IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES AND
PUMPS." A communication from abroad by Auguste Morin, of Rue Lafayette,
Grenoble, Isère, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd June 1880.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE
MENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS." A communication from abroad by
Auguste Morin, of Rue Lafayette, Grenoble, Isère, in the Republic of France,
Engineer.
The Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus which may be used
as a rotary engine or pump.
This apparatus consists of a bollow cylinder C, Figure 1, within which rotates
an eccentric disc P formed with two open ended slots or recesses, in which are
placed two rollers O, O, and of a shaft or axis D which transmits the motion to the
exterior by passing through one or two stuffing boxes. Two channels or ways
placed symmetrically on each side of the point of contact of the disc with the
cylinder serve as inlet and outlet for the fluid under pressure.
The disc P is in perfect contact with the cylinder throughout the entire surface,
separating the two channels or ways. This portion of the cylinder is hollowed for
this purpose. The flat ends of the cylinder are also in perfect contact with the
plane faces of the disc and of the rollers.
This combination constitutes a rotary engine, the direction of rotation of which
will vary according as the introduction of the fluid shall take place by the one or
the other of the channels or ways A, B.
The principal advantage and the novelty of this apparatus consists in the
complete liberty allowed to the rollers, which the pressure of the fluid holds pressed
on one side against the plane face of the slot or opening in the disc P and another
part against the cylindrical interior surface; the weight of the rollers and their
centrifugal force further add to the pressure to ensure their contact with the
cylinder.
There is thus obtained without mechanical movements, without springs, and
without accessories a perfect tightness. The absence of friction permits great
speeds to be attained without inconvenience and with considerably less loss of
power than the arrangements heretofore proposed.

page_text: The expansion of the steam can be utilized by placing in succession on the same
shaft, or upon independent shafts, two or more of these apparatuses, the second and
following ones of which will be of increased dimensions compared with the
preceding ones, the smaller receiving the steam directly from the generator, and
each of the following ones being driven by the steam escaping from that which
precedes it.
In its application as a pump, in order to give the liquids larger and more regular
sections, there can be arranged, as represented at Figure 2, three rollers in place of
two, and the channels or ways may be widened and caused to enter the cylinder
lower down than those of the arrangement represented at Figure 1.
The arrangements of details will be varied according to the various applications.
It will be sufficient to describe, as an example, the arrangement represented at
Figure 3, which represents the arrangement of a fixed compound expansion engine.
The two discs P, P¹, of similar diameter, differ only in thickness, which varies in
the same proportion as that adopted for the expansion; they work in the same
cylinder, divided into two compartments by a division E. The introduction of the
motive fluid takes place upon the narrow disc by the tube F, provided with a
valve G and a speed governor H, which may be of any suitable construction. The
escape steam from the first engine is conducted by the tube K to the inlet of the
second, the steam from which in its turn escapes into the open air or into a
condenser. The interposition of an intermediate reservoir is not necessary, as the
discs are so keyed that the outlet of the first engine corresponds with the inlet into
the next.
The shaft D upon which are keyed the two pistons carry two fly wheels, the
weight of which tends partly to equalize the pressure of the steam under the disc,
which is another advantage to mention.
In the case of a condenser the air pump can be of the same system, and keyed
directly upon the motive shaft.
All kinds of condensers can be employed.
The change of direction can be obtained very simply in simple or compound
engines by the play of a slide valve or of a cock operated by hand, and which can
at will admit the steam by the right or left orifice, the escape taking place by the
other. In compound engines there is a special cock for each engine, but these cocks
are simultaneously operated by a single shaft or rod.
Lastly, the expansive force of steam can be utilized either in simple engines or
in the first cylinder of compound engines by means of a cam of appropriate form
acting upon a valve which cuts off at the desired time the entry of the steam into
the cylinder; this cutting off will take place twice for each rotation in symmetrical
positions, determined by the degree of expansion desired.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in which
it is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. The application to rotary engines of free rollers, forming without accessories
a tight joint by the pressure of the motive fluid aided by centrifugal force.
Second. The application of the same principle to pumps for gases and liquids.
Third. The application to motive power engines, constructed as herein described,
of means whereby the expansive force and condensation of steam may be utilized
and the direction of motion changed with greater simplicity than in other engines,
all substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.