IMPROVE- MENTS IN ROTARY APPARATUS FOR USE AS MOTORS OR PUMPS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ISAAC LAST, of 58 Sutherland Avenue, Maida Vale, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ROTARY APPARATUS FOR USE AS MOTORS OR PUMPS " to be as follows:-
The primary object of my invention is to produce a rotary motor of turbine
form which can be driven by motive fluid such as steam and whilst running at a
moderate speed, shall be fairly economical as an engine.
An ordinary turbine is, for the purpose, unsuited, because the velocity of efflux
of steam under moderate pressures into the atmosphere, is so great that as is well.
understood the material of which such apparatus is made is not able to stand
running at the speed necessary for the wheel of the turbine, which speed, to
produce good results would have to be nearly as great as the velocity of the issuing
steam. Now according to my invention the apparatus is constructed, as hereinafter
explained, in such a manner that the steam is caused to pass through a succession
of turbines and as the pressures of the steam on entering and leaving each
individual turbine are not greatly different, and as it is this pressure that chiefly,
determines the velocity of influx of the stean into each turbine, it results from.
passing the steain through a succession of turbines, each turbine reducing its
pressure by a certain amount, that steam at a high pressure may be employed;
and that it will in passing through the series of turbines, have its pressure reduced
to that of the atmosphere or condenser, without running any of the turbines either
at excessively high speeds, or at speeds that are unsuited to the economical working
of the turbines; thus each turbine can be made to yield its due quota of work to
the shaft it drives.
Apparatus according to my invention may be employed as a pump for working
against high heads or pressures, without running at inordinate speeds. For
ordinary turbine pumps, the speed at which the wheel must run, increases as the
square root of the head or lift, but by passing through a succession of turbine
pumps, the head against which the machine will work can be increased, without,
this increase in the driving speed, each turbine pump giving a portion of the
pressure necessary to overcome the pressure against which the compound machine
is to work or pump.
In apparatus constructed according to my invention, a series of strong metal
discs, having suitable central bosses, are keyed on a shaft, at definite distances
apart, the axis of the shaft being perpendicular to the faces of the discs. On one,

page_text: side of each disc, namely, the side which faces one end of the shaft to which the
discs are keyed, suitably curved fins or vanes are provided, these vanes being
curved like the curved sides of the buckets of an outward flow turbine, and being
arranged on an annular portion of the face of the disc that, extends from its
periphery a certain distance towards the boss. On the other side of each disc
similar fins or vanes are secured, but they are curved like the curved sides of the
buckets of an inward flow turbine and extend over an annular portion of the
face of the disc situate about midway between the boss and periphery of the disc.
The above-mentioned shaft with its discs, is fixed concentrically in a cylinder,
which may be bolted together in halves, and carried by suitable bearings at each
end of the cylinder in which the shaft can revolve. The internal diameter of this
cylinder is such as to leave a clear annular spaco between the cylinder and each
disc. Inside the cylinder I provide a series of circular rings whose external
diameter is equal to the bore of the cylinder. These rings are so fixed in the
cylinder that they project into the spaces between the discs, coming midway
between the discs on the shaft, and being parallel to them. The form and arrange-
ment are such as to afford as nearly as may be a uniform area of space between
the face of the disc and that of the ring at all distances from the axis of the
cylinder. The outer edges of the rings may be thickened to secure better attach-
ment to the bore of the cylinder. On that side or face of each ring which faces
the end before referred to of the shaft, a number of curved fins or guides are
secured, these fins being curved like the guides in an inward flow turbine. They
are distributed over the outer portion of the said annular side or face of the ring.
These fins project from the faces of the rings to such an extent at each position
that they nearly touch the face of the adjacent disc, merely leaving sufficient
clearance for the disc to revolve freely. Upon the other faces of the rings, similar
curved fins or guides are secured, but these are curved like the guides of an out-
ward flow turbine. They extend over the inner annular portion of that face of the
ring which carries them.
These fins or guides project from the faces of the rings so as to nearly touch the
faces of the adjacent discs, similarly to the previously described guides. The
bearings, in which the shaft rotates, may be fitted with glands and stuffing boxes,
or other means for preventing the leakage of the working fluid; the ends of the
cylinder are closed-The ends of the cylinder leave a space between them and the
nearest disc, and into these spaces openings through the cylinder communicate,
the opening at the end nearest that end of the shaft previously referred to, being
fitted with a pipe through which the working fluid can be supplied, and the
opening at the other end being for exhausting or discharging the used working
fluid.
⋅
When the working fluid enters the admission end of the cylinder, it passes
between the edge of the first disc and the side of the cylinder, then it passes
between the guides on the first ring and strikes or slides along the surfaces of the
vanes on the disc. It then passes through the annular space between the inside of
the ring and the boss of the disc, then it passes through the.guides on the other
side of the ring and impinges on the vanes of the next disc, then it passes through
the space between this disc and the side of the cylinder, so entering guides which
direct it on to the vanes of the other side of this disc, and so on until the fluid has
acted on all the vanes of all the discs, when it is discharged through the exhaust
outlet. The action of the fluid on the vanes of the discs, causes them to rotate,
carrying the shaft with them, from which the power may be employed directly
or by the use of gearing or belts and pulleys.
As will be clearly understood from the above description the working fluid
according to my invention acts not in a direction parallel to the axis of the
cylinder, but by passing alternately through an inward flow turbine towards the
axis of the cylinder, and through an outward flow turbine towards the outer edges
of the discs and so on, the fluid acting on the vanes as it flows inward and outward
towards and from the axis of the cylinder.

page_text: When using my apparatus as a pump, the admission pipe is to be used as the
delivery pipe of the pump, and the suction pipe is to be attached to the exhaust
orifice, while the apparatus is to be driven, by power, in the reverse direction to
that in which it will run when acting as a motor.
By dispensing with the vanes on one side of each disc, and also the corre-
sponding guides on the rings, an apparatus comprising a series of outward or
inward flow turbines is obtained, which will work as before, excepting that the
working fluid will only drive the discs when flowing inwards or outwards, with
reference to the axis of the cylinder, and therefore nearly twice as many discs and
rings will be required, to take the same amount of energy from the working fluid.
Similarly when used as a turbine pump.
To allow for the expansion of elastic working fluids, as the pressure is reduced
in passing through the series of turbines, the distances apart of the discs, and
depths of guides and vanes may be increased towards the exhaust end of the
cylinder, or else the diameters of the discs, rings, and cylinder may be increased, or
both, so as to afford more space for the working fluid.
The speed of the motor may be regulated by a throttle valve in the supply pipe,
actuated by any known or suitable form of governor, attached directly to the shaft
or driven therefrom.
To drive machinery or apparatus sometimes in one direction and sometimes in
another I provide two rotary motors of any suitable construction fixed on a
common shaft, but having vanes and guides so set that they tend to drive the
shaft in opposite directions, so that by admitting motive fluid into one such motor
and allowing the other to run empty, rotation in one direction will be obtained,
& by admitting motive fluid to the motor first described as running empty,
and cutting off supply from the other, rotation in the contrary direction will be.
produced.
To counterbalance the end thrust in rotary motors provided with vanes against
which the motive fluid acts, I provide for taking the power from the shaft by a
worm and wheel, the worm being secured to the shaft, and the worm wheel on
the shaft to be driven, the gear being so designed that the thrust or pull of the
worin shall counterbalance, entirely or partially, the thrust on the shaft of the motor
due to the unbalanced fluid pressure.
Or, instead of placing the whole series of turbines in one casing, I use two sets
on a common shaft but each set in a separate casing. For the sake of clearness
I will assume letters A. B to represent the respective ends of one casing, and C. D
the ends of the other. On reading along the shaft the ends will be in the order,
A. B. C. D.
The motive fluid is introduced at B and passes through the turbines to A, and
from A it is led, in a suitable pipe or connection, to the C end of the other set,
through which it passes to the D end, where it is discharged or exhausted. Thus
by suitably arranging the number or sizes of the turbines in each set, I am enabled
to obtain nearly the same end thrust in each set, but in opposite directions, so that
being on the same shaft they will practically counterbalance. The arrangement
somewhat resembles compounding an engine. It is not necessary that the working
fluid should first enter at B, and finally be exhausted at D, while A and C are
connected by a pipe, as other courses for the fluid can be obviously arranged
which will ensure the same counterbalancing of the end thrusts in a similar way.
This method of counterbalancing the end thrusts is equally applicable to such
rotary apparatus when used as pumps.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Apparatus for Use as Motors or Pumps.
I, WILLIAM JSAAC LAST, late of 58 Sutherland Avenue, Maida Vale, in the
County of Middlesex, but now of 3 The Grove, Clapham Common, in the County
of Surrey, 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 :--
The primary object of my invention is to produce a rotary motor of turbine
form which can be driven by motive fluid such as steam and whilst running at a
moderate speed shall be fairly economical as an engine.
An ordinary turbine is, for the purpose, unsuited because the velocity of efflux of
steam under moderate pressures into the atmosphere is so great that as is well
understood the material of which such apparatus is made is not able to stand
running at the speed necessary for the wheel of the turbine which speed to
produce good results would have to be nearly as great as the velocity of the issuing
steam. Now according to my invention the apparatus is constructed as herein-
after explained in such a manner that the steam is caused to pass through a
succession of turbines and as the pressures of the steam on entering and leaving
each individual turbine are not greatly different, and as it is this pressure that
chiefly determines the velocity of influx of the steam into each turbine, it results
from passing the steam through a succession of turbines, each turbine reducing its
pressure by a certain amount, that steam at a high pressure may be employed, and
that it will in passing through the series of turbines, have its pressure reduced to
that of the atmosphere or condenser, without running any of the turbines either at
excessively high speeds, or at speeds that are unsuited to the economical working
of the turbines. Thus each turbine can be made to yield its due quota of work to
the shaft it drives.
Apparatus according to my invention may be employed as a pump for working
against high heads or pressures, without running at inordinate speeds. For
ordinary turbine pumps, the speed at which the wheel must run, increases as the
square root of the head or lift, but by passing through a succession of turbine
pumps, the head against which the machine will work, can be increased, without
this increase in the driving speed, each turbine pump giving a portion of the
pressure necessary to overcome the resistance against which the compound machine
is to work or pump.
In apparatus constructed according to my invention, a series of strong metal
discs, having suitable central bosses, are keyed on a shaft, at definite distances
apart, the axis of the shaft being perpendicular to the faces of the discs.
On one
side of each disc, namely the side which faces one end of the shaft to which the
discs are keyed, suitably curved fins or vanes are provided these vanes being
curved like the curved sides of the buckets of an outward flow turbine, and being
arranged on an annular portion of the face of the disc that extends from its
periphery a certain distance towards the boss. On the other side of each disc
similar fins or vanes are secured, but they are curved like the curved sides of the

page_text: buckets of an inward flow turbine and extend over an annular portion of the face
of the disc situate about midway between the boss and periphery of the disc.
The above mentioned shaft with its discs is fixed concentrically in a cylinder,
which may be bolted together in halves, and carried by suitable bearings at each
end of the cylinder in which the shaft can revolve. The internal diameter of this
cylinder is such as to leave a clear annular space between the cylinder and each
disc. Inside the cylinder I provide a series of circular rings whose external
diameter is equal to the bore of the cylinder. These rings are so fixed in the
cylinder that they project into the spaces between the discs coming midway
between the discs on the shaft, and being parallel to them. The form and arrange-
ment are such as to afford as nearly as may be an uniform area of space between
the face of the disc and that of the ring at all distances from the axis of the
cylinder. The outer edges of the rings may be thickened to secure better attach-
ment to the bore of the cylinder. On that side or face of each ring which faces
the end before referred to of the shaft, a number of curved fins or guides are
secured, these fins being curved like the guides in an inward flow turbine.
They are distributed over the outer portion of the said annular side face of the
ring. These fins project from the faces of the rings to such an extent at each
position that they nearly touch the face of the adjacent disc, merely leaving
sufficient clearance for the disc to revolvo freely. Upon the other faces of the
rings, similar curved fins or guides are secured, but these are curved like the guides
of an outward flow turbine. They extend over the inner annular portion of that
face of the ring which carries them.
These fins or guides project from the faces of the rings so as to nearly touch the
faces of the adjacent discs similarly to the previously described guides. The
bearings, in which the shaft rotates, may be fitted with glands and stuffing boxes,
or other means for preventing the leakage of the working fluid. The ends of the
cylinder are closed. The covers of the cylinder leave a space between them and
the nearest disc, and into these spaces openings through the cylinder communicate,
the opening at the end nearest that end of the shaft previously referred to, being
fitted with a pipe through which the working fluid can be supplied, and the
opening at the other end being for exhausting or discharging the used working
fluid.
When the working fluid enters the admission end of the cylinder it in one
arrangement passes between the edge of the first disc and the side of the cylinder,
then it passes between the guides on the first ring and strikes or slides along the
surfaces of the vanes on the disc. It then passes through the annular space
between the inside of the ring and the boss of the disc, then it passes through the
guides on the other side of the ring and impinges on the vanes of the next disc,
then it passes through the space between this disc and the side of the cylinder so
entering guides which direct it on to the vanes of the other side of this disc and
so on until the fluid has acted on all the vanes of all the discs when it is discharged
through the exhaust outlet. The action of the fluid on the vanes of the discs,
causes them to rotate, carrying the shaft with thein, from which the power may be
employed directly or by the use of gearing or belts and pulleys.
As will be clearly understood from the above description the working fluid
according to my invention acts not in a direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder,
but by passing alternately through an inward flow turbine towards the axis of the
cylinder and through an outward flow turbine towards the outer edges of the discs,
and so on, the fluid acting on the vanes as it flows inward and outward towards
and from the axis of the cylinder.
When using my apparatus as a pump, the admission pipe is to be used as the
delivery pipe of the pump, and the suction pipe is to be attached to the exhaust
orifice, while the apparatus is to be driven, by power, in the reverse direction to
that in which it will run when acting as a motor.
By dispensing with the vanes on one side of each disc and also the corresponding
guides on the rings an apparatus comprising a series of outward, or inward flow.

page_text: turbines is obtained, which will work as before, excepting that the working fluid
will only drive the discs when flowing inwards or outwards, with reference to the
axis of the cylinder, and therefore nearly twice as many discs and rings will be
required, to take the same amount of energy from the working fluid. Similarly
when used as a turbine pump.
To allow for the expansion of elastic working fluids, as the pressure is reduced
in passing through the series of turbines, the distances apart of the discs, and
depths of guides and vanes may be increased towards the exhaust end of the
cylinder, or else the diameters of the discs, rings, and cylinder may be increased, or
both so as to afford more space for the working fluid.
The speed of the motor may be regulated by a throttle valve in the supply pipe,
actuated by any known or suitable form of governor, attached directly to the shaft
or driven therefrom.
To drive machinery or apparatus sometimes in one direction and sometimes in
another, I provide two rotary motors of any suitable construction fixed on a
common shaft, but having vanes and guides so set that they tend to drive the
shaft in opposite directions so that by admitting motive fluid into one such motor
and allowing the other to run empty, rotation in one direction will be obtained,
and by admitting motive fluid to the motor first described as running empty and
cutting off supply from the other rotation in the contrary direction will be
produced.
To counterbalance the end thrust in rotary motors, provided with vanes against
which the motive fluid acts, I provide for taking the power from the shaft by a
worm and wheel, the worin being secured to the shaft, and the worm wheel on the
shaft to be driven, the gear being so designed that the thrust or pull of the worm
shall counterbalance, entirely or partially, the thrust on the shaft of the motor due
to the unbalanced fluid pressure.
Or instead of placing the whole series of turbines in one casing, I use two sets
on a common shaft but each set in a separate casing. For the sake of clearness
I will assume letters A. B. to represent the respective ends of one casing and C. D.
the ends of the other. On reading along the shaft the ends will be in the
order A. B. C. D. The motive fluid is introduced at B and passes through the
turbines to A, and from A it is led, in a suitable pipe or connection, to the C end
of the other set, through which it passes to the D end, where it is discharged or
exhausted. Thus by suitably arranging the number or sizes of the turbines in
each set, I am enabled to obtain nearly the same end thrust in each set, but in
opposite directions, so that being on the same shaft they will practically counter-
balance each other. The arrangement somewhat resembles compounding an
engine. It is not necessary, that the working fluid should first enter at B, and
finally be exhausted at D, while A and C are connected by a pipe, as other courses
for the fluid can be obviously arranged which will ensure the same counter-
balancing of the end thrusts in a similar way.
This method of counterbalancing the end thrusts is equally applicable to such
rotary apparatus when used as pumps.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings. Fig. 1 is an
external elevation of a motor according to my invention arranged to be worked by
an elastic fluid such as steam. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same, but with the
bedplate omitted. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, to a larger scale, of a couple of
rings carrying the guide-blades, with the enclosed disc with its vanes in position.
The guides and vanes however that are at the back are not shewn, as they would
rather confuse the drawing.
The right hand side of Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the parts shewn in Fig. 3
through the plane represented by the line Y. Z. The left hand side of Fig. 4 is a
similar section through the plane W. X.
Fig. 5. is a sectional elevation of two guide rings and a disc of a motor similar to
that shewn in the preceding figures except that the corresponding guides and
vanes on one side of the disc are removed so that the fluid only does useful work

page_text: when flowing outwards from the centre to the circunference. Fig. 6 is a sectional
elevation of the elementary disc and rings of an apparatus according to this
invention having the vanes on one side of the disc and the guides on the same side
of the rings omitted, and the remaining guides and vanes extended.
Such an
arrangement is particularly suitable for a centrifugal pump. Fig. 7 is a sectional
elevation of an arrangement similar to Fig. 6 but with all the guides removed, and
applicable for the same purposes. Fig. is an elevation, partly sectional, of a
pump constructed with the elementary discs and rings arranged as in Fig. 6. The
right hand side of Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the pump in Fig. 8, through the
plane Y Z, while the left hand side is a similar section through the plane W. X.
In the drawings the motion of the fluid through the machine is shewn by small
arrows. The external arrows in Fig. 4 and Fig. 9 shew the direction of rotation
of the shaft and its dises. In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 a. a are two cylinders mounted
on the same axial line, and having passing through them a shaft c, which runs in
stuffing boxes & d in the ends or covers of the cylinders. Upon this shaft there
are keyed a number of discs c. e, each of which carries two rings of fins or
vanes v, v, one on either side. One ring is of greater diameter than the other, the
vanes in the larger ring being curved like the curved sides of the buckets of an
outward flow turbine, and those in the smaller ring like the curved sides of the
buckets of an inward flow turbine. This difference is clearly shewn in Fig. 4.
The internal diameter of each cylinder a leaves an annular space beyond the
periphery of the discs, while these said discs are spaced so far apart on the shaft
that there is a space between the adjacent rows of fins or vanes. These spaces are
partly filled with circular rings b. b turned on the outside to fit the interior of the
cylinder, and each provided with two rows, of unequal diameter, of curved fins or
guides g. g those in the larger ring being curved like guides in an inward flow
turbine, and those in the smaller ring like the guides in an outward flow turbine.
These are also shewn in Fig. 4. These guides g. g nearly touch the faces of the
disc e, merely leaving sufficient clearance space for the disc to revolve freely.
At each end of the cylinder a, beyond the rings and discs, there is a clear space
left for the inlet and outlet of actuating fluid. This enters at 7 (Fig. 2), and filling
the clearance space passes into the first ring, where it spreads out radially and
passes through the first set of guides g. These force the steam or other fluid to
take such a direction that it impinges directly upon the first set of moving vanes v
(Fig. 4), and passing between them enters the empty space beyond (Fig. 3). The
fluid then turns and passing through the second set of fixed guides, impinges on
the second set of vanes v. It then enters the next ring and so on until it has
passed the entire series, and emerges at a reduced pressure at m. The pipe then
conducts the fluid to the end o of the second cylinder a. The fluid then traverses
the rings and guides of this cylinder, just as described, but in the contrary
direction, that is from right to left, the guides g. g and vanes v. v. being corre-
spondingly arranged to permit of this. The object of this arrangement, as alrea∙ly
explained, is to balance the end pressure of the steam on the discs.
In Fig. 5 there are only one set of guides and vanes, instead of two as in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 shews an arrangement designed to be used as a pump, the vanes being at
one side of the discs and the guides at the other. In Fig. 7 the guides are omitted
entirely.
Figs. 8 and 9 shew a balanced pump having vanes and guides of the form and
description portrayed in Fig. 6. s is the suction, in the first delivery, ta pipe
leading from the first delivery to the second suction, and p the final delivery. The
power is applied by the pulley r.
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
is claimed in rotary apparatus for use as motors or pumps is
1. The use of a rotating disc provided with vanes or fins on each side, those on
one side being arranged after the manner of the buckets of an outward flow

page_text: turbine, and those on the other side after the manner of the buckets of an inward
flow turbine substantially as described.
2. The use in combination of a series of discs mounted upon the same shaft, and
provided on one or both sides or faces with sets or rings of vanes or fins upon
which motive fluid is caused to act in succession when moving in a direction or
directions at right angles (or approximately so) to the said shaft substantially as
described.
3. Balancing the end thrust by mounting two motors or pumps on the same
shaft, and leading or directing the fluid through the two in succession in such a
way that the end thrust in one pump or motor approximately balances the end
thrust in the other substantially as described.
4. Relieving the bearings of end pressure by driving through a worm and worm
wheel, so proportioned that the effort to turn the latter is approximately equal to
the end pressure of the fluid on the motor substantially as described.
5. The improved motor constructed arranged and operating substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, or modified, as
described with relation to Fig. 5.
6. The improved pump constructed, arranged and operating, substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, or modified as described
with reference to Fig. 7.