Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
A communication by GEORGE HENRY WESTON, of 43, St. James Street, Boston,
in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanic.
[ ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 relates to rotary engines of the class shown and described in
British Patent No. 5506, granted to George Henry Weston and bearing date
March 31, 1891, the object of this present invention being to improve the con-
struction of an engine of this class whereby the parts may be more easily and
thoroughly packed and adjusted.
The various features of this invention will be hereinafter described and pointed
out in the claim.
Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of an engine embodying this invention, and
Fig. 2, a vertical section, taken on the dotted line x-x, Fig. 1.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the enclosing case which may be of any
suitable, or desired, construction, it having formed within it the two like cylindrical
chambers a, a¹, which contain respectively the steam piston b and abutment c.
The piston 6, as herein shown, consists of a central portion, or hub, 61, Fig. 1,
mounted upon, or forming part of, the shaft 6 journaled in suitable bearings in the
enclosing case, to be hereinafter described in detail, said hub having at its opposite
euds flanges b, fitting the outer annular wall of the cylindrical chamber a and
provided with suitable packing as the rings & running in contact with said annular
wall to form at all times a steam-tight joint between the piston and its cylinder.
Between the flanges and extending outwardly from the hub 61 is bolted, or
otherwise secured, the piston arm or wing b, shown best in Fig. 2.
The abutment c in the cylindrical chamber or cylinder a', has at one side a
recess c', which as the abutment rotates in connection with the piston, receives the
wing of the piston and permits the latter to pass it, as will be readily understood
from Fig. 2.
The abutment centers between the flanges of the piston, as shown in Fig. 1,
and at its periphery is provided with a suitable packing, as the ring c², which runs
in contact with the peripheral surface of the hub 6 of the piston.
In the present instance, and preferably, the abutment c, runs upon a universal or
ball bearing to permit it to adjust itself to any inaccurate alignment of the piston,
such bearing in the present instance being constructed as follows:-
Referring to Fig. 1, d represents a long non-rotatable sleeve mounted in the
enclosing case A, it being supported in said case near its inner end upon its flange d',
and at its outer end by and between the adjusting screws d³ and wedges d* by
means of which said sleeve may be moved in one, or the other, direction about the
flange d as a fulcrum to change the aligument or position of its axis.
The inner end of this sleeve d is made spherical as at d³ to constitute a ball
bearing for the abutment c, the latter having a semi-spherical bushing c³, upon
which is placed a plate c', both being bolted to the base of the abutment by
screws c.
The plate has an inwardly projecting teate squared at its inner end, as at co
to enter a squared socket in the inner end of the shaft e arranged in the sleeve d.
said shaft at its rear or outer end projecting beyond the end of the sleeve d ard
squared at e¹ to enter a square opening in a plate e², fast on the face of a toothed

page_text: wheel e³, having a bushing e¹, journaled upon the shouldered end of the sleeve d
said toothed wheel e being in mesh with a toothed wheel e fast on the piston
shaft, so that rotation of the latter causes like but opposite rotation of the
shaft e.
While any form of journal bearing may be provided for the piston shaft b, yet
I prefer the bearing similar to that herein shewn, which consists of the two
oppositely facing conical bushings f, f, fixed on the shaft 6' and which run in a
suitable sleeve f¹. flanged outwardly at its inner end to fit the outer annular
surface of the annular recess 6x in the face of the piston surrounding its shaft b
said sleeve at its outer end being threaded to receive the cap f2 by means of
which the conical bushings may be drawn together to take up wear between them
and the sleeve f¹.
A collar g, also threaded upon the outer end of the sleeve f', acts upon the
outer ends of two or more rods g' which pass inwardly through the boss on the
enclosing case, and at their inner ends act against a packing ring g², between which
and the flange on the inner end of said sleeve fi is interposed a packing g³ to
prevent steam blowing out within the sleeve in the oil space.
I have herein shown a cap h bolted to the face of the inner end of the sleeve f,
and surrounding the piston shaft 2 to serve as an oil trap to prevent escape of oil.
The piston at its front side has a cone-shaped recess to receive the conical cup-
shaped cut off shell m held from rotation by a pin m entering the sleeve m³, and
packed against leakage by a soft packing ring mi in the enclosing case.
A sleeve m³ provided with a flange m³ at its outer end and at its inner end made
tapering, or conical, to fit the interior of the conical shell m constitutes the steam
inlet, steam passing from the interior of the shell through an opening m* in the
side thereof, through an opening & in the hub b' of the piston into the steam cylinder
between the wing and the abutment.
Adjusting screws m' act upon the sleeve m² and furnish means by which to adjust
its alignment.
A packing mo may be placed between the flanged end of the sleeve m³ and the
enclosing case to prevent leakage and keep the sleeve in position.
Adjusting screws c* are also provided to set or adjust the packing ring c³ on the
abutment.
The ball bearing d is oiled through a hole normally closed by a screw n, the oil
introduced through this hole being conducted through passage n¹ to the bearing.
The operation of the engine is as follows
;-
Assuming the parts to be in the position Fig. 2, steam admitted to the sleeve m
enters the cylinder a between the piston wing 65 and the abutment, expands, and
thereby forces the wing and its piston around its axis in the direction of the arrow
Fig. 2, the abutment also rotating in an opposite direction, the steam being cut off
by the shell m and finally escapes through the exhaust passage m', all as in engines
of this class now well understood and patented by my correspondent.
The advantages of this present construction over any other construction known
to him consists chiefly in the improved manner of packing the parts to prevent
leakage and in the ready adjustability of the parts to permit working of the same
without friction.
For example, assuming the piston shaft 6' to be somewhat out of line by reason
of poor adjustment or workmanship, or from wear, the shell m accomodates itself to
the position of the piston, the sleeve m² in turn accomodating itself to the new
position of the shell.
The abutment c is also free to turn about its ball bearings to accomodate itself
to the piston in whatever position the latter may be.
The abutment being packed to the piston, and free to adjust itself thereto insures
a tight joint or fit at all times and consequently insures perfect working of the
engine.
By providing the piston with two flanges 68 and packing the same at their
peripheries, a much more simple and effective packing is provided, and it will be

page_text: noticed that both the piston and abutment are packed at their peripheries, tbus
avoiding side or surface packing.
This invention is not restricted to the particular construction of parts herein
shewn, for it is evident the same may be varied in many respects without departing
from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the 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, the use of a rotary abutment, a co-operating rotary
piston, having flanges at opposite sides of and overlapping said abutment, and
packed at their peripheries.
2: In a rotary engine, the use of a rotary abutment, a co-operating rotary
piston having flanges at opposite sides of and overlapping said abutment, and
provided at their peripheries with packing, and a packing in and at the periphery
of said abutment and acting upon said piston.
3-A rotary engine containing a rotary piston, a co-operating rotary abut-
ment, and a universal bearing for the latter, whereby it is adjustable to accomodate
itself to the alignment of the piston.
4-A rotary engine containing a rotary piston, a co-operating abutment, a cut-off
shell, an independent sleeve leading thereto, and packing for both shell and sleeve.
5: A rotary piston, a co-operating rotary abutment, a fixed non-rotatable sleeve
having a bearing for said abutment, a shaft within said sleeve connected and
rotatable with the abutment, a toothed wheel connected with said shaft, and a
meshing wheel connected with and rotated by the piston.
Dated the 27th day of June 1893
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.