IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Settle Barff, of Kilburn, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Professor of Chemistry, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER."
Sealed the 20th October 1877, and dated the 30th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Settle Barff at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April 1877.
FREDERICK SETTLE BARFF, of Kilburn, in the County of Middlesex, Professor of
Chemistry. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER."
This Invention relates to the more economical obtainment of motive power by
the employment of carbonic oxide and hydrogen as substitutes for steam, and it
consiste,
Istly. In converting carbonic acid into carbonic oxide by passing the same
through or over heated charcoal, carbon, or other similar decomposing agents, the
same being contained and the decomposition effected in suitably arranged apparatus,
or in such an apparatus as is capable of supporting the desired heat and pressures,
and in employing as a motive power the carbonic oxide gas thus obtained, which
will be found to have an increased volume to the carbonic acid gas originally
employed.
2ndly. In passing steam at a pressure of about 400 lbs. to the square inch through
or over heated charcoal, carbon, or other similar decomposing agents, so as to effect
its decomposition into carbonic oxide and hydrogen, and in the employment of the
resulting carbonic oxide and hydrogen for the purposes of motive power.
The carbonic oxide or the carbonic oxide and hydrogen, after having been
employed for the before-mentioned purposes, may then be made to undergo com-
bustion, and the heat generated may be applied either for maintaining the temperature
of the decomposing apparatus, or for other heating purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Settle Barff in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
October 1877.
FREDERICK SETTLE BARFF, of Kilburn, in the County of Middlesex, Professor of
Chemistry. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER."
My said Invention relates to the more economical obtainment of motive power
by the employment of carbonic oxide and hydrogen, or carbonic oxide alone, as a
substitute for steam, and it consists,―
First. In passing steam at a pressure of, say, about 400 lbs. per square inch,
through or over heated charcoal, carbon, or other similar decomposing agents, so as
to effect its decomposition into carbonic oxide and hydrogen, and in the employ-
ment of the resulting carbonic oxide and hydrogen for the purposes of motive
power.
Secondly. In converting carbonic acid into carbonic oxide by passing the same
through or over heated charcoal, carbon, or other similar decomposing agents, and
in employing as a motive power the carbonic oxide gas thus obtained, which will
be found to have an increased volume to the carbonic acid gas originally employed.
The carbonic oxide and hydrogen or the carbonic oxide, after having been
employed for the before-mentioned purposes, may then be made to undergo com-
bustion, and the heat generated may be applied either for maintaining the
temperature of the decomposing apparatus, or for other heating purposes.
And in order that my said Invention may be perfectly understood I shall now
proceed particularly to describe the best modes with which I am acquainted of
carrying the same into effect, and for that purpose shall refer to the accompanying
Drawing, which represents by way of example an apparatus for obtaining the gases
and applying them to the purposes of motive power.
A is a close cylinder or receptacle containing charcoal, carbon, or other similar
decomposing agents, which may be supplied thereto through a suitable door a; this
cylinder or receptacle, which is supported in a suitable furnace B of brickwork or
masonry, is heated in the first instance by a fire at C, the products of combustion
from which traverse an annular flue or chamber D on their way to the outlet from
the furnace at b. Above the furnace is mounted a horizontal multitubular steam
boiler E, through the tubes c of which the products of combustion escaping at 5 are
conducted, so as to heat the water contained in the boiler E, and effect the genera-
tion of steam before they pass off by the chimney d, a pipe e fitted with a valve or
cock f being provided for conducting the steam generated into the decomposing
cylinder or receptacle A.
F represents an engine cylinder with a gas inlet g and an exhaust pipe h, the
former for conducting the motive gas from the decomposing cylinder or receptacle A
to distributing valves of any ordinary or suitable arrangement, but not shewn in
my Drawing, so as to cause it to be introduced at opposite sides of the piston alter-
nately, and the exhaust pipe h, which is carried downwards into the fire-chamber C,
for conducting the waste gases to be utilized in maintaining the heat of the decom-
posing cylinder or receptacle A, as herein-after explained.
When it is required to start the apparatus a fire is lighted at C, and the decomposing
cylinder or receptacle A is heated to a red heat, and steam is raised in the boiler E
up to a pressure of, say, about 400 lbs. per square inch, after which the fire at C may
be withdrawn or lowered. The valve or cock fin the pipe e is then opened, and
steam is caused to pass from the boiler into the cylinder or receptacle A, where, by
permeating through the charcoal, carbon, or other decomposing agents contained
therein, such steam is decomposed into carbonic oxide and hydrogen. On opening
now a valve or cock g', with which the pipe g is provided, the carbonic oxide and
hydrogen will pass into the engine cylinder F, and operate the piston therein, the
waste gases being conducted by the exhaust pipe h into the fire-chamber C, where
they are mixed with atmospheric air (admitted through the fire-door i or the door k

page_text: of the ash-pit l, or otherwise) in order to effect their combustion, the heat thus
generated being employed in maintaining the temperature of the decomposing
cylinder or receptacle A and of the boiler E.
It is obvious that the valve g¹ may consist of a throttle valve, the degree of
opening of which is regulated by the action of a governor, and that any suitable
accessories used in steam engines may be employed in engines actuated by the
carbonic oxide and hydrogen.
When it is desired to use carbonic oxide alone, according to the second part of
my said Invention, the apparatus may be constructed in a similar manner, the
steam boiler E being however dispensed with; a chimney fitted at 6 and a pipe e¹
(indicated by dotted lines) added, such pipe leading from a vessel or receptacle
containing liquified carbonic acid, but not shewn in my Drawings.
The decomposing cylinder or receptacle A having been heated in the manner
herein-before explained, carbonic acid is allowed to pass thereinto, and to permeate
through the heated charcoal, carbon, or other decomposing agents which it contains.
The carbonic acid is thereby converted into carbonic oxide, the volume and conse-
quently the pressure of which is considerably greater than that of the carbonic acid
originally employed The carbonic oxide is then supplied to the engine cylinder,
and the exhaust or waste gas (carbonic oxide) subsequently conducted into the
furnace to be further utilized in maintaining the temperature of the decomposing
cylinder or receptacle A in the manner herein-before described with reference to the
application of carbonic oxide and hydrogen.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and some modes of carrying the same into effect, I would observe in conclusion
that I do not confine myself to the arrangement of apparatus herein-before described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, as the same is merely given as a
type or example of apparatus, which may be modified in various ways, according to
the purpose to which the motive power is to be applied, and the exigencies of space,
locality, and other circumstances; for example, various arrangements of furnaces
and boilers and modes of heating may be adopted; rotary or any other suitable
description of engines may be employed, and the various parts may be arranged or
located relatively to each other as may be found most convenient, but what I consider
to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
-
First. The employment in obtaining motive power of carbonic oxide and hydrogen
resulting from the decomposition of steam, substantially as herein-before described.
Secondly. The employinent in obtaining motive power of carbonic oxide produced
by passing carbonic acid through or over heated charcoal, carbon, or other similar
decomposing agents, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Settle Barff, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of October, "One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
HOND
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