US605805A - Rotary steam-engine - Google Patents

Description

(No Modeln) 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

A. LEB. ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

No. 605,805. PatentedJune 14,1898.

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i 2 Sheets- Sheet 2. No Model.) A. LEE.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

180.605,805. Patented June 14,1898.

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' U'Nirizn STATES PATENT Ormea.

ALFRED LEE, OF NEW WHATCOM, l/VASHINGTO'N.

ROTARY-STEAM- l-:N Gl N E.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofl Letters :Patent No. 605,805, datedJ une 14, 1898.

Application led .Tune 25,1897. Serial No.v 642,334. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it' may] concern: l y

Be it'known that I, ALFRED LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at'New Whatcom, in the county of Whatconrand State of Vashington, have invented a new'andjuseful Duplex Rotary Steam-Engine, of which" the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to steam-engines which have pistons rotating within annular chambers, these chambers having three fixed walls and o nemovable or revolving flangewall which is .secured to a central shaft, the

pistons being secured to thesefianges, which form onee'nd of the annular chambers, steam being admitted by means of. a slide-valve which is operated by means of a cam on the main'central shaft, all for the-purpose of rotating the central shaft and iiylwheel.

The objects of myinven'tion are to improve the generalconstruction of such engines andv Figure 1 is a vertical sectional` view, nearA one end, on the line 4'4, Figs. 9 and 10, showing the piston-follower G' in the annular chamber 1'4 at the point of taking steam. It also shows a section of slide-valve E at the end of its downwardstroke, with its steamports 9 Vand 10 open and in conjunction w-ith the curved ports in the casing at points 11,

12, and 13, the lower edge vof valve within the recess 61,- also the exhaust-port 8, leading into chamber 7, which leads ltoward the exhaust into exhaust-pipe 6.

Fig. 2 is a similar view-through the center of engine on the line 3 3Figs. 9 and l0, showing a section of casing A, with steam-inlet 5,

` which leads directly into steamfchest N,Figs. 9

and lO,and the exhaust-chamber 7 ,which leads into exhaust-pipe 6. It also shows asection of valve E at one side of the center of valve, with coil-spring 44 shown in elevation, also shows the valve secured to yoke 36, a section of cam K;within the yoke F, the lyok'erbeing made in'two parts, the bottom part having a bore ttingabout a stationary piston L,'which com ,14, in which the piston-follower G revolves in va radius from the shaft J The dotted lines show the piston-follower securely bolted to the iiange H at 21.-

Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the piston-fol- .lowers G, showing it with the countersunk `head-bolts, the top groove 17 to receive the .packing-strip 15, and the bottom groove 1S to Vreceive packing-strip 16, also the central hole K19 to receive the coil-spring V20, vwhich holds the packing-strips apart and against the eX- terior and interior circumference walls of the annular chamber 14.

f i Fig. 4 is a detail ofthe packing-strips of the piston-follower G, showing 15 convexed on its upper side to iit the radius of annular chamber 14, also showing 1,6 concaved on its lower lside to fit the radius of the interior circumference Wall of annular chamber 14.

Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the packing-pieces which is held againstv the face of slide-valve E, showing 'one of its edges which fits the face of the valve, with a projection at an angle of forty-five degrees at 38 fitting a correspondingbevel on each outward end of valve E. The L-shaped projection 40 extends down the face of valve in a recess in the casing provided for it, and the bottom end is covered by the revolving .flanges H and l. These packingpieces are held against the face of valve E by the springs 41 4l, (only one of which is shown, Fig. 9.) y y Fig. 6 is a detail of the lower half of the cam-yoke F, showing it with its side lugs 54 54 to receive the bolts that secure the two halves together, Fig. 2, also the lower extension 55, which has a bore 57 to receive the stationary piston L, with fourslot-openings IOO near the upper or closed end of bore placed the purpose of admitting steam above the stationary piston L.

Fig. 7 shows a top view of cap l), showing the top of projection 42,' also the bolt-holes to secure it to the main cylinder of the engine.

Fig. S is a vertical sectional view through the center at right angles to Figs. l and 2, showing the face of valve E with one of its ends broken away, showing the steam-ports 9 fl and lO l0 through the same, the top rib oi` valve 52, which is to stillen and strengthen the valve, the lug 5l to receive the coil-spring ett within its chamber lil, also the steam-chamber O, also the valve E, bolted to the top of yoke F, the two slots in the bottom edge of valve in which the flanges H and I revolve, the beveled ends 39 to lit packi 11g-strips at 3S, the slide-valve E, slightly raised, covering the inlet-ports ll and l2 back of valve, but still covering the path of pistons in the annular chambers li lt, as when using steam eXpansively. This ligure also shows the ily-wheel M and the shaft .l in full with the central cam K between the disks 25 and 2G, the reduced end 3i within the sleeve 3l, which forms one ofthe beari11gs,the end of shaft being reduced and threaded at 33 into a nut 32 with a righthand thread, the nut being threaded into the sleeve 3l with a left-hand thread for the purpose of adjusting the sleeve on the shaft longitudinally. lt also shows a section of the piston-.[lange Il, which is a part of the casting that forms the sleeve 3l. This pistonllange Il is keyed to the shaft-disk 25 by means of the keys 2i 2l, so as to compel the shaft to rotate with it, but loosely enough to permit of the longitudinal adjustment by means of the nut just mentioned. It also shows a section of the opposite piston-flange I, which is lixed on the shaft J at and around the disk 2G by being shrunk on the same, and also has keys 24C Q-l, as shown. This ligure also shows a section of the bottom half of yoke F, showing the bore 57, the stationary piston L, with packing-ring 5S, the threaded stem, which is threaded into lug G2, the bottom of this stem being squared to receive a wrench to turn the same at 59.

Fig. El is a top view of the engine with a part of cap broken away, showing the top of slidevalve E at 52, the spring-lug 5l, the beveled edges of the two ends at 8f) Si), also showing steam-space O, the edges of flanges Il and I, and between these the steam-space N N, the face of one of the packing -pieces 37 held against the face of valve E by spring 41. It also shows steam-inlet pipe 5 and exhaustpipe o' in the central casing A, which casing is bolted between the two flanged casings 13 l5, these having heads C C bolted to them, as shown.

Fig.lO isahorizontalsectional view through the center on the line 2 2, Figs. l and 2, which shows shaftJ, section of ilangeI and of flange H, with sleeve Sil, the two heads C C, with their interior projections forming the interiorercumterence walls of the annular chambers li li, with section of pistons, showing the packing-strips l5 l5 and 1G 16, held against the walls by coil-springs 2O 20, also showing the cam K, the bottom part of yoke F, and the lower part of stean'i-chamber N N, the upper part of this chamber being marked O, Figs. l, 2, S, and 0.

Having explained the purpose ofthe gures and enumerated the principal parts shown by each, what follows will be a more general description of the construction and operation of the engine, considering the different parts of the whole engine in their relations one to another.

The cylinder or frame of engine is made in sections. The central piece A is a separatingring placed between the two casing-rings l l) and forms the exterior casing which surrounds the steam-chest N, in which the cam K, the cam-yoke F, and the piston-llanges ll and I are placed. The ring-casingA has an open communication at the top leading from that part of the steam-chamber marked N to the upper part of steam-chamber O in cap D. Through this opening extends the valve E, secured to the top part of yoke F at 36. There is in this casing an inlet steam-pipe 5, which admits steam, also an exhaust-pipe G and chamber '7. The two casings B l5 are made with flanged ends to admit of bolts to secure them to the central casing A and the heads C C. The engine rests on the base R R, being the bottom of these casings l5 l. These casing-rings B B are of a smaller interior diameter than casing A to permit the lap on their ends of the piston-flanges ll and l. These rings B B form the exterior-circuinference walls of the annular piston-chambers li 1l. There is from these annular chambers an opening at the top, through which the slidevalve E reciprocates. From this opening are located the inlet steam-ports 1l, l2, and 13. There are also located exhaust-ports 8, ol. same width as steam-ports, which lead into an exhaust-chamber v7, which chamber conimunicates with the exhaust-pipe f3. The casing-rings B E and A are so shaped at the top as to permit the cap-casing D to be bolted to them. There is a recess at the intersection of these casings with the cap-casing l) to admit the L-shaped packing-strips 37 37, located at each end of slide-valve E, also room in these recesses for springs ll fl-l, which hold 37 37 against slide-valve E.

The heads C C, through which the shaft .l turns, are shaped at t? 47 and 50 50 to eX- tend and Fit into the bore ol casings l ll and have flanges which are bolted to l) l5. These heads O C have a cup-shaped interior extension t6 i0 and S i8, which is of smaller circumference than the bore of casings B l and extends fiush with the saine, forming the interior-eircumference wall of the annular piston-chambers 1i 14. It will be observed that the heads C C and the casings ll B form the three stationary walls of the annular chambers 14E li, in which the piston-followers G G IOO IIO

travel, and the flanges Hand I, to which the piston-followersare securely bolted, form the fourth or revolving Walls of the annular,V chambers. vThese flanges turn close enough to thev end Walls of the annular-chambers to prevent the passage of steam.

The main central shaft J has at its center a cam K between two disks 25 and 26. These disks t into corresponding recesses in piston-iianges H and I, which flanges are kept from turning on the shaft by keys 24 24:. The

liange I ismadesecure and fixed on the shaft J at 35 by being shrunk on the same. The

flange H has a cent-ral lsleeve extension 51,V

which has a central bore, through which the end 34 of shaft J passes, the shaft being reduced in this portion to allow for the thickness of shell of sleeve 31. The end 33 of shaft J is still further reduced and is threaded into a nut 32 with a right thread, this nut 32 having an'eXterior left thread which fits into a corresponding'thread in the end of sleeve 31. As this flange H, with sleeve Sl/fits loosely on shaft J, by turning nut 32 to the right the flange H is forced toward the flange I, while a left turn separates them. By this means all 'valveat its lowest point, closing the annular chambers 14 14v behind the piston-followers G G, with the inlet steam-ports 9 9 and 10 l0 of valve E open and in conjunction with ports marked 1'1, 12, and 13 allowing live steam to haust-ports S 8.

enter between piston-followers G G and valve E, forcing. forward the pisto'n-followers.` As these are bolted to the flanges H and I and these keyed to the shaft J, said shaft will be revolved under livesteam until the point 27 on camvK. comes -up against the yoke F at point 30, lifting v.the same and with it the slide-valve E sufficiently to cover the steamports 11 11 and 12 Y12,`as shown, Fig.. 8, cuttingoff all steam at this point, then using the confined steam expansively untilI it loses its expansiveforceand is released .through eX- i As the travel of pistons is great, it will be observed that a high per cent. of the force in the steam will be utilized before the pistons make a full revolution or the point 20 of cam K cornes under-the point 30 of yoke F, lifting the'valve E clear from thev Apath of pistons.

At this point of each revolution, it will be observed, there will be a dead-point, which is overcomeby the momentum of the fly-Wheel M acting on shaft J. When the pistons'have` passed the path of valve E, the point 28 of cam K leaves the point 30 of yoke F, allowing the valve E to close instantly the path of pistons in the an- 'nular chambers by the pressure of live steam in the chamber O acting with considerable force" on the upper ends vof slide-valve `E, and

ing A, having a jam-nut 60 on the outside of casing, the end of stem being squared at 59 to permit of being turned up or down with a wrench. A

The head onstationary pist-on L is provided with a snap-ring 58, put on in the usual manner. This head fitsthebore 57 of yoke F. As the yoke with valve E ascends the openings 56 56 come above the piston L. As these are all within the chamber of live steam, steam rushes in above the piston-head, and as the valve is forced downward and with. it the yoke there is live steam conlined above the piston-head L within the bore 57 of yoke F. This steam being confined will greatly Vincrease the pressure within the bore and form a cushion, obviating the sudden shock of the l downward stroke. yBy means of this screw adjustment this steam-cushion can be made great or less as required.

There is provided at the top of valve E a 'coil-spring 44, lwith its upper end incased within a chamber to receive it.l This 'spring compresses when thevalve rises and insures the positive action of valve in case the steampressure is very low and not sufficient to overcome the friction on the valve occasioned byv the packing against the valve and the bottom The chambers P P and Q Q are oil-chambers to be partly filled with lubricating-oils to lubricate the contiguous bearings.

i From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a duplex rotary steam-'engine that consists of few parts, the same being durable, readily removed, and

positive in their operations and that by their movements I produce an engine that can be run at high speed, l[hat uses steam eXpansively to a high degree and hence economically and effectively, and one in which the possibility of leakage or loss of steam is reduced IOO IIO

Vers having packing-strips 15 15 and 16 16 held apart and against the exterior and interior circumference walls of the annular chambers 14 11i, the flange I which is fixed stationary on the shaft J by being shrunken on the same and also by being keyed to the shaft-disks 26 by means of keys 2l 24, this flange having a recess to receive the disk 2G and having bolted to it one of the piston-followers G at 22, the flange lI haviugarecess to receive the shaftdisk 25, and having bolted to it 'one of the piston-followers G at 21, being keyed to the shaftdisk 25 by means of keys 2l 2l so that the shaft shall rotate with it, butkeyed loosely7 enough as to be longitudinallyadjustable, this [iange Il als'o having a sleeve 3l which fits on shaft J so as to be movable longitudinally, this sleeve 3l having an adjusting-nut 32 threaded into its outer end with a left thread and onto the end of shaft .I with a right thread, the shaft .I having the fixed disks 25 and 26 onto which the flanges H and I are keyed, having one part 3l reduced to receive the sleeve 3l, and having'its extremity still further reduced and threaded to receive the adjusting-nut 32, substantially as specified.

2. In a duplex rotary engine, in combination, the sectional cylinder-casings, the annular chambers llll, the piston-followers G G, the rotating flanges II and I, the keypins marked 2l, the shaft J, the cam K of the shaft .I located between the two shaft-disks 25 and 2G, having the projections 27 and 2S, the yoke F, having an irregularly -curved opening in which the cam K rotates, having a projection 30 against which the two projections 27 and 2S of the cam in its rotation impinge for the purpose of lifting the yoke and the valve and giving the valve its two unequal movements in each revolution of the piston, substantially as specified.

In a duplex rotary engine, in combination, the shaft J, the cam K of the shaft .I located between the shaft-disks 25 and` 26, having the projections 27 and 28, the yoke F having an irregularly-eurved opening in which the cam K rotates, having a projection 30 against which the two projections 27 and 28 of the cam in its rotation thrust for the purpose of lifting the yoke F and the valve, this yoke consisting of two pieces securely bolted together so as to act as one, the lower portion having a bore 57 which fits about and reeiprocates upon a stationary piston L, this bore having openings marked 5G about its circumference to admit steam within the bore above the piston L for the purpose of cushionin g the stroke of valve, the stationary piston L, havingpacking-rin gs of the usual character, having the screw-ad j ustment extension 59 with jam-nut GO, for the purpose of adjusting the piston vertically and regulating the amount of steam compression in the bore of yoke, the cylinder-casing A to which this station ary piston is attached, substantially as specified.

1. In a duplex rotary engine, in combination, the shaft, the cam K of shaft, the yoke F having projections 30, in which yoke the cam K having projections 27 and 28 rotates to lift the same, having4 a bore in its lower portion to receive the piston L, the piston L having screw-adjustment extension 59 and jam-nut 60, the cylinder-casing A supporting the piston L, the slide-valve E securely bolted to yoke F so as to reciprocate with it, this valve having a top rib 52, a spring-lug 5l, a coil-spring 44, and having ports 9 9 connecting with steam-space O and the ports ll Il in the casing, having ports lO l0, connecting with ports l2 12 and 13 13 in the casing, having slots in its lower edge to receive the flanges H and'I, having beveled edges 39 39, the packing-pieces 37 37 of valve, each having a projection 38 on one side at an angle of forty-five degrees, to which fit the beveled edges of valve at 39 39, each having also an L-shaped extension 40, which extend downward and are covered bythe edges of flanges II and I, having also the springs 4:1 Lil which hold the two pieces 37 37 against`the valve, substantially as specified.

5. In a duplex rotary engine, in combination, the cylinder A, having an inlet steamchamber N, the steam-chamber O in the capcasing D, the channel in which the valve E reciprocates connecting the chambers N and O, the slide-valve E securely bolted to the yoke F so as to reciprocate with it, this valve having the top rib 52, the spring-lug 5l for receiving the spring al, and the coil-spring 4i for the purpose of securing the positive movement of the valve, having slots in its lower edge for the purpose of receiving the flanges II and I, having beveled edges 39 39, the packing-pieces 37 37 of valve fitting against the beveled edges, this valve having also ports 9 9 communicating with the steamchamber O and the ports ll ll in the casing, having the ports l0 lO communicating with the ports l2 l2 and 13 I3 in the casing, the ports ll ll and l2 l2 in the casing and the channel connecting the same, the ports 13 l1) between the valve and the casing leading into the annular chambers 1t 14:, the sectional cylinder-casing and the rotating flanges II and I forming the annular chambers 14t- 14, the annular chambers I4: I4, having the exhaust-ports 8 8, the piston-followers G G bolted to the rotating flanges II and I and rotating within the annular chambers 14: Il for the purpose of rotating the shaft, substantially as specified.

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

ALFRED LEE.

Witnesses:

O. l. Bnownn, TEANIE CAMPBELL.

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