Improvements in or relating to Engines Operating by Soluble Gases.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Engines Operating by Soluble
Gases.
I, ROBERT CHARLES AYTON, of 5, Richmond Terrace, Cox Street, Coventry, in
the County of Warwickshire, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows;
=
The object of this invention is to utilize, for the propulsion of stationary, loco-
motive, or other descriptions of motors or engines, the property, exhibited by
certain gases, of varying solubility or absorption consequent upon changes of
temperature in the gas, or solvent, or both.
As an example of how I propose to attain this object, I proceed to give an idea
of the method of utilising, for the purpose of obtaining motive power, the well-
marked exemplification of the property of varying solubility with difference of
temperature, 'presented by the gas ammonia.
A strong gas-tight reservoir A is provided for the purpose of containing a suffi-
cient store of ammonia which may be under any pressure up to or above its
liquifying point. This reservoir may be suitably connected with the cylinder or
cylinders, explosion or expansion-chamber or chambers B, of whatever form,
The portion of
of any kind of engine or motor which it may be desired to use.
such engine or motor usually known as the "exhaust",-.e. the vent for the
used steam or gas after it has performed its work.-would be, directly or in-
directly as desired, in communication with a suitable pipe, reservoir, or other
receptacle C, containing cold water or any other solvent of ammonia which it may
be convenient to use, or through which such water or other solvent may be
allowed to pass, periodically or constantly, as may be found desirable. Means
are also provided for the final discharge of such water or other solvent, when
charged with the gas, into a vessel D which partakes somewhat of the nature of a
Suitable means are pro-
still, the gas given off in which is finally received in A.
vided for heating D as may be required.
The manner of working is as follows: The reservoir A is charged with ammonia
gas, liquified or at a suitable pressure, and a solution of the same gas placed in D
& heat applied thereto. A quantity of the gas from A is admitted to B, where
its pressure or expansion moves the piston, (or portion of the engine or motor
corresponding thereto.) The supply is cut off at any convenient point, and at a
suitable moment the gas is allowed to pass away by the "exhaust port" or aper-
ture, to be either stored, or, preferably, immediately dissolved by the cold water
or other solvent in C. In the latter case, advantage may be taken, (as for instance,
in a condensing" steam-engine,) of the partial vacuum produced by the rapid
absorption of the gas by its solvent.
"
The solution of ammonia thus produced is finally passed into 1) where, at a
higher temperature, the ammonia, unable to remain in solution, passes off in a
gaseous state into A, to be again utilised as herein before set forth.

page_text: ΟΙ
In order to cool the water or other solvent & so render it capable of again
dissolving the gas, advantage may be taken of the difference between its tempera-
ture, after leaving D, & that of any portion of the apparatus. In fact, any portion
of the apparatus may be warmed or cooled upon the same principle or any other
that may be convenient. Suitable reservoirs, valves, governors, pipes, gauges,
cocks, or accessories may be introduced at any point where desirable, and the
various parts of the apparatus may undergo any variation in form-
and
be fitted
with any attachments which may fit them for any special duty to be performed.
Any suitable gases or solvents may be used in place of ammonia & water respec-
tively, & the variations of temperature may be modified or even reversed to suit
or allow of the employment of such other gases or solvents. Although the engine,
whose action has been herein more particularly described, might possibly be
understood to be of the "single-cylinder" type, the gas may, if desired, be used
expansively," and any suitable type of engine or motor may be utilised. The
thermal changes may be produced by any suitable means, including combustion,
friction, or electricity, & the latter may be also employed subordinately in any
convenient way.
<<
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Engines Operating by Soluble
Gases.
I, ROBERT CHARLES AYTON, Engineer, of 5, Richmond Terrace, Cox Street,
Coventry, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to engines operating by soluble gases, and has for its
object the use as a working fluid of ammonia or a similar gas evaporated from a
liquid vehicle by which it is afterwards reabsorbed.
According to this invention I utilize some gas such as ammonia which can be
readily absorbed by some vehicle such as water, the latter yielding up the gas
when raised to a moderate temperature. I enclose a certain quantity of the liquid
containing gas in a generator where the temperature is raised until the gas is
driven off, the latter then passes to the motor which it operates by expansion. The
exhaust from the motor is conducted to a condensing chamber where the gas is
reabsorbed by the liquid which is utilized to fill up the generator and take the
place of that liquid from which the gas has been driven off.
The accompanying drawing illustrates diagrammatically one arrangement for
carrying out my invention which I will describe as applied to the use of ammonia
gas with water as a vehicle.
'
•
A generator A is partially filled with water containing ammonia-gas in solution.
Sonie means are provided for imparting heat to the generator which is preferably
connected by a pipe-B with a reservoir C for the gas which is maintained there
under pressure. The reservoir C communicates by a pipe D with the motor E
which in the example shown comprises a piston and cylinder. The exhaust from
the cylinder of the motor is led through a pipe F to a condensing chamber G
containing water by which the gas is absorbed. The condenser G communicates
by a pipe H with the generator A and by a pipe- J with a vessel K containing

page_text: cold water free from ammonia. A pipe L leads from some convenient part of
the generator A to the tank K and through this pipe the water from which the
ammonia has been driven off is conducted from the generator, being cooled on its
way, so that it may be utilized to supply the condenser G. The latter supplies
through the pipe H the necessary ammonia-containing water to the generator in
order to keep the apparatus in continual operation. Circulating devices such as
pumps of suitable construction may be employed where desired.
It will be understood that the points at which the pipes J, H and L respectively
enter the condenser and generator are so arranged that the water drawn from the
generator shall be as free as possible from ammonia while the water drawn from
the condenser shall be as saturated as possible with ammonia, a fresh water supply
through the pipe J to the condenser being also arranged so that the fresh cold
supply will at once meet and absorb the incoming flow of ammonia gas from the
motor exhaust.
The above merely shows by way of example one method of carrying out my
invention and it must be understood that the details may be varied considerably,
thus I may employ any convenient device for cooling the liquid vehicle after its
withdrawal from the generator and prior to its introduction into the condenser,
and I may also arrange within the generator and condenser baffles or other devices
for facilitating the distinction of the liquid withdrawn from that introduced to
the respective chambers.
It will be understood that the several parts of the apparatus may be combined
or arranged in conjunction with each other as found convenient. Thus the reser-
voir C may be combined with the generator A, and also the water passing to or
from the generator may be conducted round the cylinder of the motor. Advantage
may be taken of the property of solubility in order to reduce or avoid back pressure
and a waste of gas and smell, through leakage into the atmosphere.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In motive power apparatus the evaporation for use as a working fluid of
ammonia or a similar gas from a liquid vehicle in which it is contained and its
subsequent condensation in the same vehicle.
2. In motive power apparatus the use as a working fluid of ammonia or a similar
gas evaporated from a liquid vehicle by which it is afterwards re-absorbed.
3. In motive power apparatus the combination with a motor of a generator con-
taining a gas in solution in a liquid vehicle a reservoir for the gas when given up
by the vehicle and a condenser wherein the gas is reabsorbed by the vehicle sub-
stantially as described.
4. The complete motive power apparatus substantially as described and diagram-
matically illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 23rd day of Sentember 1898