Improvements in or relating to Steam Engines and Hot Air Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Steam Engines and Hot Air Engines.
We, CHARLES WELLS, EDWARD VERNON, HORATIUS STONE, WILLIAM JENKINS,
THOMAS WILLIAMS, and EDWIN ALLEN TAYLOR, all of 115, Great Titchfield Street, in
the Administrative County of London, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates to improvements in steam engines, and its particular
object is to recover the greater part of the heat from the exhaust of ordinary steam
engines for the purpose of obtaining further effective pressure therefrom.
In carrying this invention into effect, the exhaust steam is intercepted in its passage
from the exhaust into the atmosphere, or into the condenser, according to the type of
engine to which the present invention is applied, and led into a vessel containing
atmospheric air.
As the degree of expansion of air is not considerable for such a low temperature, we
augment its tension by compressing it prior to its being heated. It is obvious that if
we double the pressure of the air by previous compression, wo shall also double the
force of expansion for a given temperature. Therefore the higher the compression the
greater will be the power obtained.
The heat of the exhaust expands the air, which is then fed to an air engine. The
exhaust from this second engine is led into a refrigerator where it is cooled, and from
which it is pumped back into the vessel.
In order that this invention, and the means by which it is to be carried into practical
effect, may be thoroughly understood, we will now describe them in detail referring in
so doing to the accompanying drawing which is to be taken as part of this specification
and read therewith.
A is a compound tandem condensing engine, and B, B, the exhaust pipes.
C is the air heater. This part of the apparatus resembles a tubular surface condenser
in construction. c, c are the air-spaces; d, d, the tubes through which the air flows;
and e, the steam space through which the exhaust steam from the engine A is led for
the purpose of heating the compressed air as it passes through the air spaces c, c.
The heated air is led through the pipe E to the working cylinder of an air engine F.
G is the air engine exhaust; and H the refrigerator. This is shewn as of similar
construction to the air heater C; h being the cold water supply, i, the water
outlet: jj, the air spaces; k, k, the tubes through which the air flows; and 1, 7, the
water spaces.
Lis a circulating pump adapted to pump the cooled air out of the refrigerator
through the pipe m, and return it into the air heater through the pipe n.
The respective directions of the several currents are indicated by arrows.
There is also provided an air pump adapted to supply the air to compensate for
accidental leakages; as well as a cold water pump to keep the refrigerator supplied.
It is obvious that other arrangements of apparatus may be used, provided that
proper provision be made for the several functions being discharged in the order
described above for instance, the complete plant may be, instead of being two
individual engines as illustrated, an ordinary engine with the air heater, air engine
and refrigerator combined with it on a common foundation plate.

page_text: 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
Using compressed air for the purpose of absorbing usefully the heat of exhaust
steam in conjunction with an air heater, air engine, refrigerator and circulating air
pump substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of July 1800.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.