US633570A - Rotary steam-engine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 633,570. Patented Sept. 26, I899. J. F. CORNISH.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 31, 1898.)

2 Sheets$heet. I.

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 26, I899. J. F. CORNISH.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 31, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Nrren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOEL F. CORNISH, OF \VEST UNION, IOlVA.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,570, dated. September 26, 1899.

Application fil d January 31, 1898. Serial No. 668,689; (No model.)

To (1.7! II/71,077? it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOEL F. CORNISH, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vest Union, in the county of Fayette and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Rotary Steam-Engine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary engines in which a rotatable piston having one or more abutments operates in conjunction with a movable abutment adapted to move into the path of the piston-abutments forming the heads between which the steam acts; and the objects of my invention are, first, to obtain a continuous motion of the piston; second, to construct an engine of wide range of power and adaptability cheaply, and, third, to obtain the greatest possible expansive power of steam. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and in which* Figure 1 is a vertical view in perspective of engine. Fig. 2 is a vertical view in perspective of opposite side of engine from that shown in Fig. 1.- Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssectional view of cylinder on line X Y of Fig. 1, with movable abutment located on top side. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, except of piston, of which the side is shown. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,11,12, 13, and 14 are detail views, which will be understood in connection with the following description.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to said drawings, lindicates the base of the engine, upon which is mounted the cylinder 2. Said cylinder 2 is provided concentrically with shaft 3, having the usual bearings 4: and the packing-glands 5. The interior of the cylinder 2 is provided with fiat sides, while the outer wall is approximately semicircular-in cross-section,as shown.

It will be understood, of course, that the engine forming the subject of this invention can be used with a plurality of steam inlet and exhaust ports as well as with one; but for convenience of illustration 1 have selected that form of engine wherein it is run with one inlet and one exhaust port and a piston provided with one abutment, although it is understood that this invention is not limited to i such construction nor to other details exceptthose that are specially pointed out in the claims.

At some point on the said cylinder 2 it is provided 'with steam-inlet ports, situated at the inner end of passage 6, and exhaust-ports 7, the inlet-ports being in side walls of cylinder 2 and the exhaust-ports also inside wall and nearly opposite the inletports. The piston 8 is carried by shaft 2, the sides of which fit closely within the cylinder, and the outer face of same is semicircular in form, corresponding in form with the outer wall of the cylinder.

To maintain a tight joint between the sides of the piston 8 and the sides of the cylinder 2, the said piston is provided on each side laterally with grooves 9, that communicate by means of passages 10 with the steam-space between the piston and cylinder, while within said grooves are situated the metallic packing-rings 11, which, under the. influence of the steam-pressure, are forced against the side walls of the cylinder and maintain a tight joint, while within the passages 10, and near the on ter ends thereof,are placed check-valves A, which allows the passage of steam to the rear faces of packing-rings 11, but prevents the steam from passing outwardly through same and escaping by way of the exhaust. The said piston 8 is provided with an abutment l2,that fits closely within the outer wall of the cylinder and is provided with packingstrips 13, situated within grooves 14 in said abutment. The ends of grooves 14 are provided with chamfered recesses 15,into which the chamfered lugs 16 of packing-strips 13 are situated. These grooves 14 also connect by means of passages 16:} with the steam-space between the piston and cylinder, and under passages 16:} are forced outwardly against the walls of the cylinder to maintain a tight joint between the abutment 12 and the cylinder, the walls of the cylinder holding packingstrips 13 within the grooves 14, the chamfered lug 16 in chamfered groove also holding strips 123 in position, but allowing same to expand transversely and outwardly.

It will be noticed that packing-rings 11 are provided with recesses 18 18 in same on the side adjacent to abutment 12, which receive the inner ends 17 of the packing-strips 13,

the influence of the steam-pressure throughwhich are extended inwardly past lug 16 and into said recesses 18 for the purpose of maintaining a tight joint between the rings 11 and strips 13. That part of packing-rings 11 between the recesses 18 18 is provided on its rear face with a projection or lug a, which fits closely within recess b, situated in the bottoni of groove 9 of said piston 8, which lug a under the influence of the steam-pressure is forced against the side of recess 1) and prevents the passage of steam underneath the packing-rings 11 to opposite sides of abutment 12.

The cylinder 2 is provided with a steamchest or valve-chamber 19, that is provided near its outer end with the steam-inlet port 20 for supplying steam thereto, and is also provided with passages 6 6, near the central or middle part and on opposite sides thereof, leading from the steam-space in said valvechamber 19 to the steam-space in the cylinder 2.

The means of communication between the steam-inlet 20 and passages 6 is through the the valve-chamber 19, in which is situated the cylindrical valve 21. The inlet 20 communicates with the outer end portion of valvechamber 19 and through the side thereof, while the passages 6 communicate with the opposite sides of valve-chamber and near the inner end thereof, it being noted that the axis of the valve-chamber 19 is radially arranged with reference to the cylinder. The valve 21 is cylindrical and is capable of both a rotary and longitudinal movement within the valvechamber, such movement being controlled by a stem 22, that passes through the outer end 23 of valve-chamber 19, approved packing of course being used to prevent the escape of steam. This valve 21 is hollow and open at both ends, while at its center portion is a lateral port 24 for establishing communication with the passages 6.

In the outer side of valve 21 and side on which port 24 is situated is countersink 25, into which plate 26 is fitted closely and is held in said countersink by the walls of valvechamber, but which under the influence of the steam-pressure through ports or passages 27 in and through the bottom of said countersink to the steam space within valve 21 presses plate 26 outwardly against the.walls of the valve-chamber and maintains a tight joint at all times between the valve 21 and the walls of valve-chamber 19, thus allowing for wear of valve within the valve-chamber. Mounted upon the outer wall of cylinder 2 is recess 29, within which is situated the movable abutment 27, that is adapted to move into the path of the piston-abutment 12 between the inlet and exhaust ports and serves, in connection with abutment 12 of the piston 8, to form the heads between which the steam acts. This abutment 27 moves in guidegrooves 28 in the sides of the cylinder and can move outwardly into. recess 29, provided for same, to allow abutment 12 to pass that point seams in its revolution. The said abutment 27 is semicircular in form at its inner end, corresponding in form to the form of the outer face of the piston 8. The said abutment is also provided on its inner end with packing-strip 29%, situated within a groove therein, and serves to maintain a tight joint between the abutment 27 and the piston.

The movement of abutment 27 is controlled by a stem 30, rigidly attached to abutment 27, that extends outwardly through stuffing-box 31 in the outer wall of recess 29, the said stem 30 being connected to shaft 3 of the piston 8 by mechanism for moving same, and consequently abutment 27, in and out of the path of the piston-abutment S at each revolution of the piston. I will now describe this mechanism.

Secured to shaft 3 eccentrically is round wheel 32, provided upon its outer face or periphery with gearing cogs or teeth. On stationary axle 33, which is made integral with plate 34, which is secured to side of cylinder by stud-bolts 35, is gear-wheel36, ellipsoidal in form and of the same circumference as wheel 32 and having the same number of cogs or teeth and rotates upon said axle 33 eccentrically, the cogs or teeth gearing into and meshing with the cogs in wheel 32, producing a motion of variable speed, being very slow through three-fourths of its revolution and very fast during the remaining one-fourth of the IBVOllltlOll of wheel Secured upon wheel 36, distant from center of axle upon which said wheel is secured a little greater than one-half the desired movement of abutment 27, is crank-pin 37, to which is adjustably connected link 38, which is adj ustably secured by pin to cross-head 39 on radial bar 40, radial bar 40 being pivoted at its outer end upon axle 41, secured to side of cylinder 2.

Adjustably secured by pin to cross-head 39 is connecting-rod 42, to the outerend of which is secured by pivot-joint a laterally-extending arm 43, which is secured to stem 30 of abutment 27. The outer and side walls. of cylinder 2 at that part where abutment 27 is situated are recessed a little, so that abutment 12, with its packing-strip 14, may pass that part of the cylinder where abutment 27 and the inlet and exhaust ports are situated without interference, though packing-strips 14 may be fully expanded by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the piston.

I will now proceed to describe the construc tion of the device for controlling the inlet and supply and cutoff of the steam.

The shaft 3 is provided on the side of the cylinder 2 on which steam-chest or valvechamber is situated with the spur-geared eccentric wheels 32 and 36 and the combination of crank-pin 37, link38 and pin, crosshead 39, radial bar 40, axle 41, and connect ing-rod 42, the same'as heretofore described for movingabutment 27, except round wheel 32'is not rigidly secured to shaft 3,but is allowed to turn one-half way around upon shaft 3 by mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

At diametrically opposite points on the side of shaft 3, at that portion where same passes through eccentric wheel 32, same is provided with rigid lugs or pins 43. The aperture in wheel 32 which receives shaft 3 has countersink 44 around same on the side of the wheel adjacent to cylinder. Situated within said countersink 44 on diametrically opposite sides are lugs 45, which extend inward to shaft 3, and as shaft 3 turns within said wheel 32 the lugs 45 engage the lugs or pins 43 on shaft 3 and prevent shaft 3 from turning more than one-half a revolution without carrying with it wheel 32. The purpose of this device is to maintain the same relative movement of abutment 27 and valve 21 when engine is running in either direction. The outer end of connecting-rod 42 is connected with a laterally-extending arm 46 by a pivot-joint,the opposite end of said arm being adjustably connected with the stem 22 of valve 21. The connection between said arm 46 and stem 22 consists of a collar 47, rigidly secured to stem 22 and provided with annular shoulders 48, between which is situated a rotatable screwthreaded sleeve 49, which is provided on its outer end with hand-wheel 50, by means of which said sleeve may be turned, while the arm 46 is provided with a screw-threaded aperture to receive the screw-threaded sleeve 49. In this way itWill be seen that by turning the hand-wheel 50 the sleeve 49, and consequently the stem 22, is raised or lowered in an obvious manner. This has the effect, it will be seen, of controlling the supply and cut-off of the steam by opening the means of communication between valve-chamber 19 and the steam-space in cylinder through port 24 in valve 21 and the passages 6, leading to cylinder, the means of communication being greater or less as saidvalve 21 is raised or lowered.

The stem 22 extends outwardly beyond arm 46 and is provided with a squared end portion 51,that passes through an opening of similar shape in the bushing 52, carried by the overhanging arm 53. This bushing can turn within the opening in the arm and is rigidly attached to lever 54, bymeans of which stem 22, and consequently valve 21, is made to turn or rotate with the valve-chamber 19, thus moving port 24 out of alinement with the passages 6 and shutting off all-means of communication between valve-chamber 19 and cylinder, or opening said means of communication in a greater or less degree as may be desired. This has the effect, it will be seen, of controlling the amount of steam entering cylinder. The exhaust ports communicate with a cylindrical valvechamher 55,that is conveniently castintegral with plate 56, which is bolted to outside of cylinder, as shown. This valve-chamber is provided with openings 57, situated in alinement with the exhaust-ports 7, and is provided with a port 58, communicating with an exhaust pipe or passage 50. The cylindrical valve is situated within the valve-chamber 55 and is provided with oppositely-situated ports 61 to establish communication with the openings 57, while about midway between the ends of valve 60 is the opening 62, that is situated in alinement with port 58. Valve 60 is provided with a stem 63, that passes through an opening in head of valve-chamber 55, and to which is secured bevel gear'wh eel 64, which gears into and is turned by a similar bevel gear-wheel 65 of twice the diameter of Wheel 64 and is secured to rod 66, the inner end of which is held in position by box 67, secured to side of cylinder, and extends outwardly to cross-head 68 on the outwardly-extendin g arm 69, secured to side of cylinder and through an opening in said crosshead 68. I

Secured to the outer end of rod 66 is bar 70, the outer end of which is secured by joint to a curved bar 71, the opposite end of which is secured to an extension 72 of lever 54, the relative length of the extension 72 of lever 54 and the bar being such that while the end of lever 54, attached to curved bar 71, moves through one-half a circle bar 70 moves through only one one-fourth of a circle, so that the relative positions of valve 21 and valve65 will be maintained at all times.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Steam being admitted to valve-chamber 19 through steamdnletpassage 2O fills said valvechamber and the interior of valve 21 therein situated. By means of operating-lever 54 valve 21 is turned to bring the port 24 in said valve into communication with passage 6, leading to the steam-space of cylinder 2, which is filled with steam. The steam acting between abutment 27 and abutment 12 of the piston the packing-strips 13 of said abutment are expanded against the walls of the cylinder, as are also packing-rings 11 of the piston and packing-strip 29-} of abutment 27. The abutment 12 being free to move it is forced to revolve within the cylinder, carrying with it the piston 8 and of course shaft 3. As soon as abutment 12 has passed the open exhaustport the steam is exhausted through said exhaust-port into exhaust-chamber 55 and escapes by way of opening in valve 60 and exhaust-pipe 58. The abutment 27 is now freed from steam-pressure, and the same is now moved outwardly into recess 29 by means of the eccentric gear-wheels 32 and 36 and the connections between same and stem 36 of abutment 27. As soon as abutment 12 has passed the abutment 27 same is moved inwardly into the path of the piston-abutment by the same mechanism that/moved it outwardly, and steam is again admitted and the process repeated, it being noted that the momentum of the piston carries same from the time exhaust-port is passed until again acted upon by the steam, being about one-fourth the revolution. It will also be noted that before abutment 12 passes-the open exhaust-port on the opposite side of the movable abutment 27 from that which is taking steam the means of communication between valve-chamber 19 and the cylinder is closed by the moving of valve 21 inwardly, so that port 24 in valve 21 and the passage 6 are not in communication, though by means of the adjustable connection between rod 42 and stem 22 of valve 21 the steam may be cut 0% after piston has traveled one-fourth revolution after taking steam. By means of lever 54 valve 21 may be turned one-half way around, thus throwing the port 24 in said valve into communication with passage 6 on the opposite side of valve-chamber, and steam is supplied to cylinder on opposite side of abutment 27. At the same time,by means of the extension 72 of said lever and the connections with valve 60, the exhaust-port on the side of abutment 27 taking steam is closed and the exhaust-port on the opposite side of said abutment is opened and the engine is reversed or traveling in the opposite direction. By turning valve 21 onefourth way around port 24 of said valve is thrown out of alinement with either of passages 6 and steam is shut off. It will be noted that the round eccentric-wheel 32 is not rigidly attached to shaft 3, but is allowed to turn about one hundred and seventy-five degrees on said shaft. This gives the same relative movement of valve 21 and abutment 27 when engine is running in either direction, the longest eccentrical radius of wheel 32 and the longest eccentrical radius of wheel 32 being at quadrature when engine is running either way. Thus it will be seen that the operator has complete control of his machine, that no more steam need be used than necessary to do the required labor, and that the greatest expansive power of steam will be utilized. It will alsobe noted that by arranging two or more of these engines on the same shaft a continuous steam pressure during the entire revolution will be had, and consequently great power will result.

I am aware that prior to my invention rotary engines have been made with a movable abutment adapted to move into the path of the piston-abutment and a rotatable piston provided with an abutment. I therefore do not claim such a combination broadly; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1.. In a rotary engine a rotatable piston situated therein having an abutment provided with packing-strips, annular grooves in the sides of said piston, a recess in the bottom of said grooves at that part adjacent to the abutment, annular packing-rings, situated within said grooves, having recesses to receive the inner end of packing-strips of abutment, and

.a lug or pin secured to the rear face of said annular packing-rings, between the aforesaid recesses and extending at right angles to the plane of said annular rings into recess provided for same, in the bottom of said annular grooves substantially as set forth.

2. In a rotary engine a cylinder a rotatable piston having an abutment a movable abutment adapted to move into the path of the piston-abutment, and a connection between said rotatable piston and said movable abutment embracing round and ellipsoidal eccentric gear-wheels for moving the latter.

3. In a rotary engine a cylinder, a rotatable piston having abutment, a movable abutment adapted to move in guide-grooves in the sides of said cylinder in and out of the path of said piston-abutment, by reason of the connection between said piston and said movable abutment, embracing shaft 3, eccentric gearwheels 32, and 36, crank-pin 37, link and pin 38, cross-head 39, radial bar 40, connectingrod 42, the laterally-extending arm 43, and stem 30 substantially as described.

4. In a rotary engine a valve-casing having a hollow cylindrical valve situated therein, a port in the side of said valve, amovable plate fitted into countersink in the side of said valve, with a port in same in alinement with port in said valve, and passages leading from the interior of said valve to the rear face of said plate substantially as set forth.

5. In a rotary engine, acylindera rotatable piston situated therein, a longitudinally movable and rotatable valve havinga valve-stem, and a connection between said valve-stem and said rotatable piston embracing round and ellipsoidal eccentric gearwheels for moving the latter.

6. The combination in a rotaryengine of a cylinder, a rotatable piston provided with a shaft rigidly secured to the same concentrically, a longitudinally movable and rotatable valve, a connection between said shaft and said valve for moving the latter, embracing an eccentric ellipsoidal gear-Wheel driven by an eccentric round gear-wheel loosely secured to said shaft by pins upon said shaft which engage lugs situated in countersink in said round wheel substantially as set forth.

7. In a rotary engine a cylinder provided with a rotatable piston therein situated, a movable abutment mounted in the outer wall of cylinder, steam-inlet ports in said cylinder on opposite sides of said abutment, a valve-chamber with cylindrical valve therein situated capable of being rotated by operating-lever, a means of communication between said valve-chamber and the cylinder through port in said valve, and passages leading from said valve chamber to cylinder, exhaustports on opposite sides of said movable abutment, an exhaust-valve chamber containing, a cylindrical valve with oppositely-situated ports and an opening near-its middle communicating with exhaust-passage, and a connection between said exhaust-valve and said operating-lever whereby same is rotated in conjunction with the said steam-inlet valve controlling the supply of steam to said cylinstem, a rotatable screw-threaded sleeve carried by said collar, a hand -Wheel upon said sleeve and a movable rod having a laterallyextending' arm provided with a screw-threaded aperture in which said screw-threaded sleeve is situated.

lronL F. OORNISH.

YVitnesses:

XV. J. AINSWORTH, CHAS. RUIEHE.

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