IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Johnson and William Gill, both of
Unstone, in the County of Derby, Joiners, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS."
Sealed the 20th August 1869, and dated the 23rd February 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Johnson and
William Gill at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 23rd February 1869.
We, JOSEPH JOHNSON and WILLIAM GILL, both of Unstone, in the
County of Derby, Joiners, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction
and arrangement of rotary engines and pumps whereby a direct rotary
motion is given to the shaft of the engine, the moving parts working
perfectly steam-tight with a small amount of friction, and whereby,
when motion is given from an external source to the shaft, the piston
will act as a pump for raising or forcing water.

page_text: The engine consists of a cylinder secured on a foundation, and having
a central shaft working in bearings at each end or side of the cylinder.
On this shaft is mounted a circular piston revolving eccentrically around
and within the cylinder, at the top of which the inlet and exhaust pipes
are applied. Between the ports a groove or slot is cut, in which a slide
has a reciprocating motion, and which therefore separates the exhaust
from the feed, the slide also working in grooves cut within each end or
side of cylinder, and being attached to the piston by a saddle and
knuckle joint in connection with a ring or belt surrounding the piston
but not rotating with it. By this arrangement the excentric motion of
the piston causes the slide to ascend and descend at each revolution of
the shaft, always maintaining a perfect steam stop. The piston is made
in two parts or divisions so as to ensure its being steam-tight; the
interior contains a spring adjusted to any pressure by a screw pin and
nut to bind or thrust its periphery against the surface of the cylinder,
and the outer ring is divided into two parts, so that it can be sprung to
the face of the side; the end also of the outer ring contains a groove,
wherein the ring attached to the strap works which ties the slide to the
face of the piston. The strap works at the end of the slide, and also
forms a spring at the top of the slide to keep it to its work. When
used as a pump the feed and exhaust pipes serve equally for the inlet
and discharge of the water, the engine working in exactly the same
manner as when steam is applied.
The engine will be found very applicable to driving screw propellers
where direct rotary motion is desirable, as the engine occupies a very
small space
in comparison with that necessary for a reciprocating
engine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Johnson and William Gill in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd August 1869.
JOSEPHI
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
JOHNSON and WILLIAM GILL, both of Unstone, in the County of Derby,
Joiners, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the

page_text: year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Joseph Johnson and William
Gill, Her special licence that we, the said Joseph Johnson and
William Gill, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as wc, the said Joseph Johnson and William Gill, our executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at. all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Cliannel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES
AND PUMPS," upon. the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Joseph Johnson and William Gill; our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands
and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed;
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months, next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of our said 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 certain improvements in the construction
and arrangement of rotary engines and pumps whereby a direct rotary
motion is given to the shaft of the engine, the moving parts working
perfectly steam-tight with a small amount of friction, and whereby,
when motion is given from an external source to the shaft, the-piston will
act as a pump for raising or forcing water..
The engine consists of a cylinder secured on a foundation and having
a central shaft working in bearings at each end' or side of the cylinder.
On this shaft is mounted a circular piston revolving excentrically
around and within the cylinder, at the top of which the inlet and
exhaust pipes are applied. Between the ports a groove or slot is cut, in
which a slide has a reciprocating motion, and which therefore separates
the exhaust from the feed, the slide also working in grooves cut within
each end or side of the cylinder, and being attached to the piston by a
saddle and knuckle joint in connection with a ring or helt súrrounding

page_text: the piston but not rotating with it. By this arrangement the excentric
motion of the piston causes the slide to ascend and descend at each
revolution of the shaft, always maintaining a perfect steam stop. The
piston is made in two or more parts or divisions so as to ensure its being
steam-tight; the interior contains a spring adjusted to any pressure by
a screw to bind or thrust its periphery against the surface of the cylinder,
and the outer ring is divided into two or more parts, so that it can be
sprung to the face of the side; the end also of the outer ring contains a
groove, wherein the ring attached to the strap works which connects the
slide to the revolving piston. The strap works through the end of the
slide, and is connected also to a spring at the top of the slide to keep it
to its work. When used as a pump the chest and feed valve is not
required; the feed and exhaust ports or pipes serve equally for the inlet
and discharge of the water, the engine working in exactly the same
manner as when steam is applied.
The engine will be found very applicable to driving screw propellers
where direct rotary motion is desirable, as the engine occupies a very
small space in comparison with that necessary for a reciprocating engine.
In order that our said Invention may be completely understood, we
annex the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents an end
elevation of the engine or pump; Fig. 2, an inside view of the same;
and Fig. 3 a vertical section; similar letters denoting corresponding
parts in each Figure.
a is the end plate or cover of the engine, the internal view of which
is shewn in Fig. 2, with the groove b cut therein for the reception of
the sliding stop c attached to the cylindrical piston d by means of the
jointed strap e and loose ring in the centre of the piston; f is the shaft
or axis to which the piston is fixed, and g is the screw rod which forces
the piston tightly against the interior of the cylinder of the engine, in
order to form a steam-tight or water-tight contact; h is the feed pipe
for the steam or water, and i the exhaust pipe or port, the arrows
shewing the direction of the steam or water and the consequent course
of the piston; the slide rises and falls within the groove and within the
slot in the upper part of the engine above the main cylinder, being
always attached to the ring enclosing the cylindrical piston, so as to
acquire a reciprocating vertical motion caused by the excentric
movement of the piston; k shews in dotted lines the position of the fly
wheel.

page_text: Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed,, we would remark in
conclusion that we do not restrict ourselves to the exact details and
configuration of parts which we have expressed and shewn, as the same
may be varied or modified without in any degree departing from the
principles on which the Invention is based; but what we claim and
desire to be secured to us by the herein in part Letters Patent is, the
general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts constituting
improvements in rotary engines and pumps, with special reference to
the application of the excentric cylindrical piston in conjunction with
the slide or steam stop working in slots and grooves either for steam
engines and pumps, substantially as herein specified and shewn by the
Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
0
Witness,
WILLIAM FREEMAN,
Unstone.
JOSEPH JOHNSON. (L.S.)