US834675A - Rotary engine. - Google Patents

Description

PATBNTED 00T. 3o, 190s.-

ysgLACH. ROTARY ENGINE. y APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 1906.

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lllll y No. 834.675.-

PATENTED OG T. 30, 1 906. S. LACH. ROTARY ENGINE. vAPILIU.^.'1I0N FILED AUG. 1a, 190e.

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- PATBNTBD 00T. 3o', 1906.

s. LAoH. ROTARY ENGINE. n APPLIUATIOR FILED AUQ. 13, 190.

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' "lill/minimum No. 834,675. f I PATBNTED 00T. so, 1906.l

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'A UNITED sTATns PATENT onincn.

STEFAN LAC-H, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

rFioTAaY ENGINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

.Patented oel-f 30., 190.6-,

Application led August 13, 1906'. Serial No. 330.355.

useful improvements in rotary engines; and

the invention has for its primary object to provide an engine from which a greater efficiency is obtained than engines of a reciprocatory type.

Another object of this invention is to pro-` yvide an equally-balanced engine which 'will be positive in its action, simple in construction, and free from injury by ordinary use.

My invention aims to provide an engine from which a maximum amount of ener y can be obtained from a minimum expen iture of fuel, this being accom lished by dispensing with fly or balance wl eels and with any friction that may eXist between the operatin or movable parts of the engine.

Wit the above and -other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the invention is understood, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, to be presently described in detail and then specifically pointed out` in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, like numerals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 ils a sideelevation of my improved engine. Fig. 2 is an end view of the engine. Fig. 3 is-a similar view, the forward end of the cylinder being removed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view. of the engine. Fig. 5yis avertical sectional view of an inlet-slidevalve mechanism, illustrating the valvefin a closed position, Fig. 6 is asimilar view illustratingl the valve in an open position. Fig. 7 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of a portion of the cylinder of my engine, illustrating a cylinder-partition. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the piston of the engine. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the piston proper. Fig. 10 is a plan of -a packing-ring. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the same, Fig.l 12 is a perspective view of `a valve and Vpartition.-actuating wheel, partly broken away. Fig. 13 is an elevation of a camfwheel-actuated mechanism which can be used in lieu of the wheel illustrated in Fig. 12, and Fig. 14 isa plan of the same.

To put my invention into practice, Icone. struct my improved rotaryengine. of a suit-4 able foundation-plate 1, upon the forward end of which are mounted two blocksg, adapted to sup ort the cylinder 3 of my engine,

said cylin er and blocks being secured to the foundation-plate 1 by bolts and nuts 4. Upon the rear end of the plate 1 is mounted a bearing 5, and in said bearing is journaled a shaft 6, which extends through the center of the cylinder 3. Mounted upon the shaft @intermediate the bearing' and the cylinder 3, is a valve and partition-actuating wheel 7,

the detail construction of which will be presently described. l

Reference will now be had to the c lnder 3. This c linder consists of two halves or parts 8 an 9, which are circular in elevation and are adapted to fit snugly together. The confronting faces of the parts 8 and 9 are prof vided with peripheral flanges 10, adapted to be secured together by bolts and nuts 1 1, and

are formed with central recesses 12, circurn-y ferentially arranged packing-grooves 14, and cylinder-grooves 15 and 16, the recesses and grooves of the part 8 confronting the recesses andgrooves of the part 9. The art 8 sur: rounding the groove 16 is provi ed with a groove 17 to reteive a circumferentiallyar.- ranged tongue-18, carried by the par-t 9, thus insuring a tight and non-leakable connection between the parts of the cylinder.

The confronting faces of the parts 8 and 9 between the recesses 12and the'grooves 15 and 16 are machined` to form bearingsurfaces 19 for a piston-disk 20, which is keyedu'on the shaft 6 within the recesses 12 by a l ey 21 and is further locked thereon bynuts 22,-

threaded upon the Shaft 6. The pistoni-disk 20 ad'acent to the nuts 22 is rovided with a plurality of openings 23. to a low a lubricant placed in the recesses 12 through thek opening A24 of the part 9to pass into the recess 12,

formed in the part 8. The opening24 can be'provided with a suitable pipe- 25 to convel lubricating-oils tosaid opening,

he piston-disk v20 is ,provided with la curved cylindrical piston 26, having packingrngs 2.7; of a conventional form. Thepiston 26 is radially disposed with relation-.to the shaft Grains of the disk 20 and is adapted te Y roo travel in the confronting cylinder-grooves 15 and 16.

In the packing-grooves 14 of the parts 8 and 9 of the cylinder are mounted packingrings 28, having overlapping ends 29. To retain the rings 28 in engagement with the piston-disk 20, I provide the parts 8 and 9 with transverse openings 30, in which springs 31 are mounted to bear against the rings, said springs being adjusted and held in position by screw-bolts 32.

Mounted upon the top of the part 9 is a cock 33, carrying a lubricant receptacle or cup 34. The cup communicates with the groove 15 by a port 35, and the cock 33 is adapted to control the passage of a lubricant to said groove.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, wherein I have illustrated the steam-inlet valve, it will be observed that I mount said valve upon the part 8 of the cylinder. This part of the cylinder is provided with an inclined inlet-port 36, in the outer end of which is mounted a pipe 37, carrying a valve-casing 38, having a steam-inlet pipe 39, which is controlled by a valve 39. In the casing 38 is detachably mounted a slide-valve 40, adapted to close the upper end of the pipe 37. The stem 41 of the valve 40 protrudes through a stuffing-box 42 and has its outer end provided with a cap 43, carrying a rollerbearing 44. Between the cap 43 and the stuffing-box 42 is mounted a coiled spring 45, which normally holds the slide-valve 40 in an open position.

The exhaust of the cylinder 3 passes through a port 46, formed in the port 8 in close proximity to the inlet-port 36, said port being arranged at approximately an angle of ninety degrees from the port 36. The port 46 communicates with an exhaust-pipe 47.

Slidably mounted in the cylinder 3 between the ports 36 and 46 is an oblong partition 48, said partition sliding in grooves 49, formed in the cylinder 3, and in diametrically-o posed casings 50 and 51, provided there or. f The forward end of the partition 48 is provided with an opening 52 of a diameter equivalent to the piston 26. The lower edge of the partition is slotted, as at 53, to permit of the edge of the disk 20 and the piston 26 passing through the partition. The rear end of the partition carries a stem 54, which protrudes through a stuffing-box 55, carried by the casing 51, and is provided with a cap 56, roller-bearing 57, and spring 5 8, similar to the stem 41, previously described. v The partition is normally held in its seat by a spring 59, mountedin the casing 5 and rbearing upon the top of the partition.

p To actuate theslide-valve 40 and partition 48, I use the wheel 7, the one side of which is provided with two irregular paths or cams 60 and 61, the cam 60 being arranged within the cam 61 and reciprocating the stem 54 of the partition 48, while the cam 61 reciprocates the stem 41 of the slide-valve 40.

The operation of my improved engine is as follows: Assuming the slide 40 is in an open position and the cylinder is receiving steam through the port 36, the piston 26 will be forced around in the grooves 15 and 16 toward the exhaust-port 46. As the piston 26 travels over this port the slide-valve 40 is closed by the cam 61 and the steam exhausts through the port 46. Immediately upon the piston 26 leaving the port 46 the partition is opened by the cam 60 releasing the stem 54. By opening the partition I mean the partition is moved rearwardly, whereby the piston 26 can pass through the opening 52 of said partition, and when in a closed position the partition, in conjunction with the piston 26, divides the cylinder 3 into two compartments. After the piston 26 has passed through the opening 52 of the partition and is passing over the inlet-port 36 the partition is closed by the cam 60. When the piston has traveled over the port 36, said port is opened by the cam 61 engaging the stem 41 and moving the valve 40 to an open position. Steam is admitted to the cylinder in the rear of the piston 26 and drives the saine toward the port 46. The above operation is continuous until the steam-supply is shut off by the valve 39.

In'Figs. 13 and 14 I have illustrated certain modifications adapted to be used in lieu of the cam-wheel 7 should it be found expedient and saving to do so when the engine is being used to perform certain work where the wheel 7 might be cumbersome and im practical. The modification consists in prolonging the forward end of the shaft 6, as at 62, and providing it with a beveled gear-Wheel 63. The foundation-plate 1 is then lengthened to support .bearings 64 for a transversely-arranged shaft 65, which carries a beveled gear 66, meshing with the gear-wheel 63.

Mounted contiguous to the bearings 64 are bearings 67, in which is journaled a sleeye 68, having a rod 69 loosely mounted therein, the one end of said rod protruding beyond the end of the sleeve 68. Upon the protruding end of the rod is adjustably mounted a bellcrank lever 70, while upon the sleeve 68, at the opposite end of the rod 69, is adjustably mounted a bell-crank lever 71. The longer arms 72 of said levers are provided with rollers 73, adapted to engage in cam-Wheels 74, fixed upon the 'ends of the shaft 65. The shorter arms 76 of the levers 70 and 71 are connected by links 77 to the stems 78, which move the slide-valve and partition mounted in the casings 79 of the engine.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that I have devised a novel engine. I have found by actual tests that the ability of my engine under severe and unusual condi- IOO TIO

f when considering the expenditure of fuel with relation -tothe amount of work accomplished.

I do` not care to confine myself to a simple engine, as the cylinders can be compounded. Such other changesA inthe-i arrangement and details of construction as are permissible' by the appended claims may be resortedl tol without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

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

1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a foundation-plate, of a cylindersupported by said plate, said cylinder comprising two parts having confronting circumferentially-arranged grooves formed therein, a shaft journaled upon said plate and extending centrally through said cylinder, a pistondisk mounted upon said shaft and adapted to travel between said parts, a piston carried by said disk and adapted to travelin said grooves, adjustable packing-rings mounted in said'cylinder and engaging said disk, said cylinder having an inlet-port formed therein communicating with said grooves, a springheld slide-valve controlling said port, said cylinder having an exhaust-port formed therein, a reciprocating partition mounted in said cylinder and having an opening in its vend throu h which said piston passes, and a cam-wheeImounted upon said shaft and operating said valve and said partition, substantially as described.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a foundation-plate, of a cylinder supported bysaid plate, said cylinder comprising two parts having confronting circumferentially-arranged grooves formed therein, a shaft journaled upon said plate and extending centrally through said cylinder, a pistondisk mounted upon said shaft and adapted to travel between said parts, a pistoncarried by said disk and adapted to travel in said grooves, adjustable packing-rings mounted in said cylinder and engaging said disk, said cylinder having an inletort formed therein communicating with sai grooves, a springheld slide-valve vcontrolling said port, said cylinder having an exhaust-port formed therein, a reciprocating partition mounted in said cylinder and having an opening in its end through. which said piston passes, and means carried by said shaft to move said slide-valveand said partition, substantially as described.

3. In a rotary engine, the combinationwith a foundation-plate, of a cylinder supported by said plate, said cylinder comprising two parts having confronting circumferentially-arranged groovesformed therein, a shaft journaled upon said plate, and extending through said cylinder, a piston carried by said shaft and adapted to travel in said grooves, said cylinder having an inlet-port formed therein communicating with said grooves, a spring-held slide-valvecontrolling saidport, said cylinder having an exhaustport formed therein, a reciprocating partition mounted in said cylinder between said ports and having an opening in its end through which said piston passes, and means carried by said shaft to move said slide-valve and said partition, substantially as described.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a suitable foundation-plate, of a cylinder supported by one end of said plate, a bearing mounted at the opposite end of said plate, a shaft j ournaled in said bearing and said cylinder, a piston carried by said shaft and adapted to revolve in said cylinder, a reciprocating partition mounted in said cylinder and having an opening formed therein through which said piston passes, said cylinder having an exhaust-port formed therein, said cylinder having an inlet-port formed therein, a slide-valve mounted. in said cylinder and controlling said inlet-port, a wheel mounted upon said shaft and operating said valve and said partition, substantially as described. y

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a foundation-plate, of a cylinder supported by said plate, a shaft journaled in said cylinder, a piston carried by said shaft and adapted to revolve in said cylinder, said cylinder having an inlet-port formed therein, a spring-held valve controlling said port, said cylinderl having an exhaust-port formed therein, a reciprocating artition mounted between said ports and aving an opening formed in its one end through which said piston passes, and a cam-wheel mounted upon said shaft and adapted to operate said slidevalve and said partition, substantially as described.

6. A rotaryy engine consisting of a twoart cylinder, the parts of said cylinder aving confronting circumferentially-arranged grooves formed therein, inlet and exhaust ports communicating with said grooves, a spring-held slide-valve controlling the inletport, 'a shaft journaled in said cylinder, a piston-disk carried by said shaft, a piston carried by said disk and ada ted to travel in said grooves, adjustable pac 'ng-rings mounted in said cylinder and engaging said disk, a

Areciprocating partition mounted in said cylinder between said ports and having an opening formed therein through which said piston is adapted topass, and means actuated by said shaft to operate said slide-valve and said partition-valve, and said partition, substantially as described.

7 A rotary engine consisting of a two-part cylinder having circumferentially-arranged confronting grooves formed therein, inlet j and exhaust ports communicating with said IOO IOO

E eating partition mounted in said cylinder begrooves, a shaft journaled in said cylinder, a tuated by said shaft to open and close said 1o piston carried by said shaft yand adapted to partition, substantially as described.

travel in said grooves, a spring-held slide- In testimony whereof I ailix my signature valve controlling said inlet-port, a reeiproin the presence of two witnesses.

tween the inlet and exhaust ports and having t STEFAN LACH' an opening through which said piston is Witnesses: adapted to pass, means actuated by said MAX H. SRoLovITZ, shaft to move said slide-valve, and means acl A. J. TRIGG.

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