IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES, PUMPS, BLOWERS, AND METERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Lowry, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES, PUMPS,
BLOWERS, AND METERS."
Sealed the 20th May 1879, and dated the 21st November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Lowry at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1878.
GEORGE LOWRY, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
MENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES, PUMPS, BLOWERS, AND METERS."
"IMPROVE-
My Invention relates to an improved combination or improved combinations of
parts which is or may be used or adapted as a rotary engine for giving motive
power, a pump or blower for drawing and forcing, or as a meter for measuring
fluids; it consists in a cylindrical casing in which there are passages formed, or to
which they are applied, to convey the fluid to and from the apparatus, and to this
casing there are two end covers, one of which is or may be made adjustable, and in
one or both of these end covers there are bearings formed for a shaft to rotate in the
axis of the cylinder, and one or both of these bearings is or may be provided with
stuffing boxes.
Upon the shaft there is a crank or excentric, and this crank or excentric fits a
drum the semi-diameter of which, plus the radius of the crank or excentric, is equal
to the inner semi-diameter of the cylindrical casing, so that as the crank or excentric
rotates some part of the periphery of this drum will always touch upon or rub
against the interior periphery of the casing and the two ends of the drum will work
in close rubbing contact with the two ends of the cylindrical casing. The drum
(which acts as a piston) does not rotate, but is prevented from rotating on the crank
pin or excentric by a partition secured to and projecting from the interior periphery
of the cylindrical casing towards its axis, which partition extends across the casing
parallel to its axis and into a slot extending across the drum.
By suitable packing pieces carried on the drum, and pressed by springs against
Pris 31

page_text: the partition, the fluid on one side of the partition is prevented from passing through
the slot in the drum or piston to the other side of the partition.
Or the crank or excentric which works the drum or piston there is an excentric
pulley or clip, by turning which on the crank or excentric the amount of excen-
tricity or radius of the crank or excentric is increased or diminished so that the
drum can be adjusted to the interior of the casing, or the crank or excentric is or
may be made adjustable for this purpose. Provision is or may be made in one of
the end covers to adjust, and turn, and secure this excentric pulley or clip.
The fluid which is to pass through the apparatus is admitted by a port at one
side of the partition, and is allowed to pass out at a port at the other side of the
partition.
When fluid under pressure is allowed to enter on one side it acts between the
partition and casing and that part of the drum or piston in contact with the casing
and forces the excentric or crank round until it arrives at the opposite centre, past
which its momentum or that of a fly wheel or another apparatus on the same shaft
carries the excentric crank when the pressure will continue to propel the drum
round until the crank or excentric arrives at its first position or " centre," the interior
of the casing unoccupied by the drum being left full of fluid, which can then escape
through the exit port, or this fluid will be forced out (as in pumping or blowing)
by the next revolution, and a fresh supply be left in the casing, and so on.
If the fluid be under pressure the shaft will give out power, if not under pressure
and power be applied to rotate the shaft, the fluid will be drawn in and propelled
through the apparatus.
When acting as a meter, the capacity of one revolution being known, a counting
apparatus is connected with the shaft to number its revolutions and thus give the
quantity of fluid which has passed through.
When used as a blower the parts are or may be made to fit as close as possible
without touching or rubbing.
Another modification of my Invention relates to a combined engine and recipro-
cating ram pump, and consists in jointing a part corresponding with the partition
hereinbefore named with the drum or piston, and arranging this part to reciprocate
through a slot or gland in the casing into a barrel or chamber which has valves in
it, the partition part being moved in and out by the action of the drum or piston,
which is caused to move round its casing by steam or other motive power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Lowry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
May 1879.
GEORGE LOWRY, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
MENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES, PUMPS, BLOWERS, AND METERS."
"IMPROVE-
My Invention relates to an improved combination or improved combinations of
parts which is or may be used or adapted as a rotary engine for giving motive
power, a pump or blower for drawing and forcing, or as a meter for measuring fluids ;
it consists in a cylindrical casing in which there are passages formed or to which
they are applied to convey the fluid to and from the apparatus, and to this casing
there are two end covers, one of which is or may be made adjustable, and in one or
both of these end covers there are bearings formed for a shaft to rotate in the axis
of the cylinder, and one or both of these bearings is or may be provided with
stuffing boxes.
Upon the shaft there is a crank or excentric, and this crank or excentric fits a
drum, the semi-diameter of which, plus the radius of the crank or eccentric, is equal
to the inner semi-diameter of the cylindrical casing, so that as the crank or excentric
rotates some part of the periphery of this drum will always touch upon or rub
against the interior periphery of the casing, and the two ends of the drum will work
in close rubbing contact with the two ends of the cylindrical casing.
The drum (which acts as a piston) does not rotate, but is prevented from rotating
on the crank pin or excentric by a partition secured to and projecting from the
interior periphery of the cylindrical casing towards its axis, which partition extends
across the casing parallel to its axis and into a slot extending across the drum. By
suitable packing pieces carried on the drum and pressed by springs against the par-
tition the fluid on one side of the partition is prevented from passing through the
slot in the drum or piston to the other side of the partition.
On the crank or excentric which works the drum or piston there is an excentric
pulley or clip, by turning which on the crank or excentric the amount of excentricity
or radius of the crank or excentric is increased or diminished, so that the drum can be
adjusted to the interior of the casing, or the crauk or excentric is or may be made
adjustable for this purpose.
Provision is or may be made in one of the end covers to adjust or turn and secure
this excentric pulley or clip.
Elastic arrangements in connection with the crank pin are or may be used to
keep the exterior periphery of the drum in contact with the interior periphery of
the casing.
The fluid which is to pass through the apparatus is admitted by a port at one
side of the partition, and is allowed to pass out at a port at the other side of the
partition.
When fluid under pressure is allowed to enter on one side it acts between the
partition and casing, and that part of the drum or piston in contact with the casing,
and forces the excentric or crank round. When two apparatus are on the same shaft,
as two are connected, they will assist each other when so arranged over the centre,
and at each revolution the interior of the casing unoccupied by the drum will be
left full of fluid, which can then escape through the exit port, or this fluid will be
forced out (as in pumping or blowing) by the next revolution and a fresh supply
be left in the casing, and so on.
If the fluid be under pressure the shaft will give out power, if not under
pressure and power, be applied to rotate the shaft the fluid will be drawn in
and propelled through the apparatus.
When acting as a meter, the capacity of one revolution being known, a
counting apparatus is connected with the shaft to number its revolutions and
thus give the quantity of fluid which has passed through.

page_text: When used as a blower the parts are or may be made to fit as close as
possible without touching or rubbing.
I have described my Invention as being applicable as a motive power engine,
pump blower, or meter, but it is most economical and advantageous as a pump
for liquids, and the Drawings to be hereinafter described illustrate its applica-
tion more particularly as a pump.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 is a cross section. a is a hollow casing;
the central part is a cylinder and the hollow sides are inlet and outlet passages a¹
and a² and air vessels. The central cylinder is bored out and its edges are faced to
fit truly turned and faced lids that are secured to the hollow casing a by screws, as
shown, these lids a³ and a forming the ends of the cylinder or casing.
One end or lid (a) has a hollow stem in its centre, which is bored out to form
the bearing for the shaft b and the disc part b¹ on the shaft (b) in or open which
the crank pin b³ is formed.
The hollow stem also forms a stuffing box for the shaft (b) to prevent the escape
of fluid. In the disc part b¹ for the crank there is a groove formed for a metallic
packing ring 1. At the lower part of the casing there is a slot through which the
partition part c can be passed which is secured by set screws to the underside of
the casings (a), as shown. This partition (c) is made by preference of brass, and
its sides are planed parallel, and at its edges fits tightly into slots in the ends
or lids.
The drum d is formed as shown. It has a hole in its centre for the crank pin b²,
which has a brass tube 60 upon it, around which and between the exterior of the
brass tube and the interior of the hole in the drun d there is a vulcanized india-
rubber bush (b), the elasticity of which acts to keep the outer periphery of the
drum (d) against the inner periphery of the casing where the two surfaces should
touch and be kept close and tight as the crank rotates.
In the drum (d) there is a space in which two pieces of leather dare secured
by a block d², as shown, these leathers being the full width of the drum (<),
the ends of the leathers projecting from the periphery of the drum passing one
on one side, the other on the other side of the partition (c), and thus make a
tight joint.
A groove is cut at each end of the drum d for a packing ring (3 which is pressed
outwards against the faces of the ends or lids a³ and a' by spiral springs placed
in holes formed in the metal of the drum d.
If the shaft (b) is rotated one way the fluid will pass in at one passage (a) and
out at the other (a), and if the direction of rotation is reversed the direction in
which the fluid will pass will also be reversed.
Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are partial sections through the drum (d) in four positions.
In Fig. 3 the stroke of the drum is ending and beginning; in Fig. 4 the drum has
made what may be termed its quarter stroke; in Fig. 5, its half stroke; in Fig. 6,
its three quarter stroke; and in Fig. 3, is full stroke.
In Fig. 3 another mode of packing between the drum (d) and partition plate (c)
is shown. This is by boring a hole parallel to the axis of the drum for a cylindrical
plug made to fit as accurately as possible, this plug being in two halves d with a
piece planed from the middle part of each half as will be equal to the thickness of
the partition plate (c), these flat surfaces of the parts d working against the par-
tition plate (c).
Fig. 4 illustrates another mode of packing.
The edges of the V cavity of the drum are made round, as shown, and plates do
are made with hollows to fit the round parts, as shown, and these plates where
they rub upon the partition (c) are faced with leather or other suitable elastic
substances.
Fig. 7 is an end, and Fig. 8 a side view on an enlarged scale showing the con-
struction of the crank pin (62) and metallic and elastic bushes.
The metallic bush 65 is a tube with a square flange b* at one end which fits a
square hole or recess in one side of the drum d, as shown.

page_text: Thus arranged the tube b is prevented from rotating with the crank pin b²; be is
the outer bush of india-rubber.
The flange (b) on the bush is a little smaller than the recess in the drum to
allow for movement arising from the compression of the india-rubber bush b.
Fig. 9 is an end, and Fig. 10 a side view illustrating another modification for
giving the required elasticity to press the periphery of the drum & against the
interior periphery of the casing.
The hole in the axis of the drum d is bored larger at the two sides than in
the central part, and the crank pin 62 is turned to a smaller diameter in its contral
part than at its extremes, as shown, and an helical spring 68 is placed upon the crank
pin and secured thereon by a plate b and set screw.
The interior diameter of this helical spring 68 rests upon the enlarged part of the
crank pin b at its two ends, and the middle part of its exterior comes against the
lesser diameter of the hole in the drum d, and its lateral elasticity thus acts to keep
the periphery of the drum against the casing.
Another modification consists in making an excentric bush (as Fig. 1 will servo
to illustrate), the compound bush of metal and india rubber there shown being all
metal.
This excentric bush is connected with a spring wound round the crank pin, one
end of the spring being secured in a hole in the disc for the crank pin, or in the
crank pin, and the other end in a hole or notch in the eccentric bush.
When thus arranged the bush is twined round the crank pin to wind up the
spring, so that when the drum d is in the case (a) the uncoiling of the spring will
turn the excentric bush and keep the periphery of the druin & pressed against the
interior periphery of the casing.
Fig. 11 illustrates a mode of combining two pumps together in which the parts
are conveniently accessible.
The same inlet passage (a¹) and outlet passage (a) is common to both, and there
is a double partition plate c.
The two shafts for the two cranks 62 may be driven by independent belts, or they
may be connected by cranks or gearing.
I have now particularly described the nature of my Invention and the mode of
carrying it into effect, and claim as my Invention,--
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinbefore
described, and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the Drawings.
Secondly. The combination of a drum (d) and fixed partition plate (c), and the
modes of packing the joint between the drum (d) and plate (c), substantially as
liereinbefore described, and illustrated by the Drawings.
Thirdly. The elastic arrangements acting from the crank pin (b) upon the
drum (d) to keep its periphery pressed against the interior periphery of the casing (a),
substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated by the Drawings.
Fourthly. The arrangement and combination of two pumps together, substantially
as hereinbefore described, and illustrated by Fig. 11 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Lowry, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
TADY
GEO. LOWRY. (L.S.)