AN IMPROVED METHOD OF INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF THERMO-DYNAMIC ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JAMES HARGREAVES, of Widnes in the county of Lancaster Chemical Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF THERMO-DYNAMIC ENGINES to be as follows:-
My present invention consists in a method of saturating with vapour the air
In
used to actuate the piston in thermo-dynamic, that is hot air or gas engines
compressing the necessary air I inject water in the form of spray along with the
air into the air compressor which said water serves to keep the said compressor
cool and diffuses a quantity of water vapour amongst the air. The said air and
diffused vapour together with any excess of unevaporated water from the said
spray is then inade to traverse a vessel which is heated by the hot exhaust gases
from the engine preferably in such manner that the said exhaust gases pass in a
direction the reverse of that of the compressed air and vapour then on their way
to the working cylinder. The heat of the exhaust gases causes the said excess of
water from the spray to form vapour which diffuses itself amongst the said
compressed air notwithstanding that the said water may be below its normal
boiling point, and adds to the pressure an amount which is equal to the tension of
the water vapour at the temperature to which the said compressed air is raised.
Dated this first day of January 1884.

page_text: "
I, JAMES HARGREAVES of Widnes in the County of Lancaster, Chemical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF THERMO DYNAMIC ENGINES and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My present invention consists in a method of saturating with vapour the air
used to actuate the piston in thermo-dynamic, that is hot air or gas engines. In
compressing the necessary air I inject water in the form of spray along with the air
into the air compressor, which said water serves to keep the said compressor cool
and diffuses a quantity of water vapour amongst the air. The said air and diffused
vapour together with any excess of unevaporated water from the said spray is then
made to traverse a vessel which is heated by the hot exhaust gases from the engine,
preferably in such manner that the said exhaust gases pass in a direction the
reverse of that of the compressed air and vapour then on their way to the working
cylinder. The heat of the exhaust gases causes the said excess of water from the
spray to form vapour which diffuses itself amongst the said compressed air, not-
withstanding that the said water may be below its normal boiling point, and adds
to the pressure an amount which is equal to the tension of the water vapour at the
temperature to which the said compressed air is raised.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have appended hereto a
drawing of apparatus suitable for carrying my improvements into effect. a repre-
sents part of the cylinder of a compressing pump, b inlet valve, d spray producer,
e delivery valve chamber, f vessel divided into two zig zag passages g and h by
diaphragms and plates i j. The diaphragms are made with lips k to retain water
carried over until such water is vapourized and diffused. way from passage g to
engine, m way from working cylinder to passage h. n exhaust pipe.
Air mixed with spray flows past the valve b into the compressing cylinder a
thence along the zig zag passages g and through the way to the engine, whilst
the hot exhaust products from the working cylinder of the engine flow through the
way m and passage h to the exhaust pipe n. The mixed air and water vapour
leave the vesself and enter the working cylinder at a high temperature and
pressure whilst the exhaust products pass away cooled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. Increasing the efficiency of thermo dynamic engines by saturating with
water vapour the air used to actuate the piston substantially as herein described.
Second. In thermo dynamic engines where the air is saturated with water
vapour as claimed above employing the exhaust products for vapourizing water to
be used with air in actuating the piston substantially as herein described.
Dated this 24th day of September 1884
J. T. KING,
Per J. Richman,
Agent for the Applicant.