Improvements in Engines or Motors Actuated by Hot Air and Steam.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th June, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Engines or Motors Actuated by Hot Air
and Steam.
I, WILLIAM HENRY PHILLIPS of 73 Colmore Row, Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
In hot air engines as previously constructed one great defect has been the rapid
considerable portion of the heat generated in the furnace has been allowed to escape
without performing any mechanical work. In an engine constructed according
to my invention the parts are so made that their destruction by the heat is avoided
and I reduce the loss of heat very considerably, I also use in the furnace of the
engine, air compressed to a greater extent than has hitherto been practicable
thereby securing much greater efficiency than has been attained in hot air engines
heretofore constructed. To effect these objects I use an enclosed air tight furnace
into which air at a pressure of several atmospheres is forced by a suitable air com-
pressing pump. The air thus forced in passes through the fuel on the grate and
maintains combustion. The gaseous products of combustion together with any
surplus heated air are led from the furnace to actuate the hot air motor the pas-
sages through which they pass being surrounded with water contained in a jacket
forming part of the boiler or steam generator now to be described. The furnace
is enclosed in a boiler or steam generator so that the heat which passes through
the sides and top of the furnace is utilized in raising steam in the boiler, this
steam is then used in a steam motor either forming part of the same machine as
the hot air motor previously mentioned or separate from it. The water with which
the boiler is supplied is or may be heated previously to its entry into the boiler
by means of some of the heat contained in the exhaust gases from the hot air
motor. A further portion of the heat contained in these exhaust gases may be
utilized in raising steam, jacketting the steam cylinder or superheating the steam.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide an air tight furnace into which
either a large charge of fuel suitable for say one days work may be introduced at
once. or a furnace with a feeding apparatus at the top, automatic or otherwise and
an air lock to prevent the compressed air escaping except in negligible quantities
during the introduction of the fuel.
The grate may if desired be made of rocking bars moved automatically or
otherwise to prevent clinkers. I effect the removal of ashes by similar means to
that adopted for the introduction of fuel. In one method of carrying my invention
into effect I use a motor of the turbine type divided into two parts by a plane
normal to its axis. The one side I drive by hot air from the furnace and the other
side by steam from the boiler. By this means the metal is prevented from becom-
ing too hot. The hot air side of the turbine may also be surrounded by a water-
jacket in communication with and practically forming part of the boiler. I arrange
the wearing parts of the turbine so that the hot air does not obtain access to any
part that requires lubrication. The means I propose to adopt for expansive work-
ing of the hot air and the steam in the turbine are as follows. The working finid
being elastic and supplied through an aperture or apertures the circumferential
width of which may be varied, the variation of this width will cause the fluid to
work more or less expansively according as each chamber of the turbine is sup-
plied with the fluid during a greater or less part of its revolution.
I propose to use the whole of the steam generated in the boiler to drive the
steam mofor when this is combined with the hot air motor, the rest of the power
being developed in the hot air motor. To effect this object I use an automatic

page_text: valve which is opened by the pressure of the steam in the boiler when this exceeds
the normal pressure this valve allows a large increase of the steam supplied to drive
the engine or motor which it then tends to drive at a greater speed than the
normal one.
The governor with which the engine is provided then comes into action and
diminishes the force exerted by the hot air motor. I propose to effect this diminu-
tion in the force of the hot air motor by causing the governor to actuate a valve
either throttle or expansion by means of which less of the hot air shall be used in
the hot air motor, but as the air compressing pump continues to deliver the same
quantity of air as usual the pressure of air in the furnace would increase there-
fore I provide a bye pass valve actuated by this increased air pressure in the
furnace so that the air compressing pump instead of taking its charge wholly
from the atmosphere takes it wholly or in part from the previously compressed air,
thus this compressed air passes if necessary again and again through the air com-
pressing pump instead of going into the furnace, it is evident that in this case the
heat of the fire in the furnace will be diminished in intensity and consequently_the
pressure of steam in the boiler will tend to diminish also but the principal effect
will be that less air will be heated in the furnace and passed through it to the
hot air motor.
I do not limit myself to motors of the turbine type either for the hot air from the
furnace or for the steam from the boiler.. I may use motors having reciprocating
pistons for one or both singly or in combination the motors may be close together
or parted from one another, and if of the reciprocating piston type their cranks
may be set at right angles or otherwise as found convenient, in these forms of
motors I also provide that the parts in contact with the hot air shall be water
jacketted. I may under some circumstances actuate the motor or motors with a
mixture of the steam and hot air.
The steam motor may be either condensing or non condensing.
Existing steam boilers and motors of certain types may be adapted and altered
in accordance with my present invention.
Dated this 11th day of March 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Engines or Motors Actuated by Hot Air
and Steam.
I, WILLIAM HENRY PHILLIPS of 78 Colmore Row, Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:—
In hot air engines as previously constructed one great defect has been the rapid
destruction of working parts by the excessive heat, and another has been that a
considerable portion of the heat generated in the furnace has been allowed to
escape without performing any mechanical work. In an Engine constructed
according to my invention the parts are so made that their destruction by the heat
is avoided and I reduce the loss of heat very considerably. I also use in the
furnace of the Engine air compressed to a greater extent than has hitherto been
practicable thereby securing much greater efficiency than has been attained in hot
air engines heretofore constructed. To effect. these objects I use an enclosed air
tight furnace into which air at a pressure of several atmospheres is forced by a
suitable air compressing pump. The air thus forced in passes through the fuel
on the grate and maintains combustion. The gaseous products of combustion
together with any surplus heated air are led from the furnace to actuate the hot air
motor the passages through which they pass being surrounded with water con-
tained in a jacket, forming part of the boiler or steam generator now to be described.
The furnace is enclosed in a boiler or steam generator so that the heat which
passes through the sides and top of the furnace is utilized in raising steam in the

page_text: boiler, this steam is then used in a steam motor either forming part of the same
machine as the hot air motor previously mentioned, or separate from it. The water
with which the boiler is supped is or may be heated previously to its entry into
the boiler, by means of some of the heat contained in the exhaust gases from the
hot air motor. A further portion of the heat contained in these exhaust gases
may be utilized in raising steam, jacketting the steam cylinder, or superheating
the steam.
In carrying my invention into effect 1 provide an air tight furnace into which
either a large charge of fuel suitable for, say one days work may be introduced at
once, or a lurnace with a feeding apparatus at the top, automatic or otherwise and
an air lock to prevent the compressed air escaping, except in negligible quantities
during the introduction of the fuel. The grate may if desired be made of rocking
bars moved automatically or otherwise, to prevent clinkers. 1 effect the removal
of ashes by similar means to that adopted for the introduction of fuel. In one
method of carrying my invention into effect 1 use a motor of the turbine type
divided into two parts by a plane normal to its axis. The one side I drive by hot
air from the furnace and the other side by steam from the boiler. By this means
the metal is prevented from becoming too hot.
The hot air side of the turbine may also be surrounded by a water jacket in
communication with, and practically forming part of the boiler. I arrange the
wearing parts of the turbine so that the hot air does not obtain access to any part
that requires lubrication.
The means 1 propose to adopt for expansive working of the hot air and the
steam in the turbine are as follows.
The working fluid being elastic, and supplied through an aperture or apertures
the circumferential width of which may be varied, the variation of this width will
cause the fluid to work more or less expansively according as each chamber of the
turbine is supplied with the fluid during a greater or less part of its revolution.
I propose to use the whole of the steam generated in the boiler to drive the steam
motor when this is combined with the hot air motor, the rest of the power being
developed in the hot air motor.
To effect this object I use an automatic valve which is opened by the pressure of
the steam in the boiler when this exceeds the normal pressure, this valve allows a
large increase of the steam supplied to drive the engine or motor which it then
tends to drive at a greater speed than the normal one.
The governor with which the engine is provided then comes into action and
diminishes the force exerted by the hot air motor. I propose to effect this
diminution in the force of the hot air motor by causing the governor to actuate a
valve either throttle or expansion by means of which less of the hot air shall be
used in the hot air motor, but as the air compressing pump continues to deliver
the same quantity of air as usual the pressure of air in the furnace would increase,
therefore provide a bye-pass valve actuated by this increased air pressure in the
furnace so that the air compressing pump instead of taking its charge wholly from
the atmosphere takes it wholly or in part from the previously compressed air thus
this compressed air passes if necessary again & again through the air compressing
pump instead of going into the furnace; it is evident that in this case the heat
of the fire in the furnace will be diminished in intensity & consequently the pressure
of steam in the boiler will tend to diminish also, but the principal effect will be that
less air will be heated in the furnace & passed through it to the hot air motor.
I do not limit myself to motors of the turbine type either for hot air from the
furnace or for the steam from the boiler. I may use motors having reciprocating
pistons for one or both, singly or in combination, the motors may be close
together or parted from one another & if of the reciprocating piston type their
cranks may be set at right angles or otherwise as found convenient, in these forms
of motors I also provide that the parts in contact with the hot air shall be water
jacketed may under some circumstances actuate the motor or motors with a
mixture of the steam & hot air. The steam motor may be either condensing or
non-condensing.

page_text: Existing steam boilers & motors of certain types may be adapted and altered
in accordance with my present invention.
And in order that this my said. Invention may be more clearly understood, I will
now proceed to describe it by the aid of the accompanying three sheets of drawings.
Fig. 1 (shect 1) is a general view of a combined hot air & steam engine of the
turbine or rotary type with most of the parts shown in section.
Fig. 2 is a continuation of the fuel feed box in fig. 1 which is there shown
broken off for want of room in the drawing.
Fig. 3 (sheet 2) is a view of the boiler taken at the left hand side of fig. 1. & at
right angles to it.
"
Fig. 4 is a view of the engine taken at the right hand side of fig. 1. and at
right angles to it. In this view some parts are removed to show others behind
them.
Fig. 5. is a detail of the expansion valve as used in the turbine engine fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a section through a form of turbine body in which steam and hot air
respectively are admitted to the alternate chambers."
Fig. 7 is a section through a turbine body in which hot air is admitted to the
central part & steam to the two side parts.
Fig. 8. is an elevation in outline of a combined steam & hot air engine in which
cylinders with reciprocating pistons are used.
Fig. 9. is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 10. is a form of water grate shown in section.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts in every figure in which they
occur. I will first describe the combined hot air and steam engine of the turbine
type as shown in figs. 1. 2. 3. 4 & 5.
I provide an air tight furnace a constructed preferably of boiler plate and with
an opening through the boiler to the external air, provided with an air tight
door a. At the lower part of the furnace a is a graie c on which the fuel is burnt.
The grate is automatically fed with fuel in this form of furnace by the following
means. Above the boiler b which surrounds the furnace a is a receptacle for
fuel d. This receptacle may contain suflicient fuel for a run of several hours. It
is closed at the top by a cover d' (see fig. 2) fitting air tight and held down by suitable
bolts . The bottom is hopper shaped and terminates in a chamber d
circular in cross section. In this chamber fits a drum having recesses d' d'.
This drum has an intermittent rotative motion in one direction given to it by means
to be presently described. When the cylinder d is in the position shown in fig. 1
no fuel can pass from the receptacle d into the furnace. If now the drum d be
partly rotated in the direction of the arrow the recess d" which is now filled with
fuel will arrive at the same position in which now is, and the fuel will be dis-
charged down the pipe ds and on to the fire on the grate c. A spreader & may
be provided to distribute the fuel properly in the furnace.
The intermittent rotative motion of the recessed drum d is obtained in the
following manner.
Alternate bars of the grate c are moveable, and they are supported by jaws
cc (figs. 1 & 3) on cranked bars which form parts of rocking shafts c³ c
These rocking shafts are connected by links cc so as to have a simultaneous
motion. When there is too little fuel on the grate and a fresh supply is needed the
moveable bars c¹ c' with the rocking shafts and links assume the position shown on
the drawing by reason of the weight (fig. 3) acting through the rod c and the
levers and overcoming the weight of the fuel on the grate.
The main shaft of the engine is shown by f, to this the turbine body is keyed,
and from this shaft motive power is taken by any ordinary well known means.
A pulley secured to the main shaft f of the engine gives motion by means of
driving bands & pulleys as shown to a shaft 10 (see fig. 3) on which is a worm
driving the worm wheel d". This worm wheel revolves all the time the engine is
at work but it is only when a supply of fuel is needed and the moveable bars and
their appurtenances are in the position shown on the drawing that motion is com-

page_text: municated from the worm wheel d" to the recessed drum d³ which is secured to the
shaft d on which the worm wheel d" revolves loose.
The motion is communicated by the clutch d which slides on a feather and is
actuated by the bell crank lever d" centred at d. Motion is given to this lever
by the connecting rod c".
Adjustment is made by means of altering the position on the lever of the weight co.
The ashes from the grate c fall down the pipe c* (see fig. 1) and are removed by
means of a similar recessed drum to that which admits the fuel, the motion of this
drum may be automatic or otherwise the recessed drum for ashes is not shown on
the drawing.
Or the ashes may fall down the pipe e into an air tight box from whence they
may be removed periodically when the engine is not at work. Air at a suitably
high pressure is forced through the fire on the grate thereby consuming the fuel
and becoming itself heated. This is effected by the rotary pump which is on the
main shaft of the engine.
The air is drawn from the atmosphere through the valve (see fig. 4) and the
passage in the direction of the arrows. It passes through the rotary pump being
forced by the sliding blades down the passage and along 1º (see fig. 1) to the
discharge pipe " underneath the grate cand then through the fire. The engine
which I have illustrated in figs. 1 & 4 is a turbine e the body of which is keyed to
the shaft this body is divided into two parts by a central partition e'.
The one side e, that nearest to the furnace in the drawing, is supplied with &
driven by hot air from the furnace and the other side e" is supplied with and driven
by steam from the boiler, by this means that part of the turbine which is in contact
with the hot air is prevented from becoming too hot. The heated air is also kept
from parts requiring lubrication.
A water jacket may also be applied to the hot air side of the turbine but this
is not shown on the drawing.
The heated air mingled with the products of combustion, leaves the furnace
through the pipe a which is surrounded by the water jacket b' which is in con-
nection with the boiler, and passes to the hot air side e² of the turbine e. It is
admitted near to the centre of the turbine by ports et e*. Such part of the heat
from the furnace as does not pass off with the air and gaseous products of com-
bustion to actuate the hot air engine passes by conduction through the sides and
top of the furnace into the water contained in the boiler band converts this water
into steam. The boiler may if desired be surrounded by a jacket kept hot by the
waste gases from the exhaust. The steam generated in the boiler passes through
a pipe m to the steam side e" of the turbine. On the pipe m is a stop valve m
and a safety valve m. The latter need not necessarily be on the pipe m it may if
desired be placed at any other convenient situation on the boiler b. I prefer to
regulate the admission to the turbine both of the hot air and of the steam by means
of automatic expansion gear which I will describe as it is shown on fig. 1, 4 & 5.
The working fluid (hot air or steam) is led by one of the pipes previously
mentioned to a chamber e³.
As the turbine body revolves, the ports e' e' in its side take the working fluid from
this chamber. The available width of this chamber measured in the direction of its
circumference that is from e to c² (fig. 5) is capable of being increased or diminished
by means of a segmental piece of metal or cut off valve es which can partly rotate in
the chamber ef. When this segment or cut off valve is in the position shown in
fig. 5 the chamber e is narrow and as each port e* of the turbine passes it in re-
volving the working fluid is taken during only a small part of the revolution and is
"cut off" early, it continues then to act in the turbine by means of its expansion.
If the segmental cut off valve be partly rotated so that its edge e comes against
or nearer to the fixed blocking piece e it is evident that the circumferential width
of the chamber e will be much increased, each chamber of the turbine will now
take the working fluid through its port e during a larger part of its revolution than
before and more power will be developed in the engine though a lesser proportion
1

page_text: of the power will be due to the expansive force of the working fluid. The cut off
gear has been described as for only one side of the turbine but there is a similar
gear on each side one for hot air the other for steam.
1 prefer to actuate the segmental cut off valves by pinions e" (see fig. 5) gearing
into teeth e in the circumferences of the segments. I actuate the steam expansion
valve by means of a rack g' & pinion g' keyed on the same spindle as the pinion e"
the rack being a prolongation of the piston rod of a small piston valve to the
underside of which steam at the boiler pressure is admitted by a pipe h. On the
upper side of the piston is a helical spring which may be adjusted by a screw &
handwheel to give any required pressure. I actuate the hot air automatic cut off
valve by means of a centrifugal governor (see fig. 1) driven by a band from a
pulley on the main shaft of the engine. The governor is connected with two
bevil friction wheels which are mounted on a sleeve which is constantly
rotating while the engine is running being driven by the same band as the governor
& in fact forming part of it. According to the speed of the engine, and by con-
sequence the position of the governor balls and the sleeve one or other of the
friction wheels is pressed against the wheel causing it to rotate wholly or
Partly in one direction or the other and the motion of this wheel is communicated
through the mitre wheels to the spindle on which is secured the pinion e"
gearing into the teeth e in the segmental cut off valve e on the hot air side of the
engine I provide an adjustment for the governor consisting of a spring with screw
and handwheel as shown at k. Instead of automatic valves, which I prefer, I may
use either throttle or equilibrium valves for the purpose of controlling the engine.
It is evident that while the engine is running at a uniform speed the quantity of air
forced by the pump will also be uniform, but when the engine is lightly loaded it
will not be necessary for so much of the air to be forced into the furnace 1 there-
fore provide a bye-pass valve 17 (see fig. 4) through which when open the air forced
by the pump may pass instead of going into the furnace, it is thus passed again
through the pump as often as required instead of fresh air being drawn in from the
external atmosphere. The bye pass valve is actuated by a piston valve n similar
to the one already described. When in consequence of less hot air being used in the
engine the pressure of the air in the channel rises sufficiently it raises the piston
of the valve n against the pressure of the spring and by a suitable lever
attached to the piston valve rod opens the bye pass valve 1.
The valve opening only inwards prevents any back draught of hot air from the
furnace. I provide a screw and handwheel to regulate the compression of the
spring n' and the action of the valve n. I provide a valve o for admitting air from
the atmosphere to supply the furnace before the supply of air from the compression
pump begins. Also a pipe p with a safety valve p' and a stop valve p. When
this stop valve, which is preferably a sluice or open straightway valve, is opened,
the products of combustion escape directly into the exhaust pipe q. The boiler
is provided with well known proper means of supplying it with water, as a feed
pump or injector, and with the usual gauges for showing height of water, pressure
of steam &c.
In starting the engine after a stoppage of a duration of say a night or more the
boiler is filled with water to the proper height, the door a' is opened and a fire
is made on the grate c. The valve o is opened to supply air to the fire through
the channel 15 and the door a¹ is then closed. The valve p is also opened to allow
the products of combustion to escape into the exhaust pipe q. A small accessary
pump may be provided to supply compressed air to the fire if desired this pump
being worked by hand or from some independant source of power.
sufficient supply of steam has been obtained. the engine may be started with steam
by opening the stop valve m' and as it will then immediately begin to supply the
furnace with compressed air from the pump the valves o & p² may soon be closed
and the engine will then be driven both by hot air and steam.
When a
To stop the engine the steam stop valve m must be closed and the valve p² opened.
and if the stoppage is not to be of long duration the valve o should also be opened a
little to supply enough air to keep the fire up sufficiently.

page_text: After a stoppage of short duration the engine can be immediately started by
opening the valve m' and closing the valves p² & o.
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Instead of dividing the turbine into two parts by a central partition, I may use,
& for some purposes I prefer to employ, alternate chambers in the turbine body for
steam and hot air respectively as shown in section in fig. 6 where ee are hot air
chambers and ee" are steam chambers. Or I may use the modification shown in
fig. 7 where the central chambers e are for hot air and the side chambers e¹ for
steam.
In the latter case the cut off valves have to be slightly altered to suit the modified
turbine wheel.
The side views of both figs. 6 & 7 would be similar to that of the turbine in fig. 4.
Fig. 8 is an elevation and fig. 9 a plan of an arrangement of a combined hot air and
steam engine with reciprocating motion.
The furnace and boiler are similar to that previously described and projections
from the boiler form water jackets round the hot air cylinder r and the steam
cylinder s. The cylinders are single acting and the pistons give motion to the
crank shaft on which is the fly wheel in the usual manner.
The front end of one or both of the cylinders may form the air compression pump
or pumps the necessary proportion of the stroke being utilized for the purpose.
The valve boxes & are placed at the back ends of the cylinders and the valves
are actuated by shafts driven by drag links and mitre wheels. In fig. 10 is shown
a different form of grate for the furnace, consisting of short pieces of tube cc
placed vertically and surrounded by water. Short vertical bars c c are con-
nected to rocking shafts so that they may be raised or lowered automatically or
otherwise through the tubes for the purpose of cleaning the fire.
Although I have shown and described a furnace for burning solid fuel yet I may
modify the furnace so as to adapt it for burning liquid or gaseous fuel.
The steam and hot air engines may be either both of the turbine or rotary type,
both of the reciprocating type or one of each type combined, or combinations of
more than one of either or both close together or separate and the steam engine
may be either condensing or noncondensing.
I have described the best. means known to me for carrying my invention into
effect but I do not limit myself to any one of the types described and illustrated
but may vary them while not departing from my said invention.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
Firstly. The combination of a steam boiler a steam engine and an internally fired
hot air engine as illustrated & described or any modification thereof in such a manner
that the furnace for the hot air engine forms also the furnace for the steam boiler
being enclosed in it, the hot air pipes, passages, and chambers being jacketted with
water or steam in such a manner as to utilize as much as possible of the heat
passing through their walls for the purpose firstly of heating the feed water or
generating or superheating the steam for the steam engine and also secondly for
the prevention of the overheating of the said hot air pipes, passages. & chambers.
Secondly. I claim also the method herein described & illustrated in figs. ! & 5 of
obtaining the expansive action of any elastic fluid in a turbine by means of a fixed
chamber fitting against the revolving turbine, which chamber controls the supply
of the elastic fluid admitting it during a portion only of the revolution of each
chamber of the turbine. The circumferential width of the fixed chamber may be
variable or not as desired.
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