Improvements in Rotary Steam Engines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 30th Sept., 1887
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Steam Engines.
I, PETER JENSEN of 77, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of
the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 statement (a communication to me from abroad by
William H. Bright of McPherson in the County of McPherson, Kansas, one of the
United States of America):
My invention relates to an improvement in Rotary Steam Engines, and it consists
in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set
forth herein after and particularly pointed out in the claim.
Fig. 1, is an end elevation of a rotary steam engine embodying my improvements
with one of the cylinder heads removed.
Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view of the same taken on the line, x-x, of fig. 3.
Fig. 3, is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line, y-y, of fig. 2.
Fig. 4, is a top plan view with the cover of the steam chest removed.
Fig. 5, is a detailed perspective view of the valved abutment.
A, represents the cylindrical case which has on its lower side the supporting feet, B,
by means of which the case may be bolted to a suitable base or support. From the
upper side of the cylinder extends a vertical neck, C, in the lower side of which is
made a vertical transverse opening, D, which extends entirely across the neck and
communicates at the lower side with the bore of the cylinder.
On the upper side of the neck is a steam chest, E, which has steam ports, F, and, G,
arranged parallel with each other on one side of the steam chest. The port, F,
communicates with one side of the opening, D, near one end and the port, G, com-
municates with the opposite side thereof and at the opposite end. Between the

page_text: ports, E, and, G, is an exhaust port, N, which communicates with an escape pipe, O.
H, represents a slide valve which is located in the steam chest and is sufficiently large
to cover both the ports, F, and G. A valve rod, I, is attached to one corner of the
valve and extends out through and beyond a packing box, K, on one side of the steam
chest. A lever or handle is attached to the outer end of the valve rod to operate the
same; L, represents an opening which extends from the steam chest to one end of the
opening, D, and in the said opening, L, is seated an upwardly opening puppet
valve, N.
The heads, P, of the cylinder are bolted to the ends thereof to cover the same and
have upwardly extending portions which cover the ends of the opening, D, and in one
of the said heads is made a channel, R, that leads from one end of the opening, D,
at a suitable height from its lower side to the exhaust pipe; S, represents the inlet
pipe to supply steam to the engine; T, represents the rotary piston which is provided
with spindles, U, that are journalled in bearings made in the cylinder heads.
The diameter of the rotary piston is less than the interior diameter of the cylindrical
case thereby leaving an annular chamber, V, around the rotary piston and the latter
is provided on one side with a shoulder or offset, W, the sides of which are rounded or
inclined as shown.
This shoulder or offset is provided with a transverse groove, X, in which is seated a
packing plate, Y. Coiled extensile springs, Z, are located in recesses, A', that
communicate with the groove, X, and the said springs press against the inner side of
the plate so as to force it outwardly against the cylindrical case.
X.
In the ends of the rotary piston are made annular grooves, B. Radial grooves, O,
project from the said annular grooves and communicate with the ends of the groove,.
D', represents annular packing rings which fit in the grooves, B, and have radial
arms or projections, E¹, that fit in the grooves, C; Coiled extensile springs, F¹, are
fitted in recesses, G³, that communicate with the grooves, B¹, and bear against the
inner sides of the annular packing rings so as to compress the latter against the inner
sides of the cylinder heads.
H', represents the valved abutment which is located in the opening, D, and plays
vertically therein. The lower edge of the valve is slightly concaved and thereby
adapted to fit snugly on the rotary piston, and bears upon the same; In the vertical
ends of the said valve are made vertical grooves, 1, in which are fitted packing
plates, K; Springs, L', are secured in recesses that communicate with the grooves, I²,
and bear against the inner sides of the packing plates to force the latter against those
portions of the cylinder heads that cover the ends of the openings, D.
In opposite
sides of the valve near the ends thereof are made recesses, h, and, h', which register
with the inner ends of the ports or chambers, F, and, G, respectively.
These recesses extend nearly but not quite to the lower edge of the valved abutment
so that when the latter is raised in the opening or valve way, D, the inner ends of
the parts or channels will be closed, and communication between the steam chest and
the annular chamber, V, will be entirely cut off.
M', represents oil cups that communicate with oil chambers N', which are made in
the cylinder heads and communicate with the ends of the opening, D, so as to feed oil
to the valved abutment from whence it is diffused over the face of the piston and
between the heads of the cylinder and the packing rings. The operation of my
improved rotary engine is as follows:-
When the slide valve is moved so as to cause the port, G to be uncovered, the steam
is admitted through the said port and the recess, h', in the valved abutment into the
annular chamber, V, where it acts between the valved abutment and the offset or
shoulder on the rotary piston so as to revolve the piston in the direction indicated by
the arrow, in fig. 1. While the piston is rotating the dead steam on the opposite side
of the offset or shoulder thereof, is forced through the recess, h, of the valved abutment
and the port, F, and through the recess on the underside of the slide valve into the
exhaust port from whence it escapes through the exhaust port.
When the piston has nearly completed a revolution the offset or shoulder thereof
reaches the lower edge of the valved abutment and its inclined or curved side acts as

page_text: a cam to raise the valved abutment thus cutting off the steam ports, F, and, G,
momentarily and permitting the offset or shoulder to pass under the lower edge
thereof. When the valved abutment reaches the upper limit of its movement it covers
the opening R, and strikes against the depending stem of the puppet valve M, and
opens the same. This admits live steam into the upper portion of the opening or
chamber, D, and causes it to bear downwardly on the valved abutment with
considerable pressure.
The inertia of the rotary piston carries its offset or shoulder past the lower edge
of the valved abutment and the pressure of the live steam on the upper side of the
same forces it downwardly upon the rotary piston where it remains by its own
gravity during the ensuing revolution thereof. As soon as the valved abutment
descends the puppet valve is closed by its own gravity, and the superincumbent
pressure of the live steam in the steam chest so as to cut off the supply of steam to the
chamber or opening, D, and at the same time the opening, R, is uncovered by the
valved abutment thus permitting the escape of the steam from above the valved
abutment.
By moving the slide valve to cause it to cover both the ports, F, and, G, the
engine is stopped and the engine may be reversed by causing the slide valve to cover
the port, G, and open the port, F, as will be readilly understood. By causing the
slide valve to partly close the inlet port the speed of the engine may be regulated at
will.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1 claim is :-
1. In a rotary engine, the combination of the case having the interior cylindrical
opening, the radial chamber or opening, D, communicating therewith and the
ports, F, and, G, communicating with opposite sides of the said opening, D, the
rotating piston having the offset or shoulder on one side and the movable valved
abutment in the chamber or opening, D, and bearing against the periphery of the
piston, substantially as described.
2. In a rotary engine, the combination of the case having the interior cylindrical
opening, the radial chamber or opening, B, communicating therewith and the ports, F,
and, G, communicating with opposite sides of the said opening, D, the rotating piston
having the offset or shoulder on one side the movable valved abutment in the chamber
or opening, D, bearing against the periphery of the piston and having the recesses, h,
and, , on opposite sides and communicating with the ports F, and, G, for the purpose
set forth, substantially as described.
3. In a rotary engine the combination of the case, having the cylindrical interior
chamber, the steam ports, F, and, G, communicating with the said chamber, the
rotating piston in the said chamber having the offset or shoulder on one side to bear
against the case and the movable valved abutment bearing on the piston and located
between the ports, F, and, G, to close the same when the offset or shoulder is passing
the valve.
4. The case in combination with the rotary piston, the valved abutment, H', operated
by the piston, the chamber, D, in which the valved abutment, works, and the valve
controlling the supply of live steam to the chamber, D, to keep the valved abutment
pressing against the piston during a portion of the revolution, this latter valve being
operated by the valved abutment as set forth.
5. In a rotary engine, the combination of the case having the annular chamber to
receive the piston and the opening or chamber, D, communicating with the said
annular chamber, the rotary piston having the offset or shoulder on one side to bear
against the side of the annular chamber, the valved abutment located in the opening
or chamber, D, and bearing against the rotary piston, the opening to admit live steam
to the chamber, D, above the valved abutment and having the outwardly opening
valve, m, the escape opening, R. leading from the chamber, D, the valved abutment
being arranged to close the opening, I, and open the valve, M, when the said valved
abutment moves outwardly for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

page_text: 6. In a rotary engine, the combination of the case having the annular chamber, the
chamber, D, communicating therewith, the steam chest, the ports, F, and, G, leading
from the steam chest to opposite ends of the chamber, D, and the exhaust port between
the ports, F, and, G, the slide valve to open or close the ports, the rotary piston in
the annular chamber, and having the offset or shoulder on one side, and the valved
abutment in the chamber, D, bearing on the rotary piston for the purpose set forth,
substantially as described.