US709242A - Rotary engine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 709,242. Patented Sept. l6, I902. T. 0., J. c. e. H. A. PRESCOTT.

BUTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

ZTZZBSCOZZ No. 709,242; Patented Sept. I 6, I902. T. D., J. C. 8. H. A. PRESCOTT.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NoModeL') ATENT FFICE.

THOMAS D. PRESCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, AND JAMES C. PRESCOTT AND HENRY A. PRESCOTT, OF MINERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF TWO-FIFTHS TO JAMES H. CLOSSON AND HENRY BELL, OF PHILADEL- ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,242, dated September 16, 1902. Application filed September 20,1901. Serial No. 75,864. (No model.)

To all. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that We, THOMAS D. PRESCOTT, residing at Philadelphia, and JAMES C. PRES- com and HENRY A. PRESCOTT, residing at Minersville, in the county of Schuylkill, State of Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine,'of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in rotary engines designed to be operated by air, steam, or other fluid, and has for its principal object to construct a high-speed engine of the most simple character and at the same time economical in the use of the [5 motive medium, provision being made for the use of the air or steam expansibly.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the free exhaust of the air or steam after its work has been accomplished.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described,shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a highspeed rotary engine constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same, taken through the steam passages or ports shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the cylinder of the engine. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the nozzle end of the 5 air or steam supply pipe.

The piston of the engine is formed of two disks 5 6 of the same diameter and each provided with integral bosses adapted to suitable hearings in fixed standards forming the frame of the engine. In the disk 5 are recesses 7, extending in a curved line from the center to the periphery of the disk, the recesses gradually decreasing in width as they approach the periphery of the disk and there terminating in a comparatively small Outlet,

the direction of which is Substantially tangential to the circumferential line of said disk. At a point within the disk near the outlet-opening the recess is widened and forms an abrupt shoulder or abutment S. The disk so 6 is provided with similar recesses 7 and shoulders 8, the recesses forming, when the disks are secured together, passages for the escape of steam from the center to the periphcry of the disk. The steam -passages, of which there may be any desired number, are supplied with fluid under pressure through a pipe 9, leading to the center of the disk 6, the fluid being divided and directed into the different passages by a comparatively sharp 6c division-wall 10, formed at the center of the disk 5 between the recesses 7. The disks are bolted together and rotate within a stationary cylinder 11 of a construction more fully described hereinafter. from the disk 5 is a central boss 12, secured to or formed integral with the main shaft of the engine and serving to transmit the power to any desired point. The disk 6 is provided with a central hub 14, adapted to a suitable bearing l5,carried by a standard 16, and a similar-bearing 17 is provided in a standard 18 for the boss 12. The hub 14 is hollow and is provided near one end with an inwardly-extending annularflange 20, forming a seat for the flanged end 21 of a stationary steam-supply nozzle 22. Near the outer end of the hub the nozzle is reduced in diameter and forms an abrupt shoulder 23, which is seated against an annular flange 2* at the end of the hub. The reduced 8: portion of the hub is threaded for the reception of two jam-nuts 25, which serve to hold the nozzle and hub from longitudinal displacement, a suitable washer 26 being placed between the inner nut and the end of the hub to prevent undue friction. The construction of the nozzle is such as to permit of its introduction into the hub from the inner side of disk 6, the nozzle being passed through the hub and locked in position before the two 0 disks are secured together. The internal diameter of the body of the hub is considerably greater than the diameter of the nozzle, and in the annular chamber thus formed is placed a supply of oil or grease, which may be intro- 5 duced through a suitable opening 27, the

Extending centrally 65 opening being closed by a screw-plug 28 to prevent the escape of the oil when the engine is in operation.

The cylinder 11 is formed of a ring of metal of an internal diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the disks, so that the latter may freely rotate within the ring without actually coming in contact with the inner surface of the ring. The ring is divided bya series of very narrow partitions 30 into a series of inclined pockets or passages 31, through which the air or steam may freely escape to the outer air or to the interior of a suitable casing, which may be arranged around and at some little distance from the cylinder, if desired. Usually this casing is not required, especially where compressed air is used as the motive medium. Where steam is used, we prefer to employ a casing having a bottom escape-port to permit of the escape of condensed steam.

In the operation of the device steam is admitted at the center of the piston and travels through the curved ports or passages formed therein, escaping through the contracted mouths of the passages and impinging on the successive partitions 30 as the piston revolves. Owing to the grad ually-con tracted area of the passages, the pressure at the periphery of the piston will be materiallyincreased, and aside from this the curvature of the passages is such that what may be termed the outer wall of said passages forms a contin uous abutment and materially increases the efiectiveness of the operation. .Near the end of the passages the enlarged portions form chambers, which permit of the expansion of the air or steam, and the abrupt shoulders 8 8 form abutments in direct line with the partitions 30 of the cylinder, so that the steam may utilize its force to the greatest advantage between the fixed abutments formed by the partitions and the traveling abutments formed by said abrupt shoulders.

In the manufacture of the cylinders the openings 31 may be cored, or in small engines we preferably form the passages by a millingoutter, the cylinder being mounted in a suitable machine similar to a gear-cutter and turned step by step, so that successive portions of its periphery are presented to the milling-cutter.

The engine is of the simplest character and in use develops enormous speed, which may be transmitted in anydesired manner. Generally we prefer to employ worm-gearing to effect a reduction of the speed to an extent sufficient to enable the engine to be employed for any ordinary purpose; but other transmitting-gearing may be used, if desired.

While the preferred form of engine is that herein described, it is apparent that many changes may be made in its size, form, and

proportions without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim is- 1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a stationary cylinder, of a piston formed of two disks, each having recesses extending from the center to the periphery and adapted to form steam-passages, one of said disks being provided with a division-wall to separate said recesses, and the opposite disk being provided with a steam-inlet pipe at a point directly in aliuement with said division-wall.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a stationary cylinder, of two mating disks forming a piston, one of said disks having an enlarged hollow hub, an inlet pipe or nozzle extending through said hub, said huband nozzle having interfitting flanges or shoulders, substantially as specified.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with a stationary cylinder, of two mating disks forming a piston, one of said disks having an enlarged hollow hub forming an oil-receptacle, an inlet pipe or nozzle extending through said hub, there being at the opposite ends of the hub inwardly-projecting annular flanges adapted to form steam-tight joints between the hub and nozzle, su bstantially as specified.

4:. Arotarysteam-enginecomprisingin combination, a stationary cylinder having a series of steam-passages separated by inclined partitions forming abutments,a piston mounted for rotation within the cylinder, said piston comprising two mating disks having recesses forming steam-passages leading from the center to the periphery of the piston, said passages extending on curved lines and being of gradually-contracting area from the inlet to the outlet end and being provided near their outer ends with expansion-chambers, substantially as specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS D. PRESCOTT. JAMES C. PRESCOTT. HENRY A. PRESCOTT.

Witnesses:

O. E. DOYLE, FRANK S. APPLEMAN.

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