Improvements in the Production of Motive Power by Means of Compressed Air, Steam, Combustible Gases or other like
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in the Production of Motive Power by Means of
Compressed Air, Steam, Combustible Gases, or other like
I CHARLES TELLIER, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Chemist do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION
OF MOTIVE POWER BY MEANS OF COMPRESSED AIR, STEAM, COMBUSTIBLE GASES OR
OTHER LIKE FLUIDS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR 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 further improvements on an invention for which Letters
Patent were granted to me dated the 8th day of October 1881 N° 4388 the
invention having mainly for object to rapidly carry off heat from or communicate
it to fluids employed in cylinders whether for compressing gases or for producing
expansion without appreciable cooling. My means are applicable to all fluids
whether compressed air or gas, vapours of any kind or liquids injected directly into
cylinders.
For this purpose I employ, as described in the specification of my said former
Letters Patent, moveable chains or other similar arrangements such as perforated
metallic discs, metallic cloth, rods which enter sheaths placed on or below the
pistons so as to maintain the calorific action in the cylinders or to disperse it
according to requirement.
The application of this invention may vary to a very great extent. I will
proceed to shew by examples that this application may be rendered general to any
desired extent. Before commencing the description of apparatuses suitable for
carrying out my invention I wish to specially refer to the principle of the invention
which may be said to consist in providing a kind of heat sponge both above and
below the piston maintaining its calorific action by means of a hot or cold current
and exerting consequently an energetic action on the heat effects which are produced
in the cylinders having for object the utilization of the fluids.
The applications which I am about to describe have reference to the three principal
fluids which it is important to utilize.
The first has reference to the employment of compressed air.
The second to that of water or other steam or vapour or of liquids directly injected
into the cylinders.
The third to the utilization of combustible was

page_text: Firstly. I have shewn in figure 2, an example of an apparatus in which compressed
air is employed and intended for traction purposes.
This apparatus consists:
--
Firstly of a suitable boiler A, capable of supplying a liquid heated to 200 or
300 degrees Centigrade by means of a small pump b; liquid from this boiler A is
introduced into a motor cylinder B which contains my arrangement of chains or
metallic sponges. Compressed air coming from a receiver E is introduced into the
cylinder B. This compressed air expands under the effect of the heat from the
liquid brought by the pump b, Motion is produced which operates the beam F
which by a connecting rod f, gives motion to a pulley P which by means of a belt,
chain or flexible cranked shaft operates the pulley R which is keyed on the hind
axle tree and consequently actuates the wheels S.
A pump d, takes the liquid which has been used in the cylinder B back into the
boiler A so that the pumps d, and b, cause a continuous circulation which brings to
the motor cylinder B all the heat which is necessary for it.
On the beam F is a compression pump c, This compression pump is also provided
with calorific chains; it draws air either from the atmosphere or from a receiver
containing the air which has been already used. The product of the compression is
stored in the receiver E.
To absorb the heat of compression which is given off in the compression pump C
and to get rid of the same a small pump g, is placed on the side of the compression
pump C. It takes from a refrigerator M hereinafter described a certain quantity
of cold liquid which it injects into the compression pump C. This liquid absorbs
It thus enters the
the heat of compression and is ejected with the compressed gas.
. receiver E in which it is held under pressure.
To expel and return it without loss of power to the refrigerator M it is caused to
pass through a small motor cylinder r, which like the pump g, is connected with
the rod of the compression pump C.
The refrigerator M consists of a trough m, m, in which moves a cylinder N,
which is provided with long metal points.
Card-slivers are very suitable for this purpose.
The cylinder N is constantly moved in the direction in which the carriage of the
machine is travelling and disperses into the atmosphere the heat contained in the
refrigerating liquid which constantly circulates in the cooler M.
As there is always liquid under pressure in the receiver E I make use of this
liquid to actuate cylinders the pistons of which operate either the breaks or the
disengaging gear in fact all the accessory parts of the machinery.
The same arrangements can be applied to locomotives with this advantage that
the compressed air economically produced can be distributed in multiple motive
cylinders attached to carriages. The points of contact on the road or way and
consequently the adhesion may be thus increased which allows of ascending steep
gradients whilst diminishing the great weight of the locomotives themselves.
I have shewn in figure 2 at g, r, d, b, pumps for circulating hot and cold liquids.
These pumps are here requisite because the parts of the apparatus are placed at the
same level, but they can be dispensed with by arranging the machine in such a
manner that the liquids can be introduced into the cylinders by their own weight.
A cock placed on each pipe will allow of regulating the natural circulation.
As regards the chains employed for marine purposes many precautions may be
taken to insure their proper working in spite of the oscillations from the rolling
and pitching for instance.
1. They may be joined together as a kind of fabric which can be held open by
spaced metallic rings like a kind of crinoline.
2. Without forming complete fabrics the chains can be joined by transverse rings
the whole being held by means of the said rings.
3. Perforated metallic discs may be employed supporting chains of several
centimeters.
Metallic cloths may be used in place of the discs.

page_text: 4. In place of the chains perforated discs may be employed constructed of
metallic cloth moved by chains or by metal rods which are forced into sheaths
arranged to receive them.
•
I have found the following to be a suitable method of manufacturing the
chains.
-
I form them with metallic spiral links somewhat resembling ordinary key rings
the ends of the spirals being soldered either with tin or zinc; greater solidity being
thereby given to them.
I may construct each link or ring of the said chains of two or three spirals and
by these means fine wire can be employed without fear of softening from the heat
and consequently of the rings becoming opened out.
The chains when they are light are easily drawn along by the fluids in circulating
into the large openings. It is therefore advisable to enlarge the cylinders outside
the stroke of the piston so as to be able to fix a metal jacket perforated as much as
possible and allowing the free circulation of the fluids employed by protecting the
chains from inopportunely penetrating into the ports of the cylinder.
When compressed air or uncondensed steam is used, if a sufficient quantity of the
fluid to fill the cylinder is not introduced a diminution of pressure or a relative
vacuuin is caused at the end of the exhaust stroke. This produces the double
inconvenience of reducing the power produced and of allowing a too active suction
of the liquid from the boiler.
To avoid these objections it is advisable to place suction valves over the conduit
pipes of the heated liquid or in other suitable positions.
The exterior atmosphere will be thus sucked in in case of vacuum and
consequently the inconveniences referred to are obviated.
When the air leaves the motor cylinders it has a very high temperature and it is
important that the heat thus obtained should not be lost. Care should therefore be
taken to pass the said air through a changer which generally consists of a cluster of
tubes. This changer allows of taking from the fluid which has been employed for
work its heat in order to communicate it to that which is about to perform
its work.
The word "fluid" which I have just used is very suitable as whatever is said
with respect to air in this description may be applied to other permanent gases or
to vapours.
I desire this to be expressly understood.
My arrangement of chain piston can easily be applied to gas engines. In
constructing these engines, I effect the compression of the gaseous mixture either
hot or cold in a special compression pump as shewn in figure 2, at C, and I cause
the explosion to take place in a motor cylinder similar to that shewn at B, in the
said figure.
This arrangement allows
Firstly-Of cold compression of the gaseous mixture.
Secondly Of giving to the combustion as high a temperature as possible, the
chains soon moderating the temperature and storing the heat necessary for the
expansion whereby the necessity of cooling the outside of the apparatus by a
current of water is obviated.
:
Thirdly Of retaking by means of a changer the heat which is contained by the
gaseous inixture thus utilized and consequently of reducing the consumption of
gas 250 to 300 litros per hour and per horse power.
The compression of the gaseous mixture may be effected separately if desired that
is to say, the air can be compressed on one side and the gas on the other side in
such a manner as to cause the products of the compression to enter separately and
form the explosive mixture only under the piston.
The employment of the chain piston does not necessarily involve the use of a

page_text: tubes of small diameter being more easily obtained than that of tubes of large.
diameter. Any suitable arrangement of tubular boilers may-be employed for this
purpose but a necessary precaution to be observed is to provide this kind of boiler.
with an automatic apparatus for limiting the height of the temperature to a
determined degree. These automatic apparatuses are easily constructed of levers
having a column of mercury and causing valves to open for the introduction of cold
air. Under these circumstances the temperature of the Boiler will never attain too
great a height and security is therefore obtained.
The chain piston allows of employing cooking apparatus with interior combustion.
It is easy in fact to arrange a fire place in a suitable insulated casing so that the
resistance to the pressure shall not be altered. In this case the.combustion takes
place under pressure and the burnt air itself at a temperature of 400° to 500°
centigrade is caused to work in the cylinder. The heat thus produced' will be
moderated by the action of the chains.
"
The application to steam and to liquids is very simple; it is only necessary to
lengthen the cylinders so as to make room for the chains and the circulating
liquid.
If steam is employed its introduction is effected in the ordinary manner; if a
liquid be employed which becomes vaporized in the cylinder and the nature of
which liquid is changeable, the slide valves are replaced by piston injectors which
rapidly introduce the quantity of liquid necessary to produce the motive power into
the cylinder at the commencement of the stroke. The condensation is effected in
the usual manner. I would observe that this method of employment can be applied
not only to water-steam alone, but also to other vapours generated by heat set free
by the condensation of water-steam as in compound steam engines, such for example
as engines driven by means of water-steam and ether.
The third application has reference to the utilization of combustible gases.
Figures 3, and 4, represent the apparatus which I employ for this purpose; in
using this apparatus the calorific chains are kept in the compressor cylinder or
cylinders but they may be dispensed with in the motor cylinder according as it is
desired to work at a more or less high temperature.
If for example it is desired that the temperature in the cylinder shall not exceed
200° centigrade, chains are employed which will store the excess of heat produced
by the explosion and will restore the said heat during the expansion. In this case
the liquid will not be caused to circulate but will be contained in the apparatus in
the form of a bath filling up the objectionable spaces or those parts of the cylinder
which are not traversed by the piston in its stroke. The small quantities of liquid
carried away by the exhaust will be brought back by a pump provided for that
purpose.
If on the contrary, it is wished to utilize the excess of pressure caused by the
deflagration, the chains are then dispensed with in'the motor cylinder and employed
as already described in the compression pumps.
This last described arrangement is shown in figures 3, and 4.
In order to produce the desired effects the apparatus must comprise not only the
motor apparatus but also the apparatus for producing combustible gases, which in
fact takes the place of generators in ordinary steam engines.
The apparatus is now complete and is represented in the accompanying drawing.
Figure 3, is a view of the complete apparatus and shows
Firstly The apparatus for producing combustible gases and which takes the
place of a boiler and is shewn in section at M, M.
Secondly The motor apparatus shewn in exterior view at N, N.
Figure 4, is a transverse section of the motor cylinder and adjoining parts.
The gas apparatus M, N, is represented in section.
By means of its prehensory parts shewn at A A, the apparatus supplies itself
with coal and feeds itself according to requirement. Through the tube B, it digests
the coal, the useful gaseous products of which escape through the chimney C.
Finally through the opening D, it throws out the inert matter.

page_text: A pusher piston J, J, receives the coal in its cells and conducts it over the
opening l.
B, is a horizontal refractory crucible surrounded by an annular boiler e, e, e, e,
which is itself provided with an insulating jacket d, d, d, d.
E is a safety and cleaning stopper or cover.
F, is a firing chimney having a funnel mouth f, which can be shut at will.
G, is the tubing for delivering fresh air brought through the conduit g, g, g,
which connects the tube G to the changer P, P.
The tube H, which surmounts the apparatus and ejects the volatile products of
the operation is curved so that in one part of its length it meets at the
changer-P, P.
•
The prehensory apparatus A A, is constructed as follows:-A bucket chain f,
takes the coal in the hopper II and dis:harges it by means of the inclined plane i,
into the upper hopper k, which in its turn introduces it into the closing
piston J, J.
It is necessary to employ in conjunction with the prehensory apparatus another
device for pushing the coal into the interior.
This device consists of the piston m, m, which pushes back the coal into B, in
proportion to its arrival in N, through the openings 1, l.
This driving back action causes the desired feed and moreover it breaks the
cakes which may be formed thus producing continual fissures or openings in the
incandescent mass, further it imperceptibly draws to the extremity of B, the inert
matters which there fall into the opening D, and are ejected from the apparatus.
In this slow travel the coal is converted into combustible gas by means of the
hot air drawn into the changer through the tube g, g, g, and which arrives therein
by the tube G, which is terminated by a perforated plate 8, 8.
Referring to the ejector D, the annular boiler e, e, e, is not there provided with
refractory materials the products ejected communicate therefore a cooling effect to
this part to the advantage of the water which is to be vaporized.
Under these circumstances the ejected matter falls into the vat R, R, filled up to
the line V, V.
The presence of water is bere necessary to prevent the air from reentering the
apparatus. It is advisable to fit a blow valve near F.
The firing is effected by means of. a pipe of special construction shewn in
figures 5, and 6.
Figure 6, is a section through. the line a, b, of figure 5, The object of the
boiler e, e, e, is to absorb the radiating heat; also to slightly cool the gases before
their arrival in the changer in order to prevent its deterioration.
The vapours thus formed are brought into the changer P, P, which serves for
cooling the gases produced in the digester B, so as to allow of their subsequent
compression. It consists simply of a bundle of tubes in which the gases to be
cooled are caused to circulate whilst on the other hand around the said tubes and
in the space limited by the sides of the changer, the fresh air and the vapour just
hereinbefore mentioned is caused to circulate and which retaking the heat of the
gases to be cooled enter thus heated through the tubė g, g, g, g, and the pipe G, to
the apparatus.
It will be seen that the coal is supplied constantly to the digester tube B, that it
receives the air and vapour which come through the tubing G, that these bodies
are therein transformed into oxyde of carbon, hydrogen &c &c that the said bodies
enter the changer P, P, to become cooled and then leave by the tubes 2, %, z, which
conduct them to the motor apparatus where it is required to use them.
I will now refer to the second part of the apparatus shewn in figure 3, that is to
say, to the motor N, properly so called.
As will be easily seen the machine is constructed of a single cylinder. Two or
three cylinders may however be employed as also the arrangement known as
compound cylinders. These cylinders may be placed obliquely, horizontally, or
vertically, in fact any suitable arrrangement may be adoptel.

page_text: Figure 4, shews a section of the cylinder a, a, a, a, in which moves an ordinary
piston B, B. Orifices C, C, serve for the inlet and others D, D, for the exhaust.
The inlet slide consists of two plates of polished cast iron Cf, Cn, between
which works the frame r, containing two slide valves separated by a spring.
A valve M, allows of the introduction of the motive fluid into the cylinder a, a,
a, a; it receives the fluid through two pipes O, O, one conveying the fresh air and
the other the combustible gases.
In the apparatus as represented in figure 4, the introduction of the explosive
mixture is supposed to be cut off at one sixth of the stroke.
As soon as the inlet is closed, the firing of the mixture takes place by means of
an electric spark in any suitable manner or by any other suitable means of firing.
The explosion being effected, the piston is moved under the effect of the
expansion of the gases and the expansion continues during five sixths of the stroke.
At the end of the stroke the combustible gases have still a high temperature which
should not be lost. On the other hand it is important that the cylinder should not
become heated beyond this temperaturo. For this purpose two pipes l, l, g, g,
figures 3, and 4, lead back the exhaust gases into an insulated jacket shewn in section
at c, c, c, c, figure 4, and which completely surrounds the cylinder.
Figure 3, clearly shews that the product of each exbaust enters the lower part
of the jacket at 1, g, for example; that the gases thus led run over the whole of
the periphery of the cylinder and leave by the tubes L, L, G, G, which conduct
them to the changers E F.
In this manner I obtain that which is desired, videlicet :-
:-
Firstly The preservation of the initial temperature in the cylinder.
Secondly The insulation of the cylinder.
The exhaust tubes L, L, G, G, each lead to the changers E, F, figures 3, and 4,
formed of a bundle of tubes held vertically separate by several diaphragms provided
with holes rather larger than the tubes.
The movement given to the piston is transmitted by the rod V, to the slide W,
The guide shewn at Q, Q, is fixed to the cylinder itself. Laterally it has at 9, 9,
two wide rubbing parts in which rises and falls the tie bar R, R, which is firmly
fixed on the slide of the guide.
These details are shewn more clearly in figure 4 in which the guide is supposed
to be cut and turned round a quarter of a revolution to the line X, X, with respect
to the section of the cylinder. This arrangement allows of shewing the details
which I am describing.
Finally, movement is transmitted by the connecting rods S, S, to the cranks p,p,
P, P, which operate the motor shaft P, P.
The motor fluid which I use consists preferably ;-
Firstly, of atmospheric air.
Secondly, of various combustible gases entering the motor through the
tube z, z, z.
I employ two compression pumps of unequal capacities fixed on each side of the
motor cylinder to the tie bar R, R, or with advantage I may employ three pumps
to prevent unequal resistance.
One of the pumps H, draws in atmospheric air.
The second pump J, is for the combustible gas coming from the tube z, z, z, and
the other pump I, for the supplement of atmospheric air which the pump H, has
not been able to supply.
→
Figure 7, represents a section of one of the pumps, say for instance, the pump H.
It consists simply of a chain piston P, working in a cylinder C, C, B, B.
The air enters through the valves R, C, passes through the opening O, raises the
suction valves W, and enters the body of the pump. When the piston forces it, it
passes by the tubing g, through the delivery valve. It escapes finally through the
pipe R, to be sent to the corresponding changer.
A lateral pump h, figure 3, at each stroke of the piston forces the necessary
quantity of cooling liquid to form the bath for the chains and to carry away the

page_text: heat of compression; this liquid afterwards passes through a cooling apparatus so
that it may be used afresh.
Generally it will be found more simple to make use of a current of water and
this means is employed for the compression pumps I, J.
Whatever may be the means employed the air arrives mixed with cooling liquid
through the pipe k, into the changer.
This pipe is placed at the sides of the changer itself, that is to say, in the
cylindrical part surrounding the cluster of pipes. The compressed fluids then
circulate round the changer tubes.
The fresh motive fluid thus brought ascends gradually in the changer absorbing
the heat contained in the utilized motive fluid which heat passes through the wall
of the internal tubes.
Finally, the working fluid arrives in a heated state at the upper part of the
changer whence egressing through each tube o, it reaches by means of the tubes o,
the collector M, which as above described conducts the gas to produce the motive
power in the cylinder.
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.) In machines in which steam is employed as a motive power, recovering the
heat contained in the utilized motive fluid by the means substantially as described.
(2.) In machines in which steam is employed as a motive power the production
entirely or partly in the cylinder itself by means of a current of hot liquid of the
heat which is to be transformed into work substantially as described.
(3.) In machines in which steam is employed as a motive power the complete
utilization of the expansion, the cooling of the steam in expanding being prevented
by the employment of a current of hot liquid substantially as described.
(4.) In machines where permanent gas is employed as a motive power, employing
means substantially as described, to secure the cold compression of the gases.
(5.) In machines where permanent gas is employed as a motive power, employing
means substantially as described for moderating the heat in the working cylinder.
(6.) The apparatus for the direct trausformation of coal into gas for utilization
in a working cylinder of a motor substantially as described.
(7.) The improvements in the production of motive power by means of compressed
air, steam, combustible gases or other like fluids and in apparatus therefor as
herein before described and represented in the several figures of the annexed
drawing.