Year: 1885

page_text: I, STEPHEN WILCOX of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New
York, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the drawing Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 a cross section
through the valve chest, Fig. 3 a cross section through the line y y, Fig. 4 a vertical
section and Fig. 5 a cross section through the cylinder wall on the line xx. The
object of this invention is to reduce the loss of heat in this class of engines
occasioned through conduction, radiation and exhaust, and the invention consists,
in intercepting the escaping heat and directing it to the combustion chamber as
hereinafter described. Another object of my invention is, to avoid the serious loss
of heat occasioned in the cylinder by the surrounding water-jacket, and to prevent
the destruction of the cast iron shell of the extended chamber of the cylinder, by
warping and cracking under the internal fluctuations of temperature and pressure
and consequent expansion and contraction.
It is well known in practice that about 50 per cent of the heat generated, is
conducted through the walls of all water jacketted cylinders; 30 per cent escapes
through the exhaust passages and 5 per cent is lost by radiation leakage etc, while
but about 15 per cent is converted into power, and it is evident that if a portion
of such escaping heat is intercepted, a higher average temperature will be obtained
in the cylinder or combustion chamber, and to this end I will proceed to describe
an engine adapted to secure this result.
.
I have illustrated my invention in connection with a single acting engine trunked
at its cool end to form an air pump and the cylinder provided at its opposite end
with an extension chamber in which the hot gases act upon a plunger connected to
the main piston.
In Fige 1 and 4, a represents the cylinder in which the piston b reciprocates,
and c the extended chamber of the cylinder, in which the hollow plunger d is
arranged, the latter being connected directly with the piston b.
The piston b is constructed with a trunk e, that passes through a stuffing box
and is also provided with an interior connection g, to which the connecting rod of
the engine is attached, this trunk arrangement providing an annular space that is
utilized as the air pump chamber, the piston b acting as the air pump.
h represents a wrought iron jacket surrounding the cast iron shell of the
extended cylinder chamber the latter being constructed with external ribs or
projections, (shown in the cross sectional view, Fig. 5) against which the jacket
is closely fitted. This jacket h firmly supports the cast iron shell of the extended

page_text: chamber, and its elasticity provides for the contraction and expansion of the
cylinder, the expansion of the latter tending to straighten the wrought iron jacket
between its points of bearing on the external projections of the cylinder.
The working cylinder is water jacketed as far as the piston reciprocates, the
latter being also made hollow to provide for water circulation. The plunger d, is
kept at a safe temperature through the medium of a coil of water pipes as shown
at 8, which are connected to the water circulation in the manner shown or in any
convenient way.
In passing the compressed air through the space provided between the chamber
and its surrounding jacket on its way to the cylinder or combustion chamber,
I cause the current of air to flow uniformly over the whole exterior surface of the
cylinder and through a series of passages j between the cylinder and jacket that
connect with the valve box. The air enters the jacket through a pipe m leading
from a water trap or chamber n located between and communicating with the air
pump and passes into the valve chambers through a series of openings p in the
flange of the valve chamber nozzle (shown in cross section Fig. 3).
The temperature of the air passing through the jacket is controlled by a water
jet arranged within range of the air pump induction, the water jet being
pulverized by an air jet u leading from the receiver.
That portion of the spray condensed on the surfaces of the cylinder and valves
or any excess of water suspended in the entering air will separate and collect in
the trap n from which it may be drawn through the cock v.
To recover a portion of the heat of the exhaust I place a regenerator w between
the valve box and the cylinder as shown in Fig. 1.
The regenerator is composed of a series of metal plates arranged above a series
of perforated partitions made of porcelain or similar substance and the pipes that
convey the inflammable to the combustion chamber are passed centrally through
the regenerator as shown at o Fig. 1, the point of combustion being located
within the cylinder and the charge of inflammable brought in contact with the
air after the latter passes the regenerator.
It will therefore be seen that a portion of the heat of the exhaust product of
combustion in passing through the regenerator will be retained therein, and carried
back to the cylinder by the next charge of air following each exhaust.
The entering air is thus heated in three successive stages, first by contact with
the hot cylinder, second, by passing through the regenerator and third, by receiving
the full complement of heat in the combustion chamber.
The igniting flame is conveyed to the combustion chamber through the pipe f
arranged adjacent to the oil supply pipe o, the igniting candle being thereby,
removed at such a distance from the combustion chamber that the cushioning or
other pressure in the latter will not force the burned gases back and extinguish
the flame.
The ignition is effected by a candle having an air and oil supply as shown in
Fig. 2, and a valve 7 operated by any convenient moving part of the engine
mechanism, which will open the valve just in advance of the main valve, so that
the current of air will convey the flame through the pipe f to the combustion
chamber.
The construction of the external surface of the cylinder shown, in connecting
with the surrounding jacket, also provides space for the passage of the air from
the air pump to the valve chamber k, from which it is admitted to the combustion
chamber or cylinder.
In passing the compressed air on its way from the air pump to the combustion
or cylinder chamber, through the space provided between the chamber and its
surrounding jacket, both are kept at a safe temperature and at the same time the
air is heated. The air enters the jacket through a pipe m, leading from the air
pump, connected near the cylinder, and passes into the valve chamber through
openings p, in the flange of the valve chamber nozzle, thus passing intermediately
over the entire surface of the cylinder chamber c.

page_text: The water coil 8, may be arranged in proximity to the plunger as shown in
Fig. 4, whereby the strata of adjacent air is cooled and, if desired, the coil may be
extended to occupy the whole width of the plunger, or arranged in contact with
its surface, as shown in Fig. 1.
Having now fully described the various details of construction to which my
invention is confined, I do not deem it necessary to a complete understanding of
the invention to herein repeat its well known mode of operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A cylinder of a gas engine, provided with a close fitting continuous wrought
iron jacket for strengthening the same and to allow, by its elasticity, for the
expansion and contraction of the cylinder.
2. A combustion chamber or cylinder of a gas engine provided with ribs or
projections upon its external surface, and a close fitting continuous wrought iron
jacket whereby the range of elasticity of the latter is increased, and an intermediate
space provided for the passage of air, through which the compressed air passes on
its way to the cylinder.
3. In a gas engine substantially as described, a water circulating pipe or coil
arranged within and adjacent to or in contact with, the piston plunger.
4. A cylinder of a gas engine having its extended portion constructed with a
grooved external surface and provided with a close fitting wrought iron jacket, to
form a passage for the compressed air flowing to the cylinder, and having that
portion of its surface adjacent to the piston provided with a water jacket.
5. In a gas engine, a regenerating device arranged between the point of
combustion, the air supply and the exhaust passage, whereby a portion of the
heat of the escaping products of combustion is intercepted and returned to the
combustion chamber with the entering air.
6. A gas engine provided with a jacket forming a passage to the entering air
and a connected water jet for supplying moisture to the air whereby the
temperature of the jacket and cylinder is regulated.
7. An igniting device having an oil and air supply, the latter being provided
with an auxiliary valve operated by the engine mechanism so as to allow a small
current of air to flow past the igniting device and convey the flame to the
combustion chamber.
8. In a gas engine an igniting device located at such distance from the cylinder.
to prevent the pressure from forcing back the burned gases and extinguishing the
flame.
9. An air pump of a gas engine provided with a water jet for moistening the
air, and a trap for collecting and removing condensation or an excess of water
contained in the air.