Improvements in Explosion Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1898-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosion Engines.
I, SAMUEL BOUTON, a Citizen of the Republic of France, but now residing at
No. 718, Colorado Street, in the City of Philadelphia, in the County of Phila-
delphia, and State of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Civil 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:---
My invention has relation to an explosion engine of the type which has become
known under the designation of an air and vapor engine; and in such connection
it relates to the construction and arrangement of such an explosion engine for
various purposes.
The principal object of my invention is to provide an air and vapor engine of
comparatively simple construction, efficient in action and economical in operation.
My invention stated in general terms, consists of an explosion engine when
constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and
claimed.
The nature and scope, as well as characteristic features of my present invention
will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which
Figure 1, is a side elevational view of an air and vapor engine embodying main
features of my invention.
Fig. 2, is a top or plan view of the same, partly sectioned, on a horizontal plane.
Fig. 3, is an elevational view enlarged and partly sectioned of the left hand
end of the engine; and
Fig. 4, is a vertical sectional view enlarged of the vapor chamber and connections
of the engine.
Referring to the drawings A, represents the frame-work of the engine, in which
is supported the cylinder B, the fly-wheels C, and its crank-shaft C. The
cylinder B, is surrounded by a water jacket B¹, and the crank-shaft C', is attached
by the connecting rod C³, with the piston B³, in the usual manner. The cylinder
head a. is provided with two ports and d, each closed by preferably a spring
controlled conical valve b¹ and d, respectively. The port d, is the exhaust-port
and communicates by a pipe d, with an exhaust-pot ³, of the ordinary construc-
tion. The port b, is the inlet port to the cylinder for the introduction of a mixture
of air and vapor and it is connected by a pipe 68, with a mixing chamber e, prefer-
ably situated above and in communication with a reservoir f, wherein the volatile
or readily vanorized liquid is stored. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the upper end of the
mixing chamber e, is provided with an inlet el, controlled by a spring con-
trolled valve, the inlet communicating with the open air or any suitable source
of air supply. The pipe 6, leading from the combustion end of the cylinder B,
extends downwards into the mixing chamber e, below the air inlet e¹, and directly
above an opening or inlet f¹, controlled by a valve or cock and leading to the
reservoir f. The spring controlled valve b¹, is so regulated that upon the out or
suction stroke of the piston B2, the vacuum created in the cylinder B, will cause
the valve b¹, to momentarily open and draw in a charge from the mixing chamber

page_text: into the cylinder. The air valve e, is likewise so regulated that it will open
momentarily when a partial vacuum is created in the mixing chamber upon the
opening of the charging valve b¹, and will permit of the momentary inflow of air
to the said mixing chamber. The cylinder B, is also provided with a port g,
leading to an ignition apparatus, consisting of a nipple g¹, surrounding the port
and adapted to be heated to redness by a burner g, as indicated in Fig. 3, of the
drawings. Upon the shaft C, of the engine is secured a gear-wheel 1), meshing
with a gear-wheel D₁, to which is eccentrically pivoted a connecting-rod 18, adapted
to actuate a slide 13, carrying a finger or projection 14, adapted to strike against
the stem of the valve d, and thereby to open said valve directly after the explosion
of the air and vapor in the combustion chamber B³.
The operation of the engine herein before explained, is as follows:-
Upon the out stroke of the piston a partial vacuum is created in the cylinder,
resulting in the opening of the valve bi, and the creation of a partial vacuum in
the mixing chamber and reservoir f, by the suction of a charge from the mixing
chamber to the cylinder. The vacuum in the mixing chamber causes the air
valve, to open admitting a charge of air to the mixing chamber and also causes
a charge of vapor to pass from the reservoir f, to the mixing chamber, the vaporiza-
tion of the liquid in the reservoir f, being assisted or accelerated by the partial
vacuum in said reservoir. Upon the in or return stroke of the piston the valve b¹,
being closed, the charge is compressed and a portion is forced through the port g,
to the ignition apparatus and thereby exploded. At the moment of explosion the
port d, is opened and the exhaust or spent products of combustion escape to the
exhaust pot ³.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In an explosion engine, the combination with the cylinder and piston, of a
mixing chamber having at one end a valve controlled inlet for the entrance of air,
a pipe leading from the cylinder to the mixing chamber below the air inlet thereof,
a valve controlling said pipe and a vapor reservoir in open communication with the
mixing chamber below said pipe, said valves controlling respectively the air inlet
to the mixing chamber and the pipe leading to the cylinder being so arranged that
upon the creation of a partial vacuum in the cylinder each valve will automatically
open, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In an explosion engine, a mixing chamber having at its upper end an inlet
for the entrance of air, a valve controlling said inlet for the entrance of air, a pipe
in said mixing chamber and extending below said air inlet and connected directly
with the cylinder of said engine, and a vapor reservoir arranged below said mixing
chamber and in direct communication therewith, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
Dated at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this 7th day of June. A D 1898
SAMUEL BOUTON
Per J. G. Lorrain, M.I.E.E., M.I.Mech.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent.