US470405A

US470405A - Rotary engine

Info

Publication number: US470405A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1892-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 1909-03-08

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.,

, S` WESTPALL,

ROTARY ENGINE.

`laxmmd Mar. 8, 1892;..

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@Nits rares SAMUEL NVESTFALL, OF THAYER, MISSOURI.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION .forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,405, dated March 8, 1892.

Application filed May 25, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, SAMUEL WEsTFALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thayer, in the county of Oregon and State of Missouri, have invented a new-and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to .rotary engines; and it has forits object to provide a machine of this class which shall be simple in con Vstruction and by the use of which the greatest amount of power may be derived in pro portion to the consumption of steam.

The invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed .out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a side view of a rotary engine constructed in accordance with my invention, lthe near side of the casing having been removed to expose the interior construction. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.' Fig. 4 -isa perspective detail view of theparts constituting one of the sliding self-packing pistons. Y

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the iigures.

The Casing of my improved rotary engine is oblong in shape and is'provided with bearings for the transverse shafts 1 1, upon which the cylinders 2 2 are mounted. Although described as cylinders,7 the parts 2 2 are not, preferably, cylindrical in shape, but consist of star-shaped wheels, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the projecting arms 3 3 of said wheels being rounded, so as to engage or m'esh with each other like-a pair of cog-wheels. The shape of these so-called cylindei-S, however, may be modified in numerous ways without departing from my invention. `In describing my invention, however, I shall refer particularly to the construction showu in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

The casing of the engine is provided at one side with ports or openings 4 for the admission of steam, and the bottom of the casing has a recess 5, constituting the steam-chest,

and provided with a central ridge 6 and with Serial No. 395,978. (Nu model.)

pockets or concavities 7, which equalize the steam between the last two pistons that have just left the steam-chest and the pressure in the chest itself, the purpose of which will be hereinafter further described. The upper outer corners of the casing are provided with eccentric recesses 8 to admit of the expansive action of the steam. The upper portion of the casing has the exhaust-chamber 9 and exhaustport 10. The sides of the casing, at both sides of the exhaust-chamber, have the depending lips 11, which are concentric with the Ashafts 1 1 and which serve to guide the radially-sliding pistons in the latter, as will be hereinafter described. The portions of the casing between the steamchest 5 and the eccentric News s-S-.ale concentric with the shafts 1 1. Between the lips .11 is hinged a guide 12b to guide the radially-sliding pistons over thesharp point of contact upon ieaving said depending` lips.

The arms 3 3 of the cylinders are provided with transverse slots 12 at their outer ends, l

' said slots and which are provided near their outer ends with shoulders 14. Recesses, as l5, are also formed in the sides of the arms at the outer ends of the latter. In each of the slots 12 is fitted a compound piston composed of two plates 16, each of which is provided at its inner 'end with a slot 17 to accommodate a rib 18, which is formed in the nieeti'g face of the opposing-plate. The said plates are provided with inwardly-extending arms 19, extending into the recesses 13 and provided with heads 20 at their inner ends to engage the shoulders 14, so as to prevent the coinpound pistons from being forced out of their seats in the arms of the cylinders. The outer edges of the plates 16 are provided with flanges 21 on their outer sides to overlap the outer ends of the arms 3, in which they are seated, and at their outer corners the said plates are provided with lugs 22, fitted to the recesses 15. The said lugs, as well as the flanges 21, are curved or rounded, so as to engage the in-ner Wall of the engine casing and to form a smooth bearing against the latter. Cylindrical sockets or recesses 23 are formed in the arms 3 at the bottoms of the slots IOO to accommodate 'coiled spring 24, whereby'the compound pistons are forced outward against the walls of the casing. Each of the arms 3 of the cylinders is provided in the side facing the steam-entrance with a perforation 25, communicating'with the inner end of the slot 12, so as to admit steam for the purpose of forcing the compound pistons outwardly, and thus providing tight joints. The springs 24 may be arranged differently from the manner herein described without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The bottom of the casing is provided with auxiliary steam ports or entrances 26, which are connected by passages 27 with the eccentric recesses 8. The latter, as above stated, are provided, essentially, for the purpose of admitting of the expansion of the steam; but

live steam may, when desired, be supplied through the ports 26 and passages 27 when it shall be desired to gain extra power for the purpose of starting the engine or when the load to be driven is un usually heavy. An auxiliary port 4b, worked by a try-cock, is located below the port 4 to be used when the side ports are not used.

In operation the compound pistons will be forced by the action of the springs in an outward direction, so that the iianges at their. outer ends shall be normally in Contact with the walls of the casing. Vhen steam is admitted to the steamchcst,- it will expand l against the pist-ons which are in contact with the ridge'and with the concentric portion of the casing between the steam-chest and the I. recesses 8, and the cylinders will thus be rovllated in opposite directions. The pockets or recesses 5 will admit of the passage of steam y to the pistons which are in cont-act with the eccentric portions of the casing, while otherlv pistons are in engagement with the ridge 6. Additional power will be gai-ned by the steam expanding in the eccentric recesses 8, and the steam is iinally exhausted through the chamber 9 and port 10, while the pistons are forced back into the recesses in the respective arms by the lips 11 atthe sides of the exhaust-l chamber.

It is preferred to provide the shafts 1 l outside the Lcasing of the' engine with gears or spur-wheels, as shown at 30 in Fig. 3 of the drawings, for the purpose of insuring an even and steady motion, and power may be taken from the said shafts in any suitable and wellknown manner.

By making such modifications in the construction of the casing as will readily suggest themselves to those :familiar with the art my improved engine may be made reversible; but I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate such modification in the drawings hereto anneXed.

In any construction of my improved engine it is obvious that the radially-sliding pistons will be forced in an outward direction and held in contact with the walls of the casing, not. only by the action of the spring provided for the purpose, but also by the action of centrifugal force when the engine is in operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a rotary engine, the combination, with the casing, of the revoluble cylinders-having radial arms or cogs meshing with each other, said arms being provided with radially-sliding piston-plates mounted in recesses formed in said arms, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of the casing, the revoluble cylinders or starwheels having radial recesses, and the compound piston-plates seated in said recesses and adapted to engage the walls of the casing, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of the casing having the steam-ports 4, the steamchest 5, the transverse ridge 6, the expansionrecesses S, the pockets 7, the exhaust-chamber 9, and port 10, and the depending lips 11 vwith the revolving star-wheels or cylinders having the radially-slidin g compound pistons and the springs to force the latter in an outward direction, substantially as set'forth.

4. In a rotary engine of the class described, the combination of the cylinders having trans# verse slots 12, recesses 13, provided with shoulders 14, and recesses 15, with the compound pistons composed of the plates'l, having slots 17, ribs 18, arms 19, provided with heads 20 flanges 2l, and lugs 22, and springs `arranged to force the said compound pistons in-an outward direct-ion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of the casing having the steam-ports 4, the steamchest 5, the transverse ridge 6, the expansionrecesses S, the pockets 7, the exhaust-chamber 9, and port 10, andthe depending lips 11 with the revolving star-wheels or cylinders having the radially-sliding compound pistons, the springs to force the latter in an outward direction, and the guide 12b, h-inged between the lips 11, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL vWES'IYFALL.

\Vitnesses:

G. M. DURsT, FRANK W. NI'BLACK.

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