US708566A - Rotary engine. - Google Patents

Description

' Patented Sept. "9, 1902; m. m. LUCKERBY. i

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Apr. 28, 1902.)

(N0 Model.)

FIG. 1.

THE mums PETERS cow momumu, WASHINUTO' i, D c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OEETQE.

MITCHELL M. LOOKERBY, OF GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA.

ROTARY ENG l N E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 08,566, dated September 9, 1902.

Application filed April 28, 1902. Serial No. 104,999. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MITCHELL M. LocK- ERBY,0f Grand Forks,county of Grand Forks, and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in R- tary Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and clear description thereof.

My invention relates to engines.

The improvements relates to an engine of the rotary type. The im pelling force may be steam, air, gas, or water.

The invention consists in the following construction and combination of parts, the details of which will first be fully described and the features of novelty then pointed out and claimed.

Figure 1 represents a central vertical section of an engine to which I have applied my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through a portion of the casing, part of the construction being broken away. Fig. 3 represents a detail edge view of one of the pistons. Fig. 4c is an outside elevation of a portion of the exterior casing hereinafter specifically referred to.

The outer casing 1 is mounted upon any suitable bed or frame 2. This casing is of annular form and contains a rotary wheel 3, which carries a series of hinged pistons 4E. The wheel 3 is preferably solid and has bolted thereto side flanges 5, rigid therewith, which extend outwardly into the steam-space of the casing. The pistons 4 are pivoted at 6 to the flange-plates in such a position that they may stand out approximately radial to the driving-shaft 7. The circumference of the wheel 3 is recessed in order to permitthe piston to swing within the circumference there of, the pivot-points (i being appropriately located for that purpose. The heels 8 of the pistons are connected by springs 9, carried in recesses in the wheel 3, the tendency of the springs being to swing the segmental pistons 4 out into the steam-space 5 across the same and radially of the driving-shaft. Suitable recesses in the wheel 3 are formed to accommodate the oscillating movement of the piston heels 8. Abutment-blocks 10 are secured to the inner side of the casing, the outer edge of which is curved to conform thereto. The inner surface 11 is disposed ecceutrically to the circumference of the wheel 3., and its apex 12 is tempered or steel-shod in order to neutralize the impact of the ends of the piston against the same in their rotation. The interior of the abutment-blocks 10 are hollow, and the live-steam pipes 13 communicate therewith respectively. The steam induction or intake ports 14 are formed in the radial faces of the abutment-chambers and discharge steam circumferentially of the casing. 15 is a valve provided with an oscillating cored part 16, having a series of channels therein.

17 is a live-steam pipe leading from the boiler, and 18 isapipe leading from the valve and connecting with the steam-pipes 13.

Valve 16 has. a series of channels therein, which alternately register with the pipes 17 and 18 and are alternately cut off from the same.

19 is an eccentric-rod carried by an eccentric upon the driving-shaft 7 and connected by an arm to the valve, whereby the valve is oscillated to cause it to admit and shut ofi steam at proper intervals in the rotation of the pistons.

20 is a bypass pipe provided with a valve 21, which is normally closed, whereby the engine may be started through the by-pass should the valve be out of register with the live-steam channels at any time.

22 represents the exhaust pipes or passages.

23 is a packing-strip formed on the outer edge and the side edges of the pistons and disposed diagonally thereof.

24 represents packing-plates carried on the abutment-faces of the chambers 10 and carry steam-pipe packing in their edges.

25 represents packing-strips carried in slots 26 along that part of the outer casing not covered by the abutment-blocks, and 27 are follower-plates for the purpose of holding the packing-strips 25 in place. These packingstrips engage the outer peripheries of the flange-pieces 5, so as to provide a substantial steam tight connection at that point, the flanges being preferably rabbeted to provide a suitable bearing, against which the packing-strips lie.

In operation steam is admitted into the abutment-blocks 10, passing out through the ports 14, the pistons which are in the steamspace having been thrown outwardly by their springs. Steam entering the steam-space behind the pistons causes the wheel 3, attached to the pistons, to move in the direction of the arrow 28. In the rotation of the pistons when they reach the eccentric-faces 11 of the abutment-blocks they are caused to gradually fold into circumferential alinement with the wheel 3 by the impact of the piston against the faces thereof. When the pistons pass the exhaust-ports 22, the steam in the rear of the same and in front of the next succeeding piston is exhausted. When the pistons pass the abutment-faces of the blocks 10, they are released from contact with the eccentric-faces and the springs force them outwardly into the steam-space to receive the impelling force of the steam through the ports 14. The channels in the valve 16 through the eccentric connection with the driving-shaft time the admission of the steam through the ports 14, whereby the steam is intermittently admitted to the pistons and shut off, permitting the steam to be used expansively in the steamspace of the engine.

While I have shown two abutment-blocks and four pistons, yet I Wish it to be understood that I may use any number of abutment-blocks or any number of pistons which I may find desirable for the purpose.

The disposition of the packing hereinbefore referred to renders the operation of the movable parts of the engine steam-tight.

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

1. The combination of a rotary wheel, a casing, swinging pistons secured to the wheel, eccentric-blocks secured to the casing having steam-chambers formed therein, live-steam pipes entering the eccentric-blocks, steamports in the eccentric-blocks, an oscillating valve, eccentric-rod connections between the wheel and the Valve, and exhaust-ports in the casing, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a rotary wheel, a casing, swinging pistons secured to the Wheel, eccentric-blocks secured to the casing having steam-chambers formed therein, live-steam pipes entering the eccentric-blocks, steamports in the eccentric-blocks, an oscillating valve, eccentric-rod connections between the wheel and the valve, exhaust-ports in the casing, and packing for the eccentric blocks, pistons and easing, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MITCHELL M. LOCKERBY.

Witnesses:

H. BENDEKE, B. H. PETERSON.

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