A New or Improved Method of and Means for Generating or Producing Steam, and for Heating Water, Air, or other Liquids, Fluids, or Gases.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th May, 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of and Means for Generating or
Producing Steam, and for Heating Water, Air, or other
Liquids, Fluids, or Gases.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM SIDDLE of Chapel Hill, Huddersfield, Yorkshire,
Machine Maker, and ROBERT FIELD of Byram Arcade, Huddersfield aforesaid,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
new or improved method of and means for
This invention has reference to a
generating or producing steam for motive power purposes, and for heating water,
air, or other liquids, fluids or gases, the object of our improvements being to
generate steam or to heat liquid or fluid bodies without the aid of a furnace
or fire.
Our said invention consists in bringing into direct contact with the water or
body to be heated, the products of combustion resulting from an explosion or
successive explosions or firing of an explosive mixture or substance such as,
vaporised oil and air, or other suitable explosive liquid, or gas, and air; or
gunpowder, dynamite, oberite or like explosive substance.
This we accomplish by employing in conjunction or combination with the boiler
or vessel containing the water, or body to be heated, a suitable form of vaporiser
or closed chamber within which an explosive mixture or substance can be fired or
exploded.
The mixture of oil or gas and air is either drawn or forced into the vaporiser or
explosion chamber by pump or other suitable means and fired or exploded by an
ignition tube heated by a lamp or burner, or by electricity; the compression of the
mixture to the degree desired being obtained by the action of the pump or means
employed to draw or force the mixture into the chamber, or by an additional pump
or piston.
The vaporiser or explosion chamber communicates with the boiler through a
pipe or thoroughfare wherein is situated a nonreturn valve of any suitable
construction which is maintained normally against its seating by a strong spring.
After each explosion, the pressure of the products of combustion forces open the
nou-return valve, and the flame or incandescent gases or heated products therefore
enter the boiler at a very high temperature and coming into direct contact with the
water rapidly heats said water and generates steam.
Instead of the products of combustion from the explosion chamber being brought
into contact with a volume of water in the boiler or vessel employed, such heated
gases may enter the vessel or boiler conjointly with a stream, column or jet of water
so that the latter being in a divided state at the point of contact will more rapidly
absorb the heat.
The explosions may be regulated or controlled by suitable governing mechanism
adapted to temporarily shut off the supply of oil, gas or other explosive to the
vaporiser or chamber.
If water, liquids or fluids are to be heated for warming or other like purposes
for which a lower temperature is required, fewer explosions are given than when
generating steam.
By the method and means set forth the whole of the heat obtained by the firing

page_text: of an inexpensive explosive mixture is communicated at once to the water, which
absorbs it and is therefore rapidly raised to a high temperature and steam generated,
there being no loss from radiation and consequently no waste of fuel such as takes
place in furnaces or fires.
Doted this 13th day of Lul 1906
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents for the Applicants.
A New or Improved Method of and Means for Generating or
Producing Steam, and for Heating Water; Air, or other
Liquids, Fluids, or Gases.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM SIDDLE, of Chapel Hill, Huddersfield, Yorkshire,
Machine Maker, and ROBERT FIELD, of Byram Arcade, Huddersfield, aforesaid,
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:-
This invention has-, reference to a new or improved method of and means for
generating or producing steam for motive power purposes, and for heating water,
air, or other liquids, fluids, or gases, the object of our improvements being to
generate steam or to heat liquid or fluid bodies without the aid of a furnace, or fire,
or, burner.,
Our said, invention consists in bringing into direct contact with the water or body
to be heated, the products of combustion resulting from an explosion or successive
explosions, or firing in a chamber or confined area of an explosive mixture or
substance, such as, for instance,, vaporised oil, or other suitable explosive, and air,
or gas and air; or gunpowder dynamite,. oberite or like explosive substance which
may be found to answer.
This we accomplish by employing in conjunction or combination with the boiler
or vessel containing the water air or body to be heated, a suitable form of explosion
chamber within which an explosive mixture or substance can be fired or exploded.
The mixture of vaporised oil and air, or gas and air, is either drawn or forced into
the vaporiser or explosion chamber by pump or other suitable means, and is fired
or exploded. by an ignition tube heated by a lamp or burner, or by electricity, the
compression of the mixture to the degree desired being obtained by the action of
the pump, or means. employed.to draw or force the mixture into the chamber, or by
an additional pump or piston. The vaporiser or explosion chamber communicates
with the boiler through a pipe, or thoroughfare wherein is situated, if required, a
non-return valve or valves of any suitable construction which is or are maintained
normally against.the seating by a strong spring or springs apart from the resistance
which the internal pressure in the boiler or vessel exerts upon the valve or valves.
The force of each explosion expels the resulting products through or past, the valve
or valves into the water or steam space of the boiler which they enter at the highest
temperature and therefore rapidly heat the water or other body therein and generate
steam or raise the temperature to the point desired.
Instead of the products of combustion from an explosion chamber being brought
into contact with a volume of water. in the boiler. or vessel employed; such heated
gases may enter the vessel or boiler conjointly with, or at the point of entry of the
feed water, which can be delivered in a stream, column or jet, so that being in a
divided state when in contact with the heated gases it will thus more rapidly absorb
the heat.

page_text: The pressure of steam or other gas or vapour in the boiler. may, by acting upon
a loaded valve having connection with the gas or oil inlet valve, close or partially.
close said valve when the pressure attains the maximum fixed upon, and thus shut
off or control the supply of gas to the explosion chamber, until the pressure is again
reduced to or below the normal.
In order that our said invention may be fully understood reference is hereafter
had to the annexed drawings forming a part of this specification, in which :-
Fig. 1 is sectional elevation of a steam boiler or vessel and means for supplying
and firing charges of explosive mixture or substance into the boiler according to
our invention; and Fig. 2 is plan of same taken on line 1. 2.
Referring to the drawings, letter A represents a steam boiler or other liquid or
fluid heating vessel which is of any ordinary or suitable construction and can be
fitted with the usual appendages or accessories, such as water and steam pressure
gauges, safety valve and water inlet and steam outlet, these being left to individual
or special requirements and forming no part of our invention.
In the water space of the boiler, preferably near to the bottom thereof, is placed
an explosion chamber B having at its inner end a valve casing C in which is a
valve adapted to be held against its seating, to close the outlet end of the
chamber by a strong spring E confined between a collar on the valve spindle and a
washer or collar F on the end of a short spindle F' located in a barrel or casing F*
screwed into the valve casing C.
A short space intervenes between the spindle F1 and valve spindle which allows
the valve D to open to the extent required, this space being adjusted and the
tension of the spring varied by means of a setting up' strew G whose position,
after adjustment, is secured by a lock nut G¹.
The spring E is strong enough to keep the valve closed against the compression
of an explosive mixture in the chamber B, but will open to the force of explosion
of such mixture and allow of the products of combustion escaping through, said
valve to the boiler. The valve D being a non return valve, no steam, water, or
gases can pass from the boiler into the explosión chamber.
As an additional safeguard against the entrance of water or steam into the
explosion chamber, but also, 'more particularly, to slightly delay the expulsion of
the products of combustion into the boiler, so that the highest température is
attained at the instant they enter the water or steam space, we employ a second
valve H, working in a casing H' screwed directly into the valve casing C or to a
short chamber or pipe H2 coupled to said casing C as shewn, the outlet orifice from
said valve being in the water space, or, it may be in the steam space, of the boiler.
A small spring normally holds the valve H to its seating
The said valve may be an equilibrium valve so that the internal pressure of the
boiler will press with equal force against two opposing faces and enable the valve
to open easily to the pressure of the exploded inixture, no matter what pressure
there may be in the boiler.
The explosion chamber B is bolted to or formed integral with a valve box I on
the outside of and bolted to the shell of the boiler A, said valve box, having cast
on or secured to its outer side a cylinder J, wherein works a piston or plunger K,
coupled by connecting rod L to a crank shaft (not shewn) which is driven from
any suitable or convenient source of motion. The said piston or plunger acts as a
pump, and at every outward stroke draws a charge of gas and air into the
chamber M in the valve box, which is open to the cylinder, the gas, supplied
through pipe N, being drawn past the inlet valve O by the vacuum created in the
cylinder, which likewise draws a proportionate supply of air through fine holes or
perforations P, in the cap or nut P', the mixture of gas and air also being drawn
past a second valve Q, intermediate of the inlet valve O and chamber, M which
closes immediately the piston arrives at the end of its outward stroke, and confines
the mixture in the chamber M and cylinder. On the return or inward stroke of
the piston, the mixture of gas and air is forced out of the cylinder and chamber M,
past the valve R into the explosion chamber B, and compressed, the spindle of said

page_text: valve being three sided, or having flats thereon to allow the mixture to pass up
between the sides of same and the surrounding wall. While charging the explosion
chamber, the upper end of the spindle of valve R, which forms a second valve R¹
is held against a seating S and prevents communication with an ignition tube T
screwed into the upper end of the valve box.
Immediately the piston reaches the end of its inward stroke the pressure of the
explosive mixture forces down and closes valve R thereby simultaneously opening
valve R¹ whereupon the mixture enters the ignition tube T and is fired, the force
of the explosion, or pressure generated thereby, forcing the products of combustion
past the valve D and then past the second valve H into the water space of the
boiler the water wherein is rapidly heated and steam generated. It may be
desirable or preferable to have the outlet for the products of combustion in the
steam space of the boiler where the elasticity of the gases or steam will more
readily admit of the compression which the rapid successive addition of other gases
requires.
The ignition tube T is surrounded by an asbestos lined chimney T¹ and is heated
by a gas jet in the same way as in gas engines, the gas being supplied through
pipe T. At each explosion a small quantity of the products of combustion
remains in the ignition tube which, if no provision is made to allow of escape, will
interfere with the efficient action of the engine or machine. To ensure the escape
of any such gases left in this ignition tube, we bend the upper end of the tube over
the top of the chimney, as shewn, and make an opening therein which is normally
closed by a flat spring U, or an equivalent valve, adapted to be forced away from
its seating at every explosion and admit of the expulsion of all gases from the
tube.
The valve box I is water jacketed to keep it cool and the water circulated
therethrough may be that for feeding the boiler.
If vaporised oil and air be used as the explosive mixture, a vaporiser heated by
lamp would be added to the box, the admission or inlet valve or valves being
altered to suit the changed conditions and the ignition tube inserted in said
vaporiser somewhat ou the same lines as in oil engines.
Although not, perhaps, so well adapted for the purposes of our invention as oil
or gas, and air, an explosive substance or compound could be used and charged
into an explosion chamber and fired or exploded.
In order to shut off or reduce the supply of gas or oil when the maximum pressure
is attained in the boiler, a loaded or safety valve may be coupled by suitable
connections to the inlet valve so that at a certain pressure or pressures, the
movement of the loaded valve outward or upward will control the opening of
the valve and thus reduce or shut off completely the supply of gas or oil to the
chamber.
If water or other liquids or fluids are to be heated for warming or like purposes
only, for which a lower temperature is required, fewer explosions are given than
when generating steam.
It will be obvious that the details of construction and the arrangement of the
means for supplying, compressing or otherwise, and firing charges of explosive
mixtures in rapid succession direct into the boiler or vessel as herein before set
forth can be modified and altered in many ways without departing from the principal
feature of our invention and without affecting the results obtained otherwise than
by the improvement of such results in efficiency and suitability for particular
purposes. It will also be understood that two or any other number of explosion
chambers with their means for charging same with explosive mixtures may be
applied to one boiler or vessel. In making a boiler specially adapted for the
application thereto of an explosion chamber or chambers on the lines of our
invention we should prefer to construct it to hold a minimum volume of water with
a large steam space such as would, for instance, be given by a pear or balloon
shaped boiler.
By the method and means set forth the whole of the heat obtained by the firing

page_text: of an inexpensive explosive mixture is communicated or driven at once to the water
or other liquid or fluid which absorbs it and is therefore rapidly raised to a high.
temperature and steam generated, there being no loss from radiation and not the
least waste of fuel or loss of heat such as takes place in furnaces or fires.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
Firstly. The generation of steam or the heating of liquids by allowing the
products of combustion resulting from the explosion of explosive charges to pass.
from an explosion chamber direct into the boiler or vessel substantially as herein
set forth.
Secondly. In an apparatus for generating steam or heating liquids by allowing.
the products of combustion resulting from the explosion of explosion charges to
pass direct into the vessel or boiler containing the same, the employment in.
combination with said steam boiler or vessel of an explosion chamber situated in
the water space and having a non return valve or valves at the outlet end such.
explosion chamber being duly supplied with explosive charges which are fired
therein substantially as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. The general arrangement construction and operation of parts comprising:
our improvements substantially as herein shewn and described.
Dated this 11th day of May 1897
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Patent Agents..