An Improved Motor Actuated by Gaseous Products of Chemical Reaction.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Motor Actuated by Gaseous Products of Chemical
Reaction.
I, THOMAS CHARLES HERSEY, of Preston Park, Brighton, in the County of
Sussex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a
communication to me from abroad by Johannes Blum, of Spandau, Prussia, Civil
Engineer) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This present invention relates to a motor, the motive power (or force) to which,
is supplied by the gases (under gases include vapours) resulting from the mutual
decomposition of the salt known as ammonium nitrate and a hydrocarbon.
Ammonium nitrate when heated to 482° F. decomposes into nitrous oxide and
steam. If a deoxydizing agent such as carbon or hydrogen (or both) be present,
further decomposition takes place-the ultimate products then are:-nitrogen,
carbon mon-oxide, hydrogen and steam. During the decomposition much latent
heat becomes active, and if, this decomposition is effected suddenly, a very high
temperature results.
To utilize the gases (and vapours), which can thus be produced, as a motive
force it is necessary :-
I. To control the pressure at which they are produced.
11. To control the temperature at which they are produced, so that the fabric
of the motor (or engine), to which they are applied; or the material of which the
vessel is made in which they are stored, may not be injured. Experience having
shown, that it is more convenient to produce the gases as required for the motor, it
becomes further necessary-
III. To produce them in the exact quantities required.
To effect these purposes, the apparatus, of which the following is a description,
has been constructed by the inventor, and this is further explained by the
accompanying drawing.
The actual decomposition of the ammonium nitrate and the hydrocarbon is
effected in the closed metallic vessel B. In order to produce the gases in the
quantities required it is necessary to introduce the materials producing them into B
in regulated quantities as well as in the proportion required for the decomposition.
It is found convenient to have the material in a fluid form. For this purpose a
solution is made of the ammonium nitrate, and for hydrocarbon a petroleum is used;
to contain these fluids the tank C is used.
C is an open vessel, having in it a compartment also open, which communicates
with the other part of the vessel by means of a number of small holes near the
bottom. The bottom of C also admits a tube c', which at one end communicates
with the pump R, at the other end is, within C on a level with the small holes above
mentioned. It will be found that when the solution of ammonium nitrate be
poured into the tank, partly filling it, and petroleum be then introduced into the
compartment c', in such quantity that it stands in this compartment from the level
of the small holes upwards, the fluids will pass through the tube c' in the proportion
of a horizontal section of c¹ to the horizontal section of the rest of the tank C; as
long as there is any petroleum in c. The tank and the compartment c¹ are of such
dimensions that these horizontal sections are in the proportion that the petroleum
and ammonium nitrate must be for their complete mutual decomposition.
R is a small two-valve force-pump of ordinary construction, except that by means
of the handles r it can be raised or lowered without interrupting its action. When
raised the stroke of the plunger is proportionally shortened. The quantity of
fluids pumped by every stroke from C into B through the tube of small bore 1

page_text: which terminates in a kind of rose near the bottom of B. The pump may also be
worked by the handle *.
The vessel B is placed in a furnace or stove, where by means of coal, gas, oil, or
any other fuel it can be raised to, and maintained at the temperature required for
the production of the gases.
It has however been found convenient to heat the
furnace by means of a spray of petroleum produced in the manner following:
The gases, after their expansive force has been exhausted in working an engine
through cylinders A are wholely or in part led into the closed vessel through
tubes and D, which contains petroleum, (or some other liquid fuel), the
steam in great measure condenses, and collects at the bottom, and can from time to
time be drawn off by means of a cock d', fixed for the purpose near the bottom,
while the permanent gases pass by means of the the tubes and p³ into the furnace,
driving at the same time petroleum into it, which is ignited at the burner in the
The manner in which the generator B is constructed with a copper vessel, aud
an iron cylinder open at the bottom and closed at the top by a lid . This lid
a short pipe to which are attached the safety-valve S and
The pipe by means of which the gas as produced is carried
furnace.
is pierced to admit
pressure gauge G.
to the engine.
The furnace consists of an outer sheet iron casing f', and the furnace of
crucible clay. The base of the furnace consists of two compartments 3 and, in
the lower of which the burner is fixed. The flame passes into the furnace
through a clay tube.
The manner in which the motor works can now be understood.
The burner f in the furnace F is ignited (there being sufficient gas left for this
purpose from the last operation, or the vessel B is heated to begin with by a lamp).
As soon as B is sufficiently hot, the pump R is worked for a few strokes by means of
the handle, and the mixed fluids enter B, and become instantaneously decomposed
into a large volume of highly heated gases. These gases, as produced, are conveyed
to the engine, which may be of a form such as is used ordinarily with high-pressure
steam, of the rotary type, or a turbine. There the gases expanding will work in the
same manner as steam generated in a boiler. The exhaust passes altogether, or in
part into the closed vessel D, and serves to feed the flame in the furnace F in a
manner already. described. The pump is geared to the engine and is worked by
it, when once in motion.
The vessel D is supplied with a gauge
128.
The ultimate products of combustion, which are steam, and carbonic anhydrite
are ejected from the furnace F by any convenient outlet, as in the drawing by
tubes,.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. The process of producing a gas, which can be used as motive power by the
mutual decomposition of the salt known as ammonium nitrate, and a hydrocarbon,
substantially as herein described.
R
2. The use in connection with this process of the supply tank C and the pump
and the exhaust gas in heating the furnace to produce fresh gas, substantially
as herein described and according to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 4th day of June 1892.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicant.