US495451A - Rotary engine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) D. CAR SKADEN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Patented Apr. 11, 189.3.

o'raurnm WASHINGTON u. c.

rrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DELOS CARSKADEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,451, dated April 11, 1893,

Application filed June 6, 1892. Serial No. 435,731. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DELOS OARSKADEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to rotary engines, and more particularly it has reference to improvements in the abutment or head-block usually employed in that class of engines in which the hub carrying the pistons, and the outer cylinder or housing are arranged concentrically, the head-block being fixed to one of said concentric portions and working in an annular steam space or groove formed in the other. v

A well known difficulty with rotary engines, is that the expansion of the hub or of the cylinder, one with relation to the other, or radial movement of these parts with relation to one another, due to any other cause, as the reduction of the journals by wear,causes the abutment or head-block to bind in the annular steam space or groove, and set up excessive friction, producing torsional strain between the parts, and at times rendering the headblock or abutment itself, the sole support for the hub or other rotary part in which the annular steam space is formed. Heretofore, it has been proposed to overcome such detrimental effects resulting from this relative movement of the hub and cylinder, by securing the head-block or abutment in the annular steam groove or space, by means of a loose connection, consisting, for example, of fixed pins passing through enlarged holes formed in the head-block; thus permitting the block to go and come with the hub (in the event the annular steam space is formed in the hub) as the latter contracts or expands, or otherwise moves transversely of the shaft, relatively to the cylinder or portion to which the head-block is anchored or secured. This prior method, however, is only partially effective in overcoming the objections above cited, and is further objectionable, in that the pins for holding the head-block being located in enlarged perforations, are unable to hold the block in the steam space or groove strictly concentric therewith, or with the hub, but

permits the block to teeter on the pins, that is, to oscillate, and hence, become even more objectionable than an abutment or headblock which is rigidly fixed, because, it being free to oscillate in all directions, it is subjected to torsional movements or twisting in the steam space.

The prime object of my invention, therefore, is to confine the independent movements of the abutment or head-block to a radial or transverse line, with respect to the hub or the cylinder.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, by which the said objects and certain other objects hereinafter described, are attained, as fully explained with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings,Figure 1, is an end view of a rotary engine embodying my improvements, the cylinder or housing and the base thereof being shown in section on the line 1, 1, Fig. 2. Fig.2, is a sectional view thereof, taken lengthwise of the shaft on the line 2, 2, Fig. 1, portions being broken away. Fig. 3, is a detail sectional view of the headblock or abutment, taken on the line 3, 3, Fig. 2, looking downward, the holding lug and its bolts being shown in elevation. Fig. 4, is a View similar to Fig. 1, illustrating modified means for holding the abutment or head-block in position, the upper portion, 1, of the engine, being shown; and'Fig. 5, is a detail view of the modified form of head-block showing further modifications of the means for holding the block in position.

Like signs of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings,l have shown my improvements as applied to a duplex or double engine, but it will, of course, be understood, that the same are applicable to a single or any other well known form of rotary engine. In the form shown, 1, is the outer cylinder or housing supported on a suitable base, 2, and having at each end an ordinary head, 3, provided with the usual steam supply and exhaust ports, and through suitable stuffing boxes (not shown) in which heads passes the shaft 4, upon which is mounted the hub of IOO any suitable or well known construction, but which as here shown, consists, of a circular casting, 5, provided in both faces with an annular steam space or groove, 6, the outer wall of such groove being formed by a number of segments, 7, and-the hub at the side of the groove 6, opposite these segments 7, being provided with the usual steam inlets or ports, 8, having communication with the groove 6 through radial ports, 9, formed through the inner wall of such groove.

The hub casting 5, is provided with radial grooves 10, in which are located the radially reeiprocatingpistons,12, which are projected across the groove 6, as the hub rotates, in the usual manner, by any suitable means. The means herein shown for operating the pistons, 12, in this manner, consists of an eccentric, 13, fiXed to the end or head 3, and being surrounded by an independent ring, 14, in whose inner face are formed rectangularly arranged grooved or ways, 15, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which are located sliding shoes or blocks, 16, having suitable sockets or perforations into which engage pins or lugs, 17, formed on the inner ends of the pistons 12; thus, causing the ring 14 to rotate on the eccentric, 13, and consequently, force the pistons in and out. However, the means just described for actuating the pistons I have not claimed herein, as the same constitutes the subject matter of my application, Serial No. 437,117, filed June 18, 1892, and it will, of course, be understood, thatany other form of mechanism for imparting a reciprocating movement to the pistons, may be employed in connection with my invention and without departing from the spirit thereof; and it may be well toadd, that the particular forms of hub and cylinder or outer casing, have no especial bearing upon my present improvements and might be altered or varied at will.

In adapting my improved abutment or head-block to an engine of the form described, I locate the head-block or abutment, 18, which is curved,-within the annular steam groove or space, 6, in the ordinary manner, and provide the same with a recess or mortise, in which is located a fixed lug or second block, 19, by means of which the abutment or headblock is anchored or held from rotating with the hub. The end walls of the recess or opening in the head-block 18, are parallel, as shown more clearly in Fig. l, and are also arranged parallel with the vertical diameter of the hub; that is to say, at right-angles with the horizontal diameter of the hub, and the inner block or lug 19, is of such dimensions as to fit snugly against the end walls of the recess in the block 18, but to leave a slight space between the side-walls, whereby the block will be free to move radially with respect to the hub or shaft of the engine, and at the same time will be held against torsional movement in the groove 6, and all binding action of the head-block heretofore resulting from the twisting thereof in the steam groove, is prevented.

As a means for securing the lug 19 in place, I provide the same at or near each end, with a bolt or other rod, 20, which rods pass through the head of the engine, as shown in Fig. 2, and maybe provided at theirouter ends with taps or nuts, 21, bearing against the outer face of the head and serving to bind the lugs 19 firmly in place.

As a modification of the means for holding the abutment or head-block in position against movement relatively to the huh, I have shown in Fig. 4, the extreme ends of the block formed on parallel lines, passing at right-angles to the horizontal diameter of the hub, and at each end of the block I have arranged a lug or stop 22, the ends of which, contiguous to the block, are parallel with the ends of the block and prevent absolutely anytendency of the block to shift lengthwise or to twist or bind in the steam groove, while they freely permit the block to move in a direction lengthwise of, or parallel with, its own ends. The lugs, or stops 22, are somewhat narrower than the steam groove 6, so as to permit the transverse movement of the hub, should such take place, and such lugs may be secured in place by means of bolts, 20, similar to the bolts 20, arranged one at or near each end thereof, and passing through the head 3, of the cylinder, and being held therein by means of any suitable tap or nut, such as the nut 21.

As a still further modification of the means for holding the head-block in position, and at the same time permitting it to move radially, with reference to the shaft, I employ, as shown in Fig. 5, a block provided with two parallel slots, 23, so arranged as to be parallel with one diameter of the shaft, and through which project two square studs or lugs, 24:, secured in the head 3, in the manner already described. With an abutment or head-block thus constructed and arranged, it will be seen that should the hub 5 expand more rapidly than the head 3, to which the block is anchored, thus causing the head-block to move on the diameters of the head, 3, or, in other words, transversely of the shaft 4, or should such a movement of the head-block take place from any other cause, such as the wearing away of the bearings, or packing, through which the shaft passes, the lug 19, or the other means described for holding the block in place, will permit the latter to move outward or inward with the hub,or to remain stationary, while the lug 19, or the other means by which the block is held, moves with the head 3,but, at the same time, will absolutely prevent one end of the head-block from moving faster than the other, or destroying the relative arrangement of such block to the lugs or studs, by which it is held or guided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a IIO cylinder and a hub, the one being provided with a steam groove and the other with a fixed lug or lugs projecting into said groove and having edges parallel with one diameter of thehub, an abutment or head block whose diameter is equal to the diameter or cross section of said steam groove, said head block having two of its edges arranged parallel with each other and fitting against the said parallel edges of said lug or lugs, and two other edges fitting snugly against the walls of the steam groove, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder and a hub, the one being provided with a steam groove, and the other with a fixed lug projecting into said groove and having its outer edges formed parallel with each other and with one diameter of the hub, and a 1101- low abutment block whose interior end walls are parallel and fit snugly against said parallel edges of the lug, the cross section of said block being equal to the cross section of said groove, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with I DELOS GARSKADEN.

Witnesses:

F. A. HOPKINS, R. O. OMOHUNDRO.

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