Improvements in Engines to be Worked by Hot Gases, such as Air or Products of Combustion, with Steam.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Engines to be Worked by Hot Gases, such as Air
or Products of Combustion, with Steam.
I, EDWARD FIELD, of Chandos Chambers, 22 Buckingham Street, Adelphi, in
the County of London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention of "Improvements in engines to be worked by hot gases such
as air or products of combustion with steam" has reference to engines of the kind
described in the Specification of my former Patent No. 1997 dated 4 Feb. 1889.
According to my present invention the exhaust from the ends of the cylinder is
controlled by valves separate from those (hereinafter called supply valves) that
control the passage of hot gases from the mixing chambers to the respective ends
of the cylinder. Each supply valve in addition to controlling the passage of hot
gases from its mixing chamber to the corresponding end of the cylinder may also
control the exhaust of such mixing chamber.
According to one arrangement, the supply and exhaust valves are arranged
somewhat after the manner of Corliss valves. In this case the exhaust of each
mixing chamber may be arranged to take place at the proper time through the
supply valve of such chamber, and the corresponding end of the cylinder and its
exhaust valve. Or the exhaust of each mixing chamber may take place through
a separate pipe or passage.
The closing of each exhaust valve may advantageously be so timed that the gases
confined in the cushioning space at each end of the cylinder will be raised to a
pressure corresponding approximately to that of the mixture of hot gases produced
in such chamber.
Additional outlets controlled by suitable valves may when desirable be provided
for more rapidly reducing the residual pressure in the mixing chambers.
Dated this 27th day of October 1891.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Engines to be Worked by Hot Gases, such as Air
or Products of Combustion, with Steam.
I, EDWARD FIELD, of Chandos Chambers, 22 Buckingham Street, Adelphi,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer, 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 :-
31
This invention of "Improvements in engines to be worked by hot gases such as
air or products of combustion with steam has reference to engines of the kind
described in the Specification of my former Patent No. 1997 of 1889.
The annexed illustrative drawings shew an engine constructed with the present
improvements:-
Figs. 1 and 1 are part elevations of the engine taken from its fly wheel side;
Figure 14 giving an external view of one mixing chamber and also shewing the
cylinder, Corliss valves and valve motion.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, shewing the cylinder, and the
means for giving motion to the valves.
Figs. 3 and 3 are part plans of the complete engine, but without the air and
steam pipes.

page_text: :
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the cylinder, taken from the fly wheel side; this view
also shews in section the jacket which forms the mixing chambers, the section being
taken through the nearer mixing chamber, and the view also shews one set of air
and steam valves, and the two distributing valves that admit mixture alternately
to each end of the cylinder.
Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section on the line x x Fig. 4 looking from the back end
of the cylinder.
Fig. 6 is a similar vertical section through the line y y Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the cylinder and the jacket in which are the two mixing
chambers; this view shews the reciprocating shaft and trip-levers for depressing
alternately the two pairs of air valves which respectively open alternately the
through passage of each mixing chamber. The figure also shews the inde-
pendent sleeve shaft and levers which alternately lift each of the steam valves for
the supply of steam to each mixing chamber when such chamber is otherwise
hermetically closed.
Fig. 8 shews in side elevation and transverse section, one of the "Corliss"
distributing valves.
According to the present improvements the exhaust from the ends of the motor
cylinder 1 is controlled by exhaust valves separate from those (herein called dis-
tribut.ng valves) that control the passage of hot gases from the mixing chambers 2
and 3 to the respective ends of the cylinder 1. By this means, the supply and
exhaust of the working mixture can be controlled in a more advantageous and
efficient manner than can be done when one valve is used both for the supply
and the exhaust of the working mixture. Each of the distributing valves in
addition to controlling the passage of hot gases from its mixing chamber to the
corresponding end of the motor cylinder may also control the exhaust of such
mixing chamber.
In the arrangement illustrated 8 and 9 are the distributing valves and 8 and 9ª
are the exhaust valves, these valves being shewn as arranged somewhat after the
manner of Corliss valves. In this arrangement the exhaust of each of the mixing
chambers 2 and 3 is arranged to take place, at the proper time, through the dis-
tributing valve 8 or 9 of such chamber, and through the corresponding end of the
cylinder 1 and exhaust valve 8 or 9 as the case may be, but the construction
night obviously be so modified that the exhaust of each mixing chamber would
take place through a separate outlet pipe or passage.
The closing of each of the exhaust valves 8 and 9* may advantageously be so
timed (and in the drawings is so timed) that the gases confined in the cushioning
space at each end of the cylinder will be raised to a pressure corresponding
approximately to that of the mixture of hot gases produced in the corresponding
chamber.
10 and 11 are the valves that serve for the exit of mixture alternately from the
mixing chambers 2 and 3 respectively. 12 and 13 are the corresponding valves
serving alternately for the admission of hot gases to the mixing chambers 2 and 3
respectively. 26 is a trip-lever for depressing the valves 10 and 11 alternately
against the action of springs 27; and 26" is a similar trip lever for depressing the
valves 12 and 13 alternately. The stem of each air valve has pivoted to it a lever,
one arm 10 of which is acted upon by the lever 26 or 26°, whilst its other arm 10°
is arranged to come into contact with a vertically adjustable fixed stop 10° and
disengage the arm 10° from the said lever 26 or 26° at the required time. The
levers 26 and 26ª are fixed on a rock shaft 28 operated from the engine crank
shaft 28 through bevel gear 29, rotary shaft 30, eccentric 31, eccentric rod 32 and
crank arm 33. 15 and 15 are valves for admitting steam to the chambers
and 3
alternately. In the example shown each steam valve is made in two parts, as
shown more clearly in vertical and horizontal section in Figs. 9 and 10 respectively.
These parts are arranged to slide over oppositely arranged slide faces 15 formed
in a valve case 15° and against which they are pressed by springs 15d interposed
between them. An opening is formed between the two parts of the valve and

page_text: through the valve case 15° at 15° so that steam can pass freely to the ports 15º
when the valve is opened. These steam valves are each lifted in turn against the
action of a spring 34 by a trip-lever 35 forming part of a sleeve shaft that is
mounted to turn freely on the rock shaft 28, and is operated through an eccentric 36
on the rotary shaft 30, an eccentric rod 37 and a crank arm 38. The distributing
valves 8 and 9 are operated from the engine crank shaft by an eccentric and rod 39,
a lever 40, a rod 41, and lever arms 42 and 42" that are fixed to the spindles of the
respective valves. The exhaust valves 8 and 9 are operated from the engine
crank shaft by another eccentric and rod 43 through a rod 44 and levers 45 and 45*
connected to the spindles of the respective valves. 18 is the inlet for steam to the
valve chamber 14. 23 is the inlet for hot gases to the chamber 20; 24 is the
exhaust from the cylinder 1 and chambers 2 and 3. 25 is the outlet for mixture
from the mixing chambers 2 and 3. 46 is a rock shaft provided with tappet
arms 47. Each of these tappet arms serves, by coming into contact with one arm 48
of a lever pivoted to the stem 49 of the corresponding steam valve (Fig. 6) to
disengage the other arm 50 of the said lever from the trip-lever 35 and permit
the said valve to be quickly closed by its spring. The time during which each
steam valve is held open depends upon the position of the tappet arms which is
controlled by the engine governor 51 through suitable connections as well understood
and as indicated for example in dotted lines. The stem of each of the air and
steam valves is provided with a piston 52 arranged to work in a cylinder and act
after the manner of a dash pot to prevent the valve striking its sent violently.
The operation of the improved engine illustrated is as follows:-
―
Assuming that the mixing chamber 2 is fully charged with mixture at working
pressure and that the piston has arrived at the back end of the cylinder; that the
exhaust valve 8° has been previously closed for a sufficient time to produce the
required cushion pressure; and that the distributing valve has been opened at
or slightly before the completion of the backward stroke of the piston, thus opening
the chamber 2 to the back end of the cylinder 1 through the port 8, then the
engine piston after completing its backward stroke will commence its forward stroke
under the pressure of the mixture thus admitted. When it has completed ths or
thereabout of this forward stroke, the exhaust valve 9" will be closed, thus
producing the "cushion pressure" at the front end of the cylinder. Simultaneously
the exhaust valve 8° will be opened, whereby the spent gases in the cylinder, and
the residual gases in the mixing chamber 2, will pass to the exhaust 24, the
distributing valve 8 and exhaust valve 8ª, remaining open until the residual
pressure in the cylinder, and also that in the mixing chamber 2 has been reduced
approximately to that of the external atmosphere. The distributing valve 8 will
then be closed, and the two air valves 10 and 12 will be simultaneously opened by
the trip levers 26 and 26°, and hot air supplied to the chamber 20 will then be
caused to rush through the mixing chamber 2 clearing it out, drying it, and leaving
it full of hot-air at atmospheric pressure or thereabout. Assuming that the
chamber 3 has been previously charged with a working mixture of hot air and
steam, then the engine piston having arrived at, or near the end of its forward
stroke, the distributing valve 9 will be opened to the front end of the cylinder
through the port 9b, and the said piston will make its backward stroke under the
pressure of the mixture, during the greater part of which stroke the two air valves
10 and 12 will be held open. When the piston has completed about ths of its
backward stroke or thereabout, the exhaust valve 8" will be closed thus producing
the residual pressure at the back end of the cylinder; the air valves 10 and 12 will
be released from their operating levers 26 and 26ª and closed by their springs; and
the steam valve 15 will immediately after be opened for a short time by the trip
lever 35 to admit steam to the mixing chamber 2 to produce the working mixture
of hot gases for the next forward stroke of the piston, and then released and closed,
the time during which it will be held open being determined by the engine governor
as before explained. The exhaust valve 9 will be opened simultaneously with the
closing of the exhaust valve 8* to permit of the escape of the spent gases from the

page_text: front side of the piston, and also the residual gases from the chamber 3, the valves 9
and 9 being held open until the pressure in the front end of the cylinder and the
mixing chamber 3 has been reduced approximately to that of the external atmosphere.
The distributing valve 9 will then be closed, and the two air valves 11 and 13 will be
opened and hot air will then be caused to rush through the mixing chamber 3,
clearing it out, drying it, and leaving it full of hot air at atmospheric pressure or
thereabout.
The mixing chamber 2 having been charged with a working mixture of hot air
and steam as herein before explained, and the piston having arrived at or near the end
of its backward stroke, the distributing valve 8 will be again opened so as to admit
the said mixture from chamber 2 to the back end of the cylinder through the port 8.
The piston will then again make its forward stroke, during the greater part of which,
the two air valves 11 and 13 will be held open. When the piston has made
about ths of its forward stroke, the exhaust valve 9 will be again closed, and the
exhaust valve 8 will be simultaneously opened, after which the distributing valve 8
will be closed, and the air valves 10 and 12 opened in the manner and for the
purposes hereinbefore explained. After the exhaust valve 9" has been closed, the
air valves 11 and 13 will be released from their operating levers 26 and 26" and
closed by their springs, and the steam valve 15ª will immediately after be opened
by the trip-lever 35 to admit steam to the mixing chamber 3 to produce the
working mixture of hot gases for the next backward stroke of the piston. On the
arrival of the piston at or near the forward end of its stroke, the distributing valve 9
is again opened to admit working mixture from the mixing chamber 3 to again
cause the backward stroke of the piston. The above described operations are then
repeated as the engine continues to work.
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 engine worked by mixture of hot gases and steam in the manner
described in my said former Specification, but in which the exhaust from the ends
of the engine cylinder is controlled by valves separate from the distributing valves
that control the passage of hot gases from the mixing chambers to the respective
ends of the cylinder.
2. In an engine of the kind referred to in the preceding claim constructed with
separate distributing and exhaust valves for each end of the working cylinder,
arranging the said distributing valves substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described so that each of such valves in addition to controlling the passage of hot
gases from its mixing chamber to the corresponding end of the cylinder, will also
control the exhaust of such mixing chamber.
3. Constructing each of the distributing and exhaust valves in an engine of the
kind herein referred to, in the form of a rotary valve such as shewn in Figs. 8, each
of the distributing valves 8 and 9 being arranged to control a port 8b or go
respectively between its mixing chamber and the corresponding end of the cylinder,
and each of the exhaust valves 8 and 9* being arranged to control the exhaust from
its corresponding end of the cylinder, the said distributing valves being connected
together, and worked separately from the exhaust valves which are also connected
together and worked as set forth.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved engine
to be worked by mixture of hot gases and steam, constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as herein before described with reference to and shewn in
the drawings annexed.
Dated this 26th day of August 1892.
W. Lloyd Wise,
EDWARD FIELD.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.