Engine Worked by Combined Air and Liquid under Pressure.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left; 31st Aug., 1895-Accepted, 5th Oct.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Motor Engine Worked by Combined Air and Liquid under Pressure.
I, LEON AULIT of 24 Rue Chatelain, Brussels in the Kingdom of Belgium,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
―
The motor engine which forms the subject of the present invention is based on
the following hydrostatic principle.
When a pressure is exerted on a body of liquid at any point, this pressure is
transmitted at a uniform intensity in all directions throughout the mass. According
to my invention | cause a fluid maintained under a certain pressure in a reservoir,
to act alternately upon two discs or pistons, each connected to the oue end of au
elbow lever; the other end of these levais is guided in a straight line, and is
connected by means of a rigid rod and pivoted connecting rod to the pin of a crank
on the engine shaft.
The supports of these elbow levers are afforded by plungers contained in
cylindrical vessels filled with the same fluid as that acting upon the discs above
mentioned.
In the following description shall speak only of a liquid, or water and air, but
it is to he understood that any suitable fluid may be used for the purposes of my
invention.
The effort exerted by the resultant of the force acting at one end of the lever and
the resistance acting at the other end thereof tends to burst the cylindrical vessel
but has no appreciable influence upon it for causing it to move in one direction
or the other or for opposing a motion of such vessel produced by an extraneous
force.
Assuming therefore that the motive force be greater than the resistance, the part
of the lever to which this is applied will be moved the direction determined by its
guide.
As before stated the liquid is made to act alternately and in the same manner
upon both the levers; these are arranged in reverse positions, and as they, as also
the cylindrical vessels of the supports are connected with each other I obtain a
rectilinear to and fro motion which is easily transformable into the rotary motion of
the crank.
The motor engine is constructed as follows for carrying out the above described
method of operating.
The reservoir containing the liquid under pressure is a vertical cylinder containing
two pistons which divide its interior into three compartments of which the bottom
one is filled with liquid while the top one is filled with liquid and compressed air;
the intermediate compartment communicates with the atmosphere by an opening in
the side of the cylinder and only serves to separate the other two and to allow any
leakage of liquid and air from these to escape.
The two pistons are fixed on the same rod and the pressure in the upper and
lower compartments is equal; the piston rod is extended upwards so as to butt
against the cylinder cover and thus prevent too much liquid from entering the
bottom compartment when filling.

page_text: It also projects downwards from the lower piston so as to act as a stop for
preventing the upper piston from covering passages presently referred to.
The bottom of the cylinder has a gutter for collecting any liquid that may leak
past the pistons.
At a small distance from the bottom, the reservoir is provided with a discharge
cock, to which, when required, is attached a force pump for introducing liquid on
starting at the same level is also provided a pressure gauge, and a safety valve,
consisting by preference of a cylindrical casing having a lateral escape opening and
in the lower end of which is the valve closing the discharge pipe from the reservoir
and kept down by a helical spring the pressure of which is regulated by a cap
screwed on the upper end of the casing.
Furthermore, the reservoir is provided at the same level with a reducing valve-
apparatus consisting of a cylinder closed at each cud and connected at the upper
end with the lower compartment of the reservoir; the upper cover carries on its
underside a guide for the stem of a conical reducing valve, the height of which is
regulated by a screw nut at the upper end of the stem.
n
Below the valve is a piston having a longitudinal passage through it and having
at the upper end of this passage a seat for the said valve so that when not closed by
the valve, the passage establishes a communication between the upper and lower
sides of the piston.
The bottom cover of the cylinder has internally a cup leather fitting the cylinder
and a central passage with tubular extension extending downward below the cover,
through which passes the rod of the before described piston. The tubular extension
is threaded externally and on it is screwed a hand wheel carrying a disc between
which and a similar disc on the lower end of the piston rod is mounted a helical
spring in tension, so that the pull exerted by the latter upon the rod and piston is
regulated by screwing the hand wheel up or down. Thus the liquid pressure cutering
the top of the cylinder forces the piston and valve sent downwards against the
action of the spring until the liquid can pass between the valve and its seat into
the space below the pisten, and would establish an equilibrium if the tension of the
spring did not cause the piston to rise again until its seat fits the valve again, so
that the liquid pressure below the piston is always less than that above to an extent
regulated by the spring and which is indicated by a pressure gauge.
According to another construction of the reducing valve apparatus, the lower
part of the cylinder is of larger diameter than the upper part and contains a second
piston attached to the tubular stem of the upper smaller one, which is the same as
above described.
On admitting fluid pressure above the upper piston this will be forced down so
as to open the valve and allow the fluid pressure to pass below the lower piston,
whereupon owing to the greater area of the latter it, as also the upper piston, will
be raised up again until a certain lower pressure is maintained below the lower
piston that will keep the valves in equilibrio.
Referring again to the above described reservoir, the lower piston is provided
with a cock for the escape of tho air from the lower compartment when being
charged with liquid.
On the level of the upper compartment is also provided a discharge cock, to
which may, when required, be attached an air compressing pump, the compartment
being provided with a pressure gauge. The pipe leading from the reducing valve
is provided with a regulating valve controlled by a centrifugal governor driven by
the engine for controlling the discharge of liquid under pressure from the reservoir
to the distributing apparatus whence it passes to the motor engine. The distributor
consists of a horizontal cylinder containing two piston slide valves mounted on the
same spindle and receiving a to and fro motion from au eccentric.
The cylinder communicates by a pipe situated at its middle with the above
mentioned regulating valve controlled by the governor. On each side of such middle
pipe, are two other pipes communicating with the engine cylinders to be presently
described, through a reversing apparatus, so that by the to and fro motion of the

page_text: piston valves, the middle supply pipe is put alternately in communication with oue
or other of the last named pipes, so as to alternate the supply of fluid pressure to
the engine cylinders.
At the same time the second pipe puits the other cylinder in cominunication with
the atmosphere through an opening in the end of the valve casing.
For reversing the motion of the engine, a reversing apparatus is provided
consisting of a cylindrical casing, with which the said pipes of the distributor
communicate, and which contains four pistons connected to a rod which can
be moved longitudinally by a screw or other gear. The space between each
pair of pistons is made to communicate on the one hand with one of the before
mentioned pipes from the distributor, and on the other hand with two of four other
pipes leading from the casing of the reversing apparatus to the two engine cylinders
|8ი, that by the movement of the pistons in the casing each distributor pipe can be
put in communication with either of the engine cylinders, according to the direction
in which rotation is to be effected.
The pump for supplying liquid and air under pressure to the reservoir consists
of a vertical cylinder having two pistons which divide its interior into three
compartments and which are fixed on one rod actuated by a crank on the engine
shaft. The lower compartment of the cylinder is in communication with the lower
compartiment of the reservoir, and supplies liquid thereto, while the upper
compartment communicates with the upper compartment of the reservoir and
supplies this with compressed air. The middle compartment is in communication
with the atmosphere, and serves to discharge any liquid that may leak past the two
pistons. The upper and lower compartments of the cylinder are connected by pipes
having suction and discharge valves respectively with a tank containing liquid, and
with the compartments of the cylinder, the suction pipe to the upper compartment
being so arranged as to draw in a small quantity of liquid together with the air for
supplying both to the upper compartment of the reservoir. The tank is divided
into two separate compartments by a vertical portion which communicate respectively
with one of the suction pipes, and also with a return pipe for the used liquid.
The motor engine consists of two vertical cylinders, situated one above the other
and connected firmly together at a certain distance apart by columns, in which
cylinders are pistons capable of very slight vertical motion. They are closed at
top by covers and have at their lower open ends a circular gutter for collecting auy
liquid that may escape past the discs.
The piston rods pass downwards through guides and are pivoted to blocks on
the ends of two elbow levers, mounted on pivots carried by plungers sliding through
stuffing boxes in cylindrical vessels that are filled with liquid under pressure
supplied from the before mentioned reservoir.
The other arms of the elbow levers are forked and are pivoted to the opposite
ends of a horizontal bar, the middle of which is pivotted on the one hand to sliding
blocks, sliding between fixed horizontal guides and on the other hand to a connecting
rod, the other end of which is connected to the crank of the engine shaft.
The two cylinders are framed rigidly together with the two cylindrical
receptacles carrying the plungers and elbow levers, and also with the sliding
blocks and horizontal bar pivoted thereto and the whole is mounted to slide
horizontally to and fro on suitable guides. Thus on admitting liquid under
pressure from the reservoir say to the upper cylinder, the piston thereof will
exercise a corresponding pressure to its elbow lever, the other arm of which will
transmit such pressure through the horizontal bar and sliding blocks, causing these
parts, together with the others connected thereto, to move together, say, to the
right hand, and at the same time effecting the semi-rotation of the crank shaft
by means of the convecting rod pivoted to the sliding blocks. At the end of
the stroke an eccentric or cam on the crank shaft reverses the position of the
admission valve, causing the liquid under pressure to enter the lower cylinder
whereupon the piston hereof in acting, upon its elbow lever will effect the motion
of the parts to the left hand, so as to complete the revolution of the crank shaft.

page_text: -
In steamers or locomotives a small separate motor engine, similar in construction
to the above may be provided for charging the reservoir with fluid under pressure..
When the fluid pressure is acting upon the one piston, it is at: the same time.
puit in communication with the cylindrical vessel of the plunger belonging to
the other cylinder and piston, in order to make good any leakage of liquid that,
may have occurred during the previous stroke.
As the cylinders that receive the fluid pressure from the reservoir have a to.
and fro motion as described the pipes supplying the fluid pressure are made
either with telescopic, or with articulated joints.
A motor engine may be constructed with two or more such pairs of cylinders
and mechanism connected therewith, each pair being made to act on separate
cranks on the engine shaft arranged at any desired angle to each other.
Dated this 1st day of November 1894.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Motor Engine Worked by Combined Air and Liquid under Pressure..
I, LEON AULIT, of 24 Rue Chatelain, Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
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 motor engine which forms the subject of the present invention is based
on the following hydrostatic principle. When a certain pressure is exerted at
one point upon a liquid, this pressure is transmitted in every direction with equal
intensity. In carrying out my invention 1 cause a liquid or fluid maintained
under certain pressure in a reservoir to act alternately upon two discs or pistons
ench connected to one end of an elbow lever the other ends of which levers are
caused to move in a straight line and are connected by a rigid bar and con-
necting rod to the pin of a crank which is made thereby to impart rotary motion.
to a driving shaft. The fulera of the said levers are constituted by pistons or
plungers in cylinder boxes filled with the same liquid as that acting on the above.
mentioned pistons. In the following I shall only speak of liquids or water, but it
is to be understood that any suitable fluid may be used for the invention.
By the above described arrangement, the effort of the resultant of the force
acting at one cud of the said lever und of the resistance offered at the other
end tends to put a bursting strain on the cylinder box supporting the fulcrum,
but has no perceptible influence upon it for imparting motion thereto, or for
opposing the movement thereof by an extraneous force. Therefore assuming
the said force acting on the lever to be greater than the resistance, the end of the
lever to which the latter is applied will receive a motion in the direction
permitted by its guide.
The liquid being made to act alternately and in the same manner upon the
two levers, which are arranged in opposite positions, and the above described
parts as also the cylinders supporting the fulera, being connected together, it
follows that a rectilinear to and fro movement of these parts is obtained which can
readily be converted into a rotary motion of the crank shaft.
+ will describe the construction of the motor engine operating in the above
described manner with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shews a side elevation, partly in section, of the motor engine.
Fig. 2 is a plan, Fig. 3 a cross section on line XX Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5 and
shew separate views of the plunger supporting the fulcrum, and of the guide.
A is a vertical cylinder, serving as reservoir in which the acting liquid is
Baintained at the required pressure and divided into three compartments C, D, E,

page_text: same rod K
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The lower compartment E is filled with liquid while the upper compartment C
contains liquid and compressed air and the middle compartment D which is con-
nection with the atmosphere, only serves to separate the other two compartments,
and for discharging the air or water that might escape between the cylinder and
the pistons.
This reservoir is provided with various apparatus such as safety valves, a water
level indicator for the upper compartment, a pressure gauge, discharge cocks, and a
double acting pump serving as feed pump and air compresser.
A centrifugal governor actuated by the engine shaft, acts upon a valve which is
interposed between the device or devices for reducing pressure, and consequently
between the chamber E of the reservoir A on one hand, and the distributing
apparatus on the other hand.
The apparatus for distributing the liquid to the motor consists of a cylinder Ģ
having its axis horizontal and containing two pistons, which act as slide valves and
are mounted on one and the same rod which is actuated by means of an eccentric.
The cylinder communicates through the pipe m with the valve actuated by the
governor aforesaid, and through this means with the chamber E of the reservoir A.
This pipe m is placed alternately in communication with the pipes n i which
convey the liquid to the two pistons herein after described.
The pipen serves to connect the pipe m with the motor. The pipoi effects
communication between the other piston of the motor and the atmosphere through
holes formed in the two covers of the distributing cylinder, in order to remove the
pressure from the said piston. The to and fro movement of the piston valves thus
causes the pressure of the liquid contained in E to act alternately upon the two
pistons of the motor.
If it is desired that the motor shall be capable of reversing its motion, it is
sufficient to add thereto the apparatus for reversing the direction of the motion of
the engine (reversing gear) which consists of a cylindrical body II (Fig. 1)
containing four pistons mounted on one and the same screw threaded rod to which
there can be imparted a longitudinal forward or rearward movement by means of a
small hand wheel h.
This cylinder communicates at one side with the pipes and of the distributing
apparatus, and is provided at the other side with the pipes a, t, u, v.
The result is that on turning the hand wheel in one or the other direction, the
pipes a, i, are placed either in communication with the pipes and v, or with the pipes &
and. But as these four pipes are connected together in pairs (as will be seen
hereinafter) to the cylinders in which are situated the piston discs of the motor, the
motor will be caused to move either in the one or the other direction.
The engine is also provided with a double acting pump which has the duty of
constantly supplying the reservoir A with the water and air necessary therefor.
The motor proper is composed of two cylindrical bodies F and F', arranged one
on top of the other, and connected firmly together by means of columns U Ü.
In these cylinders are pistons K K' to which a very slight vertical movement is
imparted.
The cylinders are closed at the top by means of covers. The rods of the pistons K.
and K' are moveably jointed to slide blocks L L at the ends of levers M and M',
the fulera of which are constituted by trunnions Q Q and rests. by means of
plungers OO in cylindrical boxes P P filled with the liquid from the reservoir A.
N N' are forked levers also fixed to the truuuious QQ Their position on these
is regulated in such a manner relatively to the levers M M', that the resultant of
the force acting at L, and of the resistance acting at S, shall be in the prolongation
of the axis of the pistou O.
The relation between the length of the levers M M' and N N' is variable. In
the example given in the accompanying drawing this relation is 1:2 so that the
axis S is acted upon by à force double that which acts at L.

page_text: The trunnions S S are connected by monus of the connecting rod V composed of
Two parts which at their junction support the shaft W to which there is pivotted
the driving connecting rod E' whichi operates the crank and the driving shaft.
Upon this shaft W there are also pivotted two slide blocks X which work in
guides and which are rigidly connected to the cover of the cylinder. F. These
guides are connected by the uprights T to the base plates R' and guide the
shaft W in a straight line.
The lower cylinder is connected by means of lugs XX to the cylinder
boxes PP, so that the following parts, the cylinders F, the cylindrical
boxes PP, the connecting rod V, the levers MN, MN are framed rigidly
together and have imparted to them the same to and fro motion.
The cylinder boxes P P are vessels of cast iron of elliptical horizontal section
into which the plungers 00 work obliquely. A packing is provided to form a
hermetic joint around these pistous. It is necessary to provide in this packing a
chamber designed to receive the air which is then expelled by means of a cock.
The flanges are cast in one with a guide O for the plunger, which guide is
shaped to suit the plunger. Under the flanges of the cylinder boxes P P¹ there are
fixed slide blocks Ġ' working on the slide ways II' fixed to the base plates R', and
designed to guide the cylinder boxes in a straight line. Uprights D" cast in one
with the cylinder boxes are provided internally with a shoulder under which are
fitted the blocks E, in the middle of which there is a small groove.
Under these blocks E" are fitted the moveable guides of the plungers O.
These guides are formed at their lower part with a shoulder having a slightly
curved surface, and are provided with a tooth which enters in the groove of the
blocks E. The upper part of these moveable parts is also provided with a shoulder
having a convex surface and provided with a tooth in such a manner as to fit upon
the bearing G of the plunger. These hearings are bolted on the cross pieces H"
which are fixed by means of bolts on supports D" in the plunger.
The communication between the distributing apparatus herein beforo described, or
if required, between the reversing apparatus and the cylinders FF is effected
through the pipes in or the pipes s, t, u, u which connect with the pipes w" that are
in duplicate, that is to say, that are provided at both ends of the engine.
The pipes I are telescopic so as to allow the ascending pipes I which open into
the cylinders FF" to follow the to and fro movement of these latter. From each
of the pipes there branches off a pipe communicating by means of a valve with
one of the cylinder boxes P. P¹.
Whilst the pressure liquid is acting in the engine cylinder F, it is in com-
munication with the cylinder box Pl so as to re-establish in said cylinder box, the
pressure which may have become diminished by reason of leakage or otherwise.
The same connection exists between the cylinder and the cylinder-box 1' for the
same purpose.
When the desired pressure has been re-established, that is to say, when the
cylinder boxes are filled, the valves will close automatically by their own weight,
increased by the action of n helically coiled spring. The following is the mode of
operation of the motor.
When the desired pressure has been given to the liquid contained in the
chamber of the reservoir A, the pressure liquid passes through the pressure
reducing device, the valve of the regulator or governor, and the reversing
apparatus, and acts through one of the pipes I, upon the upper piston K for
instance, and also through the medium of the levers M N exerts power upon the
shaft S.
The fulcrum Q, acting through the plunger O upon the liquid contained in the
cylinder box has no appreciable action to cause the latter to move back. The
force acting at S will therefore have for its result to cause the connecting rods V
and E, the cylinders FF, and the cylinder boxes P P to advance from right to
left, and to causo the crank and the engine shaft to revolve.
Through the medium of the latter and of the eccentric keyed on it, the pistons of

page_text: |the distributing apparatus are moved so as to cause the pressure of the liquid in the
chamber E to act upon the lower piston K', and consequently through the medium.
of the levers M' N₁ causes the connecting rods V and E, the cylinders F F¹ &c.
to move from left to right. The motion thus becomes arcontinuous one.
1
In cugines for ships and locomotives I modify the distribution of the water to the-
motor cylinders F F and to the cylinder boxes P P
In these kinds of engines 1 employ several pairs of motor cylinders provided
with cylinder boxes and operating as hereinbefore described. Each of the pipes 5, 7.
supplies water to one or more of the motor cylinders F, and also at the same time
to those of the cylinder boxes P which act instead of the cylinder boxes P¹ for
distributing the water.
The pipes are connected to the motor cylinders F and to the cylinder
boxes P, acting instead of the cylinder boxes P for distributing the water.
The motive engine is then modified. The main shaft and its plummer blocks or
bearings, the fly wheel, the double acting pump serving as a compressor, and as a
feed pump, the centrifugal governor and all its apparatus, and also the valve
operated thereby, are dispensed with, whilst the telescopic pipes I are replaced by
ordinary pipes.
A part of the same shape as the slide or guide blocks X, but without the borders-
of the latter, is cast in one at the centre of each of the slideways YY. The slide
ways H' are dispensed with. The slide blocks G' of the cylinder boxes are bolted
onto the supports N".
As the governor valve is dispensed with, communication is made directly between
the pressure reducing device or devices and the distributing apparatus.
In this kind of engines, a small separate engine supplies the reservoir A and
operates the distributing apparatus. This motor is of the same type as that herein.
before described. On leaving the safety valve of the upper chamber, the liquid
and air pass into an intermediate reservoir somewhat similar to the reservoir A,
with the exception of a few modifications.
1 dispense with the pressure reducing device and the upper safety valve. The
intermedinte reservoir is provided with a whistle or with a horn or syren. The
intermediate reservoir may be employed in stationary engines when it is desired to
provide them with a whistle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An aero-hydraulic motor in which a liquid or other Huid, maintained at a
determined pressure in a reservoir A (Fig. 1) provided with various accessory
apparatus such as safety valves, pressure reducing devices, a valve operated by a
centrifugal governor &c. &c., is led by means of a special distributing apparatus.
and of a reversing apparatus, and through telescopically connected pipes, alternately
on two pistons such as K and K in cylinders F F in such a manner that its
pressure, transmitted by the levers MN, MN and the bar V to the connecting
rod E, will act upon a crank and a driving shaft, so as to cause the latter to
revolve; the fulera of the levers M N, MN being constituted by a plunger O.
which works in cylinder boxes P P filled with liquid or other fluid under pressure,
and rigidly connected to the cylinders FF so as to partake of the to and fro
motion of the latter, as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
2. In an aero-hydraulic motor, in combination with a lever M N or M' N' whose
fulerum is constituted by a plunger O working into a movable cylinder box P
or filled with fluid under pressure, the use of a cylinder For F with a piston K
upon which fluid under pressure acts, and whose rod transmits the force to the
end L of a lever M; the cylinder being connected to the lever in order to impart
to these parts and to a load which may be connected thereto, a to and fro movement
controlled by guides, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In an aero-hydraulic motor, the combination of two cylinders F F¹ with
pistons K K or discs, and of two levers M N, M' N', whose fulcrà are constituted
by plungers Oworking in movable cylinder boxes P P filled with fluid under
pressure, connecting rods V which serve to connect together the ends of the levors,
slides with guides Y, a connecting rod E', a crank, and a motor or driving
shaft, for imparting rotary motion to the latter, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of August 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.