US634511A - Rotary engine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 634,5". Patented Oct. Ifl-,- I899;

- A. TAYLOR.

ROTARY ENGINE.

' (Applicm filad m 2, 1898.) (no law) V 3 Sheets-Sheet l,

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ROTARY ENGINE.

A umim and lay a, 1898.)

(I0 Iodel'.)

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Nu. 634,5": Patented Och"), 1899:

A. TAYLOR. RUTARYENGINE. (Apwmion and! a, was.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (No Model.)

UNITED. STAT OFFICE.

ABIJAH TAYLOR, on cnIcAeo, ILLINOIS, 'Assienon or oxnnALF TO MnswELoI-I, or wnnsrnn CITY, IOWA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,551 1, dated October 10, 1899.

Application filed. May 2, 12 3; Serial No. 472,723. (No model.) 7

To all whmn it may concern.-

-Be it known that I, ABIJAH TAYLOR, of Chicago, in the county of Cook, intheState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rotary steam-engines, and "more particularlya longitudinal sectional elevation of arotary point of view,

engine embodying my invention, the section being taken on linel 1 of Fig.2. Fig. 2 is a-trans'verse sectional elevation of the'same, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similarview taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4

is an end elevation ofthe rotary piston" re-' moved from the cylinder. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a longitudi-' nalsection of the rotary piston and shafts, taken'on'line 6 6 of Fig. 2: Fig. 7 is aside elevation of the same, taken from'the same the piston-wings being removed. Fig. 8- 's an outside viewof one of the piston-wings.'- Fig.4) is an'enlarged detail of a-portion ofthe end of the'same. Fig. 10 is an inner view of one of the exterior plates of the piston. Figs. 11and'12 are de tail views of the inner shaft, showing, respectively, the steam and exhaust openings.

Figs. 13 and let are similar views showing steam port openings of shapes somewhat modified from those shown in Fig. 11. Figs. 15 and 16 are detail sections on lines 1515 and 16 16 of Fig. 1. Fig. 17 is a detail view of a modified form of steam-tight packing.

A designates the base-plate of the engine, B B supporting-standards secured to said base-plate and rising above the same, and G the steam-cylinder, which is revolubly supported at the upper end'of the standards B B by means of inward-projecting bosses B, which engage central circular apertures c,

formed in the heads G of said cylinder.

Within' the cylinder 0 is provided a cylinmanner.

' of the cylinder,

drical piston .D of less diameter than the interior of'the cylinder 0, but equal in lengththereto, each end of said piston closely engaging the adjacent cylinder-headiC. Said g piston D is rotatively supported within the cylinder. 0 by means of a hollow shaft E,

which engages a longitudinal central bore in said piston and is rigidly secured therein by means of keys 6 or in any other suitable The ends of the shaftE extend out of the 'cylinderO through apertures c'in the heads C and, as herein shown, are supported in suitable journal-bearings B formed in the bosses B, saidbearings B being located sufficiently eccentric to the common axis of sa dbosses B and cylinder 0 to bring a portion of the perimeter of the piston D into contact withthe interior of the cylinder. In

this instance said I journal-bearings are located vertically above said common axis of the bosses and cylinder, bringing the piston D into contactwith the interior surface of the cylinder along'a line at the top of each {and in a vertical plane through th'eir axis. Said rotary piston D is provided at its per- .imeter with oneor more extensible wings D, (in' this instance" four in number,) herein shown as pivoted alongtheir front edges to the perimeter of the piston and adapted to fold into convenient recesses in said piston as they "approach and passthe point of contact of said piston with said, interior surface said wings B being, formed with curved exterior surfaces, so that when folded into their respective recesses they form a continuation of the nornially-cylindricv perimeter of the piston D. Between each two adjacent wings the piston D is provided with a radial'port'd, leading from the exterior of the piston to th'e interior of the hollow shaft E. As herein shown, the said ports 61 extend nearly the full length of the piston D-and a're placed at right angles to each other, the outer ends of said ports being directly beneath the wings D. The steam admittedforces the wings outward against the wall of the cylinder and sets the piston to rotating, and since the cylinder itself is free to revolve the friction between it and the piston and piston-wingsis substantially reduced to the friction of "rolling contact. The use of gearing between the cylintube or pipe F, which is divided by a partition F into two separate compartments F and F gadapted to communicate, respectively,

with the steam supply and exhaust. Said par-' tition F extends obliquely across the tube F between points adjacent to the opposite ends of the piston D, and said tube F is provided on the oppositesides of said partition with port-openings f and f, the former opening out of the steam-chamber F and the latter out of theexhaust-chamber F of the pipe F. The shape of said port-openings maybe varied as desired. In Figs. ll, 13, and 14 I have shown three different shapes and arrangements of the steam-openings]; that shown in Fig. 13 being the one used in the particular engine illustrated. The exhaust-opening f will ordinarily be made in the shape of a single-elongated aperture, as shown in Fig. 12. Obviously with such construction each of the ports d will, by the rotation of the piston D, be brought into communication alternately with the steam and exhaust openings f and f in the tube F. The steam-openings f be ing placed on the upper and forward side of the pipe, as shown in Fig. 2, steam will be first admitted to each port cl substantially as said port passes the point of contact of the perimeter of the piston with the interior of the cylinder and will continue to be admitted until the inner end of the port -cl has passed by the steam-openingf. The steam thus admitted to the port d will obviously force out the adjacent piston-wing D, maintain the outer edge of said wing in constant contact with the inner wall of the cylinder O, and cause the piston D to rotate, said steam acting by direct pressure up to the point of cutoif and continuing thereafter to act by expansion until the port d shall have reached the exhaust-opening), whereupon said steam will pass off through the exhaust-passage F As herein shown, the said exhaust takes place shortly after the wing D reaches its lowermost position. Obviously each of the wings D will in succession pass through the cycle of action thus described, each receiving a new actuating impulse at each revolution, and as each of the wings D acts through substantially half of each revolution it will be obvious that the piston D and sh aft E will at every moment be receiving the rotation influence of two of said wings. A suitable driving-pulley G, keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the projecting end of the shaft E, furnishes a convenient means of taking off the power. Obviously the other end of the shaft E might also be extended and provided with a second driving-pulley.

It will be evident that with the construction above described the cut-off may be made to take place either earlier or later, as desired, by oscillating the tube F, so as to vary the position of the steam-opening f. In this instance I have provided means for rocking said tube F by hand, said means consisting, as herein shown, of a hand-lever F, clamped to the projecting end of the tube F and pro- Vided at its lower end with a thumb-screw F which engages a nut F, sliding in the are shaped groove 1) in the adjacent face of the adjacent standard B. "When the thumb-screw F is loosened, it will be obvious that the tube F maybe readily oscillated by the lever F to provide either a late or early out-off, as desired. tained, the partsmay be locked in position by again tightening the thn mb-screw. Obviously such regulation might, however, be accomplished automatically by operatively connecting any suitable form of governor with the tube F to oscillate the same. It will be evident that with such construction any degree of expansion of the steam may he obtained by regulating the amount admitted behind each piston-win g at each revolution. F urthermore, owing to the crescent shape of the space between the piston"D and cylinder C, I am enabled, by providing the admission-point at the tapered end of said space, to secure a very clean cut-off, while admitting but a small amount of steam. By hinging the pistonwings at their front edges they are drawn around the cylinder with but little friction and have no opportunity or tendency to bind or stick.

Referring here more particularly to the details of the construction herein illustrated, the standards B B consist of two metallic bars provided with inwardly-extendinglower ends adapted to overlap each other, the overlapping portions being herein shown secured together and to the base-plate A by means of a clamping-bolt ct. Said inwardly-extending lower ends are also herein shown as perforated for the passage of the foundation-bolts a, by which means they are further securely held at the base-plate and foundation. The upper ends of said standards B are shown as bent inwardly to support the bosses B, which as a simple and efficient construction are of babbitt or similar metal, secured to the inwardly-extending ends of the standards by being cast about the same. In this instance the bosses B are cut off on a horizontal plane through the axis of the shaft E, the portion above said plane being omitted and the bearing-surfaces B for said shaft being merely half-boxes formed in the lower portions of said bosses. Obviously, however, the upper portions of said bosses might be filled in, if desired.

As afurtherimprovement that part of each of the bosses B immediately adjacent to its bearing-surface B is formed of a separate piece or box 13 recessed in the body of the boss. A key B is inserted in a suitable recess beneath the center of the box B and by driving in said keys compensation may be When the proper adjustment is ob-' made for the wear of the shaft E in its bearings. Such construction also provides means for adjusting the contact between the upper portion of the piston D and the interior of the cylinder 0, it being obvious that by lifting the shaft more or less by means of the keys B the piston may be made to engage the cylinder along the line of contact with a greater or less degree of pressure, as desired. It is designed in practice to have such pressure sufificient to maintain a constant rolling contact between the piston and cylinder, whereby their peripheral speeds will be equal and the friction of the parts thereby reduced to a minimum. Obviously in such case the cylinder practically rests upon the piston D, and its weight is supported by the babbitt bearing-surfaces B The cylinder-heads C are herein shown as adj ustably secured in place by being screwed into the ends of the cylinder C, set-screws 0 being provided, by means of which they may be locked when in the desired position. In practice said heads are screwed in until they strike the ends of the piston D, then unscrewed a fraction of a turn to permit free movement of the parts without material leakage, and finally are locked in place by the setscrews c. To further provide against leakage between the heads 0' and the ends of the piston D, said heads are herein shown recessed on their inner faces adjacent to the apertures c to receive annular packings-c which engage the ends of the piston D and are pressed against the same by suitable springs a providedin suitable recess 0 and tending to force said packing inward. It is obvious, however, that such packing might be provided on ends of the piston D and made to engage the faces of the heads 0, if so de sired. Said heads 0 are also herein shown as provided with annular flanges O ,surround in g the central openings 0 and furnishing an additional length of bearing on the bosses B.

As a convenient construction of the piston D the latter is herein shown as formed of a hollow cylindrical shell D having end walls D and radial rib-walls D connected at their inner ends by a suitable hub D within which the shaft E is keyed, the ports d, hereinbefore described, leading from the exterior of the shell D to the interior of the hub D through the radial walls D Longitudinal plates D secured to the outside of the shell D by means of screws d or in other suitable manner, serve to separate the pistonwings D, and said wings are adapted to fold within the spaces between said plates D Said piston-wings D, as herein shown, are made of uniform thickness equal'to the thickness of the plates D and are bent to the radius of 'the shell D, so that when folded down upon the same their outer faces form a I substantially continuous cylindrical surface with the other faces of said plates D To provide a convenient hinge connection 7 between the wings D and the shell D said wings are herein shown as provided along their forward edges with inwardly-pro ectin g longitudinal ribs D of substantially circular cross-section, which engage-corresponding grooves in the shell D and are movably held therein by the overlapping edges of the plates D Said ribs'D are herein shown as formed by wrapping one edge of a plate (1 about an inner rod or core (i and then slipping a slotted brass tube or bushing (1* over the wrapped edge of said plate d leaving the straight edge of said plate projecting through the slot of said bushing. Said free edge of the plate d is then readily attached to the beveled edge of the wing D by screws 11 or in other suitable manner.

To permit the inner tube or pipe F and inclosing shaft E to fit closely in those parts adjacent to the steam and exhaust opening f andf' and at the same time to reduce the friction of such parts to a minimum, I have herein shown said shaft E as recessed to receive a bushing e of babbitt or similar material, said bushing being slightly longer than the steam and exhaust openings f and f and being apertured opposite the ports 01 to permit the free action of the same. Leakage between said tube and outer shaft is further prevented at each end by a stuffing-box E,

herein shown as having a screw-threaded engagement with the inner tube F and provided with an inward-proj ectin g sleeve E inclosing the end of the shaft E. The end surface of said shaft E is cut in on a bevel to receivethe beveled end of an inner bushing E of babbitt or similar material, provided with the stuffin g-box E and forced against the end of the shaft by suitable springs e placed behind said bushing. By screwing up the studing -box E the bushing E may be forced against the end of the shaft with any desired degree of pressure, causing the thin beveled 1 edge of the bushing to form a steam-tight e11- gagement with both the inner tube and the outer shaft.

In Fig. 17 I have shown a modified form of packing which may be employed to prevent leakage between the shaft E and the inner tube F. In this construction the said inner tube F is provided with an annular recess,

within which is inserted a section b of closelycoiled spring-wire rectangularin cross-section and made of hard-drawn brass or similar material. Said coil f when placed within the annular recess and inserted within the shaft E willexpand or spring outward against the inner surface of said shaft and form a steamtight joint therewith.

While primarily intended for use with steam as the actuating fluid, it will be obvious that my improved engine may be operated by and will act with equally great efficiency with compressed air or gas, the operation under such circumstances being precisely the same as whensteam is employed.

I claim as my invention 1. A rotary engine comprising a rotatablysupported cylinder, a cylindric piston rotatably mounted within and eccentrically of said cylinder and in contact with its cylindric surface at one point, and folding piston-wings hinged to said piston and adapted to fold in flush with the cylindric surface thereof, substantially as described.

2. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, journal-bearings rotatably supporting said cylinder, a cylindric piston rotatably mounted Within and eccentrically of said cylinder and in contact with its cylindric surface at one point, piston-wings hinged to the piston and adapted to fold flush with the cylindric surface thereof, a tube extending through an axial aperture in said piston and provided with steam and exhaust passages, and radial ports in the piston adapted to communicate alternately with said steam and exhaust passages as the piston rotates, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a supportingframe, of the cylinder 0 rotatably journaledin said frame, the oylindric piston D mounted upon the shaft E which is also rotatably journaled in said frame but eccentrically with relation to the cylinder 0 so that the cylindric surfaces of the piston and cylinder are in contact at one point, piston-Wings D hinged to said piston, ports (2 leading through from the interior of the hollow shaft to the exterior of the piston beneath the folding wings, tube F extending through the hollow shaft and proof two witnesses.

ABIJAI'I TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, G. W. HIGGINS, J r.

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