IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS CALORIC MOTIVE ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Crowe and Eyre Crowe, of Manchester in the
County of Lancaster and Henry Crowe, of Middlesbro in the County of
Yorkshire for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS CALORIC MOTIVE
ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Crowe, Eyre Crowe
and Henry Crowe at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
31st May 1883.
EDWARD CROWE and EYRE CROWE of Manchester in the County of Lancaster
and HENRY CROWE of Middlesbro in the County of Yorkshire "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS CALORIC MOTIVE ENGINES"
This invention has for object improvements in gas caloric motive engines of the
kind in which the power is derived from the expansion of air and gas consequent
upon combustion. The gas employed may be any suitable combustible gas such
as crude producer gas, lighting gas, or water gas, and this is introduced under
pressure into a reservoir where it is consumed and the products of combustion
afterwards diluted with a further quantity of air or inert gas or vapour to reduce
their temperature to a point at which they may be conveniently employed in a
cylinder. The mixed gases, after doing duty in the working cylinder or cylinders
pass through a regenerative apparatus to which they impart a portion of their
heat, and the heat is utilised to raise the temperature of the air to be supplied to
the combustion chamber so that an economy may be effected in the amount of
combustible gas. The engine is regulated by a governor which varies the point of
cut-off of the gases to the working cylinder according to the work to be done,
while the volume of gas and air introduced into the combustion chamber is auto-
matically adjusted to the consumption of the engine by the employment of vessels,
reservoirs or clearance spaces in the pumps themselves into which a larger or
smaller portion of the air and gases contained in the pumps at each stroke is
forced according to the pressure existing in the combustion chamber.
In an engine according to this invention there are employed two separate.com-
pressing pumps, one to compress, the air and the other the gas. After compression

page_text: the gas is passed into the bottom of a reservoir (which is lined with refractory
material) where it is at first mixed with just sufficient air to ensure perfect
combustion, the lower portion of the reservoir forming a combustion chamber
which, when the engine has been some little time in operation, will be hot enough
to ensure the ignition of the combustible gas. The greater proportion of the air
delivered by the pump is passed into the said reservoir at a distance from the gas
inlet sufficient to allow the first mixture time to undergo perfect combustion, and
is there mixed with the products of combustion, thereby diluting them sufficiently
to enable them to be conveniently employed in the working cylinder or cylinders
without having recourse to water jacketing.
At the bottom of the reservoir or that portion of it which forms the combustion
chamber a door is provided through which incandescent coke or other suitable fuel
can be introduced into the bottom of the reservoir for the purpose of lighting the
gas when the engine is started.
This arrangement refers more especially to engines designed to work with crude
producer gas, such as the gas from the Wilson, Siemens, or other gas producer, in
which case an ordinary red heat is sufficient to ensure the ignition of the gas In
the case of an engine designed to work with towns gas it will generally be con-
venient to use an ordinary igniting apparatus actuated either by the engine itself,
or by the man in charge, and which can be disconnected as soon as the engine is
fairly started. In some cases there may be employed a reservoir in connection
with the gas pump, in order that the gas may have a continuous flow into the
combustion chamber.
The heated air and gases are admitted to and from the working cylinder by any
convenient means such as ordinary equilibrium valves, and after doing duty there
they are exhausted into a regenerative apparatus which in one form is constructed
with a nest of pipes of any suitable material, such as cast iron, through which the
air is passed on its way from the pump to the reservoir, so that any heat which
remains in the exhaust gases may be taken up by the air, and thus less combustible
gas
will be required to heat the air to the necessary temperature
The working cylinder is surrounded by a jacket through which the air also
circulates on its way from the pump to the regenerative chamber, thus keeping the
cylinder cool, and at the same time utilising the heat which would otherwise be
lost.
The working cylinder and gas and air pumps are combined in one, one end of
the cylinder forming the working part, and the other, which is divided into two
parts, forming the gas and the air pumps respectively.
The gas and air pumps have together the same cross sectional area as the
working cylinder, and are concentric the one with the other.
The working piston, which is single acting, receives the gaseous pressure on one
side, and on its opposite side acts as the air pump piston. On that side it also
carries a ram, working in the gas pump which is situated within the air pump,
hence the working piston fulfils three offices.
It will be seen that by this arrangement no packing is required between the air
and gas pumps, as the pressure in them will always be equal. The ram should be
a good fit in the pump barrel.
When the engine is to be driven by crude producer gas the suction valve of the
gas pump is closed by a spring, and opened by a cam, eccentric or other suitable
device for the purpose of preventing the valve sticking on its seat should it become
fouled by deposit, while arrangements are also made for readily scraping out of the
pump, valves and passages any such deposit; the hot air reservoir is also so
arranged that any sediment from the gas used for heating the air will be pre-
cipitated to the bottom of the said reservoir, and prevented from passing into the
working cylinder.
The outlet valve and also the air pump valves may be of any ordinary
construction.
;
The governor is connected to the inlet valve of the working cylinder, and

page_text: controls the cut-off of the actuating fluid in accordance with the load upon the
engine. As the consumption of actuating fluid is reduced it is necessary that its
introduction into the reservoir should be reduced also, and to this end the pumps
are provided with chambers, reservoirs, or spaces between their pistons and outlet
valves and at each stroke the gases are partly compressed into these reservoirs or
spaces, and only a portion of them is forced out of the pumps, the force expended
in compressing the gases into their reservoirs being given out again during the
return stroke of the piston.
As the delivery valves of the pumps do not lift until the pressure below them
attains equality with that above them, it follows that when, from a decreased
consumption of the hot gases, the pressure in the hot air reservoir rises, a greater
proportion of the contents of the pump barrels will be forced into the chambers,
reservoirs, or spaces at each stroke, and a less quantity will flow into the hot air
receiver. On the contrary when the load on the engine increases the opposite will
take place.
It is convenient to make the hot air reservoir and the regenerative chamber
cylinders of equal diameter placing the one over the other, the whole forming a
substantial pedestal, on the top or bottom of which may be mounted the cylinder,
according as to whether the engine is to be an upright or inverted cylinder
engine.
Or two pedestals may be employed one of which forms the regenerative chamber
and hot air reservoir as before explained, and the other of which forms the gas
producer itself.
It is preferred to employ two piston rods to each cylinder, attached to the piston
on the same side as the gas pump ram and passing through the air pump cover,
one rod on each side of the gas pump barrel, thus placing them where they will be
least likely to be damaged by dirt.
It will be evident, however, that various modifications may be made in the
construction of gas caloric engines according to this invention, thus, for instance,
the hot air reservoir and regenerative chamber can be placed in any suitable
position either fixed to or separate from the engine itself, and also that the engine
can be made without a regenerative chamber if it be desired to use the exhaust
gases for other purposes such as raising steam or the like.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by.
the said Edward Crowe, Eyre Crowe and Henry Crowe in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 30th November 1883.
EDWARD CROWE and EYRE CROWE of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster
IMPROVEMENTS IN
and HENRY CROWE of Middlesbro in the County of Yorkshire
GAS CALORIC MOTIVE ENGINES
This invention has for object improvements in gas caloric motive engines of the
kind in which the power is derived from the expansion of air and gas consequent
upon combustion. The gas employed may be any suitable combustible gas such
as crude producer gas, lighting gas or water gas, and this is introduced under
pressure into a reservoir where it is consumed and the products of combustion
afterwards diluted with a further quantity of air or inert gas or vapour to reduce
their temperature to a point at which they may be conveniently employed in a
cylinder. The mixed gases after doing duty in the working cylinder or cylinders
pass through a regenerative apparatus to which they impart a portion of their heat,
and the heat is utilised to raise the temperature of the air to be supplied to the
combustion chamber so that an economy may be effected in the amount of com-
bustible gas. The engine is regulated by a governor which varies the point of
cut-off of the gases to the working cylinder according to the work to be done;
while the volume of gas and air introduced into the combustion chamber is auto-
matically adjusted to the consumption of the engine by the employment of vessels,
reservoirs or clearance spaces, in the pumps themselves into which a larger or
smaller portion of the air and gases contained in the pumps at each stroke is forced
according to the pressure existing in the combustion chamber.
In an engine according to this invention there are employed two separate
compressing pumps, one to compress the air, and the other the gas. After
compression, the gas is passed into the bottom of a reservoir (which is lined with
refractory material) where it is at first mixed with just sufficient air to ensure
perfect combustion, the lower portion of the reservoir forming a combustion
chamber, which, when the engine has been some little time in operation, will be
hot enough to ensure the ignition of the combustible gas. The greater proportion
of the air delivered by the pump is passed into the said reservoir at a distance
from the gas inlet sufficient to allow the first mixture time to undergo perfect
combustion, and is there mixed with the products of combustion, thereby diluting
them sufficiently to enable them to be conveniently employed in the working
cylinder or cylinders without having recourse to water jacketing. At the bottom
of the reservoir or that portion of it which forms the combustion chamber a door
is provided through which incandescent coke or other suitable fuel can be intro-
duced into the bottom of the reservoir for the purpose of lighting the gas when the
engine is started.
This arrangement refers more especially to engines designed to work with crude
producer gas such as the gas from the Wilson, Siemens, or other gas producer, in
which case an ordinary red heat is sufficient to insure the ignition of the gas. In
the case of an engine designed to work with towns gas, it will generally be
convenient to use an ordinary igniting apparatus, actuated either by the engine
itself, or by the man in charge, and which can be disconnected as soon as the
engine is fairly started. In some cases there may be employed a reservoir in
connection with the gas pump, in order that the gas may have a continuous flow
into the combustion chamber.

page_text: The heated air and gases are admitted to and from the working cylinder by any
convenient means such as ordinary equilibrium valves, and after doing duty there
they are exhausted into a regenerative apparatus, which in one form, is constructed
with a nest of pipes of any suitable material, such as cast iron, through which the
air is passed on its way from the pump to the reservoir, so that any heat which
remains in the exhaust gases may be taken up by the air, and thus less combustible
gas will be required to heat the air to the necessary temperature. The working
cylinder is surrounded by a jacket through which the air also circulates on its
way from the pump to the regenerative chamber, thus keeping the cylinder cool,
and at the same time utilising the heat which would otherwise be lost.
The working cylinder and gas and air pump are constructed in one, one end of
the cylinder forming the working part, and the other, which is divided into two
parts, forming the gas and the air pumps respectively.
The gas and air pumps have together the same cross sectional area as the working
cylinder, and are concentric the one with the other.
The working piston, which is single acting, receives the gaseous pressure on one
side, and on its opposite side acts as the air pump piston. On that side it also
carries a ram, working in the gas pump which is situated within the air pump,
hence the working piston fulfils three offices.
It will be seen that by this arrangement no packing is required between the air
and gas pumps as the pressure in them will always be equal. The ram should be a
good fit in the pump barrel.
When the engine is to be driven by crude producer gas, the suction valve of the
gas pump is closed by a spring, and opened by a cam, eccentric or other suitable
device for the purpose of preventing the valve sticking on its seat should it become
fouled by deposit, while arrangements are also made for readily scraping out of the
pump valves and passages any such deposit; the hot air reservoir is also so arranged
that any sediment from the gas used for heating the air will be precipitated to the
bottom of the said reservoir, and prevented from passing into the working cylinder.
The outlet valves, and also the air pump valves, may be of any ordinary con-
struction. The governor is connected to the inlet valve of the working cylinder,
and controls the cut off of the actuating fluid in accordance with the load upon
the engine. As the consumption of actuating fluid is reduced it is necessary that
its introduction into the reservoir should be reduced also, and to this end the
pumps are provided with chambers, reservoirs or spaces between their pistons and
outlet valves, and at each stroke the gases are partly compressed into these
reservoirs or spaces, and only a portion of them is forced out of the pumps, the
force expended in compressing the gases into their reservoirs being given out again
during the return stroke of the piston.
As the delivery valves of the pumps do not lift until the pressure below them
attains equality with that above them, it follows that when from a decreased
consumption of the hot gases, the pressure in the hot air reservoir rises, a greater
proportion of the contents of the pump barrels will be forced into the chambers,
reservoirs or spaces at each stroke, and a less quantity will flow into the hot air
receiver. On the contrary, when the load on the engine increases, the opposite will
take place.
It is convenient to make the hot air reservoir and the regenerative chamber
cylinders of equal diameter placing the one over the other, the whole forming a
substantial pedestal, on the top or at the bottom of which may be mounted the
cylinder, according as to whether the engine is to be an upright or inverted cylinder
engine. Or two pedestals may be employed, one of which forms the regenerative
chamber and hot air reservoir as before explained, and the other of which forms the
gas producer itself.
It is preferred to employ two piston rods to each cylinder, attached to the piston
on the same side as the gas pump ram and passing through the air pump cover,
one rod on each side of the gas pump barrel, thus placing them where they will be
least likely to be damaged by dirt.

page_text: It will be evident, however, that various modifications may be made in the
construction of gas caloric engines according to this invention, thus, for instance,
the hot air reservoir and regenerative chamber can be placed in any suitable
position either fixed to or separate from the engine itself; and, also, that the engine
can be made without a regenerative chamber, if it be desired to use the exhaust
gases for other purposes such as raising steam or the like.
Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings.
Fig 1 is an elevation of a gas caloric engine according to my invention, designed
to be actuated by crude producer gas. Fig 2 is a view partly in section, at right
angles to Fig 1.
Fig 3 is a plan.
Fig 4 a horizontal section in line a b of Fig 2; and
Figs 5 and 6 sections at right angles to each other through the cylinder and gas
and air pumps.
H is the working cylinder in which the power is developed. It contains a
piston K, one face of which is exposed at suitable intervals to the pressure of the
heated gases, and the other face of which carries a ram or plunger J of smaller
diameter than itself. The ram J works in a barrel, and constitutes the gas pump,
drawing in the combustible gas through the valve M and forcing it through the
outlet valve M¹, pipe N and nozzle №¹ into the combustion chamber U. The
annular part of the piston surrounding the ram acts as an air pump, drawing in
air through the inlet valve A, and forcing it through the outlet valve B into the
air jacket I surrounding the working cylinder, when it absorbs heat from the walls
of the said cylinder, and thence through the pipe C and the inlet D to the
regenerator O. It flows through the regenerator pipes taking up heat from the
exhaust gases which surround them, and then divides into two streams, one, just
sufficient in quantity to ensure the perfect combustion of the gas entering the
combustion chamber at E, and the remainder flowing into the reservoir U at E',
where it mixes with the products of combustion and dilutes them sufficiently to
enable them to be conveniently employed in the working cylinder. There is a
partial screen between E and E¹ to precipitate any sediment which may be formed
during combustion and throw it to the bottom. The admission of the gases to
the cylinder is controlled by the valve G operated by the cam or eccentric S¹, and
the exhaust is regulated by valve G¹, also worked by an eccentric S. The exhaust
gases are led from the cylinder to the regenerator by the pipe P, and then escape
by the outlet Q
At the bottom of the reservoir, or that portion of it which forms the combustion
chamber U, a door V is provided through which incandescent coke or other
suitable fuel can be introduced into the bottom of the reservoir, and by which
access can be had for cleaning etc. The reservoir is lined with refractory material,
and is mounted upon the regenerator, which is similarly lined and is provided with
cast iron pipes through which the air flows on its way to the reservoir.
The suction valve M of the gas pump is closed by a spring and opened by a cam
or eccentric S³ to prevent it sticking should it become fouled, and doors are
provided to the gas pump, and other parts, when necessary to facilitate the scraping
out of any deposit which may accumulate. The door R gives access to the
expansion joint Y.
The governor T is connected to the inlet valve G of the working cylinder, and
controls the point of cut-off of the actuating fluid to the working cylinder in
accordance with the load upon the engine. The rod A Fig 5 connected to the
eccentric moves the lever B, which has a catch on the end which engages with the
end of the valve lever D and raises it up until they disengage from each other by
means of the radial movement of the levers, the time of disengagement and
consequent closing of the valve is regulated by the governor moving the lever
either from or towards the lever B. The spiral spring e keeps the catch C up to
its place but allows it to slide past the end of D as it descends. It will be evident

page_text: that the same result may be obtained in a variety of different ways well known
to mechanics
The amount of air and gas introduced into the reservoir U is regulated in
accordance with the quantity of heated gases supplied to the cylinder by means of
the air pump reservoir H¹ and the gas pump reservoir M¹ (Fig 4). At each stroke
the air and gas are compressed in their respective reservoirs until they acquire
sufficient pressure to raise the outlet valves which are subject to the pressure
already existing in the reservoir U. As the pressure rises in the reservoir U owing
to the diminished consumption of actuating fluid by the engine, the point of the
stroke at which the outlet valves of the pumps open grows later, and a smaller
volume is delivered through them. When the load on the engine decreases, the
contrary will take place.
The working piston has two rods K¹ K¹, one on each side of the gas pump,
passing through stuffing boxes in the cover of the air pump reservoir and united
in a crosshead provided with a connecting rod in the usual manner. The crank-
shaft and flywheel are of the ordinary description and do not need any detailed
explanation.
Fig 7 is a sectional elevation of a gas caloric engine according to my invention
designed to be operated by towns or lighting gas.
Fig 8 is a central horizontal section of combustion or mixing chamber; Fig 9
is a vertical section in line c, d Fig 7; and Fig 10 a similar view in line e f.
A is the end of the working cylinder to which the hot gases are admitted, and
B the end which acts as the air pump. C is the gas pump, which in this case is
shewn above the working cylinder. In this arrangement a single piston rod is
used. The air is drawn in through the inlet valve Cx (Fig 10) and proceeds by
the pipe D into the reservoir B₁ (Figs 9 and 10) which surrounds the end of the
air pump and is connected with it by ports B¹ (Fig 7). On the outward stroke
of the piston the air in the forward end of the cylinder is forced into the reservoir
and pipe D, until the delivery valve C is opened, when it divides as explained
with reference to the previous engine, and part flows through the regulating
valve D' and annular space F to maintain the combustion of the gas, and part
flows through the valve A to meet and dilute the products of combustion
The gas enters and leaves the gas pump by ordinary lift valves, which are not
shewn in the drawings as they are well understood. As it is purified during
manufacture there is no danger of the inlet valve sticking. Between the pump
barrel and the outlet or foot valve there is a reservoir N (Fig 8). This reservoir
and the reservoir B' described in connection with the air pump fulfil the same
office as the similar parts in the engine explained above, regulating the delivery to
the combustion, chamber, and correcting any irregularities in the working of the
pumps. From the reservoir N the gas flows along the pipe N¹, and under an
adjustable valve to the jet or nozzle E when it meets and mixes with the air
entering at F. The combustion takes place in the pipe G, and the hot products
flow out at the holes G', when they meet and mingle with the greater portion of the
air which is admitted into the mixing chamber at the valve A. The heated air
and products of combustion pass along the pipes H H into the annular space H¹,
and thence through the pipe P (Fig 8) to the inlet valve, and through it to the
cylinder. The admission and exhaust of the actuating fluid is regulated as in the
engine previously described, or in any other convenient manner. A governor (not
shewn in the drawing) regulates the speed of the engine by means similar to those
described with relation to the engine worked by crude gas, and further acts on a
throttle valve fixed on the supply pipe leading to the gas pump.
E (Fig 9) is an igniting valve to light the gas when the engine is started. It is
in the form of an ordinary cock having a cavity in one side of the plug, and not a
straightway through. A ball or piece of any suitable inflammable material is
placed in the cavity of the plug and ignited, and the plug is then turned half round
to allow the burning material to fall into the tube Ĝ (Figs. 8 and 9) and so ignite

page_text: the gas. K is a sight hole covered by a piece of glass, and through this the flame
in the tube G can be seen.
This engine is shewn without a regenerative chamber or an air jacket, but either
or both may be added after the manner herein before described.
Having described the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed we hereby declare that what we claim as secured to us under
the Letters Patent first hereinabove in part recited, is,-
In a gas caloric engine wherein combustible gas is pumped into a combustion
chamber and burnt therein continuously;
1. The use of a door or doors in the combustion chamber to permit of the
insertion of incandescent fuel into the said chamber for the purpose of igniting the
combustible gas substantially as described
2. Arranging the gas and air pumps.in the manner described with reference to
Figs 2, 5, 6 and 7, so that the pressure in them is always equal and consequently
no packing is required, substantially as described.
3. Providing doors in the gas pump and valve boxes to facilitate the clearing
out of the deposit substantially as described.
4. Dividing the combustion chamber into two parts in one of which the gas is
burnt and the deposit is thrown down, and in the other of which air or inert gas is
mixed with the products of combustion substantially as described with reference to
Fig 2 of the drawings.
5. The use of an igniting cock to light the gas in the first instance substantially
as described with reference to Fig 9 of the drawings.
We also claim in a gas caloric engine;
6. The arrangement in combination of the gas inlet E surrounded by the air
inlet F, the combustion chamber G, the mixing chamber and the inlet for air or
inert gas A, substantially as described with reference to Fig 8 of the drawings.
7. The combination with the working piston having a gas pump ram attached
to its forward end of two piston rods passing one at each side of the same
substantially as described
8. The combination with a cylinder, acting at its rear end as a working cylinder,
and at its forward end as an air pump, of a gas pump worked from the crosshead
of the engine substantially as described with reference to Fig 7.
9. We claim the improved gas caloric engine constructed arranged and operating
substantially as described with reference to Figs and 2 of the drawings.
10. We also claim the improved gas caloric engine constructed arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to Figs 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the
drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said Edward Crowe have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty eighth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
CROWN
CROWE (L.S.)
A