Improvements in Steam and other Fluid Pressure Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam and other Fluid Pressure Engines.
I, ALEXANDER MORTON, of 257 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in emission rotary engines of that class
wherein two or more of such engines are actuated in succession by the same steam
or other vapour, and has for its object to obtain a practical economical and useful.
high speed rotary engine or engines.
Heretofore these engines have been designed with either an inward, or an
outward flow wheel, in each casing or compartment of the series; but the improve-
ments under the first part of this invention consists in combining and arranging an
outward and an inward compound wheel within one and the same casing or com-
partment of the series in which the steam or vapour acts.
The casing containing said compound wheel or wheels, is or may be cast or
formed in one cylinder, with removable partitions bolted therein so as to form
separate compartments, but it is preferred to form the casing in short cylindrical
lengths bolted together by flanges; each length having its partition or partitions
cast or bolted therein. The driving shaft upon which these compound wheels are
mounted passes centrally through the said casing or cylinder and partitions, and
would or may have a bearing or bearings to support it in cach, or every alternate
partition, and this shaft may be in one length throughout the series, and would or
may increase in diameter at every compartment from first to last, so that the last
wheel of the series, may slide easily over the smaller parts of the shaft in cases of
removal. The compound wheel or wheels would or may be formed as two distinct
wheels in each compartment; but it is preferred to form said compound wheels
with three discs bolted or screwed together so as to form two compartments, the
solid central disc dividing the two parts. On the entering side of said compound
wheel the actuating steam or vapour enters at the annular opening around the
shaft and is or may be conducted by radial passages to the periphery, where it
issues through outlet nozzles into the first compartment of the surrounding casing
from whence it returns on the other side of said solid central disc entering at the
nozzles in the periphery and issuing at the annular opening around the shaft and
through the partition to the wheel in the next compartment in succession; that is
flowing in the contrary direction to that on the other side. The nozzles through
which the steam or other vapour issues and acts are or may be of any of the well
known forms, either for producing direct action, reaction, or a combination of both,
but it is preferred that the nozzles should be so formed that the steam or other
vapour should be directed radially along one side of convex-curved surfaces so as
to produce a negative pressure on that side; and on the other side be directed on
concave surfaces so as to produce direct positive pressure. The nozzles being thus
of such a form that the negative and positive pressures are combined in each
nozzle. The actuating vapour entering at the centre on one side of the central
disc of the compound wheel being of greater elasticity than that issuing from the
other side, the areas of the two central annular apertures are or may be so
proportioned in relation to the outer diameter of the nave er centre as to make a
perfect balanced pressure on the working joint surfaces of each compound wheel,
in which case oue or more compound wheels forms or may form a complete engine.
Two, three, or more of these new or improved combined wheels would or may be
in one main cylindrical casing having two, three, or more compartments, but it is
preferred that each compartment with its contained combined wheel should form a

page_text: complete balanced engine. In every case the combined area of the inward flow
nozzles must be greater than that of the preceding outward flow nozzles, and the
nozzles of the succeeding wheel greater than that of the preceding wheel, as the
expansion of the steam or fluid may be utilized.
Another improvement of this my said invention consists in the arrangement and
construction of casings for enclosing simple outward flow wheels, whether acting
by direct action or re-action and where two or more are actuated in succession by
the same steam or other vapour in separate compartments. In the front of the
central outflow port of the first and succeeding partitions a faced adjustable disc
is fitted, so as to leave a clear passage for the steam or other vapour behind the
disc from one compartment to another through the centre of each partition, at the
same time the said adjustable disc forms an abutment of larger diameter than
the area of the central inlet of each wheel, consequently the hollow nave of each
wheel is or may be of equal area on both sides thereby forming a perfect balanced
pressure on the working joint surfaces of each wheel, or one abutment disc may be
fitted on the first engine only, so proportioned to the different diameters of the
nave on the two sides of the first wheel, as to balance the end strain on all the
other wheels of the series mounted on the same shaft. The gland surrounding
the driving shaft, where it passes through the far end cover of the main casing is
or may be made with a groove or a series of grooves to be kept full of water from
a head, or any other source, to prevent the admission of air when the contained
steam or other vapour may be rather above or below the ordinary pressure of the
atmosphere.
A further improvement of this my said invention consists in fixing a series of
curved blades or guides in the interior of the main cylinder or casing, so as to
prevent the circulation of the issuing steam or other vapour in a contrary direction
to that in which all outward flow wheels may be revolving and. in said compound
wheels to act as guides to the inflowing fluid; and to prevent a contrary circulation
in the interior of all inward flow wheels, a series of radial arms or blades is so
fixed by a central hollow nave that the inward flow wheels revolve freely although
encasing these said fixed radial arms or blades.
It will be understood that for compound wheels such as those described under
the first part of this my invention both outward and inward blades may be used to
diminish or prevent circulation of the vapour in the contrary direction to that in
which the wheels may revolve.
Dated the 3rd April 1891.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam and other Fluid Pressure Engines.
I, ALEXANDER MORTON, of 257 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow Lanarkshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing that is to say :-
This invention relates to improvements in emission rotary engines of that class
wherein two or more of such engines are actuated in succession by the same steam
or other vapour, and has for its object to obtain a practical economical and useful
high speed rotary engine or engines.
Heretofore these engines have been designed with either an inward or an outward
flow wheel in each casing or compartment of the series, but the improvements
under the first part of this invention consist in combining and arranging
an outward and inward compound wheel within one and the same casing or
compartment of the series in which the steam or vapour acts.

page_text: The casing containing said compound wheel or wheels is or may be cast or
formed in one cylinder, with removable partitions bolted therein so as to form
separate compartments, but it is preferred to form the casing in short cylindrical
lengths bolted together by flanges, each length having its partition or partitions
cast or bolted therein. The driving shaft upon which these compound wheels are
mounted passes centrally through the said casing or cylinder and partitions, and
would or may have a bearing or bearings to support it in each or every alternate
partition, and this shaft may be in one length throughout the series, and would or
may increase in diameter at every compartment from first to last, so that the last
wheel of the series, may slide casily over the smaller parts of the shaft in cases of
removal. The compound wheel or wheels would or may be formed as two distinct
wheels in each compartment; but it is preferred to form said compound wheels
with three discs bolted or screwed together so as to form two compartments, the
solid central disc dividing the two parts. On the entering side of said compound
wheel the actuating steam or vapour enters at the annular opening around the
shaft and is or may be conducted by radial passages to the periphery where it
issues through outlet nozzles into the first compartment of the surrounding casing
from whence it returns on the other side of said solid central disc entering at the
nozzles in the periphery and issuing at the annular opening around the shaft and
through the partition to the wheel in the next compartment in succession, that is,
flowing in the contrary direction to that on the other side. The nozzles through
which the steam or other vapour issues and acts are or may be of any of the well
known forms either for producing direct action, reaction, or a combination of both,
but it is preferred that the nozzles should be so formed that the steam or other
vapour should be directed radially along one side of convex curved surfaces so as
to produce a negative pressure on that side; and on the other side be directed on
concave surfaces so as to produce direct positive pressure. The nozzles being thus
of such a form that the negative and positive pressures are combined in each
nozzle. The actuating vapour entering at the centre on one side of the central
disc of the compound wheel being of greater elasticity than that issuing from the
other side, the areas of the two central annular apertures are or may be so
proportioned in relation to the outer diameter of nave or centre as to make a
perfect balanced pressure on the working joint surfaces of cach compound wheel in
which case one or more compound wheels forms or may form a complete engine.
Two, three, or more of these new or improved combined wheels would or may be
in one main cylindrical casing having two, three, or more compartments, but it is
preferred that each compartment with its contained combined wheel should form a
complete balanced engine. In every case the combined area of the inward flow
nozzles must be greater than that of the preceding outward flow nozzles, and the
nozzles of the succeeding wheel greater than that of the preceding wheel, as the
expansion of the steam or fluid may be utilized.
Another improvement of this my said invention consists in the arrangement and
construction of casings for enclosing simple outward flow wheels, whether acting by
direct action or re-action and where two or more are actuated in succession by the
same steam or other vapour in separate compartments.
In the front of the central
outflow port of the first and succeeding partitions a faced adjustable disc is fitted,
so as to leave a clear passage for the steam or other vapour behind the disc from
one compartment to another through the centre of each partition, at the same time
the said adjustable disc forms an abutment of larger diameter than the area of the
central inlet of each wheel, consequently the hollow nave of each wheel is or may
be of equal area on both sides thereby forming a perfect balanced pressure on the
working joint surfaces of each wheel, or one abutment disc may be fitted on the first
engine only, so proportioned to the different diameters of the nave on the two sides
of the first wheel, as to balance the end strain on all the other wheels of the series
mounted on the same shaft. The gland surrounding the driving shaft, where it
passes through the far end cover of the main casing is or may be made with a

page_text: groove or a series of grooves to be kept full of water from a head, or any other
source, to prevent the admission of air when the contained steam or other vapour
may be rather above or below the ordinary pressure of the atmosphere.
A further improvement of this my said invention consists in fixing a series of
curved blades or guides in the interior of the main cylinder or casing so as to
prevent the circulation of the issuing steam or other vapour in a contrary direction
to that in which all outward flow wheels may be revolving and in said compound
wheels to act as guides to the inflowing fluids; and to prevent a contrary circulation
in the interior of all inward flow wheels, a series of radial arms or blades is so
fixed by a central hollow nave that the inward flow wheels revolve freely although
encasing these said fixed radial arms or blades.
It will be understood that for compound wheels such as those described under
the first part of this my invention both outward and inward blades may be used to
diminish or prevent circulation of the vapour in the contrary direction to that in
which the wheels may revolve.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended four explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 represents two half sections of the main casing and two half sections of
a compound wheel.
Figure 2 represents a half longitudinal section, and a half elevation of the main
casing, enclosing a half section and half elevation of a compound wheel all in
accordance with one modification of my improvements in steam and other motive
power engines. The left half section shown on Figure 1, is taken near the line a, b,
and the right half section near the line c, d, Figure 2.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2: In this modification of my invention the
casing A, is cast in two parts and bolted together at the centre A'; each half has
a partition B, cast nearer to one end so that when bolted together an enclosed com-
partment 2 is formed between the two, the end covers C, C, completing the other
two compartments 1 and 3. The shaft D, passes through the centre of the casing A,
and out through a stuffing box C formed on the right hand casing cover C, and
is supported by bushes E, E', in the two end covers, as also in the boss of the
partition B. These bushes E, E', are bored to suit the varying diameter of the
shaft D, which is smallest in diameter at the first bearing E, rather larger at the
second bearing E', and so on. Upon the said shaft D, three compound wheels F, F1, F2,
are mounted, one occupying each compartment 1, 2, 3 of the casing A. These
compound wheels are formed with three circular discs G, G, G, cut from
malleable iron or steel plates turned and faced. The centre disc G, may be
straight and the outer discs G1, G2, may be angled or dished as shown particularly
in Figure 2. On each side of the centre disc G, a ring of brass or iron H, H', is
screwed or riveted so as to form a rim to the compound wheel. The said rings H,
may be formed in segments H, H' each of which have a concave and convex end
so that when these segments are in place the concave end of one segment nearly
agrees with the convex end of its neighbour, the space between the two ends
forming the nozzles I, 1', through which the steam or other pressure vapour passes
outwards and inwards. The centre disc G with its ring of segments H, and dished
disc G, when screwed or riveted together forms the first outward flow wheel which
may be strengthened by screwed studs J, so as to resist the higher pressure of the
vapour in that compartment. The dished disc (2, is screwed on to the ring of
segments H', on the other side of the centre disc G, so as to form an inward
flow wheel, but between the dished disc G, and the centre disc G, another disc K,
of less diameter is placed and supported by a central tube or trunnion K,
fixed by a groove and feather or screwed in the boss of the nearest partition B.
This fixed disc K, although in the interior of the inward flow wheel has no connec-
tion whatever with the revolving compound wheel which surrounds or encases it,
H',

page_text: At or
and it is so fitted that the revolving portions of the wheel never touch it.
near the periphery of the disc K, a series of curved blades or vanes L, shown on
the right half section Figure 1, are fixed or cast thereon so as to clear the revolving
ring H', and centre disc G. The object of these curved blades L, being fixed is
to prevent the circulation of the acting steam or other vapour in a contrary
direction to that in which the wheel may be revolving and at the same time guide
the steam in the same direction so that it may act upon another set of curved
blades M, fixed or formed on the centre disc G, and revolving with it. The
outward flow side of the centre disc G, in this modification has no internal fixed
disc or guide blades, but a series of cupped vanes N, are fixed or cast on the main
casing A, for a similar purpose. The acting steam or other pressure fluid enters
the engine by a passage O, cast in the left end cover C, shown by dotted lines
Figure 2, and passes through the annulus O¹ around the shaft D, into the interior
of the first outward flow portion of the compound wheel as shown by the curved
arrows Figures 1 and 2, and travels outwards, towards the periphery, along one
side of the centre disc G, thence through the curved nozzles I, into the first
compartment 1 of the casing A, at a reduced pressure and returns from the casing
entering the nozzles 1', at or through the periphery of the ring H', and passing
along the opposite side of the centre disc G, towards the centre of the wheel, at
a still further reduced pressure thus having travelled in a contrary direction to that
which it did when on the outward flow side of the wheel, which is turned in the.
direction indicated by the arrows T in Figure 1. The balancing or equalising of
the pressure on each side of the centre dise G, is effected by means of the
additional packing ring P, which is so much greater in diameter than the packing
ring Q, that the steam in the casing acting upon a greater area on one side of
the wheel than on the other side can be so adjusted as to be a perfect balance
against the entering steam on the outward flow side of the centre disc G. Any
steam which may leak past the packing ring P, passes through the tube stays R,
into the inward flow side of the wheel, and from thence through the tube or
trunnion K, to the next compound wheel of the series. Each compound wheel may
have an additional packing ring as P to balance themselves; or that on the first
wheel of the series may be made sufficiently large to balance all the others. It will
be observed that all the curved nozzles I, I', shown in Figures 1 and 2 are rather
wider at the mouth than at the entering throat, and it will be understood that the
respective combined areas of the several throats in the first wheel is less than that
of its succeeding wheel and so on throughout the series. And although the nozzles
I, I, are shown parallel with the shaft D they may be placed at an angle either
vertically or horizontally thereto. The central passages from one compartment to
another may also increase in area, as shown in Figure 2, until it finally leaves the
engine by the passage C2 cast in the right end cover C which passage may either
communicate with the atmosphere or a condenser. On the stuffing box C of this
cover C³ a stop cock S, and broken off pipe are shown for the purpose of conveying
water to a series of grooves in the stuffing box to prevent leaks of steam, and also
prevent the admission of air when the internal pressure may be below that of the
atmosphere. Each compound wheel F F F is secured to the shaft D by a boss D¹
so as to turn it.
Figures 3 and 4, represent another modification of engine constructed in
accordance with this my invention. Figure 3 represents two half sections of the
compound wheel where two or more rings of nozzles of different diameters may be
used, and Figure 4 a half longitudinal section and half elevation of the same.
The left half section Figure 3, is taken near the line e, f, and the right half section
near the line g, h, Figure 4.
In this modification Figures 3 and 4, the main casing A has only two compart
ments 1 and 2, and it is preferred to cast it in one piece with the partition B. The
first compound wheel shown by the left hand section Figure 3, is an outward flow
wheel; .but instead of having only one ring of nozzles as previously described

page_text: by reference to Figures 1 and 2, this has two rings of nozzles H, H, of different
diameters, and instead of having the fixed guide blade N in the casing A, only,
it has also fixed guide blades L in the annulus between the two rings of the
nozzles H, H attached or cast on an inner fixed disc K, for the purpose herein-
before described. The compound wheel may be formed similar to that just described;
but instead of three plates this wheel is formed with four discs G, G1, G2, G³. The
centre disc G is again straight and the outer disc angled or dished, and the centre
dise G may be riveted and stayed at J to the smaller disc G³, with a ring of
nozzles H between them. At the periphery of the centre disc G other two rings
of nozzles H, I, H' I may be screwed or riveted thereto so as to form the rim.
The two outside dished discs G, G, are screwed on, one on each side of the
rings H, H', so as to be easily removed for the admission of the fixed discs K, K¹.
The fixed disc K, on the outward flow side of the wheel, has a series of curved
blades or vanes Ĺ nearly filling the annulus between the two rings H, H, shown
on the left half section Figure 3, and the first wheel Figure 4, to prevent circula-
tion of the steam or other acting pressure vapour between the two rings H, H.
The said disc K, is supported and fixed by a central tube or trunnion K', similar to
that described for the inward flow wheel Figures 1 and 2. The system of balancing
and packing may also be the same and as the inward flow side of this compound
wheel may be exactly similar to the modification just described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2, further description is unnecessary. The right half section
Figure 3, taken near the line, h, Figure 4 represents an outward flow wheel
having three rings of nozzles H1, HI, HI, of different diameters and does not
differ in construction from the others hereinbefore described, further than that
there are two fixed discs K, K, with guide blades or vanes L L on each, nearly
filling the two annular spaces between the three sets of rings; whereas in the
preceding wheel there is only one fixed disc K on the outward flow side, and this
wheel is shown as secured to its shaft by a hollow boss D². The steam enters by
a passage O cast in the left cover C, and after passing through the series of
wheels it is finally discharged into the atmosphere or a condenser by a passage C³,
cast on the right half of the casing A, and shown in dotted lines on the top, the
wheels turning in the direction of the arrows T in Figure 3. In this latter
modification there are two compartments 1 and 2 formed by the casing A, the first
compartment having a compound outward and inward flow wheel in it, and the
second compartment one compound outward flow wheel, but there may be only
one compartment in the casing with two separate wheels in it an outward and
an inward of any of the previously described forms; thus forming a complete
balanced engine. Or again there may be any number of compartments with
separate outward and inward flow wheels in each to form the complete engine,
the steam or other pressure fluid acting in succession upon each.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I have to state that I
am aware that engines of this class have heretofore been constructed with fixed
and movable blades or vanes, the fixed vanes being supported by partitions or
casings outside of the revolving wheel, whereas by my said improvements the fixed
blades or vanes are within the revolving wheel and supported by a central support,
and what I claim is :-
First. The combination of an outward and an inward flow wheel or wheels
within one and the same casing, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described in reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. The combination and use of a fixed disc or discs supported by a central
trunnion or equivalent support, and having stationary blades or vanes, all within a
revolving wheel or wheels, substantially as and for the purposes herein described in
reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Third. In rotary engines of this class the use of annular packing rings to balance.
the area fluid pressure on the rotating wheels, substantially as and for the purposes.
herein described in reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying
drawings.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents..