A Method of and Apparatus for Improving the Action of Explosion Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1898
A Method of and Apparatus for Improving the Action of Explosion
Engines.
A communication from abroad by FERNANDO ALSINA, of Barcelona, in the
Kingdom of Spain, Engineer.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E., of Norfolk House, Victoria
Embankment, London, W.C., in the County of Middlesex, Chartered Patent Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from
abroad) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to improvements applied to explosion engines, such for
example, as those worked by petroleum, coal-gas, acetylene gas and the like,
the essential feature of the invention consisting in providing for improved means
by which hot water can be injected into the explosion chamber and be diffused
therein. The main object of the invention is to ensure that the explosion may not
be instantaneous but be gradually developed, contrary to what is the case in
explosion engines usually employed at the present time. Another object is to
increase the expansive effect in the explosion chamber by the conversion of the
injected water into steam so that the useful or working effect of the motor is
enhanced.
This result is achieved by injecting into the explosion chamber a portion of
the water which circulates in the cylinder-jacket space. The molecules of the
injected water distributed over the gaseous charge have the tendency of retarding
the spread of the explosion and owing to the surplus of heat produced at the
moment of the explosion this injected water is converted into steam the expansive
force of which contributes to the driving of the working piston and in thus trans-
mitting to the fly wheel a greater amount of energy.
To further retard the explosion I arrange rings upon the piston, which are
adapted to engage with other similar rings fitted to the bottom of the cylinder;
these rings thus act as obstacles serving to obstruct the explosion to a certain
extent.
By the employment of my invention I obtain the following results;-
1. I prolong the period of the explosion, while utilizing its maximum working
effect.
2. I transform into useful working effect the greater part of the heat which,
in the case of explosion engines employed at the present time, has only the noxious
effect of heating the cylinder walls and the refrigerating water, circulating in
the cylinder-jacket.

page_text: This invention is represented in the accompanying drawing which shows part
of the cylinder in longitudinal section.
I draw the water to be injected into the explosion chamber, from the space
formed between the jacket C and the cylinder C.
A suitable number of concentric rings are provided which engage with each
other and are respectively fitted to the rear surface of the piston E and to the
inner surface of the cover C"; these rings may, however, be formed upon the
piston E only. The water is injected into the jacket space of the cylinder C by
the aid of a cam driven pump and of a tubular connection or by any similar
means. In the hollow space formed in the end cover C¹, a conduit is fitted, in
which moves the spindle V of the valve V". The hot water, contained in the upper
part of the jacket space, passes into this conduit by appropriate connection y¹
and, at the moment of the injection, this water forces the valve V₁ open and
enters the cylinder proper. A spring V is provided which closes the valve as
soon as the injection has ceased.
The pump mechanism or similar device for working the injection valve, is so
adapted that the injection of the water takes place just before the explosion
commences and so that the quantity of water injected is just sufficient to regulate
the explosion under the best suited conditions. The water which enters the
cylinder under pressure is forced against the piston face and is diffused throughout
the volume of the explosive charge, and owing to the high temperature of the
interior of the cylinder, it is converted into steam the expansive force of which
contributes to the working of the driving piston, while at the same time it acts
as an inert or non-explosive body, thus retarding the development or spread of
the explosion.
The gradual development of the explosion is further enhanced by the arrange
ment of concentrical rings E fitted to the bottom of the piston E, and of, rings
on cover C. The rings E" enter the space left between the rings on cover C.
By this arrangement of rings I present as it were, an obstacle to the spread of
the explosion from the centre towards the periphery, so that the period of the
explosion is further lengthened.
If the water to be injected into the cylinder is placed under a pressure higher
than the pressure in the interior of the cylinder, the pump or equivalent mechan-
ism may be dispensed with.
To ensure a better diffusion of the water injected, I may arrange upon the
bottom of the piston E rings of triangular section so placed as to present their
inclined faces in line with the jet of water injected, so that the latter as it arrives
in contact with the piston and with the cylinder wall, is further divided and
more thoroughly diffused.
As I cause hot water to be injected from the jacket-space into the cylinder, 4
I practically utilize this portion of the heat which would otherwise be lost
and facilitate the change of this water into steam. The steam thus enters into
intimate mixture with the gaseous explosive charge and in acting as an inert
body upon the latter, retards the speed with which the explosion spreads.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven- 4
tion (as communicated to me from abroad) and in what manner the same is to
be performed, I declare that what I claim is:--
1. The method of causing the explosion in an explosion engine to be gradually
developed instead of being instantanecus, substantially as set forth.
2. The method of increasing the expansive effect in the explosion chamber 5
by the injection of water to be converted into steam substantially as set forth.
3. The device for injecting water into the explosion chamber substantially as
set forth.
4. The arrangement and combination of parts for injecting water into the
explosion chamber from the water jacket, substantially as set forth.
5

page_text: 5. In an explosion engine, a piston provided with concentric rings substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In an explosion engine, the employment of concentric rings on the inner
face of the cylinder cover substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 4th day of January 1898.
J. G. LORRAIN,
Chartered Patent Agent.