US864019A - Rotary engine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 864,019. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907: G. M. MITSOHOW 6; S. J. WINTEMUTE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION rum) AUG. 24, 19 06. 7

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PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907. G. M. MITSGHOW & S. J. WINTEMUTE.

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ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.24.1906.

No. 864,019. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907. G. M. MITSGHOW & S. J. WINTBMUTE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.24.1906.

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Inventors;

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UNITED sTA ps PATENT orrron.

CHARLES M. MITSGHOW AND SAMUEL J. WINTEMUTE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed August 24, 1906. Serial No. 331,371.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OHARLEs M. MrrscHow, a citizen of the United States, and SAMUEL J. WINTEMUTE, who has declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rotary Engines, of which the following isa specification.

This engine relates to an improved rotary steam engine having twin connected cylinders containing revolving pistons which are operated by the expansion of the steam; and the object of the invention is to produce a rotary engine which is economical in the use of steam;

I simple and cheap in construction; sure and reliable in operation and capable of maintaining a high and uniform rate of speed.

To attain these results we have eliminated practically all reciprocating motion in the operation of this engine which is designed so as to give all moving parts a revolving or rotating movement.

The invention also relates to a novel form of rotary valve for controlling the admission of steam into the cylinders with respect to time.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l, is a rear elevation of the improved rotary engine the pulley being removed from its shaft. Fig. 2, is a front elevation of the improved rotary engine with the cylinder heads removed to disclose the interior, the engine being partly in section to show the valve mechanism. Fig. 3, is an enlarged detached fragmentary end view of the pistons showing the relative position of the blades when passing each other. Fig. 4, is a horizontal section through the improved rotary engine on line aa Fig. 1. Fig. 5, is a central vertical section through the improved rotary engine on line bb, Fig. 2. Fig. 6, is an enlarged central horizontal section on line c c, Fig. 2, the valve and valve shaft being shown in full. Fig. 7, is a fragmentary section through the valve mechanism on line b-b, Fig. 2, showing the valve moved to partially close the inlet ports. Fig. 8, is a de tached inside view of the cylinder head with the packing rings removed. Fig. 9, is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through one of the pistons and blades, showing the springs for maintaining the packing bar in contact with the cylinder walls. Fig. 10, is an enlarged detached side view of the governor, showing a section through the valve shaft. Fig. 11, is a detached view of the square sleeve and wedge disk of the governor.

In referring to the drawings for the details of construction, like numerals designate like parts.

The frame of the engine, including the valve chest and one head or cover of the cylinders and valve chest,

, walls.

is preferably cast in one integral piece of metal, and in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, where 1, designates the engine frame; 2, the rear head or cover of the cylinders; 3, the valve chest located centrally and ver tically above the cylinders, and 4, the rear head or cover of the valve chest. The two cylinders 5 and 6, in which the pistons operate, are located side by side and lie in a horizontal plane, being placed so close together that they connect as shown in Fig. 2. The valve chamber 7, is located vertically and centrally above the two cylinders; is cylindrical in form, and slightly longer than the cylinders see Fig. 5. The open ends of the cylinders 5 and 6, and of the valve chamber 7, are closed by cylinder heads or covers 8, 9, and 10, which respectively are of substantially the same diameter as the cylinders 5 and 6, and valve chamber 7, and fit snugly therein. These covers are provided with a surrounding lateral flange 11, formed integral therewith, said flange having a series of openings through which stud-bolts 12, pass to securely fasten the covers to the engine frame, see Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8.

Two horizontally extending shafts 13 and 14, pass longitudinally through the center of the cylinders 5 and 6, being supported by bearings 15, formed in the cylinder heads 2, 8 and 9. Two pistons 16 and 17, are mounted on the shafts l3 and 14, within the cylinders 5 and 6, said pistons being substantially cylindrical in form and preferably formed of solid metal, see Fig. 4. These pistons are of substantially the same length as the cylinders 5 and 6, so that they fit snugly against the cylinder heads 2, 8 and 9, but are of smaller diameter than the cylinders, being of sufficient diameter so as to contact at a point midway between the two shafts l3 and 14, see Figs. 2 and 4. The space which is left between the periphery of the pistons and the walls of the cylinders forms the steam space into which the steam is admitted and permitted to expand to rotate the pistons. Each of the pistons 16 and 17, has two oppositely extending radial blades 18 and 19, which extend to the full length of the pistons and project beyond their peripheries sufl iciently so as to nearly touch the cylinder These piston blades are mortised into the pistons and additionally secured by screws 20, see Fig. 9. The projecting portion of each blade has alongitudinally extending T-slot formed therein throughout its entire length and a packing bar 21, of T-shape in cross section and substantially the same length as the blade, is seated in this T-slot as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 9. The T-slot in each blade is formed so as to permit a slight movement to the packing bar 21, the outer edge of which contacts with the cylinder walls as shown in Fig. 2, said bar being maintained in steam tight contact with said walls by means of coiled springs 22, seated in pockets in the inner portion of the blade, see Fig. 9.

By referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 9, it will be seen that the outer or contacting edges of the packing bars 21 are slightly beveled. The object of this is to prevent any hammering when the bars come in contact with the cylinder walls at the point where the walls of the two cylinders meet, this edge being also slightly rounded to assist in forcing the bar 21 back against the tension of the springs 22.

Two longitudinal grooves 23 and 24 are formed in the periphery of each piston, one of the grooves being adjacent to and extending parallel with each of the blades 18 and 19. These grooves are shaped substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and permit the blades 18 and 19, to pass each other as the pistons revolve, the blade 18 on the piston 16, fitting into the groove 23, in the piston 17 and the blade 18, on the piston 17, fitting into the groove 23, in the piston 16, see Fig. 3, where these blades are shown in the act of passing'each other.

In order to prevent any leakage of steam from the cylinders through the bearings of the shafts 13 and 14, metal packing rings 25, are seated in annular grooves 26, formed in the cylinder heads 2, 8 and 9, and maintained in contact with the ends of the pistons by coiled springs 27, seated in pockets in the cylinder heads. These packing rings 25, serve to prevent the steam from reaching the shafts, should there be any clearance between the pistons and cylinder heads due to wear, as this clearance would be obstructed by the packing rings which are automatically maintained in steam tight contact with the pistons by the springs 27.

Steam is admitted to the cylinders 5 and 6, at intervals by a valve contained within a valve chamber 7, which is located vertically and centrally above the cylinders. This valve, which we term a rotary valve, consists of a hollow cylindrical shell 28, located within the valve chamber 7 and mounted on a horizontal valve shaft 29, which is journaled in bearings in the heads 4 and 10, of the valve chest, see Figs. 2, 5 6 and 7. The cylindrical shell 28, fits snugly within the valve chamber 7, and has two sets of slots 30, and 30, formed therein, which are located oppositely each other. In the present embodiment of this improved rotary engine as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, each of these sets of slots 30, and 30, comprises six individual parallel slots equally spaced, each one of which is of a length equal to one fourth of the circumference of the hollow cylindrical shell 28. However we do not limit ourselves to this precise construction, it being readily seen that the number of slots in each set, and the length and width of each individual slot will be governed by the quantity of steam it is desired to admit to the cylinders, which may vary in different cases.

Steam is admitted to the cylinders 5 and 6, from the valve chamber 7, through a series of parallel vertically extending inlet ports 31, which connect the cylinder 5, with the valve chamber 7, see Figs. 2 and 5. These inlets ports are equal in number to the number of slots in each set in the valve 28, and are spaced substantially the same as the slots 30 and 30.

The valve chest 3, has a central vertical opening 32, formed therein and a passage 33, connects said opening 32 with each end of the valve chamber 7, substantially as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 7. A pipe 34, connects the opening 32, with a source of steam supply in any well known way. Exhaust ports 35 and 36, lead from the cylinders 5 and 6, to a horizontally extending common exhaust passage 37, which is located centrally and vertically below the cylinders 5 and 6. This exhaust pas sage leads through the flange 11, of the cylinder heads and connects with an exhaust pipe 38, see Fig. 5. The shafts 13 and 14, project rearwardly beyond the engine frame and are provided with intermeshing gear wheels 39, and 40, of equal diameter so that the pistons revolve in opposite directions at the same speed, and also maintain the same relative position with respect to each other.

As heretofore mentioned, the valve chamber 7, is slightly longer than the cylinders 5 and 6, while the valve 28, is of substantially the same length as said cylinders, thereby providinga narrow space or clearance at each end of the valve chamber 7. The passage 33, connects with these clearance spaces of the valve chamber 7, which are thereby kept filled with steam from whence it reaches the inside of the hollow valve 28, through openings 41, in the ends of said valve, see Fig. 2. This steam filled space at each end of the valve 28, also serves to balance said valve by providing an equal pressure at each end thereof, thereby making it easier of operation by eliminating friction.

Metal packing rings 42, and 43, are seated in annular grooves 44 and 45, in the covers or heads of 4 and 10, of the valve chamber 7, and encircle the valve shaft 29. These rings are maintained in steam tight contact with the ends of the valve 28, by coiled springs 46 and 47, which are seated in pockets formed in the heads 4 and 10. By referring to Fig. 6, it will be'seen that the springs 46, are considerably heavier and stronger than the springs 47, and are capable of being tensioned by set screws 48, which screw into the outer ends of the pockets. The purpose of this will be described further on.

The packing rings 25, 42 and 43, are each provided with two dowel pins 49, which fit into openings and while permitting the rings a sliding movement, prevent their rotation, see Figs. 5 and 7.

The valve shaft 29, projects rearwardly beyond the engine frame and has a gear wheel 50, mounted upon its rear end, which meshes with a gear wheel 5]., mounted upon the rear end of the shaft 13, see Figs. 1 and 5. These two gear wheels are of exactly the same diameter so that the valve 28 revolves at the same speed as the pistons 16 and 17.

A governor operated by centrifugal force is mounted upon the projecting end of the valve shaft 29, adjacent to the rear head 4, said governor being constructed substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11.

While the governor forms no part of the present invention it is advisable to prevent racing of the engine and therefore a brief description of the same will be given. A square surfaced sleeve 52 having a disk 53, at one end is keyed on the valve shaft 29, adjacent to the rear head 4, and a similar disk 54 is loosely mount ed upon the other end of the sleeve 52, and bears against the head 4, of the valve chamber. A bar 55 has a square opening through which the sleeve 52 loosely passes. Two rectangular blocks 56 and 57 are supported upon the square sleeve 52 and are placed respectively between the bar 55 and each of the disks 53 and 54, see Fig. 6. A rectangular opening 58 is formed in each of the blocks 56 and 57, through which the sleeve 52 passes. The contacting edges of the disk 53 and block 56 and the disk 54 and block 57 are wedge shaped,

see Fig. 6, so that any lateral movement of the blocks 56 and 57 will tend to spread the disks 53 and 54.

' The blocks 56 and 57 each have a counter-weight 59. Two coiled extension springs 60, have their inner ends secured to the inner ends of the blocks 56, and 57 and their outer ends fastened by bolts 61, to the adjacent ends of the bar 55, see Fig. 6. Nuts 62, screwed upon the outer ends of the bolt 61, permit the tensioning of the spring 60. The disk 54, the bar 55, and both the blocks 56 and 57 have a longitudinal sliding movement upon the square sleeve 52.

It will be readily seen that in order to permit the blades 18 and 19, to pass each other as shown in Fig. 3, instead of meeting, the position of the blades on the piston 16, must differ from that of the blades on the piston 17. In Fig. 2, where the blades are shown in proper position to admit steam into the cylinders, it will be noted that the blades on the piston 16, are at a greater angle with respect to a horizontal line drawn through the centers of shafts 13 and 14, than are the blades on the piston 17. In the same figure it will be noted that the inlet ports 31, lead from one side of the vertical center of the valve chamber 7, directly into the cylinder 5, instead of connecting with both the cylinders at a central point. The reason for this is to have approximately the same volume of steam on each side between the blades and the center of the inlet ports 31, and also to avoid over amount of clearance.

In case more room for expansion is needed one blade can be used on each piston instead of two or more. In cases where great speed is desired, it may be advisable to provide each piston with three or four blades instead of two, in which event the number of sets of slots in the valve 28, would be increased accordingly and probably also the size of the exhaust ports, the number of sets always equaling the number of blades in each piston. We therefore do not limit ourselves to the precise construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but reserve the right to make such changes in the detail construction or proportion of the various parts as shall be necessary to adapt this improved rotary engine to different kinds of service.

The operation of this improved rotary engine is as follows, The parts of the engine being in the position shown in Fig. 2, steam is admitted into the valve chamber 7, through the pipe 34, opening 32, and passage 33. From the valve chamber 7, it flows through the opening 41, into the hollow cylindrical valve 28, thence through the slots 30, and inlet ports 31, into the cylinder 5, and then into the cylinder 6. When the steam reaches the cylinders it exerts a pressure against the blades 18, causing them to move and thereby rotate the pistons. The point of contact of the pistons 16, and 1.7 being steam tight, acts as a head to prevent the flow of steam expanding in that direction so that practically all the force of the steam pressure and expansion is exerted against the blades, 18. As the pistons revolve in the direction of the arrows Fig. 2, the blades 19, assume the position now occupied by blades 18, and the same operation repeated, the steam following the trail shown by the arrows and exhausting through the ports and 36, into the passage 37. Should the engine attain too great a speed the counter weights 59, would move away from the center of the valve shaft 29, owing to the centrifugal force exerted upon them, and cause the wedge shaped rectangular blocks 56 and 57, to spread th disks 53 and 54. As the disk 54, is held against movement by the head 4, the disk 53, moves outwardly and being formed integral with the square sleeve 52, which is keyed to the shaft 29, carries said shaft with it. This slides the valve 28, rearwardly in the valve chamber 7, and reduces the steam supply by cutting off the inlet ports 31, as shown in Fig. 7. As the engine slows down, the springs 60, return the blocks 56 and 57 to their normal position, while the springs 46, being heavier than the springs 47, as heretofore described, return the valve 28, to its central position.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a rotary engine, two connected cylinders, oppo sitely rotatable pistons in said cylinders, a valve chest having a valve chamber and an inlet port leading to the cylinders and -a rotary valve consisting of a hollow cylin drical shell located in the valve chamber and having two oppositelylocated sets of slots.

2. In a rotary engine, two connected cylinders located side by side in the same horizontal plane, oppositely rotatable pistons in said cylinders, a valve chest centrally over the cylinders and provided with a valve chamber and a series of inlet ports leading from the valve chamber to one of the cylinders and a rotary steam controlling valve consisting of a hollow cylindrical shell located in the valve chamber and having two oppositely located sets of slots; each set being adapted at one period of rotation of the shell to register with the inlet ports.

3. In a rotary engine, two connected cylinders. oppositely rotatable pistons in said cylinders, a valve chest having a valve chamber and a series of inlet ports extending from the valve chamber to one of the cylinders and a rotary valve consisting of a hollow cylindrical shell located in the valve chamber and having two oppositely located sets of slots and each set of slots being equal in number to the series of inlet ports, an inlet port leading to the cylinders and a rotary valve consisting of a hollow cylindrical shell located in the valve chamber and having two oppositely located sets of slots.

4. In a rotary engine, two connected cylinders arranged side by side in the same horizontal plane, a valve chest centrally over the cylinders having a valve chamber and a series of inlet ports loading from the valve chamber to one of the cylinders, oppositely rotatable pistons in said cylinders, a rotary inlet valve consisting of a hollow cylin drical shell located in the valve chamber and having two oppositely located sets of slots each adapted to register with the inlet ports at one period in the rotation of the inlet valve and gearing connecting the pistons and rotary valve.

(IIARLES M. MITSCITOV. SAMUEL .T. \VINTEMUTE.

Witnesses (ll-1o. A. Nicnniinnn, L. M. Srnos'rnn.

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