Improved Means for Obtaining Air and Gases under Pressure, and for their Utilization for the Production of Motive Power.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
Avenue, New York City, U.S.A., Engineer.]
Improved Means for Obtaining Air and Gases under Pressure, and
for their Utilization for the Production of Motive Power.
I THEODORE MCKENNA of 17 & 18 Basinghall Street London Solicitor and Patent
Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
My invention relates to an apparatus wherein and whereby I am able to utilize
the expansive property of gases such as acetylene. I have devised my apparatus
with a view particularly to the utilization of the expansive property of acetylene
gas in the generation of power or motive force. In this apparatus may expand
the acetylene gas through an engine directly, and recover the same after such
expansion into a gasometer to be used for illuminating or kindred purposes, or I
may utilize the force to first compress air and then expand the same through an
engine to operate the same, and exhaust the air to the atmosphere.
I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawing, which is a section
of an elevation. The engine, gasometer and connecting valves, I have simply
shown in diagram; believing that it was unnecessary to illustrate these in detail,
as any of the well known forms of valves and gasometers, or indeed engines may be
used in connection with the apparatus hereinafter described. I have referred to
the several parts by letters, designating like parts by like letters.
A, is a reservoir adapted to contain gases; B, is a second reservoir adapted to
contain air or equivalent fluid; C, is a tubular connection between the reservoirs A,
and B; D, is intended to represent a reciprocating engine, or any other form of
engine that may be suitable for the purpose; E, is a gasometer of any form
suitable for the purpose. al is a basket suspending within the reservoir A, by the
rod a 2, by which it may be elevated or lowered within said reservoir; a 3 is a
tubular connection between the reservoir A, and the cylinder D, controlled by the
valve a 4. 61 is a tubular connection between the reservoir B, and the cylinder D,
controlled by the valve 62. 63 is an exhaust valve to the atmosphere, and a 5 is
an exhaust valve connected by the pipe a 6, with the gasometer E. The valves a 4,
62 and 63 and a 5 are preferably slide valves operating in the usual manner to supply
to, and exhaust from the engine, and controlled by the operative parts of the engine
according to well known principles of engine construction.
It is known that when calcium carbide, or equivalent substances are brought in
contact with water, that a gas is generated, having great expansive properties.
As heretofore stated it is the purpose of my present invention to provide a device
by which the expansive property of said gases may be utilized, either directly,
or through an operation, by which air is condensed, and such condensed air is
utilized as a motive power. The manner in which I proceed may be described as
follows:
For the purposes of the following description, I will assume that there are two
valves a 6, and 64, interposed in the pipes a 3 and 61 leading from the reservoirs
to the engine, and that these valves are closed; this being understood, I first fill
the tubular connection C, between the reservoirs A, and B with a liquid such as

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water, having a specific gravity greater than that of gas or air; I then fill the
reservoir B with air, through a port controlled by a valve, such as 65, and close
said port, I then fill the basket a 1, with calcium carbide, or a similar compound,
and by the rod a 2, I lower the said calcium carbide into the water resting at the
base of the said-reservoir A. As soon as the calcium carbide comes in contact
with the water, as heretofore stated, a gas will be generated, known as acetylene
gas, which has a powerful expansive property. This gas will be confined within
the reservoir A, and its pressure will be exerted against the column of water lying
below the reservoir, and will operate to move said water against the column of air,
within the reservoir B, thus condensing the air within said reservoir to a degree of
density or pressure substantially equal to the density or pressure of the gas within
the reservoir A. I therefore have two reservoirs containing gas and air, under a
high degree of pressure; I may utilize this pressure in any of the ways well known
for the utilization of such pressure.
For the purpose of showing a use to which I may apply it, I have illustrated in
diagramatic form a reciprocating engine D. I may now open the valves a 6
and 64, and permit the pressure of the gas and air to be controlled by the
valves a 4 and 62 respectively. In this event, in the well understood action of
these valves in connection with the operative parts of a reciprocating engine, air
and gas will be introduced into the cylinder alternately, to affect the piston d 1,
and the air will be exhausted to the atmosphere through the valves 63, and I
may exhaust the gas to the atmosphere through the valve a 5, or I may lead
the same from the engine into the gasometer E, from whence I may exhaust the
same for illuminating purposes or kindred uses.
It will of course be understood, that I may utilize the compressed air alone
with the engine, or in any other way, or I may utilize the gas under pressure
directly with the engine, or I may use both in a manner such as I have
described, and I may exhaust the gas directly to the gasometer without expanding
the same through the engine.
I have described a water balance between the reservoirs A, and B; it will be
readily understood, that I may interpose between these reservoirs, a mechanical
balance, such as a cylinder and piston, but I prefer the water or other liquid
having a greater specific gravity than gas or air, as I consider the same better
adapted for the purpose.
It will be understood that as the gas is exhausted from the reservoir A, that a
new contact between the calcium carbide and the water, will generate a new
supply of acetylene gas, which may be utilized again and again, as heretofore
indicated.
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. A pressure and power generator, consisting of a reservoir adapted to contain
gas, in combination with a reservoir adapted to contain air, a tubular connection
between such reservoirs, with an hydraulic or equivalent balance interposed.
therein, means to bring calcium carbide and water into contact within one of said
reservoirs, and means to introduce air in the other of said reservoirs, and by the
expansive property of the gas to condense the air, substantially as described.
2. A pressure and power generator, consisting of a reservoir adapted to contain
gas, in combination with a reservoir adapted to contain air, a tubular connection
between such reservoirs, with an hydraulic or equivalent balance interposed
therein, means to bring calcium carbide and water into contact within one of said
reservoirs, and means to introduce air in the other of said reservoirs, and by the
expansive property of the gas to condense the air, and means to expand the air
thus condensed through an engine to operate the same from one side, and means to
expand such gas thus generated through said engine from the other side,
substantially as described.

page_text: 3. A pressure and power generator, consisting of a reservoir adapted to contain
gas, in combination with a reservoir adapted to contain air, a tubular connection
between such reservoirs, with an hydraulic or equivalent balance interposed
therein, means to bring calcium carbide and water into contact within one of said
reservoirs, and means to introduce air into the other of said reservoirs and by the
expansive property of the gas to condense air, and means to expand the air thus
condensed through an engine, to operate the same from one side, and means to
expand said gas thus generated through said engine from the other side, and to
exhaust said gas from the engine into a gasometer, substantially as described.
4. A pressure and power generator, consisting of a reservoir adapted to contain
gas, and means to unite calcium carbide with water within said reservoir, to
produce acetylene gas, and means to exhaust the gas thus generated, or to expand
the same through an engine, substantially as described.
5. A pressure and power generator, consisting of a reservoir adapted to contain
gas, in combination with a reservoir adapted to contain air, a tubular connection
between such reservoirs, with a hydraulic or equivalent balance interposed
therein, means to bring calcium carbide and water into contact within one of said
reservoirs, and means to introduce air in the other of the said reservoirs, and by
the expansive property of the gas to condense the air, and means to expand the air
thus condensed through an engine, substantially as described.
Dated the 26th day of January 1897
THEO. MCKENNA.