IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard George at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th November
1866.
I, RICHARD GEORGE, of High Street, Watford, in the County of Hertford,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of engines in
which motive power is obtained by the force of steam, or by the rarefaction
and expansion of air caused by the combustion of inflammable gases or vapours,
acting upon a piston traversing to and fro within an oscillating or vibrating
cylinder. The cylinder may either oscillate upon a hollow cylindrical tube or
pipe, or the hollow cylindrical tube or pipe may be fixed to and oscillate with
the cylinder. The hollow cylindrical tube or pipe is supported by hollow.
stands or brackets into which the steam or air and inflammable gas or vapour.
is or are admitted. If the engine is so formed that the cylinder shall oscillate
upon the hollow cylindrical tube or pipe the latter is so constructed as to have
on its surface nearest the cylinder, or arranged in any other suitable and
convenient manner, longitudinal ports or passages, the same being so placed

page_text: that by reason of the distance traversed by the cylinder on the hollow cylin-
drical tube or pipe the ports or passages leading to the upper and lower sides
for the admission of steam or inflammable gas or vapour and the ports or
passages for the exit or exhausting thereof are alternately opened and closed.
In the interior of the hollow cylindrical tube or pipe, and at each end of the
ports or passages and running parallel therewith, are placed partitions or
diaphragms of metal to prevent the mixing of the steam or air and inflam-
mable gas or vapour which is admitted into the cylinder with that which has
already done its duty. The exhausted steam or air and inflammable gas or
vapour may be passed through the hollow stand or bracket opposite that by
which it entered into the atmosphere, or be otherwise disposed of, as may be
considered desirable. The partition or diaphragm which is in contact with the
inlet ports or passages of the steam or inflammable gas or vapour is provided
with orifices or openings therein in connection with the longitudinal inlet ports
or passages, the partition or diaphragm which is in contact with the outlet
ports or passages being also provided with similar orifices or openings in.
connection therewith. For the purpose of cutting off the steam at any given
part of the stroke of the piston, so as to use the steam "expansively" (as well
understood), or in order to close all communication with the inlet of the air
and inflammable gas or vapour at the time of explosion (as herein-after men-
tioned) an auxiliary valve is employed: The latter consists of a plate of metal
attached to a spindle or rod which is placed and works in the centre of the
hollow cylindrical tube or pipe, such valve working upon the face of the
partition or diaphragm placed across the hollow cylindrical tube or pipe at
the inlet side, and receiving its motion by means of levers connected with the
oscillating cylinder, or by any equivalent or analogous mechanical arrange-
ment, the result of such motion being that the orifices or openings in the
partition or diaphragm are alternately opened and closed. For the purpose
of reversing the motion of 'the engine a lever is attached to the outside of the
cylindrical tube or pipe by means of which the same is turned round, longi-
tudinal ports or passages being provided for the inlet and outlet of the steam
or áir and inflammable gas or vapour in reverse directions. If the cylinder
and the cylindrical 'tube or pipe oscillate together the cylindrical tube or pipe
will oscillate in the hollow stands or brackets, orifices or openings being pro-
vided at the end of the cylindrical tube or pipe at the inlet side, the same
working against ports or passages placed in the hollow stands or brackets,
and similar arrangements being used for cutting off the steam so as to use it
expansively," at
and for closing all communication with the inlet side at the
time of the explosion of the inflammable gas or vapour. When the engine is

page_text: gas or
to be driven by the force obtained by the rarefaction or expansion of the air
in the cylinder produced by the explosion of an inflammable gas or vapour an
aperture is made in the hollow stand or bracket at the inlet side, and which
aperture opens to the atmosphere for the purpose of admitting air with the
inflammable gas or vapour into the cylinder. Before the inflammable
vapour and atmospheric air enter the cylinder they are mixed by being caused
to pass through one or more perforated plates, the same being placed either
in the hollow stand or bracket or in the cylindrical tube or pipe. The supply
of atmospheric air and inflammable gas or vapour. may be regulated by means
of suitable valves or stop-cocks, as well known and understood, and the gas or
vapour may pass through a small receiver or bag before being used, so as to
keep up a regular supply. For the explosion of the mixture of atmospheric
air and gas or vapour electricity obtained from any suitable and convenient
apparatus or source is employed. One or more electric "igniters" is or are
placed at each end of the cylinder, and are brought into contact with the
mixture of atmospheric air and inflammable gas or vapour within the same.
The electric "igniter" consists of a hollow metal plug into the hollow portion
of which is fixed a piece of porcelain or other non-conducting substance;
within the porcelain or other non-conductor are placed two wires, which-wires
enter the cylinder, the ends thereof acting as the poles of the battery, one
wire being in connection with the positive pole, and the other communicating
with the hollow metal plug. The electric current is transmitted to the
"igniters" in the following manner:-Upon the crank shaft of the engine is
piece of metal which may be called a "pointer," the same being placed at
right angles with the crank shaft and revolving therewith; the said piece of
metal is properly insulated with vulcanite or other non-conducting substance.
The "pointer" revolves against a circular piece of metal charged with electricity
from the positive pole of the battery, and the "pointer" gives off the elec-
tricity thus obtained to other parts of circular metallic plates with which it
coines in contact during its revolution, and which parts of the circular plates
are in communication with the "igniters" placed in tlie respective ends of the
cylinder, one part thereof being in connection with one end of the cylinder,
and the other part being in connection with the opposite end of the cylinder ;
or the charge of electricity may be transmitted as follows:-A piece of metal
properly insulated, as before described, and which may be called a "pointer,"
is fixed to the cylinder of the engine and oscillates therewith. The " 'pointer "
is made to come in contact with a piece of metal which is charged with elec-
tricity from the positive pole of the battery. During the oscillation of the
"pointer" it gives off its electricity to two shorter pieces of metal, and which
a

page_text: last-mentioned pieces of metal communicate respectively with the "igniters"
at each end of the cylinder, thus emitting a spark inside each end of the latter
alternately, and when required. The cylinder may, if desired, be sur-
rounded with a steam or cold-water jacket or envelope, as well known and
understood.