A New or Improved Explosion Engine.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Explosion Engine.
I, ABRAHAM WILHELM SCHWARZ of 62 Zschochersche Strasse Plagwitz near
Leipzig in the Kingdom of Saxony, and the German Empire, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to a new or improved explosion engine actuated by the
explosion of chloride of nitrogen. In this engine the chlorine and the source of
nitrogen are brought together only at the moment of explosion thus averting the
great danger of premature explosion by the slightest concussion which has hitherto
attended the use of chloride of nitrogen.
The accompanying drawings, reference to which is hereinafter made, illustrate
an engine or engines constructed in duplicate according to this invention and
adapted to be driven by the explosion of chloride of nitrogen.
Figure 1 represents a plan of the engines the cylinders being shewn in horizontal
section.
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation.
Figure 3 illustrates in end elevation an air vessel a cylinder and gas holders.
Figures 4 to 7. are representations of details of the parts employed in the
construction of the engines.
As illustrated by the drawings the cylinders in shape resembles a mortar or
cannon this form being almost a necessity on account of the severity of the
explosions in the explosion chambers a to which the two gases are led. The gases
preferred are chlorine and ammonia. These gases are contained within the
separate gas holders be and pass through the pipes d and the valves e into the
openings and thus into the explosion chambers a. The interior of the cylinders
are preferably lined with phosphor bronze to withstand any acid action of the
exploded gases.
The valves e regulate the gas supply to the cylinders the regulating apparatus
being fully shewn in detail in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7. To the square ends g of the
plugs of the valves e are fixed arms or levers the outer ends of which are
connected to the bell crank levers k through the rods or links i. The bell crank
levers are pivoted at 7 and their other arms are connected to valve rods or adjusting
rods n.
These rods are slotted at their ends for the reception of the pius n which
project from the bell crank levers. Each of the rods m passes through slides o and
reaches as far as the crank shaft each rod being furnished with a fixed collar or
ring z and an encircling spring y the action of the springs being to keep the valves
in the closed positions. The ends of the rods are hooked as at p and are engaged
by projections from the discs q secured to the crank shaft C. Two arrangements
of the cylinder connecting rods rare illustrated in the drawings, those at A being
connected to a single crank pin while those at B are connected to a crank supported
by bearings at both sides. The connecting rods are connected directly to the
pistons without the intervention of piston rods.
Each cylinder is provided with an exhaust t which communicates through the
pipes with the air chamber c and allows the escape of the exploded mixture
from the cylinder after the stroke of the piston. The air vessel is connected with
an exhausting fan or ventilator t.
To ensure the dissipation of the heat set up in the cylinders by the explosion of
the gases each cylinder is surrounded by a water jacket E though this water

page_text: jacket is.only shewn in Figure 4. The internal cooling of the cylinders is provided
for by the action of the fan or ventilator r.
The flywheel is fixed on the shaft C in any usual manner and the power may
be conveyed by any suitable means.
Pressure gauges or indicators H are fixed upon each of the gas holders bc to
indicate either the quantity or the pressure of the gases contained, the chlorine
being contained in one and the source of nitrogen in the other. Branches R are
provided upon the gas holders through which the gases are introduced.
The operation of the engine is as follows:-Referring only to one pair of
opposing cylinders, the piston of the cylinder I Figure 1 is near the outer end of
its stroke and of necessity the piston of the cylinder 11 is near the inner end of its
stroke. At this point the disc g on the crank shaft engages with the end of the.
valve rod m of cylinder II and forces it against the spring y opening the valves e
and admitting the gases to the cylinder in the required proportions and quantities.
The disc g then releases the rod m and the valves e are closed. The explosion
produced upon the combination of the gases, and their compression by the further'
movement of the piston, drives the piston of the cylinder II to the outer end of its
stroke driving back the piston of cylinder I. As soon as the piston passes or
uncovers the exhaust t the fan e draws out through the pipes u the gases left from
the explosion which may be conveyed away if desired for utilization. They may
for instance be passed through a ley of soda which will absorb the chlorine. The
action of the fan produces a vacuum behind the pistons and increases their power.
It will of course he understood that the cycle of events described as taking place
in one cylinder will take place in them all.
The explosive chloride of nitrogen is produced thus:-
NH, + 6 Cl = 3 HCl + NC).
That is to say, one molecule of ammonia and six of chlorine combine to produce
three molecules of hydrochloric acid and one molecule of the explosive chloride of
nitrogen. As is well understood by chemists in similar cases, the chlorine must be
employed slightly in excess of the molecular proportion. It is known that nitrogen
does not combine directly with chlorine to form the explosive chloride of nitrogen,
but when a suitable source of nitrogen such as ammonia is mixed with chlorine
under the conditions hereinbefore set forth, the ammonia is decomposed with the
formation of the explosive and hydrochloric acid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An explosion engine or motor adapted to be actuated by the explosion of
chloride of nitrogen and constructed arranged and operated substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a motor or engine constructed as before described of an
exhausting apparatus by means of which the products of the explosion or com-
bustion may be recovered, arrangea substantially as described and as illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of April A.D. 1894.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.