US1420009A - Rotary engine - Google Patents

Description

F. 0, WILSON.

- ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 15. 1911. RENEWED an 9', m9.

Patented June 20, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l- Wit-2255:,

F. D. WILSON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 15. 1911. RENEWED MAY 9, m9.

Patented June 20, 1922.

6 SHEET$-SHEET 2.

lmvan! 1:1

mil-12 E55 44 ,,M'&

F. EL-WILSON; ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION flL-ED NOV. 1,5, 191?- IIENEWED MAY 9, I919.

1,42%009, v PatentedJune 20, 1 922,.

6 SHEETS-SHEET s.

r. 0. WILSON.

I ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION HLEQ-NOV- I5, 1917- RENEWED IIAY 9, I919.

1,420,009. A PatentdJune20,1922".

' e SHEET SSHEET 4.

" F. 0. WILSON.

ROTARY ENGINE. I f Arrucmou FILED v.15. mmjnsuzwzn un s. I919; 1,420,009.

. lngzqlmr 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

- Patented June'20, 1922.

Vi M11255; v

F. D. WILSON.- ROTARYENGINE'. I hrmcn lon min NOV-1,5, m1. KENEWED- mum/ 9. 1919. 1,420,009.

Patented June 20, 1922, s swim-shin s.

VIZ T152515;

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 31922.

Application filed November 15, 1917, Serial No. 202,181. Renewed May 9, 1919. Serial No. 295,973.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Fnnnnmon D. lVILsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Rotary 'En gines, of which the following is a speci'lica tion, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

lt'fy invention relates to an improvement in rotary reversible, engines of that class having a plurality of cylinders revolving around a normally stationary, but automatically shiftable crank shaft, and adapted to be driven by steam or other suitable fluid under compression, and has for its objects to improve and simplify the general construction of such a device, and to provide simple regulating means whereby economy of and the full utilization of the expansion of the actuating motive fluid is effected by regulating the time and period of admission of said motive fluid to the various cylinders.

An object of this invention is to so arrange the combination of parts that the aforementioned regulating means may be operated,

and the engine started, stopped, or reversed by a comparatively small movement of one lever. I

A further object is to provide a combination of valves that are easily adjustable, at will, relative to each other and the cylinder casing whereby a steam tight joint easily maintained against wear.

Another object is to so mount these valves that they are not subject to uneven wear, and with this in view, I have, what I may term, floating valves in relation to the cylinder casing and the shaft.

As before mentioned one object of this invention to design an engine easily controlled and reversed by a comparatively small movement of one lever, and in order to assist in accomplishing this, I have provided a shaft, so mounted, as to automatically shift its position whenthe throttle valve has been circularly adjusted beyond a pre-determined limit, which is hereinafter more fully described.

Another improvement very important is the arrangement and location of the inlet and exhaust ports in the valve interposed between the throttle valve and cylinder casing which I term the ring valve, which has a definite relation to the crank shaft and shifts therewith.

In a rotary reversible engine, utilizing the expansion of the motive fluid, the necessity and economy of keeping the exhaust port covered until the piston has nearly reached the extreme of its inward stroke is very apparent, as also, is the necessity of preventing too much back pressure or compression in the cylinder by the piston, as it completes its stroke, or reaches the outer end of the cylinder, and to accomplish the former and prevent the latter I have provided the ring valve with one main exhaust port directly opposite the crank in the shaft, which is always operative, and a series of ports on either side of the main exhaust port, one series being used for inlet ports while the other series are in use as exhaust ports, the function of each series being reversed by the shifting of the crank shaft since the ring valve shifts simultaneously. This result is made possible by the design of the throttle valve, which works in combination, and will be hereinafter more fully described.

Another object in view is to provide means for readily and effectively starting such an engine regardless of the position of the cylinders around the center of rotation, which accomplished by manually adjusting the throttle valve, around the center of rotation, until its induction port coincides with the steam passage leading to the nearest cyl'in der.

Another improvement of importance to which I wish to call particular attention is the means, permitting oscillation, of supplying the motive tluid to the oscillatory throttle valve from the stationary supply pipe located in a line with the center of the crank shaft, (the threads permitting the casting to oscillate simultaneous with the throttle valve), but I dont wish to be limited to the use of a thread' Another improvement, worthy of mention, is the means for permitting the automatic shifting of the crank shaft, said means, at the same time, preventing the vibration or the rebounding tendency caused by the action of the pistons.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood I will refer to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures.

Figure 1, is a side elevation of a rotary engine embodying the invention.

Figure 2, is an end elevation of the rotary casing, the interior parts being shown in dotted lines and the shaft being shown in section.

Figure 3, is an elevation of the opposite end of the casing, partly in section, showing the means for limiting the oscillatory movement of the shaft and crank and for frictionally retarding the shifting movement of the same.

Figure 4. is a plan view of the casing, in

section, on a line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 5, is a plan view of the ring valve in position relative to the throttle valve, the inlet and exhaust steam passages being shown in dotted lines. Also means for connecting the ring valve with the crank shaft.

Figure 6, is a transverse vertical sectional view of the throttle valve and its surrounding ring valve on line (36 of Figure 5, showing all ports closed except the main exhaust port, with the crank in position to drive the casing anti-clockwise.

Figure '7 is a sectional view on the same line and of the same parts, as Figure 6, showing the throttle valve adjusted to admit a small amount of steam through the second anti-clockwise admission port in the ring valve. The location of the crank being the same as Figure 6.

Figure 8, is a sectional view on the same line and of the same parts as Figure 6, showing the throttle valve adjusted to admit the maximum amount of steam through the largest anti-clockwise port in the ring valve. The location of the crank being the same as Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a sectional. view on the same line and of the same parts as Figure 6, showing the crank and ring valve shifted to drive the casing clockwise and the throttle valve adjusted to admit av small amount of steam through the second clockwise admission port in the ring valve, the largest anti-clockwise port now being used as an auxiliary exhaust port.

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the same line and of the same parts as Figure 6, showing the crank and ring valve in the same position as Figure 9, with the throttle valve adjusted to admit the maximum amount of steam through the largest clockwise port in the ring valve, whichport is shown in both Figures 7 and 8, as being used as an auxiliary exhaust port, the casing rotating in the reverse direction.

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the shaft, showing the position of the frictional retarding means, relative to the valves, with crank in position to drive the casing clockwise.

Figure 12 is an end elevation showing the relative position of the same parts as Figure 11, with shaft in position to drive the easing anti-clockwise.

Figure 13, is a plan view of the ring valve showing the adjustable expanding means.

Figure 1 1 is a sectional view of Figure 13, on line 14-14;.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of a portion of the throttle valve showing the adjustable expanding means.

Figure 16 is aplan view of Figure 15.

Referring to Figure 1, 1 indicates a base, having suit- able standards 2 and 3 secured thereto, to form a supporting frame for the engine, these standards carrying, at their upper ends, bearings in which is shiftably mounted the otherwise fixed shaft 1. The casing is provided with a number of radially extending cylinders 5, and in the illustration there are shown six of these cylinders, but the number of such cylinders is a matter of convenience within suitable limits. The casing is conveniently a metal one, and the cylinder is closed at its outer end by a steam-tight screw plug 6.

At one side of the casing, at the left in Figure 1, the casing has bolted thereto at 7, a plate 8, which is formed with a tubular portion 9, in Figure l, concentric with the shaft 4t, said tubular portion having secured thereto a pinion 10, which meshes with the gear 11, secured to a shaft 55, said shaft having a bearing in an extended portion of the standard 3, and is used for the transmis sion of power. At the other side of the casing is arranged a throttle valve 12, which fits within this side of the casing by means of an interposed ring valve 13, both being concentric with the casing and the shaft. The casing on this side is formed with an extended concentric tubular part 14 which is mounted on the shaft by means of a bush ing 15, and is not in contact with the inner surface of'the throttle *alve, thus leaving the valves free to adjust themselves to the finished portion of the casing, with which they contact, always maintainlng a steam tight joint between surfaces 16 and 17, as shown in Figure l, irrespective of any slight eccentricity of said tubular portion. It will be understood that the ring valve contacts vith the casing at 16 and 18, and throttle valve contacts with the casing at 19, and with the ring valve at 17. At each end of the bushing 15 are preferably arranged removable liner and thrust plates 20, for preventing excessive endwise wear of the parts.

The throttle valve 12, is circularly adjustable relative to casing and ring valve by means of a handle 21 which is fixed in a socket 22 of said valve and by which the valve may be thrown around the center of rotation or stopped at any point within a predetermined limit, which is, in the case of a six cylinder engine, slightly more than 60 degrees.

The shifting movement of the shaft and crank is limited by stops 23, the same being fixed parts of the engine frame and being adapted to arrest the movable part 24, which is fixed on the shaft 4. Secured to the shaft, and preferably cast with 24, is an arm having a concentric surface contacting with a brake shoe 26 which is pressed toward the center of rotation by the spring 2?. The crank shifts its position under pressure of the piston connections when the engine is reversed, said shifting movement being frictionally retarded and vibration prevented by the action of the brake shoe on the concentric surface of 25. The ring valve 13, has a definite relation to, and shifts with, the crank shaft in reversing, by means of a collar 28, secured to the shaft by pin 29, said collar having an arm or arms, the outer end of which have teeth engaging notches .in the extended edge of the ring valve as shown in Figure 5.

30 indicates a steam pipe one end of which is screwed into the throttle valve 12 communicating with a steam passage 31 therein, the other end of which is secured to a casting 32 having a steam passage terminating in axial line with the shaft 4. 34 indicates a steam pipe screwed into the throttle valve on the opposite side of shaft 4 communicating with the exhaust steam passage 35, said pipe being shown supported at 1ts outer end by an arm 36 which is a part of 32. 37 indicates a. hose, and 38 a couplingfor same attached to the outer end of'34, showing means of disposing of the exhaust steam.

The casting 32 is loosely mounted on the shaft 4 and contains a steam passage 33 terminating in axial line with the center of said shaft, and into passage 33 is screwed a supply pipe 39 the arrangement being such that when the throttle valve is adjusted as above mentioned it will carry with it, by means of the pipes 30 and 34, the casting 32 and the latter will turn on the supply pipe 39. I have shown, in the accompanying drawings, the pipes 30 and 34, as a means of connecting casting 32 with the throttle alve but as future developments may prove the advisability of having 32 cast with the throttle valve 12, and the connecting arms serving the same purpose as 30 and 34, thus making 32 merely an extended portion of the throttle valve, I wish it understood that I have such a possibility in mind and dont wish to be held to the exact construction shown.

Each of the cylinders '6 is fitted "with a piston 40 on which the various cylinders move radiallyin the course of their rotation about the shaft 4, which is provided with an eccentric crank or wrlst 41 arranged within the casing and each piston is pivoted thereto by a pin 42 and connecting rod 43.

The inner end of the connecting rod is pro vided with a longitudinal. portion 44 parallel with the crank and whichiits and is retained thereon in any one of several well known ways.

45 is an exhaust groove formed in the throttle valve extending for about a semithrough the throw of the crank, each port of each series being of a different size, the first, or one nearest line C-C, being the smallest and the last or farthest one being the longest, therefore varying the period of admission according to the circular adjustment of throttle port 31. It will be noted that al.-

though these ports are primarily admission ports the location of a part of them issuch that they are used for auxiliary exhaust ports, when the opposite series are in use as admission ports, this being accomplished by the groove in the-throttle valve. At the op posite sideof the shaft on line CC the ring valve is formed with a large exhaust port which is always in communication with, the groove in the throttle valve. The exhaust steam is conducted away from the exhaust groove 45 by means of an exhaust pipe-34, which is screwed into and movable with the throttle valve, the outer end being supported by arm 36 of casting 32 and to which is attached a flexible exhaust hose 37 by means of coupling 38.

It will be understood that the shaft 4 and crank 41 is held from rotary motion by the contacting of 24 with either of the stops 23, accordingto the direction of rotation of the casing, so that the crank forms a. solid abutment against which the pistons and their connectingrods may work for the propulsion of the casing, 28 and arms 47 engaging notches 48, in the edge of the ring valve, the ring valve is similarly held from rotation. lhe casing therefore rotates around the ring valve and'has no tendency to turn the throttle valve 12 away from its adjusted position. The handle 2]. 111ty, hOW8V6l, be secured in any desired position by any well known means suitable for the purpose. In the operation of theengine,-the steam, which is supposedto be at a very high pressure, passes through the inlet passages 39, 33, 30, 31 and to the ring valve 13, and the throttle valve being inthe proper position for the purpose,'the steamthence passes through one of'the port and by means of collar Cit 46 and enters the casing passage 49 leading to the cylinder space at the outer side oi the corresponding piston. lVhen enough steam has entered the cylinder, the cylinder and easing are pressed outward relativeto the piston, the piston and its connecting rod being held stationary by the crank 41, and the result is that the cylinder moves away with a rotary motion, relative to the eccentric crank, and about the bearings which the casing has upon the shatt 4. lVhcn the :as ing thus begins to rotate the communication of the passage 49, with the ring valve port 46, is closed and no more steam enters, in which case the steam already within the cylinder there expands and continues to rotate the casing until the passage 49 of the next cylinder, each of said cylinders having such a passage so arranged as to pass over port 46, is in a position to take steam from ring valve port 46, when the same action takes place, assisting the first cylinder until a third has taken steam in the same manner.

There will then be three cylinders and pis tons in operation, the first, the passage 49 of which has nearly reached the main exha ust port ot' the ring valve 13, and is now carrying comparatively low pressure steam, the second, which is carrying steam in a. slightly expanded state; and the third which has steam at high or boiler pressure. Continued rotation of the casing brings the passages 49 and cylinders successively into communication with the exhaust port 50 whereupon the steam, now at very low pressure, passes through the exhaust port into the exhaust groove 45, of the throttle valve 12 and thence to the exhaust pipe 84, and hose 37. As the continued rotation of the casing causes the exhaust port 50 to suddenly close in the same manner as the inlet port, and as the clearance is slight between the pistons and the. end of the cylinder it is shown in Figures 6, 7, S, 9, and 10, how one or more o'l ports 46 are used as; auxiliary exhaust ports to allow the remaining steam to escape into the exhaust groove 45, and thence to the exhaust pipe 34, thus preventing high compression as the piston approaches the outer end ol? the cylinder, This relieves each cylinder of all but a minimum amount oi steam and it is now r ady for the reception of high pressure steam when its passage 49 returns to the active inlet port 46 of the ring valve.

By a suitable adjustment of the throttle valve. the passage therein 31, may be brought nearer to, as in Figures 8 and 10, or further from. as in Figures 7 and 9, the exhaust port 5Ov thus changing the time of steam admission relative to the rotation of the cylinders, and as the length of ports 46 vary with the location, thus changing the period of communication, it will be readily understood how each cylinder may be caused to work for a shorter time with relatively high pressure steam, or may be caused to work for a longer time under expanding steam, thus greatly varying the speed and power of the engine with economy of steam.

At whatever point the casing may have stopped, and it being desired to start the engine, the throttle valve may be adjusted so that passage 31 communicates with any port 46 suitable for such starting, and, after starting, the throttle valve may be turned backward to cause the engine to run very largely on steam expansion, or by advancing the throttle valve, so as to use a more advanced port 46 for the admission of steam, Figures 8 and 10, the power developed may be greatly increased for heavy loads; To

reverse the engine the same handle 21 is used, the throttle valve being properly positioned for the purpose.

For purposes of illustration, suppose the engine is running clockwise, the position of the crank and shifting means, relative to the throttle valve, is clearly shown in l igure 11. Assuming it is desired to reverse the engine, the handle 21 is moved anti-clockwise until the steam is shut Off and all ports closed except the main exhaust port 50, in Figure 6, Continued movement ot the handle, (and throttle valve) opens the first anticlockwise admission port and simultaneously opens the auxiliary exhaust port as shown in F ignre 7. It will be readily seen that it steam is admitted through any of the anticlockwise admission ports 46 while the crank is set as shown in Figure 11, the action of the piston connections against thecrank 41 will automatically shift the crank and shaft under its frictional retardment and the position the parts now assume is shown in Figure 12, it being understood that the shifting movement of the crank is limited by the contact of 24, with stop 23, as is also shown in Figure 1.2, the function of the spring pressed brake shoe 26 acting against the surface 01": the arm 25 is to not only reduce the shock when 24 contacts with stop 23, in reversing, but also to prevent the vibration ol the sha'lt set up by thc intermittent thrust of the piston connections upon the crank.

In order to guard against leakage and provide for adjustment when wear develops, the ring valve is made up of two parts, one of which 51 of Figure 13, is wedge shaped,

and may be caused to move sidewise so as to' increase its diameter making a more perfect and even contact between its outside circumference and the surface 16 of the casing, thus making a steam tight oint, especially around the admission ports 46. of the piece 51 may be effected by bolts 52 mounted in a bracket 53 attached to the ring valve and screwed into the piece 51. In the construction illustrated the exhaust port 50, is formed in the said piece 51.

Such adjustment ward causes the expansion of said valve making a steam tight joint between it and the ring valve, and especially around the admission ports 46.

It is hardly necessary to say that the entrances of the passages 49 are wide enough, relative to the ports 46, so that in any position of the casing the passage 49 of some cylinder will be in communication (through the ring valve) with the port of the throttle valve when the latter is properly adjusted for the starting of the engine.

Fully realizing the importance and necessity of eflicient and positive oiling, in assisting to form a steam tight joint, as well as reducing friction and adding to the life of such a device, 1 have provided oil holes 56, as shown'in Figure 4:. at suitable intervals around the valves, the location being such that when a quantity of oil is placed within the casing, forthe lubrication of the crank bearings and pistons, the lubricant is forced by centrifugal action through these holes to the valve surfaces.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in bearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in one direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a ring valve, a manually controlled throttle valve, and means to automatically shift the crank shaft between fixed points when the throttle valve is operated.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank-shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crankshaft, a ring valve, and a manually controlled throttle valve which when adjusted beyond a predetermined limit causes the crank-shaft to shift between fixed points.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in bearings on the frame and held stationary while the engine is rotating, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank-shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons'in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank-shaft, a ring valve provided with a series of separate ports adapted for use as either inlet or exhaust ports according to the direction of rotation of the engine and a manually controlled throttle valve, which, when adjusted beyond apredetermined limit causes the crank-shaft toshift in its bearings.

1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank-shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and held stationary while the engine is rotating, a revoluble 'casing mounted on the'crank-shaft, a series of cylinders secured to said casing, pistons in the cylinders actuated by revolving around the crank-shaft, a ring valve connected to shift with the crank-shaft, and a manually controlled throttle valve, which, when adjusted beyond a predetermined limit causes the crank-shaft to shift in its bearings and the ring valve to move therewith.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank-shaft mounted to rock in bearings 0n the frame, and held stationary while the engine is rotating, a revoluble ca ing mounted on the crank-shaft, a series of cylinders secured to said casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank-shaft, a ring valve, a manually controlled throttlev-alve, and means to shift the crank between fixed points when the engine is reversed, and means for frictionally retarding the shifting action.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mountedto rock in bearings on the frame and normally held against rotation while the engine is rotating in one direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve within the casing, a ring valve interposed between the throttle valve and casing and provided with an exhaust port and with a series of separate steam admission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam to the casing.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in one direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a. manually controlled throttle valve within the casing, a ring valve interposed between. the throttle valve and casing and provided with an exhaust port and with a series of separate steam admission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam to the casing, and adjustable means for expanding the ring valve relative to the casing.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons on the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank-shaft, a manually controlled throttlevalve within the casing, a ring valve interposed between the throttle valve and casing and provided with an exhaust port and series of separate steam admission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into Communication for the admission of steam to the casing, and means for shifting thethrottle valve relative to the ring valve to reverse the engine.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank-shaft, a series of cylinders sccured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve within the casing provided with inlet and exhaust ports, and a non-rotating ring valve interposed between the throttle valve and casing and provided with a series of separate steam admission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam to the casing.

10. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank-shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, a revolnble casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet and exhaust ports, and a divided nonrotating ring valve interposed between the throttle valve and casing and provided with a series of separate steam admission ports with. any one of which the throttle valve adapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam to the cusmg.

11.. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured in the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet and exhaust ports, and a two part ring valve interposed between the throttle valve and the casing, one part of said ring valve having a series of separate steam admission ports with any one of which the inlet port of the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam to the casing, the second part of said ring valve having an exhaust port with which the exhaust port of the throttle valve is in communication.

12. I11 a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders seemed on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a two part ring valve interposed between the throttle valve and the casing, one port having a series of separate ports adapted to operate as inlet ports when the engine is rotating in one direction and to operate as exhaust ports when the engineis rotating in the opposite direction, said ring valve, and throttle valve cooperating in the admission or exhaust of steam in operating the engine.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing pistons in the'cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a nonrotating two part ring valve interposed between the throttle valve and the casing, one part having a series of separate ports adapted to operate as inlet ports when the engine is rotating in one direction and to operate asexhaust ports when the engine is rotating in the opposite direction, said ring valve and throttle valve cooperating in the admission or exhaust of steam in operating the engine.

1 L. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in bearin gs on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, means to automatically shift said shaft when the engine is reversed, a crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the cars ing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet and exhaust ports, and a non-rotating ring valve interposedbetween the throttle valve and the casing and provided with a se ries of separate steam admission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam to the casing.

15. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank-shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, means to automatically shift said shaft when the engine is reversed, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank shaft, series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a nonrotating ring valve interposed between the throttle valve and the casing and provided with a series of separate steam ad- 7 mission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into conmiunication for the admission of steam to the casing, and a groove in the peripheral face of the throttle valve.

16. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank-shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and aetuated hy revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a non-rotating ring valve interposed between the throttle valve and the casing and provided with a series of separate admission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam to the easing, and a groove in the peripheral face of the throttle valve.

17. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with an inlet port and an exhaust port, a non-rotatin g ring valve interposed between the throttle valve and the casing and provided with a series of separate steam admission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam to the casing, and a groove in the peripheral face of the throttle valve extending in opposite directions from the exhaust port therein.

18. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted. to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluhle casing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with an inlet port and an exhaust port, a non-rotating ring valve interposed between the throttle vvalve and the casingand provided with a series of separate steam admission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam to the casing, and a groove in the peripheral face of the throttle valve and extending for a limited distance in opposite directions from the exhaust port therein.v

19. In a rotary engine the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in bearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted to revolve around the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a ring valve, a manually controlled throttle valve, and means to automatically shift the crank shaft between fixed points when the throttle valve is adjusted beyond a predetermined limit.

20. In a rotary engine the combination of a frame, a. shiftable crank shaft mounted to rock in bearing on the frame, and held stationary while the engine in rotating, a revoluble casing mounted to revolve around the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured to said casing 7lSl3011S in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a floating, non-rotating ring valve, a throttle valve and means for manually shifting the throttle valve to control the admission of steam to the cylinders.

21. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in hearings on the frame and held stationary while the engine is rotating, a revoluble casing mounted to revolve around the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured to the easing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a ring valve provided with ports, a manually controlled throttle valve having a groove in its peripheral face, said groove co-operating with the ring valve ports in controlling the engine.

22. In a rotary engine the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in bearings on the frame and. held stationary except when the engine is reversed, a revoluble easing mounted to revolve around the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured to said casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a ring valve, a manually operated throttle valve, which, when adjusted beyond a predetermined limit in one direction causes the crank shaft to automatically shift its position in the opposite direction.

23. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock in bearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine is rotating in either direction, means to automatically shift with the crank shaft, encl means whereby sand passages may OSGlllfitG wlth respect to the feed plpe slmultaneous \vlt-h the throttle 10 valve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERICK D. WILSON.

Images