IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Newton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th May
1868.
I, EDWARD NEWTON, of the Mount, Sheffield, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER," to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the means and
apparatus for obtaining motive power, and for applying the same to
various useful purposes as a substitute for steam and other motive-
power engines.
I propose to use nitro-glycerine or other similar composition of nitric
acid, sulphuric acid, and glycerine oil as an agent whereby power may
be generated, and to apply such composition to an apparatus of the

page_text: following construction in the manner described, whereby the power
generated may be applied to various useful purposes.
The apparatus consists of a strong cylinder, the ends of which are
to be fitted with solid cylindrical blocks of cast steel or other durable
metal calculated to withstand sudden and powerful pressure. The upper
block is to be pierced throughout with two parallel vertical holes or
passages, through which the double rods of à piston are made to re-
ciprocate. In the centre of cach block a small recess or cup is formed,
the dimensions of which may vary according to the power required,
and into these cups a quantity of nitro-glycerine is conveyed and secured
therein by caps or covers controlled by springs or other equivalent
means. The surfaces of the piston are each provided with a projection
or striker, which coming alternately in contact with the cups and covers
will cause the nitro-glycerine to explode by percussion, and thereby
generate pressure by expansion, forcing the piston to the opposite ond
of the cylinder and repeating the process. The cylinder may be per-
forated or open in order to permit of the escape of vapour when in
. excess, so as to relieve the cylinder from undue pressure. Gutta percha
or india-rubber or other yielding material may be applied to the surfaces
of the piston or blocks for the purpose of preventing the effects of
concussion, which might otherwise be injurious to the blocks and piston,
or the blocks may be provided with springs between the cover of the
cylinder and their inner surfaces, so as to permit of their yielding to the
blow of the piston, and also to the expansion of the exploded nitro-
glycerine. The nitro-glycerine may be supplied to the cups or recesses
by means of tubes and safety taps or valves capable of supplying a
regulated quantity at each stroke of the piston, and separating such
quantity from the main supply. An intermittent or tappet motion
might be most suitable to such an arrangement of supply, and such
tappet (assuming that an excentric motion should not be used) could
be obtained direct from the driving shaft, which would be actuated by
a crank motion from the piston rod. Two cylinders and piston rods
could also be arranged on the principle of the marine engine, the
principle of the Invention being the same. Other equivalent apparatus
may of course be adopted for the application of the power to be
generated, but the one described is most suitable for the development
of the power by which motion is to be derived and applied to engines
for various useful purposes.

page_text: The Invention is equally applicable to horizontal engines as to vertical
engines. In order to keep the cylinder cool I propose to encase it
with an outer cylinder, through which a constant flow of cold water
is to be passed.