Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Rotary Engines.
We, JOHN PATERSON, of number twenty two South Back of Canongate,
Edinburgh, Engineer, and DANIEL PATERSON, of number twenty Gilmore Street,
Edinburgh, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES" to be as follows:-
The cylinder required for our invention is more or less elliptical in form
according to the size of the cylindrical barrel which works inside of and parallel
to the cylinder as will be afterwards more fully explained. We prefer to make
the cylinder and the barrel bear the relative proportions as follows vizt; the
diameter of the barrel to be two thirds of the smaller diameter of the inside of the
cylinder: When this is the case the two diameters of the elliptical cylinder are
as seventeen is to sixteen, but we do not confine ourselves to these relative sizes as
they may be varied.
The periphery of the barrel works against the cylinder at one or other of the
ends of the shorter diameter and the barrel is held in this position by journals in
the end covers of the cylinder. In this barrel there is a slot hole cut and into this
slot hole is fixed a slide having spring plates so fitted as to fill the whole diameter
and length of the cylinder and in order that this may be effected we fit into the
slide spring plates actuated by springs contained inside of the slide and which
plates are by the operation of the internal springs kept constantly close to the
inner surface of the cylinder so as to keep steam from passing.
When the steam is admitted by the entry ports it acts upon the projecting part
of the slide next these ports in the same way as on an ordinary piston. This turns
the barrel and also the shafts attached to the barrel and on this shafting can be
fixed any number of pulley couplings or other gearing for driving power.
At the place where the barrel is made to revolve on the internal surface of the
cylinder there is a spring plate which prevents the steam escaping backwards and
going the wrong way, thus forming a barrier between the steam entry ports and
the steam escape ports. On the side of this spring plate furthest from the steam
entry ports are escape ports through which the steam escapes after being used.. In
addition to these we add other escape ports situated in line with the centre of the
barrel and at right angles to the spring plate so as to let the steam. escape at
the point in the revolution of the barrel where the steam has expanded to the full
capacity of the cylinder, the remainder of the steam escaping. by the first
mentioned escape ports.
This engine is made to reverse by simply letting the steam enter by the escape
ports, the entry ports thus becoming the escape ports..

page_text: Improvements in Rotary Engines.
We, JOHN PATERSON of No 22 South Back of Canongate Edinburgh Engineer
and DANIEL PATERSON of N° 20 Gilmore Street Edinburgh, 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 in and by the following
statement
The cylinder required for our invention is more or less elliptical in form
according to the size of the cylindrical barrel which works inside of and parallel to
the cylinder as will be afterwards, more fully, explained. We prefer to make the
cylinder and the barrel bear the relative proportions following vizt-the diameter
of the barrel to be two thirds of the smaller diameter of the inside of the cylinder
when this is the case the two diameters of the elliptical cylinder are as seventeen
is to sixteen but we do not confine ourselves to these relative sizes as they may be
varied. We refer to 'the drawings lodged herewith in all of which the same piece
or part is lettered the same. Figure 1 is a front elevation Figure 2 is an end
elevation Figures 3 & 4 are sectional views of the cylinder barrel and slide.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the cylinder through the steam-ports. Figure 6 is
the plan view. Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged drawings shewing the details of the
slide and of the slide plates and springs. Figure 9 is an enlarged drawing shewing
the details of the barrel. Figures 7. 8. and 9 are drawn to a scale double the size
of the other figures and all the figures are drawn proportionally so that any scale
can be used for them A is the cylinder B. B. are the end covers of the cylinder
C is the barrel D is the spindle or shaft E is the slide F F are the spring plates
of the slide which revolve upon the inner 'periphery of the cylinder G G are the
spring plates of the slide which revolve upon the inner sides of the end covers of
the cylinder. H is the slot in the barrel to receive the slide.
2
The periphery of the barrel works or runs upon or against the cylinder at one or
either of the ends of the shorter diameter of the cylinder and the barrel is held in
this position by journals in the end covers of the cylinder. In this barrel there is
a slot hole cut and into this slot hole is placed a slide having spring plates so fitted
as to cause the end spring plates of the slide to fit closely to the opposing parts of
the cylinder and end covers and thus fill the whole diameter and length of the
cylinder. In order that this may be effected we fit into the slide what we call
spring plates which are actuated by springs contained inside of the slide and which
spring plates are, by the operation of the internal springs kept constantly close to
the inner periphery of the cylinder and the inner ends of the cylinder end covers
so as to keep steam from passing.
When the steam is admitted by the entry ports acts upon the projecting part
of the slide next these ports in the same way as on an ordinary piston. This turns
the barrel and also the spindle or shaft which is firmly attached to the barrel. On
this shafting can be fixed any number of pulley couplings or other gearing for
driving power.
་ ་ (!
At the place where the barrel is made to revolve on the internal periphery of
the cylinder there is placed a plate K actuated by a spring and adjustable by

page_text: screws L L to prevent the steam escaping backwards and going the wrong way
thus forming a barrier between the steam entry ports and the steam escape ports.
On the side of this plate K furthest from the steam entry ports are escape ports
through which the steam escapes after being used. In addition to these we prefer
to add other escape ports situated nearly in line with the centre of the barrel and
nearly at right angles to the spring plate K so as to let the steam escape at the
point in the revolution in the barrel where the steam has expanded to the full
capacity of the cylinder the remainder of the steam escaping by the first mentioned
escape ports.
This engine is made to reverse by simply letting the steam enter by what we
have just spoken of as the escape ports, the entry ports thus becoming the escape
ports and vice versa.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we hereby declare that
we do not claim as novel any of the individual parts of the before specified invention
but that what we claim is :-
1. A Rotary Steam Engine made substantially in the manner and for the
purposes hereinbefore described or any mere modification thereof.
2. The combination of parts forming our improved engine acting substantially as
hereinbefore described or any mere modification thereof.
3. An elliptical cylinder for the purpose of a Rotary Engine.