AN EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE OF INFLAMMABLE GASES AND AIR
Year: 1861

page_text: AN EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE OF INFLAMMABLE GASES AND AIR. communicated to him
from abroad by Francisque Million of Paris in the Empire of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd July 1861.
I WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE
POWER BY AN EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE OF INFLAMMABLE GASES AND AIR. to be as follows
This Invention relates to that class of motive power Engines in which
an explosive mixture of inflammable gases and air are employed as the
motive Agent, and upon being ignited or exploded in a cylinder are
caused to act upon a moveable piston placed therein. The gases are
ignited by means of an electric spark, and upon driving forward the
piston in the cylinder will actuate the other parts of the Engine.
The gases to be employed for this purpose are produced in a generator
attached to the Engine (constructed after the manner of a blast furnace)
and pass therefrom into a washer or purifier containing water through
which they rise in a cleansed state-Previously to passing through the
purifier, they may be made to pass in a heated state through a pipe
placed in a water reservoir or Boiler, where they serve to heat the water
and convert it into steam, which is supplied to the gas generator in order
to accelerate combustion.
The working piston is provided with two piston rods, one on each side
thereof, and these piston rods pass through suitable stuffing boxes in
the covers at each end of the cylinder. One of these piston rods of the
motive power Engine is connected by means of crossheads to the piston

page_text: rods of pumps above and below the working cylinder, and which serve
to compress the air and gases before they are supplied to the main
cylinder The explosive gases are fired (in order to produce the required
effect upon the piston) alternately in front of and behind the main piston
by means of an electric spark passed through conducting wires suitably
insulated and caused to enter in front of and behind the main cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd January 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex Civil Engineer Send Greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the twenty second day of July in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty one in the twenty fifth year
of Her reign did for Herself Her heirs and successors give and grant
unto me the said William Edward Newton Her special license that I
the said William Edward Newton my executors administrators and
assigns or such others as I the said William Edward Newton my
executors administrators and assigns should at any time agree with and
no others from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed should and lawfully might make use exercise and vend
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland the Channel
Islands and Isle of Man au Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES FOR OBTAIN
ING MOTIVE POWER BY AN EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE OF INFLAMMABLE GASES AND AIR"
Being a communication from Abroad by Francisque Million of Paris
in the Empire of France upon the condition (amongst others) that I the
said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE that I the said William Edward Newton do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):

page_text: The Invention of Improvements in Engines for obtaining motive power
by an explosive mixture of inflammable gases and air which has been
communicated to me from Abroad as aforesaid is described by my
Foreign Correspondent in the following manner-Air engines as con-
structed hitherto have possessed several defects among which are Firstly
difficulties attending the heating operation: Secondly apparatus of great
volume in proportion to the power produced is required. The removal
of these defects is the object of the present Invention and this is
effected-Firstly by the employment for heating purposes of combustible
or inflammable gases produced in a Gas generator and the introduction
of these gases when well purified and mixed with a suitable proportion
of air into the interior of the Engines where they are to be consumed.
Secondly by first compressing the gases and introducing them under
pressure so as to require very small Engines in proportion to the power
produced-These mixtures of gases are to be carefully cleansed in order
that they may not soil the Engines and they may be burnt either instan-
taneously in a mass or by continuous jets of flame-These two modes
of operation will always necessitate the proper proportioning mixing and
purifying of the gases-A mixture of any inflammable gases may be
employed in the Engines hereinafter described the points of novelty
in this Invention being Firstly the employment for the purpose of carry-
ing it into effect of gases obtained from a gas generator this being a point
of great importance as it is the only method of procuring inflammable
gases at a cheap rate
Secondly. The employment of inflammable mixtures previously com-
pressed
Thirdly The method of heating the interior by inflammable gases
mixed with air which are either burned or exploded in the Engine either
instantaneously and in a body or by continuous or intermittent jets of
flame whatever may be the nature or construction of the air vapor or gas
engine employed
DESCRIPTION OF THE GAS GENERATOR.
A Gas generator of any construction may be employed, and in case
the gases should not be sufficiently free from smoke they may be cleansed
or purified by causing them to pass through water or through a tower
containing suitable substances in a divided state (such as coke for
instance) and sprinkled with water in such a manner that the gases and
water shall pass through them in contrary directions.
The Gas generators about to be described and which form part of the

page_text: Invention consume their smoke and admit to a certain extent of the
gases produced by them being under control.
In the accompanying drawings Fig 1 is a longitudinal section of an
apparatus complete-A is the Gas generator, B the chimney provided
with a valve by which it may be opened or closed at pleasure C is a
pipe through which the gases are drawn: D is a door through which
the ashes or scorice are discharged, and E is an opening for the same
purpose; either of which may be employed-The second opening remains
always open and is immersed in water, the ashes falling therein and
being removed therefrom with facility-The apparatus is charged with
coal through the upper opening F which remains open and serves also
for the introduction of air into the generator which is caused to con-
sume its smoke in consequence of the downward passage of the air-
Fig 2 represents the second arrangement of Gas generator-A is the
generator: B the apparatus for charging it with fuel. C is the chimney
which may be opened or closed at pleasure by means of a valve-D is a
door for stirring the fire and raking out the cinders.-This generator is
charged with combustible matter which gives out no smoke, and when
coal is employed it is first partially consumed upon the grate E of the
fire place F-G is the door of this fire place and I the ash pit-J is a
door for the discharge of the coke arising from the combustion of the
coal H is a door for the discharge of the scorice which fall from the
generator M is the chimney of the fire place F, which may be opened or
closed by means of the register L-N is an orifice in the Generator
through which the mixture of heated gases and air pass from the fire
place F.
The coal is first partially burnt and converted into coke then with-
drawn and thrown into the Gas generator proper which receives all the
burnt gases from the fire place F and at the same receives a greater or
less quantity of air. The nature of the gas is regulated by injecting a
greater or less quantity of steam into the generator or by wetting the
coal more or less-The fire place F is made to consume its smoke by
any of the known means the arrangement shewn in the drawing only
serving to give a general idea of the apparatus. P is a pipe for the
introduction of air and is regulated by a damper or register O.
I claim the exclusive use for the purposes of the present Invention of
a smoke consuming gas generator, either with reversed or turned back
flame as in the first described arrangement and in which the coal is
thrown into the generator itself, or as in the second arrangement of

page_text: generator which is only employed with combustible matter that gives
out no smoke in burning and which is taken from a fire place specially
intended to consume this smoke previously
It would be desirable to have several gas generators the communica-
tion between which and the Engine may be cut off at pleasure so that
if one of them should require any repairs this operation might be
effected without stopping the Engine -The heated gases which pass
from the gas generator to the Engine may give up their heat to a Steam
boiler suitably situated and furnishing the requisite steam to the
generator; or it may be made to heat the air supplied to the fire
ENGINE IN WHICH THE INFLAMMABLE CASES ARE EMPLOYED.
First method. For the sake of example the figures in the accompany-
ing drawings represent a motive engine constructed and operated
according to this Invention in which inflammable gases furnished by gas
generators and mixed with air are employed as motive agents: Fig 3
being a longitudinal elevation, Fig 4 a horizontal section and Fig 5 a
transverse section taken through the middle of the length of the motive
cylinder and pumps-It will be seen on referring to Fig 3 and 5 that
the Engine is provided with a main or motive cylinder and two pump
cylinders set one over the other-The rod of the driving piston is con-
nected by means of a crosshead to the rods of the two other pistons which
are thus worked by the driving piston, the rod of which is guided in its
movements by a crosshead provided with guide rods working in guides;
the piston rod communicating motion to the main shaft of the Engine
by means of a crank in the ordinary manner.
A water pump not shewn in the drawing follows the movement of the
driving piston and is intended to supply the water necessary for cool-
ing the motive cylinder and the gases of the generator-The ends of the
cylinder are provided with chambers and the water supplied by the
pump is conducted by a pipe into these spaces or chambers and into the
space or jacket the water entering at one end and escaping at the other
This jacket might if desired be done away with and the cylinder left
to cool of itself-The cylinder may be supplied with the motive agent by
any known arrangement of parts for working suitable valves-An equili-
brium slide valve on Gilmer's principle is represented in the drawing as
adapted for this purpose-Variable expansion is obtained by means of a
metallic plate worked by a cam so as to open and close the induction
opening rapidly. This plate bears upon the two opposite sides of its

page_text: box. Or instead of this equilibrium plate thus constructed any other
well known means may be employed
A is an ordinary double action air pump which draws air from the
atmosphere and forces it through a pipe a as seen in Fig 3 and 5. B
is a double action lift and force gas pump which draws gases from the
gas generator and forces them into the pipe 6 The pistons of these
pumps aspirate together the same volume as that obtained by the motive
piston in the same space of time. This equality exists in the Engine
represented in the drawings and which is given as an example but it is
not absolutely necessary as this volume might be greater or less accord-
ing to circumstances
The two pumps are also equal to one another as
represented in the drawing but this is not necessary as it might even often
happen that it would be preferable to employ more air than gas This
may be effected by adapting to the pipe which conducts the inflammable
gases to the pump a cock or valve by which it may be put into communi-
cation with the atmospheric air which is drawn in by the pump and then
mixed with the inflammable gases in proportions which may be made to
vary at pleasure-The air is conducted from the pipe a to the pipe a¹
of the mixer (Fig 6 and 8) and the inflammable gases will be conducted
from the pipe to the mixer at b' (Fig 6. 7 and 8) The two pipes in
the mixer are opposite to each other the air and gases will therefore enter
one against the other, but a diaphragm is placed between them which is
the mixer properly so called. Its object is to intermix the streams of air
and gas and it: may be constructed of a sheet of metal bent back several
times upon itself, thus forming parallel channels open alternately the
one on the side of the gases and the other on that of the air-By means of
this arrangement the air and gases on entering this apparatus will
naturally be divided into parallel streams intermixed and which will
make their exit through the pipe C (Fig 6 and 7). the parallel and
spaced sheets of the mixer are represented at F. Instead of a metallic
sheet bent in the manner described separate sheets may be employed
and placed in the tube parallel one with the other and at a certain dis-
tance apart at which they are maintained by cross pieces as shewn at
Fig. 8-In order to force the gases to meet in separate streams a cross
piece is placed alternately on the side of the gas and of the air: One
construction of mixer is described for the sake of example, but any known
apparatus may be employed for that purpose.
The gases and air commingled escape through the pipe C in which
may be placed if thought advisable and as shewn in the figure wire gauze

page_text: M which will complete the mixture: then the gases will enter a reservoir
termed by the Inventor a reservoir of pressure not shewn in the drawing
This reservoir may consist of a vessel made of any suitable metal of
variable capacity provided with a safety valve in order to allow of the
escape of the gases when the pressure exceeds a certain limit-From this
reservoir the gases pass to the supply valve of the main cylinder through
the pipe T (Fig 4) which is provided with a throttle valve butterfly valve
or other suitable valve to allow of the Engine being set in motion or
stopped; besides which a valve may be adapted and worked by a regulator
or governor as in ordinary Steam engines.
APPARATUS FOR IGNITING THE GASES
In the apparatus shewn in the drawing the gases are ignited by an
electric spark in the motive cylinder-At a Fig. 9 it will be seen that
two conducting wires enter the casing of the cylinder through an
insulating substance-These two wires are in communication with a
Ruhmkorff apparatus and the electric spark is discharged between them
inside the cylinder and ignites the gases The current of the Ruhmkorff
apparatus is governed by the expansion gear as represented at Fig 4
and 10-D is an iron rod which governs the expansion gear: this rod
carries a metal button which is insulated from it by some nonconducting
material such as porcelain, gutta percha or other suitable substance and
one of the poles leads to this button as shewn at Fig. 10. The other
pole communicates with a spring attached to any suitable part of the
machine and may be regulated by means of the screw v. When the
expansion slide valve allows of the passage of air the button does not
touch the spring and the Ruhmkorff apparatus ceases to act in the
cylinder. When the expansion valve has again closed the gas induction
aperture, the button touches the spring and the electric sparks will be
discharged in the cylinder: it will be advisable to have several igniters at
each extremity of the cylinder-Magneto-electric apparatus or static
electric apparatus or other electrical apparatus may be employed for the
purpose.
The Engine above described is a horizontal direct action engine but
it might be constructed on the vertical or oscillating principle and the
pumps might be otherwise constructed and worked as this arrangement
is only given as an example; any other arrangement might also be
employed for working the air induction apparatus or the electrical
apparatus

page_text: The
gas generator having been well ignited, air and inflammable gases
are compressed into the "pressure reservoir" by means of hand pumps
The engine might be started by hand by means of the pumps and then
inflammable gases introduced under pressure into the reservoir-This
being done a cock (not shewn in the drawing) is to be opened in the pipe
T the gases under pressure will enter the motive cylinder and actuate
the piston and when the latter has arrived at a certain portion of its
stroke the induction aperture will be closed by the slide valve when the
electric sparks will be discharged into the cylinder and ignite the gases
the pressure of which will be increased under the influence of heat and
will actuate the driving piston-The pumps will be brought into action
and will force air and gases into the mixer from which after being mixed
they will proceed to the "pressure reservoir" and from thence into the
main cylinder from whence they will escape into the atmosphere after
having exerted their dynamic force (Observation) In ordinary Air
engines the operation of the motive cylinder is analogous as regards
pressure to that of the pump; the result being that there are two cylinders
which act in directions contrary to each other and that the pump, which
is an organ of resistance even works at a greater pressure than that of
the motive cylinder which is an organ of power; thus these Engines are
very large in proportion to their power On the contrary by employing
gases under the conditions above explained these engines will excrt great
power in proportion to their dimensions the sudden ignition of the gases
in the motive cylinder causing this latter to work at an operative pressure
much greater than that of the pumps-moreover all the parts may be
cold, as the gases being introduced in a cold state into the cylinder and
then suddenly ignited, the action of the exterior casing for the purpose
of cooling these gases is scarcely required during the short period in
which they are in action
In the engine above described the mixtures are introduced under
pressure into the motive cylinder: this is one of the characteristic
features of this Invention and I claim the exclusive right to the principle
upon which this engine is constructed and operated whatever may be the
explosive mixtures employed and whatever may be their pressure-
The mixer may be situate at three different points vizt.
First It may be placed as has been above stated between the pumps
and the pressure reservoir which then contains explosive mixtures

page_text: Second-It may be placed upon the pipe which conducts the gases to
the motive cylinder near the induction valve: there will then be two
reservoirs, one for the air and another for the gases; each pump will force
fluid into its respective reservoir then the air and gases will mix together
in the mixer and proceed from thence to the motive cylinder
Third-It may be situate at the point of aspiration, the gases and the
air will then enter the pumps in a state of mixture, or one pump only
may be employed the respective quantities of air and gas being measured
by registers or gas meters placed upon the pipes for the induction of air
gases into the mixer.
and
SECOND METHOD OF EMPLOYING THE GASES AS MOTIVE AGENTS.
In the Engine just described the gases might act otherwise than by
ignition suddenly and in a body-If the sparks from the Ruhmkorff
apparatus had passed constantly into the cylinder the gases would have
entered the cylinder in jets of flame and the engine would work in the same
manner as ordinary Air engines such as those of Ericsson Franchot and
others the method of heating and the fluids employed only being changed
I claim this method of driving ordinary Air engines. It would be
advisable to place a regenerator in the pipes which lead from the cylinder
to the induction valve and the gases might also be ignited in the pressure
reservoir-It will be understood that this Engine may be made to work
when desired first as an explosive mixture engine receiving during the
induction cold air and suddenly ignited when the introduction of air
ceases or secondly as an ordinary Air engine.
COOLING OF THE MOTIVE CYLINDER.
First method In the means above described for cooling the cylinder the
evil effects of incrustation might be feared, to avoid which water is intro-
duced into the jacket or casing and the ends which communicate with
each other by means of pipes; this water being vaporized by the heat will
escape in the state of vapor and be condensed in a worm from which it
will return to the jacket or casing by a pipe-The water from the casing
might be cooled by any suitable means.
Second means of cooling-An immediate cooling may be produced by
injecting into the cylinder any cooling body (cold water for instance) by
means of a pump specially adapted to the purpose-This water might be
discharged by the slide valves which is the case with Steam Engines or
by means of a special valve

page_text: I claim this method of internal cooling for any cylinders in which any
elastic fluids are employed at an elevated temperature
THIRD MEANS OF EMPLOYING GASES AS MOTIVE AGENTS
Instead of introducing cold gases into the cylinders during a certain
portion of the stroke and igniting them afterwards when the induction
ceases which takes place according to the firstly described method,
another arrangement might be adopted-The motive cylinder might be
made longer than necessary in order that the piston shall always leave
between it and the end of the cylinder a greater or less space according
to the pleasure of the constructor such as one fourth or one third more
or less of the volume generated by the motive piston. This space is
called by the Inventor a Cartridge-On opening the slide valve the gases
would be allowed to enter suddenly from the pressure reservoir into this
cartridge towards the dead point and this induction having ceased an
electric spark would ignite the gases in the cartridge by which the driving
piston would be set in motion-Fig: 11 represents this arrangement of
cylinder. A is the main cylinder furnished with valves B. B¹. which
are opened and closed by means of a sliding rod having two projections
D. D. which come in contact with the valve rods E. E. and by pressing
them upwards open the valves and on the reciprocating rod C returning
the valve rods will be pressed downwards by the springs G G¹ and thereby
close the valves-The escape of the gases is effected by means of an
ordinary slide valve, not represented in the drawing-Any other arrange-
ment to effect the same object may be employed instead of this last
described as it will be evident that this third method of employing the
gases is merely a modification of the first method
FOURTH METHOD OF EMPLOYING THE GASES AS MOTIVE AGENTS
I will now describe another arrangement the principle of which is
represented at Fig 12-C is the main cylinder. B the gas pump A the
air pump and F. F'. the mixers. G. G¹. are reservoirs corresponding
respectively to one extremity of the cylinder and of the pumps by means
of the pipes g and g'.-When the engine is at work the pistons of the
pumps work in the same manner as the motive piston and being actuated
by it alternately they compress the explosive mixture either in the
reservoir G or G-The main cylinder has a supply valve at cach
extremity and these valves alternately bring into communication cach
extremity either with its reservoir or with the atmosphere-At the end
of each stroke of the driving piston some of the explosive mixture is com-

page_text: pressed in the reservoir at the side where the cylinder is to receive
pressure-At this moment the supply valves which are actuated by the
Engine perform two offices; the one which is to introduce pressure into
the cylinder puts it into communication with the corresponding reservoir
(cutting off its communication with the atmosphere) the other supply
valve puts the cylinder in communication with the atmosphere cutting
off that with the reservoir-The supply slide valve is worked by gearing
which changes the electric contacts so as to cause sparks which arise from
any source to pass into the reservoir which is in communication with the
cylinder
I claim this mode of employing gases as motive agents. In case the
cylinder should become liable to be overheated it might be provided
with a casing of sheet iron set at a certain distance and furnished with
entrance and exit apertures to allow the air to circulate between the
casing and the cylinder or the casing might be made to communicate with
a chimney-If this should not suffice water must be ejected as above
mentioned. The driving piston is actuated expansively by means of the
compressed gases in the "cartridge" (the name of "cartridge" is given
by the Inventor to each of these reservoirs) it is in communication with
this cartridge during the whole of its stroke. The supply valves of the
cylinder may therefore be ordinary slide valves that is to say the most
simple known arrangement of valves for this purpose as the induction
and eduction of the gases are required to be effected during the working
of the piston The pistons of the pumps serve to compress the gases in
the cartridge during the stroke of the main piston whilst they also draw
in gases during the whole of its stroke; the clack valves may therefore be
advantageously done away with and two ordinary slide valves for each
pump substituted for them one in front and the other behind, each
extremity of the pump being put into communication alternately with
the atmosphere or with its cartridge. The pistons of the pumps and of
the cylinder work together, and this is also the case with the slide valves
which may be both connected with the same organ of transmission of
movement; thus for example Stephenson's slide valve movement might
be made to work all the slide valves together.-It is evident as has been
already remarked that one pump only might be employed working both
air and gas at the same time The ignitors might be placed in the
"cartridge" or in the main cylinder-Pumps and Cylinders and also slide
valves are well known parts and it will be seen that these and other known
organs are employed in carrying out this Invention for novel purposes

page_text: and under novel conditions and that certain pumps slide valves and
cylinders are described as examples, but it is evident that as all known
arrangements cannot be here described any of them may be employed for
purpose of carrying out this Invention
the
OPERATION OF THE MACHINE
For the purpose of setting the Engine to work the explosive compound
must first be forced into a reservoir which may be made to communicate
at pleasure with the "Cartridges" by means of two pipes furnished with
cocks Thus either one or the other of the Cartridges may be put into
communication with the reservoir and charged and the cock closed The
cartridge will then be ignited by establishing electrical contact by closing
the circuit and the Engine is thereby started-In order to maintain the
reservoir always at proper pressure the Engine must always work one or
two pumps for compressing the explosive compound the excess being
allowed to escape by means of a safety valve.
Another mode of employing gases for the purpose of heating is repre-
sented at Fig. 13 in which an Ordinary Air engine is shewn-A is the
feed air pump. B the pressure reservoir, C the main cylinder-D the
slide valve E the regenerator composed of sheets of iron placed parallel
to and slightly separated from each other; this regenerator is placed in
the channels which lead from the slide valve to the main cylinder-
G is the "combustion pump" this pump forces air and gases into the
cylinder and they are ignited in the pipe at the entrance of the cylinder
by electric sparks or by heating this pipe to a read heat by a fire out-
side-It will be seen that the gases contained in the cylinder are heated
during the whole course of the main piston by means of a jet of flame
introduced into the cylinder from the "combustion pump" Engines
worked by means of elastic fluids of whatever kind may be heated inside
by similar means that is to say by a pump injecting combustible gases
at the point where heat is desired to be applied and where the gases are
to be ignited either instantaneously or by jets of flame as they arrive.
Thus for example in the cartridge engine described according to the
fourth method the gases contained in the cartridge might be heated by
a current of ignited inflammable gases introduced by a special pump
into the cartridge; and they would be ignited by a spark in the pipe
through which they pass-This pipe would contain refractory matters
in a state of division which being heated by the combustion would render
complete and certain the combustion of the gases passing through them

page_text: Electric sparks for the ignition of the gases might be dispensed with,
by heating this tube by a fire outside and the proportion of inflammable
gases injected would regulate the temperature at which the total body
of gases should be heated
In reference to this part of the Invention I claim particularly this
method of heating-Air pump (Observations)-Air when compressed
becomes heated which causes the heating of the air pumps which is a
serious evil In order to obviate this the cylinders of the air pumps may
be provided with a casing or jacket and cold water supplied thereto so
as to cool them.-When the air pumps are intended to compress the air
to a pressure of 6. 7. 8 or more atmospheres several pumps must be
employed some of which first compress the air to a pressure of say three
atmospheres and raise it to a higher temperature-The pumps would
then again be cooled by means of the water surrounding them but it would
be especially desirable to cool the air proceeding from the first pump to
the second and for this purpose any refrigerator might be employed such
for instance as water circulating around the pipe through which the air
passes
I claim the exclusive right to use this improvement for the purposes
of the present invention-Pistons The pistons may be protected from
an elevated temperature by several means when the cylinder is not cooled
by injection of water this being a method already described for
refrigerating the cylinder and its contents
1 In large apparatus the piston besides its own rod may carry two
hollow rods inside and projecting from the cylinder cover as usual; cold
water being supplied to one of these rods by means of a pipe will enter
the piston and escape through the other rod
2 Porcelain earthenware or refractory matter may be placed against
and outside the plates of the piston; by this means the piston will receive
but little heat, which it will lose by reason of its segments coming in
contact with the cylinder
Rod of the main piston-The rod of the main piston will be protected
from too great heat by causing it to pass through water outside the
cylinder This water might be contained in a vessel near the stuffing
box Observation. In the second method described the regenerator
might serve as a mixer, and be arranged as described for that purpose
Ignition of the gases-The ignition of the gases will be more rapid if
several igniters apply fire to them in several places at the same time-
The same object may be effected by dividing and projecting into the body

page_text: of gases the first ignited portions of the gases which may be effected by
means of an agitator, or other mechanical means-I will now describe a
method of carrying this into effect-Suppose the main cylinder to have
at each extremity a space closed with the exception of some orifices
leading in various directions into the interior of the cylinder: on placing
the sparks near these small orifices either in the space (which the Inventor
calls the igniting chamber) or in the cylinder, the spark will ignite the
gases or inflammable fluids in the igniting chamber and these latter will
enter the cylinder with violence and in jets of flame in every direction-
The ignition of the entire body will thus be effected with great rapidity-
Or an orifice might be suddenly uncovered and thus allow a jet of flame
to enter the cylinder-If the electric spark be employed it would be
desirable to cause it to proceed from a Condenser which might be charged
by any known means, but the best method of charging it would be by
means of the Ruhmkorff apparatus which is modified as follows-
1 The circuit breaker of the battery should be set in action by some
mechanism
2nd A commutator must direct the induced currents always in the
same direction to the Condenser-The necessity for this commutator
will be understood by observing that the induced currents are alternately
directed in a contrary direction.
If it be only desired to employ the Ruhmkorff apparatus it will be
advisable to have several of them in order that if one should not be in
operation the others may be employed in its stead and thus render the
ignition certain.
In reference to this part of the Invention I claim the modes herein
set forth or any mere modification thereof of rendering the combustion
of the gases very rapid whatever may be the means employed for dividing
and throwing into the gaseous body the parts first ignited.
In witness whereof I the said William Edward Newton have here-
unto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of January in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)