Improvements in Apparatus for Generating, Storing, and Sustaining Motive Force by Compressed Air or Gases, and in the Method of Applying the same to Motive Power Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating, Storing, and Sustaining
Motive Force by Compressed Air or Gases, and in the Method of
Applying the same to Motive Power Engines.
We, BRISBANE DOYLE residing at Redfern in the City of Sydney, in the Colony
of New South Wales, Australia, Gentleman, HENRY COOKE, residing at Waverley
in the City and Colony aforesaid, Gentleman, and CHARLES LAUNCELOT
GARLAND, residing at North Sydney in the City and Colony aforesaid, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR GENERATING, STORING, AND SUSTAINING MOTIVE FORCE BY COMPRESSED
AIR OR GASES, AND IN THE METHOD OF APPLYING THE SAME TO MOTIVE
POWER ENGINES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:--
Our invention has for its object the storage of compressed, air or gases. within one
or more chambers in such a manner that it may be used as a motive force to, actuate
or drive mechanism which shall be capable of generating a fresh supply of air or
gases. and. while in the act of generating, shall cause a commingling, of the air or
gas which has been used, with the augmenting supply and by, slightly, raising the
pressure ensure its return to the charging cylinders where it may be again, used as
a motive force.
To carry out our invention, we use preferably two ordinary steam engines which
may be modified to run as air or gas engines, two air or gas receivers. which we
term charging cylinders, two air or gas locks, which; act as intermittent retaining
and compressing chambers, having direct communication with one side of; the air
pump pistons and mixing chambers, and, two air pumps constructed so as to receive
the exhaust air from the engines after it has passed through the air locks, so as to
assist the work of compression.
The engines, air locks, and pumps are all attached to the. same crank shaft,
which is constructed with the cranks in such a position that will be possible to
obtain a maximum force which shall operate. at a time when the resistance offered
by the pumps can be most readily overcome.
Each charging cylinder is. constructed with a self acting piston. operated by the
motive force on the one side and a spiral spring on the other, such spring, offering
no resistance while the compression of the air is taking place, it being temporarily
retired by means of actuating gear. These self acting pistons can be made to act
alternately that is to say, in the one the process of exhaustion or propulsion, may be
taking place assisted by the release of the spring, while in the other compression is
taking place the spring being temporarily retired so as to offer the least resistance
to the air pump.
This actuating gear consists of a pinion. whose teeth are hollowed at the point
and root in conformity with the shape of the spring. This pinion is combined with
a clutch operated by a clutch lever which is actuated by a sliding rod attached to
the piston of the charging cylinder. The clutch is only in gear when the piston
has advanced the prescribed distance. When the piston is in a state of rest the
clutch is disengaged so that the spindle. carrying the pinion, runs loosely, within it.
Upon the end of such spindle a ratchet disc is keyed which is. operated by means of
a ratchet pawl receiving its motion from suitable levers and an eccentric.attached
to the crank shaft.
The air locks are placed in close proximity to the exhaust pipes of the engines
and are fitted with pistons and valves so constructed as to provide for the ingress
and expulsion of the exhaust air. The action of the piston is intermittent being
produced by double acting cams placed upon the crank shaft. The work of

page_text: compression assists the exhaust air in its passage towards the air pumps and the
mixing chambers.
At that part of the stroke when the. cams are not acting the exhaust air is allowed
to pass freely to the pumps and mixing chambers; the passages leading thereto are
fitted with retention valves which act in unison with the combined movements of
the air locks and air pumps. A bye pass exhaust pipe is provided to convey the
air from the pump and is also provided with retention valves, to ensure the retention
of the air within the mixing chamber and to allow of its further compression by the
air lock piston and pump piston.
The mixing chambers are constructed with valves so arranged that the pressure
upon one of a large area shall cause the unseating of one of a smaller area the one
receiving its pressure from within the mixing chamber and the other from within
the charging cylinder.
The charging cylinders are in the first instance filled with air or gas by any
known means for producing compression which may be by hand, steam, or other
power. When the air or gas has attained a force sufficient to overcome the
resistance of the spring at the back of the piston the piston moves to a state of rest
at the end of the cylinder. In that position the spring is exerting its utmost
pressure until the release of some of the air or gas into the engines, when it will
advance as the air is being used and continue to exert the same pressure. By this
means the engines, pumps, and air locks are set going and as the various revolutions
are made the air or gas passes into the exhaust pipe provided for it from whence by
accumulation it finds its way first into the air locks and thence into the connecting
pipes attached to the valve chambers of the air pumps, into which it is admitted
upon one side only. At this moment the work of compression also begins on the
other side of the piston of the air pump which is accomplished by the united force
of the two cylinders combined with the pressure of the air on the top side of the
pump piston. The oscillating slide valve of the pump begins to operate so as to
cause the outflow of the air or gas into the exhaust bye pass pipe whence it is con-
veyed to the mixing chamber. Upon its arrival within that chamber the piston of
the air lock is depressed by the double acting cam and a portion of the air is
expelled from the mixing chamber into the charging cylinder.
It is to be observed that the work of compression is produced at a time when the
maximum force is being exerted by the engines.
The pumps act alternately and also the air locks which are so arranged that the
cams shall not perform the work of compression precisely at the same time when
compression is taking place within the cylinders of the air pumps. By this means
the resistance offered by the back pressure is readily overcome..
As compression takes place within the air pump the valve immediately adjacent
thereto is displaced so as to open communication with the mixing chamber at the
same time the valve of the bye pass exhaust pipe is closed as is also the valve
leading from the mixing chamber to the air lock, but upon the descent of the piston
of the air lock this valve unseats itself although the valve in the bye pass pipe remains
closed, thus the air or gas from the pump and the air lock are made to commingle
in the mixing chamber during the time that the cam is acting.
By this means the combined force exerted by the pump and air lock piston (the
latter acting only for a short time) causes an increase of pressure sufficient to dis-
place the valves in the mixing chamber and cause the propulsion of the air or gas
into the charging cylinder.
We do not confine ourselves to the method of advancing and retiring the piston
by means of the spring and actuating gear. As an alternative method we would
provide a heating chamber whose piston rod should be connected with the piston in
the charging cylinder, the energising power for operating within the heating
chamber would be a volume of expanding air which can be produced by many
known methods and whose escape from the heating chamber would be provided for
by an outlet port placed in a suitable position within the heating chamber.
Our mechanism is applicable to all classes of engine with slight modifications of

page_text: the gearing and connections. In our drawings we have shown its adaptation to
engines of the oscillating type this being the form used when conducting our
experiments.
Our invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which similar
letters are used throughout the different views to indicate similar parts and in
which;-
Figure 1 Sheet 1 is a plan or top view of an oscillating quadruple cylindered
engine, with our charging cylinders, air locks, pumps, mixing chambers, pipes,
valves, and actuating gear attached.
Figure 2 Sheet 2 is a side elevation of Figure
showing the relative position of
the charging cylinder piston and spring and actuating gear, air lock, pump, and
motion levers.
Figure 3 Sheet 3 is an end elevation of Figure 1 showing actuating gear and
charging cylinders, air pumps and connections.
Figure 4 Sheet 4 is a plan showing the charging cylinders, and the relative
position of the air locks, air pumps and the various induction and eduction and bye
pass pipes with their essential valves and connections, also the mixing chambers
containing the double valves.
Figure 5 Sheet 4 is a vertical section of one of the air locks with its induction
and eduction pipes, valves, connections, piston and actuating cam.
Figure 6 Sheet 4 is a detail of the double valve attached to the mixing chambers
and charging cylinders.
In the various figures A are ordinary steam cylinders adapted for air or gas;
A piston rods; B valve chest of A; B' cut off gear for B; C trunnions;
D adjustable pivots; E standards and bearings for crank shaft; F crank shaft ;
F and F cranks; G fly-wheels; G' and G2 cranks for pump gear set at right
angles to F1 and F2; H sole plate; H¹ standards supporting H; I air locks;
I pistons of I, J actuating cams for I; K air pumps; K¹ valves in cover of K;
L pistons in K; L' piston rods of L; L connecting rod attached to L'; M crank
lever attached to and operating L2; M' standard supporting M; N connecting rod
joining M and pump cranks G1 and G2; O charging cylinders; O¹ covers of O;
O covers with sleeves 0³ to receive springs P¹; 03 sleeve on 02; P self acting
piston in O; P¹ spiral spring for propelling P; Q stay and guide rod for securing O
and O2 and P and P₁; R brackets on 02 for supporting actuating gear; R¹ spindle
in R; R pinion on R¹ gearing with P¹; R³ clutch engaging with R2; R* clutch
levers operating R3; R sliding rod actuated by P for operating R*; S ratchet
discs secured to R'; S' ratchet pawl for operating S; S² connecting rod secured to
S¹; S³ levers attached to S²; S eccentrics operating S³; T stop valve connecting
0-0; U supply pipes connecting 0-0 with B-B; U stop valves attached
to U; U safety valve attached to O and U₁; U3 stop valves at junctions of U;
V exhaust pipes connecting B-B with I—I; V₁ inlet valves in foot plates of I-I;
V outlet valves in I-I; V³ pipes connecting I-I with valve chest X of K-K
and mixing chambers Y'; V valve in V³; X valve chest of K-K with oscillating
valve shewn in dotted lines; X' eccentric and rod for operating oscillating valve;
X induction and eduction passage connecting K with X; ✗³ exhaust ports
of K-K; X lever attached to spindle of oscillating valve; ✗' connecting rod
attached to X; Y bye pass exhaust pipes connecting X³ with V³; Y₁ mixing
chambers; Y valves in Y₁; Z discharge pipes connecting K-K with Y¹ Z' valve
in Z; Zeduction valve in Y.
The manner of operating our apparatus when adapted to the form of engine
shewn in our drawings, is as follows:-
The charging cylinder O is charged with compressed air or gases, or combined
air and gases in the manner before mentioned and the desired pressure having been
obtained the apparatus is ready for working. The piston P at this time occupies
the position shewn in dotted lines on Figure 2 Sheet 2, the spring P¹ being fully
compressed only by the air or gases which has been injected into O.

page_text: At this initial stage the actuating pinion R2, is inoperative by reason of the
sliding rod R' having lifted clutch lever'R' upwards, and brought about the dis-
engagement of the clutch R³, the rod being formed taper for that purpose; while P
remains in that position the disengagement of the clutch continues, but when it has
traversed the distance controlled by the force of the spring the thin end of the
sliding rod, R, takes the position formerly occupied by the thickest part of the rod;
this allows the clutch lever.R* to descend and clutch R³ is made to engage with
pinion R. This' however cannot take place until movement has been given to the
engines which occurs in the following manner :-
Stop valve U¹ is opened and the air or gas passing into
chamber or valve 'U³ passes direct into valve chests B-B.
enters by the usual ports and passages into the cylinders A.
follows and as each revolution is made the air or gas will
manner through the exhaust pipe 'V.
U and through the
The air or gas then
Motion immediately
pass out in the usual
Up to this point the action is essentially the same as with ordinary steam
cylinders, but by our interposition of the air locks (presuming that air is used) the
escape into the atmosphere is prevented; the air passing through V lifts valve V¹,
enters air lock I, and if the cam J be in the position shewn in Figure 5 Sheet 4
will force the piston, I¹, upwards, which will admit of the reception of the volume
of air escaping from pipe 'V. The downward movement of cam 'J will cause the
air to displace V2 and escape into V3 whence it will proceed to the valve chest X
of 'K. By this time the oscillating valve shewn in dotted lines will have been
moved by the action of X, X and X' sufficiently to admit the passage of the air
into X where it will exert its' force upon the piston 'L and will be further assisted
by the force operating within the engines, and the additional force acquired by a
further movement of actuating cam J,.then the oscillating valve closes to prepare
for the return stroke of the piston L and to allow of the escape of the air through X³
into exhaust port X3 and thence through bye pass exhaust pipe Y'lifting valve Z
and thence into the mixing chamber Y₁, it being retained there by the closure of
valves VZ and 72 awaiting a further accumulation which takes place' by another
movement of the actuating cam J and by the compression of the fresh air admitted
through the valves K' into K where it is compressed by the piston 'L.
It will be observed that no backward pressure can occur within the bye pass
exhaust pipe 'Y because of the presence of valve Z³, neither can the air pass on to
the lower side of the piston L because of the interposition of valve Z¹, neither can
the fresh supply, áfter it has passed valve Z', find its way past V* into pipe V³,
which would produce back pressure upon the piston of air lock I.
The combined forces operating in pipes V³ and Z will serve to overcome the
resistance offered by the pressure within the charging cylinders, by reason of the
outer valve having an area slightly in excess of the retaining valve within the orifice
leading to the charging cylinder O. These valves may be connected with a rigid
stem, or the stem may be dispensed with and two separate valves used. Where the
latter is the case contact between the two valves is brought about so that' the air
will not only act upon and unseat the larger valve but will also act upon the smaller
valve. This is accomplished by the slighest excess of force within the mixing
chamber Y produced by the intermittent action of the air lock I, the continued
action of the engines, and the pump K.
The relative positions of the cranks and actuating cams are shewn in 'Figure 5
Sheet 4, and it serves to illustrate the fact that the combined 'forces operating
upon F and F overcome the resistance offered by G and G2.
The piston actuated by G₁being in the act of compressing when the piston of G³
is taking in a fresh supply.
i
The air locks, like the charging cylinders, are capable, of modification, and as it
would be possible. in the latter to dispense with the spring and substitute a heating
chamber such as is commonly used for hot air engines to produce intermittent
action, so also might the actuating cam be dispensed with and a heating chamber

page_text: substituted. The compression would then take place in the air locks by a connecting
beam or lever, one end of such lever being attached to the piston rod of the air
lock, and pivotted at the centre, with the other end secured to the piston of the
heating chamber, or hot air engine.
The intermittent motion of the actuating gear before referred to for operating
the spring P, is controlled by the determinate relative positions of the eccentrics
and levers associated with its action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
1. In apparatus for generating, storing, and sustaining motive force by com-
pressed air or gases, the use of one or more charging cylinders, having a movable
piston operated on the one side by compressed air or gases, or air and gases com-
bined, and on the other side by a controllable motive force consisting of a spring
which may be intermittently compressed by actuating gear operated by power
driven from the said charging cylinders, such power having been first stored within
the charging cylinders and augmented and sustained by the introduction of fresh
air or gases which is commingled with the existing air in a mixing chamber by
means of the combined action of air locks, air pumps, and engines, as described
and shewn.
2. The use of the actuating gear (for compressing a spring) as described, having
a pinion which shall run loosely when maximum pressure is maintained in the
charging cylinders but shall be made to gear with and act upon the spring when
the piston is advanced, the motive power for operating such actuating gear being
contained within the charging cylinders and passing thence to an engine, or engines,
whose crank shaft is provided with eccentrics, connecting rods, levers, and pawls, as
described and shewn.
3. The use of air or gas locks operated by actuating cams for giving intermittent
motion to the pistons of the said air or gas locks for the purpose of transmitting
the exhaust air or gases used in engines as described, and conveying the said air or
gases alternately to mixing chambers, and single acting air pumps to assist the work
of compression within the said pumps; the air or gases after use in the pumps being
discharged through a bye pass exhaust pipe to the mixing chambers where it com-
mingles with a fresh supply of air or gases accumulated by the action of the pumps
and is conveyed thence into charging cylinders for the purposes herein described
and shewn.
4. In apparatus for generating motive force with the aid of air or gases the use
of single acting air pumps provided with oscillating valves for admitting the exhaust
air or gases on the one side of the pistous of such pumps after passing through
intermediate air locks, such oscillating valves being operated so as to divert the air
or gases into bye pass exhaust pipes connected with mixing chambers and also
causing the diversion of the surplus air or gases into the said mixing chambers
where it shall commingle with a fresh supply of air or gases obtained from the said
pumps such pumps being operated in the manner shewn in Figure 2 Sheet 2.
5. The arrangement of pipes, valves, and passages in combination with air or gas
locks, pumps, mixing chambers, and charging cylinders as described and as shewn
in Figure 4 Sheet 4 and for the purposes set forth.
6. The use of mixing chambers interposed between the air or gas locks, pumps,
and charging cylinders and provided with two valves of unequal area, the smaller
one closing the orifice leading to the charging cylinders, by the pressure within the
said charging cylinders, and being unseated by the action of the larger valve which
receives its motion from the combined forces of the engines, air or gas locks and
pumps, as described and shewn and for the purposes set forth.
7. The combination and arrangement of the parts of the apparatus herein
described, consisting of engines, air or gas locks, pumps, mixing chambers, with
the pipes, passages, valves bye pass exhaust pipes, and charging cylinders provided

page_text: with self acting pistons and spring actuating gear, the movable parts of such
apparatus being operated by compressed air or gases stored within the charging
cylinders, such air or gases after use being continuously returned to the said
charging cylinders and having been augmented by a fresh supply from the pumps,
all as described and shewn and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Second day of May 1891
5
Witness,
HARRY A. SMEDLEY.
BRISBANE DOYLE..
HENRY COOKE.
CHARLES LAUNCELOT GARLAND.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants..