IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adrianus Anthony Wilton Van Reede of Papendrecht
near Dordrecht Holland for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY
"
177 "2"
ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adrianus Anthony Wilton
Van Reede at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd
November 1883.
i
ADRIANUS ANTHONY WILTON VAN REEDE of Papendrecht near Dordrecht
Holland "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES
"
This invention has for its object improvements in rotary engines.
The engine in its simplest form consists of an axis upon which is mounted an
eccentrically cylindrical block.
"
The block serves as a piston and is contained in a "cylinder or working
chamber. The width of the working chamber in one direction is the same as the
diameter of the cylindrical block and this fits it steam tight.
In the direction of the height the chamber is elongated to such an extent as to
enable the axis and eccentric block to rotate, at the same time imparting a to and
fro movement to the chamber and to the casting in which the chamber is formed;
this part being mounted on horizontal guides which permit the movement. The
working chamber is closed at the ends; at one end it works against a vertical
abutment forming part of the frame and at the other end it receives a stationary
cover plate which is held up against it by the steam pressure in a valve chest or
chamber on the further side. Steam is admitted to the working chamber alternately
at the top and bottom by a sliding valve upon the cover to which a vertical
movement is imparted by another eccentric upon the shaft. The valve eccentric
is received into a cavity in the valve similar in form to the working chamber.
This valve alternately uncovers ports in the end cover leading to the top and
bottom of the working chamber and allows steam to enter; also covering these
ports and exhaust ports formed in the cover it allows the steam to pass out from
the working chamber
The pressure of the steam thus applied imparts a rotary motion to the axis. The
exhaust passages in the cover lead the steam into channels passing longitudinally

page_text: through the casting in which the working chamber is formed. The steam traverses
these channels and passes out by ports in the cover plate at the further end of the
working chamber.
If the engine be single the steam is either received into the condenser or is
allowed to escape but usually I make these engines compound and then the steam
from the first working chamber is received into a second valve chest containing a
slide valve similar to that already described and belonging to another working
chamber in all respects similar to the first but of larger dimensions. The steam
expands into the second working chamber and operates against the eccentric
cylindrical block which this chamber contains.
From the second chamber the steam emerges into a receiver in connection with a
condenser and provided with air pumps which are operated by an eccentric upon
the main shaft.
In order to admit of the engine being reversed the eccentrics actuating the valves
are not fixed upon the shaft itself but upon a sleeve surrounding the shaft and the
reversal is obtained by turning these sleeves with the eccentrics partly round upon
the shaft.
This is effected in each case in the following manner :-Outside the sleeve there
is a loose collar and a pin within this collar projects through a slot cut longitudinally
in the sleeve and enters another inclined slot in the shaft.
The sleeve can be moved longitudinally upon the collar by a fork embracing its
neck. The fork forms part of a nut which is held in guides within the valve box
and prevented from turning but free to traverse longitudinally. This nut receives
a hollow screw within it surrounding the axis, the sleeve and the collar and having
upon it at one end a bevelled wheel engaging with a pinion on an axis which
passes out by a stuffing box through the side of the valve box.
On the outer end of this axis there is another bevelled pinion engaging with a
corresponding pinion upon an horizontal shaft carrying the hand wheel by turning
which the engine is reversed.
By turning this wheel the collar is drawn along the sleeve and its pin
passing through the two slots causes the sleeve to be turned relatively to the
axis.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Adrianus Anthony Wilton Van Reede in the Patent Office on the
21st May 1884
:
:
ADRIANUS ANTHONY WILTON VAN REEDE of Papendrecht near Dordrecht
Holland IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES" €
This Invention has for its object improvements in rotary engines.
J
The engine in its simplest form consists of; an axis upon which is mounted an
eccentrically cylindrical block.
5. The block serves as a piston and is contained in a "cylinder" or working chamber.
The width of the working chamber in one direction is the same as the-diameter of
the cylindrical block and this fits it steam tight..
In the direction of the height the chamber is elongated to such an extent as to
enable the axis and eccentric block to rotate, at the same time imparting a to and
fro movement to the chamber and to the casting in which the chamber is formed,
this part being mounted on horizontal guides which permit the movement. The
working chamber is closed at the ends, at one end it works against a vertical
abutment forming part of the frame and at the other end it receives a stationary
cover plate which is held up against it by the steam pressure in a valve chest or
chamber on the further side. Steam is admitted to the working chamber
alternately at the top and bottom by a sliding valve- upon the cover to which a
vertical movement is imparted by another eccentric upon the shaft. The valve
eccentric is received into a cavity in the valve similar in form to the working
éhamber.
こ
This valve alternately uncovers ports in the end cover leading to the top and
bottom of the working chamber and allows steam to enter; also covering these
ports and exhaust ports formed in the cover it allows the steam to pass out from the
working chamber.
:
The pressure of the steam thus applied imparts a rotary motion to the axis. The
exhaust passages in the cover lead the steam into channels passing longitudinally
through the casting in which the working chamber is formed. The steam traverses
these channels and passes out by ports in the cover plate at the further end of the
working chamber.
If the engine be single the steam is either received into the condenser or is allowed
to escape but usually I make these engines compound and then the steam from the
first working chamber is received into a second valye chest containing a slide valve
similar to that already described and belonging to another working chamber in all.
respects similar to the first but of larger dimensions. The steam expands into the
second working chamber and operates against the eccentric cylindrical block which
this chamber contains.
From the second chamber the steam emerges into a receiver in connection with
a condenser and provided with air pumps which are operated by an eccentric upon
the main shaft.
In order to admit of the engine being reversed the eccentrics actuating the valves
are not fixed upon the shaft itself but upon a sleeve surrounding the shaft and the
reversal is obtained by turning these sleeves with the eccentrics partly round upon
the shaft.
This is effected in each case in the following manner:-Outside the sleeve. there
is a loose collar and a pin within this collar projects through a slot cut longi-
tudinally in the sleeve and enters another inclined slot in the shaft.
:
The sleeve can be moved longitudinally upon the collar by a fork embracing its
neck. The fork forms part of a nut which is held in guides within the valve box
and prevented from turning but free to traverse longitudinally. This nut receives
a hollow screw within it surrounding the axis, the sleeve and the collar and having
upon it at one end a bevilled wheel engaging with a pinion on an axis which passes
out by a stuffing box through the side of the valve box.
On the outer end of this axis there is another bevilled pinion engaging with ia

page_text: corresponding pinion upon an horizontal shaft carrying the hand wheel by turning
which the engine is reversed.
By turning this wheel the collar is drawn along the sleeve and its pin passing
through the two slots causes the sleeve to be turned relatively to the axis.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily 5
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
ㄩˋ
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a vertical and longitudinal section of a compound rotary engine
constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is an horizontal section of the same.
Figure 3 is an end view partly in section.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 shew separate parts of the engine.
A is the main frame, A' A¹ are the abutments forming parts of the frame by
which the castings containing the working chambers are supported. B is the main
shaft, it is carried in bearings upon the frame. C₁ C² are the castings. In these 1
the working chambers or cylinders C* C* are formed. D1 D2 are the cover plates,
in them ports and passages are formed. The cover plates and abutments have
upon them guides on which the castings C1 C2 traverse.
The casting in which the smaller cylinder C+ is formed is closed at one end by
the standard A* upon the frame and at the other end by a plate D¹ similar in all 2
respects to D' but of smaller dimensions.
E E are cylindrical blocks fixed eccentrically upon the main shaft B and at
right angles the one to the other.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the casting C¹ with the block E' within it.
Figure 5 shews an elevation of the cover plate D¹ in contact with which the 2
casting C¹ moves to and fro.
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, but representing the casting C³.
Figure 7 represents the cover plate D² against which the casting C² works.
F¹ is the valve of the smaller or high pressure working. chamber, it is moved to
and fro in guides in a vertical direction by an eccentric G¹ upon the main axis.
The cavity into which the eccentric is received may be similar to that of the
working chamber itself i.e. such as to admit of the shaft with the eccentric
revolving within the cavity, and thereby imparting to the valve the requisite
movement up and down in its guides.
F2 is the larger valve, similar in all respects to the smaller.
The high pressure steam from the boiler is admitted to the engine at H it enters
the valve casing K and passes from thence into the smaller working chamber by
the ports Land L³ as these are alternately opened by the movement of the
valve F¹.
3
Whilst steam is thus admitted at the top by the port L' above the eccentric 4
block E' steam is able to pass out from the lower part of the working chamber by
the port L into the cavity of the valve, and thence to the passage M² formed in
the thickness of the cover.
The passage M' leads to the openings N' N³ in the cover.
Similarly the passage M¹ leads to openings N¹ N¹. The steam passes from one
side to the other of the casting C¹ by passages 00 formed in it, and so it reaches
the second valve chest P; from thence it is permitted by the valve F' to pass into
the larger working chamber C+ alternately on the upper and under side of the
cylindrical block.
The steam passes out from this chamber in the manner already described in
respect to the smaller working chamber, and reaches the condenser of the engine,
which is not fully represented in the drawings.
QQ are the air pumps: their pistons are connected by links with the eccentric R
upon the main shaft. SS are the pump valves. These parts are clearly seen in
Figures 3 and 8.
:
20
1

page_text: T, is a hand wheel for reversing the engine; it is upon the horizontal axis T on
which are two bevilled pinions T T each of which engages with the corresponding
pinion upon a vertical axis..
These two vertical axes U¹ U serve to convey the movement of the hand wheel
to the eccentrics which actuate the valves; one of them corresponds to the high
pressure valve, and the other other to the low pressure.
Each axis at its lower end passes through a stuffing box into the valve box and
has upon it a bevilled pinion U+ engaging with the wheel V1 upon the hollow
screw V.
W is a nut which is moved by this screw; the nut traverses in the direction
lengthwise of the axis, being prevented from rotating by guides.
The projection W₁ upon the nut engages with the collar X upon the sleeve Y.
In this sleeve there is a projection Y¹ passing through straight slots in the sleeve Z
upon which the eccentric is fixed and entering an inclined slot cut in the shaft.
Consequently the longitudinal movement of the nut causes the rotation of the
ecentric relatively to the shaft, and this so changes the action of the valve as to
effect the reversal of the engine.
In order to prevent the steam leaking by the eccentric blocks E¹, E³, one side of
each of the working chambers is formed by a moveable piston like piece c and this
can be kept constantly in contact with the eccentric block by the admission of
steam behind it through the passage c
For starting the engine it is found desirable to provide a compensation for the
pressure of the steam upon the cover plates D' D'. This is effected by forming all
around the castings C₁ C channels c+ to which the steam can be admitted by a
passage c++ and thus a partial equilibrium is obtained. The pressure of the steam
then acting upon both sides of the covers of the working chambers. There are
similar channels c+ facing the abutments A¹.
When the engine is started, the steam admitted to the cylinders by the valves
provides a partial counterpoise, and the admission of steam by the passage c++ is.
then no longer necessary.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim :-
First. The combination of the cylindrical block set eccentrically on the main
shaft and the working chamber to which the block fits in two dimensions and
which has a to and fro movement imparted to it by the rotation of the axis and
block substantially as described.
-
Second. The means by which the cover is held in steam tight contact with the
end of the working chamber, namely by the pressure of the steam in a valve
chamber on the outer side of the cover substantially as described.
Third. The means for reversing the engine by producing the rotation of the
valve eccentric upon the shaft by a screw and nut actuating a sliding collar with
pins upon it, entering grooves in the sleeve of the eccentric, and in the shaft,
substantially as described.
Fourth. My compound expansive rotary engine, substantially as described and
represented in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Adrianus Anthony Wilton Van Reede have
hereunto set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of December in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.