AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ENSURING THE SILENT EXHAUST OF GAS-ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I LOUIS STERNE of Westminster in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of said invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR ENSURING THE SILENT EXHAUST OF GAS-ENGINES and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to silence the escape of the exhaust gaseous
products or vapor from a gas-engine, that is to say, to ensure the discharge of the
exhaust vapor into the atmosphere without causing any noise that might be
regarded as a nuisance or inconvenience by persons in the immediate neighbour-
hood of the engine.
I accomplish this result by connecting the exhaust pipe of the gas-engine with a
cylindrical or other shaped tank or vessel, made of iron or other suitable material
and partially filled with water or other suitable liquid.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn an apparatus such as I prefer to use
for carrying my said invention into practice.
A is the tank and B is the exhaust pipe of a gas-engine. This pipe is passed
through the top of the tank A and extends downward to the water level C or
nearly so, or the end of the said pipe may be submerged if desired. I prefer,
however, that the end of the said pipe should be a short distance (say about two
inches) above the surface of the water. D is a pipe connected to the top of the
tank to permit the escape of the vapor or exhaust products therefrom into the
atmosphere. E is a pipe, provided with a valve or cock E', for the supply of
water to the tank A; aud F is an overflow or waste cock.
When the exhaust products enter through the exhaust pipe B into the tank A,
the water acts as a cushion, absorbing or damping the force of the blow, dispersing
the said exhaust products and causing them to silently expand and partly condense
in the tank above the surface of the water; the portion of the exhaust products
not thus condensed will escape in a noiseless manner into the atmosphere through
the pipe D.
The water is kept at a uniform level in the tank A by means of the overflow
tap or cock F, which may be connected with a pipe leading to a drain, and may be

page_text: kept constantly open or be opened at intervals to prevent the water from rising
and covering the bottom of the pipe B.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the employment of the
particular form or construction of apparatus shewn in the drawing, as it is obvious
that such apparatus may be considerably modified without rendering it unsuitable
for the purpose of my said invention, and that I make no claim in respect of such
apparatus otherwise than for the purpose
of
my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
The method of silencing or subduing the noise of the exhaust of a gas-engine by
employing, in combination with the same, a tank or vessel containing water or
other liquid, substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.