Improvements in Pumps, Blowers, Engines, and Meters.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th May, 1891-Accepted, 6th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in Pumps, Blowers, Engines, and Meters.
I, PHILIP FRANCIS ODDIE, of 12 Rosetti Mansions, Chelsea in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In a former patent No. 10964 of 1888 is described an engine in which a cylin-
drical outer casing closed at each end has within and parallel with but eccentric
to it a second cylinder and blades or flaps which bridge the space between the
casing and the inner cylinder and which are hinged at one end to this cylinder and
at their opposite end are held always close to the inner circumference of the outer
casing. In this engine the inlet and outlet ports were both formed at the circum-
ference of the outer casing.
According to my present invention I form the inlet port near to the centre of
one end of the casing and form the inner cylinder with passages through it
extending from that end and opening out through its circumference at points
intermediate between the hinged flaps-there being as many such passages as
there are flaps.
In this way the inner cylinder is brought somewhat to the form of the inner
revolving portion of a centrifugal pump-that is it consists of a number of curved
arms extending outwards from a central boss. Each such arm has one of the flaps
jointed to its outer end.
The inlet port is so situated that just as the outer end of one flap commences to
move past the outlet port and so open a communication between the outlet port and
the space between such flap and the next one to it, the communication of this space
with the inlet port is at the same time cut off by the arm which carries such second
flap then passing beyond the end of the inlet port. The inlet port is also of such a
size that when so cut off from communication with the space about to be discharged it
is and has for some time previous been open to the next succeeding space.
The outer ends of the flaps are as in the former patent above mentioned kept out
to the inner circumference of the outer casing by being jointed to segments as therein
described each segment may have a bar extending from it parallel with the axis of
the cylinder and this bar may be made to fit close to the inner circumference of the
casing so that sufficiently fluid tight joints are formed between them and the flaps
may be jointed to the back of such bars.
In this way I form a pump or engine which combines the advantages of the
former rotary pump with the advantages possessed by centrifugal pumps. Other
forms of rotary pump may likewise in the same way be made so as to combine the
advantages of both forms of pump.
Dated this 4th day of August 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pumps, Blowers, Engines, and Meters.
I, PHILIP FRANCIS ODDIE of 12 Rosetti Mansions, Chelsea in the County of
Middlesex, 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 :-
These improvements relate to rotary engines to be used as pumps, blowers,
motors or meters.

page_text: In a former patent dated 28th July 1888 No 10964 apparatus was described in
which a cylindrical outer casing closed at each end had formed in it concentrically
a bearing for segment pieces which rotated thercon within this cylinder. On an
axis mounted eccentrically within this case and parallel with it revolved another
cylinder, with plates or flaps hinged to it and to the segment pieces, so that as
the central axis was rotated the eccentric cylinder was turned and the flaps splayed
out from and returned to the eccentric cylinder's surface forming as they rotated
spaces of constantly enlarging and diminishing areas, the segment pieces controlling
the motion of the flaps by the relative travel and lost motion they respectively
described in their rotation on the true axis of the cylindrical chamber and keeping
the outer edges of the flaps approximated to the inner surface of the chamber.
In this arrangement of engine however the inlet and outlet were both arranged
peripherally of the cylinder and when working at high speeds especially, this
arrangement is attended with disadvantage from the centrifugal force developed
not being utilised, or acting detrimentally in preventing free entrance of the
inflowing current.
According to my present invention employ a cylindrical casing in which is
enclosed a set of segment pieces shewn in the drawings hereto as three in number
mounted so as to rotate on an axis concentric with the centre line of the cylindrical
chamber whilst on another axis mounted therein parallel to that centre line
but eccentric to it, is a hollow shaft supporting curved arms or blades, equal in
number three to the segment pieces and each segment piece is formed near its
outer extremity with circular groove forming a socket for the circular edge of one
of a set of bridge pieces or flaps, equal in number to the segment pieces and curved
arms. Projecting from each segment piece is an arm reaching across the width
of the chamber and each grooved or socketted similarly to the blades to receive the
opposite circularly formed edge of the corresponding bridge or flap, it cooperates
with, and this arm on its outer surface forins a surface for attachment of lignum
vitac or other packing, by means of dovetail grooving, screwing or otherwise.
The connections of the arms of the segmental plates and curved blades with
bridge pieces instead of being by recesses in the former receiving enlargements
on the latter may be the reverse, or a combination of the parts or be effected by
equivalent connections.
The packing pieces on the segmental arms may be omitted but such provide a
ready and convenient incans of renewing or adjusting the surfaces thereof travelling
in proximity to the inner surface of the cylinder.
Uniform adjustment to the set of segment pieces to or from the inner circum-
ference of the chamber is attained by means of an inclined or tapering diameter to
the axis that guides those segments centrally.
The inlet to the chamber is formed approximately to the centre line thereof and
communicating with an inlet conduit whilst the outlet is formed to lead from the
periphery to a delivery conduit. A closing takes place to the inlet opening,
operating as each curved arm, hinged flap and segment piece in co-operation with
the inner surface of the chamber form a space of greatest dilation.
The arms are strengthened by each curved part extending from arm to arm for
a certain distance circumferentially of the axis of the curved arms on the side
thereof not next the inlet, and so shaped inwardly as to afford the least resistance
to uninterrupted flow of fluid to the periphery and away to the outlet as in the
further rotation of the parts the enclosed space is cut off from the inlet, but now
open to the outlet becomes progressively contracted in size, each chamber thus
formed of constantly enlarging and diminishing size is thus never open to inlet
and outlet simultaneously but to each in rotation.
The number of sets of co-operating parts to form the separate chambers or
spaces in the cylinder may be varied but three of each of the moving parts (as
shewn in the drawings) will be found a convenient arrangement for some sizes
whilst in others four sets of moving parts are found to conduce to easy working
and the delivery of a constant and free stream.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a vertical section of an apparatus arranged according to my
invention and designed for use as a pump for liquid.
Fig. 2 is another (partial) vertical section of the same taken at right angles to
the preceding figure the rotating parts being shewn in full, Fig. 3 being an
external view of Fig. 2 but looking from the opposite direction.
Fig. 4 is an internal view of the inlet opening and side of the cylinder end.
Fig. 5 is a side view and Fig. 6 an edge view of the curved arms and their
hollow axis separately and shewing the web plates e' which in rotation forin the
closing and opening ports to the inlet a separately.
Fig. 7 shews a face view and Fig. 8 an edge view of one of the bridge pieces or
Haps & separately.
Fig. 9 shews a side view and
C
Fig. 10 an edge view of one of the segmental pieces with its packing removed.
a is the outer cylindrical casing. a is the inlet and a² the outlet therefrom.
a is a bearing for the adjustable axis arranged centrally of the chamber a.
c, c', are three segmental plates fitted to rotate against the side plate a of the
case a and by each of their segmental bearings on the axis b.
to each
segment plate is the arm, in which is keyed the packing picce e c is the recess
in to receive and retain the knuckle of the bridge piece d the knuckle d'
of the opposite side being received and held in recess e of an arm or curved
blade el e or e³ of the triple armed axis e mounted on the eccentric axis es. e arc
simply recesses partly penetrating these arms to diminish weight of metal.
are the portions of the connecting web between arm and arm.
In operation the space (1) between the curved blades e and 3 is commencing
to receive from the inlet, and the space (2) between the curved blades e and e³ is
just at its greatest dilation and just closed from inlet and opening to the outlet a²
for discharge, whilst the space (3) between the curved arms e³ and e¹ has nearly
discharged its contents.
It will be seen that by reason of the eccentricity of the centre of the axis e on
which the curved arms rotate and their connections to the segments rotating con-
centrically on their axis passing through the true centre of the cylinder, the
bridge pieces forcing the segments preserve such relations as shall preserve uniform
distances between centres formed by the knuckle joints on those bridge pieces,
cause the segmental plates regularly to partake of lost and accelerated motions
and to produce thereby spaces of constantly varying dilation and retraction which
taking place when those spaces are in communication respectively in their rotation,
with the inlet and outlet, effect the intake of fluid and then its discharge, the
discharge being aided by the centrifugal force imparted to the fluid and developed
by the rapid revolution of the parts.
This axis e of the curved arms projecting through the casing may be driven
by steam, gas engine or other power.
It will be evident that by connecting the inlet side of a rotary pumping engine
such as I have described with any suitable motive power as water or other fluid
under pressure the pistons can be made to rotate the shaft and a rotary engine or
motor can be produced; in such cases some suitable means for controlling and
regulating the supply of the motive agent will be provided, but this can be done
by any practical mechanic who is familiar with the construction and operation of
this class of pumps and engines.
I do not confine myself to the precise form of parts of a rotatory engine or meter
herein before set forth but I can apply my improved arrangement of inlet sub-
stantially central or approximated to the point of least rotation and where the
centrifugal force is small and not exercised to obstruct intake, and outlet peripheral
or substantially circunferential of the chamber so as to facilitate delivery of the

page_text: outflowing fluid and thereby combining advantages hitherto separately pertaining
to rotary engines operating by positive mechanical hold or cut off of the fluid and
the centrifugal action of centrifugal pumps.
I would have it understood that separately considered I make no claim to any
portions of the apparatus herein described which were shewn and described in the
prior Specification No 10964 of 1888 before referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
claim is.
In an engine or apparatus for use in pumping, blowing, or raising or forcing
fluids, or measuring the same.
1. A case or chamber of cylindrical form with approximately centrical inlet and
peripheral outlet in combination with concentrically mounted segmental pieces and
eccentrically mounted curved arms linked together by bridge pieces so as to
cooperate together to effect intake and discharge of fluid substantially as and for
the purposes herein before set forth.
2. A. case or chamber of cylindrical form having an approximately central inlet
opening and a peripheral outlet in combination with an eccentrically rotating set
of arms, and blades or bridge plates held connected and in substantially close
relation to the inner circumference of the cylinder substantially as set forth.
3. A cylindrical case or chamber having an approximately central inlet and a
peripheral outlet in combination with rotatory parts for effecting the successive
intakes and discharges of fluid substantially as set forth.
4. An arrangement of rotary parts capable of effecting positive hold or cut off
of the fluid eccentrically supported within a case or chamber having an approxi-
mately centrally arranged inlet and peripheral outlet so as to obviate obstruction
of feed and facilitate delivery.
5. The arrangement or combination and use of parts co-operating with a case or
containing cylinder with an inlet approximately central and an outlet approxi-
mately peripheral substantially as set forth.
Dated the 4th day of May 1891.
WM., BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.