US799677A - Rotary engine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 799,677. PATENTED SEPT. 19, i905'. W. SGHLUTER. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MARES, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L.y

llllhml w WMZ/W MW@ PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

W. SGHLUTBR. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MALZS, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z WILLIAM SOHLUTER, OF NEW HARTFORD, IOWA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed March 23, 1905. Serial No.v 251,640.

To all 1071/0111, it 'may con/cern:

Be it known that I', WILLIAM SCHLUTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Hartford, in the county of Butler and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in engines which are adapted for use in connection with air, gas, steam, or water, though preferably driven by an expansive iiuid, such as steam.

The object is to provide an exceedingly simple structure wherein steampressure rather than the momentum or speed of the steam is employed, as in the case of the turbine, so that the expansive force of such fiuid can be efiiciently utilized.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectionalyiew through the preferred form of construction. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the coacting pistons in di'erent relation. Fig. 3 is a sectional View through a slightly-modified form of construction.

Similar reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated in the first two figures a casing-cylinder l is employed having circular communicating compartments 5, the inner portions of said compartments being defined by inwardly-extending wall portions 6, the inner ends of which are spaced apart a considerable distance. In each compartment is rotatably mounted a piston 7, carried by a suitable shaft 8 and having on one side only a radial extension 9, the opposite sides l() of which are preferably parallel. With the exception of this extension each piston is circular and is provided with peripheral gear-teeth 11, terminating at a slight distance from the opposite sides of the extension 9, leaving spaces 12.

The pistons 7 are spaced apart, and alternately bridging the space between them are abutments 13, having rearwardly-extending portions 14., spaced apart and forming sockets that receive the extensions 9, said abutments being slidably mounted on said extensions and having end walls 15, that are disposed radially with respect to the pistons. The sliding movement of the abutments on the extensions 9 is limited by suitable stops 16 in the form of set-screws threaded into the inner sides of the rearwardly-extending portions 14. and having their heads movably mounted in sockets 17 in the extensions 9.

They are urged outwardly by bowed leafl springs 18, interposed between the ends of the extensions and the rear portions of the abutments, which portions are curved, as shown, in order to provide pockets to receive said springs. The outer. edges of the abutments 13 are curved to conform to the curvature of the compartment-walls, against which they bear during their rotation, and each abutment is, furthermore, provided with peripheral teeth 19, which mesh with the teeth 11 of the opposing piston when the 'abutment bridges the space between said pistons. The teeth terminate short of the ends of the abutments in order to provide elongated packing portions 20, which are adapted. to be received in the spaces 12, as will be seen by reference to Fig. l.

In the embodiment illustrated in the first two figures the engine is reversible and steam or other motive fluid can be introduced or exhausted from either side of the casing. For this purpose the inwardly-extending walls 6, above described, are provided with channels 21, having oppositely-extendlng branches 22 that respectively communicate with the compartments 5. A supply-pipe 23 is connected to branches 24, which are coupled, as shown at 25, to the channels 21, and a valve 26 may be employed for directing the motive iiuid to either of said branches. To the couplings 25 are also connected exhaustpipe branches 27, which may in turn be coupled to-a suitable exhaust-pipe 28, and each of these branches hasasuitablecontrolling-valve 29.

When the engine is to be run in a predetermined direction, the valve 26 is turned so as to direct the steam or motive fluid into the proper branch pipe, and the exhaust through that branch is cut otf, while the exhaust through the opposite branch is opened, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus steam will be introduced into the cylinder' on one side of the pistons and acting against the radial shoulders thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, will effect the rotation of said pistons, the same being alternately geared together by the teeth of the abutments of one meshing with the pistons of the other. As rapidly as the rear walls of the abutments pass the lower channels the spaces behind them are cut off by the front shoulders or ends thereof, so that the exhaust will take place and no steam escape without effective action. Furthermore, there can be no escape between IOO IIO

the pistons, as there is always one of the abutments bridging the space .between the same, as will be apparent. Moreover, it is to be observed that the piston which is in action, or, in other words, which has thesteampressure against it, is in gear with the idle abutment, and thus comparatively great power is secured, for the reason that, in effeet, it constitutes a small power-gear meshing with a large driven gear.

A slightly different form of structure isV ably mounted abutments 12a, said abutments also having smooth peripheries andoperating against the curved walls of the compartments as wellas'against the opposing pistons, as will be evident. It isto be observed that the end walls of these abutments are radially disposed with respect to the axes or' rotation of the pistons, but that they are of considerably less area.

An engine of this character involves substantially the same principle as that heretofore described, but is designed more especially for high speed. In this instance the two shafts are geared together, as indicated in dotted lines at 13, which gears may be located exteriorly of the cylinder in a manner well understood. It is believed to be unnecessary to further describe the structure, for it will be seen that its mode of operation is substantially the same as that above described.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those slilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention. f

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- V 1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder having communicating compartments, of a rotary piston journaled in each compartment, each piston having a single extension on one side only, said extension having substantially parallel sides, an abutment slidably mounted on each extension and having radially-disposed shoulders at each end, said abutments each coacting alternately with the other piston between the ends of the abutment thereon, and a supply-channel communicating with the compartments between the pistons.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder having communicating compartments, of inwardly-extending walls spaced apart and defining the inner portions of said compartments, a rotary piston journaled in each compartment, each piston having on one side an extension, and an abutment slidably mounted on each extension and having radially-disposed shoulders at its ends` said abutments each coacting alternately with the other piston between the ends of the abutment thereon, said spaced walls being respectively provided With inlet and outlet channels having branches that communicate with the 'compartments on opposite sides of the said inwardly-extending walls.

3. In a rotary engine, the-combination with coacting rotary pistons having gear-teeth, of abutments carried by the pistons and having gear-teeth, the teeth of the abutment on one piston intermeshing with the teeth ofthe other piston and vice versa.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, of coacting rotary pistons located in the cylinder and spaced apart, said pistons having peripheral teeth extending partially about the same, and abutments mounted on the pistons and alternately closing the spaces between them each of said abutments having peripheral teeth that mesh with the teeth of the opposing piston when said abutment is bridging the space between the pistons.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, of coacting rotary pistons located in the` cylinder and spaced apart, said pistons having projections and peripheral gear-teeth between the ends of the same, abutments slidably mounted on the projections and alternate1y` closing the space between the pistons, each of said abutments having peripheral teeth that mesh with the teeth of the opposing piston when said abutment is bridging the space between the pistons, means for introducing motive Huid between the pistons and abutments, and means for urging said abutments outwardly.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

l/VILLIAM SCHLUTER. Witnesses:

LELA EVANS, EMILY L. CoNKINs.

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