Improvements in Rotary Engines, Pumps, Blowers, and Exnausters.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 11th Feb., 1889
| Improvements in Rotary Engines, Pumps, Blowers, and Exnausters.
We, JOHN ROBINSON of Swan Road West Bromwich in the County of Stafford,
Engineer, ALFRED JAMES ASH of Rougemont, South Yardley, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and JAMES ROBINSON also of Swan Road, West Bromwich,
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
We will first describe our invention as applied in the case of a steam engine.
A motor casing is formed of two circular plates, bolted to the ends of the cylindrical
frame, and of a drum of considerably lesser diameter, than the cylindrical frame carried
by means of a central boss, concentrically upon a shaft, carried so as to be capable of
revolving in suitable conical bearings, fitted into a pedestal or carriage fixed to the
bed plate, which is necessary to keep the main shaft concentrically to the cylindrical
frame. The drum is capable of rotating with the shaft, and has its two ends let
respectively, into annular grooves, in the inner faces of the circular plates and a steam
tight joint made between such ends and the circular plates by means of suitable packing
or rings, supported by spiral springs, with adjustable set screws. An annular space is
thus formed, which is bounded by the inner faces of the circular plates, in two opposite
directions, and by the inner surface of the cylindrical frame, and the outer surface of
the drum, in two opposite directions at right angles to the directions previously
referred to. Within this annular space, is placed a rectangular piston held to the
drum, by means of brackets, the outer onds of which, are deeply inserted into the
piston, which carry a small shaft through the centre of the piston, upon which it
oscillates, or falls backward and forward to give even bearing to the packing strips,
which are kept in their positions against the wearing surfaces by spiral springs.
A projection is carried out at the back of the piston, above or beyond the swivelled
joint, and is connected by means of a link with a lever fixed upon a small cross shaft,
carried, so as to revolve with the drum. The link and lever, with the part of the shaft
carrying such lever, are contained within a casing forming part of the drum casting
and the cross shaft passes out at one side of such casing. On the other end of this

page_text: cross shaft, is fixed a lever, carrying preferably, a friction roller on its outer end.
The middle portions of the circular plates, are preferably. formed open, around their
centres.
To the pedestal or casing, a cam is fixed, the greater part of the circumference of
which is concentric with the main shaft; but a part of the circumference of such cam
is considerably recessed, and carries a hinged flap or arm, capable of moving inwards
into such recess. The friction roller, aforesaid, bears on the edge of the cam, for the
greater part of the revolution of the drum, but as such roller arrives at the recess in
which the hinged flap is carried, it is forced into the recess by means of a projection,
which acts on a lever on the other end of tho shaft, to partially rotate the same, which
also acts as a guide to keep the piston and diaphragm, from striking together in
passing, as it operates, to partially rotate the cross shaft, (forcing with it the free end
of the hinged flap, also into the recess) and thus the piston is drawn backward on
its hinged joint, so as to be in a position at right angles or approximately so, to its
normal position.
Within the annular space aforesaid, is carried a diaphragm fixed upon a cross shaft,
at a point from its centre, remote from the main shaft. This cross shaft passes out
through the circular plate on one side, and on the outer end, is fixed a lever. On the
part of the main shaft, which passes out on the same side of the notor casing, is fixed
a cam, and by means of a suitable connection between this cam and the lever last before
mentioned, the cam operates, at a certain part of each revolution of the main shaft, to
turn the diaphragm at right angles, or approximatoly so, to its normal position. On
this latter side of the diaphragm, a steam passage is brought from a steam chest, into
the annular space, aforesaid, and immediately on the opposite side of the diaphragm,
a passage is carried out, into an exhaust chamber. A plain block forming a slide
valve, controls the admission, and cuts off the steam to the annular space, aforesaid,
between the diaphragm and the piston, the forward side of the piston being open to the
exhaust. The diaphragm thus acts as the abutment, for the backward pressure of the
steam.
As the piston approaches the completion of one revolution, the diaphragm commences
to be turned into a position at right angles, or approximately so, to its normal position,
in the manner before described, and the friction roller aforesaid, comes opposite the
commencement of the recess in the cam first described, and thus the lever by which
such friction roller is carried, and also the lover, to which the connecting rod is con-
nected, are moved inwards, by the action of the projection, which acts on a lever on
the other end of the shaft, and the piston is thus drawn backwards on its joint, that is,
in relation to the rotating drum, to which it is joined. The piston thus passes under
the diaphragm, and immediately it is clear therefrom, the diaphragm is turned again
into its normal position, and a small cam upon the main shaft, forces outwards the
hinged flap, aforesaid, and thus pushes the friction roller out of the recess, and
returns the piston into its normal position in relation to the drum. The steam may,
of course, be cut off at any point of the stroke, and in any case, must be cut off before
the piston passes the exhaust outlet. The valve may be actuated, by means of a cam
upon the main shaft, operating any simple form of gearing.
The packing for the edges of the piston and diaphragm, is formed by strips mortised
together, at their outward edges, at the corners, and at each corner is placed a block
on the inside of the strips, the pair of blocks at each end being pressed up into the
corners, so as to prevent leakage through the mortised joints, by means of a wedge
piece pressed forward by a spiral spring, against inclined ends on the blocks.
space
The engine above described, may be made reversible. For this purpose, two ports
in the position of those already described, are carried from the annular afore-
said, into a steam chest, and two ports are arranged between such last mentioned ports,
so as to communicate between the valve face, and the exhaust outlet. A long slide
valve is employed, capable of being moved from one end of the chest to the other,
by means of a rack and pinion, or by any suitable means. When the engine is to run
in one direction, the valve is moved to the opposite end of the chest to the direction in
which the engine is desired to run, and is operated by means of any simple form of

page_text: gearing acting through the pinion and rack, to open and close the steam port, at the
opposite end of the chest, at the same time maintaining the exhaust port next to such
steam port constantly closed, and maintaining the other end port in constant communi-
cation, through the hollow of the valve, with the exhaust port, adjacent thereto. In
preference to this, we would add a secondary shaft placed at right angles, fitted with
mitre friction gear, to give the reverse action.
The valvo mechanism may consist of a pair of excentrics and rods having gab ends
for connection to a crank or lever, on the spindle carrying the pinion; or a link motion
may be employed. The operation of the piston and diaphragm, when the engine is
running backwards, is simply the reverse of when running forwards, the piston merely
passing under the diaphragm backwards instead of forwards.
We have described our invention as applied in the case of a steam engine, but water,
compressed air, fluid pressure or any known power may be employed as the motive
power.
The engine above described may also be employed as a pump, blower or exhauster.
Two or more engines or pumps as above described, may of course also be connected
with one main shaft, or an engine and pump may be connected together on the same
shaft.
When the motor above described is used as a steam engine, or other engine, in which
it is desirable to maintain a high temperature, a casing may be formed around the
cylindrical frame, and waste heat from the boiler furnace, or hot gases from an
auxiliary furnace, be carried within such casing, so as to maintain the cylindrical frame
at a high temperature.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines, Pumps, Blowers, and Exhausters.
We, JOHN ROBINSON of Swan Road West Bromwich in the County of Stafford,
Engineer, ALFRED JAMES ASH of Rougemont, South Yardley in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and JAMES ROBINSON also of Swan Road, West Bromwich
aforesaid, 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 5
in and by the following stateinent :-
This invention relates to improvements in rotatory steam engines, pumps, motors
and meters, as herein-after described.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents partly in front elevation, and
partly in vertical section, a rotatory steam engine constructed and arranged according 1
to our invention. It will be understood that in this class of engine, the part which
constitutes the piston of an ordinary engine, revolves around its own centre, and
works steam-tight within an annular chamber, provided with a cross partition, called
an abutment. It will be seen that this said view figure 1 shows particularly the means
for operating and working the said abutment, and also the slide valve, whose induction 1
and exhaust ports are respectively situated on the two opposite sides of the said
abutment, which swivels centrally upon opposite trunnion arms, so as to admit of
its opening for the passage past it of the piston, on the same making a complete
rotation.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the said engine, upon the
dotted lines A B figure 1. This said section exhibits the cone bearing of the main
shaft, also the inside hub drum, and the annulat space enclosed between the said drum,
and the top inside part of the casing. It also particularly shows the spindle for
operating the piston, which is nothing more nor less than a turning trap door, of the
inside cross section of the casing.
Figure 3 represents a horizontal section upon the dotted lines CD figure 2. In this
view, the abutment and also the piston is shown in plan, whilst the induction ports of
the slide valve cylinder are shown in section.
Figure 4 shows a vertical section upon the dotted lines EF figure 8, thus showing
the hub drum partly broken away, in order to exhibit the mechanism for the working
of the piston, for passing the abutment, it also exhibits the induction and outlet ports
between which the abutment is situated.

page_text: Figure 5 represents a horizontal section of the abutment, showing the metallic
packing so as to produce steam tight joints between its boundary edges, and the inside
cross section of the annular space, of which it forms a partition.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of the said figure 5; and further, it will be
understood that the metallic packing of the piston is the same as that of the
abutment.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a is an annular casing or drum, with enclosing sides or lids a², which are attached
to the said annular chamber by extensions bolted to flanges a³ of the said drum. b is
an inner hub drum, made fast to the main shaft c; so that the said hub drum and
shaft rotate together, and with the piston which is marked d, revolving within the
annular space enclosed between the periphery of the hub drum, and the inside surface
of the casing a.
The hub drum ends are enclosed by plates a', bolted to the hub drum, whilst the
main shaft c, which has coned bearings at its outer ends, is supported within screw
and adjustable bearings a³, carried by upright pedestals a³, a', bolted to, and forming
a part of the main framing of the motor, of which the base is marked a".
The hinged piston d which rotates with the hub b, and main shaft c, traverses the
annular chamber a¹ of the drum casing a, and is jointed at d to a bracket 6, carried
by, and affixed to the hub b.
The piston d is worked by a connecting rod d³, whose outer end is jointedly connected
to a bracket d', carried at the back of the door like piston e, whilst the other end is
connected to a bell crank lever d', whose spindle a works within, and is carried by
the hub 6; so that as the shaft, hub and piston rotate together, the latter carries its
operating mechanism with it. The arm d' of the said bell crank lever, carries a
roller do, which rolls upon the periphery of a fixed D shaped plate e, carried by, and
at the right hand side of the framing, as best seen in figure 2; this said plate is
provided with a jointed lifter e', adapted for the purpose of transferring the roller do,
to the right hand side of the periphery e, which is accomplished by the wiping
roller carried by the collar f, keyed upon the main shaft c; so that as the said
shaft, drum, piston and the operating means of the piston rotate together, the roller de
comes upon; and rolls down the curved slope of the lifter e¹, and thereby turns the
piston at right angles to its normal or closed position, so as to pass the abutment,
when the same is open, as herein-after described; and further, on the piston being
fully turned as aforesaid, the roller f* comes upon the underside of the said curved
lifter e', and raises it, and throws the said roller upon the right hand side of the plain
periphery of the plate e as aforesaid.
Thus, the plate e, e³, which is quiescent, and concentric to the shaft and hub, forms
a period of rest from the front and rear parts of the lifter, whilst the plane of the
lifter forms the surface which determines the movement that shall be given to the
parts for placing the piston in a position that it can pass through the abutment when
open.
The piston d has working within its interior, and in the direction of the plane of its
front and back faces, segmental packings g', as herein-after described in the segmental
packings of the abutment, which is marked h. This abutment h consists of a cross
partition, of the transverse section of the annular chamber a', and jointed at h³, about
which it turns as a centre. The metallic segmental packings of this abutment as best
seen in figures 5 and 6, consist essentially of a series of segmental sliding plates glas
aforesaid, pressed outwardly by springs 9³, so as to make the outwardly presented
boundary edgings of the said plates come in contact with, or rub against the surfaces
comprehended by the cross section of the annular space a' of the casing a. It will
be seen that the said segmental metallic packings which are for the purpose of making
a steam tight joint between the abutment, and the contiguous surfaces to its edging,
are made with incline planes; so that the outward pressure exerted by the springs,
causes the planes to run upon each other, and thereby prevent intervening spaces
between the junctions of the plates.

page_text: The corner plates have slots gª surrounding pins 9ª, so as to keep the plates within
the front and back faces 9º, g³.
The same construction of segmental metallic packing as just described, applies to
the segmental packing of the piston d.
The swivelling abutment which is disposed between the induction and eduction
ports, of which the former is marked i, and the latter j, is opened and closed
automatically by mechanism as herein-after described, operated from the main shaft.
Thus, the abutment is opened and closed by a reciprocating slide, operated by
a D shaped cam, and wiper cam k³, both keyed upon the shaft c; so that as the
shaft c rotates, the said cams ³, 13, rolate with it, and give a reciprocating movement
to the slide k, whose rear and front ends work within guides ', and with the fore end
part provided with a long rectangular slot ko, wherein a block at the outer end of
a crank made fast upon the axis h of the abutment / works.
The wiper cam gives the forward reciprocation and opening of the abutment,
whilst the D shaped cam gives the rearward movement of the slide, and the closing
of the abutment.
The concentric part of the D shaped cam, or that part embraced between the
parts ko, ', forms the period of rest, whilst the part of the chord embraced between
the said ko, k, gives the rearward movement to the slide; so that as the shaft rotates,
in the direction as indicated by the arrow below it, the wiper cam ³ impinges upon
the periphery of the pulley, and presses the slido forward, whereby the
abutment is turned through a semi-rotation through the intervention of the crank h*,
and its axis h².
As the slide approaches the end of its forward stroke, the roller is presented to
the middle of the face of the cam ; so that the forward movement of the shaft brings
that part of the said face between its middle, and its circumference to act upon the
roller, and so give the rearward movement to the slide.
I is a slide valve, with heads &,, working within an all-through bored cylinder m²,
of a valve casing m, of which the inlet port is marked m³. The heads 1, 1 are
connected by a stalk , whilst the said valve casing is pierced with induction and
eduction passages,, leading from the interior m³, and exhaust outlet m*.
n².
The valve rod works through a stuffing box m³, with a gland m³, and with its end
connected to a bell-crank lever, through the intervention of a link 1, which_rocks
upon a spindle 1. This said rocking lever is connected by a link 1, to an obliquely
directed valve operating rod n, which works within guides n², and carries rollers n³,
This rod n is worked or reciprocated by a D shaped cam o, like that of the cam k³,
and by a wipor cam p, like that of the one . These cams which are keyed fast upon
the shaft, give a reciprocating motion to the rod n, for the working of the slide valve.
Thus, from the middle of the chord of the cam to the circumference, pushes forward
the slide, rocks the lever 1, and opens the valve, as represented in figure 4, which
thus allows steam which has entered the valve casing through the passago m³, to pass
inwardly through the holes, and thence through the induction port i into the
annular space of the casing between the back of the piston, and the underside of
the abutment.
The continued movement of the shaft, brings the wiper cam p into contact with
its roller n', which forces back the rod, reciprocates the valve to its lowest position,
and opens the exhaust port, so that steam enclosed within the casing, and embraced
between the top side of the abutment, and the front side of the piston, is set free.
The action and the mode of working of the engine is as follows.
On steam entering the annular chamber comprehended between the underside of
the abutment h, and the rear side of the piston d, it exerts its expansive pressure
upon the back side of the said piston, and revolves it within the interior or
hollow of the casing, of which the piston's superficial area represents its exact
cross section.
The motion of the piston, whose direction is indicated by the arrow, carries with
it, the hub b, shaft c, and the means for opening and closing the piston, and as

page_text: the said piston approaches the abutment, the roller passes from the periphery e'
of the D shaped plate e, on to the plane of the lifter e', which is raised by the
roller carried by the collar f, keyed upon the shaft, raises the said lifter, and
causes the bell-crank lever to be turned upon its centre, so as to pull inwards
the rod d, and turn the piston dat right angles to its normal position, as
represented in figure 4. At the same time that the piston is turned inwardly, or
at right angles to its normal position, the abutment his turned into the same
plane as the piston; so that the said piston can pass the abutment, on the continued
movement of the shaft. The opening of the abutment is effected by the forward
reciprocation of the slide k, operated by the wiper cam k³, acting upon the pulley /*
-The movement of the slide k is so arranged, that it is timed to make a period
of rest, sufficient for the piston to clear it, before it again closes, by the rear
movement of the slide, operated upon by one half of the flattish part of the cam
lying between the middle and its circumference; and during the time that the said
abutment has opened, and the piston passed it, the heads of the valve have been
brought opposite the respective passages,, so as to close them, and which
movement of the valve is effected by the cans and p keyed upon the main
shaft c, which when..rotated, gives through the intervention of the said cams, a
reciprocating motion to the rod n, which rocks the lever 1, and reciprocates the
piston within its cylinder, and so allows the induction and eduction ports to be opened
or closed.
On the piston passing through the abutment, the latter closes to the position as
indicated in figure 4, while the piston itself turns into its normal position, which
is kept constant, by the roller d as aforesaid, rolling upon the concentric periphery
of the plate e, which remains quiescent to the motion of the piston. That imme-
diately the piston comes in front of the induction port, it then closes, with its rear
side presented to the port; and when in this position, the slide valve is moved in
the position as represented in figure 4, thereby opening the exhaust and inlet steam
passages, so as to admit steam to the rear side of the piston, and take the waste and
spent steam from the front side.
The application of our invention to motors, pumps, blowers and meters, differs in
no essential respect from its application to that of a rotatory steam engine as herein-
described and set forth.
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.
First. Making the pistons of rotatory steam engines, pumps and meters, turn
upon a fulcrum centre, carried by, and with the hub and main shaft, whereby
the said piston is permitted to turn or change its position to pass the abutment,
as set forth.
Secondly. The combination with a fulcrum piston, of a drum b,
casing a, a, as set forth.
shaft
and
Thirdly. Operating the pivoted piston by means (or their equivalents) b, c, d³, dª,
d', dº, d', d, e, e¹, e², and f," as set forth.
Fourthly. Mounting the abutments of rotatory pumps and motors as herein-
described, upon a pivot centre or centros, carried by, or within the fixed casing as
set forth.
Fifthly. The means herein described, for operating, turning or semi-rotating
abutments, as herein set forth.
Sixthly. The means herein described for operating the valve, as set forth.
Seventhly. Disposing between the induction and eduction ports, the abutment, as
represented in figure 4.
Eighthly. The improvements in steam and other motors, pumps, blowers and
meters, consisting of a hollow chamber, a jointed and turning piston, a turning
abutment, and ports as set forth.

page_text: Ninthly. The combination with a rotatory engine, pump, blower or the like, of
valvular arrangements and parts as set forth..
Tenthly. Providing abutments and pistons with metallic segmental packings,
for the purpose as set forth.
•
Lastly. Improvements in the construction and arrangement of the parts of rotatory
engines, and other motors, pumps, blowers, exhausters and meters, as herein described
and illustrated, and set forth in the several figures of the drawings.
Dated this Eighth day of November 1888
JOHN ROBINSON.
ALFRED JAMES ASH.
JAMES ROBINSON.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.