PROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES OF APPARATUS, APPLICABLE ALSO AS A PUMP OB BLOWING APPARATUS
Year: 1864

page_text: Muuresex, Engmeer any ratent agent, for
PROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES OF APPARATUS, APPLICABLE ALSO AS A PUMP
OB
BLOWING APPARATUS."-A communication from abroad by Francis
Bernard de Keravenan, Civil Engineer, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
...October 1864.
I, WILLIAM CLARK,. of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES OR APPARATUS, APPLICABLE
ALSO AS A PUMP OR BLOWING APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved rotary engine, also serving as a
pump or blowing engine.
This apparatus is furnished; 1st, with a piston carried by a wheel forming
one side of the steam chamber or cylinder, and communicating motion to the
driving shaft; 2ndly, with a slide valve, also serving the double purpose of
LPrice 8d 1

page_text: admitting steam into the cylinder, and at same time forming a movable
bottom or abutment in said cylinder, which double action of the slide valve is
obtained simultaneously. The two principal parts are enclosed in a circular
chamber forming the remaining portion of the cylindrical surface.
This arrangement possesses the following advantages:-
1st, of ensuring great simplicity of construction, and at same time avoiding
friction, while none of the parts in motion are subject to any pressure; 2ndly,
the piston (the wheel and pallet) follow the circulating motion of the steam,
and increase its useful effect in consequence of the fluid not being subjected
to any friction during its course; 3rdly, there are no spaces in the cylinder to
become uselessly filled with steam, as the slide valve closes at the exact
moment the escape is uncovered; 4thly, the dead point may be reduced to
one-twentieth or more of the course of the piston in a single engine, while for
coupled engines there will be no dead point; 5thly, the slide valve, as before
observed, serving a double purpose, viz., to distribute the steam at same time
that it forms a bottom or abutment for the cylinder, also contributes to simplify
the parts; 6thly, the rotary engine herein described may also be readily
worked expansively or reversed in its action; 7thly, the steam finds free
escape in front of the piston as the only resistance which the latter has to
overcome is the ordinary atmospheric pressure. -
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 of
which shows an elevation of the apparatus, one of the sides of the cylinder
being removed; Fig. 2 is a transverse section, showing the parts for regulating
the distribution of the steam.
a, framing of the apparatus, which is in this case mounted on feet b;
c, cylinder, all the parts of which are turned in a lathe, and bolted to framing a
by means of lugs; the cylinder is also closed by a cover c bolted thereto.
d, valve box cast on cylinder c or otherwise connected thereto; e is the
admission orifice for the steam or other fluid in the valve box; /, escape
orifice made in the side of the cylinder c as near the valve box as possible, with a
view to diminish the duration of the dead point; g, slide valve formed of a
hollow parallelogram through the orifice e, of which the steam is introduced
into the cylinder, its solid part forming at same time an abutment in the
cylinder against which the steam abuts to act on the pallet or piston of the
driving wheel before mentioned; i, admission orifice of the steam in slide
valve g, which orifice is extended horizontally in order that a very slight
movement of the slide will suffice for uncovering said orifice; i, purge cock;
k, wheel turning in the interior of the fixed cylinder c, and fitting steam-tight
therein by simple contact without pressure with the inner surface of said

page_text: cylinder; t, piston fixed on the periphery of wheel k, receiving the pressure
and thrust of the steam, and fitting steam-tight by simple contact, but without
pressure. This wheel may also form part of cover c¹ of cylinder. and turn
with it, in which case the cover c' would be furnished with a small groove on
its periphery in which water would be caused to circulate for the purpose of
forming a liquid joint between the cover and cylinder: m. driving shaft, on
which is fixed the wheel k: n. bearings in which shaft m turns; o, stuffing
boxes: p. fly wheel; q. driving pullies: r, cam or eccentric fixed on shaft m
for actuating rod s governing slide valve g: t, cross head. to which are
adapted two small spiral springs u. for producing the quick descent of slide g
when working at high speeds. A weight fixed to the head of the slide
may also be used instead of these springs, as seen in Fig. 9. v. grease cock
for the introduction of the oil or grease into the cylinder necessary for its
lubrication. The distributing slide valve g. which is here placed at the upper
part of the cylinder may be placed at any other point of the circumference of
cylinder c. The valve may also be placed on the flat side of the cylinder, as
represented in Fig. 7, and will then move parallel to the shaft instead of
perpendicular thereto. In this case the slide is regulated by a lever 1.
receiving motion from a cam keyed on the driving shaft. The slide g. which
is here represented as being governed by a cam and rod, may also be worked
by the piston itself, see Fig. 8, for which purpose the abutting surfaces of the
slide and piston are inclined in such manner that the latter will raise the slide
and then pass beyond it. It will thus be understood that with this arrange-
ment all dead points may be prevented by coupling two or more engines on
the same shaft, and varying the points for the introduction and escape of
steam. The steam, which is here shown as escaping from the cylinder, may
also pass out through the valve itself, by dividing it internally in this manner
by opening and closing cocks suitably arranged the engine may be worked
in either direction at will.
This improvement is represented in Figs. 9 and 10 of the accompanying
Drawings, in which Fig. 9 shows a sectional elevation of a double slide
valve, and Fig. 10 a horizontal section of same. 2, inlet for the steam.
having two branches 3. 4. communicating with compartments 5, 6, of the
double valve. 7, cock for turning the steam into one or other of the
branches 3, 4; 8, 9, cocks serving to place the valve in communication with
the air to allow of the escape of the steam, and with cock 7 during its
admission. Thus by means of cocks 7, 8. 9, the steam may be admitted into
I may
one valve and escape at the other, and so work in either direction.
also in lieu of cam r and rods employ the arrangement represented at Fig. 11,

page_text: 10, cam, keyed on the driving shaft, having a notch 11; 12, frame mounted
on the lower end of rod 13 of the slide valve, within which frame the cam 10
works. One or more spiral springs are also applied to assist in raising the
slide. From the foregoing it will be understood that the cam 10 on rotating
being in frictional contact with the part 14 fixed on the frame, will produce a
downward motion of the slide, and so cause the steam to be admitted into the
cylinder, while when said part 14 comes opposite the space 11 in the cam it
will enter it by the action of the spiral spring, and so raise the slide to allow the
piston to pass it. I may also couple two cylinders together, the larger one of
which serves as the exhaust of the other and smaller one, thus utilizing the
expansion of the steam in two separate cylinders in the manner of Wolffs'
engines (patented April 26th, 1834, No. 6600,) I use the term cylinder from
its analogous action.
Figs. 3 and 4 of the Drawings represent a further modification of the
rotary engine herein described, Fig. 3 showing a horizontal section, and Fig. 4
a sectional elevation of same. The same letters are used for indicating similar
parts to those in the preceding description, and need no further reference.
15, fly wheel, having a piston 16 mounted at right angles to its axis, which
rotates in a quadrangular annular chamber 17, which may however be of
other form if desired; by adjusting the nut 18 a perfect fit is ensured between
the turned surface of the rim of the fly wheel, and the equally true surface of
the cylinder, while if necessary packing may be applied throughout the length
of the annular groove 19.
The distribution of steam may be effected in the manner represented at.
Fig. 6, or as shown in detail, Figs. 3 and 5. 20, hollow fixed shaft, through
which the steam finds admission; on this shaft works a hollow pallet 21,
serving the double purpose before mentioned of admitting steam and forming
an abutment in the cylinder: this pallet is actuated by a cam 22, and also by
the fly wheel, and on coming in contact with the side of the recess 23, in
which it is fitted, as shown in red lines, the admission of steam is cut off.
This latter arrangement is however inapplicable when using the apparatus as
a pump or blower, and can only be worked in one direction.
The Invention thus consists in the improved arrangements of rotary engines,
together with the various modifications and applications of the same, all as
herein described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, hearing date the Twenty-fifth day of October. in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY
ENGINES OR APPARATUS, APPLICABLE ALSO AS A PUMP OR BLOWING APPARATUS" &
communication to me from abroad by Francis Bernard de Keravenan, Civil
Engineer, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Clark, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to an improved rotary engine, also serving as a pump
or blowing engine.
The apparatus is furnished, 1st., with a piston carried by a wheel, forming
one side of the steam chamber or cylinder, and communicating motion to the
driving shaft; 2ndly, with a slide valve, also serving the double purpose of
admitting steam into the cylinder and at same time forming a movable
bottom or abutment in said cylinder, which double action of the slide valve is

page_text: obtained simultaneously. The two principal parts are enclosed in a circular
chamber forming the remaining portion of the cylindrical surface.
This arrangement possesses the following advantages:-
1st., of ensuring great simplicity of construction and at same time avoiding
friction while none of the parts in motion are subject to any pressure:
2ndly, the piston (the wheel and pallet) follow the circulating motion of the
steam and increase its useful effect, in consequence of the fluid not being
subjected to any friction during its course; 3rdly, there are no spaces in the
cylinder to become uselessly filled with steam, as the slide valve closes at the
exact moment the escape is uncovered: 4thly, the dead point may be reduced
to one-twentieth or more of the course of the piston in a single engine, while
for coupled engines there will be no dead point; 5thly. the slide valve as
before observed serving a double purpose, viz., to distribute the steam at
same time that it forms a bottom for the cylinder also contributes to simplify
the parts; 6thly, the rotary engine herein described may also be readily
worked expansively or reversed in its action; 7thly, the steam finds free
escape in front of the piston, as the only resistance which the latter has to
overcome is the ordinary atmospheric pressure.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 of
which shows an elevation of the apparatus, one of the sides of the cylinder
being removed; Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing the parts for regulating
the distribution of the steam.
a framing of the apparatus, which is in this case mounted on feet b;
c, cylinder, all the parts of which are turned in a lathe, and bolted to framing a
by means of lugs; the cylinder is also closed by a cover c¹ bolted thereon:
d, valve box cast on cylinder c or otherwise connected thereto; e is the
admission orifice for the steam or other fluid in the valve box: f. escape orifice
made in the side of cylinder c as near the valve box as possible, with a view
to diminish the duration of the dead point; g, slide valve formed of a hollow
parallelogram, through the orifice of which the steam is introduced into the
cylinder, its solid part forming at same time an abutment in the cylinder
against which the steam abuts to act on the pallet or piston of the driving
wheel before mentioned; i, admission orifice of the steam in slide valve g,
which orifice is extended horizontally in order that a very slight movement of
the slide will suffice for covering or uncovering said orifice; i, purge cock;
k, wheel turning in the interior of the fixed cylinder c, and fitting steam-tight
therein by simple contact without pressure with the inner surface of said
cylinder; 1, piston fixed on the periphery of wheel k, receiving the pressure and
thrust of the steam, and fitting steam-tight by simple contact without pressure,

page_text: This wheel may also form part of cover c¹ of cylinder and turn with it, in
which case the cover c¹ would be furnished with a small groove on its
periphery in which water would be caused to circulate for the purpose of
forming a liquid joint between the cover and cylinder; m, driving shaft, on
which is fixed the wheel k; n, bearings in which shaft m turns; o, stuffing
boxes; p, fly wheel; q, driving pullies; 7, cam or eccentric fixed on shaft m
for actuating rod s, governing slide valve g; t, cross head, to which are
adapted two small spiral springs u for producing the quick descent of slide g
when working at high speeds; a weight a fixed to the head of the slide may
also be used instead of these springs, as seen in Fig. 9; v. grease cock for the
introduction of the oil or grease into the cylinder necessary for its lubrication.
The distributing slide valve g which is here placed at the upper part of the
cylinder, may be at any other point of the circumference of cylinder c. The
valve may also be placed on the flat side of the cylinder, as represented in
Fig. 7, and will then be parallel to the shaft instead of being perpendicular
thereto. In this case the slide is regulated by a lever 1, receiving motion
from a cam keyed on the driving shaft. The slide g, which is here repre-
sented as being governed by a cam and rod, may also be worked by the piston
itself, see Fig. 8, for which purpose the abutting surfaces of the slide and
piston are inclined in such manner that the latter will raise the slide and then
pass beyond it.
It will thus be understood that with this arrangement all dead points may
be prevented by coupling two or more engines on the same shaft and varying
the points for the introduction and escape of steam.
The steam which is here shown as escaping from the cylinder may also pass
out through the valve itself by dividing it internally, in this manner by opening
and closing cocks suitably arranged the engine may be worked in either
direction at will.
This improvement is represented in Figs. 9 and 10 of the accompanying
Drawings, in which Fig. 9 shows a second elevation of the double slide valve,
and Fig. 10, a horizontal section of same.
'
2, inlet for the steam, having two branches 3, 4, communicating with com-
partments 5, 6, of the double valve; 7, cock for turning the steam into one
or other of the branches 3, 4; 8, 9, cocks serving to place the valve in
communication with the air (to allow of the escape of the steam) and with
cock 7 during its admission. Thus by means of cocks 7, 8. 9, the steam may
be admitted into one valve and escape at the other, and so work in either
direction. I may also in lieu of cam and rod s employ the arrangement
represented at Fig. 11. 10, cam keyed on the driving shaft having a notch 11;

page_text: 12, frame mounted on the lower end of a rod 13 of the slide valve, within
which frame the cam 10 works. One or more spiral springs are also applied
to assist in raising the slide.
From the foregoing it will be understood that the cam 10 on rotating
being in frictional contact with the part 14 fixed on the frame will produce a
downward motion of the slide, and so cause the steam to be admitted into the
cylinder, while when said part 14 comes opposite the space 11 in the cam, it
will enter it by the action of the spiral spring, and so raise the slide to allow
the piston to pass it.
1. may also employ the arrangement represented in front and side views and
plan at Figs. 14, 15, and 16. 24, stem of slide valve; 25, lever oscillating
on a centre 26 in a support 27 fixed to the case of the slide valve; this lever
terminates at the one end in a fork 28; 29, counterbalance sliding on a
rod 30, and forming an extension of lever 25; 31, 31, rods jointed at the one
part to the head of rod 24 of slide valve, and at the other to fork 28; 32, rod
jointed to lever 25, and receiving a vertical rectilinear up-and-down motion
from a cam keyed on the driving shaft. The rod 31 of slide 24 is also
extended and passes through a guide 33. By the employment of counter-
balance 29 a cam may be used for raising the rod 32 in order to produce the
descent of the slide, the counterbalance operating the descent of the rod for
raising sd slide. These positions of the slide are represented by the red lines
in Fig. 14.
I may also couple two cylinders together, the larger one of which serves as
the exhaust for the other and smaller one, thus utilizing the expansion of the
steam in two separate cylinders in the manner of Wolf's engines.
I use
the term cylinder from its analogous action.
Figs. 3 and 4 of the Drawings represent a further modification of the
rotary engine, herein described, Fig. 3 showing a horizontal section and
Fig. 4 a sectional elevation of same. The same letters are used for indicating
similar parts to those in the preceding description, and need no further
reference. 15, fly wheel having a piston 16 mounted at right angles to its axis,
which rolates in a quadrangular (in cross section) annular chamber 17, which
may, however, be of other form if desired. By adjusting the nut 18 a perfect
fit is insured between the turned surface of the rim of the fly wheel and the
equally true surface of the cylinder, while if necessary packing may be applied
throughout the length of the annular groove 19.
The distribution of steam may be effected in the manner represented at
Fig. 6, or as shown in detail. Figs. 3 and 5. 20, hollow fixed shaft through
which the steam finds admission; on this shaft works a hollow pallet 21,

page_text: serving the double purpose, before mentioned, of admitting steam and forming
an abutment in the cylinder; this pallet is actuated by a cam 22, and also by
the fly wheel, and on coming in contact with the side of the recess 23 in
which it is fitted, as shown in red lines, the admission of steam is cut off; this
latter arrangement is not, however, applicable when using the apparatus as a
pump or blower, and can only be worked in one direction.
I have also represented, at Fig. 12, in vertical section, and Fig. 13 in front
elevation, another arrangement of rotary engine with a view to obviate the
wear which might take place with the square piston.
For this purpose I
replace the latter by a piston a of convex form working in a catch g made in
the rim of the wheel or pulley f. Between the base of this piston and the
rim of wheel are placed springs or other elastic packings c, or it may be a
movable metallic packing which constantly presses the upper and convex part
of piston a against the sides of cylinder d; this pressure may be regulated
by means of a nut e fitted under the rim of wheel f. This arrangement of
piston a acting within the rim of wheel also enables the engine to be modified
in its arrangement, and, as I will now proceed to describe, . by lengthening
piston a in a socket h made inside the rim of wheel f, it may be made hollow,
and act as a slide valve, serving in this manner both as a piston and steam dis-
tributor, there only remains to render the base of the cylinder a fixture, which
in the preceding arrangements formed the slide valve. In order to obtain a
perfect steam-tight fit between the casing d and the rim of wheel forming
the lateral surfaces of the cylinder, I make a concave annular space i, in
which the rim of wheel fits with slight friction, leaving about one-eighth to
one-tenth of an inch space round it. The interior of said cavity also contains
the necessary material for forming a good packing i, an iron ring k
enclosing the whole, being regulated by screws applied on the exterior for
exerting sufficient pressure to produce a steam-tight joint without interfering
with the free motion of the engine.
The following is the arrangement serving as a substitute for the cam or
eccentric used for working the valve:-The slide valve may be readily removed
to allow of the passage of the piston in the following manner. The square
casing in which the distributing slide valve works is extended so as to form a
small cylinder of a length proportionate to the extent of motion of the slide
valve; the stem which terminates this slide traverses the length of the small
cylinder, and is furnished with a small piston suitably disposed, which is set
in motion at the desired times either by introducing steam or compressed
atmospheric air. This arrangement is only applicable for the engine first
herein described.

page_text: I have before mentioned that this improved engine may also serve as a
rotary pump in such manner that each throw of the piston will furnish a
quantity of water equal to the known annular capacity of the cylinder, so that
by reckoning the number of revolutions of shaft m, the quantity of water
passed through the pump will be ascertained. The apparatus may also serve
in this manner for registering the flow, being arranged as in the apparatus
represented at Fig. 1, except that the slide valve is made solid in order to
form an abutment in the cylinder, which has also junctions on each side, one
serving for the introduction of water and the other for its escape. When the
apparatus is used for measuring the flow of water, the slide valve in its motion
is caused to act on a small pointer, so as to effect the perforation of a strip or
roll of paper which is unwound simultaneously with the motion of the engine,
or the slide valve may be connected with any other suitable gearing, such as
clock mechanism. so as to indicate each movement of the slide valve, and
consequently the quantity of water supplied. the dimensions of the cylinder
being known.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is. the improved rotary
apparatus, herein described. also the various modifications of the same, and the
applications thereof, all as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I. the said William Clark. have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of April. in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)