IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH AUTOMATIC GAS MOTORS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH AUTOMATIC GAS
MOTORS a communication to me from abroad by Theophile Backeljau of Malines
in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer, to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to an automatic motor operated by the successive
explosions of gas, or of solid or liquid combustible substances pulverized, or
vapourised, and by the vacuum which results from these explosions.
The explosive force acts directly on the working parts without the use of any
intermediate mechanism.
The apparatus comprises:—
1. An arrangement for receiving the chosen combustible substance whatever it
may be and the substance for supporting the combustion (such as oxygen or air).
2. A mixer in which the two substances are mixed together in suitable
proportions according to requirements.
3. An igniter operating automatically and determining the explosions.
For the explosive gases I preferably employ illuminating gas and air carburetted
by combustible liquids. In order to produce powerful effects it is preferable to
employ liquid itself injected in the form of spray and vapourized at each explosion.
For the purpose of utilising petroleum (or other common substances) I employ a
special carburetter the bottom of which is filled with petroleum; this vessel is
provided centrally with a tube open at both ends and perforated with holes at its
upper part; at the centre of this tube and supported on the reservoir is placed a
small burner fed from the reservoir Around the central tube and in contact with
it are grouped a suitable number of tubes of a lesser diameter containing wicks
which dip into the reservoir. The whole is surmounted by a funnel terminating at
a pipe in communication with the before mentioned mixer.

page_text: When the central burner is ignited the heat it disengages is communicated to
the small tubes by means of the central tube and as large a quantity of gas as may.
be desired can thus be produced.
The gas is conducted through a tube regulated by a cock into the mixer and
beneath the surface of a liquid placed therein such liquid acting as a hydraulic &
valve.
The gas passes up through the liquid and meets a regulated quantity of air which
is supplied through a second pipe governed by a cock or tap by the adjustment of
which the proportions of the explosive mixture are determined.
3. The Igniter consists of a spiral platinum wire fixed at the end of a small
copper tubo. The orifice of said tube which is nearest to the igniter is alınost
closed by platinum gauze:
The igniter may be placed either on the cylinder cover or in any other suitable
position.
In order that the working of the apparatus may be readily understood I will
describe it as applied to a suction and force pump said pump being arranged as
follows. The upper portion of the cylinder is adapted to receive the explosive gas,
while the lower or connected part is provided with a branch pipe which in turn is
-connected-with-the-suction-pipe.
The lower part is provided-with-a-one way valve beyond which is fixed-an-air-2
vessel into which is passed the end of a force pipe terminating in a check-or-
retaining valve.
The cover of the cylinder is perforated with two openings, the igniter being fixed
-in-one and the explosive gas supply tube in the other.
Upon leaving the before described-mixer-the-explosive gas is forced into the 2
-cylinder through a tube.
Beneath the igniter a small aperture is provided which serves-for-tle_initial_
-ignition-of-the-igniter..
To put the apparatus in operation the main gas supply pipe is closed-and-only a
small quantity of gas is forced in through the platinum gauze by means of a blower 3
or of the small pump fixed to the cylinder the aperture beneath the igniter is
opened and a light is applied to the igniter.
The flame thus produced renders said igniter incandescent. This having been
accomplished, the aperture is closed and the main gas cock is opened permitting
the gas to pass into the cylinder. The velocity of the gas will at first cause the
igniter to blacken but as soon as the velocity diminishes it becomes revivified to
incandescence and inflames the gas introduced into the cylinder.
This explosion produces a vacuum and water will be drawn in from the water
supply pipe and at the same time a fresh charge of gas, which is in turn exploded
and the operation thus becomes automatic.
After each detonation the products of combustion are expelled simultaneously
with the water through the discharge valve the water compresses the air contained
in the air vessel and also raises the valve in the force pipe through which a portion
of the water is discharged while between the detonations the air contained in the
air vessel expands and drives a further quantity of water out through the said
force pipe.
It will be evident that if the explosive gas is supplied at sufficient pressure the
continuous blower or the air pump herebefore referred to as necessary for starting
the apparatus will not be requisite.
In order to prevent the heating of the cylinder and to obtain a continuous
working the cylinder may be enclosed within a second concentric cylinder the space
between said cylinders being filled with water supplied by the apparatus said space
being supplied with suitable inlet and exhaust pipes.
According to the invention the following advantages may be obtained.
1. The introduction of the gases into a cylinder without immediately exploding
them notwithstanding the contact and presence of the platinum igniter in a state
of incandescence,
J

page_text: 2. Effecting the incandescence of the platinum and as a consequence the ignitions
by various means that is to say by augmenting or diminishing the speed of the
gases at the outlet on the igniting focus According to the arrangement of these
foci and by varying the mixture of the explosive substance supplied.
3. The direct application of the force resulting from the expansion of the gases
within a closed space to nearly all machines among which may be named :—
Piston or rotary motors.
2. Effecting the incandescence of the platinum and as a consequence the ignitions
by various means that is to say by augmenting or diminishing the speed of the
gases at the outlet on the igniting focus According to the arrangement of these
foci and by varying the mixture of the explosive substance supplied.
3. The direct application of the force resulting from the expansion of the gases
within a closed space to nearly all machines among which may be named :—
Piston or rotary motors.
Suction force and fire engine pumps.
Marine engines or boat propellors.
Vacuum apparatus, air pumps, and compressors.
Forging hammers, stamping mills, pile drivers, rock cutters, perforators, &c.

page_text: disengages, is communicated to the small tubes by means of the central tube, and
as large a quantity of gas as may be desired can thus be produced. The gas is
conducted through a tube a regulated by a cock b into the mixer A. and beneath
the surface of a liquid C. placed therein such liquid acting as a hydraulic valve.
The gas passes up through the liquid C. and meets a regulated quantity of air which
is supplied through a second pipe d. governed by a.cock or tap e. by the adjustinent
of which the proportions of the explosive mixture are determined.
4. The igniter consists of a spiral platinum wire ƒ fixed at the end of a small
copper tube g.
The orifice of said tube which is nearest to the igniter is almost closed. by
platinum gauze.
The igniter may be placed either on the cylinder cover, or in any other suitable
position.
In order that the working of the apparatus may be readily understood I will
describe it as applied to a suction and force pump, said pump being arranged as
follows reference being made to Fig 2.
The upper portion of the cylinder B is adapted to receive the explosive gás while:
the lower or connected part O is provided with a branch pipe E which in turn is
connected with the suction pipe L The lower part E is provided with a one way
valve beyond which is fixed an air vessel D into which is passed the end of a force
pipe G terminating in a check or retaining valve m.
The cover of the cylinder B is perforated with two openings, the igniter f and
pipe being fixed in one, and the explosive gas supply tubo h in the other said
pipes being governed by cocks k. j.
Upon leaving the before described mixer, the explosive gas is forced into the
cylinder through the tube h Beneath the igniter a small aperture i. is provided
which serves for the initial ignition of the igniter. To put the apparatus in
operation, the main gas supply pipe h is closed and only a small quantity of gas is
forced in through the platinum gauze at the end of tube g by means of a blower or
of the small pump fixed to the cylinder, the aperture i. beneath the igniter is opened
and a light is applied to the igniter. The flame thus produced renders said igniter
incandescent. This having been accomplished, the aperture i. is closed and the
main gas cock j is opened permitting the gas to pass into the cylinder B. The
velocity of the gas will at first cause the igniter to blacken but as soon as tho
velocity diminishes it becomes revivified to incandescence and inflames and explodes
the gas introduced into the cylinder.
The vacuum which follows this explosion, causes the water to flow in from the
water supply pipe L and at the same time, a fresh charge of gas through tube h
which is in turn exploded, and the operation thus becomes automatic.
After each detonation, the products of combustion are expelled simultaneously
with the water through the discharge valve l, the water compresses the air con-
tained in the air vessel D, and also raises the valve m. in the force pipe G through
which a portion of the water is discharged while between the detonations, the air
contained in the air vessel D expands, and drives a further quantity of water out
through the said force pipe G.
It will be evident that if the explosive gas is supplied at sufficient pressure the
continuous blower or the air pump as shown at P Fig 5 and herebefore referred to
as necessary for starting the apparatus, will not be requisite.
In order to prevent the heating of the cylinder B and to obtain a continuous
working, the cylinder may be enclosed within a second concentric cylinder, the
space between said cylinders being filled with water supplied by the apparatus,
said space being supplied with suitable inlet and exhaust pipes. According to my
invention the following advantages may be obtained.
1. The introduction of the gases into a cylinder without immediately exploding
them notwithstanding the contact and presence of the platinum igniter in a state
of incandesconce.