IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FOR PROPELLING VESSELS, PUMPING FLUIDS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Horace Robinson of Manchester in the County of
Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR
OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FOR PROPELLING VESSELS, PUMPING FLUIDS AND
OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Horace Robinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th July 1882.
HORACE ROBINSON of Manchester in the County of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FOR PROPELLING VESSELS,
PUMPING FLUIDS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
"
A chamber preferably of a cylindrical or conoid form, or a combination of these
forms is provided with a valve or valves at each end-These valves open inwards
and have a tendency to remain open given them either by gravity or by a spring
or otherwise.
A jet of coal gas or other combustible gas or vapour is directed to one of
these valves, preferably the bottom one and induces air along with it into the
said chamber, or an annular jet or a number of jets may be used-Outside the
other end of the chamber and in the vicinity of the other valve which is preferably
at or near the top of the chamber, a small jet or flame is kept burning-The
gas and air entering the chamber as before described, gradually fit and come
through or by the valve in the vicinity of which the flame is kept burning and in
meeting with this flame are ignited and the contents of the Chamber are thus
ignited and the explosion closes the before mentioned valves and the pressure in
the chamber is utilized as described hereafter
•
As soon as the pressure has diminished in the ignition chamber the valves again
open and the combustible mixture of gas and air enters and expels the products
of the combustion of the previous charge which while hot are more rarified and
may float out of the upper valve and when the combustible mixture has filled
the chamber it is again ignited as before described, a pulsating or intermittent
action is thus obtained.

page_text: When water is required to be raised a water chamber is connected at the top by
a pipe or conduit with the aforesaid ignition chamber and is thus in free communi-
cation with it. This water chamber may if preferable be formed around the
ignition chamber and will in this case act as a water jacket or the water-chamber
may be formed separately from the ignition chamber-Water from a Tank or other
source is admitted through or by a valve to this water chamber until the surface is
near to the opening to the ignition chamber-A float may be used upon the
surface of the water to prevent the water taking up too much heat from the hot
gases The pressure due to the expansion in the ignition chamber is thus free to
press upon the water in the water chamber and the water is free to escape through a
delivery valve of large area into an air chamber compressing the air therein, and the
elasticity of the air therein forces the water onward in a more or less steady stream.
It will thus be seen that the explosion of the gases is at once relieved after
overcoming the inertia of the water, the momentum of the water assists in the
compression of the air in the air chamber and the water in the lower part of the
air chamber is driven out more or less constantly and may be delivered to a
higher elevation or may work a turbine or other water engine for motive power
purposes. This is applicable to other liquids than water.
In some cases where it is desirable to utilize the contraction in cooling of part of
the gases the hot products of combustion may be admitted to the aforesaid water
chamber through a valve which valve when the ignition takes place in the ignition
chamber is held open by the pressure in the said chamber acting against a piston
or metallic diaphragm of larger area than the said valve, the said valve and piston
or diaphragm being suitably connected together-The hot products of combustion
will expel water from the aforesaid water chamber and the said valve between the
ignition chamber and water chamber will be closed by gravity or otherwise and
the contraction of these gases will create a partial vacuum and draw water into the
water chamber ready for the next explosion and expulsion.
When air is required to be forced under pressure for motive power or other
purposes, instead of allowing the pressure due to the explosion or ignition of the
explosive mixture to press upon water, a piston working in a cylinder or their
equivalent may be interposed between the hot products of combustion and the air
to be pumped, suitable valves being provided for the retention of such air. The
air may be stored for a time in a chamber and the air delivered from this chamber
will be thus delivered more constantly owing to the elasticity of the air confined.
The aforesaid piston may be of considerable weight and its momentum after the
inertia is overcome by the pressure in the ignition chamber will still further
compress the air. It will be seen that this compressed air may work existing
steam engines in place of steain.
The pressure of the explosion in the ignition chamber may also be used to propel
a piston and a partial vacuum may be formed as in the manner before described
which shall allow the atmospheric pressure to act upon the said piston to perform
useful work.
The apparatus may be used for the propulsion of vessels and one means of so
applying it is to couple a screw propeller direct on to to the turbine-no gland will
be needed for the screw shaft as the turbine may work in the water.
Another means of applying the apparatus to the propulsion of vessels is as
follows:-The water may be drawn into the apparatus and expelled through a
nozzle or nozzles into a column of water drawn from the direction of the bow and
passing towards the stern, thus inducing a considerable body of water to pass, to
propel the vessell. For reversing the action of the vessell another delivery nozzle
may be provided which when opened and the other closed, acts upon the column of
water in a reverse direction or the delivery nozzle may be reversible. The nozzle
or nozzles may be of an annular form.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed.
by the said Horace Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th January 1883.
HORACE ROBINSON of Manchester in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, FOR PROPELLING VESSELS
PUMPING FLUIDS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES.”
A chamber preferably of a cylindrical or conoid form or a combination of these
forms is provided with a valve or valves at each end.
These valves open inwards and have a tendency to remain open given them
either by gravity or by a spring or otherwise.
A jet of cold gas or other combustible gas or vapour is directed to one of these
valves preferably the bottom one and induces air along with it into the said
chamber or an annular jet or a number of jets may be used. Outside the other end
of the chamber and in the vicinity of the other valve which is preferably at or
near the top of the chamber a small jet or flame is kept burning. The gas and air
entering the chamber as before described gradually fill it and come through or by
the valve in the vicinity of which the flame is kept burning and in meeting with
this flame are ignited and the contents of the chamber are thus ignited and the
explosion closes the beforementioned valves and the pressure in the chamber is
utilised as described hereafter.
As soon as the pressure has diminished in the ignition chamber the valves again
open and the combustible mixture of gas and air enters and expels the product of
the combustion of the previous charge which while hot are more rarified and may
Boat out of the upper valve and when the combustible mixture has filled the
chamber it is again ignited as before described a pulsating or intermittent action
is thus obtained.
When water is required to be raised a water chamber is connected at the top
by a pipe or conduit with the aforesaid ignition chamber and is thus in free
communication with it. This water chamber may if preferable be formed around
the ignition chamber and will in this case act as a water jacket or the water
chamber may be formed separately from the ignition chamber. Water from a tank,
or other source is admitted through or by a valve to this water chamber until the
surface is near to the opening to the ignition chamber. A float may be used upon.
the surface of the water to prevent the water taking up too much heat from the
hot gases. The pressure due to the expansion in the ignition chamber is thus free
to press upon the water in the water chamber and the water is free: to escape
through a delivery valve of large area into an air chamber compressing the air.
therein and the elasticity of the air therein forces the water onward in a more or,
less steady stream..
It will thus be seen that the explosion of the gases is at once relieved after
overcoming the inertia of the water the momentum of the water assists in the
compression of the air in the air chamber and the water in the lower part of the,
air chamber is driven out more or less constantly and may be delivered to a higher
elevation or may work a turbine or other water engine for motive power purposes.
This is applicable to other liquids than water.
In some cases where it is desirable to utilise the contraction in cooling of part
of the gases the hot products of combustion may be admitted to the aforesaid
water chamber through a valve which valve, when the ignition takes place in the.
|ignition chamber is held open by the pressure in the said chamber acting against,

page_text: a piston or metallic diaphragm of larger area than the said valve, the said valve
and piston or diaphragm being suitably connected together. The hot products of
combustion will expel water from the aforsaid water chamber and the said valve
between the ignition chamber and water chamber will be closed by gravity or
otherwise and the contraction of these gases will create a partial vacuum and draw
water into the water chamber ready for the next explosion and expulsion.
When air is required to be forced under pressure for motive power or other
purposes, instead of allowing the pressure due to the explosion or ignition of the
explosive mixture to press upon water, a piston working in a cylinder or their
equivalent may be interposed between the hot products of combustion and the air
to be pumped, suitable valves being provided for the retention of such air. The
air may be stored for a time in a chamber and the air delivered from this chamber.
will be thus delivered more constantly owing to the elasticity of the air confined.
The aforesaid piston may be of considerable weight and its mementum after the
inertia is overcome by the pressure in the ignition chamber will still further
compress the air. It will be seen that this compressed air may work existing
steam engines in place of steam.
The pressure of the explosion in the ignition chamber may also be used to propel
a piston and a partial vacuum may be formed as in the manner before described
which shall allow the atmospheric pressure to act upon the said piston to perform
useful work.
The apparatus may be used for the propulsion of vessels and one means of so
applying it is to couple a screw propellor direct on to the turbine-no gland will
be needed for the screw shaft as the turbine may work in the water.
Another means of applying the apparatus to the propulsion of vessels is as
follows:-
The water may be drawn into the apparatus and expelled through a nozzle or
nozzles into a column of water drawn from the direction of the bow and passing
towards the stern, thus inducing a considerable body of water to pass to propel
the vessel. For reversing the action of the vessel another delivery nozzle may be
provided which when opened and the other closed, acts upon the column of water
in a reverse direction or the delivery nozzle may be reversible. The nozzle or
nozzles may be of an annular form.
Referring to the drawings A is the ignition chamber. Figs 1 and 3 show more
clearly the application of the ignition chamber A to pumping fluids, and Fig 2 the
application to propelling a piston to perform useful work. Figs 4 and 5 represent
an application to the propulsion of vessels.
The ignition chamber A is provided at or about its ends with valves B. B¹ and
seats D. D¹ see Figs. 1, 2 and 3 also Figs 1ª 1ª which represent plans. These
valves have a tendency to remain open, the upper one by its weight and the lower
one by a small balance weight C though other means and forms of valves may be
used. Another seat b¹ may be provided over the valve B¹ for purposes described
hereafter. Combustible gas or vapour is discharged through the nozzle. E either
from the gas mains direct or otherwise and the gas or vapour by induction causes
air to mix with and flow with it past the valve B₁ into the ignition chamber A
until the chamber is full, when some of the explosive mixture or charge thus
formed comes through the valve B into direct contact with a flame at F which is
kept burning in the open air. The mixture is thus ignited and lights back into the
ignition chamber A and its explosion closes the valves B. B¹ and the pressure is thus
confined and may be utilised.
After the pressure has sunk the valves B. B¹ are again restored to the position
shown in the drawings and the products of combustion float out through the
valve B-the combustible mixture at the same time entering by the valve B' until
it again fills the chamber A as before described and after being ignited and doing
work the products of this charge float out making room for another fresh charge of
combustible mixture as before. The valve B¹ is preferably arranged with a seat b¹
so that after the explosion and while the products in A are cooling the valve B'

page_text: will for a moment rise against seat 6' and prevent the fresh charge of gas and air
from coming in too soon after the explosion. This is as a safe guard against its
igniting back below the chamber A. The pulsating action in the ignition
chamber A may be utilised to pump water or other liquids. Figs 3 and 3ª show a
vertical section of the ignition chamber A so applied.
A chamber G is connected at its upper end by a passage g and water is admitted
to this chamber G through or past the valve or valves g¹. The pressure in the
ignition chamber A when the ignition takes place is free to expel water from this
chamber G through a large valve g³ into the lower part of a chamber H the upper
part of which contains air, which air acts as a cushion. The water is quickly
delivered from G into the lower part of H but is forced out through the delivery
pipe h in a more or less steady stream to a higher elevation or to work a turbine
or other water engine.
A float or piston g³ may be used to prevent the water taking up too much heat
and it will also prevent the water from entering the ignition chamber A.
In cases where the water is required to be drawn into the chamber G from a
lower level or against a partial vacuum a valve g¹ Fig 3ª may be used which covers
the opening or passage ġ and a piston g³ or diaphragm of larger area than the
valve g is connected to it. When the explosion takes place in the ignition
chamber A it acts with greater force upon g³ than upon the valve g' on account of
the larger area of g³ the valve g' is opened and the pressure acts upon the water in
the chamber G as before described but when the pressure has diminished the
valve g is closed by a spring 9° or otherwise and the contraction of the products of
combustion in cooling will cause the chamber G to fill with water. The water is
retained by the valves g' ready for the next explosion and expulsion into H as
before described. The valve gaud piston g³ or diaphragm shown in Fig 3 may
be dispensed with and the valve B already described may be provided with a
seat B³ and weight b. as shewn in Fig 24 The valve B as before mentioned bears
on its seat D when there is a pressure in the ignition chamber A and when the
products of combustion cool and contract and there is a partial vacuum in A the
valve B falls to its seat B³. The lower valve B at the same time being drawn
against its inner seat b'. The vacuum caused may be utilised to draw in the water
to the chamber G.
When air is required to be forced under pressure for motive power or other
purposes the pressure due to the explosion in the ignition chamber A is free to act
upon a piston i working in a cylinder I Fig 1 or their equivalent, which piston i is
interposed between the hot products of combustion and the air to be pumped. A
suction valve i¹ and delivery valve are provided for the retention of such air.
The air may be stored for a time in a chamber R and the air delivered from this
chamber R will be thus delivered more constantly through the delivery owing to
the elasticity of the air confined.
The piston i may be prevented from injuriously striking the upper end of the
cylinder by interposing an india-rubber ring or other provision may be made if
necessary and the inlet of air through may be suitably adjusted so that the
piston or its equivalent shall not drop to the bottom of the cylinder with undue
force. The pressure of the explosion in the ignition chamber A may also be used
to propel a piston K as at Fig 2 and a partial vacuum may be used as in the
manner before described which will allow the atmospheric pressure to act upon the
said piston to perform useful work. Figs 2, 24, 2B and 2° represent the application.
A flat piston rod k is attached to the piston K by a joint as shown in Fig 2. This
rod at certain times is pressed against a roller or drum L fixed on the engine
shaft . The roller L may have a covering 11 of india rubber or leather. A
diaphragm 12 of india rubber or other suitable material or a piston and short
cylinder is or are put into connection with the cylinder K¹ or ignition chamber A
by a pipe P.
acts upon the flat rod k through the intervention of the
and rod or their equivalent. When the pipe is connected as shewn
The diaphragm
pulleys

page_text: in clear lines Fig 2, the piston K is free to ascend when there is a pressure below
it, but when the pressure within the cylinder K' is lower than the atmospheric
pressure, it is also lower on the side of the diaphragm nearer to the rod k.
The pressure of the atmosphere thus acts upon the diaphragm causing it to press
the rod k upon the drum L and also acts upon the upper side of the piston K
causing it to descend and rotate the drum L and engine shaft and fly-wheel in the
direction of arrow 1 until the piston gets at or near to the end of its down stroke
when the pressure on the two sides of the diaphragm 6' is nearly balanced so that
the thrust from the diaphragm on the rod k is relieved and the fly-wheel continue
to rotate till the next down-stroke of the piston. The atmospheric pressure may
be retarded a little from acting upon the diaphragm 2 by the adjustment of a hole 15
so that the piston K and rod k niay have time to complete their up-stroke as the
last part of their up-stroke will be performed by their momentum the rod k might
otherwise be pressed against L during the latter part of the up-stroke.
The valve g may be as described with reference to Fig 34 but it may be
preferable to dispense with this valve and piston g and to substitute the
seat B³ shewn in Fig 2^. This sett is fixed upon the chamber A and is of a similar
form in plan to the seat shown at Fig 1 but inverted and a weight b is provided
which holds the valve B at mid-position between the valve seats but the valve B
.can rise independently of the weight b and can be brought down by its lifting the
weight b.
The explosion in A forces the valves B. B¹ against the outward seats D and D' and
the pressure drives up the piston K as described and the contraction of the cooling
gases causes the valves to come to the inward seats by the pressure of the external
atmosphere and the admittance of air is thus prevented. The pressure of the
atmosphere causes the piston K to descend and drive the shaft as described.
By connecting the other side of the diaphragm with the cylinder K¹ or
chamber A by the pipe 3 being connected as shown in dotted lines, (instead of as
shown in clear lines) and putting the side K' of the diaphragm * which is nearer
the rod k in communication with the atmosphere the pressure in the cylinder caused
by the explosion in the ignition chamber A will act upon the diaphragm to cause
the rod k to bear upon the drum L when the piston K is making its up stroke and
the valves for excluding the atmosphere may then be dispensed with and the
drum L and engine shaft Z will in this case revolve in the direction of arrow 2.
In this case the piston is free in its down-stroke.
Fig 2° represents another means for causing the rod k to bear upon the drum L
during the descent of the rod k and piston K. A friction roller is mounted on
a pin in the end of a link on each side of it and these links are free to oscillate
round a fixed centre 18. A spring tends to hold the link up against a fixed
stop but a light spring is attached to each link which springs "press
against the sides of the rod k so that when the piston K and rod k descend they
draw down the links with the roller ¹³ to the stop ¹³. As the lowering of the
rollers and links bring the links nearer to the horizontal position they thrust
the roller is tightly against the rod k and the rod k is thus pressed tightly against
the drum L causing it to rotate during the descent of the piston. The rod k in
this case is of such a length that just before the piston reaches the bottom of its
stroke the rod k comes below the roller 13 and drum L and the spring again
lifts the links and roller is the rod k in this way is out of connection with the
drum L until such time as it is making the downward stroke. The rod k may
have its sides tapered away at the top to allow of its admittance between the
springs. A rack and pinion with ratchet of well understood form may be used
in place of the foregoing gear to transmit motion from the piston to the fly-wheel
shaft.
Figs 4 and 5 show the application to the propulsion of vessels and especially the
propulsion of launches and other light vessels which are required to be started at
short notice. Fig 4 is a sectional elevation of a vessel. A is the ignition chamber
as before described in reference to the foregoing figures. G is the water chamber as

page_text: described with reference to Fig 3. H is the air chamber. M. represents a turbine
which is worked by the water pumped by the apparatus and a screw propellor N
is directly coupled to this turbine without the use of a gland as the screw and
turbine both work under or in the water. To go astern a valve m may be
closed to shut off the turbine and a nozzle o (see Fig 5 which is a plan of Fig 4 on
line A-B) turned on, which nozzle o may be surrounded by concentric tubes o' o³
to effect a more perfect induction of the water. A large body of water will thus
be moved slowly forwards and the vessel will be moved astern.
In place of and as a substitute for the screw propellor N and turbine Ma
nozzle P similar to o but turned astern may be used for propelling the vessel
forward. Petroleum or other vapour or gas may be used or carbonic oxide may be
produced in any known manner and used. For short trips coal gas may be carried
in suitable reservoirs on the vessel.:
I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the action of exploded gases upon
water or air or upon a float or piston except in conjunction with the improved
ignition chamber hereinbefore described-neither do I claim the propulsion of vessels
either by imparting motion to a screw propellor by a turbine or by giving motion
to a column of water, except in conjunction with the improved ignition chamber
hereinbefore described-but what I do claim is
1 Inducing air to enter a chamber by the combustible gas or vapour itself
which gas or vapour enters with it and the said chamber being provided at or about
its ends with valves which valves close when the ignition takes place these
ignitions taking place intermittently and not continuously within the chamber-
the hot products of combustion floating out between the explosions and the fresh
charge coming in behind them and being ignited when they come in contact with
a flame kept burning at or near the exit end substantially as hereinbefore
described. 2nd The use of a chamber provided with a valve or valves at or near
to each of its ends, into one end or about one end of which chamber combustible
gas or vapour causes by induction atmospheric air or other supporter of combustion
to enter with it and at or about the other end of which chamber a flame is kept
burning to effect ignition the pressure due to such ignition being confined by said
valves substantially as described and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
3rd The chamber A provided with valves and induction nozzle and gas flame for
effecting ignition substantially as described on the accompanying drawings.
4th The application of the chamber A as described to pumping air more particularly
in the manner described in reference to Fig 1 of the accompanying drawing.
5th The application of the chamber A as described to the propulsion of a piston in
a cylinder substantially as described and illustrated more particularly in Fig 2 of
the accompanying drawings. 6th The application of the chamber A. as described
to pumping water substantially as described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings. 7th The application of the chamber. A as described to the propulsion of
vessels and more particularly as shewn and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Horace Robinson have hereunto set my
-