Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 12th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 15th June, 1888
I, HOMAN PRICE FENBY, of the Manor House, Farnley, near Leeds, in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its chief object the economical use of steam in engines of the
rotatory type, by means of expansion of such fluid, which I effect in the mannor
hereinafter described. And it has also reference to a novel arrangement of parts
comprising such improved motor.
The frame or body of the engine consists of a plain strong casting having a long
solid or otherwise constructed bearing at the upper part, truly hored. This bearing
has at one end a large flange truly faced and to which the cylinder is fixed. The
cylinder may be cast in one with the frame or body of the engine if desired, forming
a deep projecting rim, but I prefer its being separate, and in the form of a plain ring
with a flange at each end.
In the long bearing above mentioned, is mounted a shaft. This shaft has an
enlargement which I will call the head, that projects in front of the large flange of
the bearing aforesaid; the opposite end of the said shaft projects beyond the other
end of the bearing, and on this part is mounted a fly wheel, pulley, or other device
for giving off the power of the engine.
The ring forming the cylinder is larger internally than the enlarged head of the
shaft above referred to, and is of the same length. On putting the engine together,
the cylinder (if not cast in one with the frame) is allowed to hang upon the enlarged
head of the shaft, and while in this position is secured to the aforesaid large flange of
the frame and thus forms a chamber whose axis is eccentric with that of the long
bearing of the shaft.
The head of the shaft is provided with one or more radial slots in which plates are
placed capable of radial movement so as to follow the interior of the eccentrically
placed cylinder. The head of the aforesaid shaft is reduced at its outer end, such
part serves to hold together the slotted parts and also to form an auxilliary journal
which takes a bearing in a corresponding recess in the outer lid of the cylinder.
This lid on putting the engine together, is merely hung upon this journal, and then
bolted to the cylinder without further adjustment.

page_text: I will now describe the method of effecting the "cut-off" and "expansion of the
steam, (I refer to steam, though it will be obvious that other elastic fluids may be
used). In one of the ends of the cylinder and preferably that adjoining the long
bearing, is an induction port, which at certain portions of the rotation of the shaft, is
closed by the head thereof, but at other parts of that end of the head next to the
induction port, are ports corresponding therewith and which are open at the periphery
of the head; these ports, during the rotation of the shaft, alternately coincide with
the said induction port, at which time steam is admitted to that part of the cylinder
in which its force is exerted against the radially moving plates provided in the head
so as to cause the shaft to rotate.
It will be evident that, as the shaft rotates, and these alternating ports of the head
in passing the aforesaid induction port and receiving a charge of steam in proportion
to their area or length, a cut-off and expansion of steam is thus obtained without any
At a convenient part of
working mechanism being required for effecting the same.
the cylinder an eduction port is provided for the exhaust steam.
In what manner the radially moving plates drive the shaft will be well understood,
as the device of eccentric cylinder and radially sliding plates is not new, as the same
have been in use more or less for a long period.
For regulating the speed of the engine-I use any ordinary example of governor
driven from the engine shaft for controlling the quantity of steam flowing into the
induction port.
When the reversing engine is required I dispense with the governor, the admission
port, and the ports in the head of the shaft, and substitute therefor ports in the
cylinder communicating with a reversing valve."
1 1007

page_text: I, HOMAN PRICE FENBY, of the Manor House, Farnley, near Leeds, in the County
of York, 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 in and by
the following statement :-
This invention has for its chief object the economical use of steam in engines of the
rotatory type, by means of expansion of such fluid which I effect in the manner
hereinafter described. And it has also reference to a novel arrangement of parts
comprising sucli improved rotary engine.
The novel arrangement of parts and the expansive use of the steam embodied in my
improvements I will now proceed to explain by reference to the accompanying
drawings. Fig. 1. Sheet 1. is an elevation of the engine at the cylinder end, Fig. 2.
is a longitudinal section on the line A. B. of Fig. 1. the frame a, being shown partly
in elevation. Fig. 3. is a plan.-Fig. 4, Sheet 2. is a transverse section on line C, D,
of Fig. 2.
:
The frame or body a, of the engine consists of a plain strong casting having a long
solid dead-eye or other suitably constructed bearing a 1, at the upper part, truly
bored. This bearing has at one end a large flange a 2, truly faced in relation thereto
and to which the cylinder c, is fixed, or the cylinder c, may be cast in one with the
frame or body a, of the engine if desired, forming a deep projecting rim, but I prefer
its being separate and in the form of a plain ring with a flange at each end, and a
steam passage e, and a suitable exhaust port h, cast thereon.
In the long bearing a 1, above mentioned, is mounted a shaft b. This shaft has an
enlargement 1, which I will call the head, and which projects in front of the large
flange a 2, of the bearing a 1. The opposite end of the said shaft projects beyond the
outer end of the bearing a 1, and on this part is mounted flywheel i, as a regulator,
and a pulley j, or other device for giving off the power of the engine.
The ring forming the cylinder c, is larger internally than the enlarged head b 1.
of the shaft b, and is of the same length, that is to say so that the head can rotate
within the cylinder c, and with the ends of the head in contact with the cylinder ends.
On putting the engine together, the cylinder c (if not cast in one piece with the
frame a) is allowed to hang upon the enlarged head b 1. of the shaft b, and while in
this position is screwed to the aforesaid large flange a 2. of the frame, thus there is
formed a chamber whose axis is eccentric to that of the long a 1, bearing of the
shaft b.
The head 1. of the shaft b, has formed, in it one or more radial slots in which

page_text: plates g. g, are placed that are capable of radial movement so as to follow the interior
of the eccentrically placed cylinder c. with whose surface the outer edges of said plates
are kept always in contact by springs k, k, k. The plates, g constitute the
piston.
The head 1. of the shaft is formed or provided at that end furthest from the shaft
with a reduced part 62, that serves to hold together the slotted parts of the head 61,
and also to form an auxiliary journal which takes a bearing in a corresponding
recess 1. in the outer lid d, of the cylinder c. This lid on putting the engine
together is merely hung upon said auxiliary journal 62, and then bolted to the
cylinder c, and does not require any further adjustment.
I will now describe the means employed to offect the cut off and expansion of the
actuating fluid which I will assume to be steam, though it will be obvious that other
elastic fluid may be used.
In one of the ends of cylinder c, and preferably that adjoining the long bearing a 2,
is an induction port e, which at certain periods in the rotation of shaft b, is closed
by the head b 1. thereof, but at other times is open by reason of there being in parts
of that end of said head 61. next to said induction port other ports, that
alternately correspond therewith and which ports f,f, respectively extend through to
the periphery of said head 6 1.
When one of these ports f, during the rotation of the shaft coincides with said
induction port e, steam is admitted to the cylinder and exerts its force against the
corresponding radial plate g, so causing the shaft b, to rotate.
It will be evident that as the shaft rotates and the ports f, in the head alternately
pass the induction port e, and receive a charge of steam in proportion to their area or
length, a cut off and afterwards an expansion of steam is obtained without the use of
additional working mechanism such as usually required for expansive working.
After the ports f, of the head 61, have alternately passed the induction port e, the
steam acting on the blank parts of the head would tend to press it endwise against
the lid d. To avoid this 1 continue the steam or induction pipe e, in the form of
a branch therefrom as shown in plan, Fig. 3, to the lid or cover d, (or a separate
steam pipe may be used,) and opening into the cylinder c, opposite to the induction
port so that there is steam acting simultaneously on each side of the head b1,
which thus rotates in a state of equilibrium so far as side or endwise pressure is
concerned.
As already indicated, at a convenient part of the cylinder c, an eduction port h,
is provided for the exhaust steam.
The manner in which the radial plates drive the shaft will be well understood
without further explanation, because the combination of an eccentric cylinder and
radially sliding plates is a well known device, having been in use more or less for
a long period.
.
For regulating the speed of the engine I use a governor or regulator of any
ordinary or suitable kind driven from the engine shaft for controlling the quantity
of steam flowing in at the induction port.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a rotary engine to work expansively, a frame or body a, long bearing a 1,
flange a 2. and induction port e, all in one casting, substantially as described.
2. In a rotary engine to work expansively, a frame or body a, long bearing a 1.
flange a 2. cylinder c, and induction port e, all in one casting, substantially as
described.
3. In a rotary engine to work expansively, the combination of a frame or
body a, bearing a 1. working cylinder c, exhaust port h, outer cover d, with
bearing or recess d 1, having its axis in alignment with that of the bearing a 1
substantially as described.,
4, In a rotary engine to work expansively; the combination with a cylinder
:
C

page_text: having induction port e. and eduction port h, cover and bearings a 1. d 1, of a
shaft b, with head b 1. having radial sliding piston plates g. 9, and induction
ports, each of which alternately communicate with said induction port e, and
also with the working side of said cylinder c, behind one of said radial sliding
piston plates g, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
5. In a rotary engine to work expansively, the combination with a cylinder
having induction and eduction ports, of means for working expansively, comprising
head b 1. with ports or passages f. f, and radial sliding piston plates g. 9,
substantially as described.
a 1.
6. The combination of parts constituting the improved rotary engine for working
expansively as hereinbefore described and consisting of frame a, long bearing a
flange a 2. shaft b, head 61. journal 62. ports f,f cylinder c, cover d, with
bearing d 1, induction port e, eduction port h, flywheel i, and pulley j, all
substantially as described.