An Improved Engine, applicable as a Rotary Steam, Water, or Gas Engine, and as a Pump, Blower, or Exhauster.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 20th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Engine, applicable as a Rotary Steam, Water, or Gas
Engine, and as a Pump, Blower, or Exhauster.
We, JESSE WHITCHER, Outfitter of 119 & 120 High Street, West Cowes,
Isle of Wight, and JAMES WHITCHER, Electrical Engineer of 14 Orde Hall
Street, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The principle of this engine, pump, or blower, depends fundamentally upon the
interaction of one or a parallel series of swash-plates, or oblique discs or blades of
special form, mounted by a central boss upon a shaft, with a sliding plate or shutter,
slotted to receive the discs edgewise to the boss, having a rectilinear motion to
and fro in its own plane and in a direction longtitudinal to the shaft. The oblique
discs, or "skew" blades as they will be bereinafter called, revolve in a suitable
cylindrical and concentric casing, divided into compartments by transverse
partitions, one compartment for each disc in the series; and provided along its
length and in its ends or covers with a planed way for the slide plate. The com-
bination divides each compartment into two closed chambers; which when the
shaft is revolved continnally diminish towards the side of the slide plate opposed to
the direction of rotation, and increase from the other side. Then, if ports be
situated on each side of the slide, a flow of fluid, or a condition of pressure and
exhaustion, will be set up at these ports by rotation of the shaft and blades; or,
vice versa, fluid pressure can be applied to produce rotation of the shaft.
The skew-blades are formed so that geometrically their surfaces present a
constant angle or conformation relative to the shaft axis, at every section in the
radial planes.
It is preferred to make the said sectional conformation symmetrical
about a straight line always radial and at right angles to the axis; but we do not
restrict ourselves to the one form. These skew-blades may further be described as
portions of right and left hand screw blades of equal size and pitch, equal to half
a revolution of each, joined at the diametrical line of section to make one continuous
blade; which for one half a revolution advances in a right handed spiral upon its
boss, and in the other half returns in a left handed spiral to the original point of
departure. At the junctions of the spirals, the pitch of each is eased off to merge
gently into the opposite pitch.
Such skew blades will work smoothly through the slots of the slide plate as the
latter reciprocates in its slides; and a series of any number of them can be
mounted on the same boss, provided they are of similar pitch and truly parallel
one with the other.
No valves are required in this mechanism, a constant unbroken flow being
maintained through the two simple ports: These three parts, the casing, skew-
blades, and slide plate make up the whole engine; except when it is advisable to
provide independent means to actuate the slide, as in the case of large blowers and
exhausters.
In pumps and engines when necessary, the lines of internal contact may be
packed as follows: The edges or circumferences of the skew-blades have packing
rings of usual type grooved into them and pressed out by springs; and a similar
straight strip is put in radially along the apex of the convex curve on each face
of the blades. The slide plate may be packed with similar strips along the inner
edge adjoining the boss and around the slots. Or as a specially applicable method,
we make the slide-plate in layers of two or more plates, and fit each pair of layers
with springs, so that they grasp the blades on both sides by sliding one over the
other and adjusting their positions to follow the varying conformation of the slide.

page_text: A good tight packing, with several lines of contact, can thus be made at what is
otherwise a difficult position to pack.
In light pumps and engines the action of the skew blades alone is sufficient to
oscillate the slide plate; but in the heavier types, by a simple pair of valve faces,
set upon the central boss, the end chambers receiving the ends of the slide plate,
may be opened alternately to the pressure and exhaust sides of the mechanism;
whereby the slide plate is oscillated.
In large blowers and exhausters we prefer to use a bevel spur wheel keyed upon
the shaft, and geared into a similar and equal wheel, which carries a crank from
which the slide plate is actuated through ordinary connections.
In light and fast running machines we use a form of conical or angular crank or
excentric, attached to the shaft, which through a suitable lever and pivot joints
transmits the necessary motion to the slide plate. Or we may use rollers mounted
on the slide plate, and bearing direct upon the skew blades as they revolve: or
suitable bearing segments or blocks, pivoted to the slide plate, may bear upon the
surface, or in specially formed grooves in the edges of the skew-blades.
By making the compartments of the series to vary progressively in capacity, and
by providing and arranging ports and ways to cause the fluid to flow through each
or any of the compartments successively in series, we can compound the engine,
pump, blower, or exhauster, whichever it may be, to obtain the well known
advantages to be derived from such compounding.
Dated this 10th dow of V... 1000
JESSE WHITCHER.
JAMES WHITCHER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Engine, applicable as a Rotary Steam, Water, or Gas
Engine, and as a Pump, Blower, or Exhauster.
We JESSE WHITCHER Outfitter of 119 & 120 High Street West Cowes, Isle of
Wight, and JAMES WHITCHER Electrical Engineer of 14 Orde Hall Street
London W.C. 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 :-
The principle of this engine, pump, or blower, depends fundamentally upon the
interaction of one or a parallel series of swash-plates or oblique discs or blades of
special form mounted by a central boss upon a shaft, with a sliding plate or shutter
slotted to receive the discs edgewise to the boss having a rectilinear motion to and
fro in its own plane and in a direction longtitudinal to the shaft. The oblique disc
or skew-blades as they will hereinafter be called revolve in a suitable cylindrical
and concentric casing divided into compartments by transverse partitions one com-
partment for each disc in the series and provided along its length and in its ends or
covers with a planed way for the slideplate. The combination divides each
compartment into two closed chambers which when the shaft is revolved continually
diminish toward the side of the slide-plate opposed to the direction of rotation and
increase from the other side. Then if ports be situated on each side of the slide a
flow of fluid or a condition of pressure and exhaustion will be set up at these ports
by rotation of the shaft and blades or vice versa fluid pressure can be applied to
produce rotation of the shaft.
The skew blades are formed so that geometrically their surfaces present a constant
angle or conformation relative to the shaft axis at every section in the radial planes.
It is preferred to make the said sectional conformation symmetrical about a straight
line always radial and at right angles to the axis but we do not restrict ourselves to
the one form. These skew-blades may further be described as portions of right and
left hand screw-blades of equal size and pitch equal to half a revolution of each
joined at the diametrical line of section to make one continuous blade which for one

page_text: half a revolution advances in a right-handed spiral upon its boss and in the other
half returns in a left handed spiral to the original point of departure at the
junction of the spirals the pitch of each is cased off to merge gently into the
opposite pitch.
Such skew-blades will work smoothly through the slots of the slideplate as the
latter reciprocates in its slides and a series of any number of them can be mounted
on the same boss provided they are of similar pitch and truly parallel one with the
other.
No valves are required in this mechanism a constant unbroken flow being
maintained through the two simple ports. These three parts the casing skew-
blades and slideplate make up the whole engine except when it is advisable to
provide independent means to actuate the slide as in the case of large blowers or
exhausters.
We prefer to place the inlet and outlet in the base of the main casing one on
each side. Portways or passages of the requisite size lead from the circular and
flanged openings at each side, and open out into long narrow chambers along the
walls of the slide-way. Into these chambers ports open from each of the transverse
compartments of the casing, an inlet and an outlet port to each. These ports we
prefer to make of triangular shape with base near to the slide-way so that their
other sides are parallel to the edges of the skew blades as they open or close over
them. The fluid or gas flows or is drawn through the connection pipes bolted to
the flanged openings into the common portway or chamber, and through the ports
into the compartments in which its course is over the boss and out at the ports to
the pipe on the other side.
In pumps and engines when necessary the lines of internal contact may be packed
as follows -The edges or circumference of the skew blades have packing rings
of the usual type grooved into them and pressed out by springs; and a similar
straight strip is put in radially along the apex of the convex curved surface on each
face of the blades: the slide-plate may be packed with similar strips along the edge
adjoining the boss and around the slots; or, as a specially applicable method we
make the slide plate in layers of two or more plates and fit each pair of layers with
springs so that they grasp the blades on both sides by sliding one over the other
and adjusting their positions to follow the varying conformation of the blades.
Instead of the whole slide plate the packing strips only may be thus divided with
the same effect. A good tight packing with several lines of contact can thus be
made at what is otherwise a difficult position to pack.
In light pumps and engines the action of the skew blades alone is sufficient to
oscillate the slide-plate but in the heavier types, by a simple pair of valve faces
set on each side of the central boss, the end chambers or recesses receiving the ends
of the slide plate may be opened alternately to the pressure and exhausted sides of
the mechanism whereby the slide plate is oscillated. The said valve faces would
consist of pairs of annular discs, cones, or cylinders set concentrically with the shaft,
one of a pair being attached to the revolving boss, the other fixed in the casing:
and their faces work together so that ports cut in them and communicating with the
end chambers or recesses and the working chambers open and close over one
another in a regular manner as the boss revolves. The arrangement would be
designed to admit the fluid pressure into the end recesses when the slide is travelling
out of them and exhaust it when the slide is travelling inwards.
In large blowers and exhausters we prefer to use a bevel or mitre gear wheel
keyed upon the shaft and gearing into a similar and equal wheel mounted on a short
spindle running in a bearing on the casing at right angles to the main shaft. A
crank pin on the wheel, or a crank on its spindle drives a connecting rod or link
which is pivotted suitably at its other end to the slide. The rotation of the gear
wheels will communicate the required reciprocal motion to the slide if the throw of
the crank is rightly proportioned.
66
In light and fast running machines we use a form of conical or angular crank or
eccentric" by which terms we mean a crank with its pin set at an angle to

page_text: the axis of the shaft or a flanged wheel, or sheave, or cylinder, whose axis is
inclined to that of the shaft. A connecting rod or lever with one end fitted to such
an inclined crank or sheave will have at its other end a vibratory motion in a
direction longtitudinal to the shaft due to the angularity of the crank or sheave
and it may be attached by a short link to the slide, and the said motion regulated
and adapted to oscillate the slide in the required manner. The joint of connecting
lever to the link must be a ball joint. Or a lever linked or otherwise attached to
the slide may be hung on fixed pivots set in the horizontal plane of the shaft at
right angles to it: a bearing or strap fitted on the inclined crank or sheave has a
short pivot or spindle projecting at right angles from it which fits in a bearing on
the lever situated in the vertical plane of the shaft. It is essential in this
mechanism that the axes of the shaft, crank pin or sheave, and pivots, all meet in a
point as in a universal joint. The bearing or strap is prevented from revolving
by its pivotted connection with the lever; but its axis through its pivot is con-
strained to oscillate about the centre in the vertical plane. Therefore the lever
also is oscillated about its fixed pivot and the slide suitably attached to it is given
the required reciprocal motion.
Or we may use rollers mounted on the slide plate in, or adjacent to the slots and
bearing direct against the skew blades. The skew blades as they revolve will then
move the slide by the rolling contact with these rollers. It is not necessary that
there should be rollers bearing on every skew blade in a series they need only be
used on the opposite sides of one blade or opposite sides of any pair of blades.
By making the compartments of the series to vary progressively in capacity and
by providing and arranging ports and ways to cause the fluid to flow through each
or any of the compartments successivly in series we can compound the engine pump
blower or exhauster whichever it may be to obtain the well known advantages to
be derived from such compounding.
For the better explanation of our invention we illustrate in annexed drawing a
pump for fluids made in accordance with the general principles of our said
invention.
Figures 12 and 3 Sheet I show half sections and elevation of the side plan and
end views respectively in which A is the casing divided in this case into two com-
partments by the central partition P with inlet I and outlet O, all in one casting
with a sole plate which is bolted to the bedplate B. The covers CC carry the
bushed and glanded bearings for the shaft and the recesses F F to receive the ends
of the oscillating slideplate E. at D D are shown the two skewblades cast on a boss
and keyed to the shaft and engaging in the slots of the slideplate.
The position of the ports into the compartments are hidden in Figs. 1 and 2 and
in Fig. 3 it is only shown dotted (as the section is across the centre of casing)
situated at H on each side of slide in each compartment. For the same reason only
the boss of the skewblade appears here.
Figures 4 and 5 show two views of a skewblade with boss A A are the apices of
the curved side surfaces where they bear against the ends of the compartment.
On Sheet II are shown various methods by which the slideplate may be oscillated
independently of its contact with the skewblades.
In each of the figures A represents a casing or enclosed chamber on one cover
or at one end of the main casing being an enlargment of one of the end recesses
for the slideplate. S. is a portion of the shaft, E of the slideplate D of the
skewblade.
Figs. 6 and 7 are views of the method of introducing fluid to and from the end
recesses on the ends or covers of casing where the boss bears a concentric groove
is cut as shown at G. which communicates with the end recess by the passage P. on
the revolving boss a port is cut as at T.
Figs. 8 and 9 show a method of driving slide by means of mitre gears the gear-
wheel F on the shaft drives the wheel G on the fixed pin H and the motion is
communicated to the slide by the connecting rod C.
Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a mode of driving the slide by means of an inclined or

page_text: angular sheave B made in halves as shown and keyed upon the shaft. Between its
inclined flanges the annular strap of the lever C is clasped to a working fit at its
lower end the lever is connected by a ball joint to the link L connected to the
slideplate E Fig. 11 is a plan of the lever.
Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a method of oscillating the slide by an angular crank.
acting on a lever hung on pivots. The inclined crank pin revolves in the bearing B
on which is the pivot P fitting in a bearing at the bend in the double armed lever K.
This lever hangs by its pins H. H. in fixed bearings on the casing at its lower end
it is attached to the slide E by a pin fitting in the short slot N.
In Fig. 13 which gives a section through the lever when upright. The crankpin
and bearing B is omitted to avoid confusion. In this pump is not used either of
the special means described for oscillating the slide nor the special modes of
packing as it is considered that these are sufficiently explained by the verbal
description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. A rotary motor pump blower and exhauster consisting of one or a series
of skew blades formed as hereinbefore described mounted parallel each to each
upon a shaft and revolving in a cylindrical casing partitioned transversly into
chambers one for each skew blade each blade fitted and free to slide through a
slot which is cut in a side plate which is mounted to oscillate in a slideway in
the direction of the longtitudinal axis of the shaft substantially as fully described
in the Specification and drawing herewith.
2. A rotary motor pump blower and exhauster substantially as hereinbefore
described in which the slideplate is oscillated either by means of spur gears crank
and connecting link or slide or by means of an angular crank and lever or by
means of a cam and rollers or by such other means as are herein before set forth
and described.
3. In a rotary motor pump blower and exhauster divided packing strips or a
divided slideplate formed to clasp the skew-blades on each side by means of springs
substantially as described.
4. The use and appropriation of mechanism formed, combined and built as
described for the purposes of a motor for steam fluid or gas a pump for fluids or
gases a blower for driving and propelling air or producing an air blast and an
exhauster for exhausting gas or air for any purpose or purposes whatsoever.
Dated this 18th day of February 1893.
JESSE WHITCHER,
JAMES WHITCHER.