Improvements in or relating to Rotary Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: ..Date of Application, 8th, May, 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
Improvements in or relating to Rotary Engines.
1, MARIE EDMOND PHILBERT CHABOCHE, of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais,
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.-
The present invention relates to a rotary engine, distinguished by the following
characteristics,—
The cylinders are movable, and are intended to have a constant angular speed of
rotation
The pistons of the cylinders have an angular speed of rotation sometimes greater,
sometimes less than that of the cylindera.
Thence it results that, taking into consideration the relative speed of the pistons
and cylinders, the formei have, in relation to the latter an alternating reciprocating
movement, as in the ordinary engines.
In the accompanying drawings,
1
Fig. 1s a vertical section on the centre-line of the shaft of a rotary engine
constructed according to my invention
Fig 21s a section at right angles to Fig 1, through the cylinders,
Fig. 3 is a section of the cylinders, wherein the piston-iod (not shown in Fig. 1)
19 represented;
Figs 4 and 5 are views of certain details hereafter particularly described
Figs 6, 6, 7 and 8 relate to a modification of part of my invention for the
ригрозе of producing the relative angular motion of the pistons and the cylinder.
Fig. 9, 10 and 11.1elate to a second modification for the same pm pose.
The engine is mounted on a frame, variable in form according to its destination.
For the purpose of fixing our conception of the engine, let it be supposed that
in this case the destination is a fixed station, in this caso, then, it is supported on
a frame A. B C.
A shaft X Y is carried in beatings on the standards A and C. Keyed to this
shaft is an east-11 ou piece V forming and enclosing the cylinders which are in the
form of an annular chamber, a figure of revolution generated by the revolution of
auy right section, which in the drawings is shown to be cucular. The plane of
the circumference described by the centre of the generating figure is perpendicular
to the shaft X Y.
In the drawings the cylinders are shown to be four in number, but any other
division may be adapted.
There are, therefore, four parts or cylinders a b c and d, Fig. 2, in each of which
may move one of the pistons f g h and, of the shape of a segment of a solid annulus
These are united in pans by a rigid piece T T', and this piece has in its centre a
hollow sleeve D, enenching the shaft X Y.
Each of the cylinders, separately considered, is single-acting, the admission
and exhaust taking place, as in the ordinary airangements, near the cylinder
bottoms F'.
The slides G G¹ effect the distribution of steam, but, the valve gear may be of
any kind for instance slide-valves with lap, double expansion slides, trip gear,
circular-slides, or ordinary valves.

page_text: Fig indicates slide valves having lap and operated by means of eccentric rods
actuated by an eccentric secured in any desired manner to the standard C
It will easily be understood that given this arrangement the direction of rotation
may be reversed by simply turning the eccentric round the shaft X Y
Secured to the extremity of the hollow sleeve D is an arm If carrying a pin
having its axis parallel to X Y on which pin is fitted a connecting rod (not shown
in the drawing) transmitting movement to a cross-head M reciprocating in guide-
bare P keyed to the shaft X Y (Figs. 4 and 5) and united by the stud or pin M
to a plummer-block forming one piece with an eccentric stiap g and effecting its
rotation round the eccentric O secured to the standard A
Finally, the shaft X Y is hollow and as will be seen later on, it may be utilised
in two ways
We will now examine the working of this engine, supposing it to be fed with
steam;-
The stearn enters into the frame C at S and traverses the chamber R, su rounding
the shaft, and hept steam-tight by two stufhug boxes or glands.
At this place the shaft is pierced by a certain number of holes (not shown in the
drawing) permitting the steain to traverse the hollow shaft to the cylinders. There
it finds channels which conduct it to the distribution valves G G. These being
suitably arranged the steam will be admitted alternately behind the prstons ƒ and h
and behind the pistons g and k, the spaces a and c being in the latter case in
connection with the exhaust The result is a reciprocating motion of the pistons
with relation to the cylinders.
The exhaust steam will return by suitable channels to the cential shaft X Y by
which it will be conducted to the right or to the left to a device or arrangement
allowing it to escape freely into the outer air, and which is not shown in the figures,
or it will escape outside at once into a fixed chamber sunlounding the body V of
the cylinders and duly kept steam-tight.
If the exhaust steam is intended to escape on the admission-side, the hollow of
the shaft will be divided into two compartments. If on the contrary it is to escape
at the opposite side the hollow shaft is made completely solid at the centre of the
cylinder casing so as to effectually cut off all communication between the live and
the exhaust <team
In order to secure the due rotation of the whole, it is necessary that the cylinders
rotating with a regular and uniform motion, the kinematic combination should
produce a slackening of the piston speed, as compared with that of the cylinders
(e then angular displacement) in the first half of the stroke, while producing
au increased piston speed as compared with the cylinders during the lattor half of
the stroke.
It remains to be seen whether and how this condition is fulfilled.
Figure 4 shows the cross (or pistou-hend) M in its nearest approach to the
central shaft X Y.
Let us suppose that rotation of the cylinders takes place in the direction indicated
by the arrow (Figure 4)
Then the cross (or piston-head) M being attached to the eccentric collar or lingg
will describe a circle round the centre of the eccentric and consequently will move
away from the central shaft as far as the opposite symmetrical position wheuce the
notation being continued, it approaches the central axis again until the first-named
position 16 gained.
In going and retning therefore it will have traversed up and down the entire
length of the slide-bars P.
But this slideway P is secured to the central shaft X Y of the cylinders
and on the other hand M, by means of the connecting rod Janinates with its own
reciprocating motion the arm I connected with the pistons.
The result therefore a relative angular displacement of the pistons with
reference to the cylinders.
The kinematic connection just previously described consequently produces such

page_text: Having now, partionlarly described and ascertained the nature of the said, inven-
tion, and in what manner the same, is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim 18;-
1. In a rotary motor an annular chamber constructed in such inanner as to form
compartments in each of which a piston 19 free to move these pistons being all
mounted upon a hollow sleeve encircling fiecly the shaft or axle of the annular
chamber and having a fixed arm carrying a stud or journal with its axis parallel to
that of the chamber substantially as described
2. In combination with the organs described in Claim 1 a connecting rod
pivoting on the stud or jom nal of the arm secured to the hollow sleeve and
transmitting movement to a cross-pięce sliding in guides and connected by a second
stud or journal to a plummer-block or bearing secured to an eccentric ring or stiap
turning round an eccentric secuted to the frame of the motor substantially as
herembefore described.
3. In combination with the organs described in Claus 1 and 2 distribution
slide-valves of no matter what system for the admission and exhaustion of steam
each compartment of the annular chamber baying its own slide-valve and these
being so arranged as to admit steam alternatively behind the pistons substantially
89 described.
4 The substitution for the connecting devices between the cylinders and pistons
described in Claim 2 of toothed wheels whereof one 19 fixed while the two others
engaging therewith are respectively connected by cranks to two connecting rods of
which one is pivoted to the stud or pin of the arm secured to the hollow sleeve
and the other is pivoted to a plate or arm keyed to the notor-shaft substantially as
described.
5. The substitution for the connecting devices between the cylinders and pistons
described, in Claim 2 of a plate keyed on the motor shaft and carrying a shaft
with crank arms whereof one 18 connected by a rod to an arm secured to the hollow
sleeve and the other is connected to an eccentric strap or collar movable on an
eccentric fixed to the frame substantially as described
6. The improved motors constructed arranged and operating substantially as and
for the purpose described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of May 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.