IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PUMPS AND ENGINES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO ROTARY FANS OR BLOWERS, AND TO THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTION OR POWER
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Harris at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January 1877.
JOHN HARRIS, of Montreal, in the Dominion of Canada, but at present of Kilburn,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PUMPS AND ENGINES,
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO ROTARY FANS OR BLOWERS,
AND TO THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTION OR POWER."
My Invention relates to an improved arrangement of apparatus intended more
particularly to be employed as a rotary pump or engine, but which is also available
as a fan or blower, and for the transmission of motion or power by hydraulic,
pneumatic, or other fluid agency.
The apparatus consists of a wheel fitted and applied in the manner herein-after
described, and mounted fast upon a shaft or axis which passes transversely through
its centre, and is supported in bearings in a suitable frame, so as to be capable of
revolving therein. Upon and to the periphery of this wheel I attach one or more
(by preference two) blades or paddles having the form of a disc, such blades or
paddles being arranged transversely to the direction of rotation of the wheel.
Around the wheel and concentric with the periphery of the same I form an annular
chamber, having a continuous slot or opening on the inner side, that is to say, on
the side towards the centre of the wheel, which chamber is immoveably fixed, and
is so adapted to the wheel that the ring formed by the periphery of the wheels fills
up the continuous slot throughout the circle of the annular chamber, and that as
the wheel revolves the ring circulates in the slot, carrying with it the blade or
blades attached to it, and which circulate inside the chamber, having the flat sides
in the direction of the rotation of the wheel. At a suitable point in the exterior
side of the annular chamber I provide a circular opening (connecting with a pipe)
of the same area as that of the chamber, and arranged tangentially to the circle
formed by the exterior side of such chamber, and at a short distance from such
opening I form a second circular spring, also on the exterior side of the chamber,
and tangential to the circle thereof, but in the opposite direction to the first, such
second opening communicating with another pipe of the same area as that of the
chamber.
Between the first and second openings in the chamber are attached on the lateral
sides thereof slide valve boxes, one on each two opposite sides, corresponding with

page_text: which is a slot or narrow opening running around and dividing the chamber trans-
versely. The two valves which are fitted in these boxes have each the form of a
half disc, and are arranged with the curved side outwards, so that when closed they
form together a complete disc, which having the same area as the section of the
chamber closes and cuts off the communication between the two openings on the
exterior side of the chamber. The valve boxes into which the valves open (by
sliding in grooves) are of sufficient depth to allow the whole of each valve to be
withdrawn from the chamber, thereby leaving the entire sectional area of the
chamber free and unimpeded, so that when the valves are fully open the blade or
blades is or are free to pass around.
The opening and closing of the valves at the requisite times is effected by links
turning on centres connected with eccentric or cam wheels on the shaft or axis of
the wheel, or they may be actuated by tappets or by any of the known or other
convenient means for communicating and regulating such motion.
The apparatus operates in the following manner:- -When used as a pump, motion
is imparted to the wheel, which in its revolution carries with it the blade or blades
within its chamber. Now of the two tangential openings with their pipes respec-
tively, the one constitutes the inlet or suction opening and pipe, and the other the
outlet or rising main of the pump. The valves being closed and the communication
thereby cut off between the openings as the blade (or each blade if more than one
is employed) circulates in the chamber the water or other fluid is forced on before
it, a partial vacuum being produced behind it. The water forced onwards is dis-
charged into the rising main, whilst an equal quantity enters through the suction
or inlet pipe to supply the vacuum, and thus the continual action of the pump is
effected. As the blade approaches and nearly arrives at the place of the outlet pipe
the slide valve (the mechanism operating them being adjusted accordingly)
commence to open, and when the blade reaches a point midway between the two
openings the valves are fully open. The blade having passed the valves immediately
close, and the communication between the openings remains cut off until the
approach of the second blade or the return of the first, when they again open and
leave the passage free.
If the apparatus is used as a blower the operation is similar to that herein-before
described.
When used as an engine the water, steam, or other fluid under pressure entering
by one of the openings, which therefore constitutes the inlet, exerts its force to
move onwards in the chamber the blade which opposed its progress to the outlet,
the motive power is thereby also applied to the wheel to which the blade is attached,
and thence to the shaft or axis on which the wheel is mounted, which motive power
may be transmitted in any convenient manner. The effect is or may be augmented
by the vacuum formed behind the blade when the exhaust steam pipe communicates
with a condenser in the case of a steam engine, or when the outlet pipe terminates,
so as to constitute the long leg of a syphon, if water is the motive fluid employed.
By reason of the motive force in this combination acting thus always uninter-
ruptedly in the same direction, viz., in the curve of the circle, and tangentially to
and from the circle mechanical advantage in greater perfection and more complete
application of the power to the resistance are obtained over all other pumps and
engines now in use, whilst the mechanism is rendered extremely simple, and in the
case of the engine increased facilities are afforded for reversing the direction of its
motion as required.
The apparatus may also be made available for the transmission of motion or
power from one place to another at a distance therefrom by the agency of water,
air, or other suitable fluids.
It is obvious that the shape of the valves may be varied, as for example, a complete
disc may be employed in lieu of the two half discs herein-before referred to, or the
valve may be made square or of any other suitable form. The wheel may also be
encased on its two sides with sheet metal or other suitable material, so as to form
a closed chamber or drum, this arrangement enabling the ring to work with but

page_text: little friction in the slot, as any water, steam, or other fluid which may escape by
leakage is confined to the central chamber or drum.
In lieu of forming the continuous slot at the inner side of the annular chamber it
may be situate at one of the lateral sides thereof, in which case the ring working in
the slot will be at the side of the periphery of the wheel instead of at the circum-
ference, and the valve will be most advantageously placed on the inner side of the
chamber towards the shaft or axis of the wheel.