Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
I, CHARLES ANDREW FISHER, of Petersburg, in the County of Menard and
State of Illinois, United States of America, Inventor 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 :-
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of the engine, and the valve mechanism by
means of which the supply of steam to the cylinder is regulated;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an end view of the engine, the piston shaft being in section;
Figure 4 is a detail, being a view of a part of the mechanism for operating the
cut off;
Figure 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5 of Figure 6;
Figure 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the inner casing of the valve chamber;
Figure 8 is a section of the same, on line 8-8 of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a side clevation of the induction valve;
Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same;
Figure 11 is a vertical cross section on line 11-11 of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a side view of the cut off ;
Figure 13 is an end view of the same;
Figures 14 and 15 are details of the rod by which the cut off is connected to the
mechanism which operates it ;
Figure 16 is a detail of the rod by means of which the induction valve is connected
to its operating mechanism; and
Figure 17 is a section on line 17-17 of Figure 4.
My invention relates to rotary engines, and has to do particularly with engines
similar to that which forms the subject matter of my Patent of even date herewith.
The objects of my present invention are to provide an improved rotary engine in
which the supply of steam may be very accurately controlled, and to provide
improved mechanism for quickly cutting off the supply of steam in case the governor
is accidentally stopped. I accomplish these objects as hereinafter specified and as
illustrated in the drawings.
Before taking up the explanation of my invention I desire to say that the engine
cylinder, the piston contained therein, and the other parts contained in the engine
cylinder are fully described and illustrated in my Patent above referred to, and
separately considered do not form a part of my present invention. I have shown
such parts, however, for the reason that my improvements have been adapted to an
engine of such construction, and I therefore chose to explain them in connection
therewith; but I wish it to be understood that my improvements may be applied
to any other engine to which they may be adapted.
In the drawings,
17 indicates the cylinder of the engine, through which extends a shaft 18 which
is mounted in suitable bearings in the heads of the cylinder, preferably ball
bearings 19 being provided. 20 indicates the piston of the engine, which is mounted
in the shaft 18 and is securely connected thereto. The length of the piston 20 is
slightly less than that of the interior length of the cylinder 17, and its width is
such that its outer edge terminates near the interior circumference of the cylinder.
The piston 20 carries a shoe 21, which is adapted to bear against the inner surface

page_text: of the cylinder as the piston rotates. 22 indicates a tubular wheel, which is
mounted upon a sleeve 23 extending eccentrically through the cylinder 17 and
mounted in suitable bearings. 24 indicates an outer casing for the piston wheel 22.
25-26 indicates segmental blocks which bear against the opposite sides of the
piston 20, as shown in Figure 1. 27 indicates an induction port in the cylinder 17,
and 28 an eduction port.
The arrangement of the various parts is such that steam being admitted through
the induction port 27 causes the piston 20 to move in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Figure 1, back action of the steam being prevented by the fact that
the outer casing 24 contacts with the inner surface of the cylinder 17 between the
induction and eduction ports, as illustrated. When the piston passes the eduction
port 28 the escape of the exhaust steam is permitted. The parts above described
are all fully described in my Patent above referred to. 29 indicates what may
be termed a steam chest, which is secured to the cylinder 17 over the inlet
port 27, as shown in Figure 1. Within the steam chest 29 is a cylindrical valve
chamber 30, which communicates with the inlet port 27 by a port 31, as shown in
Figures 1 and 6. 32 indicates a steam passage which extends around the valve
chamber 30 and to one end of the steam chest. 29, as shown in Figures 2 and 5.
A cap 33 is provided over such end of the steam chest so that the steam is directed
from the passage 32 into the end of the valve chamber 30. The passage 32
communicates with a suitable source of steam supply.
Within the valve chamber 30 is an interior lining 34, which is cylindrical in
shape, and is provided with a number of ports 35, each of which subtends an angle
of about forty-five degrees, as shown in Figure 1. The lining 34 is fixedly
secured in place in the chamber 30, its position being such that the ports 35
afford communication between the port 31 and the interior of the valve chainber 30,
as shown in Figure 1. 36 indicates a hollow cylindrical valve which fits snugly
inside the lining 34, as shown in Figure 1. The valve 36 is provided with one or
more rows of perforations 37, two of such rows located opposite each other being
preferably used, as shown in Figures 1 and 10, so that during a portion of each
half revolution of the valve 36 one of said rows of perforations will be opposite the
ports 35, as shown in Figure 1.
At one end the valve 36 is provided with a cross pin 38, as shown in Figures 2
and 11 and indicated by dotted lines in Figure 9. 39 indicates a shaft, which is
mounted in suitable bearings in a sleeve 40 connected to one end of the steam
chest 29, one end of which shaft carries a cap 41 having a slot 42 in its end, which
slot is adapted to receive the pin 38, the cap 41 being adapted to fit into the end
of the valve 36, as shown in Figure 2. By this construction, when the shaft 39 is
rotated the valve 36 will also be rotated. Upon its outer end the shaft 39 carries
a gear wheel 43 which meshes with a pinion 44, indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 1. The pinion 44 is mounted upon the piston shaft 18, and is of half the
size of the gear 43. It will be evident therefore that as the piston shaft 18
rotates the valve 36 will also be rotated, its rate of rotation being half that of
the piston shaft and piston. Steam will therefore be admitted to the cylinder
alternately through the two rows of perforations 37, and in this way, by
reducing the rate of rotation of the valve 36, the work of operating the cut off
is greatly diminished, thereby increasing the efficiency of the engine.
Should the valve 36 be provided with only one row of perforations the
pinion 44 would be of the same diameter as the gear 43, and in case the
valve 36 should have three rows of perforations the pinion 44 would be one
third the diameter of the gear 43, the relative sizes of said gear and pinion
being dependent upon the number of rows of perforations in the valve 36.
In order that the supply of steam may be regulated as desired a cut off 45
is provided, consisting of two segmental blocks 46-47, connected by an inter-
mediate web 48, as shown in Figure 13, the web 48 being provided with a
number of perforations 49 to permit of the free passage of steam from one side
to the other of such web. The segmental blocks 46-47 subtend the same arc as

page_text: the ports 35, so that the cut off being placed in position within the valve 36, the
admission of steam to the engine cylinder may be entirely cut off by turning the
cut off 45 into such position as to cause one of the blocks 46 or 47 to lie opposite
the ports 35, as when the cut off is arranged in such position access of steam to
the perforations 37 is prevented during the entire period of their movement
opposite said ports 35. In like manner the admission of steam to the engine
cylinder for any desired period within the limits of the engine may be secured by
properly adjusting the cut off 45.
The cut off 45 is automatically adjusted by means of a governor 50, which is
caused to rotate by the rotation of the shaft 18 in any suitable manner, preferably
by means of pulleys 51-52 and a belt 53. Connected to the governor 50 is a
recessed collar 54, loosely mounted upon a vertical shaft 55 so that it is free to
rise or fall as the arms of the governor are thrown outward or inward by its rotation.
56 indicates a lever, which is pivoted upon a suitable support 57 and is provided
with a fork 58 at one end, which fork fits into a recess in the collar 54. The
opposite end of the lever 56 is connected by a connecting rod 59 to a rack bar 60,
which rack bar meshes with a pinion 61 mounted upon one end of a shaft 62
journaled in the head 33, as shown in Figure 2. The shaft 62 carries at its inner
end a cross head 63 having recesses 64 which are adapted to receive pins 65 carried
in the end of the cut off 45, as shown in Figures 12, 14 and 15. When therefore
the movement of the lever 56 causes the rack bar 60 to rise or fall the cut off 45
will be correspondingly rotated, the supply of steam being reducel when the
rack bar 60 moves upward, and increased when the said rack bar moves downward,
the downward movement of said rack bar being caused by an increase in the speed
of the governor, and vice versa.
In order to provide for cutting off the steain in case the governor is accidentally
stopped, the rack bar 60 is provided with a hinged section 66, which is normally
held in operative position by a clip 67 in which it moves, the clip 67 being so
placed as to permit a limited movement of the rack bar section 66 without its
becoming disengaged therefrom. When, however, the rack bar 60 is moved up
sufficiently to release the section 66 from the clip 67 such section will move over out
of engagement with the pinion 61, thereby permitting such pinion to be rotated more
quickly in the same direction under the influence of a counterbalance 68 which is
connected thereto by a chain 69. In this way, when the governor is accidentally
stopped the supply of steam is automatically cut off at once and the engine stopped.
In order to hold the section 66 in mesh with the pinion 61, when the engine is
stopped by operating the throttle, a slide 74 is provided, which is fitted in the
section 66 and is adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof by means of a pin 70,
the slide being flush with the surface of said section. The arrangement is such that
by moving the slide 74 longitudinally of the section 66 it may be projected beyond
the lower end of said section into engagement with the lower portion of the rack
bar 60, thereby locking the section 66 in operative position. When the slide 74 is
so projected the section 66 will not move back out of engagement with the
pinion 61 when the engine is stopped. In order, however, to automatically
disengage the slide 74 from the rack bar 60 when the engine is started, the pin 70
is so placed that when the rack bar 60 is moved downward upon the starting of the
engine it will strike the clip 67 and be thereby moved back as the rack bar is
moved further downward, thereby releasing the lower end of the section 66 and
permitting it to fly back if the governor is accidentally stopped, as above
described.
I do not wish to limit myself to the specific devices shown for operating the rack
bar 60 from the governor, as this may be accomplished in many other ways.
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. The combination with the cylinder of a rotary engine, and a valve chamber

page_text: having an induction port leading to the cylinder, of a rotary hollow valve located
in said chamber and having one or more openings for the passage of steam from
within said valve to said induction port, means for rotating said valve, a rotary
cut-off arranged within said valve and having a web provided with one or more
perforations for the passage of steam from one side of the cut-off to the other and
earrying a segmental block in contact with the inner surface of the valve and
adapted to close the valve openings for a longer or shorter period to prevent the
induction of steam to the induction port, and means for controlling the operation of
the cut-off, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the cylinder of a rotary engine, a valve chamber, and
an induction port leading from said chamber into said cylinder, of a rotary hollow
valve having openings for the passage of steam from within the valve and into the
said induction port, a pin 38 secured transversely in one end of said valve, a
shaft 39 provided at one end with a cap 41 fitting into the valve and having
a slot 42 engaged with said pin, means for rotating said shaft, a rotary cut-off
arranged in the said valve and adapted to control the valve openings, and means
for operating said cut-off from a governor, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the cylinder of a rotary engine, of a valve chamber, an
induction port leading therefrom to said cylinder, a valve 36 having one or more
perforations for the passage of steam from within said valve to said induction port,
à rotary cut-off arranged within said valve, said cut-off consisting of two segmental
blocks, a web connecting said blocks, said web having one or more perforations to
permit of the passage of steam from one side to the other of said cut-off, and means
whereby said cut-off may be rotated, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the cylinder of a rotary engine, of a valve chamber, an
induction port leading therefrom to said cylinder, a valve 36 having one or more
perforations for the passage of steam from within said valve to said induction port,
a rotary cut-off arranged within said valve, said cut-off having a perforated web
carrying a segmental block arranged in contact with the inner surface of said valve
and arranged to close said perforations for a longer or shorter period to prevent the
admission of steam to said induction port, means whereby said cut-off may be
rotated, a shaft connected to one end of said cut-off, a pinion mounted upon the end
of said shaft, a rack bar meshing with said pinion, a governor, and means for
raising and lowering said rack bar by the movement of said governor, substantially
as described.
The combination with the cylinder of a rotary engine, of a valve chamber, an
induction port leading therefroni to said cylinder, a valve 36 having one or more
perforations for the passage of steam from within said valve to said induction port,
a rotary cut-off arranged within said valve, said cut-off having a segmental block
arranged in contact with the inner surface of said valve and arranged to close said
perforations for a longer or shorter period to prevent the admission of steam to
said induction port, means whereby said cut-off may be rotated, a shift connected
to one end of said cut-off, a pinion mounted upon the end of said shalt, a rack bar
meshing with said pinion, a governor, means for raising and lowering said rack bar
by the movement of said governor, said rack bar having a movable section, means
for holding said movable section normally in operative position and for releasing
said movable section when said rack bar is raised above a certain point, and means
for automatically operating the cut-oil to shut off steam when said rack bar is
disengaged therewith, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the cylinder of a rotary engine, of a valve chamber, an
iuduction port leading therefrom to said cylinder, a valve 36 having one or more
perforations for the passage of steam from within said valve to said induction port,
a rotary cut-off arranged within said valve, said cut-off having a segmental block
arranged in contact with the inner surface of said valve and arranged to close said
perforations for a longer or shorter period to prevent the admission of steam to
said induction port, means whereby said cut-off may be rotated, a shaft conuected
to one end of said cut-off, a pinion mounted upon the end of said shaft, a rack bar

page_text: meshing with said pinion, a governor, means for raising and lowering said rack bar
by the movement of said governor, and means for automatically operating said
cut-off to shut off the supply of steam when said governor stops, substantially as
described.
CHARLES ANDREW FISHER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.