Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1887
Complete Left, 7th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr.. 1888
1, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been communi-
cated to me from abroad by Alexandre Ciurcu, of Gennevilliers in the Republic of
France, publicist, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for propelling vehicles, boats,
balloons äerial machines and like purposes by the reaction of gas under pressure
escaping from a contracted orifice.
The gas may be advantageously generated by the combustion of a compound
consisting of say about seventy eight per cent of nitrate of ammonia and about
twenty two per cent of petroleum. To this mixture is added about seven per cent
of wood charcoal previously soaked in a concentrated solution of nitrate of ammonia.
A compound of this description contains within itself all the elements necessary for
its combustion and can consequently be burned in a closed air-tight vessel in order to
generate the required volume of gas.
The compound is preferably burned in a cylindrical vessel being placed in a sort of
spoon or shovel which is introduced through a door opening inwards at one end of the
vessel and is left in the vessel while the materials are burning. The door is closed
air-tight by a screw acting on a lever and when the combustion of the compound has
generated enough gas to produce the required pressure the gas is allowed to escape
through suitable valves operated by hand or otherwise. The nozzles or outlet orifices
may be so arranged as to enable the boat or the like to be propelled in any desired
direction by opening and closing different valves and the cylindrical vessel is provided
with suitable safety valves manometers, pyrometers, and other requisites." When
the shovel-full of compound is consumed a fresh supply is introduced, two or more
vessels being employed in order to obtain a continuous or uninterrupted supply
of gas.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus and Means for Propelling by Reaction.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been communi-
cated to me from abroad by Alexandre Ciurcu of Gennevilliers in the Republic of
France Publicist and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for propelling vehicles, boats,
balloons, aerial machines and like purposes by the reaction of gas under pressure
escaping from a contracted orifice.
The gas may be advantageously generated by the combustion of a compound
consisting of say about seventy eight per cent of nitrate of ammonia intimately mixed
without about twenty two per cent of petroleum. To this mixture is added about seven
per cent of wood charcoal previously broken into small fragments and soaked in a con-
centrated solution of nitrate of aminonia.
A compound of this description contains within itself all the elements necessary for
its combustion and can consequently be burned in a closed air tight vessel in order to
generate the required volume of gas.
This compound is burned in a closed vessel, and when the combustion of the com-
pound has generated enough gas to produce the required pressure the gas is allowed to
escape through suitable valves operated by hand or otherwise. The nozzles or outlet
orifices may be so arranged as to enable the boat or the like to be propelled in any
desired direction by opening and closing different valves and the closed vessel or
generator is provided with suitable safety valves manometers pyrometers and other
requisites. When one charge of the compound is consumed a fresh supply is intro-
duced and two or more vessels may be employed in order to obtain a continuous or
uninterrupted supply of gas.
A method of realizing this invention is hereinafter described in detail with reference
to drawings but this apparatus can of course be varied in form, proportions, and
respective position of the parts according to circumstances.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
coresponding parts in both the figures.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent respectively a longitudinal
section and an end elevation of a propeller apparatus constructed according to this
invention and applied to a boat. This apparatus consists of a horizontal steel cylinder A
forming a closed vessel or generator in which the combustion of the compound and its
conversion into gas takes place.
This generator is closed in front by a door P opening inwards being pressed againsi.
its seat by the internal pressure so as to prevent any escape of gas.

page_text: A lever Loscillating on pivots and y Figure 2, serves both for opening the door P
(as shown by dotted lines Figure 1) the said door being fixed to the lever and also
enables the door to be closed air-tight in order to close the opening before there is any
internal pressure. This lever is operated by a lateral handle p, Figure 2 and is tightened
by means of a screw V connected to the side of the generator and provided with
handles p' pl. In order that the operation of charging the generator A may be
performed rapidly the combustible is put beforehand into receptacles of thin sheet iron
in the form of a large spoon or shovel C Figure 1 of about half the length of the
generator. This spoon or shovel C being filled with gas producing materials such as
those hereinbefore described is introduced into the generator A being supported on
guides c and is drawn out again to be refilled after the complete combustion of the
charge.
Several spoons or shovels are prepared beforehand to prevent interruption of supply
of gas. The lighting of the charge can be effected in different ways, but a simple
method consists in throwing some pieces of red hot charcoal carbon on the compound
just before closing the door P.
As this combustible is a compound of substances containing in themselves all the
necessary elements for combustion in an airtight vessel, the charge when once alight
is entirely converted into gas although all communication with the air outside is
prevented. The gas which is formed in large amount accumulates in the vacant space
in the generator and if only a relatively small exit be made for the gas the pressure
immediately becomes considerable.
When the pressure has reached the point at which the apparatus is to be worked the
sectional area of the outlet passage is enlarged by opening a valve R, by means of a
handle thus enabling the gas to escape with force through an orifice O and pro-
ducing a reaction tending to impart movement to the apparatus in the opposite
direction. Supposing the apparatus be fixed to a vehicle or to a boat (as shewn in the
drawings) or to the car of a balloon this thrust will be transmitted to the system on
which the apparatus is fixed. Consequently the vehicle boat or balloon will be pro-
pelled in the direction opposite to that in which the gas is escaping.
According as the internal pressure indicated by a manometer M increases or
diminishes, the opening of the valve R is increased or diminished so as to maintain as
constant a pressure as possible. A valve placed above the valve R and operated
by a handle q allows the gas to escape through an orifice i independently of its exit
by the orifice O. This valve Q discharges the gas through two lateral tubes fitted in
the orifice in such a way that the escaping jets or streams materially counteract one
another; but each of the lateral tubes being provided with an independent valve
lateral thrusts or impulses to the right or left are obtained as desired by allowing the
gas to escape separately through the right tube or through the left and in this way it
is possible to direct or steer the whole system in any desired direction. It is needless
to say that the number of the tubes and valves is not limited to that shown in the
drawing and can be varied according to requirement.
The regulating valve R can also be replaced by valves fixed on the orifice O,
regulated beforehand for the pressures necessary to produce the desired speed being
opened automatically by the pressure of the gas. These valves when employed are placed
in a line with the horizontal axis of the generator in order that the projection of the
gas may act in the same direction and produce a horizontal reaction. Automatic
valves can be fitted on in cases where it is necessary to dispense with constant
attention on the part of the operator.
The generator is also provided with two safety valves S and S¹ as well as a
pyrometer N.
When it is desired to obtain a perfectly continuous action two or more generators
are provided which are alternately charged with the combustible compound and which
are connected by means of tubes to a small gas reservoir carrying the valves and
tubes for the propelling and guiding jets.
The communicating tubes between the burners and the reservoir are provided with
valves which open or close according as the respective generator is in work or not,

page_text: that is to say according as a charge of the combustible compound is being consumed
therein or preparation is being made for burning a charge while the other or next
generator is in action.
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
1. A propeller working by the force of reaction produced by gases escaping at
high pressure or tension through an orifice or orifices discharging the gas in a thin
stream or through a bent or other tube or tubes the said gases being contained in a
chamber or vessel or chambers or vessels preferably cylindrical in shape, and hermeti-
cally closed in which the gases are generated and are compressed at high pressures
without the aid of exterior force, all substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The combustible materials capable of burning in a closed vessel and leaving no
solid remains or residue and being capable of generating by their combustion in
closed vessels gases which are suitable for use in propelling apparatus operating by
reaction the said materials being prepared substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 7th day of March 1888.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.