A CONDENSING OR NON-CONDENSING COMPOUND SINGLE OR DOUBLE ACTING MOTIVE POWER ENGINE, WORKED BY EXPLOSIVE GASES COLLECTED FROM MINES OR OTHERWISE, IN COMBINATION WITH OR WITHOUT GUN COTTON, ON WITH GUN COTTON ALONE, AND IN THE MODE OF CONDENSING, REVERSING, STARTING, AND TRANSMITTING THE POWER FROM MOTIVE POWER ENGINES TO THE MACHINERY TO BE DRIVEN, EITHER FOR GETTING COAL, WINDING LOCOMOTIVES, THAM CARS, DRIVING MACIUNERY, OR THE, SAME, WORKING for other PURPOSE
Year: 1879

page_text: JETTERS PATENT to Frederick Hurd, of Wakefield, in the County of York,
and of 109, Ferry Road, Edinburgh, Engineer, for the Invention of "A
CONDENSING OR NON-CONDENSING COMPOUND SINGLE OR DOUBLE ACTING
MOTIVE POWER ENGINE, WORKED BY EXPLOSIVE GASES COLLECTED FROM
MINES OR OTHERWISE, IN COMBINATION WITH OR WITHOUT GUN COTTON, ON
WITH GUN COTTON ALONE, AND IN THE MODE OF CONDENSING, REVERSING,
STARTING, AND TRANSMITTING THE POWER FROM MOTIVE POWER ENGINES
TO THE MACHINERY TO BE DRIVEN, EITHER FOR GETTING COAL, WINDING
LOCOMOTIVES, THAM CARS, DRIVING MACIUNERY, OR
THE, SAME, WORKING
for other PURPOSE."
Scaled the 12th September 1879, and dated the 3rd June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Hurd at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1879.
OR
FREDERICK HURD, of Wakefield, in the County of York, and of 109, Ferry Road,
Edinburgh, Engineer.
"A CONDENSING OR NON-CONDENSING COMPOUND SINGLE
DOUBLE ACTING MOTIVE POWER ENGINE, WORKED BY EXPLOSIVE GASES
COLLECTED
MINES OR
OTHERWISE, IN COMBINATION
GUN COTTON, OR WITH GUN COTTON ALONE, AND IN THE
REVERSING, STARTING, AND TRANSMITTING THE POWER
FROM
ENGINES TO THE
MACHINERY TO BE
DRIVEN, EITHER FOR
WITH OR WITHOUT
MODE OF CONDENSING,
FROM MOTIVE POWER
GETTING COAL,
WINDING THE SAME, WORKING LOCOMOTIVES, TRAM CARS, DRIVING MACHINERY,
OR FOR OTHER PURPOSE."
My Invention consists in constructing a condensing or non condensing compound
single or double acting engine to be worked by gases, which are capable of being
exploded, expanded, and condensed with or without the addition of gun cotton, or
with gun cotton alone, and of apparatus for reversing, starting, and transmitting
the power from motive power engines to the machinery to be driven. These com-
pound double acting engines having a special link motion with two fixed eccentrics
only, and they are capable of being reversed by a hand lever or by self acting appa-
ratus, and they are connected to and disconnected from the machinery to be driven
by a friction locking gear, whereby any engine up to 50 horse power can be started
by one person with the greatest facility, thus overcoming the difficulties hitherto
unavoidable in starting gas or gun cotton engines.

page_text: This friction locking gear can be disengaged without stopping the engine, thus
enabling the engine to be reversed at will.
In performing my Invention I prefer to cast the compound cylinders and valve
chests in one piece, and I use by preference cylindrical and piston valves, but
balanced slide valves may be used. When piston valves are used, the explosive
gases are admitted, cut off, ignited, and exhausted at each end of the cylinders by
the same valve, and the said exhaust gases passing off to an ejector or special ram
condensor, whereby a good vacuum is produced to increase the power of engine,
and a double acting movement is given to the pistons with a smoothness and quiet-
ness equal to the best class of steam engines; or separate cylindrical or balanced
slide valves actuated by different eccentrics or cranks may be used. When gun
cotton charges only are employed, each charge is supplied in the form of tape or in
block, and in such a condition as not to explode without a fuse fed into the valve
or exploding chamber, or by ignited gas chamber.
When a fuse is used it is enclosed in a fire proof self acting fuse chamber con-
taining sufficient for one or more day's work, and discharging only one at a time,
or it may be separately fed by an eccentric, or combined with the charge and
exploded with the same feed eccentric or a separate one from the same shaft. The
gun-cotton is supplied in the form of an endless band or tape wound on a drum,
and enclosed in a fire-proof case is intermittently fed into valves similar to those
above described for the gas engine. Each charge is cut off by self acting cutters
worked from the eccentric shaft or otherwise. The charges in the form of blocks
are enclosed in a fire proof vessel, and fed into an explosive chamber by an
eccentric or other equivalent agent.
When gas engines are employed in coal mines for getting coal and other work,
and in gas works, the igniting agent is enclosed in an apparatus constructed
according to the Davy principle to prevent external explosions by fire damp or
other gases.
The compound cylinders are enclosed in a casing through which a current of
cold air circulates, and the radiation of heat generated by engine cylinders thus
enclosed is collected from the same by the condenser ram, and forced into a suitable
receiver which forms the bed of the engine or otherwise, carrying along with it a
proper mixture of
for motive power.
gases
The friction locking gear above referred to consists of one or more knee levers
pressing against a segment or segments acting against a friction drum to be driven.
The knee levers are actuated by a hand lever or from the engine, and they are
locked by centrifugal action when the machinery to be driven by the engine has
attained the desired speed.
This improved mode of transmitting the motive power to the machinery to be
driven is applicable to steam engines and other motive power engines.
For starting the engines I employ a separate cylinder, which is actuated by a
hand lever, by which compressed air is forced into an air receiver fixed on to or
between the compound cylinders or otherwise, and when the desired pressure of
air is attained the hand lever is then locked into gear with parallel motion to the
engine. The valves then being drawn into position by the reversing lever the
engine immediately starts without any further assistance, maintaining the pressure
in the cylinder casing or special receiver in combination with said cylinder and
heated air, or by the cushioned action of compound condensor ram or cylinders
pistons when single action and when double action by the condensor ram only.
The requisite quantity of explosive gases is admitted in proportion to the neces-
sary power required at each stroke of the pistons when in full motion by the air as
it passes from the special receiver through the injector by an intermittent action
actuated by a pressure or centrifugal governor, thus making it impossible for a
destructive charge of gases to be admitted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
OR
by the said Frederick Hurd in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
December 1879.
FREDERICK HUND, of Wakefield, in the County of York, and of 109, Ferry Road,
Edinburgh, Engineer. "A CONDENSING OR NON-CONDENSING COMPOUND SINGLE
DOUBLE ACTING MOTIVE POWER ENGINE, WORKED BY EXPLOSIVE GASES
COLLECTED FROM MIXES OR OTHERWISE, IN COMBINATION WITH OR WITHOUT
GUN COTTON, OR WITH GUN COTTON ALONE, AND IN THE MODE OF CONDENSING,
REVERSING, STARTING, AND TRANSMITTING THE POWER FROM MOTIVE POWER
ENGINES TO THE MACHINERY
DRIVEN, EITHER
GETTING COAL,
WINDING THE SAME, WORKING LOCOMOTIVES, TRAM CARS, DRIVING MACHINERY,
OR FOR OTHER PURPOSE."
TO BE
FOR
My Invention consists in constructing a condensing or non condensing compound
single or double acting engine to be worked by gases which are capable of being
exploded, expanded, and condensed with or without the addition of gun cotton, or
with gun cotton alone, and of apparatus for reversing, starting, and transmitting
the power from motive power engines to the machinery to be driven. These com-
pound double acting engines having a special link motion with two fixed eccentrics
only, and they are capable of being reversed by a hand lever or by self acting
apparatus, and they are connected to and disconnected from the machinery to be
driven by a friction locking gear, whereby any engine up to 50 horse power can be
started by one person with the greatest facility, thus overcoming the difficulties
hitherto unavoidable in starting gas or gun cotton engines. This friction locking
gear can be disengaged without stopping the engine, thus enabling the engine to be
reversed at will. In performing my Invention, I prefer to cast the compound
cylinder and valve chest in one piece, and I use by preference cylindrical and piston
valves, but balanced slide valves may be used. When piston valves are used, the
explosive gases are admitted, cut off, ignited, and exhausted at each end of the
cylinders by the same valve, and the said exhaust gases passing off to an ejecter or
special ram condensor, whereby a good vacuum is produced to increase the power
of engine, and a double acting movement is given to the pistons with a smoothness
and quietness equal to the best class of steam engines. Or separate cylindrical or
balanced slide valves actuated by different eccentrics or cranks may be used.
When gun cotton charges only are employed, each charge is supplied in the form
of tape or in block, and in such a condition as not to explode without a fuse fed
into the valve or exploding chamber, or by ignited gas chamber.
When a fuse is used, it is enclosed in a fireproof self acting fuse chamber con-
taining sufficient for one or more days work, and discharging only one at a time, or
it may be separately fed by an eccentric, or combined with the charge and exploded
with the same feed eccentric, or a separate one from the same shaft.
The gun cotton is supplied in the form of an endless band or tape wound on a
drum and enclosed in a fireproof case, is intermittently fed into valves similar to
those above described for the gas engine. Each charge is cut off by self acting
cutters worked from the eccentric shaft or otherwise. The charges in the form of
blocks are enclosed in a fireproof vessel, and fed into an explosive chamber by au
eccentric or other equivalent agent.
When gas engines are employed in coal mines for getting coal and other work,
and in gas works, the igniting agent is enclosed in an apparatus constructed
according to the Davy principle to prevent external explosions by fire damp or
other gases.
The compound cylinders are enclosed in a casing through which a current of cold
air circulates, and the radiation of heat generated by engine cylinders thus enclosed
is collected from the same by the condensor ram, and forced into a suitable receiver

page_text: which forms the bed of the engine, or otherwise carrying along with it a proper
mixture of gases for motive power.
The friction locking gear above referred to consists of one or more knee levers
pressing against a segment or segments acting against a friction drum to be driven.
The knee levers are actuated by a hand lever or from the engine, and they are
locked by centrifugal action when the machinery to be driven by the engine has
attained the desired speed.
This improved mode of transmitting the motive power to the machinery to be
driven is applicable to steam engines and other motive power engines.
For starting the engines I employ a separate cylinder, which is actuated by a
hand lever, by which compressed hot air is forced into an air receiver fixed on to or
between the compound cylinders or otherwise, and when the desired pressure of hot
air is attained the hand lever is then locked into gear with parallel motion to
engine. The valves then being drawn into position by the reversing lever, the
engine immediately starts without any further assistance, maintaining the pressure
in the cylinder casing or special receiver in combination with said cylinder and
heated air, or by the cushioned action of compound condensor ram or cylinder
pistons when single action, and when double action by the condenser ram only.
The requisite quantity of explosive gases is admitted in proportion to the neces-
sary power required at each stroke of the pistons when in full motion by the air as
it passes from the special receiver through the injector, by an intermittent action
actuated by a pressure or centrifugal governor, thus making it impossible for a
destructive charge of gases to be admitted.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan of my improved S HP compound, con-
densing, double acting, and reversing gas engine. a and a¹ are the cylinders, which
with the admission ports are formed in one piece, in which work the pistons and
piston rods b the piston and piston rod are forged in one piece to prevent the
dislocation of the parts when running at a high speed. The pistons communicate
motion through the sliding cross heads band connecting rods 63 to the cranks d
forged with the shaft, to which are also forged the eccentrics for giving the
necessary motion through the links c', link connecting rods, and to the valve
spindles to the valves c and c' for actuating the admission of the gases for motive
power to the cylinders. The engine is reversed by moving the hand lever i, longi-
tudinal rod, and elbow lever, which is connected by the curved carrying link co
to the connecting rods c³, the links & having fixed centres c; when the connecting
rods are moved to the other extremity of the links the reversing action takes
place.
e is the inlet for the admission of cool air to the casing of the cylindor a¹,
from which it is drawn through the pipe f by the double acting plunger air pump ("
and forced into the casing of the cylinder a or other suitable receiver, where it is
heated by hot water before amalgamating at the injector governor g, by which it is
regulated as to quantity with the gas from the main before entering into the valve
chamber for admission to the cylinder a. The valves c contain water which mixes
with the gas and causes a natural deposit of oils sufficient to lubricate the interior
working parts of the valves and cylinders; this water escapes from the periphery
of the valves during the whole of the time they are in motion, and when they come
opposite the port to be exploded a small quantity of water is ejected into the
cylinder containing the hot gases, and the water is then further partially
heated by the hot gases. The valves still continuing to move forward next
bring into play the igniting chamber which instantly explodes the gas and
converts the water into high pressure steam, which actuates the piston of the
high pressure cylinder with the alternate action of the valves, which said
steam after exerting its force on the piston for five-cights or more of its stroke is
admitted by the valves of the low pressure cylinder a¹, and exerts its force on the
piston of the low pressure cylinder, thus communicating to the crank a uniform
motion. A further developement of power is produced from the steam and hot
exhaust gases that remain in the low pressure cylinder by the ejector syphon
condensorf, whereby a good vacuum is produced which increases the power of the

page_text: engine, and gives a double acting movement to the low pressure piston, I draw off
a portion of the vapour from the condensor by the plunger air pump f, and mix it
with the hot gases forced into the receiver, and regulate the quantity of vapour
required by the valve f. h is the pipe which brings the gas from the main,
through the Peebles pressure governor h; 2 is a threeway valve, which admits the
gas to the injector governor g, and to the duplicate ignition apparatus h³, which is
constructed, in such a manner as to allow all portions of it that are exposed to the
action of the flame to be surrounded by water, as shewn at ', in Fig. 3, which
circulates in the direction shewn by the arrows, and is finally injected into the
cylinder as before described.
In starting the engines they should be independent of the machinery to bo
driven; and to connect them when required to the machinery I make use of a
friction locking gear, shewn on Sheet 1; ³ is a casting which carries the locking
gear, and transmits the power by toothed gear, belting, or rope, which latter I use,
by preference, with a clip pulley as shewn, this casting runs loose on the crank
shaft d, and carries the governors ³, which are hinged on spring kuce levers d', ou
which press the spring bolts ; is a sliding clutch in which are holes to receive
the spring bolts d; this clutch runs with the crank shaft, and is moved forward
by the hand wheel ', screw 2, and lever 3, till it comes into contact with the
corresponding friction cone on , which then begins to revolve, and when it has
attained a proper speed causes the governors to lock the spring bolts 5 into
the holes in the sliding clutch z. The pressure on the lever is then released,
and the engine runs freely with its load, as though the driven medium was keyed
direct on the shaft.
On Sheet 3, Fig. 3, 3 is a single igniting apparatus shewn in section, as used for
a direct acting engine when reversing motion is not needed. is a pipe which
conducts the gas from the three way valve h², shewn on Sheets 1 and 2, into the
receiver, which supplies the lighting valve . The receiver holds a supply of
gas sufficient to maintain the light, which, after igniting the charge, rises into the
globe, which ensures thorough combustion during the explosive action which is
caused by the cylinder ignition valve j.
his a water pipe, which conveys the water to the water space round the
igniting chamber and into the igniting valve c, as before described. The bottom
valve is not an igniting valve when reversing motion is not required; it admits
the hot air & gases before mentioned by the forward action of the piston in the
cylinder a into the casing of the exploded cylinder, and the return stroke of the
piston forces the hot air gas into the receiver k. By the return action of the valvo
the hot air and gas are admitted from the receiver through the governor g and
port into the cylinder a, where they are ignited, as before described; the exhaust
ras and steam at each alternate stroke passing into the chamber c are admitted by
the valve c' to the cylinder ', where they give the forward motion to the piston
(which has previously drawn in air before being finally exhausted without back
pressure into the chamber co.
On Sheet 4, Fig. 4 is an end view, partly in section, of a non condensing and
non-reversing gas engine; and Fig. 5 is a section of the cylinders, receivers, and
igniting valves.
On Sheet 5, Fig. 6 is a section of the double acting plunger air pump f¹, and of
the syphon condensor f, the action of which has been before described.
Fig. 7 is a section of the starting valve and the injector governor combined, for
regulating and registering the speed of the engine. m is the starting valve, which
is constructed in such a manner as to admit water, which is vapourized through the
valve m under pressure of hot air on its passage to the governor. The hot air and
vapour in passing the injector nozzle draw off the requisite quantity of and
amalgamate in the chamber and pass through the port giving equilibrium to
the corrugated balance valve g; the opening of the port is set by the hand lever g³
according in the dial g to determine the speed of the engine according to the load
to be driven. When any portion of the load is thrown off, the equilibrium of
gas

page_text: the valve is immediately disturbed, and it rises and shuts off the passages g
in proportion to the load thrown off, and maintains the same speed as before the
load was thrown off. On the injector governor is an indicator n for showing
the variation of load. This indicator consists of a brass casing which contains
a glass tube in which a needle resting on the valve grises and falls according
to the variation of the load; as the load decreases the needle rises, and vice versa.
By this arrangement the load is readable at a glanco, and a more uniform speed is
secured than can be obtained by any centrifugal governor, the pressure and the
load being their own regulators.
On Sheet 6, Fig. 8 is a section of the pump ram lever worked from the
cross head which actuates the double acting air pump f, and of the water pipe
connections .
Fig. 9 is a side view of the ram lever, and Fig. 10 is a section of a lever f that
is keyed on to the socket h of the ram lever shewn in Fig. S, when it is disconnected
by drawing the bolt h, after which the hot air pump can be actuated by hand.
On Sheet 7, Fig. 11 is a plan of the engine bed constructed in such a manner as
to have a portion of the portways of the engine shown in section on Sheet 3, Fig. 3,
at and cast with it. Fig. 12 is a section of the slide bars and the cross head 6'.
A part sectional elevation of the plan, Fig. 11, is shewn on Sheet 3, Fig. 3.
On Sheet S, Fig. 13 is an elevation, and Fig. 14 a plan of a 50 horse power low
or high pressure double acting gas engine.
Fig. 15 is a part sectional elevation of the valve which feeds, exhausts, and ignites
the gas charges for motive power cylinders either for causing an entire revolution of
a erank or for giving a reciprocating motion to a hammer actuated by a piston, or
for effecting a direct lift, as is common in hydraulic rams; this valve is shewn in
duplicate in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 13, and 14, and 15. The valves are actuated by an eccen-
tric and levers from the crank shaft at the centre o by the valves . These levers com-
municate motion to the igniting flame in such a manner that when the wire gauze
burner has been ignited the flame is withdrawn, when the burner p is moved by
the return action of the lovers o' to explode the charge which communicates motion
to the piston, as described in reference to Sheets 1 and 2. At the return action of
the eccentric and levers the exhaust is effected at port p; is the igniting port,
and is the feed port. The flame o² is enclosed in a wire gauze casing constructed
in such a manner that no external gases can be ignited by it, thus enabling these
gas engines to be worked in coal mines for pumping water, coal cutting, haulage, or
other purposes with perfect safety. On Fig. 13 are water pipe connections for
the purposes before described; excepting in this case I communicate the water to
the cylinders from the sides and periphery of the pistons by making the piston rod
tubular and working it through the water casing 9.
On Sheet 9, Fig. 16 is an elevation, partly in section, of a 30 horse power vertical
gun cotton engine and fireproof feed chamber. is the framework which carries
the crank shaft slide bars and cylinder, and has ports cast with it similar to those
shewn on Sheet 3 for inlet and exit of air and water for the same purposes before
described. is the cylinder; , the receiver; and is the starting valve;s is the
exploding valve, which is actuated by levers s at each revolution of the engine by
cams or eccentric from the main shaft; ³ is the gun cotton charge, which is placed
in the valves, when it is drawn into position to receive it. When the piston
has arrived at the top of the cylinder and partially turned the centre as far as
may be wished, the charge is fed forward and pressed against the needle S+, the
end of which is over the cylinder port S5, where it is exploded, and the piston is
actuated, as before described, whether the engine is compound or single acting. tis
the floor of the fire proof chamber, which contains the casing which holds the
gun cotton charges, which may be in tape or in block, and are cut off and de-
livered by the cylindrical feeding apparatus a actuated by the levers s¹ and sª.
The intermittent feed of water is in this case given by the cam v and levers v².
By means of my improvements small charges of powerful gun cotton can be used
in combination with a small quantity of water and air which are converted into

page_text: steam force as described, and engines can thus be driven in isolated places at a
minimum cost where they could not be otherwise commercially used.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner of
erforming the same,—
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the construction or
rrangement of the several parts of the engines and apparatus shewn and described,
s the same may be varied or modified to meet various requirements to engines of
Farious forms, and I would have it known that I am aware that many types of
ir and gas engines have been heretofore patented, and some are now u use,
whereby the motive power is produced by the combustion or explosion of in-
lammable gases; and that many methods have been adopted for introducing
explosive gaseous mixtures in more or less diluted states with atmospheric air into
he cylinders of air and gas engines, among others the following Patents and pro-
ections have been obtained for the same and for its application to various purposes,
that is to say. by:

page_text: Seventhly. Forcing hot air into the receivers by hand to start the engine and
the mechanism for effecting the same, as shown and described.
Eighthly. An injector governor for actuating engines worked by explosive
gases.
Ninthly. The application of friction locking gear to engines and machinery, as
shewn and described. And
Lastly. Utilizing the hot air generated by the explosion and combustion of gas
or gun cotton, and conducting it into the motive power cylinders.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Hurd, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine.
FREDERICK HURD. (L.S.)