Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 25th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 28th June, 1887.
I, HERMAN KNEBEL of Birmingham in the County of Jefferson, and State of
Alabama United States of America Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to a new and improved rotary engine, which is simple in
construction, easily controlled and reversed and economical in the consumption of
steam. The casing of the engine consists of circular head plates and an enclosing
cylindrical portion. The main shaft is mounted to revolve in coned bearings fitted in
boxes projecting from the head plates. The shaft also revolves in independent coned
bearings mounted in standards. On the shaft is fixed the body of the piston, which
body fits closely between the head plates of the casing, and thus reduces the steam
space within the same. One half of the piston body is concentric with the cylindrical
casing, and the other half is flattened, made elliptical or eccentric with its opposite
portion. To the eccentric portion of the piston body is attached a casting forming a
projecting piston head or wing extending outward to the cylindrical casing, and
curved cam ribs leading up to the piston head or wing. In the outer and side edges
of the projecting piston head are fitted packing strips respectively which are pressed
outward into contact with the sides and cylindrical portion of the casing by means
of spiral springs. The piston body is formed with shoulders to receive the ends of the
casting and prevent it from turning on the piston body and the casting is further
secured by screws. The casting is chambered on its side adjacent to the piston body,
thus diminishing the weight on that side of the piston, and counterbalancing the
piston head. The head plates of the casing are formed with interior steam ports which
lead into annular chambers or recesses also formed in the head plates and surrounding
the main shaft. The one recess is in constant communication with a passage formed
in one side of the piston body, and piston head, and extending through one face of
the latter, the cam rib adjacent to that face being slotted to permit free access to the
space within the casing at that side of the piston head. The other recess likewise
communicates with a similar passage formed in the opposite side of the piston body,
and piston head, and leading through the opposite face of the piston head and a slot

page_text: in the adjacent cam rib into the space within the casing at that side of the piston
head. A collar surrounds the shaft within each recess, and is held against its seat in
the adjacent head plate by a packing ring to effectually prevent leakage of steam from
the recesses through the shaft bearings, other packing rings being placed in the
recesses and pressed against the opposite faces of the piston and spiral springs being
interposed between the two sets of packing rings. Additional packing rings are placed
in annular recesses in the head plates, and are pressed by suitable springs against the
opposite faces of the piston body and piston head, thus preventing escape of steam at
the sides of the same. In a casting superposed on the casing are formed opposite
passages communicating with the steam ports respectively, and at right angles to these
are formed the steam admission and exhaust passages respectively connected with
suitable steam supply and exhaust pipes. These passage extend upward through the
top of the casting, and through the bottom of a cup-shaped valve box fixed on the same.
In the valve box is placed the controlling disc valve having a vertical stem passed
through a stuffing box and gland, and provided with an operating handle. The disc
valve is formed on its under side with two opposite segmental passages which register
with and serve to connect adjacent ones of the four openings in the bottom of the
valve box. The valve may be turned to throttle more or less the steam admission and
exhaust openings, or to close them entirely, and the handle is provided with a down-
wardly projecting pointer by the position of which with respect to a suitable scale on
the valve box, the amount of admission opening may be determined. The disc valve
is formed with vertical apertures at either end of the connecting passage registering
with the admission opening, through which apertures live steam is admitted to a
recess in the stuffing box above the valve disc, so that the valve is held upon its seat.
In guide boxes projecting from the cylindrical casing at diametrically opposite points
are fitted radially sliding abutments. These abutments may be pressed inwards against
the piston and piston head by means of suitable springs arranged in the boxes, but I
prefer to use steam for this purpose. To this end brackets are attached to the cover
of each guide box, and support a cylinder in which operates a piston. The inner part
of the piston rod is tubular and communicates with the interior of the cylinder by an
aperture in the piston. The rod passes through a stuffing box in the cover of the
guide box and is in connection with a central passage formed longitudinally through the
sliding abutment. The passage communicates with the space between the abutment, and
cover and is connected with the slots in the piston and hence with the supply and
exhaust passages in the same alternately, as the latter revolves. The outer part of the
abutment piston rod passes through a stuffing box in the outer head of the cylinder
to guide the movement of the piston, and to aid in holding the abutment against the
rotary piston I provide the outer end of the piston rod with a button against which
a plate is pressed by means of coiled springs attached to the plate and to the cylinder
head. The plate can be secured to the button by a set screw passed through the plate
into the button, or it can be detached from the button and swung on one side to throw
the springs out of action.
The operation is as follows;-When the controlling valve is turned so as to connect
the steam and exhaust pipes with the induction and eduction ports the live steam
passes to the recess at the centre of the piston, and through the passages in the piston
into the space between that side of the piston and the sliding abutment at the rear of
the same. As the one slot or passage comes into communication with the passage in
the abutment, part of the live steam passes into the latter and through the bore of its
piston rod into the auxiliary cylinder. The steam forces the abutment inwards and
holds it in contact with the rotary piston, the steam passing into the box in which the
abutmont slides serving to counterbalance the abutment. The abutment thus acts as
a cylinder head, and the steam acting on the piston head causes it to rotate. At the
same time also the exhaust steam in the space between the opposite side of the piston
head and the abutment in advance of the same, escapes through the passage in the
rotary pistion into the central recess, thence through the passages and valve to the
exhaust pipe. The steam in the opposite axuiliary cylinder is also exhausted through
the tubular piston rod and the passages, when the passage in the corresponding

page_text: abutment is connected with the slot by the rotation of the piston whereby the pressure
on the face of the abutment is removed, thus permitting it to be easily moved back by
the cam ribs, when struck by the same in their rotation. The area of the auxiliary
cylinders and pistons is so proportioned that the pressure of the steam on the latter
will hold the abutments against the rotary piston with just enough pressure to prevent
leakage between them. To reverse the engine, the controlling valve is turned so as
to reverse the connection of the openings, and consequently reverse the passage of the
steam. To stop the engine, the valve is turned to bring the opposite blank portions
between the passages over the admission and exhaust openings, thereby disconnecting
the admission and inlet openings. The engine can thus be quickly controlled and
reversed rotating in either direction with equal facility.
In a slightly modified construction of valve and valve seat, the admission port in
the seat is centrally placed so as to be in constant communication with the inlet
passage in the valve, formed accordingly. The exhaust port is larger than tho
admission port, to allow of free exhaust, and obtain a slight lead for the same. The
auxiliary springs for pressing the abutments against the piston, are used when the
steam pressure is insufficient for that purpose.
Dead centres are avoided, and an exceedingly compact engine is provided giving
great power for the small space occupied.
HERMAN KNEBEL.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: I HERMAN KNEBEL of Birmingham in the County of Jefferson and State of
Alabama United States of America, Machinist 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 :-
This Invention relates to a new and improved rotary engine which is simple in
construction, easily controlled and reversed, and economical in the consumption of
steam.
The Invention consists in the construction and combination of parts and details, as
hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification in which figure 1 is a vertical cross section of my improved engine, taken
on the line x-x figuro 4, the piston being partly turned and parts broken out.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan view on the line y-y figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional
elevation on the line ww figure 2, shewing the steam acted cut-off blades in detail.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on the line - figure 1. Figure 5 is a plan view,
the controlling valve and its stuffing box being removed and parts being broken out.
Figure 6 is an inverted plan view of the controlling disc valve. Figure 7 is a detail
side view of the rotary piston and shaft, parts being broken away. Figure 8 is an end
elevation of the same, the shaft being in section. Figure 9 is a plan view of the seat
of a modified form of valve-box. Figures 10 and 11 are reverse plan, and sectional
views respectively, of the valve employed in connection with the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The base or frame A supports the casing A¹ of the engine, consisting of the circular
head plates B B₁ and the enclosing cylindrical portion C. The main shaft D is
mounted to revolve in bearings fitted in boxes D' projecting from the head plates B B'
and provided with glands D. The shaft I also revolves in independent bearings
mounted in standards E adjacent to either head piate B B. On the shaft D is fixed
the body F of the piston F, which body fits closely between the head plates B B¹ of
the casing and thus reduces the steam space within the same. One half of the piston
body F is concentric with the cylindrical casing C and the other half is flattened,
made elliptical or eccentric with its opposite portion, as shewn. To the eccentric
portion of the piston body F is attached the casting F₁ forming the projecting piston
head or wing F extending outward to the cylindrical casing C and the curved cam
ribs F leading up to the piston head or wing F2. In the outer and side edges of the
head F are fitted the packing strips F F' respectively, (figures 7 and 8) which are
pressed outward into contact with the sides and cylindrical portion C of the casing A¹
by means of spiral springs F8 held in suitable recesses in the head. The piston
body F is formed with shoulders G to receive the ends of the casting F¹ and prevent
it from turning on the body and the casting is further secured by screws G¹. The
casting F is chambered on its side adjacent to the piston body at F, thus diminishing
the weight on that side of the piston and counterbalancing the piston head. The head
plates B B are formed with the interior steam ports H H' which lead into the
annular chambers or recesses H3 H³ also formed in the plates B B¹ and surrounding

page_text: the main shaft D. The recess H' is in constant communication with a passage
formed in one side of the piston body and piston head F and extending through one
face of the latter, the cam rib F adjacent to that face being slotted at 1' to permit
free access to the space within the casing A¹ at that side of the piston head. The
recess H likewise communicates with a similar passage I formed in the opposite side
of the piston body and piston head F and leading through the opposite face of the
piston head and a slot I'in the adjacent cam rib F³ into the space within the casing A¹
at that side of the piston head.
A collar J surrounds the shaft D within each recess H2 and H³ and is held against
its seat in the adjacent head plate by a packing ring J¹³ to effectually prevent leakage
of steam from the recesses H² H³ through the shaft bearings. Packing rings K are
also placed in recesses H³ H³ and pressed against the opposite faces of the piston F
and the packing rings J¹ K are held in contact with their respective bearings by
spiral springs interposed between them, as shewn. Additional packing rings K' are
placed in annular recesses in the head plates B B₁ and are pressed by suitable
springs against the opposite faces of the piston body_ F³ and piston head F, thus
preventing escape of steam at the sides of the same. In a casting L, superposed on
the casing A', are formed the opposite passages L' L' communicating with the steam
ports H H respectively and at right angles to these are formed the steam admission
and exhaust passages M M' respectively connected with suitable steam supply and
exhaust pipes M M³. The passages L¹ L M and M' extend upward through the
top of the casting L and through the bottom of a cup-shaped valve box N bolted
or otherwise secured on the same, as shewn in figure 4. In the valve box N is
placed the controlling disc valve N¹ having a vertical stem N2 passed through a
stuffing box O and gland 0¹ screwed on the box N and provided with an operating
handle N. The disc valve N' is formed on its under side with two opposite segmental
passages P P which register with and serve to connect adjacent ones of the four
openings L L M M¹ in the bottom of the valve box N. By means of its
handle N, the valve N¹ may be turned to throttle more or less the steam admission
and exhaust openings M M or to close them entirely, and the handle is provided
with a downwardly projecting pointer Q (figure 4) by the position of which, with
respect to a suitable scale on the valve box N, the amount of admission opening may
be determined. The disc valve N¹ is formed with vertical apertures R at either end
of the connecting passage P₁ registering with the admission opening M through
which apertures live steam is admitted to the recess S in the stuffing box 0 above
the valve disc N, so that the valve is held upon its seat.
In guide boxes T projecting from the cylindrical casing C at diametrically opposite
points are fitted radially sliding abutments T¹. These abutments may be pressed
inwards against the piston and piston head by means of suitable springs arranged in
the boxes, but I prefer to use steam for this purpose. To this end, brackets T2 are
attached to the cover T³ of each guide box T and support a cylinder a in which
operates a piston 6 having a piston rod c. The inner part c¹ of the piston rod c is
tubular and communicates with the interior of the cylinder a by an aperture d in the
piston (see figure 3). The rod c passes through a stuffing box in the cover T³ of the
guide box T and is in connection with a central passage U formed longitudinally
through the sliding abutment T. The passage U communicates with the space
between the abutment T¹ and cover T3 by means of an aperture e in the blade (see
figure 3) and is connected with the slots I in the piston, and hence with the supply
and exhaust passages in the same alternately, as the latter revolves. The outer part of
the piston rod c passes through a stuffing box in the outer head of the cylinder a to
guide the movement of the piston. To aid in holding the abutment T against the
rotary piston F, I provide the outer end of the piston rod c with a button g against
which a plate his pressed by means of coiled springs attached to the plate and to
the cylinder head. The plate h can be secured to the button g by a set screw k passed
through the plate into the button, as in figure 2, or it can be detached from the button
and swung on one side, as in figure 3, to throw the springs i out of action.
The operation is as follows;-When the valve N' is turned by its handle, to connect

page_text: As the
the admission opening M with the passage L' and the exhaust M³ with the passage I³,
the live steam from the supply pipe M' enters the passages L' and H and passes thence
to the recess H2 and through the passages I and 1 in the piston into the space between
that side of the piston and the sliding abutment T¹ at the rear of the same.
slot or passage
12 comes into communication with the passage U in the abutment T¹,
part of the live steam passes into the latter and through the bore of the piston rod e¹
and the aperture d into the cylinder a. The steam forces the piston band with it the
abutment T inwards and holds the abutment in contact with the rotary piston F,
the steam passing through the aperture e into the box T serving to counterbalance
the abutment. The abutment thus acts as a cylinder head and the steam acting on the
piston head F2 causes it to rotate in the direction of the arrow a', figure 1. At the
same time also, the exhaust steam in the space between the opposite side of the piston
head and the abutment T in advance of the same, escapes through the passage I¹ in
the piston, into the recess H³ thence through the passages H¹ I, valve passage P
and passages M¹ out through the exhaust pipe M³. The steam in the opposite
auxiliary cylinder a is also exhausted through the tubular piston rod and the
passages U, 1, H, I, etc.; when the passage U in the corresponding abutment is
connected with the slot I by the rotation of the piston, whereby the pressure on the
face of the abutment is removed thus permitting it to be easily moved inward by
the cam ribs F³ when struck by the same in their rotation. The area of the
cylinders a and their pistons b is so proportioned that the pressure of the steam on
the latter will hold the abutments T₁ against the piston F with just enough pressure.
to prevent leakage between them. To reverse the engine, the valve N¹ is turned so
as to connect the openings M and I and M² and L respectively, as indicated in
dotted lines in figure 5, when the live steam will pass through the passages L' and H¹,
recess H³ and piston passage l' into the space at that side of the piston, so that the
latter will be revolved in the reverse direction of the arrow a', figure 1, the exhaust
taking place through passage I, recess H2, passages H, L¹, P'and M' and exhaust
pipe M³. To stop the engine the valve is turned to bring the opposite blank portions
between the passages P and P¹ over the admission and exhaust openings M M¹ or
openings LL thereby disconnecting the admission and inlet openings. The engine
can thus be quickly controlled and reversed, rotating in either direction with equal
facility.
In figures 9, 10, and 11, I have illustrated a slightly modified construction of valve
and valve seat, wherein the admission port M in the seat is centrally placed, so
as to be in constant. communication with the inlet passage P¹ in the valve, formed
accordingly. The exhaust port M' is larger than the admission port M, to allow of
free exhaust and obtain a slight lead for the same. The auxiliary springs i for
pressing the abutments T' against the piston F, are used when the steam pressure is
insufficient for that purpose. Dead centres are avoided, and an exceedingly compact
engine is provided giving great power for the small space occupied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the said is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. A rotary engine, having a shaft carrying a piston and mounted in a casing
provided on opposite sides of the piston with steam chambers surrounding the shaft
and connected with steam passages in the piston opening at their inner ends on
opposite sides of the piston head, substantially as shewn and described.
2. A rotary engine, having its cylinder heads provided with steam channels
communicating with steam passages in the rotary piston, which passages open at
their inner ends on opposite sides of the piston head, substantially as shewn and
described.
3. A rotary engine, having its opposite cylinder heads provided with steam
channels and steam chambers connected therewith surrounding the shaft, which
chambers are connected with steam passages in the rotary piston opening at opposite
sides of the piston head, substantially as shewn and described.

page_text: 4. The combination with the engine casing having the steam channels H H¹ and
annular chambers H H in the cylinder heads, of the shaft D the piston thereon
having opposite steam passages I I³ registering with the annular chambers H2 H3 and
opening at either side of the piston head, a four-way valve connected with the
steam channels H H and the steam supply and exhaust pipes, substantially as
specified.
5. The combination with the engine casing and the main shaft of a rotary piston on
the shaft, cam ribs on the piston leading up to the piston head and radially sliding
spring-acted abutments acted upon by the cam ribs on the piston, substantially as
specified..
6. The combination with the engine casing a rotary piston therein and cam ribs on
the piston leading up to the piston head of a sliding abutment acted upon by the cam
ribs, and an auxiliary steam cylinder piston and piston rod connected with the sliding
abutment for pressing it against the rotary piston, substantially as specified.
7. The combination with the engine casing and the rotary piston F having a head,
and formed with the steam passages I, 11, 12, of the guide box T, the sliding
abutment T¹ having passage U, the steam cylinder a, its piston 6 and the hollow piston
rod c connected with the passage U of the abutment and leading into the cylinder a,
substantially as shewn and described.
8. The combination with the engine casing and the main shaft, of a rotary piston
on the shaft chambered on the side adjacent to the piston head, to counterbalance the
weight of the head, substantially as specified.
9. The combination with the casing and the shaft D therein, of a piston body F'
on the shaft reduced on one side and having shoulders G, the piston head F2 and cam
ribs F3 held on the piston body between the shoulders G and the movable abutments T¹
acted upon by the cam ribs, substantially as specified.
10. In a rotary engine, a piston formed of a body portion reduced on one side, and
a head and cam ribs formed with said head attached to the reduced side of the body,
substantially as specified.
11. The combination with the engine casing, the main shaft and the rotary piston,
the casing being provided on opposite sides of the piston with steam chambers
surrounding the shaft and communicating with steam passages in the piston, opening
at either side of the piston-head, and with steam channels or ducts connected with the
said chambers, of a valve chamber connected with said ducts and with the exhaust and
supply pipes, and of a valve for connecting either duct with either of the said pipes,
substantially as specified.
12. The combination with the valve box N having openings connected with the
steam pipes M and M³ and with the steam ducts or channels HH' leading to opposite
sides of the rotary piston of the valvo N¹ having opposite passages P P registering
with the openings in the valve box and provided with the stem N and handle N³,
substantially as specified.
13. The combination with the valve box N having openings M M' and L' L'
connected respectively with the steam supply and exhaust pipes and with the
channels H H for leading steam to opposite sides of the rotary piston F, of the disc
valve N having segmental passages P P registering with the openings M M' and
L' L and steam hole R and the stuffing box O having recess S, substantially as
specified.