
motion to that of said lever E and is controlled through the agency of said
connecting rod e which, with the lever E from a toggle joint, which when the
period of substantial rest is reached takes the position shown when the journal e
has reached the point Q, as indicated by the letters Q3, Q, Q, Q, and Q',
representing respectively E², E, e², A4, A3, A5, and E. As shown in the diagram,
this above described position is substantially true for the points 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
and 9, while through the points 3, 2, 1, 12, 11, 10, and 9 the oscillation or move-
ment takes place. The points Z' to Z inclusive are the positions of the centre E
of lever E corresponding to the positions 1 to 12 inclusive of the centre of the
oscillating eccentric a; the lever E being controlled as above described by
eccentric rod a² of said eccentric a. In the position above described, as shown in
dotted lines Figure 17, the toggle joint movement has the greatest power.
Now if the driving shaft N and the parts heretofore described as rotating around
it as a centre, are held stationary and the lever H' and stationary centre H which
the lever H' oscillates about is made to rotate around shaft N, in the direction as
shown by arrow 06 and co-operating parts driving and being driven by lever H¹
must necessarily follow it. Then the end E' of lever E instead of describing the
curve shown in the diagram, will have an oscillating movement through the
arc Z, U³, the time of which will be represented in said diagram by Z¹ to Z¹³
inclusive, and the position of the toggle joint at the point of substantial rest is
shown as indicated by letters U U2, U', representing respectively E, A' and e.
Changing the relative position of the centre L of eccentric L and centre 12-6
of eccentric a will give a different outline to the diagram by the use of the same
co-operating parts, but a smooth and variable motion is obtained.
The eccentric rod a² as shown in Figure 17, is connected at the end of the
lever E, but as shown in Figure 3 is connected intermediately between the point of
oscillation E2 and the oscillating end E, but the operation in both cases is identical
excepting that the throw of working eccentric a, Figure 17, must necessarily be
larger to give the crank A³ the same travel, as will be evident from inspection of
the drawing.
In Figures 17 and 18 I have shown only one eccentric a, and the connections,
as the other eccentric b is connected and operated in the same manner as
eccentric a.
I have shown an eccentric as the means for driving the working eccentric, but it
will be understood that it need not be such a construction, but may be a crank,
wrist pin, or any equivalent device.
The steam acting on and between abutment I and the pistons A and B rotate
the cylinder C when they are at rest with regard to it; one piston is under pressure
while the other piston is oscillating into the piston chamber C7 of cylinder C, so as
to pass the abutment I and after passing, takes its position to receive steam
pressure. The steam in its inlet is controlled by valve T¹, and may be cut off at
any required point in the stroke the exhaust being always free to escape. To reverse
the engine, the exhaust passage is made to become the inlet passage and the inlet
passage to become the exhaust, as heretofore described.
The driving and working eccentrics and also the toggle joint which I have shown
and described in connection with the working and driving eccentrics for controlling

page_text: class of machinery requiring intermittent or irregular motion, for instance, motions
required in cut-off valves, reapers, mowers, &c.
1 do not limit myself to the arrangements and constructions shown, as the same
may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.
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 :- -
1. In an engine, an abutment, oscillating pistons and a rotating cylinder having
tongues forming piston chambers in the inner periphery of the cylinder into
which said pistons move in passing said abutment, substantially as described and set
forth.
2. In an engine, an abutment, oscillating pistons provided with recesses and a
rotating cylinder having tongues forming piston chambers in the inner periphery of
the cylinder into which said pistons move in passing said abutment; said tongues
having ribs adapted to move freely through the said recesses of the pistons without
contact, substantially as described and set forth.
3. In an engine, an abutment provided with packing strips having lugs,
oscillating pistons provided with recesses, and a rotating cylinder having tongues
forming piston chambers in the inner periphery of the cylinder into which said
pistons move in passing said abutment; said tongues having ribs over which the
recesses of said pistons move freely without contact, said ribs narrowing the opening
of said piston chambers, thereby shortening the lugs of said packing strips,
substantially as described and set forth.
4. In an engine, an abutment, provided with packing strips, pistons and a
rotating cylinder having tongues forming piston chambers in the inner periphery.of
the cylinder into which said pistons inove in passing said abutment, said packing
strips being provided with lugs which span the openings of said piston chambers in
passing the same, substantially as described and set forth.
5. In an engine, an abutment, provided with packing strips, pistons and a
rotating cylinder having tongues forming piston chambers in the inner periphery of
the cylinder into which said pistons move in passing said abutments, said packing
strips being provided with lugs which span the openings of said piston chambers in
passing the same, and provided with holes through which the steam passes to keep
said strips in contact with inner periphery of said cylinder, substantially as
described and set forth.
6. In an engine, a rotating cylinder, pistons, and an abutment provided with
inner, end, and outer packing strips, said end packing strips having lugs securely
attached to them and bearing against the inside edges of said inner and outer
packing strips, thereby preventing the ends of said packing strips from protruding
by the packing surfaces, but allowing the inner and outer packing strips to separate,
substantially as described and set forth.
7. In an engine, an abutment, oscillating pistons, a cylinder having piston
chambers into which said pistons move, said abutment having packing strips which
span the opening of the said piston chambers in passing the same, in combination
with a driving shaft, the driving eccentric operated by said shaft and working
eccentrics controlling said oscillating pistons, and connections between the said
driving and working eccentrics, substantially as described.
8. In an engine, a rotating cylinder having pistons, chambers into which said
pistons move, an abutment provided with packing strips having lugs which span the
openings of the said piston chambers in passing the same and having holes through
which the steam passes to keep said strips in contact with the inner periphery of
said cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. In an engine in combination, an abutment, pistons, a rotating cylinder having
tongues forming piston chambers in the outer cylinder ring into which said pistous
move, said cylinder having its said outer cylinder ring divided at the internal limit

page_text: of the piston chambers and securely bolted together, substantially as described and
set forth.
10. In an engine, having a rotating cylinder, an abutment, pistons, an abutment
disk provided with a steam chest having an oscillating valve, provided with separate
steam and exhaust chambers running parallel to the axis of the valve and steam
and exhaust ports, and therefrom leading into corresponding passages in the
abutment disk and adapted to be reversed, substantially as described and set
forth.
11. In an engine, having a rotating cylinder, an abutment, pistons, an abutment
disk provided with a steam chest and having an oscillating valve controlled by a
double crank which is operated by a connecting rod hook, for the purpose set forth,
substantially as described and set forth.
12. In an engine, having a rotating cylinder, an abutment, pistons, a cut-off
valve, provided with a crank having a wrist pin operated by a connecting rod
hook which has a slide provided with a projecting handle, and holding said hook
normally in position on said wrist pin, substantially as described and set forth.
13. In an engine, a rotating cylinder, an abutment, a cut-off valve in combination
with pistons controlled by crank levers operated by working and driving eccentrics,
substantially as described and set forth.
14. In an engine, a rotating cylinder having an abutment, pistons provided with
cranks in combination with a toggle joint, operated by driving and working
eccentrics, substantially as described and set forth.
15. In an engine, in combination with a rotating cylinder, a pillow block, an
abutment, pistons controlled by working and driving eccentrics, located on opposite
sides of the pillow block and connected by a rocker shaft, substantially as described
and set forth.
16. In an engine, in combination with a rotating cylinder, a pillow block, an
abutment, piston controlled by a toggle joint operated by working and driving
eccentrics, located on opposite sides of the pillow block and connected by a rocker
shaft, substantially as described and set forth.
17. In an engine, an abutment, oscillating pistons and a rotating cylinder formed
by inner and outer cylinder rings and connecting heads and having tongue forming
piston chambers in the outer cylinder ring into which said pistons move in passing
said abutment and piston chambers in the inner cylinder ring in which the edges
of said pistons are adapted to rest when said pistons are under pressure and driving
said cylinder.
18. In an engine, an abutment, oscillating pistons and a rotating cylinder formed
by inner and outer rings and having tongues forming piston chambers in the inner
periphery of the outer ring of the said cylinder, into which chambers the said
pistons move in passing said abutment, substantially as described.
19. In an engine, in combination, an abutment, a rotating cylinder, a driving
shaft, a driving eccentric operated by said shaft, working eccentrics, pistons
controlled by said working eccentrics, connections between the driving eccentric
and the working eccentrics, whereby the said driving eccentric controls the
operations of the working eccentrics and regulates the operations of the pistons,
substantially as described.
20. In an engine in combination, an abutment, a rotating cylinder, a driving
shaft, working eccentrics, pistons controlled by said working eccentrics, connecting
rods and a rocker shaft provided with rocker arms, the said driving eccentric
controlling through the said rocker shaft, arms, and connecting rods, the operations
of the said working eccentrics, and thereby regulating the operations of the
pistons, substantially as described.
21. In an engine in combination, an abutment, a rotating cylinder, a driving
shaft, a driving eccentric operated by said shaft, working eccentrics one of which
oscillates on the said driving shaft and has mounted upon its sleeve the other
working eccentric which oscillates thereon, pistons controlled by said working
eccentrics and connections between the driving eccentric and the working eccentrics

page_text: whereby the said driving eccentric controls the operations of the working eccentrics.
and regulates the operations of the pistons, substantially as described.
22. In an engine, au abutment, oscillating pistons, a rotating cylinder having
inner and outer cylinder rings, and connected heads, and having tongues forming
piston chambers in the inner periphery of the said cylinder, said pistons being
mounted in said heads and moving in said piston chambers in passing said abutment,.
substantially as set forth.
23. In an engine, an abutment, an abutment disk, oscillating pistons, packings,
and a rotating cylinder formed by inner and outer cylinder rings and provided
with piston chambers in the outer ring formed by tongues and into which chambers.
the said pistons move, said packings fitting around the face of the said abutment.
disk during the oscillations of the pistons, substantially as described.
24. In an engine, a rotating cylinder provided with piston chambers, pistons
which move therein, an abutment mounted on an abutment disk, cranks, levers,.
toggle joint, and working and driving eccentrics, said pistons being operated by
said eccentrics through said cranks, levers, and toggle joint, substantially as set
forth.
25. In an engine, a central abutment disk, an abutment mounted thereon,.
oscillating pistons and a rotating cylinder having tongues forming piston chambers
in said cylinder into which said pistons move in passing said abutment, substantially
as described and set forth.
26. The driving shaft, the driving eccentric operated by said shaft, the lever,
the working eccentric controlled by a connecting rod operated by the driving
eccentric, said lever being controlled by the said driving eccentric, whereby a
variable motion is obtained, substantially as described.
27. The driving shaft, the driving eccentric operated by said shaft, the working
eccentric, the oscillating lever operated by said driving eccentric and controlling a
connecting rod operating said working eccentric, thereby producing a variable
motion, substantially as described.
28. The driving shaft, the driving eccentric operated by said shaft, the toggle.
joint consisting of two levers and their connecting rod, the working eccentric
controlled by a connecting rod and operated by the driving eccentric, said working
eccentric controlling the toggle joint, whereby a variable motion is obtained,
substantially as described.
29. The driving eccentric, means for driving the same, the working eccentric,
connections between said two eccentrics whereby the driving eccentric controls.
through said connections the operation of the working eccentric, and produces a
variable motion, substantially as described.
30. The shaft, the driving eccentric mounted thereon, and means for driving
said eccentric, in combination with the working eccentric mounted on said shaft
and oscillating thereon, connections between said eccentrics, whereby said driving
eccentric controls through said connections the operation of said working eccentric,
and thereby produces a variable motion, substantially as described.
31. The compound eccentric, consisting of connected driving and working
eccentrics, whereby an intermittent motion is obtained, substantially as described.
32. The compound eccentric in co-operative connection, whereby an intermittent.
motion is obtained, substantially as described.
245
Tou May
ITO TAY
TODO
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.