IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MonvE POWER FROM THE EXPANSION AND COMPRESSION OF AIR, GAS. OR VAPOR, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS: PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of
Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OBTAINING MonvE POWER FROM THE EXPANSION AND COMPRESSION OF AIR,
GAS. OR VAPOR, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."-
A communication from abroad by Auguste Prouvost, of Paris, in the
Empire of France.
Sealed the 21st Juné 1861, and dated the 26th January 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 26th January 1861.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER PROM THE EXPANSION AND COM-
PRESSION OF AIR, GAS, OR VAPOR, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," a communication to him from abroad by Auguste Prouvost, of
Paris, in the Empire of France, to be as follows:-
'This Invention relates to a peculiar system or mode of obtaining motive
power from the expansion and compression of air, gas, or vapour, and to a
peculiar arrangement of engine whereby the same air, gas, or vapour may be
re-worked indefinitely without any loss or escape. This is effected by re-
establishing, by the aid of counter pressure, the density of the dynamic pressure.
P 9.71

page_text: It is .also proposed, according to this Invention, to utilise several times the
same caloric, and to repel by counter pressure, with very slight loss of power,
a considerable portion of the heat of expansion. The essential feature of this
system of caloric engine is based upon the possibility of obtaining an even
density under different temperatures and pressures, and several dynamic
effects from one heat.
In carrying out this Invention in practice, the principal parts required aro,
a tubular steam generator, and superheater, also a saturator or cylindrical
boiler, for re-establishing the density of the vapour by counter pressure after
its expansion. In some cases the saturator may be provided with coiled pipes,
so as to act as a regenerator on the air, and establish its dynamic pressure,
thus utilizing the same heat twice. Another portion of the apparatus is a feed
vessel with a refrigerator, for re-establishing by counter pressure the initial
density of the air after its expansion. These engines, which may be fitted
with one, two, or more working cylinders, may be constructed generally with
the same moving parts as an ordinary steam engine, care being taken,
however, to close up hermetically the valve chests and boxes, so as to prevent
all escape of air, gas, or vapour.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by tho said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 26th July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North Britain,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term thereiu 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 "IM.

page_text: EMPLOYED
PROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FROM THE EXPANSION AND COMPRESSION
OF AIR, GAS, OR VAPOUR, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
THEREIN," a communication from abroad by Auguste Prouvost, of Paris, in
the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of
them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to a peculiar system or mode of obtaining
motive power from the expansion and compression of air, gas, or vapour,
and to a peculiar arrangement and combination of engine or apparatus
whereby the same air, gas, or vapour may be re-worked indefinitely without
loss or escape. The engine or apparatus employed is called by the Inventor
the double pyromotor.'
The object of this Invention is the use of caloric as a motive power by
the compression and the expansion of air, gas, and steam, or vapour, and
particularly by their regeneration after producing their dynamic effect.
This regeneration, which constitutes the essential feature of the said
Invention, is based on the possibility of maintaining an uniform density
under different degrees of pressure and temperature, and of restoring the
density to its former state after expansion with very little loss of force, by
concentrating as well as by dispersing the caloric, whereby the caloric may
be employed several times, or with very great ecomomy; also ofadvantageously
employing air or gases, which are compressed previously to heating them.
This is effected 1st, by restoring the molecules to their normal density after
expansion, so as to utilize them indefinitely, which is effected by compression
and counter pressure. 2nd, by transmitting to a new agent the caloric which
has developed a mechanical force, so as to utilize it anew.
One of the distinguishing features of this Invention is, the addition to the
motive or working cylinder of supplemental capacities or chambers, which
the Inventor calls "lungs," and which, in the existing machines, would be con-
sidered useless spaces, and the addition also of pressure and counter pressure

page_text: apparatus, so as to act only by reaction, compression in this case being
equivalent to condensation in vacuo. The apparatus for producing pressure
and counter pressure in the double pyromotor, consists of a superheating
generating apparatus, a saturating regenerating apparatus, and a refrigerating
apparatus, all of which are as essential to the working of the machine as are
the "lungs," as will be hereafter explained.
Several of these improvements may be applied to other hot-air engines by
using other means and apparatus; and in order to illustrate this, I shall
class them in two categories, namely, reaction engines and circulating engines,
each category containing two divisions, namely, the engines which concen-
trate the caloric after it has been subsidiarily used, and the engines which
dispersed the caloric.
The Drawings and the description shew these different types, and the
improvements which may be made in them by combining the double reaction
engine which concentrates and disperses the caloric, and in which are
summed up and included all the said improvements.
Sheet 1 shews the pyromotor or double engine complete with its details,
worked both by air and steam, which regenerates the caloric and the molecules
in order to increase the transmission. of mechanical power.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal side elevation; Figure 2 represents a
plan of the same; Figure 3 represents a transverse section of the cylinder,
the "lungs," and the saturator, taken through the axis of the slide valves;
Figure 4 represents a similar section taken off the access of the valves;
Figure 5 represents a mode of working the pyromotor in order to facilitate
the proper understanding of the same.
These Figures illustrate the different apparatus and elements composing
the double pyromotor, namely, the superheating generator which superheats
the steam in a serpentine or coil of pipe surrounded with cast iron, which
serves as the furnace, and which is surmounted with a vertical tubular
chamber which serves as a generator, and through which pass the flames
from the furnace on their way out to the chimney to the top of the tubular
chamber. This mode of construction enables the machine to generate steam
more or less expanded, although more or less superheated by graduating by
means of a varying water level the surfaces of vaporization.
The saturator P, which acts at the same time as a regenerator, is composed
of a cylindrical tubular body covered at one end by a cap which affords com-
After
munication to the series of pipes which are closed at the opposite end.
the steam has expended, it is forced back into this cylindrical chamber, where
it is saturated, and where the caloric is concentrated, the compressed air being

page_text: heated in the tubes by depriving the steam of its caloric in order to exert
its expansive force in the air cylinder A¹.
The refrigerator or cooling apparatus is surmounted with a chimney, and
is also formed of tubes open at both ends, through which the atmospheric
air passes, and carries off and disperses the coloric of the compresseda ir
contained in the interior of the case, to serve as the counter pressure of the
same air cylinder A'.
It will also be seen that the working cylinders A and A', a diagram of
which is represented at Figure 5, are furnished with four "lungs" B as is
actually the case, but these "lungs" are differently arranged in the engine,
as may be easily perceived from Figures 3 and 4, in fact they are separated
by a transverse partition, whereas in Figure 5 they are shewn to be separated
by a longitudinal partition, and are numbered in order that the working
may be more readily understood.
Before explaining this it must be borne in mind that cach "lung" for two
strokes of the piston ought to communicate with the superheating apparatus
in order that the density of the pressure and the temperature of the "lung,"
and the superheating apparatus may be equalized, and for two other strokes
of the piston it should communicate with the working cylinder in order to aid
expansion and compression according as the stroke is positive or negative, and
that this is effected by means of the four slide valves, actuated by eccentrics
alternately opening and shutting the orifices of the superheating apparatus
and of the cylinder so as to place them in communication with it, and that
four equilibrium valves actuated by cams, serve each in its tern to put the
cylinder in communication with the saturator during the time compression
or the negative stroke takes place. This is effected in the following manner :-
The "lung" No. 1 is used for expansion, whilst No. 4 is used for com-
pression, then No. 2 is used with No. 1, No. 3 with No. 2, and No. 4 with
No. 3, and so on, all the movements of the arrangement crossing each other
in the direction shewn by the arrows.
It will thus be seen that the "lungs" are used for the purpose of effecting
repercussive reactions at each stroke of the piston by means of the two reser-
voirs of different pressures and temperatures, although of the same density,
the one acting so as to equalize the pressure, the temperature, and the
density in the "lungs" during two strokes of the piston, whilst the other
acts so as to produce the same effect during the negative stroke; expansion
or the positive stroke takes place during the opening of the orifice which
places the "lungs" in communication with the cylinder, whilst the negative
stroke takes place only when the orifice is shut.

page_text: Moreover as gases are not governed by the same physical laws as steam, it
is proposed, as regards air and gas, to compress them by mechanical means
previous to heating them,in order to cbtain a greater difference of tension atthe
same temperature, and with the same quantity of caloric, for it is evident that
by so doing, an incontestible advantage will be derived in a practical and
economical point of view. As regards steam since it cannot be cooled com-
pletely without losing a great part of its latent heat, and since its density
varies under different pressures and at different temperatures, unless it be
superheated and saturated, it is proposed as a general principle of my Inven-
tion to superheat and gazefy the steam in order to increase its tension to a
certain density by causing it to expand so as to produce the dynanic effect,
and afterwards to saturate it in order to restore it to its normal density in
utilizing the entire difference of tension and of temperature which exists
between a saturated and gazified vapour or steam of the same density, it will
be advantageous also to concentrate their coloric after expansion, as it will
always be easy to utilize the surplus caloric either for increasing the motive
power, as is effected by the double pyromotor, or for utilising it in any other
chemical or industrial operation, of which I shall speak hereafter. A simple
description will suffice to explain the first Sheet of the Drawings.
A is the working cylinder; B, the "lungs" ("poumons "); C, the chest
containing the slide valves and stuffing box; D, the connecting pipes; E, the
superheated steam pipes; E¹, the starting valve; F, the conducting pipes
leading from the "lungs" to the saturator; G, the hot-air pipes; H, the pipes
from the "lungs" to the refrigerators; I, J, K, the shafts, eccentrics, and
cams which actuate the slides and valves; L, M, the eccentrics, and the air
and water-feeding pumps. It is to be observed that in using superheated
steam, the piston and the surfaces of the cylinder are lubricated by the counter
pressure of saturated steam, and the surfaces of the slide valves, the stuffing
boxes, and their packing, are protected by a chest or envelope C filled with
saturated steam at the highest degree of pressure,since it comes from the gene-
rator, and that when airis employed, the same chests or envelopes aresupplied
with lubricating liquids which renders them perfectly air-tight, such liquids
being supplied from a small reservoir R of the same pressure as the gene-
rating apparatus,and surrounded with a steam jacket to preserve the caloric.
I omit from this description such portion of the machine as appears to be
sufficiently known, and where the same portions are shewn in Sheets 2 and
3, as have been shewn in sheet 1, the same letters will be used.
Sheet 2 of the Drawings show a simple reacting pyromotor worked with
regenerated steam, and distils water with the caloric, which it concentrates in

page_text: its saturator. This saturator or distilling apparatus, P and P', is composed of
a system of pipes, and has a cap at each end, in order to afford communication
to the whole system of tubes. The water to be distilled enters at the bottom
and escapes in the form of steam at the top, which communicates with a con-
denser, in order that the distiliation may take place in vacuo, a pump forces
the water to be distilled into the saturator, and another pump draws the
distilled water from the refrigerator. The rest is identical with that of the
double engine herein-before described; X is a superheating generator com
posed of a system of pipes made so as to produce steam more or less ex-
panded, although more or less superheated, graduating the pressure and
the temperature by causing the area of the evaporating and the super-
heating surfaces to vary reciprocally by varying the level of the water. It
differs from the generating superheator described in reference to Sheet 1,
inasmuch as it is constructed so as to graduate also the caloric in proportion
to the temperature, the combustible gases being directed in a contrary
direction to the water and steam, thereby ensuing a better employment of
the same. This superheating generator is composed of two rows of pipes, one
above the other, and crossing each other, which may be increased in number
and lengthened at will. Two bends more or less salient, regulate the height
of the water column and the evaporating and superheating surfaces, the pipes
can be lengthened without lengthening the flues by moveable elbow pipes;
thus it will always be easy to proportion the fire-place, the flue, and the
heating surfaces to the desired effect to be obtained.
The mechanism shewn by the letter Z serves to reverse the engine; it
may be modified or improved when necessary, and therefore it is useless to
describe it here.
Sheet 3 of the Drawings represents also a simple reaction pyromotor,
utilizing also independently the same molecules arranged for the employment
of mechanicallycompressed air, and for the dispersion of caloric after expansion
so as not to increase the counter pressure; there is another form of regenerator
T and T, serving to heat the air by means of steam, and also another
reservoir U for mechanically compressed air, rendered air-tight by being
surrounded with a casing filled with water or any other liquid, the pressure of
which is kept in equilibrium with that of the air contained in its interior by
means of an elastic chamber or of a chamber or capacity so made that it may
easily be compressed; this reservoir communicates with the two refrigerators
by the tubo V, in order to increase its capacity; the rest is identical with that
of the double engine, and is also shewn by the same letters of reference.
Sheet 4 of the Drawings contains several views of a circulating superheating

page_text: steam engine having an inlet slide valve A,and a separate outlet slide valve B.
A tubular boiler C is represented furnished with a superheating apparatus E,
and a saturating apparatus or reservoir, having an outlet valve V for regulating
at will the counter-pressure of the saturated steam, which counter-pressure is
required to lubricate the surfacesof thecylinder when superheated steam is used.
The slide valves A and B, and the stuffing box F are also protected and
lubricated by the saturated steam coming from the generating apparatus, and
the subsidiary utilization of caloric after it has expanded may take place if
required; it may be supposed, in this instance, that it is employed either in
evaporation for industrial purposes or in distilling, which operation may take
place in vacuo or otherwise, and for this purpose the surpentine tauks S, are
shown heated by the escaping steam until complete condensation takes place;
a distilling apparetus P is also shewn, together with a refrigeratorg,described
in Sheet 2. Thus the same water may be used indefinitely, and the same
caloric several times; but should it be desired to use a'duplex machine, similar
to the double pyromotor, the first cylinder would be used for the superheated
steam and its counter pressure could be employed for lubricating its surfaces.
whilst the second cylinder could be used for the saturated steam, which would
afterwards be condensed by a refrigerator, and its pressure would always be
regulated by an outlet valve. Should it be desired not to use superheated
steam, nor to utilize for any other purpose the caloric, or if it should be thought
better to condense the steam, it is proposed, in order to do this artificially and
in vacuo, to use a refrigerator of large area, which has already been described,
and of which another Drawing is given for this purpose on Sheet 5.
Condensation thus obtained allows the same water to be utilized indefinitely,
it being continually distilled. The feeding pump P, which would draw up
the distilled water would be regulated itself, and would also regulate with
precision the normal level of the water in the boiler.
These applications, as is seen, may be extended to all steam engines now
in use, they offer the advantage of indefinitely utilizing the same water,
either by the artificial condensation of steam in vacuo, or by subsidiary
utilization of caloric, followed by the condensation of the escaping steam,
which mode admits of the use of superheated steam.
On Sheet 5 of the Drawings, A represents a tubular boiler with reversed
draught; B, a horizontal circulating steam engine of the ordinary con-
struction, which it is unnecessary to describe; C, a refrigerator large area,
consisting of a cylinder for condensing steam conveyed thereto by the pipe
D, and of a series of tubes placed in the interior to afford passage for the
atmospheric air, and to dispel the caloric.

page_text: Sheet 6 of the Drawings illustrates the whole of the apparatus which I
claim under this Invention. Nos. 1, 2, and 3, are three different forms of
the air generator, which may be used for the simple pyromotor.
Nos. 1 and 1, are described in reference to sheet 3.
No. 2 is an apparatus filled with a body in fusion, or with a liquid
capable of being brought to a high temperature without becoming
evaporated, and of a tubular cylinder containing the air to be heated.
No. 3 is another apparatus composed of serpentine pipes surrounded
with cast iron and heated directly to the desired teinperature.
Nos. 4, 5, and 6, are three superheating generators already described in
reference to Sheets 1 and 2. No. 4 differs only from No. 5 in this, that the
superheating apparatus may be composed either of a serpentine or of two
concentric cylinders.
No. 7 is a tubular steam boiler with a reversed draught intended for
circulating engines, whether saturated or superheated steam be employed.
Nos. 8 and 9 are two distinct apparatus, the first serving as a distilling
apparatus, and the second as a refrigerator; they have already been
described, and can be used together or separately.
No. 10 is the saturating regenerator of the double pyromotor.
No. 11 is the reservoir of compressed air joining the two refrigerators
in Sheet 3, in order to increase their capacity and reduced the difference
in volume, which takes place in the compression of the air pyromotor,
whether duplex or otherwise.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general constructions, arrangements, and combinations of
machinery or apparatus for obtaining motive power, as herein-before
described.
Second, the regeneration of gas or steam after they have produced their
dynamic effect, as herein-before described.
Third, the regeneration of caloric which has diveloped a mechanical
industrial
power so as to use it again, either as a motive power, or for any
operation, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the mode of concentrating caloric after its expansion after it has
produced its dynamic effect, so as to utilize the specific heat of the steam,
which would otherwise be lost, as herein-before described.

page_text: Fifth, the peculiar constructions and arrangements of the three pyro-
motors, and of the saturated and superheated steam engines with molecular
or caloric reaction; also the mode of applying the same, and the forms
and constructions as described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.8.)