Improved Means for Exploding Combustible Mixtures, and Utilizing the Explosive Force thereof for Driving Rotary Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: France),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 1st Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
Improved Means for Exploding Combustible Mixtures, and Utilizing
the Explosive Force thereof for Driving Rotary Engines.
I MAXIMILIEN RINGELMANN of 47 Rue Jenner, Paris, France, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object the application of explosive mixtures to the
working of rotary engines, the explosive mixture being composed of air added to
combustible gas (such as coal gas, water gas, acetylene and the like) or to a
combustible vapor (such as gasolene, mineral essence, benzine, rock oil, petroleum
oils, alcohol, and the like) or to an explosive body (such as gunpowder, gun-cotton
and the like).
The essential principles of the invention are dispensing with compression previous
to explosion, and dispensing with the use of cooling water, which has heretofore
been considered indispensable to all explosive engines hitherto known, and the
production of the "cycle" in a vessel or chamber separate from the engine.
The "cycle" is composed of four successive periods.
1st. Production of the explosive mixture in a vessel of any suitable shape.
2nd. Ignition of same without previous compression.
3rd. Application of the force produced to the rotary engine.
4th. Scavenging or ventilation of the explosion vessel.
The manner in which my said invention is to be performed or carried into
practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the sheet of drawings
hereunto annexed and the following explanation thereof.
any
In principle the application consists of a vessel which may be of suitable
form and placed in any position, but which we will take for the purposes of
explanation to be cylindrical in form and placed in a horizontal position as shewn
on Figure 1. of the annexed drawing.
The vessel A is provided with two valves V & R opening inwards. The valve V
is placed by means of the pipe B in communication with the rotary fan C or with
an air pump.
The valve R is in connection with an exhaust pipe D.
A pipe E F provided with a valve at e permits at a given moment the introduction
into the vessel A of the inflammable gas or vapour. G is the apparatus for firing
the explosive mixture by means of an electric spark this may also be affected by the
introduction if a flame.

page_text: A tube H inside which is fixed an automatic valve H opening outwards, joins
the vessel A to the rotary engine M which consists of a wheel with curved blades,
or of any other suitable form of rotary engine. Two tubes J & K permit the
condensations to drip from the vessel A into a lower vessel L provided with a
draw-off cock N.
The action takes place in the following manner :--
1st period. The valves V & R are shut. A certain quantity of inflammable vapour
or gas is forced by a pump, valve, or other means through the pipe E F into the
vessel A, and forms with the air already contained in A an explosive mixture; the
pressure in A at this period is about that of the atmosphere, but may be carried by
the varying temperature of A slightly above or below the same.
2nd period. The firing is operated and the explosion takes place.
3rd period. The increase of temperature produced by the explosion produces
an augmentation of pressure in A, which according to experiments made is from
6 atmospheres upwards.
The pressure thus obtained raises the valve h automatically, and the gases produced,
passing through the tube H, impinge with a certain force against the blades of the
engine M.
4th period. The pressure falls in A and the valves V & R open, the fan C
forces through the tube a current of air which drives out through the valve R
and tube D the products of combustion left in A.
These products being replaced either entirely or partially by pure air, the
valves V & R fall back on their seats and the cycle recominences.
A shaft provided with cams or eccentrics or other suitable mechanical motions,
act at the right moment upon :-
1. The valves V & R.
2. The firing apparatus G.
This shaft is worked by the engine M and a governor acts either on the
valves V & R or on the delivery of the inflammable gas or vapour.
It is to be remarked that the pressure in A is proportional to the temperature
therein, and as there is no piston there is no need of a circulation of water to
cool A, on the contrary it is desirable that A should be carried to as high a
temperature as possible, compatible with a good absolute efficiency or heat equivalent.
The external air on the one hand, and the current of air from C on the other are
sufficient to prevent an excessive increase of temperature.
The system
particularly suitable for the use of petroleum oils such as are used
in lamps. These oils are forced at the right moment through a tube raised to a
temperature of 160° to 200° Centigrade (320° to 393° Fahr.) only, and there are
vapourised.
Any particles of heavy oils which may be present are condensed in A and drip
through J into L, whence they are withdrawn at N and may be used as lubricants.
The lighter oils vapourised remain in A and mixed with air, form the explosive
charge.
A complete apparatus includes a certain number of vessels A. Fig. 2. shews for
example an end view of a group of four, but a greater or lesser number may be
grouped and they may be placed in any position in space in relation one to the
other.
In the vessels A A1 A2 A3 (Fig. 2) the explosions take place consecutively, and
the successive deliveries of force through the tubes h are communicated through a
single tube H to the engine M.
The use of a rotary engine permits high speeds with reduced dimensions. The
suppression of cooling water, and the faculty of employing a variety of inflammable
matters, renders this invention eminently applicable to horseless cars and boats.
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 as my invention is

page_text: an inflammable product is
A system of explosion generators into which
introduced, which, after mixing itself with the existing air is fired, and
produces in the above mentioned generators or vessels (which may be of any number)
a pressure which is employed to turn a rotary engine and thus this system
dispenses with the necessity of cooling and the explosion takes place without previous
compression.
I also claim the arrangement by means of which the scavenging after each
explosion is made: a fan or air pump for driving out (after each explosion) the
products of combustion left in the generator and replacing them by a quantity of
air sufficient for the succeeding explosion.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4 St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicant.