Improvements in or relating to Rotary Engines or Fluid Meters.
Year: 1894

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Rotary Engines or Fluid Meters.
We, AIME GARDON, Manager of Mines and ALEXANDER BUTAVENT,
Mechanic, both of La Chapelle sous Dun, (Department of the Saône et Loire) in
the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This improved motor comprises a cylindrical body, formed of a ring closed by
two ends with ordinary joints or clamped joints. Within this is placed, upon a
shaft traversing both ends of the cylinder, a cam of special form, whereof the
maximum radius is exactly equal to the radius of the cylinder. This cam acts as
a piston, and its useful section is variable according to its position; its width is
invariable and equal to the length of the cylinder; the other dimension is a
function of the generatrix of contact with the distributor-piston.
In the upper part there is a second cylindrical body closed by a cover fitted with
an internal projection placed perpendicularly to the axis, and in this body is lodged
an equilibrated distributor-piston, as will hereinafter be explained; this piston is
guided or, rather, maintained by two rods or spindles. On one side, the cylindrical
cavity carries an aperture for the admission of the driving fluid (water steam
compressed air or gas); while the piston carries two admission apertures, the
one for receiving the motive fluid, and the other for distributing it in the principal
body.
When the escape or discharge-pipe from the lower cylinder is open the lower
admission aperture is shut. The motive fluid enters at the upper aperture and
remains in the space of the distributor.
In virtue of the speed acquired (for a single machine) and aided by a fly-wheel,
balancing the weight of the cam piston, it is evident that the latter will continue
its movement and that the distributor will soon begin to descend the inclined
plane on one side of the cam, the lower admission aperture will arrive in the
cylinder, and the face of the cam will receive the steam (or other motive fluid).
The distributor-piston will press, on the other hand, against that surface, and act
as a cylinder end. The fluid will press on the cam therefore and the space to be
filled will increase until, by the rotation, the distributor arrives at the circular
part of the cam. At this moment the admission becomes full and constant, untit
the other curve of the cam presents itself and lifts the distributor again and in such
a manner as to close the admission just at the moment when the cam passes over
the escape port.
At this moment the acquired speed causes the cam piston
to pass over the dead point and the series or cycle recommences in exactly the
same order.
The distributor piston makes one end of the cylinder by applying itself to the
cam with any desired force. One half of this piston is submitted, beneath, to the
pressure of escape, and the other half to the full pressure more or less expanded,
while the interior of the distributor is subjected to the primary pressure of the
motive fluid on its admission. To equilibrate, it is required to calculate the
diameter of the hollow so that the weight of the piston, increased by the pressure

page_text: upon the hollow, shall be slightly in excess of the total pressure upon the lower
half of the piston. The distributor then presses upon the cam, which is itself
provided with a special segment to secure complete tightness. The distribution
piston is itself provided with segments and is a little larger than the large lower
cylinder in order that it may make joint with several genatrices, and not only with
one. The equilibrated piston therefore makes a tight end.
The cam performs the part of a piston with a variable section, moving in a
circular cylinder; at the ends the joint is made with a circular segment in iron or
leather for steam water, or with simple grooves for compressed air or gas. A
seginent arranged according to a radius of the cam, completes on each side of the
cam, the devices for securing tightness.
The cam works the distributor. It is with the right hand curve that the speed
of opening for steam is regulated, and with the left hand curve that the raising of
the distributor is regulated, in consequence of the cutting off the steam and the
expansion at the end of the stroke. The variable expansion and the regularity of
the working are obtained very conveniently with a governor placed by the side of
the admission, and working either a lantern wheel a butterfly-valve, or an expansion
fitting, worked from the shaft of the machine.
The lubrication is attended to the same as in other machines.
The cam is carried by a swivelling table, if so desired which permits its position
to be regulated by the two cylinder ends, the admission is tangential so as to strike
the cam normally, the exhaust is effect by a large opening as well as by a small
auxiliary outlet when the cam passes over the ordinary outlet.
The machine is fixed upon a base plate carrying two plummer blocks with
automatic lubrication; abutment collars are arranged in the bearings to avoid
friction in the machine itself.
.
The shaft is terminated by cones in order to avoid any unkeying of the pulley
and of the fly-wheel owing to the high speed of rotation. The segments are steel
tubes, cut in the lathe and lodged in grooves formed to fit them.
The equilibration of the piston, in spite of the perfection of the construction,
allows at all times a small quantity of the motive fluid to pass, which accumulates
and creates at the upper part a back-pressure which hampers the distribution-
piston.
To avoid this accumulated back pressure, a small communication is established
between this space and the admission port. The clearance is effected naturally at
starting by opening a cock placed below.
The foregoing description relates to a machine with one cam. But the motor
may be arranged with two or three cams suitably keyed on the shaft so as to do
away with the dead-point, and to give regularity to the motive effort. These
cams are separated by plain discs and are provided, each with a separate
distribution-valve.
The cams may all be keyed on the shaft in the same position, and so arrange the
distributors as to attain the same result.
It is almost needless to remark that the coupling may also be effected by putting
several single motors on the same shaft.
To sum up, this rotary motor is based upon a new principle which is the subject
of this invention viz.: a cam, doing duty as a piston, keyed directly on the shaft,
and itself operating the distribution-valve by means of an equilibrated piston which,
by its contact with the cam itself, with the cylinder-walls and those of its own
receptacle, forms a movable cylinder cover, separating the compartment of admission
from that of the exhaust, between which rotates the cam as piston.
This motor may be used as a meter, each to and fro movement of the distribution-
valve in fact commanding a counting apparatus of any kind, and each stroke
representing a fixed volume, equivalent to that described by the rotation of 'the
'cam. In this case it would only be needed to suppress the expansion.
It is equally applicable to liquefied gases, carbonic acid or other's and may also
be used for road vehicles such as bicycles tricycles, etc. All that would be required

page_text: in that case would be to add a cock in front of the distributor to allow the drop of
liquefied gas to pass which by vaporization gives the motive fluid admitted and
distributed by the valve.
In a modification the distributor no longer carries the lower admission port
which is replaced by a passage placed near the cylinder containing the distributor ;
the steam admission is shifted being the same height at right angles in the
horizontal plane to its previous position, where there is a communicating pipe which
may communicate with the admission port by the intermediation of a small cylinder
wherein moves an expansion device commanded by a crank arm attached to any
governor connected with the main shaft of the machine.
The distributor carries an aperture of such length that the distributor opens and
closes the steam admission at the moments desired and according to the curvature
of the cam.
(It will readily be understood that the distributor fulfils the functions
of an ordinary slide-valve.) In a further modification in order to admit of the
motor being reversed the cam is symmetrical either circular or described with an
increasing radius.
Upon both sides two cylindrical valves are lodged in cylinders of like form, and
provided each with two openings. These butterfly valves are so keyed on their
spindles that the one is so placed as to present the admission on one face of the
cam and the other valve the exhaust on the opposite face of the cam. The crank
handles which command this apparatus are joined together by a single rod connected
to a reversing lever handle which according to its position imparts to the machine
a rotary movement in the one direction or in the other, or stops it when the two
butterfly valves form the ports of admission.
Each of the said cylinders is provided with a small exhaust tube on its outer
side.
The same result may be obtained by employing the cylinder ends as admission
boxes and the cams as distributors. The distributing cylinder which is the basis
of this invention always plays its part as an equilibrated cylinder, making joint
with a cam acting as piston.
In this arrangement the distributor is only provided with a single port admitting
the steam intended to balance and press it against the cam.
Two exhaust passages are provided.
It
The motive fluid arrives in two rings on either side, these two rings communi-
cating (as well as the exhaust passages) with each other as also with a slide box
placed outside; and further being each prolonged by a canal with outlets.
suffices therefore by the slide to open the port for the admission of the steam into
one ring, to close one exhaust passage and open the other, it will then be easily
understood that the cam will then rotate from right to left; if on the contrary
by admitting the steam to the opposite ring and opening the other exhaust passage
the fluid is introduced into the machine by the other opening, the cam is caused to
rotate in the reverse direction.
This last arrangement allows the use of expansion just as well as the system
with a simple segment.
Dated this 13th day of December 1894.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Rotary Engines or Fluid Meters.
We, AIME GARDON, Manager of Mines, and ALEXANDER BUTAVENT,
Mechanic, both of La Chapelle sous Dun (Department of the Saône et Loire) in
the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The motor which is the subject of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a transverse section and
Figure 2 a section on the line of the main shaft, of one construction of motor
according to our invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are views, similar to Figure 1 of alternative constructions of the
motor, and
Figures 5 and 6 are vertical sections of details thereof.
This improved motor comprises a cylindrical body A formed of a ring closed by
two ends B with ordinary joints. In this is placed upon a shaft D traversing both
the ends of the cylinder A a cam C of a special form, whereof the maximum
radius is exactly equal to the radius of the cylinder A. This cam acts as piston,
and its width is constant throughout and equal to the length of the cylinder; the
other dimension is a function of the generatrix of contact with the distributor
piston.
In the upper part of the engine there is a second cylindrical body E, closed by a
cover H fitted with an internal projection I which is placed perpendicularly to the
axis of the engine, and in this body is lodged an equilibrated distributor piston F
which will hereinafter be explained; this piston is guided, or rather prevented
from rotating by two rods or spindles X X on the cover. On one side the
cylindrical body E has an aperture G for the admission of the driving fluid (water,
steam, compressed air or gas); while the piston F carries two admission apertures,
the one for receiving the motive fluid, and the other for distributing it in the
principal cylinder A.
In the position in which the parts are shown in Figure 1 the escape or discharge
pipe J from the lower cylinder A is open and the lower admission aperture K is
shut. The motive fluid enters at the upper aperture L and remains in the cavity
of the distributor F. The arrangement is for a revolution to the left (as shown
by the arrow).
In virtue of the speed acquired (for a single machine) and aided by a fly-wheel M
balancing the weight of the cam-piston C, it is evident that the latter which we
will assume is in motion will continue its movement to the left, and that soon the
distributor F will begin to descend the inclined plane NO on one side of the cam
the lower admission aperture K will arrive in the cylinder A and the face N () of
the can will receive the steam (or other motive fluid). The distributor piston F
will press, on the other hand against that surface, and act as cylinder end. The
fluid will press on the cam therefore to the left; and the space to be filled will
increase until by the rotation the distributor F arrives at the circular part of the
cam C. At this moment the admission becomes full and constant, until the other
curve of the cam presents itself and lifts the distributor again and in such a manner
as to close the admission just at the moment when the cam passes over the escape
port J.
At this moment the acquired speed causes the cam piston to pass over
the dead-point, and the series or cycle recommences in exactly the same order.
The distributor piston constitutes practically one end of the cylinder by
applying itself to the cam with any desired force. One half of this piston is
submitted beneath to the pressure of escape, and the other half to the full pressure
more or less expanded while the interior of the distributor is subjected to the
primary pressure of the motive fluid on its admission. To equilibrate it is required
to calculate the diameter of the hollow so that the weight of the piston, increased
by the pressure upon the hollow, shall be slightly in excess of the total pressure
upon the lower balf of the piston. The distributor then presses upon the cam
which is itself provided with a special packing c to secure complete tightness. The
distributor piston is itself provided with packing and is a little wider than the large
lower cylinder.
The equilibrated piston therefore makes a tight joint with the cam piston C.

page_text: The cam performs the part of a piston with a variable section, moving in a
circular cylinder; at the ends the joint is made with a circular packing ring b in
iron or leather for steam or water, or with simple grooves for compressed air or
gas. A radial packing a arranged on each side of the cam completes the devices
for securing tightness.
The cam works the distributor. It is with the right hand curve that the speed
of opening for steam is regulated and with the left-hand curve that the raising of
the distributor is regulated, to produce the cutting off and expansion. The variable
expansion and the regularity of the working are obtained very conveniently with a
governor controlling the supply of steam to the admission port. The governor or
other expansion device is operated from the main shaft of the machine.
The cam C is carried by a swivelling table if so desired which permits its
position to be regulated by the two cylinder ends; the admission is tangential so as
to strike the cam normally; the exhaust is effected by a large opening as well as
by a small auxiliary outlet d when the cam passes over the ordinary outlet.
The machine is fixed upon a base-plate carrying two plummer-blocks with
automatic lubrication; abutment collars are arranged in the bearings to avoid
friction in the machine itself.
The shaft is terminated by cones in order to avoid any unkeying of the pulley
and of the fly-wheel owing to the high speed of rotation. The packings are steel
tubes cut in the lathe and lodged in grooves formed to fit them.
The equilibration of the piston in spite of the perfection of the construction
allows at all times a small quantity of the motive fluid to pass, which accumulates
and creates at the upper part a back pressure which hampers the distribution
piston. To avoid this accumulated back pressure a small communication passage = is
established between this space and the admission port. The clearance is effected
naturally at starting by opening a cock placed below.
The foregoing description relates to a machine with one cam, but the motor may
be arranged with two or three cams suitably keyed on the shaft so as to do away
These cams
with the dead-point, and to give regularity to the motive effort.
are separated by plain discs, and are provided each with a separate distribution
valve.
The cams may all be keyed on the shaft in the same position and we so arrange
the distributors as to attain the same result.
It is almost needless to remark that the coupling may also be effected by putting
several single motors on the same shaft.
To sum up, this rotary motor is based upon a new principle which is the subject
of this invention, namely, a cam doing duty as a piston keyed directly on the
shaft and itself operating the distribution valve by means of an equilibrated
piston which by its contact with the cam itself with the cylinder walls
and those of its own receptacle, forms a movable cylinder cover, separating the
compartment of admission from that of the exhaust between which rotates the cam
as piston.
This motor may be used as a meter, each two and fro movement of the distribution-
valve, in fact, commanding a counting apparatus of any kind, and each stroke repre-
senting a fixed volume, equivalent to that described by the rotation of the cam.
this case it would only be needed to suppress the expansion.
In
It is equally applicable for use with liquefied gases, carbonic acid or others, and
may be used to propel road-vehicles, such as bicycles, tricycles, etc. All that would
be required in that case would be to add a cock in front of the distributor, to allow
the drop of liquefied gas to pass which, by vaporisation, gives the motive fluid
admitted and distributed by the valve.
We have given the foregoing description in order to make clear the principle of
our invention and the working of our motor.
Nevertheless, we construct other apparatus, whereof we will now give the
description, and which are governed by the same ideas.

page_text: In a modification, the distributor no longer carries the lower admission port K,
which is replaced by a passage K₁ (Fig. 3) placed near the cylinder containing the
distributor; the steam admission G is shifted to G₁ being at the same height but
at right angles in the horizontal plane to its previous position, where there is a
communicating pipe G₂. K₁ G₂ may communicate with each other by the inter-
mediation of a small cylinder, wherein moves an expansion device, commanded by
a crank-arm attached to any governor connected with the main shaft of the machine
(see Fig. 3).
The distributor carries opposite G2 an aperture L of such length that the
distributor opens and closes the steam admission G2 at the moments desired and
according to the curvature of the cam. (It will readily be understood that the
distributor fulfils the functions of an ordinary slide valve and that the segment S
acts as an expansion slide Figure 3.)
In a further modification in order to admit of the motor being reversed the cam
is symmetrical, either circular or described with an increasing radius.
Upon both sides two cylindrical valves are lodged in cylinders of like form and
provided each with two openings viz. G 2 and K, and 92 and k₁ (representing J in
the former type). These butterfly-valves are so keyed on their spindles that the
one is so placed as to present the admission on one face of the cam and the other
valve the exhaust on the opposite face of the cam.
The crank handles which command this apparatus are joined together by a single
rod which is connected to a reversing lever handle which according to its position,
imparts to the machine a rotary movement in the one direction or in the other, or
stops it when the two butterfly valves form the ports of admission.
Each of the said cylinders is provided with a small exhaust tube on its
outer side.
The same result may be obtained by employing the cylinder-ends as admission-
boxes and the cams as distributors. The distributing cylinder which is the basis
of this invention, always plays its part as an equilibrated cylinder, making joint
with a cam acting as piston (Figures 4, 5 and 6).
In this arrangement the distributor is only provided with a single port, admitting
the steam intended to balance and press it against the cam.
Two exhaust passages are provided at T and T¹.
The motive fluid arrives in two rings U U on one hand and V V on the other
hand, these two rings communicating (as well as the exhaust passages) with each
other as also with a slide-box placed outside; and further being each prolonged
by a canal (R for U and R¹ for V) with outlets m and m¹. It suffices therefore
by the slide to open the port for the admission of the steam into the ring U to
close one exhaust passage T and open T¹ to the exhaust; it will then be easily
understood that the cam will then rotate from right to left, the steam issuing in
fact from m and escaping from T¹; if on the contrary by moving the slide, T is
opened and T is closed, and the steam is conveyed to the ring V instead of U the
fluid will be introduced into the machine by the opening m¹ and will escape by T,
while the cam will rotate from left to right.
This last arrangement allows the use of expansion just as well as the system
with a simple segment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Our motor in principle i.e. a cylinder end equilibrated formed by a piston
making a tight joint with a cam fulfilling the functions of a chief piston its
improvements or additions allowing of a variable expansion as well as of the
reversal of motion its construction and divers uses whether as a single or double
motor with or without expansion either variable or compound and with or without
reversal of motion.

page_text: 2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a motor substantially
as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 or
Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The details of our improved motor substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in Figure 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of September 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.