IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER ENGINER
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ingrey, of Oak House, Fulham, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, and William Adlam, of Alma Road, Clifton, in the
County of Somerset, Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE
POWER ENGINER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ingrey and William
Adlam at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January
1883.
CHARLES INGREY of Oak House Fulham in the County of Middlesex Engineer,
and WILLIAM ADLAM of Alma Road, Clifton in the County of Somerset, Engineer,
IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER ENGINES
"
Our invention has reference to improvements in motive power engines of the
kind wherein atmospheric air forced into a generator or retort containing fuel is
therein wholly or partially passed through or beneath the fuel to which oxygen is
thus given up and so that combustion is promoted and the resulting carbonic oxide
and nitrogen produce great heat and consequent expansion or compression of the
products of combustion which are subsequently used to operate the piston or
pistons of the engine. In such engines the generator or retort is sometimes lined
with refractory material such as fire brick to prevent undue heating of the shell or
casing of the generator, nevertheless it has been found in practice that difficulties
arise owing to the very high temperature of the products of combustion, and that
there is considerable loss by radiation of heat.
Now in order to obviate or mitigate these objections, and to render such engines
more effective and powerful than heretofore usual we form the wall of the
generator or retort with a vessel or vessels to contain water so that some of the
beat is utilized to generate steam which is afterwards mixed with the products of
combustion from the generator, and such mixture of products of combustion with
steam is used as actuating fluid to drive the engine. An arrangement of generator
or retort for this purpose is constructed with a vertical boiler resembling an
ordinary crane boiler, a water casing surrounds the furnace and a central vertical
pipe with suitable valve arrangement is provided through which fuel is fed,-above

page_text: or below or above and below the furnace bars are air inlets the supply of air
through which is regulated as we will presently explain.
Below the valve in the fuel feeding pipe is a lateral opening (or there may be
more than one) whence a pipe leads laterally and then upward into the steam
space above the water level.
This pipe at or near its upper end is provided with a valve such that when the
pressure in the generator or retort exceeds that in the boiler products of com-
bustion will be allowed to pass into the steam space and to mix with the steam
therein above the water level; but when a higher pressure obtains in the boiler
than in the generator or retort communication between them will be closed,―so
that steam may not flow into the generator or retort.
A suitable pipe or channel is provided through which the combined steam and
products of combustion are caused to pass on their way to the working cylinder or
cylinders of the engine.
Access is provided to the interior of the generator or retort by an opening
provided with a door or cover capable of being hermetically closed.
We also provide a second opening and door situated below the level of the grate
bars to allord access to the ashpit for removing the ashes.
In some cases we modify this arrangement and place the means of charging the
generator with fuel in other positions and we so arrange the pipe or pipes which
convoys or convey the products of combustion to the steam that it is or they are
mostly submerged in the water to which the heat is partially transmitted and
steam more quickly generated. Other modifications and arrangements can also be
made.
In engines of the kind hereinbefore referred to as usually constructed it has
been found that after several hours working thero is such an accumulation of
clinker and ashes upon the fire grate as to impede the flow of air through the fuel
thus rendering the engine less effective.
To obviate this we provide in conjunction with the grate bars agitators in the
form of bars, plates or tumblers in combination with a spindle or shaft a part of
which extends through a stuffing box to the outside of the generator or retort
where it is furnished with actuating apparatus such as a lever wheel or quadrant
that may be operated by hand or worked automatically by suitable gearing from
the engine.
The arrangement is such that when the actuating apparatus is in operation the
agitators pass through the openings between the grate bars, and agitate the fuel
above them, thus causing the ashes to fall into the pit beneath, and the clinker to
be broken or loosened
For supplying the generator or retort with atmospheric air we provide a pump
or blower (or there may be more than one) in connection with the engine, and may
partially or wholly surround the same with a jacket or space wherein cold air or
water is caused to circulate so as to absorb some of the heat due to compression.
The air forced by the pump or blower is caused to pass into a chamber formed
as a cylinder or part of a cylinder with its end open and having a lateral orifice.-
this chamber is arranged within a casing of a cylindrical or partially cylindrical
form in which there are two openings, one communicating with a spaco below the
grate bars of the generator the other with the space above the grate bars as
herein before mentioned.
The inner of the two chambers is attached to a spindle or shaft that passes
through a metallic stuffing box, and is through a lever or equivalent means con-
nected with the governor of the engine, in such a manner that, when the governor
rises or falls, the internal chamber is partially rotated and presents its orifice more
or less to one, or the other, or both of the openings in the casing, so that the
amount of air admitted above or below the firo is regulated in accordance with the
speed of the governor, thus regulating the consumption of fuel.
A valve arrangement according to our invention for admitting and discharging
motive fluid to and from the working cylinder or cylinders of the engine is as

page_text: follows:-The valve is of a partially cylindrical form, placed within a casing of
cylindrical or partially cylindrical shape having three openings or ports communi-
cating respectively with the supply of motive fluid, with the working cylinder,
and with the exhaust pipe.
We construct the valve with a spindle or shaft that passes through a stuffing
box in the casing, and is furnished with suitable means such as a lever whereby it
may receive motion from a moving part of the engine.
The arrangement is such that the motive fluid may press against both the back
and the face of the valve so as to equalise or nearly so, the pressure, and prevent
undue friction.
When using more than one pump or blower for supplying air to tho generator
or retort we in some cases arrange them in such a way that one or more pumps of
the several pumps employed can be wholly or partially thrown out of action so
that when the engine is required to develope less than its full power a smaller
quantity of atmospheric air will be forced into the generator less heat being then
generated, and less fuel consumed.
In some cases we provide in substitution of or as an auxiliary to the ordinary
throttle valve, a method of cutting off the supply of motive fluid to the working
cylinder or cylinders at various positions of the stroke of the piston; an arrangement
for this purpose is as follows:-
In connection with the hereinabove described partially cylindrical valve, and its
casing, we provide a cut-off valve or slide having a curved or flat face, and so
arranged with respect to the governor, that it is moved more or less over the
motive fluid supply port or ports thus determining the period at which the supply
shall be cut off.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Ingrey and William Adlam in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th July 1883.
CHARLES INGREY of Oak House Fulham, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
and WILLIAM ADLAM of Alma Road, Clifton in the County of Somerset, Engineer,
IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER ENGINES
Our invention has reference to improvements in motive power engines of the
kind wherein atmospheric air forced into a generator or retort containing fuel is
therein wholly or partially passed through or beneath the fuel to which oxygen is
thus given up and so that combustion is promoted and the resulting carbonic oxide
and nitrogen produce great heat and consequent expansion or compression of the
products of combustion which are subsequently used to operato the piston or pistons
of the engine.
In such engines the generator or retort is sometimes lined with refractory
material such as fire brick to prevent undue heating of the shell or casing of the
generator, nevertheless it has been found in practice that difficulties arise owing to
the very high temperature of the products of combustion, and that there is
considerable loss by radiation by heat.
Now in order to obviate or mitigate these objections, and to render such engines
more effective and powerful than heretofore usual we form the wall of the generator
or retort with a vessel or vessels to contain water so that some of the heat is
utilized to generate steam which is afterwards mixed with the products of
combustion from the generator, and such mixture of products of combustion with
steam is used as actuating fluid to drive the engine. An arrangement of generator
or retort for this purpose is illustrated in sectional elevation and plan respectively
in Figs 1 & 1 of the drawings. This generator somewhat resembles in outward
form a vertical crane boiler.
a is a furnace provided with grate bars b, and c a vertical pipe through which
the fuel is fed. d is an opening capable of being hermetically closed by a door or
cover, through which access can be had to the interior of the furnace. e is a
similar opening and door for the removal of ashes from the ash pit f. A firo
baving been lighted upon the grate bars b the lower door e is in the first instance
allowed to remain open to create a draught and the products of combustion pass
through a pipe g and thence to a suitable flue or chimney, or in some cases we
remove from the pipe c the fuel feeding apparatus (to be hereinafter described) and
connect the vertical pipe c with the chimney. When the fire has sufficiently burnt
up the door e is hermetically closed and the connection with the chimney is also
closed. Compressed air is supplied by the pump or pumps of the engine through
the pipes g and h,-the air entering by pipe passes beneath the grate bars and
thence through the fuel to which oxygen is thus given up whereby combustion is
promoted, the resulting carbonic oxide and nitrogen passing to the space above the
fire. The air passing by pipe g meets with the carbonic oxide, and entering into
immediate combustion with it, produces inteuse heat. The quantity of air to be
admitted by one or other of the two pipes g and his regulated and determined by
the governor valve arrangement to be presently described with reference to Figs 12,
13 and 14.
h
The products of combustion pass into a pipe i which terminates at its upper end
with a valve or valves j. Some of the heat from the furnace is transmitted to the
water contained in the water space k, and the steam therein generated passes into
the steam space and thence to a dome or mixing chamber m. When the pressure
of steam is greater than the pressure of the products of combustion within the

page_text: furnace a and its connections c,i, the valve j remains closed, but when the pressure
of the products exceeds that of the steam, the said valve opens and allows the
products to enter the dome or mixing chamber m When the products pass
through the valve they enter first a deflector n which tends to cause any particles
of solid matter to be directed downwards towards the bottom of the mixing
chamber. The combined steam and products when required for operating the
engine pass through an opening p. to a chamber 9 which is provided with a
perforated disc or plate r or other suitable strainer, so that any solid particle which
may be brought over by the combined steam and products, can be collected in tho
space t and subsequently removed by the door or cover u.
Fig 2 shews on an enlarged scale a sectional view of the dome or mixing
chamber m. In some cases we modify the arrangement above described, and place
the means of charging the generator with fuel in other positions, and we so arrange
the pipe or pipes which conveys or convey the products of combustion to the steam
that it is or they are mostly submerged in the water to which the heat is partially
transmitted and thus steam is more quickly generated.
Figs 3 and 4 shew respectively in sectional elevation and sectional plan an
arrangement of generator constructed according to this part of our invention.
a is the furnace provided with grate bars b, and c the vertical pipe through which
the fuel is fed. When the fire is first lighted the products of combustion pass by
a pipe i and thence to a suitable flue or chimney . When the fire has sufficiently
burnt up, the end of the pipe i is hermetically closed by a door, and the products
then pass by pipe to the dome or mixing chamber m-the pipes & and i³ being
mostly submerged in the water a large portion of the heat of the said products is,
as above stated, transmitted to the water and steam is more quickly generated.
The apparatus for feeding the furnace with fuel is shown in section in Fig 3-
and in detail in Figs 4, 5, 6 and 7.
-
A is a spherical fuel valve which bears upon a seating B and is suspended by a
chain to a groove wheel or roller C. When required to feed the furnace with fuel
the door D at the top of the fuel chamber E is removed and the fuel inserted,―the
door D is then closed and a cock or valve F opened and steam or products or both
are allowed to enter thereby into the fuel chamber E by which means the pressure
upon the upper side of the valve A is made equal with the pressure below so that
upon turning the spindle G upon which the groove wheel or roller C is fixed, the
fuel valve A can be lowered and the fuel above it allowed to fall upon the fire
beneath. The spindle G passes through a stuffing box H for the purpose of
preventing leakage and can be operated by a wheel J or it may be by a lever. The
valve A being spherical constitutes a combined valve and baffler.
In engines of the kind hereinbefore referred to as usually constructed it has
been found that after several hours working there is such an accumulation of
clinker and ashes upon the firegrate as to impede the flow of air through the fuel
thus rendering the engine less effective. In Fig 1 is shewn an arrangement
wherein, to obviate the objection, we provide in conjunction with the grate bars b
agitators in the form of bars or plates s attached to a spindle or rocking shaft r
which extends through a stuffing box to the outside of the generator, where it is
furnished with actuating apparatus such as a lever, wheel, or quadrant that may be
operated by hand or worked automatically by suitable gearing from the engine.
When the spindler is partially turned the agitator bars or plates & pass through
the openings between the grate bars b and agitate the fuel above them thus causing
the ashes to fall into the pit beneath, and the clinker to be broken or loosened.
In some cases instead of attaching the agitator bars or plates a to the rocking
shaft r we construct the said shaft in the form of a crank.
Figs 8, 9 and 10 illustrate respectively in sectional side elevation, in plan, and in
end elevation tbis modification of the agitating apparatus. The agitator bars or
plates are connected by bolts or spindles t carrying below slotted plates u
through which the cranked spindle or shaft ? passes. When therefore the said
shaft is partially revolved the agitator bars or plates & are caused to ascend and

page_text: descend as required through the openings between the grate bars 6 thus agitating
the fuel in the manner desired for the purpose before mentioned
For supplying the generator with atmospheric air we provide a pump or pumps
or blower or blowers in connection with the engine.
Fig 11 shows such an arrangement. a and bare air compressing pumps the
pistons c c¹ of which are connected together by a piston rod d, and arranged to be
operated by the engine in any convenient manner. ee' are air inlet valves through
which atmospheric air is drawn by the downward stroke of the pump pistons.
ff are air outlet valves through which the air compressed by the pistons is
delivered through the outlet pipe gy' to the air distributing valve apparatus to bo
hereinafter described. The upper portion of each pump is surrounded by a space
or jacket h h through which water from the feed pumps of the engine is caused to
flow for the purpose of taking up the heat due to compression of the air within the
pumps. When required to reduce or stop the supply of compressed air to the
generator we provide levers i having cam like projections jj. In the position
shewn in Fig 11 the said projections are free of the valves e, e' but when the
levers are moved in the direction indicated by arrows, the said valves are
depressed and prevented from closing, so that the atmospheric air can enter and be
discharged through the valves e c'. The valves ff consequently remain closed
and no compressed air can be delivered through the outlet pipes g g¹.
It will be seen that with this arrangement either or both of the pumps ab may
be thrown out of action. The compressed air delivered by the pump or pumps to
the outlet pipe is controlled in its passage to the generator by an air distributing
valve which by the action of the governor of the engine regulates and governs
the amount of air to be sent to the space above the fire, or to the space beneath the
grate bars of the furnace as before mentioned.
เ
is
Figs 12, 13 and 14 shew respectively an elevation, sectional end view, and
sectional plan of our improved air distributing valve for this purpose. The air
forced by the pump or pumps, or blower or blowers, is caused to pass through an
opening into a chamber or valve formed as a cylinder or part of a cylinder open
at its end and having a lateral orifice or port m. This chamber or valve
arranged within a casing n of a cylindrical or partially cylindrical form in which
there are two openings p 9-the opening p communicating with a pipe leading to
the space beneath the grate bars of the generator furnace, and the opening q
communicating with a pipe leading to the space above the fire on the said furnace
grate. The chamber or valve is attached to a spindler passing through a
metallic stuffing box 8 and connected by a lever or quadrant t to the governor of
the engine so that when the governor rises or falls, the chamber or valve is
partially rotated and presents its orifice or port m more or less to ono or tho
other or both of the openings p and q of the casing n so that the amount of air
admitted above or below the fire is regulated in accordance with the speed of the
governor.
In Figs 15, 16 and 17 is illustrated an arrangement according to our invention
for effecting automatically the "cut off" of motive fluid to the working cylinder or
cylinders, Fig 15 being a sectional elevation of the valve which is of cylindrical
or partially cylindrical shape and has applied to it the automatic "cut off"
arrangement.
A is a partially cylindrical slide valve which admits the motive fluid to the
working cylinder and allows the same to be discharged as exhaust after operating
the piston. B is a cylindrical casing provided with the necessary ports C D E
and F.-G is a slide or valve which is capable of closing the port H, and stopping
the supply of motive fluid from the generator.
Fig 16 is a front elevation shewing the arrangement in connection with the
governor for automatically effecting the cut off..
Fig 17 is a sectional plan of the improved valve and cut off arrangement.
The "cut off" valve G is arranged to be operated by a lever J which is attached
to a sleeve K. To this sleeve is also attached a disc or catch plate L having a

page_text: notch or depression M. The said sleeve K is formed with a conical end N which
fits a conical seating, for the purpose of acting as a preventitive to leakage between
it and the spindle.O. A similar arrangement is also used as at P for preventing
leakage between the sleeve and the cover Q of the valve casing B. The partially
cylindrical slide valve A is attached to the spindle O and receives a reciprocating
motion from a cam, eccentric or equivalent through the connecting rod R and
lever S which carries at its opposite end a pawl or hooked catch T. The said pawl
is jointed at U to the lever S and is kept in position to engage with the notch M
of the catch plate L by a spring so that when the connecting rod R. and lever S
are moved in the direction indicated by arrows the pawl T causes the catch plato L
to be also moved and with it the sleeve K and lever J-thereby operating the
cut off valve G and allowing the motive fluid to freely enter the casing B and
thenco to flow through the ports C, D, E to the cylinder as indicated by arrows
in Fig 15 The governor of the engine is arranged to operate a lever V (or it may
be a quadrant or rack or equivalent) and to give motion to a toothed wheel or
portion of a wheel W which gears with a toothed quadrant X. This quadrant
carries a pin or projection Y so that the motion of the governor is transmitted
to the said pin or projection Y and varies its position according to the speed of the
engine.
When the lever S is moved in the direction indicated by arrows in Fig 16 the
pawl T is also moved and engaging with the catch plate L operates the cut off
slide G, as before described, but when an inclined part 2 of the pawl T comes in
contact with the pin or projection Y the said pawl is raised clear of the notch M,
whereupon a spring a or its equivalent moves back the catch plate L and with it
the valve C, thereby effecting the "cut off" of motive fluid automatically in
accordance with the speed of the engine. It will be obvious that although this
arrangement is shewn in connection with a cylindrical or partially cylindrical
valve yet it can be applied to valves having a flat face, and to valves for other
descriptions of engines with equal benefit without departure from the naturo of this
part of our invention, the distinguishing feature of which is that the motion used
to operate the valve for admitting motive fluid to the cylinder at the same time
opens the cut off valve whilst the governor of the engine is capable of determining
at what period the said cut off valve shall be closed.
Figs 18 and 19 represent in elevation and plan respectively the general arrange-
ment of an engine constructed according to this invention.
a is the generator, b the mixing chamber in which the combined steam and
products are received, c the pipe for conveying the motive fluid to the cylindrical
or partially cylindrical valve d, e the working cylinder, the pump for compressing
air, g the air distributing valve operated by the governor of the ongino, h the door
for access to the fire, i the door for removing ashes, ; the fuel feeding chamber and
k the wheel for operating the fuel feeding apparatus.
Having described the nature of the said invention and the manner in which
the same is to be carried into practical effect I would have it understood that what
we consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as secured to us under the
Letters Patent first hereinabove in part recited is ;-
1 In a caloric engine the use of a combined rotort and steam generator wherein
some of the heat is utilized to generate steam which is afterwards mixed with
the products of combustion of the fuel consumed in the retort, such mixture being
subsequently cleansed by deposit of solid matters as the mixture proceeds to the
working cylinder or cylinders wherein it is employed as the actuating fluid sub-
stantially as described.
2 In a caloric engine the use of a combined retort and steam generator con-
structed arranged and operating as hereinabove described with reference to Figs
3 and 4 of the drawings.
3 Providing the retort or generator with a fuel feeding arrangement with
spherical combined valve and baffler as described and shewn.

page_text: 4. In a caloric (or combined caloric and steam) engine providing the furnace
grate of the retort or generator with agitators operated by a spindle or shaft
worked by hand or by power to prevent accumulation of clinker substantially as
described.
6. In a caloric (or combined caloric and steam) engine the arrangement sub-
stantially as described whereby the pump or pumps used for supplying the retort
or generator with air can be thrown out of action as above set forth.
6. In a caloric (or combined caloric and steam) engine the use of a valve of
cylindrical or partially cylindrical form arranged to work within a casing and so
operated by the governor of the engine as to regulate and govern the supply of air
to the retort or generator above or below or above and below the fire substantially
as described for the purpose specified.
7. The use for controlling admission and emission of motive fluid to an engine
of a valve of cylindrical or partially cylindrical form working within a corre-
spondingly formed casing or chamber the arrangement being such that the motive
fluid is caused to act against both the back and the face or front of the valve in
such a manner that it tends to equalise the pressure and prevent undue friction
substantially as described.
8 In an engine wherein a valve for controlling the admission and emission of
motive fluid to and from the working cylinder is used in conjunction with a cut off
valve causing the motion used to operate the valve for admitting motive fluid
to the said cylinder to simultaneously open the cut off valve and the closing of
the cut off valve to be controlled by the governor of the engine as required
substantially as described
9 The improved combined valve arrangement constructed arranged and operating
as shewn in and described with reference to Figs 15, 16 and 17. of the drawings
for the purpose specified.
In Witness whereof I the said Charles Ingrey have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fourth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
ALLADTES IN DEV Gal