IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE AS A ROTARY ENGINE, PUMP, AND WATER METER
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Augustus Lea Bricknell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th May
1866.
I, AUGUSTUS LEA BRICKNELL, of Stratford-on-Avon, in the County of
Warwick, Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE AS A ROTARY ENGINE, PUMP, AND
WATER METER," to be as follows:-
The apparatus according to my Invention consists of a cylindrical chamber
in which is fitted a cylindrical centre piece fixed on an axis. The centre
piece carries two pistons disposed radially therein, and at opposite points of
the diameter. The axis and centre piece are concentric with the cylindrical.
chamber in which the centre piece is disposed, said centre piece having disc or
flange-like ends which fit the internal diameter of the chamber. The annular
space between the flange ends constitutes the space or chamber in which the
steam acts on the pistons to carry them round; at one point in the circum-
ference of the cylindrical chamber a steam abutment or partition is disposed;,
this abutment is fixed to the cylinder and extends towards the axis of the
_centre piece, against the periphery of which it has contact, as also with the

page_text: insides of the flange ends, thereby forming a fixed partition across the annular
steam space.
The contact points of the abutment partition are furnished with packings
to render them steam-tight. The centre piece, as before mentioned, is
fitted with two sliding pallets or pistons at opposite points of the diameter;
they are fitted in the body of the centre piece to slide towards and from the
axis, and also between the flanged ends before mentioned, grooves or recesses
being formed therein for their reception; studs project from the sides of the
pistons or steam pallets, and pass out at slots in the sides of the rotating
centre piece; these studs are fitted with truck rollers, which run upon a
fixed cam or cams attached to the flat sides of the cylindrical chamber or
cylinder, or other stationary part. The same cam operates both pistons or
pallets.
Supposing the abutment to be disposed at the upper part of the outer
cylinder (that being horizontal) I arrange the cam so that the pistons or
pallets shall be both extended to the utmost, and extend to the full internal
diameter of the outer cylinder. The steam being admitted between the
abutment and a piston the centre piece is forced round thereby, the piston in
advance at the same time begins to recede, and by the time it arrives at the
abutment it has receded within the body of the centre; in its further progress
it again gradually comes out, and by the time another quarter revolution is
complete is fully extended and bears against the interior of the cylinder, and
intercepts the steam from the piston in advance, which contracts or draws in
in like manner, and so keeps up a continuous motion of the machine. In this
way the sliding motion of the pistons is at all times slow and free, and takes
place at a time when they are not subject to any unequal pressure of the
steam to affect the friction or power moving them; to ensure this I form
channels through them laterally to admit the steam below them into the
recesses in which they are received in the centre piece. The centre piece I
pack suitably in the outer cylinder, interposing it either between the flange
ends and the ends of the cylinder or on the periphery of the said flange
parts.
I provide this engine with induction and eduction ports, one on each side of
the steam abutment before mentioned, by simply changing which the engine
may be made to run in one direction or the other, which may be readily
effected by providing passages and stop-cocks to change. and direct the
induction and eduction of the steam, as will be readily understood. The same
apparatus is equally applicable to be driven by steam or water, and may be

page_text: used as a water meter to register the quantity of water passing through
simply by the application of a registering and recording train, as well under-
stood, or as a pump by applying power to drive the axis to raise or force the
water as may be desired.