US1079743A

US1079743A - Rotary engine.

Info

Publication number: US1079743A
Application number: US70178912A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Callaway
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1912-06-05
Filing date: 1912-06-05
Publication date: 1913-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1930-11-25

Description

G. E. GALLAWAY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIoA'HoN FILED JUNE 5, 1912.

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ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1912.

1,079,743. Patented Nov. 25, 1913 G. E. GALLAWAY.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIGATION FILED JUNI: 5, 1912.

1,079,748. Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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G. E. GALLAWAY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 5, 1912.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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Y oinTEn sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.I

GEORGE E. CALIJAWAY, OF JONESBORO, LOUISIANA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE E. CALLAwAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jonesboro, in the parish of Jackson and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in rotary engines, and consists in certain novel constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafter' described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the improvement; Fig. 2 is a side view of one end ring; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the other end ring; Fig. 4 is a face view of a rotor; Fig. 5 is an edge view of the same; Fig. G is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the valve; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an abutment; Fig. 9 is an enlarged section on the line 9&9 of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a front view of one of the end plates; Fig. 11 is a transverse section of one of the holding rings for the valve chest; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an abutment; Fig. 13 is a similar view of one section of the abutment and the packing; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one section of a vane and the packing therefor; and Fig. 15 is a transverse section of an abutment.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a base 1, provided at each end with a standard 2-2a, connected at its upper end to the engine. The said engine coinprises a plurality of rings, 3-4-5-6-7- 8-9 and 10, the said rings increasing in diameter from ring 3, which is the smallest, to ring 10 which is the largest. rlhe said rings 4 to 10 inclusive and the rotors coperating therewith differ onlv in size, being precisely the same in other respects, and but one, ring 10, will be described. Each ring is provided at each end with a lateral outwardly extending

flange

11 and 12 respectively, and the adjacent flanges of the adj acent rings are connected by bolts. 13. The outer side of ring 10 is closed by a head 14, secured to the fiange 12 of the ring by bolts 15, and the outer side of ring 4 is closed by a head 16, secured to fiange 11 by bolts 17.

The rings are separated by disks 18, and each ring is counterbored at each end, as indicated at 19 and 20, to receive the edge of the disk. The counterbored portion 19 of each ring is connected to the outer face Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led June 5, 1912.

Patented N ov. 25, 1913.

Serial No. 701,789.

of the ring by means of an inclined or beveled portion 21, for making a tight fit, between the disk and the ring. Each disk has a central opening 22, and a shaft 23 is arranged in the openings, extending` through -the rings at each end. The shaft has an integral annular collar or rib 24, at the end adjacent to head 14, and the head has a central opening 25, fitting the said collar or rib. Rings 4 and 10 are connected to standards 2 and 2a respectively, and the outer end of shaft 23 beyond head 14 is threaded, as shown at 2G, and is engaged by a nut 27, locked by a nut 28. The nut 27 is provided with a section 29 of a ball race at its inner edge, and the other section 30 of the race is formed on the inner surface of a washer 31, bolted at 32 to a hub 33 on the head 14. A ball bearing 34 is held in the sections 29 and 30 of the race, and the hub has an annular chamber 35, communicating with the ring 10 at 36, and having an exhaust opening or port 37. The head 16 is integral with the ring or cylindrical valve chest or chamber 3, and the said chamber or ring has a lateral flange 33 at its outer end corresponding to flanges 11 of the rings 4 to 10. A hea-d 39, resemblingthe head 16 is secured to the outer end of ring 3 by bol-ts 40, and the head has a hub 41, carrying the outer sect-ion 42 of a ball race. The shaft 23 is also threaded at the end adjacent to the head 39, and a conical sleeve nut 43 is threaded onto the shaft, and carries the other section 44 of the race, for the ball bearing` 45. A lock nut 4G is threaded onto the shaft for locking the sleeve. The rings are thus held between the nuts 27 and 43, and the nuts may be adjusted to properly position the rings.

, The valve chamber 3 is provided with an inlet port 47 for the ino-tive fluid, and that portion of the shaft 23 within rings 3 and 4 is hollow, and a plurality of series of radial slots 48 and 49 are provided in the shaft adjacent to the rings 3 and 4 for placing the said rings in connnunication with the hollow of the shaft.

The valve 50 is of cylindrical form and is seated in the hollow or chamber 51 of the shaft. The valve has a stem 52 at one end, an axial conical lug at the other. rlhe lug 53 is seated in a conical bearing recess 54 at the inner end of chamber 51, at thc'axis of the shaft, and the stem 52 extends through a. plug 55 in the shaft 23 and into a casing to be described. The valve is provided with two series 56 and 57 of radial slots, extending longitudinally of the valve. The series 56 of slots communicate through slots 48 with the valve chamber, and the series 57 communicate through slots 49 with the interior of ring 4.

The rotors of the respective rings are similar, each of the rings 5 to 10 inclusive being provided with a disk 58 While the ring 4 is provided with a disk 58a. The disks 58 are keyed to the shaft 23 in the ring, by means of a key 59. All of the disks are approximately elliptical in shape, and at each end of the long axis each disk has a recess 60. Each recess is provided at one side of its mouth with a bearing recess 6l, for receiving a bearing lug 62 on a wing or vane 63.

The wings or vanes 63 as shown in Fig. 8 each consists of two portions arranged at an acute angle to each other, one portion having the bearing lug 62, and the other port-ion having its free edge 64 enlarged laterally and rounded from side to side for engaging the inner face of the ring. The recesses 60 of the disk are so shaped, that they will receive the wing or vane completely, as shown in Fig. 2. The edge of the recess adjacent to bearing 61 is provided with an integral overlying lug 65, for limiting the outward swinging of the vane.

A lining 66 is provided for each of the rings 4 to 10, and each lining has its inner surface of trefoil shape, that is there are three points 72 at which the extremities of the disk touch the lining. The lining is recessed near each of the said points, as indi` cated at 67. An abutment 73 is arranged in each recess, each recess being substantially triangular in shape, and opening into the interior of the ring at the angle near the above mentioned point, as shown at 7l. Each recess has a bearing 68 at the corner remote from the said point, and each abutment has a bearing lug 69 fitting the recess. The abutments are substantially L-shaped, and the bearing is at one end. The angular portion 70 of each abutment is adapted to extend through the opening 7l into engagement with the outer surface of the disk. The ends of the portions 70 of the abutments move in cont-act with the periphery of the rotor or disk 58, and the motive fluid is admitted to each ring from the preceding ring at these points. The motive fluid is admitted to ring 4 from the steam chamber, acts upon the blades or vanes of the rotor of ring 4, and is exhausted into the ring 5, and from each ring to the next larger ring, acting upon the rotor of each ring, until it is finally exhausted at the port 37.

It will be noticed from an inspection of Figs, 4-5 and 6, that each disk 58 is provided with a central opening 73 for the shaft 23, and with a key-way 74L in the opening. At one end, each disk is provided with a tubular extension or nipple 74, and that the extremity of the nipple is beveled, as indicated at 75. Each plate 10 has as before mentioned an opening 22 for the shaft 23, and each of the said openings is o-f sufficient size to receive the nipple 74. The nipples 74 of the disk are of such length that the cylindrical portion thereof is within the opening 22 of the plate, the beveled portion extending beyond the plate, and being received in a recess or depression 7 G in the disk of the succeeding ring, and the recess 76 is shaped to fit the beveled end of the nipple. The disk 58a of ring 4 difl'ers` slightly fro-1n the disks 58 of the other rings. The said disk 58a is not provided with a recess 76, since there is no disk on that side, and the recess is not required. rlhe opening 73 of the disk 58a is threaded to engage a threaded portion 77 of the shaft. The disk 58a is in all other respects the same as disks 58, and operates in the same manner. Each of the disks 58 and 58a is provided with four ports, two inlet ports and two exhaust ports. The inlet ports 78 and 78a are at the end remote from the nippleV 74, and each of the said ports has its entrance or inlet end of arc-shape and adjacent to the shaft 23. The port extends inwardly and upwardly, in the material of the rotor and opens o-n the periphery of the rotor by two slots on the rear side of one of the wings or vanes of the rotor. The exhaust ports 79 and 7 9L have their entrance or inlet ends on the periphery of the ro-tor, in front of the wing or vane, and their outlet end on the edge of the nipple 74 of the rotor. The outlet end of the exhaustfport or each rotor registers with the inlet end of the inlet port of the succeeding rotor. That is the outlet or discharge ends of the exhaust ports of rotor 58a register with the inlet or entrance ends of the ports of the rotor in ring 5, and in like manner as regards the rotors of rings 5 and 6, rings 6 and 7 and so on. The motive fluid thus passes from ring 4 through each ring to ring l0, and exhausts through the exhaust port of the said ring 10.

The stem 52 of valve 50 extends into a substantially cylindrical casing 80, having an axial tubular extension 8l fitting over the chambered end of shaft 23. The plug 55 of brass or like material is fitted into the said chambered end 83 of the shaft, the plug having a central longitudinal opening for the stem. The outer end of the plug is threaded into the end of the shaft, as shown at 84. A gear wheel 85 is secured to the stem, in the casing 80, by means of a key 86 and a plurality 0f toothed segments 87, three in the present instance, are in mesh with the gear wheel. Each segment is provided. with an extended hub 88 arranged on a bolt 89, passing through one wall of casing and threaded into the opposite wall. An arm 90 extends laterally from each hub at approximately the center thereof, t-he segment being at one end of the hub. Each arm extends outwardly toward the periphery of the easing, and is provided with a weight 91, having a rounded face 92. A spring 93 has one end connected to an eye 94 on the arm, and the inner ends of the three springs are connected to the periphery of a disk or wheel 95. The wheel is secured to a stub shaft 96, journaled in a bearing 97, in the casing 80, in alinement with shaft 23. The shaft 9G extends outside of casing 80, and a winged sleeve or collar 98 is secured on the extended portion of the shaft. A spring 99 is arranged on the shaft, between the collar and a nut 100, and the spring presses the collar inwardly. The collar is provided with a tooth 101, engaging a notch or recess 102 in the casing. By turning the wheel 95, the tension of the springs 93 may be varied.

The mechanism just described is a governor. Then the shaft 23 exceeds or falls below a predetermined speed, the said mechanism is operated to admit or shut off a portion of the motive fluid to increase or decrease the speed of the motor.

The head 1G and the head 39 are locked on the shaft 23, by means of the sectional collars or rings 23eL shown in Fig. 11. The said collars are composed of semi-circular sections held together by screws 103. The head of each screw is seated in a recess 1n the periphery of one section, passes through a threaded opening in the said section and is threaded into a recess in the other section. The internal diameter of each ring is less than that 0f the shaft 23, and each ring is seated in an annular groove 105 in the shaft. It will be noted that the shaft 23 is composed of two portions of unequal diameter.

In operation, the rotors move to the right of Figs. 2 and 3, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2. The motive fluid is admitted to each ring` between a vane G3 and an abutment 73. The vanes and abutments are normally pressed outward in any suitable manner. The steam is lirst admitted from the valve chest 3 to the ring 4, passing from the valve chest 3 through the ports 48-56 to the interior of the valve 50, and from the said Iinterior to the ring 4 by means of the ports 57-49 The motive iiuid acts upon the rotor 58 in the said ring and is exhausted into ring 5 and acts upon the rotor 58 of the said ring. From the ring 5 the motive fluid passes to ring 6 and so on until it is exhausted from ring 10. The rings and rotors gradually increase in. size from ring 4 to ring 10, so that as the motive fluid exhausts it passes to a larger ring, and may continue to expand until all of the expansive force thereof is utilized.

Each. of the vanes and abutments is composed of two pieces or sections, and a packing 106 is inserted between the sections of each vane and each abutment. The packing blocks are spring pressed to expand the vanes and abutments, and the free edge of the portion of each abutment moves closely against the outer surface of the rotor while the free edge of each vane moves closely in contact with the lining 66 of the casing.

It will be noted that the ports of each rotor are outlet or exhaust ports for the ring in which the rotor moves, while they are inlet ports for the rotor of the succeeding ring. Each ring receives motive fluid at three points, so that there is a constant flow of steam from the boiler through the improved engine, and a constant reaction between the abutments and the vanes.

Then the shaft 23 exceeds a predetermined speed, the weights 91 of the governor are thrown outwardly, thus oscillating the segments 8S, and partially rotating the gear wheel 85 and the valve 50 to partially close the ports 43, 49. The ports 4S and 49 and the ports 50 and 57 are larger than required to transmit the requisite amount of steam to the engine. The valve 50 is normally arranged with the ports 56-57 out of exact register with the ports 48-49, so that when the valve 50 is oscillated in either direction the ports 5(3 57 will be brought more nearly into register with the ports 43-49 or will be moved farther o-ut of register depending upon the direction of movement of the valve. If the shaft 23 exceeds the predetermined speed, the valve 50 is partially rotated to bring the ports 56-57 more out of register with the ports 48-49, thus lessening the area of the ports and as a consequence shutting oif a portion of the motive fluid. On the other hand should the shaft fall below a predetermined speed, the valve is oscillated in the opposite direction to open the ports a little wider by bringing the ports .5G-57 more nearly into register with the ports 48-49.

It will be noted that the improvement has seven rotors, and that each rotor is keyed rigidly to the shaft 23, and is prevented from lateral movement by the rotor in ring 4 which is threaded on to the shaft. The rings are bolted solidly together, and the shaft and rotors are supported for rotation by means of the cone nuts 27, 43 and the ball bearings. The rotors are arranged at angular distances of l5 degrees with respect to each other and each rotor is gained into the succeeding rotor by means of the beveled portion of the nipple 74. The steam chest, that is, ring 3 is cast solid with the head 16. Each of the disks 18 engages the preceding ring by a tapered portion of the disk iitting in a tapered counterbore of the ring, and the cylinder heads 39 and 14 are fitted in the same manner.

The inner ports 56 of the valve are of larger area than the outlet ports 57, and the rings 23ZL shown in Fig. 11 are packing rings to prevent any escape of steam between the heads 16 and 39 and the shaft, and the plug 55 acts also as a packing for the valve stem. The inner end of the said plug is beveled as will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 1 to reduce friction between the valve and the plug. The governor is entirely cased in, but is provided with a removable plate, so that access may be had to the interior thereof.

Referring to Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive, it will be noticed that each abutment consists of two sections 73a and 73h, and each'section is recessed on its inner face longitudinally as shown at 107 in Fig. 13. The packing` is in two sections, one of the sections of packing 106 being arranged in the recess of each section of Ithe abutment. Coil springs 108 are arranged between the bottoni of each recess and the adjacent packing section, and the said springs act normally to press the packing sections together. The vanes are constructed in the same manner, each vane consisting of two sections 63a and G31 (Fig. 8). Each section is recessed on its inner edge longitudinally as shown at 109 in Fig. 14, and a packing section 110 isr arranged in each recess. rlhe packing sections are pressed together by springs in the same manner as shown in Fig. 15. It will be noticed that the end of the recess 109 adjacent to the rounded surface 64 of the vane is forked or branched as shown at 111 in Fig. 14. The ends of the forks open on the rounded surface 64 and the ends of the packing are shaped to correspond and to fit the said branches. A packing ring 112 is arranged on each face of each rotor at the edge thereof, and the body of the rotor is notched as indicated at 118 to rece-ive lugs or projections 114 on the packing ring. As shown in Fig. 4, the packing ring is shaped to correspond with the contour of the rot-or, the said ring having recesses or depressions to lit the recesses for the vanes or blades. The packing rings move in contact with the disks 18 and make a steam tight joint between each rotor and the abutment.

I claim 1. A compound rotary engine, comprising a series of connected coaxial rings gradually increasing in diameter from one end to the other, a shaft journaled coaxially in the rings, heads closing the outer ends of the outermost rings, disks separating the adjacent rings, a rotor secured to the shaftin each ring, a steam chest adjacent to the smallest ring and coaxial therewith, said shaft being longitudinally chambered withand having ports leading from the chest and to the chamber of the ring, a valve rotatable in the chamber of the shaft and having ports coperating with the ports of the shaft, and means operated by the rotation of the shaft for moving the valvey angularly to control the iow of steam from the steam chest to the first ring.

2. A compound rotary engine, comprising a series of connected coaxial rings gradually increasing in diameter from one end to the other, a shaft journaled coaxially in the rings, heads closing the outer ends of the outermost rings, disks separating the adjacent rings, a rotor secured to the shaft in each ring, a steam chest adjacent to the smallest ring and coaxial therewith, said chest comprising a ring having an integral head at its inner end, a removable head at the outer end, the shaft being externally grooved adjacent to each of the said heads, and rings in the grooves, each of the said rings being sectional, and means for detachably connecting the sections.

3. In a rotary engine, comprising a plurality of connected coaxial rings gradually increasing in diameter from one end to the other, a shaft journaled coaxially in the rings, a head closing the outer end of the largest ring, disks between the adjacent rings for separating the said rings, each disk having a central opening for receiving the shaft of a greater diameter than the shaft, a rotor in each ring, each rotor having a tubular extension or nipple for cxtending through the opening of the adjacent disk, the succeeding rotor being recessed to receive the nipple, each rotor being ported to permit the passage of the motive fluid to the successive rings, the ports being in the nipples.

4. In a rotary engine, comprising a plurality of connected coaxial rings gradually increasing in diameter from one end to the other, a shaft journaled coaxially in the rings, a head closing the outer end of the largest ring, disks between the adjacent rings for separating the said rings, each disk having a central opening for receiving the shaft of a greater diameter than the shaft, a rotor in each ring, each rotor having a tubular extension or nipple for extending through the opening of the adjacent disk, the succeeding rotor being recessed to receive the nipple, each rotor being ported to permit the passage of the motive fluid to the successive rings, the ports beinof in the nipples, each of the said nipples eing beveled at its outer end.

5. In a compound rotary engine, comprising a plurality of connected coaxial rings gradually increasing in .diameter from Aone end to the other, said rings being annularly recessed at each of its ends, the rein the steam chest and the adjacent ring-F cesses at one end each having its outer wall beveled and the recesses at the other end each having its outer Wall perpendicular to the plane of the ring, and disks for separating the rings, each disk having its peripheral edge shaped to t the coperating recesses of the adjacent rings, a shaft journaled coaxial of the rings, each disk having a central opening for the shaft of greater diameter than the shaft, a rotor in each ring secured to the shaft, each rotor having at the end adjacent to the succeeding ring a tubular nipple passing through the open ing of the disk, the succeeding disk being recessed to receive the nipple, said rotors being ported, and the ports extending through the nipples.

6. In a compound rotary engine, comprising a plurality of connected coaxial rings gradually increasing in diameter from one end to the other, said rings being annularly recessed at each of its ends, the recesses at one end each having its outer Wall beveled and the recesses at the other end each having its outer Wall perpendicular to the plane of the ring, and disks for separating the rings, each disk having its peripheral edge shaped to lit the cooperating recesses of the adjacent rings.

GEO. E. GALLAWAY.

Vitnesses:

T. H. BOND, J. T. SHANKEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.