Patent GB-191021849-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Methods of Raising or Forcing Liquids and in Apparatus therefor.
Inventor: HUMPHREY HERBERT ALFRED
Filed: 1910-09-20
Granted: 1911-11-20
Abstract: 21,849. Humphrey, H. A. Sept. 20. Direct explosion apparatus.-A single-cylinder internal-combustion pump operating on a twostroke cycle, in which the fresh combustible charge is introduced into the combustion chamber in such a way that it is kept separate from the products of combustion, and in which the bulk of the products of combustion are expelled with little or no loss of combustible mixture, is caused to operate so that the gaseous mixture is introduced and part of the products of combustion are expelled during the outward stroke of the liquid column, and the completion of the expulsion of the products and the compression of the charge are effected during the inward stroke. The partial expulsion of burnt products during the outstroke may be effected either by the entry of fresh supply water or by the entry of scavenging air or fresh combustible charge under pressure. As the inlet valves may be allowed to open freely in accordance with pressure changes within the chamber, it is possible to eliminate valve-gear and to employ a number of valves instead of a single valve, thus obtaining a larger valve area and a higher speed of working. Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a pump working on the abovedescribed cycle, in which the combustion chamber 1 is of annular form at the top, the inlet valves 3, 3<a> being arranged at the top of the annular portion and the exhaust valves 4 at a lower level. A number of light non-return valves 5 are arranged in the exhaust pipe 7 to prevent exhaust gases from being drawn into the explosion chamber during the suction portion of the stroke. The action of the apparatus is as follows. Assuming that after an explosion in the combustion chamber the pressure reaches atmospheric when the level of water is at a a, the further movement of the water reduces the pressure below atmospheric and a fresh charge of combustible gas is drawn in through the valves 3, 3<a> to occupy the upper part of the chamber down to c c, the level of the water now being at b b. Fresh water supply now commences to run in from the supply tank 12, while the main column of water in the delivery pipe is still flowing outwards, and a portion or the burnt products is expelled through the valves 4, 5. The main liquid column now returns, expels the remaining products of combustion, closes the valves 4 by impact, and compresses the fresh charge in the upper part of the chamber ready for the next explosion. In order to regulate the amount of charge introduced, the fluctuations in the level of liquid in the supply tank or in a separate vessel at the end of the delivery pipe may be utilized. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the air and gas are introduced separately into the combustion chamber through the valves 3, 3<a> from two gas bells 18, 17, which are raised together by the expulsion of air from the upper part of the supply tank 12 when liquid is entering therein. A valve 31 operated by the descent of the air bell 18 is placed in the gassupply pipe 27 to prevent gas from entering the combustion chamber until a cushion of air has been introduced. Fig. 2 shows a means for effecting this object with a single inlet valve having separate seats for air and gas, the air inlet being opened first. In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the separate pocket for the introduction of the fresh charge is arranged centrally, and the exhaust valves 4 are arranged around it. As the heated burnt products are of lower specific gravity than the fresh charge, the latter may sometimes be introduced below the burnt products, as shown in Fig. 5. In this case a rigid piston 51 resting on the end of the liquid column is employed, a projecting rod 52 serving to close the exhaust valve 4 as soon as the exhaust products are expelled. In a modified arrangement for introducing the charge, two fixed bells for air and gas are arranged in the supply pipe and are operated directly by the changes of pressure due to the changes in pressure in the near end of the main water column. Specifications 20,736/06, 18,594/07, 18,595/07, 19,341/07, 22,646/07, and 19,617/10 are referred to.