A New or Improved Rotary Steam Engine.
Year: 1898

page_text: * Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 15th Oct.,
1898
A New or Improved Rotary Steam Engine.
I, GUSTAV HUCKAUF, of Bluchwald, near Luzine, Upper Silesia, in the German
Empire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
n and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to a new or improved rotary steam engine and its object
s to so construct such an engine that the piston surface may be increased pro-
gressively as the steam expands.
In carrying this invention into effect two cylinder ends or end plates are
arranged opposite to each other and are formed on their inner surfaces with cam-
ike projections. Between the two plates a cylinder or drum is arranged to
rotate and is furnished with a transverse piston the ends of which come into con-
act with the cam-like projections so that the piston is moved laterally thereby.
The new engine is illustrated by the accompanying drawings to which reference
is hereinafter made.
Figure 1 shews it partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section.
Figure 2 represents the cylinder ends or end plates in front elevation.
Figure 3 shews the same plates in plan and partial section.
Figure 4 is a view of the inner side of the left hand plate or cylinder end.
Figure 5 illustrates a section through the rotary cylinder.
Figure 6 represents it in end elevation.
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the cylinder ends and illustrates
the working of the engine.
A and B are the end plates or cylinder ends or covers which are preferably so
designed that they may be secured to a suitable foundation and form the frame
of the engine. On their inner faces they are formed with peculiar cam-like
tubular projections a and b which effect the lateral movement of the piston,
and thus vary its effective surface. These tubular projections are cut off obliquely
or are otherwise formed with elliptical edges. As shewn in Figure 2 each pro-
jection has its highest point on the line y, is at half its altitude along the
lines o, u, and is reduced to nothing at a point z diametrically opposite to y.
vindicates the bore or inner opening of a tubular extension. The edges of the
extensions a and b are so formed that at any point, along a radial line, they
are parallel with the cylinder covers A and B, as shewn by the lines 1 and 2, 3
and 4, and 5 and 6 in Figure 3. The projections a and b upon the opposite
plates A and B are so arranged that the highest point of one is exactly opposite.
the lowest point of the other.
The opening in each projection serves to receive the hub of the rotary
cylinder or drum the construction of which is shown in Figure 5 and the arrange-
ment of which between the end plates and its working position is illustrated in
Figure 1. This cylinder C is open at its ends but is provided midway in its
length with a partition or wall C¹, through which at one point passes the piston
or slide E. See also Figure 6. This piston is capable of endwise movement

page_text: within the cylinder and is preferably guided by grooves formed respectively upon
the outer surface of the hub of the cylinder and the inner surface of its rim.
The piston is of such a length that its two ends just abut against the opposite
edge of the projections a and b when the cylinder is in place.
It is preferred to construct the piston E in several layers or plates.
The projections a and b are so proportioned that each at its highest point
just touches the face nearer to it of the central wall or partition C¹, so that at
each end of the cylinder there is a point at which steam cannot pass.. It is
evident that, as the cylinder rotates, the piston will be moved by the cam-like
projections a and b so that it alternately projects to one side or the other of the
partition C¹.
It will be obvious that the operations on both sides of the partition C¹ are the
same, but it will be only necessary to describe what takes place on one side. As
soon as the piston has passed that point at which the projection a is in contact
with the partition C¹ it will move more and more towards that end of the cylinder
and thus expose a progressively greater surface to the steam until half a revolution
has been effected. As soon as the piston has passed the highest point of the
projection a steam is admitted through the port c formed in the body of the
projection, see also Figure 7, and drives the piston round carrying the cylinder
with it. Steam may be cut off at any point according to the desired expansion.
As shown in the diagram Figure 7, expansion begins at the point B, d, e, that is
at about a quarter revolution. The active surface of the piston increases until
the point h, e, is reached when it has attained its maximum. It now begins to
recede upon further rotation of the cylinder, and passes into the chamber upon
the other side of the partition C¹ where it operates similarly. When the piston
has again reached that part of the projection a- which is in contact with the
partition C the exhaust port k has been uncovered and the steam is free to
escape.
The ports at, opposite ends of the cylinder C are arranged at 180° apart so
that a balanced working takes place. The steam enters the right hand side of
the engine at the port 7, Figure 7, and is cut off at the point B, d, e, 2, when
expansion takes place and the increase of piston surface continues until the
lowest part of the cam-like projection is reached at the point h, E, 2. The
surface of the piston then decreases until the outlet m is passed.
As will be seen on reference to Figure 7 a great advantage is obtained by
arranging the inlet port on one side of the engine at an angular distance of 180°
from the inlet port on the other side, as one side of the engine is thus working
at its highest efficiency when the other side is at its lowest.
The live steam enters through the pipes r1 and 2 and passes into the steam
chests and s³. g¹ and g³ are the passages through which the exhaust steam
escapes.
The speed of the engine may be regulated by a governor of any suitable or
usual type.
The rotary cylinder C may carry or be provided with a pulley H, or any other
convenient device may be employed to enable the power of the engine to be
utilised.
The improved rotary motor is very simple in construction and is of the highest
efficiency. It works without any deadpoint, and may rotate in either direction.
It is especially suitable for. marine work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A rotary engine in which the piston is capable of endwise movement within
a rotary cylinder or drum, this endwise movement being caused by its contact
with cam-like projections formed on fixed end plates, all constructed and arranged

page_text: substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
2. A rotary engine constructed arranged and operated substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.