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SAMUEL E. ST. O. CHAPLEAU, OF OTT AWA, CANADA. ROTARY COMPOUND STEAM - ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,087, dated January 6, 1891. Application filed November 29, 1889, Renewed December 3, 1890, Serial No,373,440, (No model.) To all whon, it may concern: Referring to the drawings, A represents a Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. ST. O. CHA central shaft; BB B, &c., a series of cylin PLEAU, of Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario drical -heads mounted concentrically 55 and Dominion of Canada, have invented cer and rigidly upon the shaft. tain Improvements in Rotary Compound CC, &c., are a series of cylinders inclos Steam-Engines, of which the following is a ing the respective piston-heads and arranged specification. eccentrically to the axis of rotation, each cyl The aim of my invention is to provide a inder being turned about one-fourth of a revo simple and efficient rotary engine of the com lution ahead of the next, or, in other words, Io pound type-that is to say, of the type in arranged in an angular relation of ninety de which the steam is used repeatedly and ex grees to the next, for a purpose which will pansively in cylinders of successively increas presently appear. ing capacity. I mount side by side on a com The cylinders are separated from each other mon axis a series of concentric , each by intervening plates or disks D D, &c., the having a series of radially-movable blades or several parts being firmly united by the bolts abutments arranged to travel around the in (l, passing through the plates and through terior of an eccentric subject to flanges on the ends of the cylinders, or other steam-pressure from one side. The cylinders wise united in the desired relations. differ in capacity, and are arranged eccen The central cylinder C is provided with a trically to the axis of rotation, and are con pipe c' for the admission of high-pressure nected by ports which are alternately cov steam from the . The remaining cylin ered and uncovered by the revolving pistons ders are constructed in pairs of successively in such manner that the steam after being increasing capacity, the first pair C'C' to 75 used at high pressure in the smallest cylin the right and left of the pressure-cylinderbe der is exhausted, thence into the next larger ing of equal capacity, the next pair C'C' also 25 cylinder, and so on repeatedly throughout the of equal capacity, and so on throughout the series. This variation in capacity may be series.My engine - may be constructed to exhaust secured either by constructing the cylinders the entire contents of the high-pressure cyl - of different lengths or different diameters, inder into a single low-pressure cylinder; but or both, the only essential requirements be I prefer, as shown in the drawings, to dupli ing that the steam in its course through the cate all the cylinder's except the first and successive cylinders shall be afforded an op smallest, so that the steam from the latter may portunity for increased expansion. - be divided between the duplicate cylinders, Each of the rotary piston-heads is provided and this in order to give an increased port at equal distances apart with four radially 35 area to equalize the strains and permit the sliding abutments or blades b, the opposing running parts to be balanced. blades of each piston being connected by an In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is intermediate rod b', passing through the cyl a longitudinal central section through an en inder, so that as the piston-head is rotated 49 gine constructed on my plan and adapted to the outer edges of the abutments travel in a secure a quadruple expansion of the Steam. circular eccentric path, bearing constantly Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are vertical cross-sec against the inner surface of the cylinder, tions of the same on the lines therein indi their construction and operation in this re cated. Fig. 7 is a face view of one of the di gard being essentially the same as in other vision-plates, showing the manner in which rotary engines at present known in the art. 45 the ports are duplicated when an engine is to The outer edge of each abutment is grooved to be adapted for reversal of its motion. Fig. 8 receive a packing-strip U, which is urged con is a view looking into one of the cylinders stantly outward by a spring U to maintain a and showing the reversing-. FigS. 9 steam-tight joint. and 10 are cross-sections on the lines 99 and The plates or disks D D', &c., between the 1010 of Fig. 8. Figs. 11 and 12 are views of cylinders are each provided with a series of details, 1 holes or ports d' transversely therethrough

444,087 for the purpose of permitting the steam which pistons to wear the bearings and cylinders las performed its office in one cylinder to on one side. By the described arrangement, escape through the ports directly into the ad of the cylinder's I so balance the strain and jacent and outer cylinder. pressure that the shaft and pistons run with 7 O The steam entering the high-pressure cyl slight pressure and with uniform wear. By inder C acts in a well-known manner against duplicating the secondary cylinders to the the abutments therein to effect the rotation right and left of the high-pressure cylinder I of its piston until finally it reaches a point at am enabled to secure a greater area of the which it is shut off by the abutments and the ports through which the steam is delivered 75 O piston from communication with the inlet after leaving the first cylinder, and also to port, but brought into communication with the avoid the objections which would be incident exhaust-ports in the plates D D to the right to the use of very long cylindel's, requiring the and left into the cylinders C C, where it steam to travel a long distance in passing acts expansively in precisely the same man therethrough. (5 ner as in the first cylinder, and after which The foregoing description is that of an en it is discharged through the ports in the gine adapted to run in one direction only. plates D.' D' into the cylinders C° C°, and When the engine is to be reversed, so as to so on repeatedly, until having performed its turn in either direction at will, I provide each duty in the cylinders C C it is discharged of the division-plates with duplicate ports or through ports c' in the end plates or heads. channels extending, respectively, to the right The line of ports in each plate is extended, and the left of an intermediate point, as as shown in Fig. 4, in a curved line through clearly shown in Figs. 7 and S. an arc of about ninety degrees, so that as the Within each of the plates I mount a trans piston revolves its end covers and uncovers versely-sliding valve or plate F, provided with 25 the holes or ports successively. On the re a handle for other connection, by which it ceiving side the ports of each plate or most may be operated from the exterior, so as to of them open into a curved slot or channel cover the respective channels and ports alter (l, such as shown in Fig. 4. This channel nately, the other's being rendered for the time communicates with the cylinder through being inoperative. which the stealm is delivered through that Whilel prefer to construct these reversing portion of the circumference from which the alves in the form shown in the drawings, it steam is exhausted. As the steam-space be is to be distinctly understood that they may tween the piston and the cylinder diminishes be of any form and construction which will IOC or is of diminishing area in this part of the cyl admit of the ports on opposite sides being 35 inder, it is necessary to provide for the free opened and closed alternately. release or clearance of the outgoing steam, in In order to facilitate the reversal of the en order that it inay not be again compressed in gine, I propose to connect the operating-rods the cylinder by the next abutment advancing of the various gates with any suitable mech behind it. The channels danswer this pur anism which will effect their movement in IO 5 pose. As soon as an abutment in the course unison. A simple arrangement for this pur of its l'evolution reaches a point at which it pose is represented in Fig. 10, in which the would tend to compress the steam before it, cylinder is encircled by rotary rings f', having it passes over one end of the channel d’, thus eccentric or cam-like portions f engaging re C) uncovering the channel and permitting the spective valve-rods, so that the rotation of the 45 steam to escape with freedom into the next rings will have the effect of shifting . cylinder. This Series of rings I propose to operate in It is to be understood that the ports and unison by means of a rock-shaft f, having channels are duplicated between the several arms f connected to the rings, as shown. cylinders, but that those of each cylinder are Any other arrangement may, however, be sub about mill ety degrees in advance of those stituted therefor. from the next cylinder, to correspond with the angular relation of the cylinders before For the purpose of insuring constant and referred to. This arrangement admits of the proper lubrication of the wearing-surfaces I several cylindel's being brought close to propose to supply a lubricant from any suitable gether and of the exhaust-Steam being passed Source to the interior of the tubular Shaft, from directly and by a Very short port from one which it will be carried outward by centrifugal cylinder into the proper position to perform force around the stems or rods which connect its duty in the next cylinder. the abutments to the sliding faces of the latter. Another advantage of the arrangement lies I propose to Surround each of these connect I 25 in the fact that the effective force of the sev ing-rods within the piston-head, as shown in eral pistons is applied to the shaft at different Figs. 11 and 12, with a tube or sleeve U.5 of points around its circumference, or, in other Babbitt metal, brass, or other anti-friction words, at different points in the revolution, material. When these tubes are used, they so that the force is applied in a practically Will be provided with holesly', through whici constant malnner to rotate the shaft. This the oil may reach the surfaces of the rods. results in a uniform Speed and in the avoid The reciprocation of the rods will, aside from ance of the usual tendency of the shaft and oilthe radially.centrifugal force, tend to distribute the 444,087 Having thus described my invention, What the central cylinder B, provided with the two I claim is steam-inlets C and C through its periphery, 1. In a rotary , a large the cylinders B B', arranged at opposite ends and a small cylinder arranged end to end, an of the first cylinder and in eccentric relation so 5 intermediate division-plate having the holes thereto, the heads or plates arranged between or ports therethrough and the channel there and at the outer ends of the cylinders, each in, in combination with the rotary piston plate with two steam-ports directly there heads mounted eccentrically within the re through from one cylinder to the next, the spective cylinders and provided with the ra cylindrical pistons having a common central 55 dially-movable blades or abutments. axis eccentric to the cylinders, the radially 2. In a rotary compound engine, a shaft, a movable blades or abutments mounted in the series of cylindrical pistons centrally mount pistons, and the sliding reversing-valves ap ed on said shaft and each provided with a plied to the cylinder heads or plates to cover series of radially-sliding blades or abutments, their ports one at a time, whereby the steam a series of circular chambers or cylinders in is delivered through the successive cylinders which the respective pistons are mounted, directly from one to another in position to said cylinders arranged eccentrically and in cause the backward ol' forward rotation of progressive angular relations to said shaft, the pistons as demanded. and division plates or heads separating the 6. In a rotary compound engine, the shaft, cylinders and each provided with a port lead the cylindrical pistons centrally mounted ing from the exhaust-point of one cylinder at thereon, and the radially - moving blades its inner periphery directly through the plate mounted in Said pistons, in combination with to the receiving-point of the next cylinder. the series of eccentrically-arranged cylinders, 3. In a rotary compound engine, two cylin the plates at their ends, each provided with 25 drical chambers or cylinders arranged end to two ports, reversing-valves applied to said end in eccentric relations, an intervening plates to close the respective ports alternately, plate provided with a steam-port directly the cam-rings to move said valves, and the therethrough from the outer part of one cyl rock-shaft connected with the series of rings inder into the outer part of the other, and to operate them in unison. 75 rotary pistons mounted eccentrically in the 7. In combination with the cylinder, the respective cylinders and each provided with rotary pistons mounted eccentrically therein, a series of radially-moving blades or abut the tubular piston-shaft, the radially-sliding ments, whereby the ends of the pistons and blades, the reciprocating rods b', located be the blades are caused to control the steam tween the opposite blades, and the sleeve b, 35 port and steam exhausted from one cylinder provided with oil-openings b, whereby oil to the other a number of times during each may be delivered through the shaft to the rotation. rods b' and distributed by the latter to the 4. In a rotary compound engine, two cylin wearing-surfaces. . ders arranged eccentrically end to end, and In testimony whereof I hereunto set my a division-plate having therethrough a steam hand, this 26th day of October, 1889, in the port consisting of a series of holes of succes presence of two attesting witnesses. sively diminishing size arranged in a curved line, as shown, in combination with the rotary SAMUEL E. ST. O. CHAPLEAU. pistons provided with radially-sliding blades Witnesses: or abutments. PHIL. T. DODGE, 5. In a reversible rotary compound engine, W. R. KENNEDY,