Improvements in and connected with Gas Engines or Motors.
Year: 1892

page_text: e of Application, 13th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 189
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Gas Engines or Motors.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The
General Patent Office No. 4 South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London,
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by La Société Anonyme des Moteurs Thermiques Gardie, of 5 Avenue Allard
Nantes, Loire Inférieure, in the Republic of France) 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 improved motive power apparatus of the class in which
there is combustion and constant pressure.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional plan of the improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a section on the line 1, 1 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front view partly in section shewing the working cylinders, and
Figure 4 is a section along the line 2, 2 of Figure 1.
-
The cycle of operations performed in the apparatus is as follows:-
(1.) A pump or compresser P, shewn in plan in Figure 1, compresses atmospheric
air to the pressure of from 6 to 12 kilogrammes in a reservoir Z.
(2.) This air is delivered into two tubular reservoirs R, R₁, hereinafter termed
regenerators, in which it is heated by the waste products of combustion expelled
from the working cylinders C, C as hereinafter described.
(3.) The air heated in the regenerator R passes into a cupola furnace gas
generator G, hereinafter referred to as the gas generator, in which air is passed
through incandescent carbon wherby carbonic oxide and other gases are produce l
at a pressure corresponding to that given by the pump. The air heated in the
regenerator R' passes to the inlet openings or ports of the working cylinders.
(4.) The inlet ports being open, the air and gas, still at the initial pressure of
from 6 to 12 kilogrammes, flow into the working cylinders, in proper proportions to
produce perfect combustion, impinging on the surfaces of the pistons at the com-
mencement of their stroke and are there fired by any suitable igniting agent.
(5.) The pistons, under the action of the burning gas, now move through a
portion of their stroke corresponding to the quantity of gas admitted up to the
moment when the inlet orifices are closed. At this moment the expansion com-
mences, the gases developing mechanical energy and in consequence undergoing a
considerable reduction in temperature.
(6.) The exhaust valves being open the products of combustion pass under the
impulse of the pistons during the return stroke through the regenerators R, R¹ at
a comparatively high temperature and impart their heat to the compressed air in
the said regenerators as above described; finally escaping into the atmosphere.
I will now describe the elements of the combination constituting my improved
motive power apparatus.
The gas generator G is so constructed that combustion can be produced therein
under a pressure up to 12 kilogrammes, the pressure of the hot air and of the steam
which is decomposed. The result is to furnish a gas which is rich in combustible
principles, but completely free from tar and ammonia, and having a high calorific
power. This generation of gas under pressure gives to the gas a considerably
higher temperature than could be obtained without pressure and assists the
dissociative action which takes place in the reduction or decomposition of complex
bodies (such as hydrocarbons, tarry substances, ammoniacal compounds and the
like which would tend to form) to their elementary states, whereby such bodies are
reduced in presence of excess of carbon to the state of carbonic oxide and hydrogen.

page_text: This high temperature also allows of the introduction of a considerable quantity of
steam, which being decomposed, liberates large volumes of free hydrogen and
oxygen. The air necessary to support the combustion in the gas generator is com-
pressed by the pump P (Figure 1) to the pressure of from 6 to 12 kilogrammes,
heated in the regenerator R, and introduced into the gas generator still under
pressure, by the tube x, through the orifices a, Figure 2, which open into the gas
generator round its inner periphery and all communicate with a circular channel b.
The steam is generated in a jacket surrounding the upper halves of the working
cylinders and enters the gas generator through a tube which opens into the air
supply tube near to the orifice a.
The gas generator is provided with a jacket of sheet steel A inside which is built
up a fire-brick casing B. A tap D between the generator and the receiver allows
the combustible material to be introduced without interfering with the working of
the apparatus. A reversed funnel E of steel controls the height of the available
combustible material which surrounds it when that height is exceeded. The gases
escape laterally and outside the reversed funnel E. Below the orifice a for the
introduction of the hot air and of the steam under pressure is placed the orifice O
for the removal of any slag or dust from the generator. As the gas issues
from the gas generator it is freed from dust in a scrubber N which has a
reversed cone F intended to facilitate the deposition of the dust and to prevent
its being carried out of the apparatus. The gas free from dust passes out, of the
scrubber at Q.
The regenerators R, R¹ are similarly constructed. Each has an internal
cylinder of sheet metal terminated in two cast domes M, M', between which are
arranged tubes t, the latter being fixed in two metallic plates. The compressed
air enters the regenerators at d and rises in the interior of the tubes t, issuing
therefrom through the pipe z. The hot products of combustion expelled from
the working cylinders circulate around the pipes t from top and bottom, entering
by the pipe e and escaping by the pipe ƒ. The compressor has been combined
for avoiding the prejudicial spaces, for cooling the air during the compression
and, finally, for obtaining the greatest useful effect.
The reservoir Z for the compressed air serves also to separate the water
which is used to cool the compressed air in the compressor.
The whole of the regenerators and the various reservoirs, such as the dust
separator and the water separator constitute reserves of gas and air at high
pressure which allow, after a stoppage of moderate duration, of the motor being
started without it being necessary to have recourse to the auxiliary steam air-
compressor.
The two working cylinders C, C are single acting and alike, and are so con-
structed as to withstand a very high temperature. Each cylinder is divided into
two parts, the upper of which is provided with a non-conducting packing and with
a metal plate y intended to insulate the interior of the cylinder from the exterior
and to maintain the temperature. In a jacket h steam supplied by a small boiler V
circulates. The lower part of the cylinder is cooled by the circulation of water in
the jacket. This cooling allows of the use of a fatty lubricant, lubrication being
only possible in this portion of the cylinders.
The part of the cylinder which does not receive the frictional parts of the piston
is likewise surrounded with a jacket; between this jacket and the cylinder is water
which is transformed into steam at a pressure of 10 or 12 kilogrammes by the heat
developed in the cylinder by the combustion of the gases; this steam serves (1) for
feeding the gas generator, and (2) for supplying power to a small steam air-
compressor which on being first started receives steam from a small steam boiler
provided for the purpose.
The piston P¹ is provided at its upper part with a metallic plate i insulated by
asbestos. The piston has a considerable depth and its interior is filled with sand;
its lower part which never leaves the cool portion of the cylinder is provided with
rings k which rub on and form a joint with the lower portion of the cylinder. The

page_text: collar serves to contain oil for abundant lubrication so that the temperature does
not reach 60° centigrade.
The metal plate g, is heated to red heat by the high temperature of the
combustion of the gases and alone suffices to ensure the ignition when the motor has
been started few moments.
The distribution which is alike for both cylinders is effected by means of three
valves, one s for the compressed air; another s¹ for the compressed gas supplied
from the gas generator and a thirds for the escape of the products of combustion.
Each of these valves is in one piece with a metallic frame m inside which a
horizontal spindle a revolves. This spindle carries one cam for each valve, and the
said cams are adapted to be shifted by a regulator or by hand, thereby allowing
the duration and direction of the supply and of the heating to be controlled.
It is
therefore evident that the apparatus will work in either direction as desired.
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 arrangement of the improved motive power apparatus in which the motive
force is supplied by the combustion under constant pressure and the expansion of
a mixture of gas and air, both compressed previously and heated before use by the
products of combustion escaping from the exhaust, substantially as described.
2. The cupola furnace gas generator working with or without a grate under a
pressure varying from 6 to 12 kilogrammes and adapted to be charged with fuel
under pressure and when at work, the said generator supplying gas of a constant
composition in consequence of its high internal temperature and the constant height
of the fuel, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a gas engine or motor of a regenerator for utilizing the
heat of the products of combustion, substantially as, and for the purpose described.
4. The construction and arrangement of the working cylinders and pistons as
hereinbefore described so as to fulfil two essential and usually opposed conditions,
viz., working at the highest possible temperature, and efficient and economical
lubrication of the parts moving with friction.
5. In motive power apparatus of the kind described: (a) effecting the distribution
by means of valves arranged as described so as to allow of altering, by the regulator
or by hand, the quantity of air and gas introduced and the direction of rotation ;
(b) automatically starting the apparatus by the natural action of reserves of gas
and of the parts of the machine, or if necessary, by means of a small steam boiler
provided with a small steam air compresser.
6. The production of steam at high pressure for supplying the cupola furnace gas
generator and for starting the steam air-compresser by means of a jacket around
the upper part of the cylinders, substantially as described.
7. The automatic lighting resulting from the incandescent surfaces of the metallic
plates, substantially as described.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.