US536348A

US536348A - Rotary steam-engine

Info

Publication number: US536348A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1895-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1912-03-26

Description

i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

NE. om MN B E Dm NE .m LA .w RR M. d 0 M 0 m No. 536,348. Patented Mar. 26,1895.

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2 Sheetsv-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

R. L. HENDERSON. ROTARY `STEAM ENGINE.

No. 536,348. Patented Mar. 26, 1895.

l l imag UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT L. HENDERSON, OF VAUGHAN, TEXAS.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,348, dated March-26, 1895.

Application 'filed August 22,1894.. Serial No. 521,012. (No model.)

. increase in power over other engines worked under the same head or pressure of steam.V

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple, economical and durable steam engine of the rotary type having few working parts, but one which shall run easily and steadily and will develop considerable power. A

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsz-Figu re 1 is a perspective view of a rotary steam engine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view longitudinally thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line :1c-:1: of Fig. 2. Fig. Ltis a side elevation of the engine with one of the cap or head plates removed. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the oscillating or rotary steam valve. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line fy-y of Fig. 2.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings, 1 designates an engine supporting frame or stand, at one end of which is suitably supported the steam cylinder 2. The steam cylinder 2, is inclosed at opposite sides by the removable cap or head plates 3, one of which is extended above one end of the supporting frame or stand l, to form a support for the cylinder. The said steam cylinder 2, is circularly bored to form a circular steam chamber 4, within which is mounted to revolve the rotary piston block 5. The rotary piston block 5, is mounted on the inner end of the drive shaft 6, and is provided with a rounded cam projection 7, the outermost point or face of which travels in close contact with the inner walls of the cylinder 2, or at least the steam chamber 4, inclosed thereby, and said outermost point or face of the rounded cam projection 7, has fitted therein a packing strip 8, that forms a steam tight joint with the inner walls of the cylinder so that steam cannot pass between said cam projection and the said inner walls of the cylinder, and the opposite sides of the rotary piston block 5, are also provided with suitable side packing 9, fitted therein and working against the inner faces of the opposite cap or head plates 3, to

lform steam tight joints.

The rotary piston block 5, is caused to rotate within the cylinder bymeans of the pressure or head of live steam directed against the shoulder of the rounded cam projection 7, thereof, and as the said piston rotates the cam periphery thereof rides under the lower edge of the curved abutment plate 10, which is always normally in contact with the periphery of said piston and serves to separatethelive from the exhaust steam within the upper part of the cylinder during the operation of the engine. The curved abutment plate 10, is arranged to work up and down within the upper part of the steam cylinder between the live steam port 1l, which admits live steam into the cylinder at one side of said plate, and the exhaust steam port 12, which pierces the top of the cylinder and carries off the exhaust steam from the opposite side of the abutment plate, and said abutment plate is adapted to be moved by the rotating or revolving piston up intothe curved or segmental abutment recess or pocket 13, formed in the top extension 14, of the cylinder, through which top extension 14, the steam port 12, extends to carry the exhaust steam into the open air.

The opposite side edges of the self adj usting abutment plate 10, are guided to Work in the curved guide grooves 15 formed in the inner sides or faces of the opposite cap or head plates 3, said grooves holding the abutment plate steady in its up and down movement, while at the same time forming steam tight joints at opposite sides of the cylinder so that said abutment plate will completely cutoff the live andv exhaust steam from each other in the upper part of the cylinder, whereby IOO the engine will regularly receive and exhaust the steam at every complete revolution of the piston. The self adjusting abutment plate 10, has attached to both sides and its upper end one'end of the rock arms 15??, Which have a movement Within the arm recesses 16 formed in opposite sides of the top extension 14, of the steam cylinder and inclosed by one of the cap or head plates 3. The said rock arms 151?, are connected at their ends to both ends of a rock shaft 17, journaled in a transverse bearing at the top of the cylinder and having mounted upon one outer end, projecting through the stuffing box 18, a bell crank lever 19, to one arm of which is attached the retractile spring 20, also connected to a fixed point of attachment and providing means for quickly closing the abutment plate 10, down onto the periphery of the piston When the cam projection of the latter has been carried beyond such plate. The other arm of said bell crank lever 19, has pivotally connected thereto one end of a connecting rod or pitman 21, the other end of Which is pivotally connected to the crank arm 22, litted to one end of the valve stem or shaft 23.

The valve stem or shaft 23, has mounted thereon a rotary or oscillating valve plug 24, which lits snugly Within the cylindrical valve casing 25, formed on the upper portion of the steam cylinder 2. The rotary or oscillating valve plug 24, is provided with a peripherally `cut-away portion 25, that is adapted to connect with the live steam port 11, which opens into the casing 25, and the live steam inlet opening 26, also opening into the said valve casing 25, and having connected thereto the live steam pipe that delivers the live steam into the engine from the boiler. When turned in one direction the said rotary or oscillating valve will connect the live steam port and the inlet opening to provide for admitting steam into the cylinder, and when turned in an opposite direction the unrecessed portion of the valve plug Will cut olf the supply of steam from the cylinder.

From the above it is thought that the operation of the engine Will be readily apparent, it being obvious that when the live steam is admitted into the cylinder, the same presses `against the shoulder of the cam projection of the piston and causes the latter to rotate Within the cylinder. The live steam continues to be admitted into the cylinder until the cam projection of. the piston reaches a point near tothe exhaust port 12, at which time the abutment plate Will have been raised up into the recess or pocket 13, therefor, until the valve plug 24, has been turned sufficiently far by means of the connections described to cut od the live steam from the cylinder. This movement of the several parts of the engine gives the exhaust steam an opportunity to escape through the exhaust port, and the moment the cam projection of the piston passes beyond the abutment plate, the latter in respouse to its own gravity and the tension of the spring 20, will quickly close down onto theperiphery of the piston. This movement of the abutment plate throws the valve 2l, open and ad mitslive steam into the cylinder, The revolution of the piston 5, imparts motion to the drive shaft 6, so that motion may be communicated to any machinery to be driven by the engine, and said drive shaft extends beyond one side of the cylinder through the side bearing opening 26, formed centrally in one of the cap or head plates 3, and fitted exteriorly to this cap or head plate and surrounding the shaftis a bearing collar 27, which removably accommodates therein the opposed bearing rings 28, that are provided Withacircular series of aligned spindle openings 29, to loosely receive the reduced spindles of the freely revolnble bearing rollers 30, that are arranged in a circular series around the shaft 6, and form a roller bearing therefor, such bearing materially reducing y the friction on said shaft and thereby insuring the easy and steady running of the engine.

The bearing collar 27, has fitted tothe outer end thereof the stuffing box 31, through which projects the shaft 6, and which serves to confine the roller bearingin such collar. Beyond the stuffing box 3l, the outer end of the shaft 6, is arranged to work in the sectional bearing box 32, mounted for adjustment in the vertically slotted bearing bracket 33, supported on the stand 1. The sectional bearing box 32,is provided with the opposite slide tongue 34, engaging in the inner guide grooves 35, of the vertically slotted bracket 33, and the upper member of said bearing box is adjusted onto the drive shaft by means of the top adjusting screw 36, workingabove the bearing box in the cap plate 37, of said bracket, and an upward adjustment of said bearing box to properly align the shaft and to take up Wear is effected by means of an adjusting Wedge 38, which fits in a wedge shaped or tapered opening 39, formed transversely in the bracket 33, below and communicating With the vertical slot thereof.

From 'the above it will be obvious that the herein described engine is provided with novel and efficient means for insuring a steady and powerful operation, and it Will be understood'that suitable packing other than that described may be properly fitted if found necessary on any part of the engine, and other changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacricing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rotary engine, a steam cylinder provided With a curved abutment recess leading off from the top thereof, and live and exhaust steam ports opening thereinto at opposite sides of the recess or pocket, a suitable valve ICO port, the rotary piston block having a cam projection, a movable curved abutment plate arranged to work in the recess or pocket over the piston block, a suitably arranged rock shaft, rock arms attached at one end to said rock shaft and at their other ends to said abut ment plate, a bell crank lever attached to one end of said rock shaft, a spring connected to one arm of said bell crank lever, and a connection between the other arm of said bell crank lever and said valve, substantially as set forth.

2. In arotary steam engine, the combination of the steam cylinder provided with a curved abutment recess leading 0E `from the top thereof, opposite live steam and exhaust ports opening into the same at opposite sides of said recess, and a valve casing communicating with the live steam port, the rotary piston block having a cam projection, the rotary or oscillating cut ofi valve, the stem or shaft of which is provided with a crank arm at one end, a movable curved abutment plate' arranged to work in said abutment recess and having its opposite side edges guided in curved grooves in the inner sides of the cylinder, a suitably arranged rock shaft having a bell crank lever at one end, rock arms attached at one end to said rock shaft and at their other ends to said abutment plate, a retractile spring connected at one end to one arm of said bell crank lever, and a connecting rod connected at one end to the other arm of said bell crank lever and at its other end to the rock arm of the valve stem or shaft, substantially as set forth.

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

ROBERT L. HENDERSON.

Witnesses:

A. P. TARL'roN, T. L. FREEMAN.