Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
SAMUEL QUINCEY Electrical Engineer 146 Seven Sisters Road South
Tottenham London, N. I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A rotary engine whereby the three great factors have been fully considered
viz. wear, consumption of steam, and enormous power compared with size.
In this engine the lines followed have been to gain an entirely direct action both
for piston and valves thereby allowing for extremely high speed running and
reducing wear and tear to a minimum combined with silent action.
In describing the rudiments of this invention I use a perfectly circular cylinder
and piston block which latter is about two-thirds or more the diameter of the
internal bore of cylinder and eccentric therewith, allowing the outer rim of block
to run in steam tight contact with a given point in the internal bore of cylinder.
The outer rim of piston block is also cut through the rim and at right angles to
its periphery with one or more cuts to allow of a wing or wings which fits and
works steam tight to the bore of cylinder to have free play to slide in and out, this
wing or wings to be pressed up to the internal bore of cylinder by one or more
small cylinders with reciprocating pistons working therein, or by any other suitable
steam cushion device, also by the aid of springs for lifting the same into continuous
contact.
On one of the outer covers of cylinder where the piston rod passes through, is
attached the steam chest with suitable glands; the piston rod passing through the
same carries on its diameter & within the steam chest a boss of sufficient length to
allow of a spiral groove being cut in its outer surface, the said groove being
partially covered with a hollow slide operating by hand in a transverse direction,
thereby giving expansion from a minute portion of the stroke up to full steam for
the whole of stroke the above slide also acting as the reversing agent, allowing the
engine to be run in either direction, also for reversing exhaust steam.
Steam chest containing rotary or reciprocating steam valve driven by eccentric,
cam, gear wheels, or other suitable device for actuating same, may be fixed on any
other portion of cylinder or covers.
Dated this First day of January 1894.
SAMUEL QUINCEY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
1, SAMUEL QUINCEY formerly of 146 but now of 567 Seven Sisters Road,
South Tottenham in the County of Middlesex Electrical 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 :-
A rotary engine whereby the three great factors have been fully considered
viz.: wear consumption of steam and enormous power compared with size.
In this engine the lines followed have been to gain an entirely direct action both

page_text: for piston and valves thereby allowing for extremely high speed running and
reducing wear and tear to a minimum combined with silent action.
In describing the rudiments of this invention I use a perfectly circular cylinder
and piston block which latter is about two thirds or more the diameter of the
internal bore of cylinder and eccentric therewith allowing the outer rim of block to
run in steam tight contact with a given point in the internal bore of cylinder. The
outer rim of piston block is also cut through the rim and at right angles to its
periphery with one or more cuts to allow of a wing or wings which fits and works
steam tight to the bore of cylinder and to have free play to slide in and out these
wing or wings to be pressed up to the internal bore of cylinder by one or more
small cylinders with reciprocating pistons working therein or by any other suitable
steam cushion device and also by the aid of springs for lifting same into continuous
contact.
On one of the outer covers of cylinder where piston rod passes through is
attached the steain chest with suitable glands the piston rod passing through the
same carries on its diameter and within the steam chest a boss of sufficient length to
allow of a spiral groove being cut in its outer surface the said groove being
partially covered with a hollow slide operating by hand in a transverse direction
thereby giving expansion from a minute portion of the stroke up to full steam for
the whole of the stroke the above slide also acting as the reversing agent allowing
the engine to be run in either direction also for reversing exhaust steam. Steam chest
containing rotary or reciprocating steam valve driven by eccentric cam gear wheels
or other suitable device for actuating same may be fixed on any other portion of
cylinder power. It will be seen that my invention relates to that description of
rotary engine in which a rotating shaft and its attached piston block are disposed
eccentrically to a cylinder in which they rotate and consists of improvements
whereby a more convenient means of making a steam tight joint between the piston
and the interior of the cylinder is afforded and a more perfect system of cut off is
obtained by the use of my improved valve gear. The piston block is cylindrical
and is longitudinally slotted through upon one or more sides and in this slot or
these slots reciprocates one or more diaphragm pistons one edge of each of which is
caused to press against and make a steam tight joint with the interior surface of
the cylinder by means of steam pressure upon the other edge or upon pistons which
are attached to such other edge. The small subsidiary cylinder or cylinders in
which these pistons reciprocate are disposed inside the piston block at a point
opposite to that at which this is slotted for the passage of the diaphragm piston.
The piston block at one point touches the inside surface of the cylinder and a steam
tight joint is made at this line of contact by a spring block disposed in the wall of
the cylinder. The sides of the diaphragm piston which are in sliding contact with
the cylinder ends are packed in any convenient and suitable manner so as to secure
a steam tight joint. The subsidiary cylinders and pistons which keep the edge of
the diaphragm piston in steam tight contact with the interior surface of the
cylinder do not require any expenditure of steam for once filled they remain so
acting simply as elastic cushions or springs which oppose the recession of the
diaphragm piston into the piston block.
My improved valve gear is composed of the following essential parts :- First an
extension of the revoluble shaft formed integral and rotating with the piston
block, such extension working within the valve chest and having formed in it a
groove which is helically shaped but extending round only a portion of the surface
of the shaft. Second a sliding block in which passages or ports which communicate
with the interior of the cylinder through passages and with the open air through an
exhaust pipe. The movement of the sliding block by means of a lever available
for that purpose, either reverses the direction of the rotating of the engine or
varies the cut off to any required extent: or this latter purpose may be effected
automatically by a governor of any description.
In the accompanying drawings in which like letters refer to similar parts:
Figure 1. is an elevation of a rotary engine according to my invention.

page_text: and packing.
Figure 3. is a transverse vertical section through cylinder and valve chest.
Figure 4. is a plan of the valve chest.
Figure 5. is a vertical section through valve chest shewing steam and exhaust
passages and ports.
Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section through valve chest.
Figures 4. 5 and 6. are on an enlarged scale.
In the simple form of engine shewn which has but one subsidiary cylinder A is a
base plate or bed formed integrally with the cylinder B which latter is accurately
bored to enable the outer edge d of the diaphragm piston D to slide freely over its
interior surface whilst forming a steam tight joint. The cylinder B has fastened to
it by means of bolts or screws two covers C to one of which the steam chest H is
attached. The piston block G is in the form of a hollow cylinder and is turned on
its outer surface which slides in contact with one point or part g of the interior of
the cylinder and at this point a steam tight joint is made by means of a packing
strip or strips 9' which are placed in a longitudinally disposed recess g³ in the wall
of the cylinder and pressed against the piston block G by means of a spring or
springs g. The piston block G is formed integrally with or rigidly attached to the
shaft J and it has a passage or slot g' cut through the whole thickness of its
peripheral wall and through and in this passage or slot g' slides the diaphragm
piston D upon which the steam or other elastic fluid exerts its useful pressure and
which is caused to make a steam tight joint at its ends by means of any suitable and
convenient packing disposed in the said diaphragm piston D. A steam tight joint is
made between the outer edge d of this diaphragm piston and the interior surface of
the cylinder by reason of the steam pressure in the subsidiary cylinder F upon the
piston causing the piston rod E and the attached diaphragm piston to be pressed
outwardly as far as allowed by that particular part of the interior surface of the
cylinder with which the outer edge d is in contact. By this method the friction
between these parts in sliding contact is directly proportionate to variations of the
steam pressure and sufficient only for its purpose. No waste or expenditure of
steam takes place in the cylinder F as these in reality form only a steam cushion
which is in permanent connection with the interior of the valve chest H by means
of a port drilled through the shaft J and a pipe ƒ which opens into the
subsidiary cylinder F.
L. L' are ports or passages each of which is alternately a steam or exhaust port
depending upon which direction the engine is running. As shewn in the drawings
the engine is running in the direction indicated by the arrow shewn in Figure 2
and consequently steam is entering from the valve chest H through L and
exhausting through L' but by a movement of the sliding block M a reversal of the
direction of rotation takes place by reason of L' becoming the steam and L the
exhaust port.
The shaft J is continued from the cylinder into the valve chest and a packed
gland or a metallic packing his interposed between the two so as to render the
valve chest steam tight. Formed integrally with or rigidly attached to the upper
side of the steam chest interior is a block N having two passages or ports L and L'
which are continuations of the ports or passages for alternate use as steam or
exhaust before referred to. The under side n of this block N is faced true to form
a joint with the upper side m of the sliding block M and this sliding block has also
one of its sides m (at right angles with the upper side m) faced true to form joint
with a face h' upon the interior of the valve chest. In addition the sliding block M
is hollowed at m³ to make a joint with the surface of the rotating shaft J and formed
within it are three ports, the centre one S being always an exhaust port and the
outer ones R and R1 steam ports. The sliding block M can be moved backward or
forward parallel and in contact with the shaft J and the faces h¹ and n by means of
the rod o and lever O which latter is pivoted at o' and connected with the rod o

page_text: at o². For ordinary reversal or for varying the cut off the sliding block is operated
at will by the handle o but where automatic variation of the cut off is required I
attach a rod P to the lever O. at the point p and this rod can be attached to
and controlled by any ordinary governor or mechanism suitable for the purpose.
Formed in that part of the shaft J which rotates underneath the sliding block is
a helical groovej which forms a port or passage through which the steam from the
valve chest enters either one or the other of the ports R or R¹. The steam is
supplied from the boiler through the pipe and when it has done its duty escapes
through the exhaust pipe s'. 8. is a triangular passage so proportioned in length
that the exhaust port S opens to it in whatever position the sliding block M is
placed. The helical port or groove j is always open to the steam in the valve
chests by reason of the sliding block_covering only the upper half of the shaft J.
while the lower half is uncovered. But the groove or port j is open to one or other
of the ports R or R' during only a part of each revolution which can be controlled
by sliding the sliding block M by means of the lever O.
The operation is as follows:-
Assuming that the sliding block is in the position shewn and the engine running
in the direction indicated by the arrow (Figure 2) the port R' is closed by the
surface of the shaft J and steam is entering the valve chest H from the steam pipe /*
passing into the helical groove or port j through the port R and the port L into the
cylinder and by its pressure upon the diaphragm piston forcing it forward and
causing the piston block and shaft to rotate. When the diaphragm piston has
reached and uncovered the mouth of the port L' the steam escapes through and
along L' into the port S. and through the passages into the exhaust pipe s'. The
diaphragm piston passing on uncovers the mouth of the steam port L and (the
helical groove or port being now again open to R) receives a fresh supply of steam
and the cycle of operation is completed.
:
If now the sliding block be moved very slightly in either direction it is obvious
that it will expose less or more of the helical groove j to the opening of the port R
and by so moving it the cut off can be varied to any extent required.
Con-
But if the sliding block is moved to the full extent it will bring the mouth of the
port Rover an unbroken part of the shaft J which will consequently close it and
by the same movement R' will be uncovered to the port L' and simultaneously to
the helical groove or port ; while the exhaust passage S will be opened to L.
sequently the direction of rotation will be reversed for steam will then pass from
the valve chest through the helical groove or port j. the port R' and the passage L'
into the cylinder and exert pressure upon the opposite side of the diaphragm piston
and the steam will in due course enter the passage L and pass through the port S.
into the exhaust passages and pipe s'.
I sometimes use two or more subsidiary pistons for the purpose of pressing the
diaphragm piston against the interior surface of the cylinder.
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 I
claim is :-
1. In a rotary engine of the description herein before described a diaphragm
piston one side of which is kept in contact with the interior surface of its containing
cylinder by steam or other elastic pressure.
2. In a rotary engine of the description hereinbefore described the subsidiary
cylinders and pistons substantially as described.
3. In a rotary engine the helical groove or port ; formed in the shaft J or in a
collar or sleeve thereon for the passage of steam or other elastic fluid.
4. In a rotary engine the valve gear consisting essentially of a helical steam port
in the rotating shaft a sliding block with passages, means for sliding the same and
a fixed block or valve chest with steam and exhaust passages substantially as
described.

page_text: 5. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder piston block diaphragm
piston pressed outward by steam pressure in a subsidiary cylinder or cylinders
steam passages and a rotating shaft of valve gear substantially as described.
6. The valve gear substantially as described, combined with an automatic
cut off.
Dated this 29th day of September 1894.
SAML. QUINCEY.