IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE OR USING AIR AND STEAM AS MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Claude Blanc, Civil Engineer, of 8, Rue Chapon,
Paris, France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
THE PURPOSE OR USING AIR AND STEAM AS MOTIVE POWER,"
Sealed the 9th October 1863, and dated the 20th April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Claude Blanc at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th April 1863.
1, CLAUDE BLANC, Civil Engineer, of 8, Rue Chapon, Paris, France, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF USING AIR AND STEAM AS MOTIVE POWER," to
be as follows:-
The Invention consists of an apparatus, having for its object to combine
atmospheric air and steam, so as to obtain thereby a greater power, effecting
at same time economy in fuel and water. This apparatus, which will be named
the combinator, can be applied to any sort of steam engine,and may be made
of iron or any other suitable retal or material, the size thereof being iu pro-
portion to that of the cylindre of the engine to which it is to be applied, and
the form thereof being either cylindrical or of any other suitable shape. This
combinator is provided with four small double-acting pumps, two of which are
placed at the top, the two others at the bottom part thereof, and these pumps
are used in the following manner-The two placed on the top part of the
.
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page_text: combinator serve to force the atmospheric air into the apparatus for the
purpose of partially condensing the exhaust steam, which through a pipe or
pipes passes at each stroke of the piston into the said apparatus. The two
pumps fixed at the bottom part of the apparatus serve to draw the partially
condensed steam and atmospheric air, and cause such combined steam andair
to enter the generator through pipes suitably arranged for that purpose. The
pumps are fixed in such manner and with such suitable appliances so as to
be worked by the engine for which they are used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Claude Blanc in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CLAUDE
BLANC, Civil Engineer, of 8, Rue Chapon, Paris, (France), send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Claude Blanc, Her special licence that I, the said Claude
Blanc, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Claude Blanc, my executors, administrators and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF USING AIR AND STEAM
AS MOTIVE POWER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Claude Blanc, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Claude Blanc, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: The Invention relates to apparatus having for its object to combine the
elastic force of the atmospheric air and steam, so as to obtain thereby
I
increase of power with economy of fuel and water. This apparatus pro-
pose to name the combinator, and it may be applied to different classes of
steam engines. As arranged by me, it is provided with small double-acting
pumps, of which there may be one or more in connection with the upper
portion of the apparatus, and a corresponding number in connection with
the lower portion of the apparatus. The pump or pumps in connection
with the upper portion of the apparatus, are for the purpose of forcing
atmospheric air into such apparatus, partially to condense the exhaust steam
conducted therein by a suitable pipe or passage from the cylinder of the
engine with which such apparatus is in connection. The pump or pumps in
connection with the lower part of the apparatus serve to draw therefrom
the partially condensed steam and atmospheric air and force them into the
boiler or generator through pipes suitably arranged for that purpose.
These pumps may be worked by the engine with which they are used.
But that the Invention may be better understood, I will proceed by the aid
of the accompanying Drawings to describe the same more fully in detail.
The objects to be attained are, first, increase of power by combining the
elastic forces of atmospheric air and steam; second, to prevent loss of water
in the generator by restoring to it the steam, which would otherwise be
aliowed to escape, and consequently to render the use of feed pumps for
the supply of fresh water unnecessary; third, to effect economy of fuel; and,
fourth, to prevent incrustations or calcareous and carthy sediments in boilers
or steam generators which now require continued supply of fresh water.
Figuresi and 2show two vertical sections of apparatus arranged according
to my improvements. In each of these Figures the same letters indicate
corresponding parts wherever they occur.
A is an outer case or jacket enclosing within it the vessel or chamber B;
C is the pipe for conducting the exhaust steam from the steam engine into the-
vessel or chamber B; whilst the atmospheric air is forced into that vessel or
chamber by means of the double-acting pump D. From the lower part of
this vessel B passes a pipe J by which both the air and steam (the latter
partially condensed) are withdrawn by the pump D', thonce to be forced
through the pipes L, L', and M, to the boiler or generator. The pipes L, L',
are each provided with a valve to prevent water from returning from the boiler
or steam generator. One of these valves is placed near the outside of the
boiler or steam generator, and the other near the pump D'. The upper part
of the vessel or chamber B is formed with a sort of neck to enclose the cock G,

page_text: and receive one end of the air-conducting pipe F. The cock G is formed with
passages adapted to regulate the quantity of air distributed into theinteriorof
the vessel B; and also, when required, to cause air to flow into the space
formed between the exterior of the vessel B and the surrounding case or
jacket A. For this purpose the plug of the cock G is formed in two parts,
one 6 external of and concentric to the other. The outer part 6 of the plug is
alone moveable, being capable of revolving between the outer case of it and
the internal or stationary plug a. The inner or stationary plug a is bored, not
only to correspond with the passage from the pipe F to the interior of the
vessel or chamber B, but also with other passages h, h, by which air may,
when required, be directed to the exterior of the vessel B, and within the
jacket A. The quantity of air at any time allowed to flow by these passages
is thus easily regulated. His a plate perforated with numerous small holes
by which air supplied to the vessel B may be caused to flow therein in
numerous divided streams or jets. The two pumps D and D' are similarly
constructed, each being what is commonly called a double-action pump. The
speed of their pistons will be regulated to the speed of the piston of theengine
to which the apparatus is applied, so that each time the steam, which has been
used to act upon the piston in the cylinder of the engine, escapes therefrom
and enters through the pipe C into the interior of the vessel B,the quantity so
introduced may be instantaneously condensed by the jets of air driven into
that vessel by the pump D through the perforations in the plate H. Simul-
taneously with the forcing of the air into the vessel or chamber B, the air
which has been injected and mixed with the steam in that vessel or chamber
is drawn therefrom by the pump D', and they are then forced together into
the boiler or generator.
If from any cause it becomes necessary to stop the supply of air to the
generator in consequence of an excess of pressure therein, which would be
shown by a manometer, it will only be necessary to turn the plug b of the
cock G, thereby to change the direction of the current of the air by sending it
through the passages h, h, to the exterior of the vessel B. The air so driven
with force on the outer surface of the vessel acts by cooling that vessel to
condense the steam delivered to the vessel B, and after having done its work
such air will escape by the exit passage I at the bottom part of the case A.
The steam so partially condensed is forced back into the generator by the
pump D' in the same manner as when air and steam havebeenunited together.
E is a cock to regulate the supply of air to the pump D. On the air pipe F
is shown by dotted lines a cock Q, which may be used in case of need tosupply
air to the funnel of the engine, the artificial draft of which is otherwise not

page_text: sufficient. To regulate the quantity of air passing through the cock Q I
apply the cock R.
I would here remark that in locomotive and marine engines the air
pipe & should be constructed so that its mouth shall always be turned in
the forwarding direction. I would also remark that the shape or form of
the apparatus may be varied without departing from the peculiar character
of the improvements; but I prefer the internal capacity of the vessel B to
be of about half the capacity of the cylinder of a high pressure engine or
two-thirds of that of a low pressure one after deducting in either case the
volume or cubical contents of the piston.
Having thus described my improvements and means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shown and described, as these may be
varied without departing from the peculiar character of my improvements;
but what I do claim is the adaptation or combination of means or apparatus
by which atmospheric air is rendered effective in condensing the exhaust
steam, and by which the use of air and steam as a motive power are
combined, substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Claude Blanc, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
CLAUDE BLANC. (L..s.)