IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES
FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER." -A communication from abroad by
Francis Million, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France.
Sealed the 18th January 1861, and dated the 26th July 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th July 1860.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature, of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ENGINES FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER," communicated to me from
abroad by Francis Million, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France,
to be as follows:-
This Invention principally relates to the construction of an improved engine
worked by gases or air, and which, according to these improvements, is so
arranged that the air or motive fluid is being admitted into and expanding in
the cylinder during the whole stroke of the piston on which it acts. Means
are provided in the air or fluid vessel or receiver to serve as a latent caloric
compensator. An improved regenerator is adopted, also an improved mode of
heating, in which the furnace or fire-place is so placed and contrived as to be
always kept open to or or in constant or continuous communication with the
Price & I

page_text: interior of the cylinder (except of course when communication is temporarily
cut off for regulating the fire); it is thus in communication alternately with
the fluid entering and the fluid escaping. I call this arrangement the con-
tinuous communication furnace. While the air or gas is being compressed
in the receiver, it is being discharged from the cylinder. and when expanding
in the former, is passing into the latter, so that during the whole stroke of the
piston, the air or fluid acting thereon is entering the cylinder on full and
expanding therein. For effecting a reciprocal compensation between the
latent caloric of the air or fluid when compressed, and that of the same when
expanding, and thereby tending to balance the difference of temperature of
compression and expansion. and removing the impediments to success hitherto
arising from the action of latent caloric, the interior of the receiver or vessel
in which the air or motive fluid is received and compressed is provided with
divided metal or pieces of metal separated, or with intersticial openings, such as
wire cloth, perforated iron, or pieces of metal with spaces between, whereby the
latent caloric of compression is absorbed, and the caloric of expansion restored.
The present improvements may all be combined in one engine, but one or
more of them separately or combined may also be applied with advantage to
other and various descriptions of engines. In the arrangement of engine pre-
pressure.
ferred, which I describe as working by air, an extra compressed air vessel
is provided for just at first supplying the proper receiver to start the engine,
but it is not required afterwards. The air is pumped into the regular or "com-
pensation receiver which contains wire cloth, or strips of metal spaced off as
latent caloric compensating media, and its area should be proportionate to the
volume generated by the compressing plunger, to determine the maximum
In this receiver the air after being compressed is allowed to expand.
and passes off to the cylinder through a passage also communicating with the
atmosphere, and containing a regenerator, which preferably consists of a
number of parallel strips of iron with spaces between, forming longitudinal
channels for the air and divided off lengthwise into sets with intervals between;
it does not extend the whole length of the passage, and is fitted in a thin tube
only just connected to the passage where necessary to fix it. The air passes
to the cylinder through the regenerator, and, after working, returns through it
to the atmosphere. The planger of the supply or compressing pump, and the
piston of the cylinder, work together, that is to say, while the former is com-
pressing the air in the receiver, the air is being discharged from the cylinder,
and when the air in the receiver ceases to be compressed, and is expanding.
that in the cylinder is entering on full, expanding and driving the piston. The
furnace flue or pipe leading from the furnace opens into the interior of the

page_text: cylinder direct, or through the cover or the supply and discharge tube, and is kept
so during exit and escape of air. To supply it with air, a pump may provided
which draws in air from the atmosphere, and forces it in the furnace; a
similar compressing pump compensation receiver, regenerator, and furnace
may be employed for the opposite side of the piston. so that the air may
expand and act on one side of it, while escaping on the other. The cylinder
may have at each end, and at the lower part, orifices or recesses with valve or
valves opening inward, or worked from without, to receive cinders and extra-
neous matters from the furnace. Its packing may be fitted in an elongated
box or socket with cold water or refrigerating casing, and cold water sent in the
cylinder cover near it. The flue from furnace to cylinder may be lined with
non-conducting (heat) media.
Although I have described an air engine the same may be adapted or applied
for other elastic, gaseous. or aeriform fluids. The latent caloric compensating
system before described, may be advantageously applied to the compressed air
or fluid vessels, chambers, or receivers of various engines.
The continuous communication furnace" mode of heating may be applied
to various engines, thus, for example:-
1st, to generator cylinder air engines. the furnace being kept open to the
heated side, the opposite side having a refrigerating jacket, and the plunger
filling nearly half the cylinder.
2nd, to caloric engines of which the cylinder has hitherto been heated
externally, my furnace fed by the feed pump being kept in continuous
communication with or open to the interior of the cylinder instead of the old
mode.
i
3rd, to engines in which heat is applied in the compressed fluid receiver, the
furnace being kept in continuous communication therewith, and with the hot
parts of tubular receivers.
In steam engines the regenerator may be placed in the communications
between the cylinder and passages; the regenerator and continuous communi-
cation furnace may he so contrived as to communicate continuously with the
cylinder, and feed in hot air supplied by a pump at each end of the cylinder
to combine with and superheat the steam supplied, and which is regenerated
like hot air engines may be driven by a combination of steam and gaseous
fluids by placing its pressure receiver in constant or continuous communica-
tion with a steam generator, steam being brought into the receiver to be
mixed with the gases, and the admixture conveyed to the piston to act thereon,
the continuous communication furnace being employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th January 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Michael Henry. Her special licence that I, the said Michael Henry, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael
Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES FOR
ÜBTAINING MOTIVE POWEB," communicated to me from abroad by Francis
Million, of 33, Boulevard St. Martin. Paris, France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Michael Henry, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Henry, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:
The main principle of construction of the various engines driven by gases
is to produce with a cold piston acting in a cold cylinder on gas in a cold
state any required variations of pressure, the reciprocal of which is produced
in a heated cylinder with the same gas acting in a heated state on a heated
piston. The Inventor considers the action of the latent caloric of the air to
have hitherto been a series difficulty in former arrangements of air engines,
the same acting therein in a direction contrary to the working, that is to say,

page_text: air becoming heated when compressed and cooled when expanded, is conse-
quently heated in the pump and cooled in the cylinder; hence the motive
power derived from its action in the cylinder is reduced while the power
absorbed by the pump is increased to such an extent indeed, that even when
air is heated to 400° or 450° centigrade. the cylinder will never yield a power
beyond what may be marked as 100, while the power absorbed by the pump
may be marked as 60 to 66, and even this is liable to the reduction due to the
friction and motions of fluids, which are considerable items in these engines.
This action of latent caloric has been the cause of large dimensions and
expense in air engines. Now according to the present Invention an improved
air engine is constructed, in which the principle of internal heating is com-
bined with an arrangement and method of action. such that admission and
expansion may be carried on during the whole stroke of the piston, and that
the latent caloric of compression may be compensated by the latent caloric
of expansion; and further, that heat may be introduced at the very point at
which the gases ought to be heated in the cylinder. I now proceed to describe
how the Inventor has carried this into effect.
The improved engine worked by air or gases, to which this Invention prin-
cipally relates, is so arranged that the motive fluid is being admitted into and
expanding in the cylinder during the whole stroke of the piston, and means
are provided to serve as a latent caloric compensator; an improved regenerator
is adopted, and a mode of heating, in which the furnace is in continuous com-
munication with the interior of the cylinder. I call this arrangement the
"continuous communication furnace." While the motive fluid is being com-
pressed in the receiver it is being discharged from the cylinder, and when
expanding in the former is passing into the latter, so that it is during the
For
whole stroke of the piston entering the cylinder on full and expanding.
effecting mutual compensation between the latent caloric of compression and
that of expansion, the interior of the vessel in which the fluid is received and
compressed is furnished with divided metal or pieces of metal separated or
with openings between.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGINE.
Figure 1, Sheet 5, represents a single-acting engine, constructed according
to these improvements; the arrangements described for one side of the cylinder
in this engine are repeated on the other side for double-acting engines.
A is a single-acting lift and force pump, with a piston B, a suction or inlet
valve C, and a force or outlet valve D; E is the air receiver, which is con-
nected with one end of the pump. and with the corresponding end of the

page_text: motive or working cylinder M, and is filled at F with metal in a divided state
or separated pieces of metal; M is the motive or working cylinder, in which
works the piston. N. The receiver E is placed in communication by the pipe
G, with a tube I, containing the regenerator J; and it also communicates
through this same pipe G with the cylinder M: H is a cock in the pipe G:
I, is a cock for opening the tube I to the atmosphere: "O is a "combustion "
pump or double-action lift and force pump for drawing in the atmospheric
air, and forcing it into the furnace P to feed it with air. The furnace P is
placed in communication with the cylinder M by means of a passage furnished
with a cock or valve Q. In addition to the arrangements above described, the
engine is provided with a pressure receiver for starting it, which, for conve-
nience of description, I call the receiver R, consisting of a closed chamber of
cast or sheet iron or other metal filled with a gas or gaseous fluid, compressed
beforehand by any convenient means; this receiver R communicates with the
receiver Ethrough a pipe fitted with a cock, which, for convenience of descrip-
tion, I call the cock S.
Action of the engine. The first thing to be done is to compress the air or
gas in the receiver R by any convenient means, after having first closed the
cock S, after which this cock S is opened, and pressure obtained in the
receiver E. The cock H is next opened, and the cock L kept carefully closed,
whereupon the air from the receiver E will flow through the pipe G into the
tube 1, wherein it will pass through the regenerator J, and then enter the
cylinder M, in which it will act on and lift the piston N: when the piston
attains the top of its stroke it has to descend, for which purpose the cock H is
closed and the cock L opened, whereupon the piston N will come down
driving the air before it, which is thus forced back through the tube I and the
regenerator J (contained therein); and escapes by the tube K into the atmo-
sphere. While this is proceeding the pump (which may be fixed at any
desirable part of the engine, and may, for example, be worked by a crank on
the driving shaft,) is at work also; thus while the cylinder piston N is descend-
ing, the pump piston B is likewise descending. and is compressing the air in
the receiver E. As soon as the engine is fairly started the cock S is closed,
and the engine goes on working. Now the receiver E becomes immediately
filled with the air forced in by the pump, which air is compressed at it enters:
and this goes on during the whole stroke of the piston B in one direction; but
when that piston works in the contrary direction it ceases to compress the air
in the receiver. Now the receiver being placed in communication with the
cylinder M, the air which it contains becomes more and more expanded in
such cylinder during the whole stroke of the piston N. Thus the motive fluid

page_text: 15 being admitted into the cylinder M, and expanding therein during the whole
stroke of the piston N. A considerable portion of the air, that which is in the
receiver, will not vary in temperature, because the latent caloric of compres-
sion is absorbed therein by the very divided metallic mass with which it is
filled, and which restores the caloric of expansion as fast as produced in the
receiver. The result of these arrangements and of the action of the metal in
the receiver E. is that the phenomena of the pressure of air in the pump and
in the cylinder tend to approximate considerably to those which would take
place if the law of Mariotte were alone in operation, for the variations of tem-
perature of air when being compressed or when being expanded will be for the
most part compensated for in this receiver. which call the expansion and
latent caloric compensator" receiver.
The foregoing description may be readily adapted to a double-acting engine
by placing, on each side of the pump and cylinder, the arrangements just
described for one side, viz., an air receiver, distributing arrangements, regene-
rator. furnace, &c. &c., and such engines, instead of acting as former double-
acting air engines, work with two separate actions, so to speak, and not with
a double action; and have the motive fluid full on and expanding during the
whole stroke, which is a novel feature, and hitherto wholly unknown.
Also
the action of divided metals. for effecting a mutual compensation between the
latent caloric of compression and that of expansion, is a distinctive, wholly new,
and very important feature, and is based on a series of reasonings which the
Inventor believes he alone has hitherto pursued.
Detail of the apparatus.-The lift and force pump may be of any convenient
arrangement, and of about one-half the volume of the cylinder M. which
latter has no particular distinctive feature.
Expansion and latent caloric compensator, air receiver. This receiver, which
is one of the distinctive features of this arrangement, has an internal area,
which should be in a certain proportion to the volume generated by the pump
piston. which proportion of volume determines the maximum pressure to
which the air will be compressed therein: if it be equal to the volume
generated by the pump piston, the pressure will attain a maximum of
two atmospheres, if only ard the pressure will attain three atmospheres.
and so on. The receiver contains what I call "divided metal" as a
general expression. but which mostly consists of wire cloth, or preferably
plates or pieces of plate iron or other metal slightly separated from each
other by stays.
"Distributing arrangements" or-appliances for permitting and interrupting the
flow. In the foregoing explanation I have mentioned the use of cocks for opening

page_text: and interrupting the communication between the cylinder and the air receiver and
the cylinder and the atmosphere; but any convenient appliance may be used, such
as slide or clack valves, or other means operated by the engine itself in any
known manner. These arrangements should be such as to put each end of
the cylinder into communication with a different pressure reservoir, according
to the side of the piston whereon there is pressure, while that side of it where
the fluid is escaping communicates with the atmosphere. The valve or appli-
ance in the escape pipe should be so regulated that it be closed just before
the end of the stroke, in order that the piston in completing its stroke may
compress the air then before it into the regenerator and furnace, which would
otherwise act prejudicially as open spaces; this precaution, though not abso-
lutely necessary, is very useful.
Regenerator. The regenerator is placed between the cylinder and its
distributing arrangements; it may be of any desired weight; care must be taken
to prevent its interfering with the due circulation of the air; its arrangement is
herein-after described.
The air pump for feeding the furnace with air, which I call the "com-
bustion pump," is a double-action lift and force pump of ordinary description,
communicating with the furnaces by pipes.
Furnace. The furnace is enclosed in a solid metal casing A, Figure 2,
Sheet 5; B are ordinary fire-bars, above which the furnace is lined with
refractory brickwork C; D. D', D". are three openings usually kept closed
air-tight by valves, each valve being connected by a fod E, E. to a lever F, of
which one end is moveable in a hinge or joint G, and the other end is forked,
and may be fixed or liberated, as desired, by turning the iron key H. The valve
may be tightened on its seat by a screw 1, fitted to the lever; J is the exit
pipe for the gases to leave the furnace; K, pipe for admitting air over the
fuel; L, pipe for admitting air under the fire-bars: D is the valve for feeding
in the fuel; the other two are for getting at and cleaning the fire-bars and
ash-pit; M, opening in the tube J. also for supplying air; N is a chimney for
placing the furnace in communication with the atmosphere, furnished with a
sliding register or valve O: P. ash-pit under the chimney to receive any ashes
or coal that may be drawn in: it may be cleaned by opening the register Q;
R, slide valve for opening and closing communication between the furnace and
other pet
into the chimney: T. generator. of
which only a portion is seen. This furnace consumes its own smoke, and
works partly like an ordinary furnace, being supplied with air below the
fire-hars, and partly otherwise, as it is also supplied with air over the fire-bars
above the fuel; but when the two gaseous currents, which travel in contrary
d

page_text: directions, meet near the chimney a strong combustion of smoke takes place,
and the admission of the third supply of air into the chimney at the exit from
the furnace completes the combustion of the products.
Stuffing boxes. Instead of packing the stulling boxes for the piston, and
valve rods, &c., to work in the openings in which they work, are bored perfectly
true, but for piston rods there will be less chance of leakage by increasing the
length of the parts exposed to frictional contact, which may be done by bolting
on, or casting with, or otherwise fixing on the cylinder cover, a stuffing box,
bored quite true, which may be fluted or grooved inside with round flutings
or grooves in any number; for increased safety this piece may be constructed
in two parts, and spring segments fitted in the grooves, as shewn in Figures 3
and 3b, Sheet 5. In the latter case the opening should be bored rather large
instead of quite true, to allow the rod a little lateral play; a stufling box may
also be constructed of a single piece, bored quite true with no segments, but
having a little lateral play; for which purpose, instead of being fixed on the
cylinder, it is a separate piece from it, and has on its under surface a round
flange fitting under the cylinder cover, while the rest of the stuffing box projects
above it, the internal pressure forcing the flange against the cover sufliciently
to prevent leakage, but allowing the stuffing box a certain freedom or play.
The foregoing mode is only applicable to high or medium pressure engines; but
for condensing engines the arrangement shewn in Figure 4 and 4bi, Sheet 5, is
adopted. Here the stuffing box E is fitted quite true at its two end surfaces, and
is held between the cylinder cover A and the cover D of the box C; the piston.
rod B here has a little play allowed it by the box E; the latter may have one
or two flanges or be without any, if of suflicient thickness, and it may project
at one side from the box at top. Metal washers. ground true on their surfaces
in contact may be packed in the box, one above the other, being perforated for
the rod to pass, as shewn in Figure 5 and 5bis, Sheet 5; the end washers
bearing one against the bottom of the box, and the other against its cover, the
touching surfaces being perfectly true; this packing allows the rod a little
lateral play, and also follows it in its motions when it slightly changes its
direction, each washer giving a little.
Piston. Figure 6 and 6b, Sheet 5. The piston is composed of one or two
plates, with a rim turned in cast metal, and having grooves in which thin
segments are fitted, distended at one point, and acting as springs like the
segments of ordinary pistons.
Thus to resume the arrangements there are, 1st, a pump and a cylinder;
2nd, a particular regenerator, which the Inventor considers as his; 3rd,
an internal furnace. The use of an internal furnace is not new, but

page_text: the point at which the heat is applied, and the position of the furnace and its
appendages, such as the combustion pump. are distinctive features; 4th,
the engine is entirely novel in its method of action, as it works expan-
sively during the whole stroke, whether of the pump piston or the
cylinder piston; and in this respect the Inventors considers it as his.
5th, the engine entirely differs from others in respect of its compensating
the latent caloric of compression and of expansion mutually by means of divided
metal within the receiver. This last distinctive feature is wholly new.
Applications of the different apparatuses herein-before described.―The
various principles of this engine may be applied either separately or combined
two or more together to all known engines worked by elastic fluids.
I now proceed to describe how the constant communication furnace may be
applied to cylinders for heating gases therein: 1st, to the Ericson engine
or engines of that class; 2nd, to Stirling's engine or engines of that class;
3rd, to steam engines; 4th, to engines driven by gas and steam combined.
Ericson's engine.-Instead of the mode of heating at present adopted,
I propose to employ, if the engine is single acting, a furnace in "continuous
communication" with the cylinder, using only the small combustion" pump
before described; for a double-acting engine the same is also applied at the
other side of the cylinder; by this mode there is no risk of the cylinder's
fracturing under unequal heat, and the fuel will be properly utilized. This
arrangement is well adapted for general use at sea, especially if the regenerator
herein described be employed instead of the metallic cloth described by Ericson.
Sheets 1, 2, 3, and 4, furnish examples of the arrangements which may
be employed, shewing the details of an engine constructed according to
this Invention; but I refer to the entirety of this Specification in order that it
may be understood that I do not bind myself to this arrangement, which is
only an example, while the Patent may be said to rest on the application of a
new principle to air engines generally.
Sheet I. is a plan, on a scale of 10 of a 50-horse power engine, making one
rovolution per second, the minimum pressure in the generator being five
atmospheres. A is a (double-acting) cylinder shewn without its valves or
distributing appliances, the piston of which cylinder transmits motion to a
driving shaft B (carrying a fly-wheel) by the ordinary piston rod, and the
connections usual to steam engines. The cylinder communicates with the
generators C, C, by two pipes D and D', which lead from the cold
part of the generators, and the cylinder is thus fed with cold air; these
pipes may be attached to the hot part of the generators, or to any point
of the tube containing the generator, so as to supply air to the cylinder

page_text: in a more or less heated state. E is the break pulley. The driving shaft
actuates the small air pump F by a. connecting rod, crank, &c. To the
beam of the pump F are attached two connecting rods G, G', which operate
a slide block H, which acts through a connecting rod K on the beam I,
which works the generator pistons. J is a pump, actuated by the piston
beam for supplying refrigerating water.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, shews in section the small air pump A. which may be
either single or double acting; B. pump piston; C. suction valve; D. pipe
communicating with the pressure regulating reservoir E. On the pipe D is
the outlet valve F of the air pump. G is the pressure regulating piston; H,
fly wheel, the boss of which is screw-threaded on the inside, and serves as a
nut for the threaded piston rod to work in, so that according to the direction
in which the wheel is turned the regulating piston G is caused to rise or
descend: K is the connection for actuating a crank on the shaft of beam I. to
which the generator pistons are attached; J. J', are the two generators. J in
section, and J in external view; these generators consist of a cast-iron
cylinder closed at both ends by cast-iron covers. The air is forced by the air
pump into the valve box N through a pipe leading from the outlet valve of
the pump to put on the generators the minimum pressure desired. O is a
casing or water space on the upper part of the generator, into which cold
water is pumped. The generator piston P is of cast iron, the bottom being
cast with the cylindrical portion. The external view J' shews the casing O,
refrigerator Q. tube containing the regenerator R and heater S. The
generators and heaters are on feet.
Figure 2, Sheet 2. shews in vertical section the refrigerator A, regenerator B,
and heater C.
The refrigerator shown in horizontal section, Figure 3, Sheet 2, consists of
a cast-iron case A, furnished with two tubes E, E'. having flanges or collars
fitting on one side to a generator tube, and on the other to the regenerator'
tube; its two opposite parallel sides are perforated with openings, in which
are fixed tubes arranged in a quincunx, and the edges of these sides have
flanges F, F, on which are bolted covers (. G', whereof G' has an internal
partition L. The cold water from the generator jacket passes into the
refrigerator through the tube II, where it meets the partition I, and thence
through part of the tubes, and meets partition I, then through another part of
the tubes in an opposite direction and meets partition J. and again passes
through part of the tubes in another direction, and passes out through the
tube H¹. The refrigerating air circulates in the interior, but a contrary
arrangement might be employed.

page_text: The regenerator B, Figure 2, Sheet 2, consists of a number of metal plates B,
arranged parallel and placed in a tube, the metal plates being parallel to the
tube's axis. N, N, are iron rods passing through the plates; C is the heater
shewn detached in horizontal section in Figure 4.1 The air to be heated
circulates in the interior of the apparatus, and the products of combustion in
tubes, but a contrary arrangement could be employed.
In Sheet 3, Figure 1 is a diagram of the lines followed by the connections
for transmitting motion to the working beam of the generators.
Figure 2, Sheet 3, shows the arrangement of the driving connections; and
Figure 3 shows a furnace A. A, and the flucs. The products of combustion
which ought to be consumed as much as possible in the furnace (in which
therefore there is a large space left above the fire) are led into the heaters.
B, B, and through them round the lower half of the generators C. C, in the
direction of the arrows into the chimney; the furnace and flues are set in
brickwork D, D, D.
Figure 1, Sheet 4, shows a generator of a different construction. A, A,
generator; B, B. its tube; C, C, water casing for the upper half of the
generator; D, D, D, D, generator top, recessed to about one-half of the
depth of the generator, with a space of about th of an inch or less between its
sides and the generator. The piston is of the shape E, F, G, H. consisting
of a thin plate with a thin cylindrical part at top, which cut in its depth
opposite the generator tube, is there composed of wire cloth.
Figure 2. Sheet 4, represents another method of utilizing the generators for
producing motive power. A. complete generator, furnished with its refrige-
rator B, heater C, and regenerator D. When the air is heated in the
generator, it expands, and compresses and lifts the valve E, which admits it
into the high-pressure receiver F, but when the air is cold it contracts, loses
its pressure, and then the valve E closes, and the air from the low-pressure
receiver G lifts the valve H, and goes back into the generator, and this is
carried on alternately by the action of the pistons in the generators. To drive
the engine, the air is supplied from the high-pressure receiver to an ordinary
cylinder (being controlled by a slide valve), and on its leaving the cylinder it
passes through the outlet pipe into the low-pressure receiver. The engine
drives the generator pistons by any convenient means of transmitting motion,
and it also works an air pump, which puts the minimum pressure desired on
the generators. To start the engines, the air is compressed beforehand in
the pressure reservoir to obtain an initial pressure. The generators may be
heated externally, in which case they are to be protected by a casing of
refractory material or a cast-iron jacket; the hot part of the generator is thus

page_text: shown in Figures 7 and 8, Sheet 5. A. generator; B, jacket in the hot part;
D, Figure 8, Sheet 5, is an ash-pit under the regenerator, having a register
or two registers one over the other, with a space between them; it may bo
placed either in the generators, or at any part of the tube connecting the two
ends; E is the regenerator placed within a tube, whence it can be taken out
if it should get fouled, by undoing the joint and removing one of the sides F
of the tube. This regenerator is constructed of several pieces one above
another, with a small space between them. The top G of the tube may be
removed at one part to clean the refrigerator tubes H. To draw away the
gases from the furnace, each generator has a slide valve actuated by the
engine, each valve allowing the air of each generator to enter into a vessel, or
two or more vessels communicating with each other, whence it escapes into
the atmosphere by a slide valve; if the generators were in direct communi-
cation with the atmosphere they would lose all their pressure, but by first
communicating with one or more vessels, they only lose the quantity of air
which those vessels may contain.
Figure 9, Sheet 5, represents an air receiver A on the suction pipe B of a
pump; this is an advantageous arrangement.
New Heaters, Regenerators, and Refrigerators, subjected to the external Action
of Heat or Refrigeration.
The improved heater consists generally of a metal casing (of cast or
sheet iron, copper, &c.), having on its exterior metal plates, bars, pointed
knobs or projections, or a large number of metal tubes. These plates or
projections may be cast with or fixed on the casing. or merely placed
against it. The internal surface of the casing is also furnished with metal
plates, tubes, undulations, or projections. The heater may be constructed
with a set of tubes, within which are concentric tubes with a small intervening
space between the peripheries of the inner and outer tubes, thereby dividing
the air into slender currents, which are easily heated, and this is moreover an
essential condition in all the improved metal heaters as shewn by preceding
explanations. The internal plates may be heated by passing on the surface.
or in the interior of the casing or frame, heated mercury, which will rapidly
transmit its heat to the internal plates, projections, tubes, or undulations, and
for that purpose a metal tube may be cast in the thickness of the cylinder or
casing, for the mercury (heated in any convenient manner) to pass through.
Regenerator. The regenerator may, for example, be constructed of plates
of iron, plate iron, or copper, laid one above another in parallel planes, like the
pages of a book; the plates are usually only about 040 of an inch thick, but
heir thickness may vary, and they are separated by stays, so as to leave a

page_text: small intervening space between each, which may vary in extent, but is usually
from 040 to 078 of an inch, and they may be bolted or rivetted together.
The regenerator may be constructed with advantage in a number of divisions
or parts separated in the direction of its length, so as to prevent the heat from
passing through from one end to the other. The essential difference between
this new regenerator and those hitherto constructed is this, that the latter
have been always left to themselves, and simply undergo the action of the air
of the engine, whereas the regenerator constructed according to this Invention
is subjected in addition to a particular heating action, because the products of
combustion heat the tube or tubes containing the regenerator or regenerators.
The tube being heated the heat will be transmitted to the regenerator within
it by burying the ends of the plates, of which it consists, in the casting of the
tube to a depth of about a fifth of an inch; the plates may be connected to
the tube by packing between them and the tube, a conducting metallic mastic
penetrating between the plates to a depth regulated by stays which confine
the mastic.
Refrigerator. The refrigerator is arranged like. the heater or regenerator.
except that the metal plates, pointed knobs, tubes, undulations, or projections
on the exterior of the tube or tubes composing it, is bathed with cold water
supplied by a pump worked by the engine, and held within a stanch casing
surrounding the refrigerator, into any part of which the water is admitted, but
preferably at the end farthest from the regenerator, and escapes by the other
end. The heaters, regenerators, and refrigerators are preferably placed one
after the other, and connected by the flanges of the tubes containing them
firmly closed externally by bolting. The free end of the heater is connected
by flanges to the hot cylinder, and that of the refrigerator by flanges to the
cold cylinder. Fig. 12, Sheet 5, exemplifies arrangements of regenerator,
heater, or refrigerator thus constructed.
Stirling's engine.-The Inventor adopts, as does also Stirling, the method of
internal heating, but applies it by placing the hot side of each generator in
continuous communication with a furnace. Fig. 10, Sheet 5, shews this
arrangement. A, generator; B, generator piston, which takes up nearly half
the area; C, casing filled with cold water for the upper and cold portion of
the generator; D, furnace placed in continuous communication with the hot
side of the generator by a pipe furnished with a cock E. claim the
application to engines of Stirling's class of this furnace when in continuous
communication with the hot portion of the generator, or when in the generator
itself.
Steam engine.-Figure 11. Sheet 5. A. steam engine cylinder: B its

page_text: "
piston; C, slide valve; D', valve rod; E, regenerator placed in the pipes
leading from the distribution to the cylinder; F, small lift and force "con-
bustion pump
for forcing air into the furnaces D and E, which are each in
continuous communication with an end of the cylinder A; G, steam pipe for
conveying steam to the cylinder; in this arrangement steam passing from the
boiler to the cylinder A through the pipe G becomes superheated in the
cylinder itself by its admixture with the products of combustion proceeding
from D and E, and is subjected to an action of regeneration just as if it were
hot air; and I claim the application to steam engines of the furnace in con-
tinuous communication with the cylinder, and also of the regenerator, con-
stituting an improved superheated steam engine.
Engines driven by gas and superheated steam combined.-Instead of driving
engines by air or steam separately they may be constructed for being driven by
a combination of gas and steam; for this purpose the pressure reservoir of air
engines is placed in continuous communication with a steam engine, whereby
the engine may be worked by combined motive fluids. The cylinder is
constructed as described in respect of the steam engine cylinder, and in other
respects the engine is the same as the air engine, with this addition, viz., that
the pressure receiver communicates with a steam boiler. This application of
the continuous communication furnace to steam engines, and the placing the
pressure receiver of an air engine in communication with the steam boiler,
constitutes an improved engine, and I claim this combination. The working
cylinder is enlarged proportionately to the value of the steam admitted, which
depends on the power of the boiler, which may vary at pleasure.
Thus the continuous communication furnace may be applied to an Ericson
engine, to the generator cylinders of air engines of Stirling's class, to the hot
parts of cylinders of the Franchot or serial engine (machine seriaire); to steam
engines, and engines worked by gases and steam combined.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the combination of the improved engine worked by superheated gases
or air, herein-before described, having the "continuous communication furnace"
(or furnace in continuous communication with the cylinder), and the improved
regenerator and arrangements whereby it is worked, with the motive fluid
entering, on full, and expanding the whole stroke, and a reciprocal or
mutual compensation of the latent caloric of compression and expansion is
obtained.
Second, the application of divided metal or pieces of metal with separations

page_text: as a latent caloric compensator to all reservoirs of air engines, whatever their
construction in other respects.
Third, the application as herein-before described of the continuous com-
munication furnace to Ericson's engines, Stirling's engines, Franchot's or
serial (seriaires) engines, air engines of all descriptions, and engines worked
by gas and steam.
Fourth, the admission of steam into the pressure receiver of air engines for
causing air and steam to act concurrently on the piston, as herein-before
described.
Fifth, the various arrangements of engines herein-before described, ex-
emplifying the mode of carrying the Invention into effect, that is to say, each
engine in so far as regards the arrangement and combination of parts of which
the same consists.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME,
Patent Office, 84, Fleet Street,
London.
M. HENRY. (L.S.