improvements in Rotary Engines, Pumps, and Meters.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in the United Kingdom), 26th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 26th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
improvements in Rotary Engines, Pumps, and Meters.
I, LODOVICO MARTINOLI, of Via Alfieri 21, Turin, Italy, Engineer, 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 has for its object the construction of a rotary engine capable of
operating either as a forcing and exhausting pump, as an air compressor, as a blower,
as a motor or as a water meter, whether it be actuated by an outside source of
motive power, or fed by a fluid under pressure such as water steam, air, gas and the
like.
In the accompanying drawings which show one of the applications of this engine,
that is to say, its adaptation to an exhausting and forcing pump, Fig. 1 shows the
plan of the mechanism arranged in accordance with this invention, the ring (a)
being partly uncovered so as to show the inside of the cylinder; one part of Fig. 2
shows an elevation on line C-D while the other part shows a section on
lines E-F and G-H of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line A-B of Fig. 1.
The engine consists of a hollow circular ring divided into a suitable number of
sectors by the aid of the diaphragms (b) which are perpendicular to the generatrix of the
ring; only two diaphragms are shown on the drawings. In each sector move two
pistons (c) (c) (d) (d) mounted at the end of a rod (e and f) the central part (g) of
which firmly connected to a bar (h). The latter is fixed to a spur wheel (1) keyed
on the hollow shaft (j) upon which it is free to revolve. The wheel (i) is excentrical
relatively to the shaft (j) and has an oval or elliptical shape.. A gap (k) in the ring
corresponds to each sector and in consequence of the to-and-fro motion of the couple
of pistons (c) the bar (h) can move in the said gaps. The ring sectors arranged
between the extremities of the gaps (k) and the diaphragms (b) form chambers for
the pistons (c) and limit their strokes at the same time. At the end of each piston
chamber and more particularly in close proximity to the diaphragm (b) are two
valves one (1) of which is an admission or exhaust valve, while the other (mn) is a
forcing or discharge valve. These two valves communicate with the central
axis () which is perpendicular to the ring by means of two radial tubes (n). The
axle () is hollow throughout its length with the exception of its central part (o)
which is arranged between the contact points of the two tubes (n); this part (o) is
solid. The result is that the axis (j) is thus divided into two distinct parts, the
first of which serves as an admission or exhaust pipe while the second acts as a forcing
or discharge pipe. Each part communicates with the pump barrels wherein move
ID 077

page_text: the pistons and containing the necessary valves. A cylindrical toothed wheel (p) is
fixed upon this shaft concentrically to the hollow shaft (j).
Likewise two toothed wheels (r) and (s) are keyed upon an auxiliary shaft parallel
to the first. The wheel (r) is cylindrical and concentrical with the shaft (g); it
gears with the fixed toothed wheel (p) fixed above the shaft (j) while the toothed
wheel (s) gears with the wheel (i) which turns freely as above stated on the said
shaft (j).
The form and the position of the wheel (s) must follow that of the wheel (i) and
they must fulfil the following condition: The sum of the radia-vector of the two
wheels passing through the point of contact should be constant and equal to the
distance between the shafts (j) and (p) so that the proper gearing of the two wheels
be secured and that the rotary motion of the same should accordingly be
may
unimpeded.
Whenever a
This universal rotary engine has generally the appearance of a fly wheel (a)
consisting of a series of couples of cylinders having a circular axis and arranged upon
a circle and of an equal number of couples of pistons (c) free to move together within
the above mentioned cylinders, the whole being mounted vertically upon an indefinite
hollow shaft () which serves for the transmission of motion and at the same time as
an exhausting or admission pipe and as a forcing or discharge pipe. The whole
arrangement of the couples of cylinders constitutes the "cylinder-ring" whereas the
whole arrangement of the couples of pistons forms the "piston star.'
rotary motion is imparted to the ring (f) such motion is transmitted to the "piston
star "and vice-versa by the auxiliary shaft (9) and the two couples of toothed
wheels (p) (r) and (s) (i), the first couple is forined of circular wheels and the other
of oval wheels in such a manner that when the motion of the ring "or circle of
cylinders is uniform, that of the "star of pistons" is on the contrary either
accelerated or retarded (or vice-versa). The result of this diversity of motion is that
the pistons receive a to-and-fro motion with either single or double action; this
motion being analogous to that of the pistons of ordinary pumps and of ordinary
engines. The amplitude of the piston strokes is determined by the form and amount
of excentricity of the wheels (s) and (i). The number of piston strokes produced by
each rotation of the ring depends upon the ratio between the dimensions of the two
toothed wheels (s) and (i) in the drawing the two wheels have an equal periphery and
the same number of teeth so that at each revolution of the ring (f) the wheel (i)
accomplishes one revolution and the pistons a full stroke the latter returning
subsequently to their normal position. But the wheel (s) may have a greater number
In such cases
of teeth than the wheel (i) say (n) times that number or vice-versa.
"
the smallest wheel is oval, while the other has the form of a polygon with oval
curvilinear sides correspondingly to the other wheel. The result is that with a plain
wheel and a polygonal wheel of (n") oval sides (n) or 1/n) piston strokes are
obtained.
In this manner for a given speed of the engine the frequency of the piston strokes
may vary from (1 to n) by the simple fact of the change in the gearing. It may
also be mentioned that the curvilinear sides may be situated not only on one plane
but also on parallel planes. The alternate motion of the pistons actuates the valves
of the engine which is designed to operate as a motive power engine or for a double
purpose. In engines actuated by outside motive power such as pumps &c. the
ordinary automatic valves may likewise answer the purpose.
As to water meters motion may be imparted to their wheels either by the main
shaft or by the auxiliary shaft or by one of the two toothed wheels. The following
are the advantages of my improved universal rotary engine. It has no joint. It may
operate under normal conditions at a variable speed, it may be made of all sizes, it
may range from the size of a toupil (or top) to that of the largest turbine. The
construction of this engine may be likewise facilitated by substituting for the
cylinders having a circular axis cylinders having a rectilinear axis. The circle or
ring of cylinders is thus converted into a polygon of cylinders and the pistons cannot
be coupled together each piston having its own rod and the extremities of all the

page_text: rods being jointed. Constructed in the manner last indicated the engine still works
in a satisfactory manner, but its stability is impaired on account of the number of
joints needed. Moreover it ceases to have the advantage above indicated that is to
say to be jointless. A couple of pistons (e) of the same segment considered as a whole
form a double acting engine. In the case of pumps for instance while one of the
pistons (c) exhausts the other forces and on their return stroke the latter exhausts
while the former forces. But matters may be also arranged in such a manner
that each piston may be double acting by causing the segment to communicate along
the line (t) with the opening (k) and by providing at (r) a stuffing box and at (x)
valves similar to the valves (1) and (m) with corresponding pipes (n).
The universal rotary engine such as shown in the accompanying drawings is formed
of an arrangement of rings and pistons. But it may be likewise made to comprise
a great deal of mechanism by mounting on the same axis (j) several engines forming
equal angles of declination one relatively to the other. Thus great regularity is
obtained in the outflow and in the motion and this regularity is proportionate to the
number of coupled elements. It will be understood that in this case means must be
provided for the passage of the water steam & the like alongside the shaft (1) so
that these fluids may have an ingress and egress independently of the various
mechanism.
The universal rotary engine which shown as a pump in the drawings may be
used as a motive power engine, as an air-compressor, as a blowing engine, as an air
pump, as a water-meter and for all similar purposes. It may be actuated by water under
pressure or not or by steam, compressed air or other fluids provided moreover that
the details of this engine are subordinate to the means used and to the purpose to
be fulfilled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A rotary engine serving generally as a motive power engine and specially as a
hydraulic pump, an air or gas compressor, a blowing engine, an air pump, a water
meter and the like, this engine being characterised by the following distinctive
features to wit, a hollow ring (a) divided into segments serving as circular cylinders,
a hollow shaft serving as a driving shaft and at the same time as a pipe for the
admission and discharge of the fluids whether used as motor fluids or acted upon by
the engine, means for regulating the variable speed of the pistons, and lastly by valves
and passages arranged in accordance with the motion of the pistons.
2. In an engine of the kind above claimed, the combination of one or more couples
of centered cylindrical wheels for the general and uniform motion of part of the
mechanism with one or more couples of excentric oval wheels which cause a relative
oscillatory motion of the pistons in their respective cylinders.
3. In an engine of the kind above claimed the combination of an excentric oval
wheel 'with a polygonal wheel has distinct ovals as sides and gearing successively with
the oval wheel aforesaid and capable of being arranged in one plane or in parallel
planes.
4. In an engine of the kind above claimed, the means for producing a variable
speed of the pistons by exchanging the toothed wheels without interfering with the
motion of the engine that is to say the means for producing from (n) piston strokes
at each rotation of the ring down to one stroke for (n) rotations of the same ring.
5. In an engine of the kind above claimed, the substitution for curvilinear
cylinders for the pistons of rectilinear cylinders by jointing at the same time the ends
of the piston rods.
Dated this 22nd day of Decemben 1000
LODOVICO MARTINOLI.
By John G. Wilson & Co