IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Thomas Yeadon Johnson, of Stockton-
on-Tees, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY
ENGINES AND PUMPS."
Sealed the 9th December 1870, and dated the 10th June 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Thomas Yeadon
Johnson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th June 1870.
I, ROBERT THOMAS YEADON JOHNSON, of Stockton-on-Tees, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS, to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to construct rotary engines or rotary
pumps in such manner that a direct rotary motion is given to the piston
and main shaft of the engine, the moving parts to work smoothly with
a small amount of friction and perfectly steam or fluid tight, and upon
motion being given from an external source to the shaft the piston can
be made to act as a pump for lifting or forcing water.
This engine, as I propose usually to construct it, consists of a cast-iron
cylinder properly secured, and having cylinder covers bolted on the ends,
through the stuffing boxes whereof a central shaft passes working in bearings,

page_text: which shaft has thereto rigidly fixed an eccentric piston. Outside the
cylinder is fixed a chest for steam or power fluid containing a slot and
stuffing box in which a plate travels, one end bearing steam-tight on
the face of the eccentric piston, while the other is open to the action of
the steam passing from the boiler to the valve chest, the steam giving
motion to the plate and to the eccentric piston, the amount of travel or
motion corresponding with the eccentricity of the piston; this plate
separates the exhaust from the feed.
For admission and discharge of steam slide valves may be adopted and
thereby the steam can be cut off at different points of the stroke and
the engine worked expansively. But instead of this arrangement a
three-way cock may be used, or any other convenient mode of admitting
and discharging the steam or fluid may be resorted to.
Instead of depending entirely upon the steam for the action of the
plate separating the exhaust from the feed, I can use gearing or arrange-
ments for ensuring the certainty of its action, and the whole of the details
of the engine may be varied according to the circumstances of the case,
and it is obvious that other power giving fluid may replace the steam in
these engines.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Thomas Yeadon Johnson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 10th December 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
THOMAS YEADON JOHNSON, of Stockton-on-Tees, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Robert Thomas Yeadon Johnson, Her special licence,
that I, the said Robert Thomas Yeadon Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Thomas Yeadon
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN ROTARY ENGINES AND PUMPS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Thomas Yeadon Johnson, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Thomas Yeadon Johnson, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
-
The object of my Invention is to construct rotary engines or rotary
pumps in such manner that a direct rotary motion is given to the piston
and main shaft of the engine, and moving parts to work smoothly with
a small amount of friction and perfectly steam or fluid tight, and so
that upon motion being given from an external source to the shaft
the piston can be made to act as a pump for lifting or forcing water.
This engine, as I purpose usually to construct it, consists of a cast-iron
cylinder, properly secured and having cylinder covers bolted on the ends,
through the stuffing boxes whereof a central shaft passes working in
bearings, which shaft has an eccentric piston thereto rigidly fixed. Outside
the cylinder is fixed a chest for steam or power fluid containing a slot
and stuffing box in which a division plate travels, one end bearing
steam-tight on the face of the eccentric piston, while the other is open.
to the action of the steam passing from the boiler to the valve chest.
The steam gives motion to the plate and to the eccentric piston, the
amount of travel or motion corresponding with the eccentricity of the
piston; this plate separates the exhaust from the feed. In some cases
I use two chests and two division plates..
For admission and discharge of steam slide valves may be adopted,
and thereby the steam can be cut off at different points of the stroke and
the engine worked expansively. But instead of this arrangement a
three-way cock may be used, or any other convenient mode of admitting
and discharging the steam or fluid may be resorted to.
Instead of depending entirely upon the steam for the action of the
plate separating the exhaust from the feed, I can use gearing or arrange-

page_text: ments for ensuring the certainty of its action. The whole of, the details
of the engine may be varied according to the circumstances of the case,
and it is obvious that other power giving fluid may replace the steam
in these engines.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my said Invention, 5
and therein incidentally referred to how and in what manner the same
is to be carried out in practice, I now proceed to particularly describe
and ascertain in what manner the same is to be performed or carried
out in practice by the aid of the accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section; Fig. 2, a longitudinal elevation, half
in outline and half in section; and Fig. 3, a plan, half in outline and
half in section. Similar letters denoting corresponding parts in each
Figure.
A is the main shaft or axis (revolving in the fixed bearings T), on 1
which is rigidly fixed an eccentric piston B, which revolves on the axis
of the shaft A, with its periphery (in which is inserted a packing
piece m acted upon by springs n, n,) in contact with the inner periphery
of the cylinder C. The division plates D, D, for separating the feed
from the exhaust work through the stuffing boxes E, E, and are recessed 2
in the cylinder cover C¹ and packing piece C², one end of which is
attached to the eccentric piston B (in which is inserted a packing
piece acted upon by springs 8, 8,) by means of the rings or straps F, F,
F, F. The packing pieces C² are adjusted by means of set screws; G, G,
are the steam or other power fluid supply pipes; and H, H, the eduction 2
pipes. The steam or other power fluid is admitted into the cylinder C
by the valves L, L, and worked expansively by means of the link and
lever arrangement shown in the Drawings. The ports a, a², are
induction, and 6, 62, eduction when the engine is running in the
direction shown by the arrows, and vice versa when reversed in motion. 3
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the above engine slightly modified,
having only one division plate D arranged in exactly the same manner
as above described. The steam or other motive fluid is admitted into
the cylinder C by the valve L, which is opened (and the engine reversed
in motion) by turning the wheel and screwed spindle P working in the
nut S. The port a¹ is induction, and 62 eduction when the engine is
running in the direction of the arrows, and vice versa when reversed
in motion.

page_text: This engine will be found available for driving screw propellers,
centrifugal or rotary pumps, steam or other power fluid winches, or
cranes, saw mill machinery, or where direct motion is desirable accom-
panied with speed, as the engine occupies much smaller space, and can run
at much higher speed with economy than a reciprocating engine. The
Invention is also applicable for rotary pumps for either forcing or
lifting air or liquid, the height to which it will force liquid being only
limited to height of pipes and power of engine, and can be employed
for any other purposes for which a pump is applicable, only slight
modifications such as the employment of larger inlet and outlet passages
being required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed
or carried into effect, I have now to state that I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein shown and
described, as the same may be varied or modified without departing from
the peculiar character of my Invention, but what I claim under my
said Letters Patent is, the general arrangement, construction, and com-
bination of parts constituting improvements in rotary engines and
pumps, with special reference to the use of two division plates as
described, and the mode of their connection with with an eccentric
piston; the arrangement of packing both piston and plates; and the
arrangement and employment of valves and valve gearing, substantially
as herein described and illustrated by the Drawings accompanying this
Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Thomas Yeadon Johnson,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy.
Witness,
ROBERT THOMAS YEADON JOHNSON. (L.S.)
HENRY SMITH,
Mandle Road,
South Stockton.