System or Process of Heat Regeneration and Gas Manufacture for Internal Combustion Engines
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 9th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SERUIFICATION.
System or Process of Heat Regeneration and Gas Manufacture for
Internal Combustion Engines
JAMES FRASER 19 The Grove South Lambeth Londou do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :-
--
In order to secure rapid and complete combustion it is necessary that the gases
should be thoroughly and intimately mixed together. This object is sought in gas
and oil engines, as at present constructed and worked, by mingling the gases of the
working charge as they enter cylinder; but, owing to the cooling action of the
water jacket a large portion of the gaseous mixture does not ignite immediately
after explosion. Combustion is but partial,-some of the gas remaining practically
mert whilst the unburnt products, which accumulate in the cylinder, have to be
removed from time to time.
The proportion of gas to air is thus at all times larger than that necessary to
give the observed pressures on the diagrams from such engines; and the range of
reduction of gas is limited,-beyond which combustion will not take place. With
producer, or gas having a low thermal capacity, these effects are more marked.
The impossibility of proportioning the gas to the work done, but to a limited extent,
enhances the difficulty of adequately governing engines of this class-inore especially
those of tho "Otto" type.
The starting of such engines is also attended with considerable difficulty, which
enders them unsuitable for such situations as require frequent stopping, starting
and reversing.,
Further the g
gas for these engines, manufactured by forcing air and steam through
incandescent fuel, is thermally poor, with a largo per centage of nitrogen. Tho
gas leaves produce at a comparatively high temperature, carrying with it a certam
amount of hydro-carbon compounds; while clinker accumulates at the lower parts,
and if not removed stops operation in due course.
This renders n special class of
fuel or combustible desirable which is comparatively from silicates and tarry
compounds.
The object of this invention is the regeneration and utilization of the heat not
converted into work by the expansion of the fluid in cylinder of internal combus-
tion engines, and, in its more complete application, comprises a system or process
of manufacturing or producing continuously from coal or other carbonaceous matter
or combustible a richer gas,-vz. CII,O or what is commonly known as water gas
-free or nearly free fiom nitrogen or other inert gas; together with an improved
motor and method of securing the complete and instantaneous combustion of the
gaseous mixture in the working cylinder
In carrying out my invention I make that portion of the cylinder exposed to tho
hot gases, preferably, non-jacketted and protected internally by non conducting
and non-porous material of a suitable kind, so that nearly all the heat not converted
into work by the expansion of the fluid leaves in the exhaust. And as it 18
impossible to utilize by expansion within practical limits of pressures all the heat
contained in the fluid, the exhaust gases would with high initial temperatures—
leave the cylinders with a relatively large amount of heat.
This heat instead of allowing it to pass direct into the atmosphere could be
regenerated and employed to heat the incoming charge ;—but this beating has·

page_text: always been found to pre-ignite the charge; and, as this occurs at a comparatively
moderate temperature-piobably about 800° Fahrenheit-the range of heat
regeneration is not a wide one.
According to my system the whole or nearly the whole of the heat of the
exhaust gases 18 regenerated and advantageously utilized for the following
purposes
1st In raising the temperature of gas leaving or coming from producer.
2nd. In heating the air or air and gas of working change after having been
compressed to required pressures
3rd In heating or evaporating the water required for the gas.
"
The greater portion of the volume of gas issing from producer is employed, and
shall be referred to herein, as "heat carries.' This volume of gas is, in effect,
continually enculating from producer to regenerator and from regenerator to
producer in which latter it delivers up the beat abstincted from regenerator.
And the amount of this heat will be found sufficient under ordinary conditions
of working to complete the decomposition of the steam or water vapour required
for the gas, without the addition of air or free oxigen and so maintain the
production of the gas continuously. The steam may be used to effect the circuin-
tion of the gases,-forcing or injecting the CH,O-after passing through
regenerator into producer. And the steam on thus coming in contact with the
gas in a highly heated condition is more or less decomposed. The hydrogen is
liberated and the oxigen combines with some of the carbon to form CO,-
adding to the sensible heat already contained in the gases. The carbonic acid
will become decomposed in its ascent through the incandescent fuel; and the
amount of heat necessary to complete this decomposition is derived from the
larger volume of CH,O mingled therewith which delivers up its heat as the gases
tend to cool
The foregoing stated chemical changes may be modified in actual
practice and are here given only as fairly representative of what may be expected
to take place.
The amount of gas required by engine, after passing through regenerator (by
which means the hydrocarbons become more or less decomposed) is employed to
superheat the steam or hot water from jacket surrounding cylinder of working
piston of engine; and on thus becoming cooled, deposits any tary products
which may have escaped decomposition at the higher temperatures of the
regenerators, and afterwards scrubbed, filtered or farther cooled as may be
desirable
Part of the heat of the exhaust not taken up by the gas from producci
is delivered up in a second regenerator to the an on an and gas (separately),-
both being previously compressed to the required pressures; and on leaving this
again may be employed to heat the water for the gus
The heating surfaces of regenerators, if made of ordinary metallic substances,
would not be sufficiently durable at the higher temperatures of the exhaust. But
as the heating of the gas from producer is effected at about ordinary atmospheric
pressures it will admit of the use of regenerators with firebrick or such material as
the medium of heat exchange. Aud in such cases two regenerators would be
necessary, the one giving out heat while the other was receiving heat-and at
suitable intervals the direction of the gases would be changed as in similar cases.
At each such change the exhaust gases remaining in regenerator could be expelled
by blowing steam through it until cleared.
-
The combustion chamber of cylinder being surrounded by non-conducting
material the heat would accumulate and the internal surface would become incan-
descent; so that the gas and an if introduced together would ignite prematurely
and continue to burn while so entering. This would increase the relative amount
of negative work-considerably reducing thereby the efficiency.
To overcome this the air is compressed to a convenient pressure and introduced
or forced into working cylinder, after passing through regenerator, towards the
commencement of the stroke; and, thereafter at a suitable point of the stroke the

page_text: gas is forced through the air from a separate pump. The combustion chamber is
so formed that the gas, in its entry, passes through a large number of small
perforations, and in so doing mingles intimately with the air already in cylinder.
Opposite and in the direction of the flow of the gas is a conduit in the non-
conducting material; and more or less parallel thereto a number of other conduits
all leading to working cylinder and communicating with each other at gas nozzle.
The gas enters at a much higher pressure than that of the air inside the cylinder,
and by its unpact sets the air in rapid circulation-the gas thereby mingling with
the air, and the combining mass igniting, passes along the cential conduit, and,
compressing the an inside cylinder, forces it along the side conduits to the gas
nozzle and perforations in central conduit aforesaid, where it comes in contact with
more gas, combining therewith Thus a rapid circulation 13 set up by which the
minutest particle of gas is brought into the most intimate contact with the air,—
ensuring thereby an almost instantaneous combination of the two
In this mauner
a relatively small volume of gas may be used and yet ensure a rapid aud complete
combustion, leaving little or no residue in cylinder.
The cylinder might in other respects remain similar to those now in use-having
a water jacket; and, if working with producer the temperature of the brick
regenerators might be increased by dnect burning of some of the gas so as to
maintain the circulating volume of gas, or "heat carrier," at the temperature
necessary for the continuous decomposition of the steam
In order however to prevent any considerable loss of heat the cylinder is con-
structed in two parts in such a manner that the rear end, constituting what may be
termed the working cylinder, is lined with non-conducting and non-porous material
with the combustion chamber formed in the manuer above explained for the intro-
duction and combustion of the gas. The lining of cylinder is divided radially as a
provision against possible fractures from differences of ratios of expansion of metal
and lining. The forward end of cylinder is formed for piston to reciprocate in and
maintained at moderate temperatures by water jacket so as to adinit of proper
lubrication. The back end of piston is lengthened-forming in effect a plunger
and screen and extending sufficiently into working cylinder, without touching the
walls of same, so as to reduce the clearance to the lowest limit practicable. The
rear end of said screen is protected from the action of the hot gases by nou-
conducting and fire-resisting material suitably attached thereto." The beat
communicated to screen is taken up by water of jacket.
With the special view of conveniently using an inferior class of fuel or com-
bustible a grate of a special construction is employed, having the gases introduced
above it instead of below so that they cannot absorb but little heat from it. The
grate is as follows,-a hollow disc having spiral grooves cast on its upper surface
with an adequate circulation of water to keep it sufficiently cool is suitably mounted
and geared-free to revolve round its vertical axis. By a suitable ai rangement of
gearing it is rotated at a constant speed, and in a direction which causes the clinker
&c. falling on to it to follow the grooves outward to the periphery and then drop
among the ashes at bottom of producer.
The gases enter at a high temperature and do not produce the chilling effect
which solidifies the silicates to the bottom of the producer, stopping its action
unless removed, but drop on to the grate and are there cooled and ultimately
removed as just descubed.
When petroleum or other volatile combustible is used instead of coal the producer
is dispensed with; and the vapour of the combustible together with the proper
quantity of steam passed direct through regenerator when the steam becomes
decomposed in its ascent through the heated firebrick The resulting gas is
employed to super heat the steam and oil to be decomposed-giving up its sensible
heat thereto. And when cooled &c., may be employed in engine as already
explained.
In order to render the working more thorough and convenient the producer is
fed automatically.

page_text: I will now explain more fully the mauner of starting and working the engine.
Previous to starting the internal lining or material of combustion chamber is
heated up until sufficiently hot to readily ignite the working charge. Or, the gas
and air at the moment of combination may be ignited electrically and continued
so until by successive explosions the combustion chamber becomes sufficiently hot
to ignite the charge.
If at starting the pressure of an in air regenerator is too low the engine may be
started without compression of the charge-the load being taken off-the air being
drawn into working cylinder by the aspuation of the piston, and at the desired
point of stroke the gas forced in and ignited. After the engine has attained full
speed compression of the air may be begun-gradually-and continued so until
the engine has attained maximum power when the engine may at any time
thereafter be started and reversed under full load by varying the valve move-
ments and igniting arrangement.
The air, as explained, is heated after compression by the exhaust. The air
expands accordingly, and at the commencement of each stioke of piston, is admitted
by a suitably operated valve into working cylinder and at a cert un point of the
stroke its access is cut off and a charge of gas from a separate compressor admitted,
igniting as it enters cylinder increasing the pressure therein At the termination
of the stroke the exhaust valve opens and remains so until a certain point of the
back stroke; then closing the remaining portion of the exhaust is compressed till
the end of the stroke to about the pressure of air of next charge, and with the
commencement of next for ward stroke the former operations are repeated.
The exhaust enters first one of the firebuick regenerators and delivers up some
of its heat to the firebrick, and ou leaving this passes through the air heater or
regenerator, and may further be used to heat the water in the boiler
The heat given to the firebrick regenerators is given up to the gas coming from
producer as and for the purpose already fully set forth
The gas inlet valve to working cylinder cannot properly be operated by the
common form of gearing, and a special method is devised by which the valve aud
spindle is entirely closed, and operated by a piston actuated by the compressed
gas, controlled by a suitably arranged valve worked by countershaft gearing or
Similar device.
Existing engines may be modified to that of regenorative engines, according to
the principles herein specified. The combustion chamber would be constructed
for the introduction of the gas as explained in foregoing-leaving as little clearance
as possible behind piston when at extreme end. The air may, instead of in a
separate cylinder. be compressed at each alternate stroke in the main or working
cylinder to the required pressure and forced into a regenerator where it takes up
part of the heat of previous charge. As the piston advances the heated air from
iegenerator is admitted by suitably geared valves; and its access cut off at a
suitable point of the stroke and the gas forced in by a separate pump
As in this case the cylinder is surrounded by a water jacket the exhaust would
escape from cylinder at a lower temperature than if non jacketted; and if engine
should be working with produce the temperature of brick regenerators could be
raised by duect heating so as to deliver sufficient heat to the gas to decompose
the steam continuously as explained in the foregoing.
Dated this 4th day of May 1895.

page_text: System or Process of Heat Regeneration and Gas Manufacture for
Internal Combustion Engines.
1, JAMES FRASER, of 19, The Giove, South Lambeth, London, 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 :-
In order to secure rapid and complete combustion it is necessary that the gases
should be thoroughly and intimately mixed together. This object is sought in gas
and oil engmes as at present constructed and worked, by mingling the gases of the
working change as they enter cylinder, but owing to the cooling action of the
water jacket, a large portion of the gaseous mixture does not ignite immediately
after explosion. Combustion is but partial, some of the gas remaining practically
eit, whilst the unburnt products, which accumulate in the cylinder, have to be
removed hom time to time
The proportion of gas to an is thus at all times larger than that necessary to
give the observed pressures on the diagrams from such engines, and the range of
reduction of gas is limited, beyond which combustion will not take place. With
producer, or gas having a low thermal capacity, these effects are more marked.
The impossibility of proportioning the gas to the work donc, but to a limited
extent, enhances the difficulty of adequately governing engines of this class,-more
especially those of the "Otto" type.
The starting of such engines is also attended with considerable difficulty, which
enders them unsuitable for such situations as require frequent stopping, starting
and reversing.
Further the gas for these engines, manufactured by forcing au and steam
through incandescent fuel, is thermally poor, with a large percentage of nitrogen.
The gas leaves the producet, at a comparatively high temperature, carrying with
it a certain amount of hydro-carbon compounds, while clinker accumulates at the
lower paits, and if not removed stops operation in due course. This renders a
special class of fuel or combustible desnable which is comparatively free from
silicates and tairy compounds.
The object of this invention is the regeneration and utilization of the heat not
converted into work by the expansion of the fluid in the cylinders of internal com-
bustion engines, and in its more complete application, comprises a system o process
of manufacturing or producing continuously from coal or other carbonaceous matter
01 combustible a cher gas, mz.—
CO+H, or what is commonly known as water gas, free or nearly free from
nitrogen on other meit gas; together with an improved motor and method of
securing the complete and instantaneous combustion of the gaseous mixture in the
working cylinder.
In caying out my invention, I make that portion of the cylindor exposed to the
hot gases, preferably non jacketed, and protected internally by non conducting and
non-porous material of a suitable kind, so that nearly all the heat not converted
into work by the expansion of the fluid leaves in the exhaust. And as it is
impossible to utilize by expansion within practical limits of pressures all the heat
contamed in the fluid, the exhaust gases would, with high initial temperatures,
leave the cylinders with a relatively large amount of heat.
This heat, instead of allowing it to pass direct to the atmosphere, could be
regenerated and employed to heat the incoming charge; but this heating has
always becu found to pre-ignite the charge; and as this occurs at a comparatively
moderato temperature, probably about 800° Fahrenheit the range of heat
regeneration 18 not a wide one.

page_text: According to my system the whole or nearly the whole of the heat of the exhaust
gases is regenerated and advantageously utilized for the following purposes.-
1st. In raising the temperature of gas leaving or coming from producer.
-
2nd. In heating the air or air and gas of working charge after having been
compressed to required pressures.
3rd. In heating or evaporating the water required for the gas.
"
The greater portion of the volume of gas issuing from producer is employed as
a carrier of heat, and shall be referred to hereinafter as
"heat carrier. This
volume of gas is, in effert, continually circulating from producer to legenciator,
and from regenciator to produce, in which latter it delivers up the heat abstractedĺ
from regenerator. And the amount of this heat will be found sufficient under
ordinary conditions of working to complete the decomposition of the steam or water
vapour required for the gas without the addition of air of fice oxygen and so
maintain the production of the gas continuously. The steam may be used to effect
the circulation of the gases, forcing or ejecting the mixture of CO aud H after
passing through the regenerator into the producer And the steam on thus coming
in contact with the gas in a highly heated condition is more or less decomposed.
The hydrogen is liberated and the oxygen combines with some of the carbon to
form CO, adding to the sensible heat already contained in the gases. The cat bonio
acid will become decomposed in its ascent through the incandescent fuel; and the
amount of heat necessary to complete this decomposition is derived from the
larger volume of the mixed gases CO and II mingled therewith which delivers up
its heat as the gases tend to cool. The foregoing stated chemical changes may
be modified in actual practice, and are bere given only as fairly representative of
what may be expected to take place.
The amount of gas required by the engine, after passing through the regenerator
(by which means the hydrocarbons become more or less decomposed) is employed
to superheat the steam or hot water from the jacket surrounding the cylinder of
the working piston of the engine and on thus becoming cooled, deposits auy
tarry products which may have escaped decomposition at the higher temperatures
of the regenerators, and is after wards scrubbed, filtered or farther cooled as may
be desirable.
Part of the heat of the exhaust not taken up by the gas from the producer 18
delivered up in a second regenerator to the air or air and gas (separately) both
being previously compressed to the required pressures, and on leaving this again
may be employed to heat the water for the gas.
The heating sun faces of the regenerators, if made of ordinary metallic substances,
would not be sufficiently durable at the higher temperatures of the exhaust. But
as the heating of the gas from the producer is effected at about ordinary atino-
spheric pressures, it will admit of the use of regenerators with firebrick or such
material as the medium of heat exchange And in such cases two regenerators
would be necessary, the one giving out heat while the other was receiving heat,
and at suitable intervals the duection of the gases would be changed as in similar
cases. At each such change the exhaust gases einaining in the regenerator could
be expelled by blowing steam through it until cleared.
The combustion chamber of the cylinder being surrounded by nonconducting
material the heat would accumulate, and the internal surface would become incap-
descent, so that the gas and air, if introduced together would ignite prematurely
and continue to burn while so cutering. This would increase the relative amount
of negative work, considerably reducing thereby the efficiency.
To overcome this the air is compressed to a convenient pressure and introduced
or forced into the working cylinder, after passing through the regenerator towards
the commencement of the stroke; and thereafter at a stable point of the stroke
the gas is forced through the air from a separate pump. The combustion chamber
is so formed that the gas, in its entry passes though a large number of small
perforations, and in so doing mingles intimately with the air already in the cylinder.
Opposite and in the direction of the flow of the gas is a conduit in the non-conducting

page_text: material; and more or less parallel thereto a number of other conduit, all leading
to the working cylinder, and communicating with each other at the gas nozzle.
The gas enteis at a much higher pressure than that of the an inside the cylinder
ond by its impact sets the air in rapid circulation, the gas thereby mingling with
the ant and the combining mass igniting, passes along the cential con luit, and,
compressing the air inside the cylinder, forces it along the side conduits to the gas
nozzle and perforations in the central conduit aforesaid, where it comes in contact
with more gas, combining therewith Thus a rapid circulation is set up by which
the minutest particle of gas is brought into the most intimate contact with the air,
ensuring thereby an almost instantaneous combination of the two
In this manner
a relatively small volume of gas may be used and yet ensure a rapid and complete
combustion leaving little or no residue in the cylinder
The cylinder might in other respects remain similar to those now in use, having
a water jacket and, if working with producer the temperature of the brick
regenoratois might be increased by duect burning of some of the gas so as to
maintain the cuculating volume of gas, or "heat carrier," at the temperature
necessary for the continuous decomposition of the steam
In order however, to prevent any considerable loss of heat the cylinder 18
constructed in two parts in such a manner that the rear end, constituting what may
be termed the working cylinder, is lined with non-conducting and non-porous
material with the combustion chamber formed in the manner above explained.
for the introduction and combustion of the gas. The lining of the cylinder is
divided radially as
a provision against possible fractures from differences of
ratios of expansion of inetal and lining. The forward end of the cylinder 18
formed for the piston to reciprocate in and is maintained at moderate temperatures
by water jacket so as to admit of proper lubrication The back end of the piston
is lengthened, forming in effect a plunger and screen-and extending sufficiently
into the working cylinder, without touching the walls, so as to reduce the clearance
to the lowest limit practicable. The rear end of the said screen is protected from.
the action of the hot gases by non-conducting and fire-resisting material suitably
attached thereto. The heat communicated to the scicen is taken up by the water
of the jacket
With the special view of convemently using an inferior class of fuel or com-
bustible, a grate of a special construction is employed having the gases introduced
above it, instead of below, so that they can absuib but little heat from it. The
grate is as follows, a hollow disc having spiral grooves cast on its upper surface
with an adequate circulation of water to keep it sufficiently cool is suitable
mounted and geared, free to evolve round its vertical axis By a suitable
arrangement of gearing it is rotated at a coustant speed, and in a duection which
causes the clinker &c fulling on to it to follow the grooves outward to the periphery,-
and then drop among the ashes at the bottom of the producer.
The gases enter at a high temperature and do not produce the chilling effect
which solidifies the silicates at the bottom of the producer, stopping its action
unless removed; but drop on to the grate and are there cooled and ultimately
removed as just described.
When petroleum or other volatile combustible is used instead of coal the
producer is dispensed with; and the vapour of the combustible together with the
proper quantity of steam passed direct through regenerator when the steam.
becomes decomposed in its ascent through the heated firebrick. The resulting
gas is employed to super heat the steam and oil to be decomposed, giving up its
sensible beat thereto. And when cooled &c. may be employed in engine as already
explained.
In order to render the working more thorough and convenient the produce is
fed automatically.
1 will now explain more fully the manner of starting and working the engine.
Previous to starting, the internal lining or material of combustion chamber 18
heated up until sufficiently hot to readily ignite the working charge. Or the gas
1

page_text: and air at the moment of combination may be ignited electrically and continued so
until by successive explosions the combustion chamber becomes sufficiently hot to
ignite the charge
If at starting the pressure of air in the air regenerator is too low, the engine
may be started without compression of the charge the load being taken off, the air
being diawn into the working cylinder by the aspiration of the piston, and at the
desired point of the stroke the gas is forced in and ignited. After the engine has
attained full speed compression of the air may be begun-gradually-and continued
so until the engine has attained maximum power when the engine may at any time
thereafter be started and reversed under full load by varying the valve movements
and igniting arrangement.
The atr
The an, as explained is heated after compression by the exhaust
expands accordingly, and at the commencement of each stroke of the piston, 13
adimitted by a suitable operated valve into the working cylinder and at a certain
point of the stroke its access is cut off and a change of gas from a separate
compressor admitted, igniting as it enters the cylinder increasing the pressure
therein. At the termination of the stroke the exhaust valve opens and remains
so until a certain point of the back stroke; then closing the remaining portion of
the exhaust is compressed till the end of the stroke to about the pressure of air of
next change, and with the commencement of the next forward stroke the former
operations are repeated
The exhaust enters first one of the firebrick regenerators and delivers up some
of its heat to the brick; and on leaving this passes through the air heater or
egenerator and may further be used to heat the water in the boiler.
The heat given to the fire buick regenerators is given up to the gas coming
from the producer as and for the purpose already fully set forth.
The gas mlet valve to the working cylinder cannot properly be operated by the
common form of gearing and a special method is devised by which the valve and
spindle is entirely closed, and operated by a piston nctuated by the compressed
gas controlled by a suitably arranged valve worked by countershaft gearing or
Similar device.
Existing engines may be modified to that of regenerative engines according to
the principles herein specified. The combustion chamber would be constructed
for the introduction of the gas as explained in the foregoing-leaving as little
clearance as possible behind the piston when at the extreme end. The air may,
instead of in a separate cylinder, be compressed at each alternate stroke in the
main or working cylinder to the required pressure and forced into a regeneintor
where it takes up part of the heat of the previous charge As the piston advances
the heated air from the regenerator is admitted by suntably geared valves; and
its access cut off at a suitable point of the stroke and the gas forced in by a
separate pump.
As in this case the cylinder is surrounded by a water jacket the exhaust would
escape from cylinder at a lower temperature than if non-jacketed, and if the engine
should be working with a producer the temperature of the brick regenerators could
be raised by direct heating so as to deliver sufficient heat to the gas to decompose
the steam continuously as explained in the foregoing.
Referring to the five accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate an
application of my invention to an engine and gas producer,-
Figure 1 is a side clevation of a gas engine.
F1
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section and
Fr
Figure 3 is a plan.
Figure 4 is a general elevation of a gas producer and engine as arranged in
combination.
Figure 5 18 an end elevation and
Figure 6 is a corresponding plan.
Figure 7 is a vertical section through the engine oylinder on a larger scale.
Figure 8 is a section on the line ab of Figure 7.

page_text: Figure 10 is a vertical section on a still larger scale of the gas admitting
ariangements to the cylinder and
Figure 11 is a section on the line ef of Figure 10.
Figure 12 8 a transverse scotion, showing part of the interior in elevation, of
one form of an air heater.
Figure 13 is a plan, aud
Figure 14 is a side elevation of the air heater part in section
Figue 15 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of my gas producers
and regenerators and
Figure 16 is a plan part in section corresponding to Figure 15.
The same or similar letters are used throughout the drawings to indicate the
same or like parts.
I shall now more particularly describe an engine constructed according to my
invention as illustrated in detail at Figures 1, 2, 3, Sheet 1, Figmes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
Sheet 3 and Figures 12, 13, and 14, Sheet 4. A trunk piston A operates
water jacketted cylinder B and the annulus C formed between the trunk and the
cylinder serves as the an compressing pump, the trunk being packed by any
convenient packing preferably metallic rings. The air compressing pump is
supplied with ulet valve C2 and discharge valve C The working part of the
piston is made tight by rings in any usual manner and it carries a reduced extension
o plunger, which enters into the non-conducting lining E formning the combustion
space, but does not come in sliding contact with it; the end of the plunger 19
protected by a non-conducting block D The non-conducting lining E is closed
within an non
casing F and cover G. The non-conducting lining consists
preferably of porcelain or some other suitable non-porous non-conducting
material, and it is divided radially into separate blocks or segments as shown
at Figmes 8 and 9 to avoid fincture from unequal expansion as herein before
explamed.
His the gas admission valve which 18 operated from the valve shaft I and the
small shaft H'm a manner to be hereafter described.
Jis a valve chest containing the air inlet valve and the exhaust valve.
K18 the gas pump which takes in gas and compresses it into the cylinder by way
of the pipe K.
When the engine is to be started, the porcelain block X which contains passages
connecting between the gas supply valve and the cylinder, is heated up by au
external forced flame of any well known type such as is used for heating up the
igniting tubes and combustion chambers of petroleum engines. This block X 18
surrounded with a casing F¹ lined with non-conducting material, and the flame is
applied by way of the open side F and the passage F. When this block is raised
to incandescence, gas is injected into air drawn into the cylinder as herembefore
descubed the gas passes by way of the holes II from the valve, discharges
through the central aperture E mixing with an induced to pass from the cylinde
by its flow, the air passing as indicated by the arrows (Figure 10) up the oles E
and the boles E. The gas thus mixes with sufficient au to make it cozibustible,
and ignites as it passes the incandescent part of the block X. The engine then
starts operated by a series of low pressure explosions. The air and gas pressure
is then slowly raised until the engine is operating at its full power.
When the engine is in full action the whole of the non-conducting surfaces of E
are raised to incandescence and the action is as follows.―
The front side of the piston A acting as an air pump takes in a charge of au
from the atmosphere at the valve C. On the return stroke this air change 18
compressed and is discharged from the pump by the valve C. It then passes to
an air heater to be subsequently described. The air heater stores up the air
under compression and heats it to a point considerably above the temperature of
compression. When the piston A is at the upper end of its stroke the air supply
is admitted to the cylindei by way of the valve box J, the an valve being operated
B

page_text: from the lever J³, acted on by one side of the cam J'. The air is thus admitted
under pressure and, after heating, to the cylinder of the engine and the piston
moves on its stroke taking in au at the full pressure of compression. At a certain
point depending upon the amount of compression used, the air supply to the cylinder
is cut off and the gas valve is immediately opened.
The gas pump K has taken charge of gas from the producer and compressed
it into the pipe and if need be, a convenient reservoir, and the pressure of gas
has been raised to a considerable point above the pressure of compression of the au.
The gas is preferably heated after compression in the same manner as the compressed
Air When the gas valve H is opened, the gas therefore ushes through the
holes Hs, passes through the central channel E3 and induces an ait emrent by way
of the holes E' E' so that gas and air mix in the channel E3 and cuter the
cylinder by the channel E. The mixture as it passes the meandescent channels E' E'
and impinges upon the surfaces of the incandescent non-conducting material DE,
ignites and an explosion or combustion 18 produced which applies a motive impulse
to the piston A The au in its projection through the channels E³ and E' moves
at such velocity that ample air is diawn from the cylinder to mix with the gas,
the au and gas supply are thus thoroughly mixed in the cylinder itself and not
outside of it The piston A proceeds on its downward or power stroke and at or
near the termination of the stroke, the exhaust valve is opened by the lever J'
operated on by the other side of the cam J. The exhaust gases are still at a very
high temperature because of the absence of cooling walls surrounding the
combustion spaces, and the exhaust gases are then discharged from the engine on
the upstroke to operate in the regenerator of the gas producer in a manner to be
described later on. On the up-stroke the lower side of the piston is taking another
charge of an from the atmosphere and on the upper side the exhaust valve is closed
at a suitable point so that when the piston reaches the end of its stroke the
exhaust gases remaining in the cylinder are compressed preferably to an extent
about equal to the pressure of an compression. The air let valve is then opened,
the heated ai charge under compression enters the cylinder, is cut off at a certain
point of the stroke and gas is admitted to be burned or exploded as herembefore
described. This in the main describes the operation of the engine itself.
The air admission valve and the exhaust valve are valves of the ordinary conical
sent type suitably water-jacketted, to preserve them from the effects of the high
temperature. The gas valve is a combination of piston valve and rotating disc
valve as shown at Figure 7, and on a large scale as Figure 10. The disc valve
is lettered Hand it is driven from the valve shaft I by the cross shaft H'
geaning to the valve shaft I by bevil wheels. The valve shaft I is shown as
driven by skew wheels, but it may be driven from the crank shaft by any other
convenient gearing.
The cross shaft l'operates the disc valve 112 which valve controls the piston valve II
by means of ports opening above & below the piston valve, and also ports opening
to the source of gas supply. When the valve II2 occupies the position shown in
Figme 10, gas pressure is admitted both top and bottom of the gas valve I and
the valve is thus forced down upon its seat and closes the apertures ³ so that no
gas is allowed to reach those apertmes. When the valve H is rotated to another
position the upper side of the piston H is caused to communicate with the
atmosphere or with a portion of gas at atmospheric pressure, and the pressure of
the gas is allowed to bear upon the under side of the said piston valve, the valve
then rises from its seat aud discharges gas through the apertureз H³ into the
cylinder as described.
The valve casing J contains two valves, oue the exhaust valve, the other the air
admission valve, for admitting the heated compressed air to the cylinder. These
valves are operated as I have described by the cam J' and the levers J and J³.
In the drawings I have shown some slight differences between the methods of
fastening the non-conducting porcelain in Figures 2, 7, 8 and 9, but these
variations are slight, the principle operating is the same in both.

page_text: The construction of air heater preferred by me 18 shown at Figures 12, 13
and 14, and it consists of a series of chambers U connected together by
alternately disposed pipes U, each chamber being divided by partitions U; the
air to be heated after being compressed by the pump enters at the pipe U¹, passes
through one division U by the dividing plates as indicated by the arrows, enters
another division U, passes along as described, and so on from division to division
until the au has passed over a very large surface. It then issues from the heater
in a compressed and heated state to be fed to the engine cylinder as described.
The exhaust gases from the engine which have, however, first passed through the
gas producer regenerator, enter the air heater by the passage L' and are discharged
from it by the passage L. The extenor surfaces of the heating chambers U* are
covered by gills or radiators Us and these gills or radiators are so disposed that
the exhaust gases pass along a somewhat tortuous passage in order to cover the
whole sun face of the indiators on heat absorbers. By this arrangement the air
beating divisions absorb heat from the exhaust gases and communicate that heat
by conduction to the interior surfaces which heat the compressed air
The gas
pump takes its supply of gas from the producer by way of the pipe K' Figure 1.
I have now described particularly the construction and operation of the engine
and I will now proceed to describe the construction of my improved gas producer
aud its operation jointly with the engine.
The gas producer connected up to the engine together with the air heater and
the water evaporator and superheater is shown in general elevation at Figures 4,
5, and 6 (Sheet 2), and in larger scale partly in section at Figures 15 and 16
(Sheet 6). The gas producer consists of a produce proper P connected
suitably to regenerating chambers M M¹. These regenerating chambers
are heated alternately by the exhaust gases from the engine in order to
make the waste heat of the engine available for the purpose of producing
pure inflammable gas without appreciable dilution of nitrogen. The exhaust
gases leave the engine by the pipe L which pipe is lined with firebrick or other
non-conducting material in order to retain the heat. The gases enter the
regenerator or gas heater by way of a valve O¹. This valve is attanged in any
usual manner so as to allow the exhaust gases to be passed either through M or M
as desued. As is usual with furnace regenerators the heating gases are passed
through one regenerator to heat up the material within it, while the other
regenerator is being used for the purpose of giving out heat to the gas which is to
be heated.
At the top of the regenerators is placed a similar valve O which serves to
connect the gas pipe L' alternately with either regenerator. The exhaust gases thus
pass through one regenerator, say M, heating up the firebrick contained in it, then
through the valve O to the pipe L by which time the gases have been considerably
reduced in temperature. From L' the gases still hot enter the air heater U, which
has been described in detail, give up a further quantity of heat to the compressed
air and then pass by way of the pipe L into the water evaporator and super-
heater U' whence the exhaust is discharged into the atmosphere by the pipe L
having lost nearly all its heat.
While the exhaust gases are thus heating, the regenerator surfaces within M'
are giving up the heat to the producer gases. To effect this the gascous contents
of the producer are continuously enculated passing away at the top through the
pipe Q, then down through the firebuck surfaces in the producer M' and out by
way of the pipe R to enter the produce again at the bottom by the pipe S. To
cause the circulation the steam injector T is used which is more clearly seen at
Figure 15. This injector is supplied with steam under pressure generated from
the water evaporator and superheater U. The gases are thus caused to flow
continuously through the producer P entering the bottom and leaving at the top.
In the section Figure 15 the gases are shown as leaving by the passage P and also
by the pipe Qaud the passage P³ The gas however from both passages euters
pipo Q, travels along that pipe and passes down either one or other of

page_text: the regenerators M M' to be returned again at the bottom by the valve O¹
and the pipes R and S.
The circulation of the gases may be effected by other means by a fan or blower
for instance.
The arraugement shown in Figures 15 and 16 is slightly different as to pipes
and passages from that indicated in Figures 4, 5, and 6, but the principle of
operation is the same in both. By this ariangement the gases of the producer P
are heated up to a considerable extent by the exhaust gases from the engine, and
so the heat which would otherwise be wasted in the exhaust gases is restored to the
system, to be partly utilized to aid chenical action. The gas to be used in the
engine is taken from the producer by a pipe such as V, it passes through
the water evaporator and superbeater to give up its heat, then along the pipe V
to a cooler V whence it passes by the pipe K to the engine gas pump. Tho
produce shown in vertical section, and plan part section, as Figures 15 and 16, 18
fed with fuel through the pipes P into the inner pipe P'. The passage 1" 18
placed considerably above the lower lip of the pipe P. The coal which may be
of any ordinary kind heats up within the pipe P, and is also heated up by some of
the cnculating gas being forced through it, the relative or required amount being
regulated by the valve Q. The coal becomes coked giving off volatile hydro-
carbon and the gases pass up the annulus P³ and through the pipe Qinto the
pipe Q. The remaining portion of the other gases arising from the incan-
descent fuel in the producer below the hip of P pass away from the producer
by the passage and also enter the pipe Q to proceed to either of the
regenerators M M'
The gas to supply the engine is preferably taken away at the valve Q. The
producer P is provided with a circular conical bottom W having a spiral groove on
its surface and kept cool by water circulation within it, entering by the pipe W¹
and passing out by the pipe W'. This conical bottom is rotated continuously by
suitable geaning in such direction as to screw the contents of the producer, that is
ash and slag at the bottom of the producer, out into the ash-pit
Although I have described one form of producer, yet the construction may be
modified without departing from its main features.
In some cases I operate my gas producer without the exhaust gases of a gas
engine, by burning a portion of the gas formed, alternately in the regenerators,
where alternating regenerators are used, and I thus keep the fuel within the producer
in continuous action and obtain gas without the diluting nitrogen. This process has
the advantage of economy and continuity as compared with other water gas
processes. The apparatus used is the same as that illustrated in the drawings, but
with this alteration only, that the regenerators or heat transfer surfaces are heated
by combustion instead of by exhaust gases.
It is to be distinctly understood that my invention, so far as relates to gas
production, may be carried into effect in combination with any known gas
engine.
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 1
clau 18-
1. The method of utilizing the heat of the exhaust gases from a gas engine by
passing the said exhaust gases through a regenerator or regenerators to absorb the
beat and using the heat so absorbed to supply heat to a gas producer in order to
maintain the contents of the producer at a sufficient temperature to cause the carbon
to continuously decompose steam and produce an inflammable gas free or nearly frec
from nitrogen substantially as set forth.
2. A gas producer, comprising a producer portion containing incandescent
carbon or fuel; regenerators alternately heated by the exhaust gases of a gas
engine; a steam supply to be decomposed; arrangements to allow the gases from
the producer to be circulated through producer and regenerator preferably pipes

page_text: lined with non-conducting material and a steam, gas-propelling jet, or other gas
propelling device, such as a pump or fan; and suitable reveising valve and other
valve connections substantially as herein before described.
3. A gas producer, comprising a prolucer portion containing incandescent
carbon or fuel, regenerators of heat transfer bodies heated by the combustion of a
portion of the gas or by the combustion of other fuel, a steam supply to be
decomposed; arrangements to allow the gases from the producer to be circulated
through producer and regenerator, preferably pipes lined with non-conducting
material, and preferably a steam gas propelling jet; and suitable reversing valve
and other valve connections substantially as herein before described.
4. The gas producer with regenerators heated either directly or by the oxhaust
gases of a gas engine substantially as herein before described and illustrated at
Figures 4, 5, 6, 15 and 16 of the diawings.
5. A gas engine in which the air supply and gas supply are separately
compressed into chambers, the compressed an being admitted to the powet
cylinder for a portion of the forward stroke; the air supply then cut off and the
compressed gas admitted and caused to be mixed with the an in the cylinder by
the means hereinbefore described, then ignited by an incandescent surface or
surfaces, or other known means, and the power stroke so produced substantially as
and for the purposes herein before described.
6. The gas engine with non-conducting lining for the combustion chamber
and non-conducting igniter for starting, the gas admission being aanged by
its velocity of influx to cause an air circulation from the cylinder by suitable
holes and passages to mix with the entering gas substantially as herembefore
described and illustrated at Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying
drawings.
7. The combination of gas engine and producer in which the exhaust gases
from the engine heat the produce regenerators and the gas for the engine is
supplied from the producer, while the compressed air and preferably the
compressed gas, is heated by the exhaust gases after leaving the regenerator,
and the steam for the produce is raised by the further use of the exhaust
substantially as herembefore described and as illustrated at Figures 4, 5 and 6 of
the drawings
8. The special construction of air heater horeinbeforo described as illustrated in
the drawings.
9. The special construction of gas admission valve hereinbefore described with
eference to Figures 7 and 10 of the drawings.
Dated this 6th day of March 1896.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., aud
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.