Improvements in Rotary Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1898-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Engines.
I, ALEXANDER HASTINGS CANNING, Merchant, of 57, Front Street, East, of the
City of Toronto, in the County of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, 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:—
My invention relates to improvements in rotary engines and the object of the
invention is to design an extremely simple and efficient engine, which may be
utilized either as a stationary or marine engine and it consists essentially of a tube
provided with a spiral convolute centre extending from end to end, the tube being
suitably shrunk or otherwise fastened on to such centre, so that such tube will
revolve with it, the ends of the tube being supported on suitable external bearings
and suitable steam packing rings being provided at the ends of the tube and both
ends having connected to the bearing sleeves the inlet and exhaust ports as
hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a sectional perspective view of a rotary engine constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2, is a sectional view through a boat provided with my engine as the means
for propelling.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A is the tube of my engine to the outside of which may be secured the propelling
wheel, gear wheel, pulley or other suitable means of communicating motion from
the tube. B is a solid convolute spiral centre formned up of a flat strip of metal or
cast, the convolutions being preferably of equal pitch throughout. The ends of
the convolute centre B end within the end of the tube.
CC are bearing standards provided with roller bearings c upon which the
reduced ends of the tube rotate. c¹ c² are packing rings between the ends of the
bearing standards and the shoulders formed on the reduced ends of the tube.
D D are hollow end casings provided with flanges d by which the casings are
secured by suitable bolts d to the flanges C¹ of the bearing standards C. E is a
packing ring of any suitable construction fitting within a groove 2 on the interior
of the casing D and abutting the reduced ends of the tube A.
F are the inlet pipes at each end provided with suitable valves f to cut off the
supply of the steam and G are the exhaust ports at each end provided with suitable
valves g to close the ports.
The operation of my engine is as follows. The steam is admitted through one
of the inlet ports F and rushes through the convolute spiral centre of the tube
impinging upon the convolutions in succession, thereby causing the tube to rotate,
the steam escaping in due course through the opposite exhaust port.
To reverse the engine it is simply necessary to admit the steam from the opposite
side and exhaust likewise.
In Fig. 2, I show my tube with spiral convolute centre supported in suitable
bearings and running practically from end to end of the ship. In this case the

page_text: inlet pipes F¹ extend into an annular chamber F2 with openings F³ through which
the steam is admitted into the tube. In this case the exhaust is through the end
of the tube and to close the end of the tube, which is not being used for the time
being for the exhaust, I provide a suitable ball or other valve H, for this purpose
with a diametrical hole.
When the steam is admitted at the bow end of the tube it passes through the
convolute spiral centre and out through the stern end of the tube, which has
secured on to it the propelling wheel I. It will, therefore, be seen that not only the
propelling wheel but the force of the steam itself upon the water will have a
tendency to propel the vessel forward.
By admitting the steam through the stern inlet steam port F and exhausting
through the bow end of the tube when the valve is opened at that end and closed
at the opposite end, it will be seen that the propelling wheel will cause the vessel
to move astern.
It will also be understood that in vessels where my rotary engine would be used,
that there may be as many tubes across the vessel as the beam of such vessel will
permit of.
It will of course be understood in this description that the tube is so shrunk upon
the convolute spiral centre that the edge of the convolutions are fitted steam tight
in the interior of the tube.
may also mention that my engine may be used in locomotive work and in fact
in all other classes of engine.
my
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A rotary engine comprising a tube having a convolute spiral centre extending
from end to end of the saine, suitable bearings for supporting the outside of the
tube, a suitable casing at each end and inlet and exhaust ports arranged as specified.
2. A rotary engine comprising a tube having a convolute spiral centre extending
from end to end of the same, suitable bearings for supporting the outside of the
tube, a suitable casing at each end provided with an annular chamber and an inlet
pipe leading into the same, a propelling wheel secured at the stern end of the tube
outside the hull and a suitable valve at the end of the tube for controlling the
exhaust as and for the purpose specified.
3. A rotary engine comprising a tube having a convolute spiral centre extending
from end to end of the same, suitable bearings for supporting the outside of the
tube, a suitable casing at each end, steam tight packing rings fitting at both sides
of the bearings and between the tube and casing and inlet and exhaust ports
arranged as specified.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.