Improvements in Fluid Pressure Rotary Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluid Pressure Rotary Engines.
I, HENRY OBERMEYER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at
Beatrice, in the County of Gage, and State of Nebraska, U.S.A., Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in reciprocating rotary engines, and
consists in novel structural features, and novel combinations of parts, the opera-
tions of which parts separately and in combination are hereinafter described, and
the novel combinations of which parts are specified in the claims hereto
appended.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the engine, in the line 1-1 in Figure 2.
Figure 2, a sectional elevation in the line 2--2 in Figure 1.
Figure 3, same sectional elevation of the valve alone, as shown at Figure 2, but
enlarged.
Figure 4, an enlarged sectional elevation of the valve and valve seat, in
line 44 in Figures 2 and 9.
Figure 5, an enlarged side elevation of the valve seat.
Figure 6, an enlarged perspective of the valve.
Figure 7, an enlarged perspective of the valve seat.
Figure 8, a sectional elevation in the line 8-8 in Figure 2.
Figure 9, same sectional elevation of valve and valve seat as shown at Figure 2,
enlarged, and also sectional elevation, in line 9-9 in Figure 4.
Figure 10, a side elevation of the upper steam cylinder of Figure 1, and part
of the hub in section, in the line 10-10 in Figure 1.
The rotatable hollow wheel or casing 12, comprises heads 13 and 14, and a
peripheral rim 15, and is fixed at one of its heads to rotate with a shaft 16 which
is journaled in a suitable pillow block 17 which is fixed upon the standards 18.
The other end of the casing 12 is journaled concentric with the journal 16 on
one end of a long pillow block 19 which is fixed to the supporting standards 20.
The shaft 21 is journalled in the pillow block 19. The head 13 is preferably
removable, and may be fixed to the rim 15 by bolts or otherwise.
The actuating mechanism of the casing 12, consists of one or more cylinders 22
projecting radially from and preferably forming an integral part of a hub 23
which is fixed to the shaft 21. Five cylinders are shown, each of which acts
independently of the others and is provided with a piston 24, the piston rod 24"
of which connects with one end of a bell-crank 25, which bell-crank is pivotally
connected at its bend by a pivot bolt 26, with the rim 15. The other arm of said!
bell-crank is pivotally connected with the outer ends of two arms 27 (see Figures 2
and 10) the inner ends of which stride the hub 23 and are pivotally connected
therewith. One of such arms would be operative.
For the purpose merely of showing its relative position to other parts, the shaft 16
is indicated by dot lines at Figure 1. The common center upon which the

page_text: casing 12 revolves being at the axis of the shaft 16, the center at the axis of the
shaft 21, with which the hub 23 revolves, is eccentric to the common center 16,
therefore the rim of the casing 12 bears the same relation to the center 21, as
does the crank pin to the shaft of an ordinary reciprocating engine. Assuming
the parts to be in the relative positions shown at Figure 1, and the pivot 26 of
the bell-crank of the upper cylinder, 22", forward of the vertical plane through the
centers 16 and 21, and the steam way of said cylinder partly over one of the
steam ways 37, and that said steam ways are beginning to act as a steam inlet, then
the cylinder 22ª, bell-crank 25, and its pivot to the casing are in the same relative
positions as an ordinary engine just past its center and opposite its steam inlet
port, and has the same amount of leverage when the steam or other motive agent
is admitted. As shown at Figure 1 the bell-cranks 25 to which the piston rods
are attached, are pivoted to the casing 15, each at a point which throws the piston
rod, when on the working side of the engine, at but a very slight angle forward of
the cylinder, thus retaining the piston rod, at all times, very nearly in a line with
the axis of the cylinder, and thereby securing additional leverage. It is evident
from the connection of said parts, that the outward movement of the end of the
bell- crank connected with the piston rod cannot be accomplished without exerting
a force, circumferentially of, and tending to rotate the casing 15, forwardly, in
the direction indicated by the arrow at Figure 1. The opposite or other
arm of the bell-crank acting through the attached link rod 27, on the hub 23,
at a point substantially in a line between the end of said arm of the bell-crank
and the axis of the eccentric shaft 21, will thereby act to the best advantage in
conjunction with the piston, piston rod, and bell-crank in their aforementioned
operations. The direct force thus applied through one arm of the bell-crank and
the reactionary force applied through its other arm, both act on the casing 15,
at the pivotal point of the bell-crank connection therewith, circumferentially and
forwardly of said casing.
A pin 29, (see Figure 2) projects laterally from each cylinder 22 into a circular
hole 30 in the casing head 14. Each pin 29 carries a sleeve 31 loosely mounted
thereon, to reduce friction with the wall of the hole around and against which
wall the pin revolves as the cylinders and casing revolve. Each hole 30 is closed
by a steam tight cap 32 bolted to the head 14. The relative positions which each
of these pins bears to its respective hole 30, as the casing and cylinders revolve on
their respective centers, is indicated by dot lines at Figure 1. By these dot lines
it will be seen that the pins bear against the sides of the holes in different angular
directions when the cylinders are at different positions in their orbital paths, and
thus cause the cylinders and casing to revolve steadily together, without noise or
jar, especially in starting.
The wheel or casing 12 may be constructed as a cylinder having opposite heads,
as shown, and made air tight, so that its contained air will be carried around there-
with, and not resist the revolution of the casing, nor of its contained parts, or may
be constructed with open or spoke shaped heads. Access may be had to the
interior by the removable head 18 or by means of the holes 32. The check
valve 33 (Figure 2) is a means of escape for any accumulation of steam through
leakage. The transmission of power may be effected by attaching the engine
direct to shafting to be driven, or by belting from the pulley 34, or by using
the wheel or casing 12 as a pulley.
The valve 35 is annulus-shaped in its cross section, has a central, axial opening
or interior 36, of frusto conical shape, and has steam ways 37, (see Figure 9),
which extend radially from its inner surface into its wall and thence axially thereof
to its end. These steam ways act alternately as steam inlets and exhaust outlets, as
hereinafter described. The valve 35 has holes 38 through which bolts 39 pass to
fix it rigidly in place on the end of the hub 23.
The valve seat 40, is in form a frustum of a cone and by its wedge like shape
is adjustable to fit steam tight in the similar shaped interior 36 of the valve 35,

page_text: which valve rotates thereon in a direction shown by the arrow y at Figure 4, and
by the arrow at Figure 1, in which figures it is seen from opposite sides of the
engine. The valve seat 40 is preferably integral with, and eccentric to a disk 41.
The valve seat has a central axial bore 42 which forms a part of the bearing in
which the shaft 21 rotates, and has a steam receiving cavity 43, and a somewhat
larger similar cavity 44 for exhaust steam (see Figure 4), both cavities in its outer
surface, and not extending through the wall of the valve seat, but having
bottoms 45. A steam port 46 extends axially of and outwardly from the cavity 43
to the end of valve seat, and a similar exhaust port 47 extends axially and out-
wardly from the cavity 44, (see Figure 2). The valve seat and disk 41 are fixed to
the inner end of the pillow block 19, in such manner that its steam port 46
coincides with a steam port 48 in said pillow block, and its exhaust port 47
coincides with an exhaust port 49 at the opposite side of said pillow block. The
steam port 48, as shown, terminates in a lateral induction pipe 50, and the exhaust
port 49 terminates in a similar pipe 51, (see Figure 8) these terminals may be
otherwise located if preferred, are provided with any ordinary throttle valves, not
shown, and are connected with any source or supply of steam or other motive agent,
not shown.
The valve 35 has five steam ways 37, and is fixed to the hub 23 in such manner
that said steam ways register or coincide respectively with the five steam ways 37
in said hub, one of which steam ways 37" leads to the inner end of each steam
cylinder 22. The number of steam cylinders may vary, and the number of steam
ways 37 should be the same as the number of cylinders.
As
The journal or shaft 21, by reason of its long bearing in the valve seat 40, and
pillow block 19, will sustain these parts with a minimum of wear of itself.
the co-acting faces or parts of the valve and valve seat wear away they can be
adjusted again into steam tight relation by evident adjustments of the nuts 52,
and 53 on the bolts 54 and 55, thereby adjusting the bridle bar 56 and holding it
after such adjustments. The bridle bar in such adjustments, acting on the
washer 57 and nut 58, will force the shaft or journal 21 outwardly and its
head 21 acting on the hub 23 will thus draw the valve 35 closer upon the valve
seat. The nut 58 and washer 57 are only removed when the steam cylinders and
shaft 21 are to be removed.
Steam entering through the induction port 49, passes through the port 46 to
the chamber 43 in the valve seat 40, and thence passes through the steam way or
ways 37 which at the time open into the chamber 43, (see Figure 4), and thence
passing through the ways 37 enters the steam cylinder or cylinders where it
acts on the pistons 24, which in moving outwardly act through the bell-cranks
on the casing 12, and revolve it with the valve 35, as herein before described.
The parts 59 and 60 of the valve seat 40, which are between the chambers 43
and 44, act as out-offs, and while over either of the steam ways 57, prevent either
the further access to, or escape of, steam therefrom, which is thus confined therein
and acts expansively on the piston until the steam way 37 is brought over or
coincident with the exhaust chamber 44, when the steam then escapes through
the exhaust ports 46, 49, 51. Other and further operations of the engine will be
evident from the foregoing description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a reciprocating rotary engine, and in combination, substantially as
described, a rotary casing, one or more steam cylinders fixed to and projecting
radially from a hub having an axis of rotation eccentric to the axis of rotation
of said casing, and each of said cylinders provided with a piston and piston rod,
bell-crank levers each medially pivoted to said casing, and each pivotally con-
nected at one of its ends with one of said piston rods, and links connecting the

page_text: other ends of said bell-cranks with said hub, whereby a long crank leverage is
obtained with a short stroke of the piston.
2. In a reciprocating rotary engine, and in combination, substantially as
described, a rotary casing, one or more steam cylinders fixed to and projecting
from a hub having an axis of rotation eccentric to the axis of rotation of said
casing and each of said cylinders provided with a piston and piston rod, bell-crank
levers each medially pivoted to said casing and each pivotally connected at one
of its ends with one of said piston rods, links pivotally connecting the other ends
of said bell-cranks with said hub, a valve fixed to one end of said hub, a steam
way in said hub for each cylinder, and a valve seat having steam chambers and
steam ports.
3. In a reciprocating rotary engine, and in combination, substantially as
described, a rotary casing, one or more steam cylinders fixed to and projecting
from a hub having an axis of rotation eccentric to the axis of rotation of said
casing, and each of said cylinders provided with a piston and piston rod, bell-
crank levers each medially pivoted to said casing and each pivotally connected
at one of its ends with one of said piston rods, links pivotally connecting the other
ends of the bell-cranks with said hub, steam ways in said hub, a revoluble annulus-
shaped valve having a tapering bore or interior fixed to one end of said hub and
provided with steam ways, and a frusto conical-shaped valve seat having a steam
chamber, an exhaust chamber, and a steam port, and exhaust port.
4. In an engine and in combination, substantially as described, a revoluble,
annulus-shaped valve having a tapering bore or interior, provided with steam
ways and a co-acting frusto conical-shaped valve seat having a steam chamber,
and steam port leading thereto, an exhaust chamber and exhaust port leading
therefrom, and means for adjusting the valve or valve seat to compensate for
wear.
5. In a reciprocating rotary engine, and in combination, substantially as
described, a rotary casing, one or more steam cylinders fixed to and projecting
radially from a hub having an axis of rotation eccentric to the axis of rotation
of said casing, and each of said cylinders provided with a piston and piston rod,
bell-crank levers each medially pivoted to said casing and each pivotally connected
at one of its ends with one of said piston rods, which piston rods are pivotally
connected with the pistons, and a link or links pivotally connecting the other
ends of said bell-cranks with said hub, substantially in a line with the axis of
rotation of the cylinders and hub.
6. In a reciprocating rotary engine, and in combination substantially as
described, a rotary casing, a rotary shaft fixed to one head of said casing, a pillow
block on which the other casing head is journaled, a shaft journaled in said
pillow block eccentric to the axis of rotation of said casing, a hub fixed to said
shaft, cylinders fixed to said hub and provided with pistons and piston rods, bell-
cranks medially pivoted to said casing and each pivotally connected at one of its
ends with one of said piston rods, and a link or links pivotally connecting the other
ends of said bell-cranks with said hub.
7. In a reciprocating rotary engine, and in combination, substantially as
described, a rotary casing, one or more steam cylinders mounted within said
casing and fixed to and projecting radially from a hub which has an axis of
rotation eccentric to the axis of rotation of said casing, lugs or pins projecting
laterally from said cylinders and holes in a head of said cylinder, with the walls of
which holes said pins revolve in contact.
8. In a reciprocating rotary engine, and in combination, substantially as
described, a rotary casing, one or more steam cylinders fixed to and projecting
radially from a hub which is fixed upon a shaft having an axis of rotation eccentric
to the axis of rotation of said casing, means for transmitting motion
from said cylinders to said casing, an annulus-shaped valve with a
tapering interior, fixed to said hub, and provided with steam Ways
which coincide with steam ways in said hub, a frusto conical-shaped valve

page_text: seat fixed to said eccentric shaft and having a steam chamber and an exhaust
chamber each with a port, and means for adjusting said shaft endwise for the
purpose of adjusting the valve seat with respect to the valve.
Dated this 14th day of March 1898.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.