IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for CALORIC OR HEATED AIR ENGINES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Messer, of Roxbury, in the County of Norfolk
and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, but now of
No. 18, King Street, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, for the
COMPELTE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Messer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 5th July 1864, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
MESSER, of Roxbury, in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts,
in the United States of America, but now of No. 18, King Street, Holborn, in
the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for
CALORIC OR HEATED AIR ENGINES." and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant
unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn declaration that I am the true and
first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Messer, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement,
[Price 8d.]

page_text: reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to several further improvements in caloric or heated
air engines from those patented for me, as a communication from abroad, in
the name of and by Walter Davis Richards, on the Eleventh day of November
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, No. 2806, and consists, firstly,
in certain additions and improvements in the detail of construction, and
arranging such engines so that the lower part of the cylinder, air pump, and
furnace are on one plane, which materially reduces the height of the engine
from that required in previous construction, where these several paris occupy
different planes, giving facilities for placing the feed box for the fuel directly
over the fire-box, so the fuel falls into the fire-box by its own gravity through
the opening of a valve intervening between the fire-box and the feed box, when
the fuel is immediately deposited.
Secondly, in a new method of passing the air from the air pump to the
furnace through an annular passage around the working cylinder and around
the outside of the surface nearly or contiguous to where the piston works, and
in utilizing the caloric transmitted to the air in its passage.
Thirdly, in filling the space partially with water intervening between the
furnace and bed plate, and generating steam therefrom by the heat from the
surrounding surfaces, and in using the steam so generated for the purposes of
assisting combustion in the furnace, or the using of this steam as a source of
power; also in protecting (in certain constructions) the lower part of the
cylinder of heated air engines coming into contact with the water aforesaid
and abstracting the caloric therefrom, thereby keeping the cylinder ccol.
Fourthly, in the construction of the furnaces or combustion chambers and
grates of heated air engines, and in the peculiar manner of passing the air
from the air pump to the furnace for supporting combustion.
Fifthly, in the construction of the air pump, air passages, and valves of
heated air engines, and in doing away with many difficulties of working the
valves of air pumps attached to such engine.
Sixth in an improved method of packing the pistons of heated air engines
by the employment of springs between the cup leather and the piston head,
always keeping the cup packing pressed outward.
Seventhly, in the use of hydrocarbonaceous fuel, such as petroleum or any
other fluid of like character, either separately or in combination with incan-
descent solid fuel in such air-tight furnaces as herein described, and in the
manner of injecting such fluid combustible matter to the furnace and regulating
its quantity by the governor of the engine.

page_text: Chapter 1. I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine
myself to the exact details as herein described and shewn in the accompanying
Drawings, as I may alter such details as circumstances or convenience require.
The whole operation will be readily understood by reference to the Drawings
and the following description.
Figure 1 represents a plan of the heated air engine; Figure 2, a vertical
section of the same taken on the line a, b, as seen in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a
plan of the main casing or foundation, the section being taken on the line 1, 1,
of Figure 2, with the covering plate removed therefrom; Figure 4 is a
reverse plan of the feed box; Figure 5 is an elevation of the combustion
chamber or furnace, shewing the air passages and valve, through which
air is conducted either under the grate or between its parts, or into the inter-
stices of its peculiar structure; Figure 6 is an horizontal section taken across
the lower part of the upper portion of the engine cylinder in the plane of the
line z, z, Fig. 2; Figure 7 is a vertical section taken through the air pump in
the plane of the line y, y, as seen in Figure 3.
It will be readily seen, by reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, that the lower
part of the cylinder, the air pump, and the furnace cach occupy distinct
positions in the same plane, which reduces the height of the engine from that
in previous constructions, where two and sometimes all the parts named
were located in different horizontal planes, one over the other. By this
arrangement the feed box can be placed immediately over the combustion
chamber or fire-box, so that the fuel being first placed in the feed box the
valve or cover is put on above the fuel, when another valve intervening
between the fire-box or combustion chamber is drawn out, the fuel dropping
in by its own gravity. This valve is again closed, when an air-tight furnace
is obtained; a more completely mode of feeding and an equal distribution of the
fuel over the grating below is obtained. All these objects so attained are new
and essential in the furnaces of heated air engines. c, the air pump; d, the
lower part of the cylinder; e, the combustion chamber or furnace; /, the feed
box; g, the slide valve intervening between the feed box and combustion
chamber. It is this before-described arrangement of parts (viz.), the furnace,
the lower part of the engine cylinder, and the air pump on the same planes,
and with the feed box as arranged, constitutes the first part of my Invention.
Chapter 2. To prevent the overheating of the upper part of the cylinder
in which the packing portion of the piston works, the natural transmission of
the caloric being up through the metal of the cylinder from the bottom. I
form an annular passage h (as shewn in Figure 2) around its base, and
contrive by the arrangement of parts that the cold air shall pass from the

page_text: air pump c to the combustion chamber or furnace f. through the passage i to
the annular passage h, when the cold air intercepts and takes up the caloric.
to a great degree utilizing the heat which would be otherwise lost by radiation
and keeping the upper part of the cylinder cool. This constitutes the second
part of my improvements in heated air engines.
Chapter 3, Figure 2. My next improvement is in filling the space
(partially with water) intervening between the furnace e, the top plate n,
and foundation bed m, and all the space within the bed plate not occupied by
the lower part of the cylinders or by the furnaces and air passages. I generate
steam from the heat that may be transmitted from the surrounding surfaces
in contact with the water, utilizing the steam generated therefrom by passing
a steam jet into the combustion chamber to aid combustion, or I use it as an
additional source of power in any known manner, either with the heated air
or separately in connection with heated air engines. In order to protect the
lower part of the cylinder d from direct contact with the water by which heat
would be abstracted, I surround it with a casing o, and the space within o and
between it and the cylinder d may be left empty or filled with any well-known
conducting material. This encasing of the cylinder and utilizing the space.
in the bed for generating steam by heat, which would otherwise be lost by
conduction and radiation, and the using of such steam generated in the
manner and for the purposes herein described, constitutes the third part of my
Invention in heated air engines.
Chapter 4. My further improvements consist in the construction of the
furnaces, combustion chambers, and gratings of heated air engines, and in the
peculiar manner of passing the air from the air pump to and through the
furnace to support combustion. The grate of the furnace is of peculiar con-
struction, and is so formed that air to support combustion goes directly
through openings therein to and amongst the fuel or else circulates in the
body of the grate, and then escapes either amongst the fuel or above it, or the
passage of the air may be used both ways, as circumstances require. I
construct the grate of cast iron in preference to any other material, and may
be said to be composed of 2 plates q and r, the upper one q having an edge
flange s cast downwards from and integral with it, and having apertures
therein which are elongated or continued by the cavities or pipe-like portions f
of the same casting, extending downwards from the plate q to the same plane
with the edge of the flange s. The plate is securely fastened on the flange s
and the ends of the tubes t. Provision is made in the air passage k, so that
when the grate is in its place for use a damper or valve u can by its position
be made to cause the air to pass under the grate and up through its tubular

page_text: openings through the fuel, or else into the space between the plates q and r
and around the tubes t; the air thus passing finds exit through a series of
small holes u', so situated in g as to open behind the flutings of the corrugated
lining, and may pass into the space above the fuel over the top of the
lining, or through the openings therein, and, if necessary, some of the
openings may be made low enough to admit the air through the lining into
the fuel. The air which thus passes through the compound structure of the
grate out of the openings ¹ preserves the grate from burning by abstracting
the heat therefrom. The peculiar construction and arrangement of the grate
with the flanges and tubes t, integral with the top plate and with the
openings in the said top plate, constitutes the fourth part of my Invention.
Chapter 5. The perfect working and operation of heated air engines is
dependent in a great measure on the correct working of its air pump, and this
again depends on the valves also working correctly. By reference to the
sectional Drawings of the vertical air pump, shewn in Figures 7 and 8, it will
be observed that the air passages and the valve seats are so arranged that the
valves are opened by lifting; they also close by their own gravity without
recourse to springs, counterweights, and other mechanical devices, such as
have heretofore been used with the valves of vertical air pumps of heated air
engines. The arrangement of parts as connected with air pumps and valves
of such engines constitutes the fifth part of my Invention.
Chapter 6. The pistons of heated air engines are generally packed with the
kind of packing known as cup-leather packing, which is too well known to
need description. This packing sometimes fails to work satisfactorily in
engines of this character, because the air gets between it and the inner face of
the cylinder, instead of between the piston head and its cup packing, and very
slight causes will put the cup packing in a condition to operate (in part)
contrary to the intent of its organization, especially where the diameter of the
cylinder is larger and where from use or absorption of oil the packing has lost
its original outward spring and becomes flaccid. If the packing is always
pressed outward, no matter how slightly, provided it is kept in contact with
its cylinder, the pressure within the cylinder will always act to expand the
packing and not to contract it, as when the packing falls away from the
cylinder, admitting pressure between the said parts. This part of my
improvement consists in the employment of springs between the cup leather
and the piston head. These springs may be variously made. The one shewn
in the Drawings is similar to a cup, but not continuously cupped all around, as
I have cut the metallic spring often enough at given distances to let it spring
more easily, and by contact with the cup leather keeps this always slightly

page_text: pressed up to the cylinder. This improvement is represented in detail in
Figure 9, where a' represents the metallic spring which keeps the cup
packing w pressed outward. The employment of spring pressure acting as
herein described and shewn in the Drawings to keep the cup packing pressed
outward as applied to heated air engines constitutes the sixth part of my
Invention.
Chapter 7. The fire-box being perfectly tight and pressure being main-
tained therein, I propose to make use of combustible fluid as a fuel separately
or in connection with incandescent solid fuel. To effect the introduction of such
fluid fuel into the furnace (if petroleum, for example), I make use of a force
pump to inject that liquid into the furnace, where it becomes decomposed
and is disseminated into gas, which mingles with the hot expanded air and the
volatile products of combustion, thus increasing in volume and pressure,
operating on the piston of the heated air engine as an impelling medium.
By admitting more or less of this fluid the speed and power of the engine may
be increased or diminished at pleasure, and if the valve which controls the
amount of fluid injected into the furnace or combustion chamber be con-
trolled by the engine governor the speed of the engine may be thus
automatically regulated. This injectment of any of the known fluids or other
combustible matters into the furnaces or combustion chambers of heated air
engines, either with or without the solid incandescent fuel, when the said
furnace is air-tight and a pressure is maintained therein, constitutes the
seventh part of my Invention.
Having now described the nature of my improvements in heated air
engines as of my Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, I would remark that I do not confine myself to the precise details
as long as the main features herein described are maintained; what I do claim
as of my Invention is,-
Firstly, the arrangements in the construction of heated air engines of
the lower part of the cylinder, the air pumps, the combustion chamber,
and feed box, substantially as specified and shewn in the Drawings
annexed.
Secondly, the method of passing the air from the air pump to the furnace
through an annular passage around the cylinder, and abstracting and
utilizing the caloric in heated air engines, as fully described and shewn in the
Drawings.
Thirdly, the filling the spaces (partially with water) intervening between the
furnace and bed plate, and generating steam therefrom by the heat taken up
from the surrounding surfaces, and in using such steam for the purposes

page_text: herein specified; also in protecting (in certain constructions) the lower part
of the cylinder of heated air engines from coming into contact with the
water surrounding the furnaces, as fully set forth.
Fourthly, in the construction of furnaces or combustion chambers and
grates, and in the manner of passing the air from the air pump to the furnace
for supporting combustion in heated air engines.
Fifthly, in the construction of the air passages, air pumps, and valves of
such engines, as fully described and shewn in the Drawings.
Sixthly, the improved method of packing pistons of heated air engines, as
fully set forth and shewn in detail Drawings.
Seventhly, in the use of hydrocarbonaceous fluid as fuel, or any other
combustible fluid, either separately or in combination with solid fuel, and
the manner of injecting such fuel into the combustion chambers or furnaces
of heated air engines wherein pressure is maintained, and in regulating the
quantities to be injected of such fluid fuel by the intervention of the governor
of the engine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Messer, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
EDWARD BROOKS,
29, Threadneedle Street, E.C.
HENRY MESSER. (L.S.)