improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1899
Complete Spacification Left, 27th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1900
improvements in Rotary Engines.
I. JAN BRONS, of House Number B459, Farmsum, near Delfryl, in the Province
of Groningen, Holland, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved rotary engine. In engines of the
kind having a movable part or wall in the cylinder against which the piston
works, difficulties are presented in practical construction, as far as the tightening
and the movement or action of this part are concerned and the object of the present
invention is to produce a motor, in which these difficulties are prevented.
The rotary piston, which is secured on the driving shaft. is of an oval
cross section and is adapted to move in a cylindrical space, and in these
respects the motor does not differ from other rotary engines of this class.
My arrangement of the movable part or wall is novel, such parts being formed
as tongue shaped bodies which are pressed against the piston and, as the
piston moves, rock on a fixed axis or pivot. These tongue-shaped pieces are
arranged in two chambers at both sides of the cylinder and into these chambers
the steam, water under pressure, compressed air or any other gas or liquid under
pressure is introduced. The tongue shaped pieces which are exposed upon both
sides to the pressure of the steam etc. are so formed, that the total pressure upon
one side is greater than upon the other side. The tongues thus are permanently
pressed against the piston.
From these chambers the steam enters the slide valve case, which may be
arranged at one end of the cylinder. The end of this case forms the front end
of the cylinder.
This front end of the cylinder is capable of being moved or displaced within
the cylinder and is (owing to the steam-contact-surface being larger externally
than internally) also pressed against the piston.
A steam tight contact between the piston and the cylinder is thus ensured.
A further novel feature in this improved rotary engine is the steam dis-
tributing device that is to say the arrangement in the slide valve case, of two
reversing slides with their accessory parts so that by means of a hand lever the
slides can be displaced and the direction of movement of the motor can be thus
altered or the steam be cut off.
The steam from the slide valve case passes through narrow conduits into the
vlinder.
The inner space of the two slides communicates with the steam discharge
onduit. which terminates in a chamber arranged around the cylinder and facing
he tongue casing. From this chamber the steam is discharged. In one form
f my invention the cylinder is preferably formed in halves. The upper half.
arries the tongue chambers with the steam admission port or nozzle all being
ntegrally formed as a casting. The lower half contains a chamber like a incket.
o which the steam discharge port or nozzle is connected, and on this half, flanges
re provided, which serve for fixing the motor,

page_text: At the rear end the cylinder is closed by a cover plate, and at the front end by
a movable flanged sleeve forming part of the slide valve case.
The sleeved part of this extends around the motor shaft, and projects through
a stuffing box in the front end cover. The flanged sleeve is tightened in the
interior of the cylinder by means of a packing and a suitable re-enforcing plate
or washer.
The oval piston is mounted on the main shaft and is caused to make a steam
tight contact in the cylinder by means of packings.
In the tongue chambers the tongues projecting into the cylinder oscillate around
pivots as described.
These tongues are made in form of hooks bent at about right angles and equal
in width to that of the piston. The portion of the hook which projects into the
cylinder is made circular with its pivot as a centre, so that it may easily move
in the cylinder walls between packings and so that it may be easily tightened
against the same.
The cylinder space thus is separated in a steam tight manner from the tongue
chambers.
In the cylinder walls are four passages arranged parallel with the axis of the
cylinder. These passages serve for the admission and the discharge of the steam
and communicate with the cylinder space by means of a series of smaller passages.
These small passages are arranged over the whole width of the cylinder and have
their discharge opening between the packing and the cylinder both above and
below the tongues,
When the motor rotates in one direction steam enters through two of the
passages and is exhausted or discharged in the opposite two.
If the motor rotates in the opposite direction the passages change their
function.
The four passages extend to the slide face that is to say into the slide valve
chamber and the latter on its part communicates with the tongue chambers by
means of passages.
In this manner the slide valve chamber is permanently supplied with new
steam.
Upon the slide face before mentioned two hollow slides are adjustably arranged.
They are located diametrically opposite each other within the circular slide valve
chamber and are appropriately shaped and connected with each other by a flanged
head centrally situated around the sleeve portion of the flanged sleeve before
referred to. The connection between the slides and the flanged head is effected
by pins forming pivots. One of these pivots is extended and engages with a flat
frame or link, which rests upon the flanged head. This frame or link is rigidly
connected with a spindle passing through a stuffing box and projecting from
the slide valve chamber so that it can be turned by a handle.
When the slides are in their middle position the four passages before referred
to all communicate with the inner hollow space of the slides and through a conduit
with the exhaust chamber.
If now through the medium of the frame or link and flanged head the two
slides are turned into one position two of the passages are opened for the admission
of steam, whilst the other two passages remain in communication with the exhaust
chamber by means of the hollow space of the slides so that the motor will rotate
in one direction. If on the contrary the handle is turned the other way the
opposite passages will be opened for the admission of steam while the first passages
are put in communication with the exhaust chamber. The movement then takes
place in the opposite direction.
When the handle and the slides respectively occupy their medium position.
both passages are closed to the admission of steam and the motor is consequently
stopped.
It is thus evident that as the piston moves, steam is admitted during one half
revolution the piston then itself cuts off the steam, passes the tongues, while

page_text: pressing them back gradually, and simultaneously the exhaust passage upon the
other side opens.
The same process takes place upon the other side. The steam thus works
without expansion. If the expansive force of the steam is desired to be further
utilised, the exhaust steam may be conveyed into a low pressure cylinder of larger
dimensions, mounted on the same shaft and so that the piston in this cylinder is
displaced relatively to the high pressure piston by 90 degrees.
If it is desired to work with expansion in one cylinder, then the admission
of steam into the passages must be effected by valves, directly actuated by the
motor itself.
The advantages of this improved apparatus are great simplicity and economy.
No loss of steam occurs because all the moving parts are entirely surrounded
by steam. The distribution of the steam is very simple. The piston does every-
thing itself and there are no distributing or controlling mechanismus connected
with the motor. The engine is started or reversed by turning a handle. Instead
of using steam for working the motor, compressed air, water under pressure and
the like may also be employed.
1
c AL
1900
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent. London,
For the Applicant.
1, JAN BRONS, of House Number B459, Farmsum, near Delfryl, in the Province
of Groningen, Holland, Mechanic, 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 improvements in rotary engines. In engines of the
kind having a movable part or wall in the cylinder against which the piston
works difficulties are presented in practical construction, as far as the tightening
and the movement or action of this part are concerned and the object of the present
invention is to produce a motor, in which these difficulties are prevented.
According to my invention the rotary piston, which is secured on the driving
shaft, is of an oval or eccentric cross section and is adapted to move in a cylindrical
space, and in these respects the motor does not differ from other rotary engines of
this class. My arrangement of the movable part or wall is novel, such parts being
formed as tongue shaped bodies which are pressed against the piston and, as the
piston moves, rock on a fixed axis or pivot. These tongue-shaped pieces are
arranged in two chambers at both sides of the cylinder and into these chambers
the steam, water under pressure, compressed air or any other gas or liquid under
pressure is introduced. The tongue shaped pieces which are exposed upon both
sides to the pressure of the steam e'c. are so formed that the total pressure upon
one side is greater than upon the other side. The tongues thus are permanently
pressed against the piston.
From these chambers the steam enters the slide valve case, which may be
arranged at one end of the cylinder. The end of this case forms the front end
of the cylinder.
This front end of the cylinder is capable of being moved er displaced within
the cylinder and is (owing to the steam contact surface being larger externally
than internally) also pressed against the piston.

page_text: In this manner the slide valve chamber is permanently supplied with new
steam.
Upon the slide face 26 before mentioned two hollow or chambered slides 28
are adjustably arranged. They are semi-circular in shape as seen in Fig. 5
and are located diametrically opposite each other within the circular slide valve
chamber 25 and are connected with each other or carried by a flanged head 29
centrally situated around the sleeve portion of the flanged sleeve 8 before referred
to. The connection between the slides 28 and the Hanged head 29 is effected by
pins 30 forming pivots. One of these pivots is extended and engages with a flat
frame or link 31 as shewn in Fig. 1, which rests upon the flanged head 29. This
frume or link 31 is rigidly connected with a spindle 32 passing through a stuffing
box 33 and projecting from the slide valve chamber 25 so that it can be turned
by a handle 34 Figs. 1 and 6.
When the slides 28 are in their middle position the four passages 20 to 23
all communicate with the inner hollow space of the slides and through a passage 35
Figs. 1, 5 and 6 with the exhaust chramber 4.
If now through the medium of the frame or link 31 and flanged head 29 the
two slides are turned into the position indicated in Fig. 6 the passages 21 and 22
are opened for the admission of steam, whilst the passages 20 and 23 remain
in communication with the exhaust chamber by means of the hollow space of the
slides so that the motor will rotate in the direction of the arrow. If on the
contrary the handle is turned to the left Fig. 6 the opposite passages 20 and 23
will be opened for the admission of steam while the passages 21 and 22 are put
in communication with the exhaust chamber. The movement then takes place
in the opposite direction.
When he handle and the slides respectively occupy their medium position,
both passages are closed to the admission of steam and the motor is consequently
stopped.
It is thus evident that as the piston moves steam is admitted during one half
revolution, the piston then itself cuts off the steam, passes the tongues, while
pressing them back gradually, and simultaneously the exhaust passago upon the
other side opens.
The same process takes place upon the other side. The steam thus works
without expansion. If the expansive force of the steam is desired to be further
utilised, the exhaust steam may be conveyed into a low pressure cylinder of larger
dimensions. mounted on the same shaft and so that the piston in this cylinder is
displaced relatively to the high pressure piston by 90 degrees.
The advantages of this improved apparatus are great simplicity and economy.
No loss of steam occurs because all the moving parts are cutirely surrounded
by steam. The distribution of the steam is very simple. The piston does every
thing itself and there are no distributing or controlling mechanisms connected
with the motor. The engine is started or reversed by turning a handle. Instead
of using steam for working the motor, compressed air, water under pressure and
the like may also be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:―
1. In a rotary engine of the eccentric piston type with swinging abutments or
tongue shaped parts co-acting therewith, a cylinder provided with a loose end
having a suitable packing, a slide valve chamber in which such loose end is
situated, and means for supplying and removing fluid pressure to and from such
slide valve chamber, the loose end being so proportioned that pressure may be
exerted upon it to press it against the piston greater than the pressure outwards
from the cylinder, substantially as described.
2. In a rotary engine of the eccentric piston type with swinging abutments
co-acting therewith, a flanged sleeve around the shaft forming one end of the

page_text: cylinder, a stuffing box through which the sleeve passes and a fluid pressure
chamber on the side of the flanged part opposite to the cylinder, the flanged part
being so proportioned that pressure may be exerted to press it against the piston
greater than the pressure outwards from the cylinder, substantially as described.
3. In a rotary engine of the eccentric piston type with swinging abutments
en-acting therewith, an end easing for the cylinder having reversing inlet and
Aluust passages in same, ports communicating with the cylinder, a pair of semi-
circular chambered slides working over such ports and exhaust passages and a
movable flanged head pivoted to such slide subtantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. In a rotary engine of the eccentric piston type with swinging abutments
cu-acting therewith, a slide valve chamber 25, semi-circular reversing slides 28, 28,
a movable flanged head pivoted to same a link 31 pivoted to the lead a stulling
box on the chamber 25, a rod passing through sucli tuiling box and attached to
the link, and a handle for the rod whereby the latter may be moved to move the
link and connected parts, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. The improved rotary engine constructed substantially as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 26th day of January 1900.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane. London.
Chartered Patent Agent, for the Applicant.