IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER ENGINES; WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN PART TO HOT AIR ENGINES AND GAS ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Alfred Beresford Bennett of King's Heath in the
County of Worcester Science Master and Bernard Peard Walker of
Birmingham in the County of Warwick Consulting Engineer for an Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER ENGINES; WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE IN PART TO HOT AIR ENGINES AND GAS ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Alfred Beresford
Bennett and Bernard Peard Walker at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 23rd December 1882.
JAMES ALFRED BERESFORD BENNETT of King's Heath in the County of
Worcester Science Master and BERNARD PEARD WALKER of Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Consulting Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER
ENGINES WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN PART TO HOT AIR
ENGINES AND GAS ENGINES"
Our improvements in motive power engines consist in constructing and arranging
the parts of the said engines in the manner hereinafter described whereby motive
power is obtained by the detonation of an explosive mixture of atmospheric air
and the vapour of petroline or other liquid volatile hydro-carbon.
Parts of the said improvements in motive power engines may also be applied to
hot air engines and gas engines as hereinafter described.
In constructing a motive power engine according to our invention we employ a
hollow cylinder similar to that of an ordinary gas engine in which to effect the
In
detonation of the explosive mixturo and obtain motive power therefrom.
communication with the said cylinder or detonating chamber is a pump worked by
a lever set in motion by the engine. This pump is in connection with a reservoir
containing petroline or other liquid hydro-carbon. Worked by the same lever is
an air pump by the action of which atmospheric air is compressed and forced into
the detonating chamber. The relative sizes of these pumps are such that at each
stroke of the lever working them there is delivered the requisite proportions of
petroline and air to form an explosive mixture in which neither of the components

page_text: is in excess The air and petroline preferably do not proceed directly to the
detonating chamber from their respective pumps but both pass through an inter-
mediate.chamber in which the petroline is delivered through a series of small
holes or so mixed with the incoming current of air that it is converted into a spray
which is immediately taken up by the air in the form of a vapour. The explosive
mixture thus formed passes to the detonating chamber under pressure and is there
detonated motive power being obtained from the detonated gaseous mixture in the
ordinary way. Coal or other inflammable gas may be used in conjunction with
the mixture of atmospheric air and petroline vapour.
In order to effect. the detonation of the explosive mixture we employ an electric
detonator consisting of a small dynamo or magneto electrical machine driven by
the engine. This electrical machine is made to detonate the explosive mixture
either by a spark passing between its electrodes or by the ignition of a platinum
wire. When we employ a spark to effect the detonation we make the electrodes
between which the spark passes either of rings or circular discs arranged so that
by their slow rotation successive sparks pass between different portions of the
electrodes and injury by combustion is thereby wholly or largely prevented.
The air and petroline pumps and the electrical apparatus are not permanently
connected with the shaft of the motive power engine but are capable of being
connected thereto and disconnected therefrom by a clutch or other equivalent
mechanism The said pumps and electrical apparatus can in this way be worked
by hand in the starting of the engine and afterwards geared thereto so as to be
worked automatically.
For the purpose of lubricating the piston of the detonating chamber a small
excess of the hydrocarbon may be employed. We surround the detonating
chamber with a jacket and we cause the petroline and air to pass between the said
chamber and jacket on their way to the interior of the said chamber. In this way
we keep the said chamber cool and utilize the abstracted heat.
Part of the improvements herein before described may be applied to hot air
engines of the kind commonly known as Wenham's hot air engines.
This part of our invention consists in injecting the fuel employed either by
means of a pump when liquid fuel is used or by means of a jet of air when
powdered solid fuel is employed When liquid fuel is used we prefer to project it
upon blocks of clay or graphite fixed in the hot air chamber whereby it is quickly
and efficiently divided and rapidly burned. When the fuel employed is powdered
coal or coke we use it in such a state of fine division that when projected by a jet
of air into the hot air chamber it becomes diffused as dust in the said chamber and
is rapidly burned.
By the method of introducing the fuel into hot air engines the inconveniences of
stopping the engine and renewing the fuel which are necessary in the ordinary
engines are obviated.
The electrical detonating apparatus herein before described is applicable to the
detonation of the explosive mixture of ordinary gas engines.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Alfred Beresford Bennett and Bernard Peard Walker in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd June 1883.
JAMES ALFRED BERESFORD BENNETT of King's Heath in the County of
Worcester, Science Master and Bernard Peard WALKER of Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Consulting Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER
ENGINES; WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN PART TO HOT AIR
ENGINES AND GAS ENGINES
Our improvements in motive power engines consist in constructing and arranging
the parts of the said engines in the manner herein after described, whereby motive
power is obtained by the detonation of an explosive mixture of atmospheric air and
the vapour of petroline or other liquid volatile hydro-carbon.
Parts of the said improvements in motive power engines may also be applied to
hot air engines and gas engines as herein after described.
In constructing a motive power engine according to our invention we employ a
hollow cylinder similar to that of an ordinary gas engine in which to effect the
detonation of the explosive mixture and obtain motive power therefrom. In com-
munication with the said cylinder or detonating chamber is a pump worked by a
lever set in motion by the engine. This pump is in connection with a reservoir
containing petroline or other liquid hydro-carbon. Worked by the same lever is an
air pump by the action of which atmospheric air is compressed and forced into the
detonating chamber. The relative sizes of these pumps are such that at each stroke
of the lever working them there is delivered the requisite proportions of petroline
and air to form an explosive mixture in which neither of the components is in
excess. The air and petroline preferably do not proceed directly to the detonating
chamber from their respective pumps, but both pass through a small intermediate
chamber in which the petroline is delivered through a series of small holes or so
mixed with the incoming current of air that it is converted into a spray which is
immediately taken up by the air in the form of a vapour. The explosive mixture
thus formed passes to the detonating chamber under pressure and is there
detonated, motive power being obtained from the detonated gaseous mixture in the
ordinary way.
Coal or other inflammable gas may be used in conjunction with the mixture of
atmospheric air and petroline vapour.
In order to effect the detonation of the explosive mixture we employ an electric
detonator consisting of a small dynamo or magneto electrical machine driven by
the engine. This electrical machine is made to detonate the explosive mixture
either by a spark passing between its electrodes, or by the ignition of a platinum
wire.
When we employ a spark to effect the detonation, we make the electrodes,
between which the spark passes; either of rings or circular discs arranged so that
by their slow rotation successive sparks pass between different portions of the
electrodes and injury by combustion is thereby wholly or largely prevented.
The air and petroline pumps and the electrical apparatus are not permanently
connected with the shaft of the motive power engine but are capable of being
connected thereto and disconnected therefrom by a clutch or other equivalent
mechanism. The said pumps and electrical apparatus can in this way be worked
by hand in the starting of the engine and afterwards geared thereto so as to be
worked automatically.
For the purpose of lubricating the piston of the detonating chamber, a small
excess of the hydro carbon may be employed.

page_text: We surround the detonating chamber with a jacket and we cause the petroline
and air to pass between the said chamber and jacket on their way to the interior
of the said chamber. In this way we keep the said chamber cool and utilize the
abstracted heat.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents in end elevation a motive
power engine constructed according to our invention and Figure 2 represents a side
elevation of the same, partly in vertical section. The same letters indicate the
same parts in both Figures; a is the hollow cylinder or chamber, similar to that of
an ordinary gas engine, in which cylinder or chamber the detonation of the
explosive mixture is effected; b is the hollow cylinder or reservoir in which the
petroline or other volatile liquid hydro-carbon is contained. The petroline in
the cylinder or reservoir b is delivered in the required quantities and at the proper
times either by a pump or by the intermittent descent of the piston c, which latter
arrangement we prefer and have represented it in the Drawing; d is an air pump
worked by the crank e on the main shaft ƒ of the engine in the way herein after
explained. By the action of this pump, atmospheric air is compressed and forced
into the detonating cylinder or chamber a.
The piston rod g of the piston c is formed into a screw and passes through the
centre of the worm wheel h, the hole in which has a screw thread the counterpart
of that on the screwed piston rod g. That is to say, the worm wheel h constitutes
a screw box working on the screwed piston rod g; i is a worm gearing with the
worm wheel h. On the axis of the worm i is a ratchet wheel with which a
pawl m engages. This pawl is worked by the pawl lover n turning on the
centre p on the fixed framing of the engine in the way which will be understood
by an examination of Figure 1. The piston q of the air pump d is cylindrical up
to the part while the upper part above q² is formed of two parallel plates q³, q³
between which the crank rod r works.
The piston q is jointed to the ratchet lever natt and upon the same centro
pint the lever u turns. The said lever u is connected with the handle end n³ of
the lever n in the way represented in Figure 1; that is to say, in the manner
well known with respect to the lever clutches employed in the working of railway
signals and points and for other analogous purposes. In the lever u is a notch or
recess w of a size and shape proper to engage with the pin carried by the bottom
of the crank rod r. When the handle n² is grasped by the hand, the lever u is
brought into the position shown in Figure 1.
When the hand is removed from the handle n³ a spring between the two parts
of the said handle separates them and causes the lover u to advance and make its
notch or recess w take upon or engage with the pin x. In the former position of
the lever u, that is, in the position represented in Figure 1, the motion of the crank
rod communicates no motion to the piston g of the air pump d, but in the last
described position of the lover u, that is, when the notch or recess wis engaged
with the pin the ascending and descending motions of the crank. rod ? produce
like motions in the piston g of the air pump and the ratchet lever n jointed to
it at t.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that when the handle m³ of
the lever is not grasped by the hand, the air pump d and the piston c of the
petroline reservoir are worked automatically, that is, by the action of the engine
itself;
but that when the handle n is grasped by the hand, the air pump d and
piston of the petroline reservoir are detached or disengaged from the rotating
shaft of the engine and so long as the said handle n² is grasped by the hand the
lever n can bo worked by hand and the injection of air and petroline into the
detonating chamber a be effected without any motion in the main shaft ƒ of the
engine. This arrangement is necessary for the starting of the engine. After one
or two detonations, the handle n may be loosed when the lever n becomes geared
to the crank rod r and the air pump & and piston c of tho potroline reservoir bare
worked automatically.
The relative proportions of the petroline and air delivered at each rotation of the

page_text: shaft f, that is, at each stroke of the crank rod r may be regulated in the following
manner. The link y by which the pawl lever n is connected to the pawl m
terminates at its upper end in a pin which travels in the slot 2 in the pawl arm 3
and the said pin is capable of being fixed in any required position in the slot 2
by a screw nut or other fastening. By fixing the said pins at the outer end of
the slot 2, the least angular motion is given to the pawl arm 3 and by fixing the
pins at the inner end of the slot 2 the greatest angular motion is given to the
pawl arm 3 and similarly by fixing the said pin at intermediate positions any
required angular motion between the limits referred to may be given to the pawl
arm 3. Thus, while the angular motion of the pawl lever n has a fixed range it may
be made to communicato angular motions of different degrees to the pawl arm 3
and thereby give any required intermittent motion to the worm i, worm wheel h
and piston c and in this way determine the ratio between the quantity of petrolino
and that of air introduced into the detonating chamber a at each rotation of the
shaft f. Successive portions of air from the air pump & and petroline from the
reservoir b may be simultaneously directly introduced into the detonating chamber a,
but we prefer to cause the stream of air and that of petroline so to encounter
one another before entering the said chamber a that the petroline shall have been
dispersed or diffused into a spray and the mixture of petroline and air entering the
said chamber will thus consist practically of an explosive gaseous mixture. This
dispersion or diffusion of the petroline into a spray may be effected in various
ways. Thus, the passage by which the petroline is introduced into the air passage
may terminate in a rose or series of minute holes by which it becomes minutely
divided as it meets with the stream of air The arrangement we have represented
in the Drawing consists of a conical termination 4 to the air passage. The stream
of petrolino is delivered upon this conical termination, whereby the current of air
is blown into the axis of the current of petroline and becomes very efficiently
mixed therewith.
The ignition or detonation of the explosive gaseous mixture in the chamber a
may be effected by any of the well known appliances used for that purpose in gas
engines. We prefer however to employ an electric detonator as represented in the
Drawing. This detonator consists of a small dynamo-electrical machine 5 capable
of being worked by hand or of being worked automatically by the engine. When
by means of a clutch 6 the dynamo electrical machine 5 is geared with the main
shaft the said dynamo electrical machine 5 is worked by the engine. When by
the action of the clutch 6 the dynamo electrical machine 5 is disengaged from the
shaft fit can be worked by hand by means of the winch 7. This is necessary in
starting the engine. The ignition of the explosive mixture may be effected at tho
point marked 8 by means of the electric sparks passing between the electrodes on
each side of the point 8; or the said electrodes may be connected by a fine
platinum wire, the ignition of which explodes the detonating mixture. Or the
electrodes may consist of rings or circular discs made to rotate slowly. In this last
arrangement the successive sparks pass between different portions of the electrodes
and the injury to the said electrodes by combustion or arc-ing is wholly or largely
prevented.
The parts of the engine are so geared together that the injection of the air and
petroline takes place during the ascent of the piston in the detonating chamber a,
the said piston having risen through a portion, say, one fourth, of the stroke before
the injection of the air and petroline commences.
We do not limit ourselves to any precise ratio between the petroline and air, but
we find in practice that for every cubic inch of petroline about ten thousand cubic
inches of air are required. Wo prefer however to use a somewhat less proportion
of air as the slight excess of petroline results in the effectual lubrication of the
parts of the engine.
Our application of a water jacket to the detonating chamber a for the purpose
of keeping it cool differs in no essential respect from the application of wateṛ

page_text: jackets to gas engines as commonly employed and we have therefore not thought it
necessary to represent or describe the same.
In order to utilize the heat of the detonating chamber a, the current of air from
the air pump & may be passed between the said chamber and its jacket in place of
water. The air thus becomes heated while the chamber a is cooled and the heating
of the air facilitates the vaporization of the petroline with which it is afterwards
mixed.
By petroline we wish it to be understood that we mean any of the volatile liquid
hydro-carbons obtained by distillation from natural petroleum or shale or from the
tarry products of the manufacture of coal gas.
Part of the improvements herein before described may be applied to hot air
engines of the kind commonly known as Wenham's hot air engines.
This part of our invention consists in injecting the fuel employed either by
means of a pump, when liquid fuel is used, or by means of a jet of air, when
powdered solid fuel is employed. When liquid fuel is used we prefer to project it
upon blocks of clay or graphite fixed in the hot air chamber, whereby it is quickly
and efficiently divided and rapidly burned. When the fuel employed is powdered
coal or coke we use it in such a state of fine division that when projected by a jet
of air into the hot air chamber it becomes diffused as dust in the said chamber and
is rapidly burned.
The arrangements of the engine herein before described and illustrated in the
drawing require but slight modifications to adapt them to carry out this part of
our invention. The air and fuel are introduced into the hot air chamber by
appliances essentially the same as those herein before described excepting that when
powdered solid fuel is employed, we substitute in place of the cylinder b and
piston c, a hopper for holding the said fuel, the said hopper terminating at bottom
in a passage regulated by a stopcock so that a descending stream of any required
volume may be delivered into the current of air by which it is taken up and carried
forward to the hot air chamber; and in place of the electrical apparatus which we
have described as situated at the point 8, Figure 2, for the purpose of detonating
the explosive gaseous mixture, we substitute a chamber containing blocks of clay
or graphite and incandescent fuel, upon which said blocks and fuel the mixture of
air and powdered or liquid fuel is directed and by which the said mixture is
ignited.
By the method described of introducing the fuol into hot air engines, the
inconveniences of stopping the engine and renewing the fuel which are necessary
in the ordinary engines are obviated.
The rotating electrodes herein before described for igniting, by means of an
electrical current, the explosive gaseous mixture of petroline and air may be
applied to the detonating of the explosive mixture of ordinary gas engines. In
applying this apparatus we introduce the said rotating electrodes in the travelling
lighting chamber or at or near the point where in gas engines a small stationary
gas flame is used.
Although we have only described and represented a single acting motive power
engine constructed according to our invention yet we wish it to be understood that
double acting motivepower engines may be constructed by causing the introduction
and detonation of the gaseous mixture of petroline and air to be effected alternately
on opposite sides of the piston in the detonating chamber, the parts for the
introduction of and lighting the mixture represented in the drawing at one end of
the chamber being employed in this case at both ends.
The parts of the engine which we have not described resemble those of an
ordinary gas engine.
Having now described the nature of our invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed we wish it to be understood that We claim as our
invention First-The construction and arrangement of parts of motive power
engines hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing; that
is to say, the arrangement or combination of an air pump with a reservoir
E

page_text: containing volatilo liquid hydro-carbon, whereby the stream of atmospheric air
from the said air pump encounters or passes through or impinges upon the stream
of the said hydro-carbon so as to diffuse the said hydro-carbon into a spray, which
said spray mixed with the atmospheric air is introduced into the detonating
chamber and constitutes the explosive mixture by the detonation of which the
motivepower is obtained substantially as described and illustrated; also the use
of a pump in place of the reservoir b and piston c having an intermittent motion,
for the purpose of injecting the required portions of hydro carbon at the required
times.
Secondly The combination or arrangement of parts herein before described and
represented for regulating or determining the quantity of petroline introduced into
the detonating chamber at each rotation of the principal shaft of the engine and
making the same either automatic or wofkable by hand at pleasure substantially
as described and illustrated.
Thirdly The ignition of the gaseous mixture of petroline and air by electric
sparks or arcs passing between electrodes having a slow rotatory motion as herein
before described
Fourthly The modification of the appliances herein described and represented
for the introduction of volatile liquid hydro carbon in a state of vapour into the
combustion chamber of motive power engines so as to adapt the said appliances to
the introduction of liquid or powdered solid fuel into the combustion chambers of
hot air engines as herein before described.
Lastly The use of rotating electrodes for effecting the detonation of the
explosive mixture in ordinary gas engines by the employment of an electrical
current as described.
In Witness whereof I the said James Alfred Beresford Bennett have hereunto
set my hand and seal this twentieth day of June in the year of our Lord,
one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.