IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES, PUMPS, BLOWERS, AND FLUID METERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Grigorewitsch Imschenetzki, Court Counsellor,
Alexander Michailowitsch Imschenetzki, Staff Captain, and Sergei Michailo-
witsch Imschenetzki, all of St. Petersburg, in the Empire of Russia, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES, PUMPS, BLOWERS, AND
FLUID METERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Grigorewitsch
Imschenetzki, Alexander Michailowitsch Imschenetzki, and Sergei Michailo-
witsch Imschenetzki at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
27th July 1880.
MICHAEL GRIGOREWITSCH IMSCHENETZKI, Court Counsellor, ALEXANDER
MICHAILOWITSCH IMSCHENETZKI, Staff Captain, and SERGEI MICHAILOWITSCH
IMSCHENETZKI, all of St. Petersburg, in the Empire of Russia. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROTARY ENGINES, PUMPS, BLOWERS, AND FLUID METERS."
The object of this Invention is to construct rotary engines and other rotary
apparatus having an axis or shaft placed eccentrically in a cylinder, such shaft
being fitted with a piston or board capable of sliding in a slot formed in the shaft,
with a "cylinder" formed with an interior contour, curve, or periphery of a peculiar
nature. The peculiar nature or feature of this curve is that the centre of the axis
or shaft is the focus, and that all radii passing through such focus are of exactly
the same length. We are thus able to construct a cylinder in which the piston or
board working in the slot formed through the centre of the shaft in every position
of its rotary path shall fit the interior of the "cylinder" at both ends or sides.
Many curves have the peculiar aforesaid property, but we will now describe modes
of constructing same which we find practically useful for the purpose.
According to one mode we draw a straight line of the cylinder diameter required,
say, for instance, 4 inches; from centre of line with 2 inches radius describe a
circle; mark a point one third (that is 11%) from one end of diameter and two
thirds from the other; this point is then the focus. Then lay a scale 4 inches
long across the focus, and while keeping one end following the circle, pass it all
round and mark the curved coordinate line described with the other end. This is
however not yet the true curve. To find the true curve several radii "vector" will

page_text: next have to be drawn (the more the better), and the parts cut off which are
between the circle line and the curve described by the scale are to be halved. The
circle lines falling in the middle of these parts cut off being joined, half of the true
coordinate line is found. The other half may be found in the same manner, or one
end of the scale may simply be carried along the true half curve, and the other end
will then describe the other true half.
"
Or according to another method, draw a similar straight line equal the diameter of
'cylinder," say, 4 inches; describe a circle thereon with a radius of 21%, inches;
draw also a number of radii. To find a number of points through which to describe the
coordinate curve, add in the first quadrant of the circle to the radius cosinus of the
angle formed by the radius and the diameter line; in the second quarter subtract
cosinus from the radius; in the third quadrant subtract similarly, and in the
fourth quadrant add. By uniting the points so formed the required coordinate line
is found.
"
To apply this system of construction to, say, a rotary pump, we proceed as
follows: The "cylinder" having been formed with the inner curve described, we
fit a solid or hollow shaft in the focus of same, and make it of such a diameter that
it touches the inside of the cylinder in one point. The shaft is formed with a slot
right through, and in this slot we fit a flat board or partition capable of sliding
therein and forming the piston of the pump, being of the width or diameter of the
cylinder" through the focus. The liquid inlet and outlet openings are arranged
on each side of the place of contact between shaft and cylinder. The latter is
closed at each end as usual with a cover with stuffing boxes for the shaft to pass
through. The piston may be fitted with gutta percha, or leather, or other packing,
where it is in contact with the interior of the cylinder. A chamber communicating
between cylinder outlet and air vessel may form the bed plate, on which also an
intermediate shaft may be mounted having a tooth wheel gearing into a pinion on
the cylinder shaft. The latter may conveniently be hollow and of a larger
diameter inside the cylinder, and solid at each end. A packing of leather or other
material may also be used in the cylinder at the place of contact with the shaft,
and at each end of the cylinder we prefer to apply a leather packing disc the size of
the cover.
As applied to blowing fans, exhausting fans, and fluid meters, the same main
features of construction may be applied, but modified of course according to speed
of rotation required and to the fluid used in the cylinder.
For rotary steam and other engines the driving pulley may be placed on the
cylinder shaft direct, and the engine may be fitted with governor, feed pump, and
other usual appendages as required. These engines are particularly suitable for
cases where high speed of rotation is required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Michael Grigorewitsch Imschenetzki, Alexander Michailowitsch
Imschenetzki, and Sergei Michailowitsch Imschenetzki in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th January 1881.
MICHAEL GRIGOREWITSCH IMSCHENETZKI, Court Counsellor, ALEXANDER
MICHAILOWITSCH IMSCHENETZKI, Staff Captain, and SERGEI MICHAILOWITSCH
IMSCHENETZKI, all of St. Petersburg, in the Empire of Russia. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROTARY ENGINES, PUMPS, BLOWERS, AND FLUID METERS."
The object of this Ivention is to construct rotary engines and other rotary
apparatus having an axis or shaft placed eccentrically in a cylinder, such shaft
being fitted with a piston or board capable of sliding in a slot formed in the shaft,
with a cylinder formed with an interior contour, curve, or periphery of a peculiar
nature, as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings. The peculiar nature or
feature of this curve is that the centre of the axis or shaft is the focus F, and all
radii B, B, B', B', B2, B3, B³, B³, and so on, passing through such focus F are of
exactly the same length. We are thus able to construct a cylinder in which the
piston or board working in the slot formed through the centre of the shaft in every
position of its rotary path shall fit the interior of the cylinder at both ends or sides.
Many curves have the peculiar aforesaid property, but we will now describe modes
of constructing same which we find practically useful for the purpose.
According to one mode, as illustrated in Figure 2, we draw a straight line A, B, of
the cylinder diameter required, say, for instance, 4 inches; from centre O of line'
with 2 inches radius describe a circle; mark a point F one third (that is 14") from
one end of diameter and two third from the other end B; this point F is then the
focus. Then lay a scale 4 inches long across the focus F, as shown, and while
keeping one end following the circle, pass it all round and mark the curved
coordinate line described with the other end. This is however not yet the true
curve. To find the true curve several "vector" radii will next have to be drawn (the
more the better), and their part cut off which are between the circle line and the
curve described by the scale are to be halved. The circle lines falling in the middle
of these parts cut off being joined, the right hand half of the true coordinate line is
found. The other or left hand half may be found in the same manner, or one end of
the scale may simply be carried along the true half curve, and the other end will
then describe the other true half.
Or according to another method, as illustrated in Figure 3, draw a similar straight
line A, B, equal the diameter of cylinder, say, 4 inches; describe from the centre F
a circle thereon with a radius of 24 inches; draw also a number of radii. To find
a number of points through which to describe the coordinate curve, add in the first
quadrant of the circle to the radii cosinus of the angle formed by the radius and
the diameter line A, B ; in the second quarter subtract cosinus from the radius;
in the third quadrant subtract similarly, and in the fourth quadrant add. By
uniting the points so found the required coordinate line is found, having the point F
for its focus. The mode of finding the points is as follows:-With an angle of 0°
the cosine is equal to the radius F, B; by adding thereto cosine 0°, that is, of
radius, we obtain the the point K'; by the next following angle B, F, B¹, add of
its cos. =
F, L; by adding this to the radius F, B¹, we obtain the point I, and so on.
By the angle of 90° the cosine
= O, hence the point to be found coincides with
the point C in the circle. By the angle B, F, C, a negative cosine is obtained,
and after subtracting = F, P, from the radius F, C, we obtain the desired
point P' by the angle of 180°, the cosine = 1, and by deducting of the radius
A, F, we obtain the point R'. The same method is employed in the third and
fourth quadrants below the line A, B.

page_text: To apply this system of construction to, say, a rotary pump, we proceed as
follows: The cylinder, made of cast iron, gun metal, or other suitable material,
having been formed with the inner curve described, we fit a solid or hollow shaft
in the focus of same, and make it of such a diameter that it touches the inside of
the cylinder in one point; Figure 4 shews a solid shaft S. The shaft is formed with
a slot right through, as shewn, and in this slot we fit a flat board or partition K, L,
capable of sliding therein, and forming the piston of the pump, being of the width
or diameter of the "cylinder" through the focus, as shewn in Figure 5. The liquid
inlet opening B and outlet opening R are arranged on each side of the place of contact
between shaft S and cylinder. The latter is closed at each end as usual with a
cover with stuffing boxes for the shaft to pass through. In Figure 5 as the shaft S
revolves the piston K, L, revolves therewith, and at the same time slides there and
back in its slot all the time, the edges of the piston touching the inside of the
cylinder all the time, and the ends of the piston touching the inside of the cylinder
covers. The action for a fire engine or other pump will be as follows:-Supposing
the piston is in the position shown in Figure 5, then the interior of the cylinder is
divided in two parts A and B, both at starting containing air. By turning the shaft S
one fourth round, the piston K, L, will assume the position shown in Figure 6, and
the cylinder is then divided in three parts A, B, and C. A partial vacuum is formed
in A, which thus becomes charged with water from the inlet opening or suction
side P. In B and C there is still air. By a further one quarter turn the space C
is diminished, and the space A increased; the air goes out of C, and A becomes
charged with water. By a half revolution of the shaft the end K of the piston
will have expelled all air from C, and the cylinder be divided in two halves A
and B, as shewn in Figure 7, A being filled with water, and B with air. By
comparing Figures 5 and 7 it will be seen that by a half turn of the shaft the air has
been expelled from C, and by a full turn all the air from B, and water begins to
flow out from the outlet R. The piston may be fitted with gutta percha, or leather,
or other packing, where it is in contact with the interior of the cylinder. A
chamber communicating between cylinder outlet and air vessel may form the bed
plate, on which also an intermediate shaft may be mounted having a tooth wheel
gearing into a pinion on the cylinder shaft. The latter may conveniently be
hollow and of a larger diameter inside the cylinder, and solid at each end.
A packing of leather or other material may also be used in the cylinder at the place
of contact with the shaft, and at each end of the cylinder we prefer to apply a
leather packing disc the size of the cover.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal, and Figure 9 a transverse section through a pump
suitable for fire engine purposes. The shaft S is hollow in the cylinder U and solid
at each end, where it passes out through stuffing boxes; P¹ is the pipe from the
suction hose and leading to the inlet opening P. The water passes out by the
outlet opening R to the pipe R', which is connected to the delivery hose or pipe;
D is an air vessel on the delivery side. The piston K, L, is fitted with packing
pieces, which may be gutta percha or of wood, or of a metal of a softer nature than
the metal of the pump cylinder U, and with metallic or other springs behind.
The latter may be formed with flanges below for bolting it to a bed plate or frame.
Figure 10 shews another arrangement of pump cylinder U in which the inlet P
and outlet R are arranged at the top; V is a packing of metal with spring or
springs behind at the place of contact between the cylinder U and the shaft S.
The piston K, L, is also in this case fitted with soft metal or other packing or
wearing pieces along each edge; in the space behind the packing may be placed
metallic springs or a piece of india rubber.
As applied to blowing fans, exhausting fans, and fluid meters, the same main
features of construction may be applied, but modified of course according to speed
of rotation required and to the fluid used in the cylinder.
For rotary steam and other engines the driving pulley may be placed on the
cylinder shaft direct, and the engine may be fitted with governor, feed pump, and

page_text: other usual appendages as required. These engines are particularly suitable for
cases where high speed of rotation is required.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, and the
mode in which it is or may be carried into effect, we declare that we claim,-
The construction of cylinders of the peculiar interior curvilinear form herein-
before described and applied to rotary engines, pumps, blowing and exhausting
fans, and fluid meters, the said cylinder having a revolving shaft which is in contact
with it, and which has a slot through for a partition or piston to work in, both the
outer edges of which piston touch the interior of the cylinder during the entire
revolution of the shaft therein, as set forth, also specially as described with reference
to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Michael Grigorewitsch Imschenetzki,
Alexander Michailowitsch Imschenetzki, and Sergei Michailowitsch Imsche-
netzki, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifteenth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
MICHAEL GRIGOREWITSCH IMSCHENETZKI.
(L.S.)