Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Rotary Engines.
d
We, GEORGE HARRY BIDDLES, of 7, Holland, Road, Leicester, Engineer, and
SAMUEL WALTER WILKINSON, of 87A, Humberstone Road,. Leicester, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in rotary engines, designed so that the
power used is transmitted direct from the piston to the main shaft and may be
adapted for any purpose as an engine operated by steam or other motive power,
or used in a modified form as a pump. Such engines may also be worked
expansively and started, stopped or reversed by means hereinafter mentioned.
The cylinder has formed therein an annular space or chamber, in which travels
a piston forming part of or connected to a flanged disc keyed on or otherwise
suitably secured to the main shaft
The piston. is radial to the said shaft and suitably packed by a spring piston
ring held in position by any convenient means.
The side of the cylinder is provided with rings or the like held in position in'
recesses by any suitable means. The cheeks of the cylinder may be provided
with bearings together with stuffing-boxes and glands if found desirable and
the said cylinder may be secured to a bed or foundation plate to accommodate
bearings for the engine shaft or for other requirements.
The abutment or resistance valve may be circular in shape preferably with a
face or recess formed on the periphery thereof, the edges formed on the said
periphery by the face or recess, bearing at desired times on the periphery of the
disc sufficiently tightly to prevent any passage of steam from one side, to the
other in the cylinder..
:
The said valve may be suitably mounted upon a rocking shaft one end of
which passes through a stuffing-box and is actuated by a cam, or equivalent
means from the main shaft. By these means the abutment or resistance, valve
may be slightly turned to allow the piston to pass and then immediately resume
the closed position.
The steam or other motive power may be admitted to the cylinder through
ports formed in the well known manner and connecting the steam chest to the
cylinder.
The steam chest has mounted therein a circular cut off valve carried upon a
spindle passing through the steam chest and operated preferably by a cam on
the main shaft and a double ended lever. The said cut off valve may be
reversed when desired by the said means.
The action of the engine is as follows:-
Steam may be introduced through a supply pipe into the steam chamber and
the cut off being in the proper position allows the steam to pass through the
port or opening to the cylinder, the force of the steam is then exerted between
the abutment or resistance valve and the piston and the latter is thereby caused
to rotate taking with it the disc and consequently revolving the main shaft and

page_text: operating the cut off expansion valve by any suitable connecting means, also
revolving the abutment valve spindle by the cam on the main shaft which at a
given time transmits motion to the said abutment valve so as to turn it and
allow the piston to pass and immediately return to its previous position across
the cylinder.
Suitable means of egress are provided for the exhaust steam through an
exhaust port which is preferably always open.
Governors may be mounted upon the main shaft and connected by means
of levers to a throttle valve fixed conveniently on the steam chest.
To adapt the mechanism for pumping purposes, at a point near the abutment
or resistance valve flanges or other desired means of connection for pipes may
be provided, the suction pipe being preferably on one side of the cylinder and
the delivery pipe opposite. The abutment valve may be operated from the main
shaft as before described.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
We, GEORGE HARRY BIDDLES, of 7, Holland Road, Leicester, Engineer, and
SAMUEL WALTER WILKINSON, of 87A, Humberstone Road, Leicester, Engineer,
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:―
Our invention relates to improvements in rotary engines so designed that
the power is transmitted direct from the piston to the main shaft and
adapted for any purpose as an engine operated by steam or other motive power,
or used in a modified form as a pump. Such engines may also be worked
expansively.
The cylinder has formed therein an annulai space or chamber in which travels
a piston forming part of or connected to a flanged disc, the latter being keyed
on or otherwise suitably secured to the main shaft.
The said disc is radial to the said shaft and packed by rings let into the inside
faces of the ends of the cylinder. The outside cheeks or faces of the said ends
may be provided with bearings, together with stuffing-boxes and glands if found
desirable, and the said cylinder may be secured to a foundation plate to accom-
modate bearings for the engine or for other requirements.
The abutment or resistance valve may be circular in shape preferably with
recesses formed on the periphery thereof, one of the edges on the said periphery
bearing at desired times on the periphery of the disc sufficiently tightly to
prevent the passage of steam from one side to the other in the cylinder.
The said abutment valve may be fixed upon a rocking-shaft the ends of the
latter passing through stuffing-boxes formed on the cylinder ends, the said
rocking shaft being actuated by a cam or equivalent means from the main shaft.
By such means the abutment or resistance valve may be slightly turned to allow
the piston to pass and then immediately resume its closed position across the
cylinder. The steam may be admitted to the cylinder through ports formed in
the well-known manner and connecting the steam chest with the cylinder.
The invention will be more clearly understood upon reference to the drawings

page_text: accompanying this specification, the same letters of reference being used
throughout the several figures to refer to like parts.
Figure 1 is a cross vertical section (on the line Z Z of Figure 2) of a rotary
engine constructed in accordance with one form of this invention and Figure 2
is a longitudinal section of same.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of Figure 2, the levers and cams, however, being
shown in the position for operating the abutment valve of the pump shown in
Figure 7.
Figures 4 and 5 are elevation and sectional plan of mechanism hereinafter
referred to.
Figure 6 is a section of a modification and Figure 7 is a cross section showing
our invention adapted as a pump.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the cylinder A is formed with an opening its full
length at a part preferably central with the steam chest B.
The ends CC of the said cylinder A are secured to the flanges A¹ of the
latter by means of bolts A³.
The said ends C C are provided with inside bosses C and outside bosses C³, a
bush or liner C preferably of brass extending the whole length through the
bosses.
The disc D is provided with a flange or sleeve D₁ the length of the cylinder A
and is keyed or otherwise fixed on the main shaft E.
The piston is fixed on the flange or sleeve D' and is provided on its outer
face with a T shaped plate " kept in contact with the inside face of the cylinder
by means of springs F located in recesses 13 in the piston F. The inside faces
of the ends C C of the cylinder are recessed to receive therein the split rings A³
to prevent any escape of steam round the cylinder.
The abutment or resistance valve G which is fixed on the rocking-shaft G¹ is
approximately triangular in section except at its ends where it has flanges G² G².
H is the main valve which may be worked by an eccentric on the shaft E,
and H is the cut off valve controlled by a governor.
The arrangement of levers and cams shown in Figure 3 is for operating the
pump shown in Figure 7 and the disc and cams will travel in the direction
indicated by the arrows in the said Figures 3 and 7 but for operating the
abutment valve G of the engine, shown in Figures 1 and 2 the levers and cams
are placed in the opposite position (Figure 3) on the cylinder end C.
Or the reverse movement and position may be adopted by altering the position
of the steam pipe or suction pipe as will be readily understood
The valve Gis operated by means of the peripheral cam J fixed on the shaft E.
The cam (see Figure 3) has an enlarged part J2 which upon revolving
engages the roller K loosely mounted upon the pin L eccentrically mounted in
the disc M.
It will be readily seen that by loosening the screw M¹ (see Figures 4 and 5)
the pin L may be slightly turned in the disc and by this means the roller K may
be adjusted in relation to the abutment valve G
In Figures 1. 2, 6 and 7 the abutment valve G is shown open for the passage
of the piston F, such position being maintained during the time the pait J2 of
the cam J is passing the roller K
Immediately, however, the part J of the cam J passes clear of the roller K
the abutment valve G is moved until the edge G thereof presses in contact with
the peripheral face of the disc (see arrows) to ensure which the roller N loosely
carried on a stud N¹ fixed in a lever O revolves on the cam J¹ which is secured
to the cam J by bolts J³. The said cam J¹ may be adjustable in relation to the
am J by forming slots in the latter in the well-known way. The said lever O
s pivotted on the stud 01 passing through the end C into the flange A¹ of the
ylinder A.
A rod P passes through the bottom end of the said lever O), one end of said
od P being pivotted to the disc M and its further end is threaded to receive a

page_text: nut P to compress the spring P3 and thereby press the lower end of the lever O
inwards, by which means the roller N rides in contact with the cam J and
consequently the abutment valve G is kept in its normal position across the
cylinder.
Referring to. Figures 1 and 2 as will be readily understood the steam is
admitted into the steam chest (Figure 1) on the valve side and with the cut off
valve in its proper position and the abutment valve,G in its normal position
previously described, the steam will pass through the port H2 to the cylinder
the force of the steam being exerted between the abutment, valve G and the
piston F; the latter is thereby rotated, revolving the main shaft E, the cut off
valve being also operated, the cam J at the desued time operating the valve G
through the means before described to bring the said valve G into the position.
shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7 to allow the piston to pass, after which the said
valve G will immediately resume its. normal position across the cylinder.
The exhaust steam passes through an exhaust, poit H which is always open,
and an exhaust pipe is connected to the side H of the steam chest B.
Figure 6 shows a modification of Figure 1, a cut oft valve H' only being used.
Referring to Figures 3 and 7 it will be readily understood that, as soon as the
piston F has passed clear of the valve G the latter will open across the cylinder
in the direction of the arrow and the water will be, drawn through the suction
pipe Q, round the cylinder and out through the delivery pipe R.
Pulleys are mounted on the shaft E and a fly-wheel may also be fixed thereon
if required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
;
1. The combination in a rotary engine of an annular cylinder, a revoluble
flanged disc of smaller diameter than the cylinder, a piston attached to the said
disc and adjustably arranged to fit the cylinder and an abutment valve operated
to allow the passage of the piston and then immediately resume its position across
the cylinder in the manner and for the purpose described.
a
2. The combination in a rotary engine of an annular cylinder, a disc and
piston therein such as described and an abutment valve held normally across the
cylinder and operated during each revolution by a cam or equivalent to allow
the piston to pass in the manner and for the purpose described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination in a rotary engine of an annular cylinder having, an
opening and a recessed cylindrical rotary abutment valve to close said opening,
operated in the manner substantially as described.
4. The combination in a rotary engine of an annular cylinder, a disc of
smaller diameter than the cylinder, a piston on the disc to fit the cylinder, an
opening in the said cylinder and an abutment valve to close said opening and
the means for operating same, constructed, arranged, and operating substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The modification adapted as a pump, constructed, arranged, and operating
substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 6th day of November
1899
W. P THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.