Improvements in Internal Combustion Thermo-motors.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1889-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
Improvements in Internal Combustion Thermo-motors.
I JAMES HARGREAVES of The Poplars Farnworth near Widnes in the county of
Lancaster Chemical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my present improvements is to simplify the construction and working
of these now generally known engines.
First. I inject air directly through the regenerator and thence into the combustion
chamber without the interposition of a reservoir. The air pump used for this
purpose is driven from the connecting rod, and by means of suitable levers and links
or the like is made to force the air into the regenerator and working cylinder at the
proper time, that is to say at the early part of the outstroke of the working piston.
Second. To reduce friction in the working cylinder I place a swinging lever or
parallel motion rods with an intervoning link between the main connecting rod and
the piston.
Third. I construct the regenerator filling of spiral rods of refractory clay or other
suitable substance. The said spiral rods are cemented or baked together so as to
form a perforated block for the hot end of the regenerator.
For the cooler end of
the regonerator I use loose spiral rods of earthenware in short lengths so that they may
be taken out and cleaned in the event of being stopped up with tarry or other matter.
I clean the said blocks and also the said loose spiral pieces of carthenware or refrac-
tory material by heating them to redness in a current of air.
Fourth. I cover or saturate the aforesaid regenerator fillings described under the
above third head with a solution of Nickel or Platinum and preferably heat the same
to redness before filling the regenerator with them so as by catalytic action or
secondary combustion to effect the combustion of any unburnt hydrocarbon remaining
in the exhaust gases.
Fifth. To prevent the accumulation of tarry or pitchy materials on the working
piston I place an annular scraper between the working cylinder and the hot liner.
The said annular scraper cleans the working piston during each stroke.
Sixth. I make the hot liner of the combustion chamber of blocks of refractory
material such as soapstone, earthenware, or a mixture of plumbago and refractory
clay, and to ensure the said blocks remaining in their places I place metallic rings
between the courses of the said blocks. The said metallic rings and refractory blocks
have suitable grooves and projections to keep the said refractory blocks in their
places. To fill up the interstices in the said refractory blocks and also to render
them less liable to fracture I cause the said refractory blocks to be boiled in tar or
other carbonaceous compound so as to fill the cavities thereof with carbon.
Seventh. To inject liquid fuel into the combustion chamber I use a jet with an
internal spindle valve which spindle valve automatically closes the orifice of the jet
when a charge has been delivered. The said spindle valve is held in its place by the
pressure of a spring or equivalent appliance, and is pushed back to allow another
charge to be delivered by a piston which is actuated by the charge of liquid fuel.
Eighth. To deliver liquid fuel at the proper time to the combustion chamber I
employ a disc actuated by an eccentric to draw out the plunger of the pump and such
plunger is forced inwards by means of a spring or its equivalent so as to force the said
liquid fuel into the combustion chamber.
Ninth. In large engines I use jackets of water and steam around the combustion
chamber and cylinder and also in the piston and 1 take the steam produced into the
regenerator, preferably admitting the steam after the bulk of the air has passed into
the regenerator. I provide a separate valve to control the passage of the steam this is

page_text: actuated from the rod of the air pump or from another point in such manner that the
said steam valve is opened when the air pump has nearly completed its stroke. The
said steam valve may also be used as a starting valve. The first charges of air for
starting are forced into the said water and steam jackets and afterwards admitted into
the combustion chamber by hand so as to obtain the first revolution of the Engine.
Tenth. The supply of liquid fuel to the combustion chamber is stopped partially or
completely by the action of the governor and a stopping piece the latter being attached
to the disc which actuates the said pump. The length of stroke of the pump is
controlled by a screw in the rear of the plunger of the pump.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Internal Combustion Thermo Motors.
I, JAMES HARGREAVES, of The Poplars, Farnworth near Widnes, in the County of
Lancaster, Chemical Engineer, 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:-
The object of my present improvements is to simplify the construction and working
of these now generally known engines.
First. I inject air directly through the regenerator and thence into the combustion
chamber without the interposition of a reservoir. The air pump used for this purpose
is-driven from-the connecting-rod-and-by means of suitable levers-and-links.or the
like is made to force the air into the regenerator and working cylinder at the proper
time, that is to say, at the early part of the outstroke of the working piston.
Second. To reduce friction in the working cylinder I place a swinging levor or
parallel motion rods with an intervening link between the main connecting rod and the
piston.
Third. I construct the regenerator filling of spiral rods of refractory clay or other
suitable substance. The said spiral or other suitably shaped rods are cemented or
baked together so as to form a perforated block for the hot end of the regenerator.
For the cooler end of the regenerator I use loose spiral rods of earthenware in short
lengths so that they may be taken out and cleaned in the event of being stopped up
with tarry matter. I clean the said blocks, and also the said loose spiral pieces of
earthenware, or refractory material, by heating them to redness in a current
of air.
Fourth. I cover or saturate the aforesaid regenerator fillings described in the above
third head with a solution of nickel or platinum; and preferably heat the same to red
ness before filling the regenerator with them, so as by catalytic action, or secondary
combustion, to effect the combustion of any unburnt hydrocarbon remaining in the
exhaust gases.
Fifth. To prevent the accumulation of tarry or pitchy materials on the working
piston I place an annular scraper between the working cylinder and the hot liner. The
said annular scraper cleans the working piston during each stroke.
Sixth. I make the hot liner of the combustion chamber of blocks of refractory
material, such as soapstone, earthenware, or a mixture of plumbago and refractory
clay, and to insure the said blocks remaining in their places I place metallic rings
between the courses of the said blocks. The said metallic rings and refractory blocks
have suitable grooves and projections to keep the said refractory blocks in their places.
To fill up the interstices in the said refractory blocks and also to render them less
liable to fracture I cause the said refractory blocks to be boiled in tar, or other
carbonaceous compound, so as to fill the cavities thereof with carbon.
Seventh. To inject liquid fuel into the combustion chamber I use a jet with an internal
spindle valve, which spindle valve automatically closes the orifice of the jet when a

page_text: by a spring 37 and opened at the required times by a lever 38 actuated by the
disc 27.
Fig. 3 is a plan of a modification of engine in which gas is used instead of liquid
fuel. 28 is the gas pump placed alongside the regenerator 2 and air pump 4 and
coupled by a rod 39 to the lever 10 which operates the air pump.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
First. Constructing internal combustion thermo motors with means for injecting air
directly through the regenerator into the combustion chamber substantially as set
forth.
Second. Joining the connecting rod of internal combustion thermo-motors to the
piston by means of a link controlled by a radius rod or equivalent device for the purpose
set forth.
Third. Constructing regenerators of internal combustion thermo-motors of blocks
of spiral earthenware rods and loose spirals substantially in the manner and for the
purpose set forth.
Fourth. Treating regenerator fillings substantially in the manner and for the purposo
set forth under the fourth, head.
Fifth. Constructing internal combustion thermo-motors with a scraper between the
working cylinder and combustion chamber lining substantially in the manner and for
the purpose set forth.
Sixth. Constructing linings for the combustion chambers of internal combustion
thermo-motors-of-refractory material held in position by metallic rings substantially as
set forth.
Seventh. Combining internal combustion thermo-motors constructed substantially as
above set forth with a jet for liquid fuel controlled by a valve substantially in the manner
and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. Constructing and actuating pumps for supplying liquid fuel to internal
combustion thermo motors substantially in the manner set forth under the eighth
head.
Ninth. Constructing internal combustion thermo-motors with water jackets and
making communication between such jackets and the regenerator substantially in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
Tenth. Combining internal combustion thermo-motors with a governor for the
liquid fuel supply pump substantially as set forth.
Dated the 29th day of May 1889.
Per pro J. T. KING,
J. Johnson, Agent.