Improvements in or relating to Rotary Engines or Motors.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Rotary Engines or Motors.
I, HERBERT THOMAS, Engineer, of Hotel Balzac, Rue Balzac, Paris, in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be' as
follows:
This invention relates to improvements in rotary engines or motors. The
object of the invention is to provide a rotary engine of a simple, durable and
efficient construction in which the pressure of radially sliding pistons of a
rotating wheel or drum against the interior of the casing may be accurately
controlled, so as to reduce the friction to a minimum, in which these radially
sliding pistons may be automatically operated by steam or other pressure; and
in which the engine is adapted to operate under a high pressure efficiently and
without undue loss from friction.
The invention consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in
the novel combinations of parts and devices herein described.
The machine comprises a casing of the rotary engine, the cylindrical portion
of which encloses the rotary wheel or drum, and an enlarged portion at one side
forms the expansion chamber or working space of the engine. The rotary wheel
or drum is provided with a number of radially sliding pistons, wings or blades
preferably four in number, mounted to reciprocate in suitable radial slide-ways
formed in the rotary wheel or drum for each radially sliding piston. The rotary
drum is provided on its periphery with suitable packing for the sliding piston.
To reduce as far as possible the friction of the radially sliding pistons, on the
rolay drum roller bearings are provided for each of said pistons. The radially
sliding pistons are forced out against the enlarged portion of the casing by the
acting pressure within the casing: this being accomplished by providing the
rotary wheel or drum with a central chamber surrounding the axle or shaft,
and to which pressure fluid is admitted from the expansion chamber through
inlet pipes or passages, the same being preferably four in number or one for
cach piston. The wheel or drum is further provided with a series of radial
cylinders one for each piston, which cylinders are provided with pistons con-
nected to the outer piston or blade by a stem or rod. The shaft or axle to
which the rotary drum is secured is provided with a series of blocks, seats or
projections, one for each piston, the blocks being slightly smaller in area than
said pistons so that any pressure in the central chamber may act upon and
behind the pistons, and thus move said pistons from their seats against the
said blocks or projections. When the outer pistons are passing through the
circular or cylindrical portion of the casing the inner pistons are seated against
their blocks and thus their effective area is practically cut off, so that the pres-
sure in the central chamber exerts very little outward pressure against the
pistons, thus diminishing to a minimum the friction of said pistons against
the casing. But when the outer pistons are traversing the enlarged portion of

page_text: the casing the steam or other driving fluid in the central chamber in conjunc-
tion with the centrifugal action of the pistons themselves forces the inner pistons
off their seats on the blocks so that the pressure in the central chamber acts
against the whole area of the pistons and thus forces the pistons out against the
pressure in the expansion chamber and against the enlarged portion of the
casing. The inner pistons are made slightly larger in area than the end of the
outer pistons so that the pressure in the central chamber may force the inner
pistons outwards. By properly regulating the relative area of the inner pistons
and the end area of the outer pistons, the pressure of the pistons against the
casing may be so controlled as to reduce the friction of said pistons against the
casing to a minimum, while at the same time causing the pistons to be properly
operated with certainty and precision.
The admission of steam or other pressure to the expansion chamber is con-
trolled by a rotary valve operating in conjunction with a slide valve. As the
construction of the rotary engine is such as to adapt it to act very successfully
under very high pressure without occasioning undue friction, or other trouble
in the case of steam storage, it is preferred to operate it by admitting hot
water under pressure into the expansion chamber instead of steam, although
it may be used with either by simply changing the size or number of the ports
in the rotary valves. The rotary valve is a cylinder corresponding in length
substantially to the width of the rotary wheel or drum or its casing and serves
to admit the pressure fluid directly into the expansion or operating chamber.
The valve shaft is provided with a pinion meshing with a pinion on the main
axle or shaft said pinions being in the relation of two to one, so that the valve
makes two revolutions to one of the rotary wheel or drum and thus opens and
closes said valve four times in one revolution of the wheel or drum, or once for
each of its pistons. The rotary engine casing is provided with inlet and exit
ports one of course being the inlet port and the other the exit or exhaust port
when the engine is driven in one direction and vice versa when the engine is
driven in the opposite direction.
The casing is also provided with an exhaust port or passage connecting with
an exhaust outlet and the inlet and outlet ports are located close together or
in juxtaposition so that both ports may be spanned by the port in the slide
valve and so that the exhaust port or passage may be closed by the slide valve.
The slide valve may thus open the communication between the inlet port and
exhaust passage so that the exhaust steam may escape froin the chamber
and at the same time closes the communication between the rotary valve and
the inlet port, thus preventing any admission of pressure to the motor. On the
other side the slide valve does the opposite, tiz. closes the communication
between the inlet port and exhaust passage and opens the communication
between the rotary valve on this side and the inlet port. The engine is reversed
by simply shifting the positions of the two slide valves, this being done by the
.engineer operating the valve rod, which is connected by bell crank levers to a
handle within easy reach of the engineer, or its connection may be in any other
manner so that both slide valves are operated simultaneously. The slide valves
also serve as a means of controlling the admission of the active fluid to the
expansion chamber of the engine, as by simply pushing the slide valve more
or less in, the size of the passage or communication between the port of the
rotary valve and the expansion chamber is diminished, as well as the time
during which such communication is open, as the valve rotates and thus making
a longer or shorter cut off as desired. It will be seen from the preceding
description that the slide valves perform the dual function of slide valves and
admission or regulating valves.
The invention further relates to the combination with a rotary engine or
motor casing of a rotary wheel or drum, a series of radially sliding pistons on
said drum, a reservoir for power a pipe or connection leading from said reser-
voir to the engine valves, and valves for controlling the admission of the power

page_text: under pressure direct to the working chamber of the engine, a condensing tank,
an exhaust pipe leading from the engine to the condensing tank, and a pump
for forcing the water from said condensing tank back into the reservoir.
Dated this 20th day of June 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
- Improvements in or relating to Rotary Engines or Motors.
I, HERBERT THOMAS, Engineer, of Hotel Balzac, Rue Balzac, Paris, in the
Republic of France, 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:---
This invention relates to improvements in rotary engines or motors. The
object of the invention is to provide a rotary engine of a simple, durable and
efficient construction in which the pressure of radially sliding pistons of a
rotating wheel or drum against the interior of the casing may be accurately
controlled, so as to reduce the friction to a minimum, in which these radially
sliding pistons may be automatically operated by steam or other pressure; and
in which the engine is adapted to operate under a high pressure efficiently and
without undue loss from friction.
The invention consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in
the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown and described and
specified in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification;
Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a rotary engine according to
this invention, which is applied to the axle of a driving wheel; and
Figure 2 is a partial side view of a rotary engine with the top of the steam
or valve chest removed.
.
In the drawing like letters indicate like parts throughout all the figures.
The machine comprises a casing of the rotary engine, the cylindrical por-
tion B of which encloses the rotary wheel or drum C, and an enlarged por-
tion B at one side forms the expansion chamber or working space B of the
engine. The rotary wheel or drum C is provided with a number of radially
sliding pistons, wings or blades D preferably four in number, mounted to
reciprocate in suitable radial slideways C formed in the rotary wheel or drum C
for each radially sliding piston D. The rotary drum C is provided on its peri-
phery with suitable packings (for the sliding pistons. To reduce as far as
possible the friction of the radially sliding pistons on the rotary drum, roller
bearings care provided for each of said pistons D). The radially sliding
pistons are forced out against the enlarged portion B2 of the casing by the
acting pressure within the casing: this being accomplished by providing the
rotary wheel or drum C with a central chamber C surrounding the axle or
shaft A2, and to which pressure fluid is admitted from the expansion cham-
ber B through inlet pipes or passages C, the same being preferably four in
number or one for each piston 1). The wheel or drum is further provided
with a series of radial cylinders C one for each piston D, which cylinders are
provided with pistons & connected to the outer pistons or blades D by stems or
rods d. The shaft on axle A to which the rotary drum ( is secured is pro-
vided with a series of blocks, seats or projections 7, one for each piston d, the
blocks being slightly smaller in area than said pistons d, so that any pressure
in the central chamber C may act upon and behind the pistons and thus

page_text: move said pistons & from their seats on the said blocks or projections C as will
be readily understood from Figure 1. When the outer pistons D are passing
through the circular or cylindrical portion B₁ of the casing as illustrated at
the top of Figure 1, the inner pistons d are seated against their blocks C, and
thus their effective area is practically cut off, so that the pressure in the central
chamber C exerts very little outward pressure against these pistons d, thus
diminishing to a minimum the friction of said pistons against the casing. But
when the outer pistons are traversing the enlarged portion B2 of the casing
as illustrated at the lower part of Figure 1, the steam or other driving fluid in
the central chamber C, in conjunction with the centrifugal action of the
pistons themselves, forces the inner pistons d off their seats on the blocks C³,
so that the pressure in the central chamber C+ acts against the whole area of
the pistons d, and thus forces the pistons D out against the pressure in the
expansion chamber B and against the enlarged portion 132 of the casing. The
inner pistons are made slightly larger in area than the end of the outer
pistons I so that the pressure in the central chamber may force the inner
pistons. outwards. By properly regulating the relative area of the inner
pistons and the end area of the outer pistons D), the pressure of the pistons. D)
against the casing may be so controlled as to reduce the friction of said pistons
against the casing to a minimum, while at the same time causing the pistons D
to be properly operated with certainty and precision.
The admission of steam or other pressure to the expansion chamber 133 is con-
trolled by a rotary valve F, having a passage f, operating in conjunction with
a slide valve G. The rotary valve F is a cylinder corresponding in length sub-
stantially to the width of the rotary wheel or drum C or its casing, and serves
to admit the pressure fluid directly into the expansion or operating chamber 133.
The valve shaft is provided with a pinion F meshing with a pinion F3 on
the main axle or shaft A2, said pinions being in the relation of two to one, so
that the valve F makes two revolutions to one of the rotary wheel or drum C
and thus opens and closes said valve four times in one revolution of the wheel
or drum C, or once for each of its pistons D. The rotary engine casing is pro-
vided with inlet and exit ports bone of course being the inlet port and the
other the exit or exhaust port when the engine is driven in one direction, and
vice versa when the engine is driven in the opposite direction.
The casing is also provided with an exhaust port or passage connecting
with an exhaust outlet 62, and the ports and bare located close together or
in juxtaposition so that both ports may be spanned by the port in the slide
valve G, as indicated at the left in Figure 1; and so that the port or passage bl
may be closed by the slide valve G, as indicated at the right hand of Figure 1.
The slide valve G at the left hand of Figure may thus open communication
between the port and exhaust passage, so that the exhaust steam may escape
from the chamber B3, and at the same time close the communication between
the rotary valve and the port b, thus preventing any admission of pressure to
the motor. At the right hand of Figure I the slide valve G does the opposite,
viz. closes the communication between port and exhaust passage and opens
the communication between the rotary valve Fat this side and the port b.
The engine is reversed by simply shifting the positions of the two slide valves
GG, this being done by the engineer operating the valve rod G₁ which is
connected by bell crank levers to a handle within easy reach of the engineer,
or the connection may be in any other manner so that both slide valves are
operated simultaneously. In the example shown a toothed pinion G2 on the
shaft G acts on a rack on the back of the valve G. The slide valves G G also
serve as a means of controlling the admission of the active fluid to the expan-
sion chamber 133 of the engine, as by simply pushing the slide valve G more
or less in, the size of the passage or communication between the port of the
rotary valve and the expansion chamber B³ is diminished, as well as the time
during which such communication is open, as the valve F rotates and thus

page_text: making a longer or shorter cut off, as desired. F is the valve chamber or chest
in which the rotary valve F is mounted. It will be seen from the preceding
description that the slide valves perform the dual function of slide valves and
admission or regulating valves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination of a casing having a circular
or cylindrical part and an enlarged portion forming an expansion or working
chamber with a rotary wheel or drum provided with a series of radially mov-
able pistons or blades and a passage or central chamber communicating. with
the working chamber for the purpose of permitting the pressure of the motor
fluid to push outwards the radial pistons against the enlarged part of the easing,
substantially as described.
2. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination with a casing having a cir-
cular or cylindrical portion and an enlarged portion to form an expansion or
working chamber, of a rotary wheel or drum provided with a series of pistons,
and a central passage or chamber communicating with the working chamber
and a series of supplemental pistons for the purpose of moving the main
pistons radially outwards against the enlarged portion of the casing, said rotary
drum being provided with a series of seats or blocks of less area than the sup-
plemental pistons for the latter to come against to diminish their effective area
while the main pistons are passing the circular or non-operative portion of the
casing, substantially as described.
3. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination with a casing of a rotary
wheel or drum provided with a series of radially sliding pistons, and roller bear-
ings between said radially sliding pistons and their radial slide ways substan-"
tially as described.
4. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination with a casing of a rotary
drum or wheel, a series of radially sliding pistons, roller bearings for said
pistos, and packing devices for said pistons, substantially as described.
5. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination with a casing, of a rotary
wheel or drum, a series of radially sliding pistons, a pair of rotary valves and
a pair of slide valves, the slide valves performing the dual function of slide
valves and admission valve, substantially as described.
a
6. In a rotary engine or motor, an admission valve device arranged in the
passage leading from the admission tube to the working chamber comprising
distributing slide constituting part of the seat of a rotatory admission valve
and means for displacing at will said slide in order to reverse the direction of
rotation of the engine or. to regulate the quantity of steam or other fluid
admitted into the cylinder, substantially as described.
7. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination with a casing having two
inlet ports and two exhaust ports or passages of two slide valves each having
a port adapted to bridge an inlet and exhaust passage or to open the inlet port
and close the exhaust port substantially as described.
8. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination with a casing having a pair
of inlet ports and a pair of exhaust ports or passages of a pair of slide valves
each having a port adapted to bridge its inlet and exhaust ports or to open the
inlet port and close the outlet port and a pair of rotary valves substantially as
described.
9. The combination with a casing of a drum having an interior or central
passage or chamber pipes or passages for effecting communication between the
central chamber and working chamber of the casing, a series of main pistons
and a series of supplemental pistons connected to said main pistons substantially
as described.
10. The combination with a casing of a drum having an interior or central

page_text: communication or chamber provided with pipes or passages as C5 communicating
with the working chamber of the casing, a series of main pistons, a series of
supplemental pistons. connected to said main pistons and a shaft provided with
projections or blocks as C7, to form seats for said supplemental pistons, substan-
tially as described.
11. The complete rotary engine or motor substantially as described or illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th dor of March 1900
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.