US64068A - Spbncek h - Google Patents

Description

gleiten tates' atent @ffice SPENCER H.-BROWN, 0F NEWV YORK, N. i Letters ,Patent IVO. 64,068, :inferi April 23, 18.67. i

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TO ALL WHOM I'l MAY CONCERN: y

Be it known that I, SPENCER I-I. BROWN, M. D. ofthe city, `county, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Rotary Engine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description, which `will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in whichi l Figure 1 represents a sectional front elevation of this invention, the cylinder head having been removed to expose the internal mechanism.

Figure l2 is a transverse central section of the same Similar letters of reference indicate like part-s.

This invention relates to a rotary engine, the piston-wheel of which is composed of a thin' disk which works steam-tight between two' annular rims projecting from -the inner surfaces of the cylinder-heads, and which is provided with one or more pistons, the ends of which are faced oirn to work steam-tight against the inner surfaces of the cylinder-heads, while their top and bottom edges are so shaped that they work steam-tight against the inner circumference of the cylinderand against the peripheries of the `annular rims, the whole being so constructed that the weight of the piston-wheel is reduced as much as possible without reducing the effective area/of the pistons; and, furthermore, byusing groundjoints all packing is rendered superfluous, and the t. friction is reduced to the lowest possible point. I

The abutment which separates the steam portion of the cylinder from the exhaust 'portion worksfin a recess in the inner eircnmfereneof the cylinder, and it swings on a. pivot so that it can turn up out of th way of the approaching pistons.

The faces of the pistons are convex, so that the same, on coming in contact with thehinged abutment,

strike it rstsclose to the periphery 'of the piston-wheel, Where their velocity is smallest, and said abutment isvv opened as gradually as possible.

' One or twoscmi-cylindrica-l stops, which work in corresponding recesses in the peripheries of the annular rims on the inner surfaces of the cylinder heads, prevent the hinged abutment being forced back by the action 'of the'steam beyond the desired position. By turning these stops so that their-ilat surfaces come opposite the abutment, said abutment is free to swing in either direction, and the motion of the engine canbe reversed.

The abutment is provided with a notch which straddles the piston-wheel and works steam-tight against its sides and its circumference, while the edge of the abutment on each side of said notch drops into the recesses in the annular rims of the cylinder, and 'bears against the reversing stops so that the: escape of steam from one side of the abutment to the other is prevented, and yet the reversing motion of theengine is rendered practicable. A represents the cylinder of my rotary engine, which is provided with'twoxheads, one of which may be cast solid with the body of the cylinder, while the other is movable and secured to the cylinder by a series of screws, or, it' desired, both heads may be made movable and fastened to the cylinder by suitable screws. Said heads form the bearings for the shaft B, on which is mounted the piston-wheel (l. This pistoniwheel consists of a thin disk, which isA faced off to work steam-tight against annular rims a' which project from the inner surfaces of the cylinder-heads, as shown particularly in tig. ot' the drawing. From the circumference ot` the pistoni wheel project the pistons D, which are faced off so that their ends work steamitight against the inner surfaces `ofA the cylinder-heads, their outer edges against the inner circumference of the cylinder, andtheir inner edges (which project beyond the pistoIi-wheel) against Vthe peripheries of the annular rims a. By this arrangement the weight of the piston-wheel, and consequently its momentum, can Vbe reduced, and yet the effective area of the pistons remains undiminished, and, furthermore, all packing in the joints can bc avoided, and the friction is reduced to the lowest possible degree. E represents thc abutment which separates the steam and exhaust side of the cylinder. This abutment is placed in a recess, Z), in the inner circumferencc'of the cylinder, and it is suspended from a pivot, e, on which it swings freely in either direction. As the piston-wheel rovolves the pistons strike the hinged abutment successively, and raise the, same up in the recess so that they caupass Athe same without diiculty. The side surfaces of the pistons are convex, so that they strike the abutment close to the piston-wheel where their circumferential velocity is smallest, and by these Ineens theabutment is raised by the action of the steam which is admitted through the pipe F. -This pipe is provided with four branches, d c f g, which can be made to communicate through the four-way cock 71. If the engine is to run in the directio n of the arrow marked on it in g. 1, the cock 7L is turned so that steam is admitted Athrough the pipe e, land that the same exhausts through the pipef. The piston is shown in the act of passing the abutment, and when it has passed the abutment is forced down by the steam, and it is prevented from turning' down any further than desirable-by the semi-cylindrical stops z'. 4These stops work in recesses j in the annular rims a, and the abutment is provided with a notch, 7c, which straddles the piston-wheel, so that the edge of said abutment on cach side o'f the notch is enabled to drop down into the recessesj and to bear against the stops z'. If these stops are turned to such a position that their flat surfaces are opposite the abutment said abutment will clear the stops and the engine can be reversed, the stops being turned back as soon as the abutment has passed them. It is obvious that in order to reverse theengine the four-Way cock must be turned so .that the steam is admitted to the cylinder through the pipef and exhausts therefrom through the pipe e.

The operation ot' this engine is very simple. It can be run at a high speed, and al1 its parts are lso coni structed that the same are not liable to get out of order.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patenti 1. The abutment or valve E constructed as described, and pivoted so as to vibrate in either direction, substantially as and for the. purpose specified.

2. The semi-cylindrical reversible stops z' in combination with the hinged abutment E, annular rims a, and piston-wheels C with pistons D, all constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

` SPENCER H. BROWN.

Witnesses:

ALEX. F. ROBERTS, F. A. JACKSON.

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