US876860A - Turbine-engine. - Google Patents

Description

N o. 8'76,860. PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908.

H. I. GROMBR.

TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 3, 1906. I

team z '77 a I 5k UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

HARRY IMCROMER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TURBINE-ENGINE.

To all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY I. CROMER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbine-Engines, of which the followin is a specification.

In the art to WlllOll this invention relates, it is well known that power may. be pro-, duced by'means of the expansion of a compressible fluid such as gas, air or steam; also that such compressible fluid or fluids may be caused toimpinge against mechanism to be operated thereby so as to produce power which results principally from the speed of movement of the current rather than from the mere expansion thereof. Non-compressible fluid or liquid such as water, has also been employed in producing power resulting from itsspeed of movement independently of the expansive uality of compressible fluids. It is found in practice, however, that the method of producing power which consists in forming a current or currents of compressible fluid and causing the same to impinge against mechanism to be operated thereby possesses serious disadvantages which it is very desirable to overcome in a practical and efficient manner. One .of these disadvantages is that compressible fluidwhen used 'by the known methods is either in the form of a current orcurrents having-a speed in excess-of that which is most desirable, or else such compressible fluid is employed in the form of separate charges adapted to operate reciprocating or rotary pistons by the expansion of the fluid. When the fluid is employed so jas to produce power by its expansion, themechanism or en ines to be driven are required to be of ob ectionable size and weight relatively'to' the power produced, and vibrations or objectionable pulsations are also produced, all

of which should be overcome. ""When compressible fluid alone is used by any known method in the form of a current so as to afford power principally by reason of its speed of movement, the speed of such cur-' rent is required to be excessively high at the point of contact with the mechanism to be operated.- This necessitates the driving of the turbine wheel, or similar mechanical device, at a correspondingly high and objecjtionable peripheral speed, and requires a wheel of excessively large diameter, or the driving of a wheel of less diameter at an ex- Specification .of Letters Patent. Application filed May 3,1906. Serial No. 316.013.

' I cessively'high speed. of rotation.

-Pa.tented Jan. 14, 1908.

cessive speed ofthe current of fluid at the point of contact with the wheel and the consequent objectionable speed of rotation of the wheel, is injurious to the mechanism or engine and results in wasteof energy often requiring increased gearing either in the form of reduction gears or interchangeable speed ears.

g A method of producing motive power which re uires the use of water or other liquid-in ar e quantities is objectionable, and one of the objects of this invention is to obtain the advantages which result from using liquid while dispensing with the use of an excessive quantity of liquid, in other ,methodof producing power whic will enable the, maximum powerto be obtained and utilized relatively to theweight of the engine'or motor to which such power is applied.

The principal object ofthe inventionis to provide a simple, economical and efficient rotary or turbine engine.

A further object is to provide a turbine engine or motor adapted tobe operated by means of a current or currents of intermixed compressible fluid and liquid passing tangentially into engagement with the wheel, with means for intermixing such fluid and liquid in such a manner as to roducea cur rent of greaterweight relative y to its s e'ed than a current of compressible fluid a one without condensing the compressible fluid or steam before it comes .in contact with the wheel and adapted to minimize the noise caused by the escaping steam and without producing objectionable back pressure.

'A further object is to provide, in a turbine engine or motor having a rotatable wheel, suitable and efficient means for introducing a current of intermixed fluid and liquid into operative enga ement or contact with such rotatable wheel, and to provide means for enabling the same liquid to .be continuously This ex- Wheel in end elevation, and Fig. 3, a view'in elevation SllOWlIlg the engineand a boiler A further object is to provide a turbineengine or motor wheel adapted to be re versed and operated in either direct on as desired at varying ratesof speed, thus enabling reversible gears and interchangeable higllll and low speed gears to be dispensed wit A further'lobject; is to provide a turbine engine with suitable means for introducing a manner that a continuous current of liquid 7 may be caused to encircle the wheel to be 0111): erated and intermixed with aportion of t e a current or currents of compressible fluid and intermixing liquid therewith in such a compressible fluid which is moving toward the wheel, also adapted to enable the liquid to be separated fromithe compressible fluid by means of centrifugal force in such a manner as to operate upon the wheel continuously 3Q power as would" result-from perflnttmg the I Other and fil h Objects Of the invention I or', repeatedly in combination with renewed compressible fluid, and without such loss of quid to become stationary.

-' will appear from an examination of. the drawclaims. v I

The invention consists in the features, "combinations andv detailsof construction ings and the following description and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a turbine engine or .motor constructed in accordance with my improvements; v..Fi -2, acentral sectional elevation taken on me 2 of Fi 1 looking the direction of thearroW an showing the operativelyconnected.therewith,

' enabling such engines ormotors to be driven p by means of a current or currents of. intermixed compressible fluid and 1i uid in such a manner that the rotatable whee may be eco- 'nomically drivenf'a a lower peripheral s eed than it is ractica Is to economically rive gsuchwhee by meansof a current of com- 7 ressible fluid ,or fluids without intermixing suggested it is well known that turbine vengmes 'ormotors which are operated by means of a current orcurrents of com-- pressible. fluid,such as'air, steam or gas,

5 can only be economically operated at an ex liquid to tially filled wi't cessively high peripheral speed It is also well known that such engines or motors are not adapted to 'be' controlledor operated in an economical manner at any desired rate of speed, or to enable the power to be increased to the desired extent with relation to the speed. iv In constructing an engine or motor accordance with-my improvements adfiPted to overcome-theseobjections I provide a casinga formed of metal or 0 any suitable material having the required strength to withstand the stresses and strains to which it is subjected in use; This. casin gis' rovided with a liquid supply chamber 1) which is par liquid preferably, having a higher boiling pointthan waiter.- The liquid may be in the form 0 brine, but 'on account of freedom fro1rf'?icausingcorrosion of the mechanism-,-- a mineral oil'Twhi ch-also has the desired high boilingpoint is ordinarily preferable. -An inner 'casm portion having:

end walls (1 ande, and whee -encirclingf;walls f forms a wheel-containing operating v 3 f ILP y c amber b shouldinfact be 'capableemg heated to a temperature asf-high as that of the steam with which it is intermixed without such liquid or oil coming to'a' boil or evaporatingi Inner wa s h together with the outer casing form liquid inlet assa es throu h which the liquid or oil is adhpte to pass om the liquid supply chamber-w]; into the operating chamber and into contact with the turbine or motorwheel contained in such operatingchamber.v The liquid supply chamber c om-' 'municates with the opleratin is adapted to receive. t

chamber and e surp us or. excess of liquid therefrom. during the o eration of the apparatus and afi'ordia sup y of liquid for suchoperating chamber. 6p

ine, omit the liquid ,to be drawn from the iqui supply chamber I) through the pas- I 1 j sages formed by-the walls It and forced, 1nto The improvementsin the apparatus herein described relate ,paljticularlyto rotatory or v turbine engines or motors and the means for contact with the wheel in the manner hereinafter described; A main shaftj is mounted enings'z' in the 1 walls It, preferably at the bottom of the enin suitable bearings the engine frameior "casing; These "bearings are {provided with packing rings 1, and securing caps m which may be of any ordinary and well known type. A turbine or motor wheel n having blades 0 is mounted upon the main engine or driving shaft and secured in fixed relation thereto inside the operatin chamber; Eech of. the, I blades 0 is provide with a movable ortiltable outer portion pivotally mounted at its outerend, and each of these pivotal blade portions is provided with concave surface portions g and r which are adapted to face in op-" P081156 directions when in extended position and receive the impact of the operatlng fluid I ing in the opposite direction.

for turning the wheel in either direction as deotal blade portions are each provided with preferably two integral arm portions 8 and t which extend outward at an angle with relation to each other from pivots'u which form the pivotal oints for the several pairs of such integral pivotal ortiltable blade portions. These pivots are mounted in suitable lug ortions v of. the main supporting arms or b ades of the wheel and extend through suitable perforations in the pivotal wing or blade ortions,'and the inner edges of the pivotai blade portions are recessed to form securing lug portions. The recessedportions also swing into engagement with the su orting arm or blade portions so as to hol the wings in position to be readily tilted in one direction and yet firmly and rigidly resist the pressure of the operating fluid against the blades. By this arrangement when either arm is moved toextended position so as to receive the impact of the current of op-. erating fluid, the other arm of each pair Wlll extend substantially parallel with the movement of the wheel and in the direction of movement of the liquid, the convex face of.

the extended arm or blade being in the direction'of movement of the wheel, and its concave surface being at the proper angle and in osition to receive the impact of the operat- 1 n fluid.

n order to enable all of the pivotal-mem'- bers to move together in position to present the desired arm in extended position andjprevent their movement separately, connecting rings w are mounted inside the pivotalblade portions and provided with slots y which engage studs 2 on the pivotal wings insuch a manner that the movement of one pair of wings in either direction will cause the movement of all of the-others to corresponding position. The connecting rings thus serve to lock all of the pivotal blade portions inthedesired position corresponding to the direction of movement of the wheel, and when the direction of the pressure'fluid is reversed it will impinge against the convex or extended sides of the pivotal members throwing. the extended arm or blade portion inward'and the inner arm or blade portion outward to ex'- tended position soas to receive the reverse current of fluid. upon the convex sides of such extended pivotal blade portions. a One or more compressible-fluid inlet nozzles 2 are provided and arranged in position to projecta currentof compressible fluid-into 'the operating chamber tangentially with relation to the turbineorir'notor wheel and operating chamber, causing such current of riphery of the wheel to permit the li uid to be intermixed with the compressible uid to pass between the blades and such apertures. The liquid is caused to pass in-a preferably continuous current into the path of the compressible fluid and is thus intermixed with a portion of the current of compressible fluid which ismoving toward the blades of the Wheel and before such portion of the compressible fluid impinges against the wheel.

so i

It is also desirable that the liquid while converging with the. currentof compressible fluid.

and'immediatelybefore strikiiig or entering such current, should be moving in the direction corresponding as nearlyvas practicable with the direction of movement of the comressible fluid so that the intermixed fluid and iquid-shall hav'e the maximum force relative to the speed of suchcurrent,- -in other words, I

so that the'force of the current of compressiblefluid will not be impaired by constantly overcoming the inertia of liquid having little or no movement favorable to the operation of the wheel. "In 'ordervto accomplish this, an aperture or liquid nozzle 4 is provided for each of the compressible fluid nozzles forming a liquid inlet passage 5' which converges with the adjacent pressure fluid passage or* inlet and is adapted to introduce the liquid into the path of movement'of the current of compressible fluid while both liquid and fluidare passing toward thewheel.

' The inner peripheral surfaces 6 of -the circling walls of the operating chamber have portions which are preferably parallel with the path of movement or periphery jo'f the. wheel and another portion or portions which the wheel or the lateral edges of its blades in opposite directions from the respective inlet nozzles. In other words the inner peri heral wall of the operating chamber is pre erably so constructed that a portion of. such wall diverges from the periphery or'path of movement-of the wheel outward'toward the adjacent inletnozzle so as to cause the liquid on the inside ofthe operating chamber to pass outward laterally beyond the. periphery of gradually; converge toward the periphery of v I the wheel just before entering the current of compressible fluid, and to enter such current while passing at a slightly oblique angle to the current of compressible fluid in the-general direction of the peripheral movement of the wheel and the moving current of compressible fluid. The liquid is thus enabled to-have a speed as nearly as possible equivalent to the speed of the current of compressible fluid immediately before and at a point of converg in'g therewith. A sleeve valve 7 is provided and slidably mounted upon each of the comany-desired extent.

ressib'le fluid nozzleshaving a tapered surace portion 8 which is adapted to engage the Walls ofthe li uid inlet passage 5 or liquid inlet nozzle an open or close such passage to sages which communicate with the uid chamber 16 in the and direct the curs g rents of compressib e uidprojected there from inward tangentially with relation to the u operating chamber and wheel.

The end or flatwall portions of the operating chamberextends inward toward the axial center of the wheel a sufficient distance to retain the desired quantity of liquid'in the operating chamber and are provided with. perforations for permitting the escape of compressible fluid or steam from the operating-chamber after the liquid has been separated therefrom ,by the action of centrifugal force. I The li uid being heavier than the compressib' e fluid retains its position at or laterally beyond 1 the periphery of the wheel and forms a coni tinuous current entirely encircling the wheel and sufficient to immerse and engage the f peripheral edge portions of its blades. The chambers in the plugs 12 are connected; with the source of compressible fluid supply, by means of pi es'1' 7 and 18. A needle 19. p the plug '12 and intofthe; fluid inlet nozz e and 'is ada ed to open and close or controlfthe size oft "e pressure-fluid; late the volume of compressible fluid. Eac ofthese'needle's; is provided with athreaded portion 20in" threaded engagement with a plug 12, and eel21 upon its outerend by flui extends throu inlet opening and thereby re with a hand w means of which the j needle or spindle is adapted to be rotated A suitable lpackingor d' inplac'e by'means-of-a cap 24 so as'to form a suitable bearing adapted to prevent the escape of fluid.

shown which are adapted torotatethe wheel.

In Fig. 1 two :forward driving'nozzles are in one direction, and one reversing backward. driving nozzle is shown at the bottom right hand corner of the figure. Any'desired number of both forward and rearward driv-fl inganozzles may be employed, and all may be su' stantially of the same construction. Thev description of one therefore applies to all and s it is deemed unnecessary to describe each =individually. The reversing nozzle is disposed Each of these sleeves ishe I lugs 12 are each provided with a threade portion 15 in threaded engagement with the main casing of the engine and the compressible fluid inlet nozzles v j 2 are mounted in this plug so as to form asso as to cause ave-,s'eo

pressible fluid and cause uid to be inter mixed with such com ressi le-fluid after it leaves the compressib e fluid nozzle and is adapted to direct'such intermixed current in the direction. opposite to that of the current or currents formed by the other two nozzles shown in said figure. The liquid inlet of this .nozzle may be opened or closed as desired in 'the manner already described. When the reversing nozzle is in operation the forwarddrivin nozzles are closed but when the forwa'rd riving nozzles are 'in o oration the li' uid passage of the reversingnozzle may be le t 0 on or closed as desired so as to permit liquid tov be drawn by centrifugal force throu h such liquid passage from the operating 0 amber into the assage 1 formed be-- tween the walls It whic' lead to the upper, driving nozzle ornozzles. When the liquid assage of the reversing nozzle is closed, owever, the/liquid contained in the operating chamber may be emitted to remain therein until it reaches t e desired quantity, being maintainedby centrifugal force at'or outward beyond the. eriphei'y of the wheel so as to form' an less current of liq-uid constantlyconver ing with a constantly re-' newed portion oft e current of compressible fluid and passing therewith into 0 erative contact with the blades of the whee The wall (1 of the operating chamber is prois permitted to escape from thechamber b Thev compressible fluid I through an outlet passa e or exhaust pi e 27 which may lead to anot er operating'c ambenwhena plurality of wheels in' se arate operating chambers are to be employe The forward driving nozzles may be upon one side of the vertical or transverse center of the wheel and the reversing nozzle or nozzles may be ont'he qpposite side of such center against the curved surface portion 28 oft e uid therefrom to impin e the adjacent orward driving nozzle. The

flpyid projected" from the forwaifd driving nozzle ad acent to such reversing nozzle imprp ges agalnst and asses over the curved su ace portion 29 a lacent to the reversing nozzle and flows para lel with the periphery 12o inner operatin chamber wall while passing maintained in the proper direction and position to efliciently engage and operate the svaseo v The curve of the inner face of the operating chamber'wall may be at any desired angle with relation to the periphery of the wheel at the points of intersection with the nozzles. By' thls means the current is permitted to diverge from the periphery of the wheel just before being intermixed with the current of.

compressible. liquid, and upon being intermixed with such current or currents of com- .pressible liquid the intermixed liquid is periphery of the wheel. It asses arallel with thepath of movement 0 the W eel for the desired distance expending its force thereon and being separated from the com ressible fluid .by the action of centrifuga force and retained in the operating chamber.- The liquid. in an endless current thus operates continuously and repeatedly in connection with a" constantly renewed and continuous a current or currents of compressible fluid. An

oil supply pipe 30 is'provided which communicatesw th "asuitable source 'of liquid supply, lpreferably oil, and which isadapted to enab e theliquid tobe introduced in a convenient manner.

The li uid may be supplied -to the operating cham er until a s' cient quantity is-reached to produce the 'desired; effect and the liquid inlets or nozzles' leading into such operatin chamber may then be closed if desired whi e continuing the introductionof compressible fluid, the liquid remaining substantially continuously in the operating chamber and being constantly in.-

utermixed with/such compressible fluid and caused to impingeagainst the blades of the whee'l when intermixed in the manner already described. 1 When it is desirable to employ a constantly renewed current of liquid, the liquid passages of the nozzles may remain open to the. desired extent so as to constantly supply liqui in addition to that contained in the 'oper ting chamber and causesa constant'flow of "both liquid and compressible fluidinto and out-of the operat ing'chamber. v

It is desirable that the li uid intermixed with the compressible'fluid s ould'be mainpreferably tained at ahigh temperature I norder to above the boiling point of water.

accomplish this, in an efiicient manner and of the boiler through the pipes 33, 34, 35,

and -17 into the steam chambers-16 in the plugs 12, and thence to the respective compressible fluid supply nozzles and the operata casin ing chamber. The boiler here shown is pro vided with an oil burner 36 which may be ofany ordinary and. well known type, and is provided with an oil supply pipe 37' which communicates with a suitable source of oil orcompressible fluid supply, 7

In operation compresslble fluid for operating the engine is forced in a continuous cur rent or currents toward the blades of the engine or motor wheel and the heated liquid is intermixed with a'portion of such current or currents while moving toward the wheel and after being projected from the nozzle or nozzles is as 'dry' a condition as possible. The

liquid is caused to flow in a preferablycontinuous current which encircles the wheel to be operated thereby, and is separated from the compressible fluid by centrifugal force which causes the liquid to force the steam towardthe center of the wheel and permitting it to pass out of the operating chamber, thus separating the compressible fluid and liquid A turbine en e or motor constructed as above describe is adapted to run efficiently at a relatively slow peripheral speed and is very eflicient as a portable engine, and is capable of. sustainingthe shocks and vibra'- vtions which would in a short time injure or destroy an engine which is required to run at ral speed requlred when comthe high perip An gme O en s pressible fluld alone is used.

light as to be handled manuallymay have high power in proportion to its weight and therefore e very efficient in use for many urposes familiar to those skilled in the art. t should also be noted that the intermixing of the liquid with the compressible fluid in the manner above described, serves to muflie or reduce the noise caused by the escaping steam without causingback pressure or reducing the efficiency of the steam. This results from reducing the speed of the steam before it strikes. the mechanism to be operated" and is very desirable especially forautomobiles andother portable engines or motors.

Iclaim: l

. 1. In a turbine engine the combination of a rotary wheel having peripheral blades, formin an operating chamber in whic such w eel is mounted and provided with compressible fluid and liquid inlet passages communicating with separate sources'of supply and leading tangentially into the chamber, said chamber having imperforate end wall portions extending fromthe peripheral wall of the chamber inward past the periphery of the wheel and adapted to retain an annular revolving current of liquid in the o eratin chamber, and having a com ressi le flui outlet leading from the sham er at a point toward the axial.

center of the wheel from the outer annular water-containing portion of the chamber.

2. In a turbine engine, the combination of rotary wheel mechanism having lateral blades,- and a (casing. forming a chamber in which such wheel mechanism is mounted provided with a compressible fluid nozzle and a liquid inlet nozzle leading tangentiallyinto the chamber in position to discharge intermixed currents ofcompressible fluid and liquid against'the wheel mechanism" r for rotating it, saidchamber having an annular centrally perforated en'dwall adapted to retain a revolving annular current of water; in the chamber and ermitthe escape of compressible fluid and t ereby separate the coma 'pressible fluid from the liquid thesaid chamber.

3, In a turbine engine, the combination of rotary wheel mechanism provided-with peripheral blades, a, casingforming an inner annular o crating chamber in which lthe wheel mechanism is mounted,.and anouter water containing chamber forming .a water passage which partly encircles the operating chamber and wheel and opens into the operating chamber at a tangent with relation to the wheel mechanism, said operating chamber having an end wall extending from "the peripheral 'wall of said chamber inward past the periphery of the, wheel. mechanism toward the axial center thereof and adapted to're'tain a revolving-annular current of waterin the operating chamber,

. said end vwall having an opening inside the outer annularwater retaining portionthereof ada ted to ermit the esca e ofcompressible fiui from t e chamber an thereby separate the said compressible fluid from the liquid in the chamber, and a compressible fluid inlet nozzle mounted adjacent to the inlet opening of the liquid passage 'in, 'position to discharge a current of. com ressiblefluid into the liquid and tangential y'into the operat-'. ing-chamber. y

- 4. In a turbine engine, the combination of a easin forming an annular inner operating'cham er and a lateral water contain-' ingpassa e which partly encircles and leads tangentially into the operating chamber,

a fluid inlet nozzle communicating with a compressible fluid supply passage and opening into the liquid inlet passage in position to dischar e a current of compressible 'fiuid' through t e liquid passage and tangentially into the operating chfamber, wheel .s pp Pa g -;6. n

such chamber in the compressible uid and liquid from such pa'ss agp avaseo wall portions formin an annular inner operating chamber a apted to retain: an

annular current'of, water and provided with a central outlet opening-in the .endwall portion of the operating chamber for g the escape of' compressible uid mittini' lrom t e chamber, awheelfrotatably mounted' in the chamber and provided with radial blades having their outer. peripheral edes extending laterallybeyond the outere ge of the outlet opening of the operating chamher, a liquid inlet nozzle 1 opening into the operating chamber tangentially with relation to the wheel, and a -fluid inlet nozzle openin into the o erating chamber tan-* gential y with relation to the wheel and f communicating with a compressible fluid:

4 an engme, mg provided with an operatingchamber and having a compressible fluid inlet passage and the combination of'a casa liquid inletpassage leading into such chamber, rotatable wheel mechanism mounted in osition'to be rotated by pressi le fluid from the liquid-int e.,'operatj mg chamber substantially as described.

s and means for separating-the com{ '7; In an engine, the'combinationof a cas- I ingprovided with'an operating chamber and having a compressible fluid inlet. -passage and a liquid inlet passage leading into such cham- 4 her; rotatable wheel mechanism, mounted in such chamber in position to be operated upon by th'ecompres'sible fluid and liquid from j surah: assages, valve mechanismforopening an o osing the compressible fluid inlet-passage and means for separating the compressis ble fluid from the liquid inthe operating chamber and permittmgtheescape of the compressible fluid therefrom, substantially as described 8. In an engine, the combination .of time ing provided with anoperating chamberand haymg a compressible uid inlet passage and a liquid inlet passage leading into such chamber, rotatable wheel-mechanism mounted in such chamber in osition to be operated upon his fluid and liquidfrom such passages, .Valvemechanismfor o ening and. nl ct passagey by the compressi closing the compressible fluid i means 'for opening and closingthe liquid nlet passa e means for separating the come pressible uid from the liquid in the operating 7 chamber, and'means forpermittin the escape of the compressible fluid from t e casing as described.

9. In an engine, the combinationof a 033-. ingprovided with an o crating chagnberand and retaining the liquid thereim substantially havmg a compressible uid inlet-passage and a liquid inlet passage leading-into suchchamber and provided with a liquid contain ing chamber with which the li uid assage communicates, rotatable whee mec anism mounted in such operating chamber in position to be operated upon by the compressible fluid and liquid from such passages, a nozzle for such compressible fluid inlet passage,

means for 1plpening and closing the compressichamber in position to be impinged and operated by the compressible fluid and liquid from such passages means for retaining an annular current of liquid in the operating chamber and permitting the escape of compressible fluid therefrom, and means for permitting the escape of com ressible fluid from the casing and retaining t e liquid, substantially as described.

the liquidand into en agement with the blade 11. In an engine, the combination of a casing provided with an operating chamber containing liquid, a rotatable wheel mounted in such chamber and adapted to"-be entirely encircled by such liquid when in operation,

means for forcing compressible fluid into such chamber through the liquid and into engagement with such rotatable wheel and means for forcing the compressible fluid in: ward through the wheel encircling liquid on the inside of the operating chamber and permitting it to escape therefrom, substantially as described.

12. In an engine, the combination of a cas ing provided with a liquid containin chamber, a wheel rotatably mountedin suc 4 li uid containing chamber and provided with b ade portions having their outer edges immersed 1n such li uid, means for forcing-a current of compressi le fluid into such chamber through portions of such whee and meansv for causing the liquid to pass repeatedly into the path of .movement of the portion of the com res'sible fluid assing into the chamber an toward the wlleel and into driving contact with the wheel, substantially as described.

v 13, In an engine, the combination of a casing provided with an operating-chamber, a wheel rotatably mounted in such operating chamber, a compressible fluid inlet passage I provided with an inlet aperture opemng into l I t passage means for separating mounted, a casing provided with an operatentirely encircling the wheel and exten 'ng the operating chamber, means for intro ducing liquid between such aperture and the rotatable wheel and means for confining the desired portion of the liquid in the operating chamber and separating and ermitting the escape of compressible fluid t erefrom substantially as described.

14. In an engine, the combination of a rotatable wheel, a casing provided' with a chamber in which such wheel is rotatably mounted, and havin a compressible fluid inlet passage provide with a mouth opening into such operating chamber, such chamber being rovided with revolving annular current of liquid extending between the mouth of such compressible fluid passage and the rotatable wheel, substantially as described.

15. In an engine, the-combination of a rotatable wheel, a shaft on which the wheel is ing chamber in which such wheel is rotatably mounted, and having a compressible fluid inlet passage opening into such 0 erating chamber, such chamber being provi ed with 1i uid between it and the inlet opening of the compressible fluid passage, and having an axialopening through which the shaft extends ada ted to permit the escape of compressible fluid from the o erating chamber, substantially as described 16. In an engine, the combination of a casing provided with an o erating chamber having a com ressible flui inlet passage communicating t erewith, and provided with a liquid supply chamber communicating with the o erating chamber, means for opening and c osing the compressible fluid inlet passage, a wheel mounted inthe o eratin chamber in position to be operate upon y the compressible fluid and li uid, such operating chamber being provide with an opening for permitting the escape of compressible fluid therefrom and having end walls extending from a point beyond the periphery of the V wheel inward toward the axial center thereof for retaining the desired quantity of liquid in such operating chamber, substantially as describe 17. In an engine, a rotatable wheel provided with ivotal blade portions each having a pair of arms extending at an angle with re ation to each other and provided} with curved surface portions, and means foropepatively connecting a plurality. of such b ade 7 portions.

HARRY I. CROMER. Witnesses:

ETHEL M. JONES,

Tnos. M. PoYNToN.

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