Im- PROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES."-A communication from abroad by
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
December 1866.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in rotary engines in which
the expansive force of steam or gases is utilized at any pressure or temperature
by combining together the rectilinear motion of several pistons in order to
produce rotary motion by the effect of the whole number. In this manner
motive power may be obtained acting constantly in the same circular direction
without requiring transmitting parts which absorb a great part of the motive
power through friction and otherwise.
The peculiar arrangement of parts forming the present improvements
consists, 1st, in rendering the distributing chamber movable, so as to adjust
its position to compensate for the wear produced by friction and fix it in the

page_text: most suitable position; 2ndly, in dispensing with the use of rods for con-
necting pistons placed at diametrically opposite points, substituting therefor
metallic cords passing round guide pullies, whereby to return the pistons to
position in readiness for the next action of the steam.
The Drawing annexed represents a rotary engine constructed on the above
principle having the improvements applied.
Figure 1 shows a front view of the rotary apparatus provided with sixteen
connected pistons, and Figure 2 a side view of the same. The same letters
serve for both the Figures.
A, A, bearings mounted on a suitable foundation, on which turns the main
shaft B, carrying the whole of the rotating parts or engine C and the pulley
gearing or other means of transmitting the motion to the parts to be driven.
The apparatus consists of a circular disc, the boss of which is keyed on the
shaft B; this disc bas an annular external plate c provided with sixteen
enlargements c¹, c, c, disposed at an angle with the radius of the disc, each
of these enlargements forms a small hollow cylinder, in which slides freely a
suitable piston D, or it may be provided with, metallic or other packing if
desired. The pistons D; D, sixteen in number, work in the sixteen small
cylinders c, c¹, c¹, each piston being connected to the one diametrically
opposite, so that the one moves with the other. E, metallic cords connecting
each two opposite pistons, the tension being regulated by screws passing over
guide pulleys e, e, so as to bring back the pistons D, D, in readiness for the
steam again to act. Two only of these cords are shown in the Drawing to
avoid confusion; G, steam or other chamber fitting in frictional contact with
the inside face of the annular disc c, on which it slides, the steam enters the
pipe H, and by means of channel h, shown dotted in Figure 1, is introduced
under the piston, which is at the moment opposite its orifice; this piston in
rising carries with it through the connection E its corresponding opposite piston
whose cylinder is in communication with the discharge channel i, made in
the steam chamber G, and abutting on the escape pipe I, meanwhile this
action of the steam has caused the disc G to turn a portion of a revolution.
The steam chamber G is adjusted by means of a part 9 sliding on two bracket
supports g¹, g', in order to cause it to enter more or less into the annular
space formed by the disc c, its position being assured by nuts and screws g³, g³,
the cylinders presenting themselves successively to the action of the steam as
the apparatus continues to turn; each action of the steam is augmented by
the weight of the piston moving outwards from the centre according to the
speed, and by cutting off the admission the steam is enabled to act expansively;
11, inlet pipe for the steam, gases, or other motor in communication with the

page_text: channel of the chamber G; I, escape pipe serving to discharge the steam
or gases after expansion from channel i after having acted on the under sides
of the pistons..
The Invention thus consists in the herein described improvements in rotary
engines driven by steam, gas, or other power, and provided with pistons con-
nected in pairs in equal number and disposed radially two and two, the one
acting on the other, and so increasing the power by adding the weight of the
pistons as they move out from the centre of rotation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day. of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should. at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROTARY ENGINES," a communication to me from abroad by Auguste Gérin,
Manufacturer, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Clark, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that. I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in rotary engines in which
the expansive force of steam or gases is utilized at any pressure or tem-
perature by combining together the rectilinear motion of several pistons in
order to produce rotary motion by the effect of the whole number. In this
manner motive power may be obtained acting constantly in the same circular
direction without requiring transmitting parts, which absorb a great part of:
the motive power through friction and otherwise.
The peculiar arrangement of parts forming the present improvements
consists, 1st, in rendering the distributing chamber movable, so as to adjust
it's position to compensate for the wear produced by friction and fix it in the
most suitable position; 2ndly, in dispensing with the use of rods for connecting
pistons placed at diametrically opposite points, substituting therefor metallic
cords passing round guide pullies, whereby to return the pistons to position in
readiness for the next action of the steam.
The Drawing annexed represents a rotary engine constructed on the above.
principle having the improvements applied.
Figure 1 shows a front view of the rotary apparatus provided with sixteen
The same letters
connected pistons, and Figure 2 a side view of the same.
serve for both the Figures.
A, A, bearings mounted on a suitable foundation, in which turns the main
shaft B carrying the whole of the rotating parts or engine C, and the pulley
gearing or other means of transmitting the motion to the parts to be driven.
The apparatus consists of a circular disc, the boss of which is keyed on the
shaft B; this disc has an annular external plate c provided with sixteen.
enlargements c', c¹, c¹, disposed at an angle with the radius of the disc; each
of these enlargements forms a small bollow cylinder, in which slides freely a
suitable piston D, or it may be provided with metallic or other packing, if
desired. The pistons .D, D, sixteen in number, work in the sixteen small
cylinders c¹, c', c', each piston rod being connected to the one diametrically
opposite, so that the one moves with the other. E, metallic cords connecting
each two opposite pistons, the tension being regulated by screws and passing.
over guide pullies e, e, so as to bring back the pistons D, D, in readiness for
the steam again to act. Two only of these cords are shown in the Drawing
to avoid confusion. G, steam or other chamber fitting in frictional contact
with the outside face of the annular disc c on which it slides; the steam enters
by the pipe H, and by means of channel h, shown dotted in Figure 1, is
introduced under the piston which is at the moment opposite its orifice; this

page_text: piston in rising carries with it, through the connection E, its corresponding
opposite piston, whose cylinder is in communication with the discharge
channel i made in the steam chamber G, and abutting on the escape pipe I,
meanwhile this action of the steam has caused the disc G to turn a portion
of a revolution. The steam chamber G is adjusted by means of a part g
sliding on two bracket supports g', g', in order to cause it to enter more or
less into the annular space formed by the disc c, its position being assured by
nuts and screws 9", 9", the cylinders presenting themselves successively to
the action of the steam as the apparatus continues to turn; each action of the
steam is augmented by the weight of the piston moving outwards from the
centre according to the speed, and by cutting off the admission the steam is
enabled to act expansively. H, inlet pipe for the steam, gases, or other
motor in communication with the channel h of the chamber G; I, escape pipe
serving to discharge the steam or gases after expansion from channel i, after
having acted on the under sides of the pistons.
The Invention thus consists in the herein described improvements in rotary
engines driven by steam, gas, or other power, and provided with pistons con-
nected in pairs in equal number and disposed radially two and two, the one
acting on the other, and so increasing the power by adding the weight of the
pistons as they move out from the centre of rotation.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
W. CLARK, J*.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)