US716589A - Rotary engine. - Google Patents

Description

Nn, 7i`,589. Patented nec. 23, |902.

J. SPRINGER & W. A. ROBBINS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application led Dec. 14, $1901.) (No Model.) 2 sheets-.sheet .sf

ringer' Jz-wezztozus John 6]'0 T/Vz'lliam A.Robbz'ns by bei? Affam ey No. 716,589. Patented nec. 231 |902.

J. SPRINGER' & w. A. noms.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application led Dec. 14, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-$hee 2.

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UNITED STATES IPA-TENT OFFICE.

JOHN SPRINGER AND IVILLIAM A. ROBBINS, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentY No. 716,589, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed December 14. 1901. Serial No. 85.885. (No model.)

To @ZL w/wm/ it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN SPRINGER and WILLIAM A. RoBBINs, citizens of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary engines, and has for its object to provide au engine of this character of simple construction and increased efficiency.

Another object of the invention is to provide an engine of this character wherein there will be a continuous exertion of pressure upon the driving-shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary engine having no dead-center.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve for a cut-ofi'.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved governor-controlled cut-oif for rotary engines; and another object of the invention is to provide an improved pistonwheel for rotary engines.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical central longitudinal section of a form of our invention; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view, at right angles to Fig. 1, taken on the line Ct a thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a form of valve. Fig. 4 is a diagram of the valve-port. Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the piston-wheels and associated parts. Figs. 6, 7, and S are diagrammatic views on the plane of Fig. 2, but to a smaller scale, showing the operation of the parts. Y Y

The engine is shown as mounted upon a suitable bed, (designated in a general way by A,) to which is secured a suitable housing (designated in a general way by B) and which is shown as embodying end plates 7 S and acentral plate 9, substantially parallel with the end plates, to which plates are securedrings 10 10, constituting housings and expansionchambers for the piston-wheels 11 1l, which wheels are rigidly mounted upon adrivingshaft 12, havingsuitable bearings 13 inhousings 14, secured to the end plates, shown as conoidal in form and having the journals in the apexes. Each wheel is shown as prowheel immediately behind the piston.

vided with twopistons 15, freely sliding inchambers 16, (shown as tangential,) each of which chambers is in communication by means of an inlet-port 17 with avalve 18,10- cated in achamber 19 in the piston-wheel and affording access to a centrally-located fluidchest 20, receiving its fluid from the source of supply through theport 21. The iiuidchest 2O is shown as located between the piston-wheels. Connected with the inner end of each of the piston-chambers is achannel 22, communicating with the perimeter of the Two concentric expansion-chambers (designated in a general way by C O) are shown as provided between the perimeter 11' of each of the piston-wheels and theinner perimeter 10 of the housing l0, which are shown as having diametrically oppositely disposedexhaustports 23 23, communicating with some suitable point outside of the housing. Atashort distance ahead of the exhaust-port anincline 24 is provided upon thehousing 10, upon which inclines the pistons ride up and are pressed into the piston-chambers, whereupon they will cut off or throttle thechannel 22, and immediately thereafter the pistons will ride past the exhaust-ports and permit the cylinder to exhaust, aportion 25 ofthe face of the housing immediately past the exhaust-port being in engagement with the piston-wheel, thus bringing the piston completely within the wheel at that point. An inclined plane orface 26 leads away from such point of engagement, permitting the piston to slide out from its'chamber under the pressure exerted upon its upper end, it being held constantly against the outer working face of the expansion-chamber by such pressure. Theincline 26 may, if desired, be made more abrupt than theincline 24. Theinclines 211 and 26 and face 25 form a cam-face. Upon thepiston being pushed down by the fluid expansion the fluid may pass through thechannel 22 and exert its expansive pressure upon the piston, expanding between the piston and theface 26, which takes the place of a cylinderhead. It will be seen that the piston not only acts as a piston, but also as a cut-off or throttle. The fluid in the piston thereby is prevented from escape; otherwise the iiuid IOO back of the piston would exhaust and the incoming fluid would expand unnecessarily, causing a Waste.

Thevalves 18 are shown as each composed of ahollow cylinder 27, open at oneend 28 and provided at the perimeter with atriangular opening 29, a diagram thereof being shown in Fig. 4, having oneside 30 parallel to the axis of the cylinder and oneside 31 substantially transverse thereto, Which opening leads from the outside into thehollow interior 32, the open end of the cylinder being in communication with the fluid-chest 20 and forming an inlet-port, the organization being such that theside 30 of the triangle will coincide with the side of the inlet-port 17 for the piston. The valves are shown as providedwith stems 32', passing through suitable adjustable stuffing-boxes 35 andglands 36, having packing 37 therebetween. The valve-stems are provided with journals 37', havingbearings 38 onwings 39 of acollar 40. The driving-shaft journals are shown as provided withbushings 41, secured in the housing bysetscrews 42, each bushing extending inwardly in the form of asleeve 43, upon which sleeve a gear-wheel 45 is loosely mounted and capable of reciprocation thereon. The gear-wheel is provided with a hub or sleeve 45', upon which is freely mounted acollar 40, held from reciprocation on the sleeve 45' by a ring 46', held in place on the sleeve or hub by setscrews. Each Valve-stem is provided with apinion 46, in mesh with the gear-wheel 45, the organization being such that upon the revolution of the piston-Wheels and shaft the pinions will be rotated by the stationary gear- Wheel and rotate the Valves, and the openings in the valves and valve-.chambers will be caused to register to form ports and on further rotation to cut olif. In Fig. 5 the upper valve is shown in a position relatively to the opening in its chamber to produce a fullsized port, the position of the piston being shown at the beginning of its stroke. The fiuid will be gradually out off by means of the spiral conformation of the port of the Valve, so that upon the completion or approach to completion of the stroke of the piston the fluid will be entirely cut off.

The ring 46' may be engaged bypoints 48 of ayoke 49, which yoke is secured upon a rock-shaft 50, projecting out through the housing to either a governor or some other suitable operating device. If the engine is running too fast, upon the rocking of the shaft a predetermined distance the yoke will be moved, thereby moving the valves in a direction from the stuffing-boxes and will thereby diminish the area of the ports formed by the openings in the valves and the openings in the chambers and cause the valves to cut off sooner. Upon the reduction of speed the valves will be moved back toward their full port and normal cut-off position. Each side of the piston-wheels is shown as provided with suitableannular channels 51, in which suitduction port; expansion chambers; and a cam-face in each expansion-chamber effective to actuate one 0f the throttling means.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of framework; a shaft carried thereby; a plurality of piston-Wheels mounted upon the shaft independently of each other; an expansion-chamber for each piston-wheel; a fluidchest common to the piston-wheels; and a valve and valve-chamber carried by each wheel, the valve and valve mechanism of one wheel beingindependent of and separate from the other wheel.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of framework; a shaft carried thereby; a plurality of piston-wheels independently mounted upon the shaft; an expansion-chamber for each piston-wheel; a fluid-chest common to the piston-wheels; a valve carried by each wheel for its piston; and means outside of each piston-wheel independent of the other wheel and its Valve effective to operate the valve of each wheel independently of the valve of the other Wheel.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination of a framework; a shaft carried thereby; a plurality' of piston-Wheels mounted upon the shaft; a plurality of pistons carried by each wheel; an expansion-chamber for each piston-wheel; a fluid-chest common to the piston-wheels; valves carried by each piston- Wheel for opening and cutting off the fluid to each piston; and means outside of the pistonwheels effective to operate the Valves to open and cut off, and to regulate the area of opening and instant of cut off.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with an expansion-chamber, of a piston-wheel; a plurality of pistons carried thereby and o'perablein the same expansion-chamber; valves effective upon rotation to admit steam to the pistons and upon further rotation to cut 0E; means outside thereof foroperating the valves by the movement of the piston-Wheel and comprising a gear-wheel connected to each valve; and a gear-wheelr fixed against rotation in mesh therewith.

6. The combination with a shaft; a pistonwheel; a piston carried thereby; a valve effective upon rotation to admit steam behind the piston and upon further rotation to cut 0E, and upon reciprocation effective to regulate the cut off; a valve-stem protruding from the valve; a stationary gear-wheel surround- IIO ing the shaft; a sleeve or hub on the gearwheel; a collar on the sleeve and in which said valve-stem is journaled; and a pinion on the valve-stem in mesh with the gear-Wheel and effective upon the rotation of the pistonwheel to rotate the valve.

7. The combination with a shaft; a pistonwheel; a piston carried thereby; a valve effective upon rotation to admit steam behind the piston and upon further rotation to cut olf, and upon reciprocation effective to regulate the cut off; a valve-stem protruding from the valve; a stationary gear-wheel surrounding the shaft; ahnb or sleeve on the gearwheel; a collar on the sleeve in which said valve-stem is journaled; a pinion on the valve-stem in mesh with the gear-wheel and effective upon the rotation of the pistonwheel to rotate the valve; and means connected with a governor effective to shift the collar and reciprocate the valve.

8. The combination with a shaft; a pistonwheel; a piston carried thereby; a valve effective upon rotation to admit steam behind the piston and upon further rotation to cnt off, and upon reciprocation effective to regulate the cut oif, a valve-stem protruding from the valve; a collaron the shaft in which said valve-stem is journaled; a stationary gearwheel surrounding the shaft; and a pinion on the valve-stem in mesh therewith and effective upon the rotation of the piston-wheel to rotate the valve, a hub on the gear-wheel; a rock-shaft; and a yoke carried by the rockshaft and in engagement with the hub and capable of reciprocating the collar, valve and gears.

9. The combination with a housing, of a driving-shaft therein; a piston-Wheel located upon the shaft; an expansion-chamber between the perimeters of the piston-wheel and housing; exhaust-ports for the expansionchamber; inclined faces before and behind each exhaust-port; piston-chambers in the piston-wheel; an inlet-port leading from the interior of the piston-wheel to the pistonchamber and from the piston-chamber to the perimeter of the wheel; pistons located in the piston-chambers and capable of movement in and out under the infiuence of the' inclined faces and of pressure of the expansion tiuid respectively and capable upon their inward movement of cutting off aportion ofthe inlet, at all times leaving the portion of such inlet between the piston-chamber and the perimeter exposed to the exhaust.

10. Inarotaryengine,the combination with a housing of a shaft journaled in the housing; a piston-wheel mounted upon the shaft and having its perimeter concentric to the perimeter of the housing, an expansion-chamber formed by the space therebetween; an eX- haust-port leading from the expansion-chamber; an inclined face at the approach to the exhaust-port; a piston-chamber in the pistonwheel; an inlet-port from the piston-chamber to the perimeter of the piston-wheel; a

piston in the piston-chamber and capable of moving thereout under the intiuence of pressure and capable upon such movement of opening the inlet-port, and upon contact with the inclined face of the eXhaust-port,of movement into the piston-wheel, and upon such movement capableof throttlingtheinlet-port; a cylindrical valve-chamber, in the piston- Wheel and having its aXis parallel to the axis ofthe wheel; a rotary and reciprocatory valve, located in the valve-chamber, comprised of a hollow cylindrical body having a closed end and an inlet-port comprising an open end thereof; aport in the perimeter of the valve, communicating with the inlet-port; a fluidchest located adjacent thereto and in communication with the valve through its inletport; an openingin the perimeter of the valvechamber in communication with the pistonchamber and capable upon registry with the opening in the perimeter of the valve, upon rotation thereof, to form a port, and capable upon the reciprocation of the Valve to vary the area of the port; a valve-stem projecting from the closed end of the valve; a pinion and ajournal thereon; a stationary bushing in the journal of the shaft; a gear-wheel on the bushing and in gear with the pinion; a hub or sleeve on the gear-wheel; a* collar loosely mounted on the hub and capable of rotation thereon; a journal on said collar, in which the valve-stem journal is entered; a connection between the gear-wheel and collar eective to cause the same to reciprocate together; a rock-shaft located adjacent thereto; and a yoke carried by the rock-shaft and in engagement with the hub.

l1. In a rotaryengine,the combination with a housing, comprising a substantially cylindrical portion, and end portions conoidal in form; of a shaft journaled in the apexes of the conoidal portions; piston-wheels concentrically mounted upon the shaft, and having their perimeters concentric to the inner perimeter of the housing; expansion-chambers formed by the spaces between the perimeters of the respective piston-wheels and housing; exhaust-ports leading from each expansionchamber; inclined faces at each side of the exhaust-ports; piston-chambers in the pistonwheels; an inlet-port from each piston-chamber to the perimeter of the piston-wheel; pistons in the piston-chambers, and capable of movement thereout under the iniiuence of pressure, and capable upon such movement of opening the inlet-ports, and upon contact with the inclined faces adjacent to theexhaust-ports of movement into the pistonwheels and upon such movement capable of throttling the inlet-ports; cylindrical valvecharnbers in the piston-wheels, having their axes parallel to the axis of the shaft; reciprocatory and rotary valves located in the valve-chambers, each comprised of a hollow cylindrical body having a closed end and an inlet-port comprising an open end thereof, a port in the perimeter of the valve communi- IIO eating with the inlet-port through the interior of the cylinder; a huid-chest located between the piston-Wheels and in constant communication with the interior of the valves through their inlet-ports;lopenings in the perimeters of the valve-chambers in communication with the piston-chambers and capable upon registry with the openings in the perimeters of the valves upon the rotation thereof to form ports and capable upon the reciprocation of the valves to vary the area of the ports; Valve-stems projecting from the closed ends of the valves; a pinion and a journal on each stem; stationary bushings for each piston-Wheel in the journal of the shaft, a gear-wheel on each bushing and in gear with the pinions of the valve-stems; a collar loosely mounted on the shaft adjacent to each gearwheel, capable of rotation thereon and reciprocation therewith; journals on said collars; journals on each of the valve-stems; con nections between the gear-wheels and collars on the respective bushing effective to cause the collar and gear-Wheel to reciprocate together; and rock-shafts adjacent thereto; yokes carried on the rock-shafts and in engagement with the gear-wheels.

12. The combination with an expansionchamber; a piston-wheel located therein; a piston-chamber in the piston-wheel; a port extending through the piston-chamber to the expansion-chamber; a chest; a valve between the chest and port; means for operating the valve; and a piston in the piston-chamber, capable of movement therein under the influence of pressure'and upon such movementl cooperative with the valve to control the port.

13. The combination with a source of eX- pansible-uid supply, of an expansion-chamber; a cam -face therein; a piston wheel mounted in the expansion-chamber; a piston-chamber in the wheel; a port extending through the piston-chamber to the expansionchamber; a chest; a valve between the chest and port; means for actuating the valve upon the rotation of the Wheel; and a piston in the piston-chamber, capable of movement into the expansion-chamber under the iniiuence of the pressure of the fluid and by such movement effective vto open the port with the cooperation of the valve, and capable of movement into the piston-wheel upon engagement with the cam-face and by such movement effective to throttle the port irrespective of the valve.

14. A rotary piston-wheel and a rotary cutoff valve carried thereby and capable of continuous rotation in the direction of rotation a valve-chamber located therein; a Valve in the valve-chamber; a channel leading from the Valve-chamber to the piston-chamber; and a port leading from the piston-chamber to the perimeter of the wheel.

18. The combination with a shaft; a pistonwheel; a piston carried thereby; a rotary valve carried by the piston-wheel and effective upon rotation to admit steam behind the` piston and upon further rotation to cut olf and upon reciprocation effective to regulate the cut oif; and means for rotating the Valve and for reciprocating the same.

19. In an engine, the combination with a piston wheel; a piston carried thereby; a valve-chamber in the piston-wheel having an opening for supplying uid behind the piston; a rotary and reciprocatory valve having an opening of a different shape than the opening in the valve-chamber, said opening effective upon the rotation of the valve and upon the registry thereof to establish a port and upon further rotation to cut off and upon reciprocation to regulate the instant of cutoff; means for rotating the valve; and means for reciprocating the Valve.

20. In an engine, the combination with a piston-wheel; a plurality of pistons carried thereby; inlet-ports for each piston; a valvechamber for each piston and each having an opening connected with its port; a rotary and reciprocatory valve within each Valve-chamber provided With an opening, saidvopening effective upon the rotation of the valve and upon registry thereof with the opening in the chamber to establish a port and upon further rotation to cut off and upon reciprocation to regulate the instant of cut off; means for rotating the Valves; and independent means for reciprocating the valves.

21. In an engine, the combination with a rotary piston-wheel; a plurality of pistons located therein at an angle to the radius thereof inclined away from such radius in the direction of rotation; an independent valve and valve-chamber for each piston; and an eX- pansion chamber surrounding the piston- Wheel and provided with cams constituting abutments in the nature of heads for the eX- pansion-chamber.

22. In a rotary engine,the combination with a piston-wheel; a substantially cylindrical chamber surrounding the wheel; a plurality of pistons carried thereby and capable of movement in and out of the wheel; an abutmentin the nature of a head, within the chamber, of gradual ascent and of precipitate declivity; a valve-chamber for supplying fluid IOO IIO

behind each piston; an opening in the valvechamber; a valve Within each chamber provided with an opening capable upon rotation to open a port and to cut off, and upon reciprocation to Vary the area of the port and the instant of cut off; means connecting all the valves for rotation With the rotation ot the piston-Wheel; a governor; and means connecting all the valves foroperation in unison by the governor.

23. In a rotary engine,the combination with a piston-Wheel; a piston located therein; a valve-chamber; a rotary and reciprocatory valve located in the chamber for controlling the snpplyot fluid behind the piston; an opening in the valvechamber; an opening in the valve having a portion of the same size and shape as the openingin the valve-chamberand a portion of less dimension in one direction than the opening in the valve-chamber; and means for rotating and for reciprocating the valve.

24. Inarotaryengine,the combination with a piston-Wheel; a piston located therein; a valve-chamber; a rotary and reoiprocatory valve for supplying fluid behind the piston located in the valve-chamber; an opening in the valvechamber; an opening in the valve having a portion ot' the same size and shape as the opening in the chamber and a portion ot' less dimension in one direction than the opening in the valve-chamber; means operable in the direction of such decrease in dimension for rotating the valve; and means for reciprocating the Valve.

25. In arotary engine,the combination with a piston-Wheel; an expansion-chamber snrrounding the Wheel; an exhaust-port from the expansion-chamber; an abutment in the nature of a head at the region of the exhaust, being of gradual ascent upon the approach side and of precipitate declivity upon the recession side; a piston-chamber in the Wheel disposed at an angle to the radius thereof; a piston Within the piston-chamber and capable of movement into and out of the Wheel; a port for supplying expansion fluid behind the piston; a valve-chamber having an opening communicating With the port; a 'valve located Within the chamber provided with an opening capable of registry with the opening in the chamber and having a portion of such opening of the same size and shape as the opening in the chamber and a portion of less dimension in one direction than the opening in the Valve-chamber and gradually decreasing in such dimension; and means for shiftf ing the valve to bring the respective portions of its opening into registry with the opening in the Valve-chamber for the purpose of establishing a port and to cut off.

26. Inarotaryengine,thecombination With a piston; a port for supplying expansion fluid behind the piston; a valve-chamber having an opening communicating With the port; a valve located Within the chamber provided with an opening capable of registry With the opening in the chamber and having a portion of such opening of the same size and shape as the opening in the chamber and a portion of less dimension in one direction than the open ing in the valve-chamber and gradually decreasing in such dimension; and 'means for shifting the valve to bring the respective portions of its opening into registry With the opening in the valve-chamber for the purpose of establishing a port and to cut oft.

27. In arotaryengine,thecombination with a piston; a port for supplying expansion fluid behind the piston; a valve-chamber having an opening communicating with the port; a valve located Within the chamber provided With an opening capable of registry With the opening in the chamber and having a portion of such opening of the same size and shape as the opening in the chamber and a portion of less dimension in one direction than the opening in the valve-chamber and gradually' decreasing in such dimension; means for rotating the valve to bring the respective portions of its opening into registry with the opening in the Valve-chamber for the purpose ot' establishing a port and to cut olf; and means for reciprocating the valve to vary the area of port and the instant of cut oft.

2S. Inarotary engine,the combination with a piston-Wheel; an expansion-chamber surrounding the wheel; an exhaust-port for the expansion-chamber; an abutment in the nature of a head at the region of the exhaust, being of gradual ascent upon the approach side and of precipitate declivity upon the recession side; a piston-chamber in the Wheel disposed at an angle to the radius thereof; a piston Within the piston-chamber and capable of movement into and out ot the Wheel; a port for supplying expansion fluid behind the piston; a valve-chamber having an opening communicating with the port; a valve lo` cated Within the chamber provided with an opening capable of registry with the opening in the chamber and having a portion of such opening of the same size and shape as the opening in the chamber and a portion of less dimension in one direction than the opening in the valve-chamber and gradually decreasing in such dimension; means for rotating the valve to bring the respective portions of its opening into registry With the opening in the valve-chamber for the purposeot' establishing a port and to cut off; and means for reciprocating the valve to vary the area of port and the instant of cut oit.

29. In arotaryengine,the combination with a piston-wheel; a cylindrical expansion-chaln ber su rrounding the piston-Wheel; an exhaustport from the chamber; a pistou-chamber Within the piston-Wheel at an angle to the radius thereof and projecting toward the direction ot rotation of the wheel; a valve-chamber Within the piston-Wheel; a passage there# from to the perimeter of the Wheel embracing in part a portion of the piston-chamber; a piston located Within the chamber and ca- IIO inclining toward the direction of rotation of the Wheel and capable of movement into and out of the Wheel; a valve and valve-chamber carried by the wheel for each piston an inclined face of gradual ascent upon the approach to each port; and an inclined face of precipitate declivity upon the recession side thereof.

3l. In a rotary engine,the combination With a piston-Wheel; a cylindrical expansion-chamber surrounding the Wheel; exhaust-ports for the chamber; pistons located Within the piston-Wheel at an angle to the radius thereof and inclined toward the direction of the rotation thereof, and capable of movement into and out of the Wheel; an inclined face of gradual ascent upon the approach to each port; an incline of precipitate' declivity upon the recession side thereof; and rotary valves carriedlby the Wheel for supplying expansion Huid behind each piston.

32. In arotaryengine,the combination with a piston-Wheel; a piston-chamber surrounding the Wheel; exhaust-ports for the chamber; pistons located Within the piston-wheel at an angle to the radius thereof and inclined toward the direction of the rotation of the wheel and capable of movement into and o ut -sion side thereof; an inlet-port for supplying expansion iluid behind eachpiston; a valvechamber in the Wheel having an opening in communication with the port; a valve located Within each valve-chamber; an opening in the Valve for registering with the opening in the valve-chamber; and means for rotating the valve operable by the rotation of the piston- Wheel.

33. In a rotary engine,the combination with a piston-Wheel; a piston-chamber surrounding the wheel; exhaust-ports for the chamber; pistons located Within the piston-Wheel at an angle to the radius thereof and inclined toward the direction of the rotation of the Wheel and capable of movement into and out of the Wheel; an inclined face of gradual ascent upon the approach to each port; an incline of precipitate declivity upon the recession side thereof; an inlet-port for supplying expansion fluid behind each piston; a valvechamber having an opening in communication with the port; a valve located Within each Valve-chamber; an opening in the valve for registering with the opening in the valvechamber having a portionof such opening of the same shape and area as the opening in the valve-chamber and a portion of graduallydecreasing area; means controlled by the rotation of the Wheel for rotating the valves in unison; and means for reciprocating the valves in unison.

JOHN SPRINGER. WILLIAM A. ROBBINS.

Witnesses:

CLIFTON REEvEs, CURLES T. WILLIAMS.

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