Year: 1897

page_text: I HENRY SIMPSON of Abbey Lane, Norton Woodseats, in the County of Derby,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of iny invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to improvements in the construction of rotary Engines
or motors for either steam or compressed air, and in which steam may be used
economically.
My invention may be carried out in the following manner; I fix upon the driving
shaft which forms the centre of the Engine, a circular block of metal of suitable
diameter and width, prepared with recesses in its periphery to receive what I call the
pistons, or moving parts against which the steam acts to force tho block round.
At a suitable distance from the block I fix a surrounding jacket concentric with
the shaft beforementioned, thus leaving an annular space between it and the block,
and both sides are closed with circular plates, which thus with the jacket enclose the
space within which the circular block and pistons revolve.
The steam and exhaust pipes may conveniently be carried round the outside of the
jacket.
I propose to make for example six recesses in the circular block, and they may be
formed so as to hold either a semi-rotating piston, or a radially arranged sliding
piston, in either case the pistons are acted upon by springs or their equivalents which
tend to force the pistons out of the recesses and against the outer wall of the annular
steam space.
Upon the face of this outer wall are three projecting equidistant faces fitting
against the periphery of the revolving block, each of which is provided with an inlet
port for st cam and an outlet port or exhaust, and each end of such face is inclined
or curved to form an inclined plane, up and down which the pistons travel as they
revolve with the block.
The steam ports and the exhaust ports are connected with their respective pipes
before mentioned, the steam pipe leading to the steam boiler, and the exhaust
preferably to a water tank.
Steam recesses are made in the periphery of the block immediately at the back of
each piston to allow the passage of steam to follow after the piston has passed to some
pre-arranged distance.
When the pistons have passed the projecting facings during which time they have
been compressed within the recesses, they project across the annular steam space, and
the steam finding a passage behind forces them forward, at first by full pressure and
when cut off by expansion.
When the piston arrives at the next facing it is compressed by the action of the
incline into the recess travelling in its closed position along the facing, and having
the moment it was closed, uncovered the exhaust port from which the used steam

page_text: The exhaust steam is immediately condensed and causes a certain amount of
vacuum in front of the next advancing piston.
Dated the 24th day of March 1897.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Rotary Engines and Motors.
I, HENRY SIMPSON of Abbey Lane, Norton Woodseats in the County of Derby,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same has to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to improvements in the construction of rotary engines
or motors for either steam or compressed air, or gas.
The invention constructed as a steam engine but to which compressed air or gas
may be applied, is shown in the sheets of drawings annexed, in which
Fig. 1, is an elevation shown partly in section.
Fig. 2, two views of the so called piston.
Fig. 3, section of piston when closed, and the entrance for steam to lift same.
Fig. 4, side elevation of engine shown in Fig. 1.
In carrying out my invention in the manner shown in the drawings, I make an
outside cylindrical frame A, supported upon a base B, of any suitable design, and
within this jacket or cylinder I support a drum C with flanges D, on each side, which
fit within the ring of the cylinder A.
This drum C, is secured upon the main shaft E, which forms the central point of
the engine.
The shaft may be supported upon standards outside the engine such as that
marked F, in Fig. 4, or in any other preferred manner.
The drum (or solid block) C, between the outer flanges is made with recesses or
pockets G, two only being shown as the drawing represents an engine of small
proportions, and within the recesses are fitted sliding blocks H, which I call the
pistons, because the steam acts against and propels them and the drum round.
The pistons may have springs under or in any other position related to them to
raise them from the recesses, but I prefer to use them without, and to raise them by
the action of the steam.
For this purpose I make the pistons with a pocket I, in the flat side which is
presented to the steam, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and in the surface of the drum,
also on the steam side of the piston I make a port or entrance J, to enable the steam
to enter the pocket I, and thus force the piston upwards.
Upon the inner surface of the outer cylinder A, I construct or affix the inwardly
inclining or curving faces K and K2, the central part Ks, fitting against the periphery
of the drum C, and on one side of the central part is a steam port L, and on the
other side is an exhaust port M. This arrangement is repeated on the opposite side
of the cylinder, but I do not bind myself to this or any number.
These ports are connected with pipes communicating with the steam generator and
with the exhaust tank or the like, the steam pipe is marked L², and that to the
exhaust M².
As the part D, revolves within the cylinder A, at the junction line N, it is necessary
to make a steam tight joint there to prevent the escape of steam from the steam
spaces S, during the working of the engine; for this purpose various plans may be

page_text: adopted, the one I adopt being to make an annular groove having the line of
junction N, in the centre, and to fit therein a ring of antifriction metal or other
packing material O holding the same in position by means of an outer ring P, part of
which is shown in Fig. 1, and the edge view in Fig. 4, and which is secured to the
cylinder A.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that as the drum is revolved, the
pistons will travel along the inside surface of A, be partially closed by the curved
facing K, and wholly closed within the recess G, when passing the part K³, again
projecting as it travels down the curve K².
As shown in the drawing steam is supposed to be in the space S, at the right hand
side of the top piston and on the left of the bottom piston; the top piston travels
forward in the direction of the arrow until it is closed by the face of K³, having
passed the exhaust port M, through which the spent steam escapes.
The piston having passed the steam port L, steam is admitted, and cut off if
desired by any mechanical contrivance operated from the moving parts of the engine,
the manner of doing this forming no part of my invention, although I prefer that the
exhaust shall be condensed as it is expelled, so as to form a partial vacuum in front
of the piston and aid in the driving of the engine. All the pistons operate in the
manner described, the steam getting underneath them and keeping thein in contact
with the inner face of A.
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. A Rotary Engine consisting of an outer casing or cylinder A, an inner revolving
drum C, provided with sliding radial pistons H, fitted into recesses G, in the drum
and capable of being raised by the operating steam, inclined facings upon the
cylinder K, K2, and K³, and the steam and exhaust ports L and M, constructed
substantially as herein before described and shown.
2. A rotary engine or motor for steam, gas, or compressed air, constructed as
hereinbefore described and shown in the annexed drawings.
Dated the 20th day of July 1897.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.