Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 20th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
We, GEORGE EDMUND KIRBY, 21, Montpellier Terrace, Exeter, Mechanical
Engineer, and HENRY WILLIAM CROWTHER, 21, Montpellier Terrace, Exeter,
Jeweller, 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:-
Our invention consists in improvements in rotary engines operated by steam
or similar fluid under pressure. The construction and operation will be clearly
understood by means of the drawing, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a front part sectional elevation, the standard being removed.
Fig. 2 is a back part sectional elevation.
Fig. 2 is a view shewing modification of ports.
Fig. 3 is a section on line A B, and G H Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is an external view of one of the slide chests, shewing part of the operat-
ing mechanism.
Fig. 5 shews interior detail of slide chest.
Fig. 6 shews the operating mechanism of slide chest on reverse side to that
shewn in Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of front standard, steam chest and main admission valve,
with cover removed.
Fig. 8 is a part section on line C D, Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a sectional detail of one of the reversing valves.
Fig. 10 is a front view shewing dial.
Fig. 11 is a plan of Fig. 9.
Fig. 12 is a section on line E F, Fig. 7, shewing cover.
1 is the bedplate, which may be formed of cast iron or like suitable metal.
Formed in one piece with it, or secured to this bedplate by bolts or the like, are
two standards 2, which carry the main bearings 3, and also two standards 2",
which support the split cylinder shrouding 4". This shrouding is cast, pressed,
or otherwise formed in metal in two half parts, and subsequently united by bolts
and nuts, or set screws 4' which pass through the flanges 4. A semi-circular or
other shaped core or recess 4 is formed in the position shewn in each half, and
this is carefully turned or otherwise tooled. Within this core, recess or groove
the elongated pistons, which consist. of two Muntz metal or other metallic
plungers 5, 5b, fitted with rings 6, or equivalent suitable packing, revolve.
These pistons are each formed with a slot 7, through which passes a spur or
tongue 7, forming part of, or secured by rivets 7', or other suitable manner, to
the disc 8, which is keyed to the shaft 9, journaled in the bearings 3. The disc
is made steam-tight by means of two split rings 81, 8", on each side, kept in
position by the plate 8111, secured by bolts or set screws to it 4" or by equivalent
suitable packing. Upon this shaft is keyed a spur wheel 10, gearing into a
smaller wheel 10%, running loose upon a stud 11. This wheel is prevented from
shifting its position by a set pin 12, which engages with a groove 13, formed in
the stud, and drives another wheel 10b, the axle of which 11, is pivoted in a

page_text: bracket 14, at one end; and after passing through the stuffing box or gland 15,
is employed for driving the main admission valve 16, which is keyed to, and
revolves with it; the opposite end of the axle is preferably journaled in a spring
bearing or the like 17, mounted on a cross bar 17ª, within the steam chest 18,
which is formed with or bolted to the standard 2. To assist in keeping the disc
valve 16, tight against the ported face upon which it works we employ the
spring 19. Ports 20, 20¹ are formed in the valve, which interact with three
ports 20, 20b, 20° (see dotted lines Fig. 7) formed in the wall of the steam
chest 18, which is fitted with a cover 22. The pipe 23, supplying steam, com-
pressed air or the like, enters, the chest at its base, and three distributing
pipes 23, 23b, 23°, connect the respective ports 20ª, 20b, 20°, with 3 reversing
valve boxes 24, 24, 24b, formed in, or mounted upon the shrouding, and com-
municating by right and left hand passages 25, 25, 25b with the cylindrical
recess 4, in which the pistons move. These valve boxes and passages may be
cored in the shrouding as shewn at Fig. 3, or they may be bolted on, communica-
tion with the recess 4, being effected by the radial ports as at 26, or by the modifi-
cation of same, 261, see Fig. 2. Exhaust pipes 27, 27, 27b, connect the exhaust
passages 28, Fig. 9, formed in the reversing valves, with the condenser 28",
chimney or the like, as the case may be. The reversing valves 30, 30ª, 30b, are
each formed slightly taper, and have two ports 29, 28, which serve as admission
and exhaust openings in either direction as they may be rotated. The
synchronous action of these three valves is effected as follows: Abevel
wheel 31, is attached to the spindle of each valve, and two pinions 31ª, connected
to the ends of the shafts 32, supported by brackets 33. A lever 34, fitted with
spring catch 34ª, is keyed to the valve spindle, and its motion to right or left
limited by the slots 35. By turning round this lever the three valves can each
be made, by means of the bevel gear to occupy the required position which we
prefer to indicate by a pointer 36, moving over a plate or dial 37, suitably
marked on the exterior of each valve, see Figs. 9, and 10. Mounted between the
admission ports 26, opening into the recess, are 3 slide chests 38, 38", 38b; these
are each fitted with a cut-off slide 39, the function of which is to form a piston
back or stopped end behind the pistons in the direction of motion, and to open,
at the proper moment to enable the pistons to pass. These chests may be fastened
to the flanges by angle plates 391 and bolts and nuts, or be formed with, or
mounted in any other suitable manner. Each slide, which is preferably of the
segmental shape shewn in Fig. 5, is carefully faced and fitted to the chest, and a
steam-tight joint made by scraping or the like, and the cover 391 and side
cover 38°, fastened by screws. At a suitable point in each slide a hole 40, of
sufficient size to permit the pistons to pass, is drilled or bored. A slot 41, which
enables the slide 39, to be removed without disturbing the chest, is formed in the
slide, and a spindle 42, with a square 43, journaled in a stuffing box or bush in
the casings. A spring 39111 is employed to keep the slide against the base of the
chest. Crank arms 44, 44", are keyed to the ends of each of these spindles,
and connected by pins 441 through two links 45, 45", slotted as at 46, and pivoted
to the studs 47, 47. A short connecting rod 48, 48", is pivoted as at 49, 49",
to each of these levers through links 491, 49", and is adjustably fastened to a
cross head 50 50, each of which is fitted with a guide spindle 51, and guide 52,
and carries a roller 53, operated by two lifts 54, 54, attached to or formed upon
the sides of the packing plates 8111 on disc 8. The stroke of the slides is adjusted
by the nuts 48' on connecting rods 48, 48%. The function of the shorter lifts 54,
shewn in Figs. 1 and 3 is to open each slide at the proper moment for the pistons
to pass, while that of the longer lift 54", shewn in Figs. 2 and 4 is to close the
same after the piston has passed so as to form a piston back or cover.
The operation of our invention is as follows:
-
Steam compressed air or other fluid under pressure is admitted through pipe 23,
to the main valve chest 18, and passes out through the valve 16, and by one or
other of the distributing pipes 23ª, 23b, 23°, to that reversing valve which is in

page_text: position to admit steam behind the piston. At this moment the slide 39, behind
and in front of this piston, will be closed, the exhaust steam being swept out
of the cylinder by the advancing piston through port 26; passage 25, and through
exhaust opening 28 in valve to condenser or chimney as the case may be.
Reference to the drawing will make clear that when one of the elongated
pistons is, say, in the centre of its stroke the other is in the act of passing
through the opening in the slide 39, so as to be ready to take steam. The engine
is reversed by rotating, by means of the lever, pinions and bevel gear, the three
valves shewn, so as to reverse the direction in which the steam was entering
previously.
Our invention is not confined to the use of a single cylinder and components,
two or several of these may be mounted on one shaft if desired. We may also
increase the number of sections to six, with 4 pistons, and so on if required.
The flanged recess may also be cast, pressed, or otherwise formed in several parts
if more convenient.
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.) The particular type of rotary engine herein described and shewn con-
structed and operating in the way and manner set forth.
(2.) The combination in or with a rotary engine operated by steam or other
fluid, of a circular cylinder divided into sections controlled by slides, the disc
mounted on main shaft, and carrying two or more pistons each loosely mounted
on a spur or tongue, the admission and exhaust ports in said sections, and con-
necting passages to rotating reversing valves, the gear operating said valves, and
the steam and exhaust piping for connecting to main valve, and condenser or
otherwise; the respective parts co-operating in the way and manner and for the
purposes specified.
(3.) The combination in or with a rotary engine of the spring or equivalent
rings for packing the disc and rendering the same steam tight in the way and
manner shewn.
(4.) The combination in or with a rotary engine, of the particular form of
slotted removable slides for opening and closing the cylinder sections, operating
by means of the lifts, rollers, crank arms, links and rods in the way and manner
specified and shewn.
(5.) The combination in or with a rotary engine of the particular form of
revolving main distributing valve gearing for regulating the admission of steam
to the sections through reversing valves having steam and exhaust ports opera-
ting by the means and in the manner described.
(6.) In a rotary steam or fluid pressure engine the combination construction
and use of the particular form of elongated pistons and the rings 6 or equivalent
packing thereon for keeping same steam tight.
1000
FRANCIS M. ROGERS.
Agent for the Applicants, 21, Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C.