| (11) | EP 0 311 248 A3 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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(54) | Rotary engine |
(57) A steam engine of the rotary type including a housing with two annular chambers (20,22) with each chamber having a piston assembly (26,28) operable therein. The piston assemblies are carried by a common shaft (25) and displaced 90 degrees apart. Each piston assembly includes two pistons (30). The pistons have their working end surfaces 180 degrees of rotation apart. The rotor shaft is hollow along a portion of its length. The hollow portion of the shaft delivers fluid under pressure from an external source through channels (64) within the pistons to fluid troughs (76A-D) in the circumferential surfaces of the annular chambers. Additional channels in the annular chambers and housing provide fluid under pressure to actuate shuttle valves (36,38) at specific rotation locations of the pistons in each chamber. Each chamber includes side wall vents (32) for exhausting spent working fluid. A screen (52) is positioned vertically between the adjacent vents to cause condensate to be directed to a collection sump by gravity. |