Improved Method of Obtaining Motive Power from Gaseous Pressure, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1897-Accepted, 16th July, 1897
Improved Method of Obtaining Motive Power from Gaseous
Pressure, and Apparatus therefor.
I WILLIAM GOWLLAND of 192 Highbury Hill London N. England, Optician do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
My invention has referance to a means of supplying or generating motive power for
all purposes, such as for motors, of all descriptions, engines, discharging ordnance,
torpedoes, power for power hammers, & supplying power to machinery of every
description, and explosions.
For this purpose I use solidified or liquidified gas or gases as the motive power,
instead of the usual method of using steam, or gas in its gaseous state, I may use it
expansively or explosively, or both expansively and explosively together & I may
also use the gas or gases mixed with air.
This method of supplying motive power to motors can be adapted to any form of
motor or engine, ordnance, etc.
In the case of a gun the solidified or liquidified gas will be contained in a suitable
resovoir that can be fixed to the breech end of gun, & suitable valves provided that
will allow a certain quantity of the gas or gases to be admitted behind the projectile.
The gas or the mixture of gas & air, if air is used also, is then exploded by an
electric spark, or otherwise, & thus fires off the gun.
I may also fill a shell or explosive bullet with solidified or liquidified gas or gases
& cause the gases to be liberated & exploded before or on contact with object
fired at.
A torpedo would be exploded in the same way as the shell described above, but gas
used expansively to discharge it.
In the case of motors, the solidified or liquidified gas or gases, with or without air,
will be admitted into the cylinder in the same manner as steam & gas are now
admitted.
I here give a short description of a motor specially applicable to light vehicles &
cycles-it will consist of a circular cylinder, the valve or valves that close end of
cylinder fitting into main shaft, & they having a part of their substance cut away to
allow the piston to pass, the chambers holding the gas can be fitted into the thickness
of the main shaft & communicate with the cylinder by suitable valves. The valves &
cylinder will be geared to allow the piston to pass valves exactly at the proper
moment. The gas or gases will be exploded by an electric spark, apparatus for
which is at explosion part of cylinder.
By the word "Gas "I mean that I may use two or more gases or air with them
solidified or liquidified together in the same resavoir & thus form a mixed or
compound gas. Or I may lead two or more liquid or solid gases from seperate
resavoirs to a mixing chamber with air if necessary & thus form a mixed or compound
gas before use.
Dated this Lith day of July

page_text: Improved Method of Obtaining Motive Power from Gaseous
Pressure and Apparatus therefor.
WILLIAM GOWLLAND 192 Highbury Hill London N, Optician, 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 has referance to a means of generating motive power for all purposes
such as for motors of all description engines discharging ordnance, torpedoes, power
for power hammers & supplying power to machinery of every description &
explosions.
For this purpose I use solidified or liquified gas or gases as the motive power
instead of the usual method of using steam, explosives or gas in its gaseous state, I
may use it expansively or explosively, or both expansively or explosively together, & I
may use also the gas or gases mixed with air.
This method of supplying motive power can be adapted to any form of engine or
ordnance.
In the case of a gun the solidified or liquified gas will be contained in a suitable
resavoir that can be fitted to the breech end of gun & suitable valves provided that
will allow a certain quantity of the gas or gases to be admitted behind the projectile.
The gas or the mixture of gas & air, if air is used also, is then exploded by an electric
spark or otherwise, & thus fires off the gun.
I may also fill a shell or explosive bullet with solidified or liquified gas or gases
& cause the gases to be liberated & exploded, before or on contact with object fired at.
A torpedo would be exploded in the same way as the shell mentioned above, but
gas used expansively to discharge it.
In the case of motors, the solidified or liquified gas or gases, with or without air,
will be admitted into the cylinder in the same manner as steam & gas are now
admitted.
I here give a short description of a motor specially applicable to cycles & light
vehicles: it will consist of a circular cylinder, the valve or valves that close end of
cylinder fitting into main shaft, & they having a part of their substance cut away
to allow the piston to pass, the chambers holding the gas can be fitted into the
thickness of main shaft, & communicate with the cylinder by suitable valves. The
valves & cylinder will be geared to allow the piston to pass valves exactly at
the proper moment.
The gas or gases will be exploded by an electric spark, apparatus for which is at
explosion part of cylinder.
.
By the word "Gas" I mean that I may use two or more gases, or air with them,
solidified or liquified together in the same resovoir & thus form a mixed or compound
gas. Or I may lead two or more liquid or solid gases from seperate resovoirs to a
mixing chamber, with air if necessary, & thus form a mixed or compound gas
before use.
Fig. 1 shows the application of my invention to a gun. a is the gun. b the
resovoir of liquified gas. c the valve to admit gas to behind the projectile, d d is the
sparking apparatus to fire the gaseous charge & propell the projectile.
Although I only illustrate an ordinary large type of gun, may use this method on
any other gun, rifle, pistol or quick-firing gun.
I may put two or more resovoirs to a gun, each resovoir holding a different gas, the
combination of which gases forms an explosive gas.
Figs. 2 & 3 shows my invention fitted to a torpedo & shell respectively, a. a. are
the resovoirs of liquified gases, b is a plunger that liberates the gases by forcing in

page_text: the valves, c. c on the plunger being forced in by coming in contact with the object
fired at.
At the same time that the plunger is liberating the gases a friction fuse e ignites
them. This method may also be used for firing mines of every description, also for
blasting purposes. It is obvious that I may only use those gases that form an
explosive mixture.
Fig. 4 shows my invention as applied to a rotary engine in which a liquified or
solidified gas, oxygen, or liquified air for preferance, is used expansively.
The drawing shows the engine attached to the under part of a vehicle :-a, a. is
the circular cylinder, bb the inain shaft in the thickness of which is the gas resovoir c;
d is the circular valve carrying a cog wheel e which gears with an annular wheel or
pinion secured to the cylinder . is the piston, h is a sliding sleeve on the main
shaft which controls the supply of gas by means of the cock m.
The engine is started by opening the cock m. by means of the rod k, the liquified
air immediately expands into the coil n which being made hot by the lamp o expands
the air still more as it passes into the engine. To reverse the engine the cock m is
turned round by means of the rod k till the passage p allows the gas or air to pass
through the passage in the centre of main shaft & so to the opposite side of the
circular valve d.
The engine is stopped by so turning the cock m, that neither of the passages allow
gas or air to pass.
The charge of gas or air is let into cylinder every revolution by means of the
cock m. being turned on & off, this is accomplished by the sliding sleeve h which has
an internal cam 8, which can gives a reciprocating movement to the roller t, the
roller t being connected to the cock m thus gives it the necessary movement every
revolution. The exhaust w is kept open during part of the revolution by means of
the cam u.
Although I only show one circular valve I may use any number.
And, I may also use an explosive gas or gases & run the engine explosively.
Fig. 5 is a section though A. B.
Fig. 6 shows the application of my invention to a reciprocating engine, whether
expansive or explosive, a is the resovoir of liquid or solid air the cylinder c the
supply pipe which may be coiled under which are the lamps or heating apparatus
for extra expansion.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said invention
& in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The use of liquified or solidified gas or gases in ordnance to be used explosively
for the purpose described.
2. The use of liquified or solidified gas or gases in torpedoes or mines to be used
explosively for the purpose described.
3. The use of liquified or solidified gas or gases in shells or explosive bullets, to be
used explosively for the purpose described.
4. The improvements in ordnance torpedoes & shells substantially as described.
5. The use of liquified or solidified air in engines or notors to be used expansively
for the purpose described.
6. The improvements in engines or motors substantially as described.