IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Louis Waelput at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd January 1878.
LOUIS WAELPUT, of Ghent, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Captain in the Belgian
Army. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE
POWER."
The object of this Invention is to obtain motive power by the alternate volatili-
zation and condensation of highly volatile liquids, such as ether, highly volatile
hydrocarbons, or other liquids which can be quickly vaporized by heat, and as
quickly condensed by cold.
In carrying out the Invention, liquids of different densities or specific gravities
are employed, and such liquids should not be soluble in each other, so that when
two or more such liquids are placed in the same vessel, they will arrange themselves
one above the other, according to their specific gravities, as oil floats above water.
It is well known that most liquids are very bad conductors of heat, so much so
is this the case that if a vessel of moderate depth be filled with water for instance,
the upper portion of the water might be brought almost to the boiling point without
sensibly affecting that portion which is at the bottom of the vessel. In fact, a piece
of ice would remain for some time undissolved at the bottom while the water is
boiling at the top.
It will be easily understood that the precise form and arrangement of the
apparatus to be employed in carrying out my Invention will depend upon the
particular liquids used, but the general features and principle of construction will
be always the same.
Various volatile liquids may be used for the purposes of my Invention; but
suppose, for example, that ether be the volatile liquid employed, then a solution
of chloride of calcium, which is insoluble in ether, may be employed in conjunction
therewith. The ether will float on the surface of the chloride of calcium, but will
never combine therewith.
The apparatus consists of two vessels, more or less cylindrical, placed vertically
or at an inclination, and communicating with a cylinder in which works a piston

page_text: and piston rod. The upper part of these vessels is heated by a suitable furnace or
otherwise, while the lower part is kept quite cold by a suitable refrigerant.
The apparatus is worked, as already stated, by means of two liquids of different
degrees of volatility, and placed one above the other in each of the two vessels
which are closed at top and bottom. The communication between the two close
vessels is interrupted by the piston in the third or intermediate cylinder. The
volatile liquid is converted into vapour almost instantaneously by being heated
from above, or by its passage from the lower and cooler part to the hotter or upper
part of the vessel.
The condensation of the vapour is effected by the application of refrigerants
externally, or by being carried down to the lower and cooler part of the vessel. It will
now be understood that the ether is alternately volatilized and condensed, and that
while the ether in one vessel is being heated (so as to be converted into vapour in
one vessel), the ether in the other vessel is being at the same time condensed.
The piston in the working cylinder is driven up by the expansion of the ether
in one of the vessels, and is then driven down by the expansion of the ether in the
second vessel, and thereby a reciprocating motion is obtained. The superposition
of the two liquids admits of the volatile liquid being prevented from coming in
contact with the working piston, which may therefore be surrounded by a lubri-
cating liquid, such as oil. No loss from leakage of the ether can therefore take
place.
The ether or other volatile liquid is contained in bell-shaped vessels opened at
bottom, and placed within the close vessels. These bell-shaped vessels are connected
with external gearing, which is acted on by cranks or excentrics on the crank shaft,
so that they are alternately raised and lowered, and by this means are alternately
carried from the cold to the hot part of the vessels, and vice versa.
When the volatile liquid is expanded by the heat it presses on the denser liquid,
which transfers the pressure to the piston and drives it forward. By thus alternately
heating and cooling the volatile liquid in the two vessels, by raising and lowering
the two bell-shaped vessels alternately, a reciprocating motion will be given to the a
piston in the working cylinder, and motive power will be imparted to the crank
shaft.