AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A MIXTURE OF STEAM AND THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION OF GAS, FOR UTILIZATION IN THE WORKING CYLINDERS OF ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I ABRAHAM DAVY, Junior of Park Iron Works, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A MIXTURE OF STEAM
AND THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION OF GAS, FOR UTILIZATION IN THE WORKING
CYLINDERS OF ENGINES to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method of generating motive power by the combustion
of an inflammable mixture of air and gas or other inflammable compound under
pressure and by the application of the heat thereby developed to generate steam
with which the products of combustion are mixed the elastic fluid thus obtained
being utilized in the working cylinder of the engine. The generator somewhat
resembles a steam Boiler, but is so arranged that the combustion chamber, and the
space in the Boiler usually reserved for steam, are in open communication with each
other the essential condition of the arrangement being to generate steam and
thoroughly mix the products of combustion therewith.
For this purpose the generator has within it, a close combustion chamber which
is surrounded as far as practicable by water. Open ended tubes, or coiled pipes
establish communication between the combustion chamber and the space reserved
in the generator for the elastic fluid, the lower ends of the tubes or pipes being
fixed in the tube plate of the combustion chamber, whilst their upper ends stand
above the water line in the generator, the conduction of heat to the water being
effected through the walls of the combustion chamber and the tubes or their
equivalent, and by direct contact with the products of combustion.
The inflammable mixture is forced under pressure through a Bunsen burner or its
equivalent fixed within the combustion chamber or as close as practicable thereto,
the air and gas being made to pass on their way thereto, through finely pierced
metallic plates or wire gauze, whereby they are thoroughly intermingled before
ignition.
For ignition at starting the inflammable mixture may be made to come in
contact with a small platinum tube heated by a Bunsen burner, and inserted in the
supply pipe leading into the combustion chamber,

page_text: The air and gas are supplied preferably, by separate pumps worked from the
crank shaft or from any reciprocating part of the engine by any convenient
mechanism; and to ensure a steady supply of air and gas to the combustion
chamber, and to lessen pulsation, suitable receivers may be affixed to the pumps.
The connection between the receivers and the combustion chamber is shut off
when the engine is stopped, and the air and gas thus retained in the receivers is
available for getting up the pressure in the generator before re-starting tho
engine.
Instead of separate pumps and receivers for the air and gas, a single pump and
receiver may be used to supply and contain the mixture of air and gas.
Water may be supplied to the generator by an ordinary feed pump.

page_text: I ABRAHAM DAVY, Junior of Park Iron Works, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A MIXTURE OF STEAM AND THE
PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION OF GAS FOR UTILIZATION IN THE WORKING CYLINDERS
OF ENGINES" 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 method of generating motive power by the slow or
gradual combustion (as distinguished from the sudden combustion or explosion) of
an inflammable mixture of air and gas or other inflammable compound under
pressure by the application of the heat thereby developed to generate steam and by
the mixture of the products of that combustion with the steam so generated the
elastic fluid thus obtained being utilized in the working cylinder of the engine.
The generator somewhat resembles a steam Boiler preferably one of the vertical
type, but is so arranged that the combustion chamber (which occupies the place of
the furnace of an ordinary steam boiler) and the steam space are constantly in open
communication with each other in order that the products of combustion shall be
intimately mixed with the steam and be used therewith.
For this purpose the combustion chamber is completely closed except to the
steam space and is surrounded as far as practicable by water. Tubes or coiled
pipes rise from the crown of the combustion chamber through the water into the
steam space the said tubes being open throughout for the purpose of establishing
communication between the combustion chainber and the steam space the lower
ends of the tubes or pipes being fixed in a tube plate whilst their upper ends stand
above the water line in the generator. The conduction of heat to the water is thus
effected through the walls of the combustion chamber and the tubes or their
equivalent and also by direct contact of the products of combustion with the
surface of the water.
The inflammable mixture is forced under pressure into the combustion chamber
through a Bunsen burner or its equivalent fixed within the said chamber or as close
as practicable thereto, the air and gas being made to pass on their way to such
burner through finely pierced metallic plates or wire gauze whereby the gases are
thoroughly intermingled before ignition and prevent firing back.
At starting, the inflammable mixture may be ignited by coming in contact with
a torch" consisting of a small platinum tube heated internally by a Bunsen
burner, and inserted in front of the main Bunsen burner. After ignition of the
inflammable mixture at the main burner, it will under normal circumstances
continue to burn and maintain the heat of the platinum ignition tube or "torch
but it is preferable to keep the small burner ignited.
"
The air and gas are supplied, preferably by separate pumps worked from the
crank shaft or from any reciprocating part of the engine by any convenient

page_text: mechanism as will be readily understood. To ensure a steady supply of air and
gas to the combustion chamber and to lessen pulsation, suitable receivers may be
interposed between the pumps and the combustion chamber.
The connection between the receivers and the combustion chamber is shut off by
a valve when the engine is stopped, and the air and gas thus retained or stored
under pressure in the receivors is available for getting up the pressure in the
generator before re-starting the engine.
Instead of separato pumps and receivers for the air and gas a single pump and
receiver may be used to supply and contain the mixture of air and gas.
Water may be supplied to the generator by an ordinary feed pump.
The engine may be of the ordinary type and may be either vertical or horizontal
and may be fixed upon the framing carrying the generator and pumps or it may be
detached therefrom.
The governor may be made to act on a balance throttle valve fixed in the pipe
leading from the steam space of the generator to the engine or it may be made to
act on expansion valve gear.
It may also be arranged to control the action of the air and gas pumps through
either the suction or delivery valves of those pumps, all as will be readily
understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The method herein described of generating steam and producing under
pressure a mixture thereof with the products of the slow combustion of an
inflammable gaseous compound for utilization in the working cylinder of an
engine.
2. A generator of an elastic fluid (consisting of a mixture of steam with the
products of the slow combustion of an inflammable gaseous compound) consisting
of a closed combustion chamber within a water chamber and in communication by
pipes with the steam space of said chamber and provided with a suitable inlet and
burner for the inflammable compound and combined with means of supplying the
air and gas thereto, substantially as herein described.