Improved Method of Utilizing or Applying Compressed Combustible Gases for the Production of Motive Power.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 18th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 20th July, 1888
Improved Method of Utilizing or Applying Compressed Combustible
Gases for the Production of Motive Power.
I, HOWARD LANE of 115 Palmerston Buildings, in the City of London Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the application of motive power to vehicles, boats, machines,
ór apparatus, in which a certain amount of energy is required to be carried and stored
up, for subsequent use in locomotion or otherwise; and which applications almost
invariably necessitate lightness, compactness and strength, with a large amount of
power in proportion to size and weight.
My invention consists in utilising the expansive force of compressed combustible
gases, in driving engines, and also in utilising such gases, after expansion, as fuel or
otherwise for the production of motive power.
By means of suitable apparatus, I compress combustible gases, and store the same
in suitable reservoirs, at high pressures. In connection with these reservoirs, I fit an
engine or engines, capable of being driven by the expansion of the compressed gas.
Supplementary engines are fitted to utilise the energy arising from the combustion of
the gas or gases, after the mechanical action of its expansion has been expended, the
gas or gases being mixed with a suitable quantity of atmospheric air or oxygen, and
permitting the pressure arising therefrom to drive a piston or pistons in a suitable
cylinder or cylinders, fitted with the usual valves and other gear for controlling and
applying the resulting force or power.

page_text: Improved Method of Utilizing or Applying Compressed Combustible
Gases for the Production of Motive Power.
I, HOWARD LANE, of 115 Palmerston Buildings, in the City of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 the application of motive power to vehicles, boats, machines,
or apparatus in which a certain amount of energy is required to be carried and stored
up, for subsequent use in locomotion or otherwise; and which applications almost
invariably necessitate lightness, compactness and strength with a large amount of
power in proportion to size and weight.
My invention consists in utilizing the expansive force of compressed combustible
gases, in driving engines, and also in utilizing such gases, after expansion, as fuel or
otherwise for the production of motive power.
By means of suitable apparatus I compress combustible gases, and store the same in
suitable reservoirs, at high pressures. In connection with these reservoirs I fit an
engine or engines, capable of being driven by the expansion of the compressed gas.
Supplementary engines are fitted to utilize the energy arising from the combustion of
the gas or gases, after the mechanical action of its expansion has been expended,―the
gas or gases being mixed with a suitable quantity of atmospheric air or oxygen, and
permitting the pressure arising therefrom to drive a piston or pistons in a suitable
cylinder or cylinders, fitted with the usual valves and other gear for controlling and
applying the resulting force or power.
I sometimes find it advantageous to utilise the waste heat arising from the com-
bustion of the gases in the secondary gas engines, in supplying caloric to the expanding
gases, as they issue from the reservoirs to the primary engines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in the means of storing, transporting and applying motive
power substantially as herein before described.
2. The application and use of the expansive force of compressed gases, in com-
bination with the further application and utilisation of such gases, when so expanded,
and mixed with other gases, or with atmospheric air in driving gas motor engines,
substantially as herein before described.
Dated 1cil In 1000