Improvements in Gas and other Engines Operated by Explosive Mixtures.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 30th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas and other Engines Operated by Explosive
Mixtures.
I EDWARD CASPER, of No. 21, Colville Terrace, Bayswater, in the county of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communica-
tion from abroad by A. Edward Tavernier of 17 Rue du Maine, Asnière, Seine, in the
republic of France, Engineer) to be as follows:-
This invention consists in injecting water or other suitable liquid into the cylinders
of engines operated by explosive mixtures the said water being preferably in the form
of spray, the object being firstly to cool the cylinder and secondly to utilize the heat
produced for converting a liquid into useful steam; the invention is applicable to all
engines operated by explosive mixtures whether such mixture consist of lighting gas
and air, or of a suitable carburet or hydrocarburet of hydrogen and air or oxygen or of
any mixture which can be exploded by suitable means.
An explosive mixture in exploding produces about 2000 calories; it is therefore a
source of a considerable amount of heat. In all motors operated by explosive mixtures
this high temperature has been a great objection and efforts have been made to over-
come this objection by surrounding the cylinder with a double jacket in which water
was caused to circulate. The said water absorbed a certain number of calories and
thereby kept the cylinder at a normal temperature, but it is to be observed that by the
removal of all these calories by means of the said circulation of water the usefulness of
the power produced by the explosive mixture was proportionately decreased.
My invention consists in a new method of cooling the cylinders of this class of
engines.
the
After several explosions have taken place in a cylinder it becomes heated to a certain
temperature and I then inject into its interior, water in a fine state of division ;
said water has therefore a large superficial area and being brought into contact with
the heated walls of the cylinder is instantaneously converted into steam which then
acts on the piston in the cylinder and serve to drive the engine. In this new engine
therefore each cylinder receives an explosive mixture and an injection of water as
hereinafter described and it is consequently sometimes an explosive-gas engine and

page_text: sometimes a steam engine. The production of steam in the cylinder lowers the tem-
perature of the latter and a uniform temperature is obtained in the cylinder by
regulating the proportion of the water-strokes and the proportion of the explosive-
mixture-strokes; further the result can be modified by the proportionate weights
employed of the water and the explosive mixture. The water in being converted from
a state of fine division to that of steam absorbs 600 calories. The explosive mixture
in exploding produces 2000 calories. Several strokes effected by means of water are
therefore employed for each stroke produced by an explosive mixture.
As will be seen all the heat produced is utilized for creating power whereby a great
economy is effected in working the motor.
I wish it to be clearly understood that this invention consists in cooling a cylinder
serving to receive explosive mixtures by means of an injection into the cylinder of
water in the form of spray or not. The object is firstly to cool the cylinder by the
absorption of the 600 calories in converting the water into steam and then to create
useful power with the said steam thus produced. The whole utilization of the calories
produced is thus obtained.
Dated the 20th 1
. 1007
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas and other Engines Operated by Explosive
Mixtures.
I, EDWARD CASPER, of No. 21, Colville Terrace Bayswater, in the county of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communica-
tion from abroad by Alphonse Edouard Tavernier of 17 Rue du Maine Asnière, Seine,
in the republic of France, Engineer) and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to engines in which the explosion of an inflammable mixture
is utilized for imparting motion to the piston (hereinafter referred to generally as
gas-engines").
**
In engines of this class as hitherto constructed the heat generated by the explosion
is partly discharged from the cylinder through the exhaust and partly absorbed by
and conducted through the walls of the cylinder and thus wasted.
The object of this invention is to utilize a large proportion of the heat thus wasted
for driving the engine and to this end it consists essentially in injecting into the
cylinder at certain times in the intervals between the explosions, water in the form of
spray, which water (owing to the heat of the cylinder walls and piston, and to that of
any of the products of combustion which may be present in the cylinder) is converted
into steam for assisting to operate the engine.
This invention has the advantage that it not only enables a considerable saving in
gas owing to the fact that heat which would otherwise be lost is utilized in operating
the engine partly by steam, but that it also permits the water jacket, which is usually
employed around the cylinder for cooling the same, to be dispensed with, the water
spray itself absorbing sufficient heat to maintain the cylinder at a sufficiently low
temperature, which heat is thus utilized.
To enable my invention to be understood I will describe how it may be carried into
practice.
In connection with the cylinder employ suitable valves and apparatus for admitting
air and gas to the cylinder and igniting the combustible mixture and for permitting
the escape of the products of combustion as heretofore I also arrange a valve for
admitting water under pressure or a pump for injecting water into the cylinder the
said valves or valves and pump being operated at suitable intervals from the crank
shaft of the engine in the usual manner.
The operation of my engine is as follows: Suppose the cylinder to have been
previously heated by one or two explosions of gas to a sufficient extent to cause the
vaporization of water introduced into the cylinder, and also suppose the piston to be
at its innermost position and ready to draw gas and air at its next outstroke.
If now
the piston is moved outwardly the cylinder is charged with the explosive mixture. If
the mixture is ignited during a portion of the same stroke as that in which the
inspiration takes place the return stroke of the piston causes the ejection of the

page_text: products, but if this is not the case the return stroke causes the compression of
the mixture which is fired to cause the next outstroke.
The products of combustion having been expelled after either one or two complete
strokes of the engine and the piston being in its inward position, water in the form of
fine spray is admitted which, when it comes into contact with the cylinder and piston,
is vaporized and causes the next outstroke, the steam being ejected through the
exhaust on the next instroke. An explosive mixture is drawn into the cylinder at the
next outstroke, the cycle of operations being then repeated.
It will thus be understood that, taking any ordinary gas engine cycle, which admits
of such an addition, I modify the cycle by the introduction of an additional stroke or
strokes after the explosive stroke which additional stroke or strokes take place solely
under the influence of the expansive force of steam formed from the contact of the
water spray with the heated walls of the cylinder and piston and the residue of the
heated products of combustion.
As hereinbefore described my improvements are applied to a single acting engine,
that is to say, to one the cylinder of which is closed at one end only but it is to be
understood that they may be applied to a double acting engine in which the impulses
take place at both ends of the cylinder.
Instead of driving the engine by the explosion of an inflammable mixture and steam
alternately it is to be understood that two or more jets of water may be introduced to
one charge of explosive mixture or vice-versa so that two impulses from steam may be
obtained to one from gas or vice-versa.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1. A gas engine in which the waste heat is utilized by the vaporization of water
spray introduced into the cylinder, substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described.
2. A gas engine in which after the ejection of the whole or nearly the whole of
the products of combustion of an explosion, water is introduced and converted into
steam for driving the piston through the succeeding stroke, substantially as herein-
before described.
3. An improved gas engine in which the cycle of operations hereinbefore described
takes place including over and beyond the strokes in ordinary gas engine cycles an
additional stroke or strokes in which steam generated as hereinbefore described is
used, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 30th day of Tanna 1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.