IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1882

page_text: «
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Wilson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th April 1882.
ALFRED WILSON, of Handsworth in the County of Stafford, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER."
Heretofore when motive power has been generated by the explosion or com-
bustion of combustible gas or vapours, it has been usual to allow the products of
combustion together with any gases with which they might be diluted to escape
in a highly heated condition so that only a small proportion of the work that they
would be theoretically capable of producing has been utilised:
Now, in order to utilise a large proportion of the heat of the discharged gases
and to render it available in the production of gas to be exploded or burnt in the
motor engine, according to my invention there is combined with a gas producer
and a gas motor engine a regenerator of any suitable construction, through which
the heated gases from the engine are caused to pass and to transmit their heat to
air, or steam, or both, drawn or forced through the gas producer and converted
into, or mixed, or impregnated with the combustible material.
The amount of water or steam mixed with air and passed into the gas producer
can be varied to enable the latter to be kept at a convenient temperature for
working in view of the fact that the air and steam will be passed into it in a
heated state due to the regeneration.
To prevent the temperature in the motor engine rising too high and to economise
the heat that would be lost by radiation I surround the cylinder with a water
jacket and I employ the steam generated therein to suck or impel the current of
air or air and steam through the regenerator and the gas producer, or either
of them.
In one arrangement or combination of apparatus according to my invention I
provide a steam boiler for the production of steam to draw or force the air, or air

page_text: and steam through the gas producer in the first instance to start the engine, and
also to supply additional steam, if such be needed, to that produced in the water
jacket of the cylinder. After the gas is generated it is caused to pass through a
purifier or tar collector before being admitted to the notor and after combustion
or explosion of the charge the leated gases are passed through a regenerator either
on the continuous conduction or reversing surface system before they are drawn
into the chimney.
In addition to the purifier I sometimes employ a gns holder, a regulator and an
accumulator between the producer and the engine. In all cases the apparatus is
to be provided with the necessary valves for the control and direction of the air,
ateam and gas, and for varying the proportions of the water or steam and air
delivered to the gas producer.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th October.
1882.
ALFRED WILSON of Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER."
Heretofore when motive power has been generated by the explosion or com-
bustion of combustible gas or vapours, it has been usual to allow the products of
combustion together with any gases with which they might be diluted to escape
in a highly heated condition so that only a small proportion of the work that they
would be theoretically capable of producing has been utilised.
Now, in order to utilise a large proportion of the heat of the discharged gases
and to render it available in the production of gas to be exploded or burat in the
motor engine, according to my invention there is combined with a gas producer
and a gas motor engine a regenerator of any suitable construction, through which
the heated gases from the engine are caused to pass and to transmit their heat to
air or steam or both, drawn or forced through the gas producer and converted into,
or mixed, or impregnated with the combustible material.
The amount of water or steam mixed with air and passed into the gas producer
can be varied to enable the latter to be kept at a convenient temperature for
working in view of the fact that the air and steam will be passed into it in a heated
state due to the regeneration.
To prevent the temperature in the motor engine rising too high and to economise
the heat that would be lost by radiation I surround the cylinder with a water
jacket and I employ the steam generated therein to suck or impel the current of
air or air and steam through the regenerator and the gas producer or either of
them.
Referring to the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation (partly in section)
of apparatus for producing motive power according to my 'invention. Fig. 2 is a
plan (partly in section) of the same. A is a steam boiler for the production of
steam to draw or force the air or air and steam through the gas producer B in the
first instance to start the engine, and also to supply additional steam, if such be
needed to that produced in the water jacket of the cylinder C of the gas motor
engine D. After the gas is generated it is caused to pass through a puritier or tar
collector E before being admitted to the motor cylinder C, and after combustion
or explosion of the charge the heated gases are passed through the regenerator F
either on the continuous conductor or reversing surface system, before they aro
drawn into the chimney G. The air that is supplied to the producer B is first
drawn through the regenerator F where it absorbs heat from the escaping gases
and thus enters the producer at an elevated temperature, which can be controlled
by adding cool air or steam to it. The steam generated in the jacket of the engine
cylinder C and collecting in the dome H may be superheated by being passed
through the regenerator F as indicated in the drawings and be used in the pro-
duction of gas, or it may be used to cause a current through the producer only.
It is obvious that a valve for regulating the supply of steam to force the air for
the supply of the gas producer must be provided in the steam pipe from the dome
on the cylinder, as also from the small auxiliary boiler.
In addition to the purifier I sometimes employ a gas holder, a regulator, and an
accumulator between the producer and the engine.
Having described the nature of my said invention and the manner of carrying
it into practical effect I would have it understood that what I claim is-
1. In an apparatus for producing motive power by combustion of gas causing

page_text: heat generated in the working cylinder by explosion or combustion and not con-
verted into power by expansion of gases in such cylinder to be recovered and
utilized in producing combustible gas for subsequent use in, the said cylinder
substantially as described.
2. The combined apparatus for producing motive power constructed, arranged,
and operating substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whoreof I the said Alfred Wilson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this third day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
ALFRED WILSON. (L.S.)
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