IMPROVEMENTS. IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, EITHER GIVING OR NOT GIVING LIGHT
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Garrett Tongue at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
January 1866.-A communication from abroad by Edouard Patan, of
Paris, in the Empire of France, a retired Captain in the French Navy.
I, JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent
Agents and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS. IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, EITHER GIVING OR NOT GIVING
LIGHT," to be as follows:-
This "moving power" can be either productive of light or not, and is obtained
either by the agency of hot air or by steam; it will also serve to dry or super-
heat steam to increase its power without increasing the expense of fuel or
augmenting the pressure on the boiler. The system is applicable to steam.
ships, railways, and generally to all purposes where mechanical power is.
required.
The summary of the principles which constitute this improved motive power
may be thus stated:-
1st, to take from the atmosphere air as cold as possible.
2nd, to compress it by force pumps into a close space divided by fillets or
thin metal plates.

page_text: 3rd, heating it by the most economical means that science has placed at
our command.
4th, conducting it thus heated, that is to say, expanded, into conducting
tubes to one or more working cylinders.
5th, utilizing the heat at its exit (from the cylinders), first, by making it
exclusively feed the furnace, that is to say, to make it furnish the quantity of
air required the working and for the proper combustion of the gas, and then
in utilizing the rest according to the requirements of the purpose to which it
is applied.
Thus on board ship it can be made to serve not only to cook the soup for
the crew, but also to distil and transform into fresh water a certain quantity of
sea water. On railways, after having satisfied the feeding of the furnaces,
the draught being rendered more difficult by the shortness of the chimnies,
the excess of the expanded air can be used to heat the passengers' carriages.
In the first place, everything being otherwise equal, the power of the
machine is directly as the augmentation of volume, or that which returns from
the temperature which the air acquires in its passage from the force pumps
to cylinders; or, as for a furnace under these known conditions there is a
maximum temperature of the air which cannot otherwise be exceeded, it is not
necessary to stop it within certain limits unless to retain the power to lubricate
certain parts, it is clear that there is great advantage by taking the air as cold
as possible, because the rapidity of the transmission of the heat is always in
proportion to the excess of temperature. Instead of taking the air in the
chamber of the machine, the air is led from the exterior to the pumps by a
conducting pipe which terminates in the most convenient situation, even in
a tunnel or cellar, if there is sufficient communication with the externa!
atmosphere. On board ships and in locomotives the suction pipe for the air
will be placed in advance of the chimney and terminated by a sort of movable
funnel, which is pointed according to the direction of the wind. The pressure
which will result from this will aid in reducing the work required from the
pumps. The force pumps will be single or double acting and worked by the
machine itself; their dimentions will be calculated in proportion to those of
the working cylinders, having regard to the increase in the volume of the air
which is expected to be obtained. When convenient it will be advisable, to
immerse the pumps in currents of cold water for the purpose of preventing
their heating. They must be constructed so as to reduce as much as possible
the useless space between the piston and the ends of the cylinders, the internal
portions of the body of the pumps, and the valves. There will be an advan-
tage in placing them, to the number of 3 or 4, on the same axle, for the

page_text: purpose of dividing as equally as possible the resistance due to their working.
Being hermetically sealed from the exterior they will draw the air from the
suction pipes and will heat it in a reservoir or air box separated from the rest
of the apparatus by a stop valve or other means, and furnished in addition with
a hand force pump for the purpose of filling air to the required pressure in
order to produce power to first start the apparatus. Any means of heating are
suitable provided they allow the air submitted to their action to be divided by
passing over fillets or thin metal plates; this is an essential condition required
by the slight conductibility of this gas, and otherwise specially favorable to
the rapid transmission of the heat; thus firewood, coal, turf, gas, oil, and all
combustibles can be employed according to circumstances. If desired an
intermediary also can be employed; but in every case it will be necessary,
besides the arrangements required for each combustible employed, to make the
general arrangements herein-after described for reducing to a minimum the
loss of heat by radiation as well as by the air and gas that escape into the
chimney.
:
;
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The special arrangements in the apparatus about to be described, which
affords the advantage whilst in operation of all the lighting power of the com-
bustible used, producing a "moving power giving light" by heating the air
direct and in a continuous manner by the lighting gas or any other gas, the
oils of petroleum, and other spirits, and generally all carburetted hydrogens,
that is to say, all combustibles of which the products of combustion can be
all sent into the cylinder without serious inconvenience. For obtaining motive
power in combination with light the air of the reservoir or receptacle (described
below) enters a tube D (Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed), into
which is inserted at the point F a smaller tube C; this comes from a supply of
gas fed by a force pump placed out of the way and arranged to furnish gas as
required, and with a sufficient pressure so that its speed of escape may be a
little in excess of that of the air. The gas pipe C is pierced at its extremity G,
so as to divide the gas as much as possible at its exit. The air tube. D is
terminated by a thick glass cylinder A, adjusted to fit exactly into a gr ove
or recess. Exactly above the tube D.fits another tube D', of which the end
has the same dimensions outside as the glass cylinder, so that a movable
collar or socket B can, as required, join into one of the tubes D, D', or
leave a space between them to allow of lighting the gas. The air and the gas
combined on leaving the point G, and the mixture is made in definite propor
tions. The size and the stroke of the pumps for the air and the gases
are calculated for the increase of the temperature before mentioned and
dilation required to be obtained.

page_text: The proper calculation which is necessary to obtain a double volume by the.
combustion of common gas is in volume, rise of temperature 27. 2°
[Atmospheric air
98-25°
The gas being lighted the moveable slide is made to take the position shown
in Figure 1. Then the tubes D, D¹, are as one tube, and the heated air.
made by the combustion of the gas not finding any other exit is obliged to
ascend the tube D', so as to deliver itself into the distributing pipes of the
cylinders; after, being expanded by driving the pistons it escapes by.a special
pipe, which conducts it to the exterior of the building, unless it is preferred to
utilize the heat by properly arranged conducting pipes for various heating
purposes. When the localities permit it can be made to increase considerably
the power of the machines by conducting the air leaving the cylinders into a
surface condenser, which will cool it to the temperature of the locality, and in
which a vacuum can be made by an air pump, as in steam engines. To start
the apparatus the valves are opened, two at a time, progressively from the
reservoirs of air and of gas. The mixture is made at the end of the gas pipe,
where it is lighted, all communications being shut off from the outward air by
means of the moveable pipe; the air is heated and delivered under the piston
of the machine, and consequently the pumps recommence their work. The
shutting of the valves immediately stops all working; by ceasing to feed the
fire the supplies of air and gas in the reservoirs are thus preserved full, and at
the requisite pressure to recommence working. It is evident that owing to
the position of the cylinder A and gas burner, and to its transparency, the
combustion of the gas or of the oil will furnish in the apartment as much
light as if it took place in the open air. By reflectors conveniently placed a
part of this light can be distributed, or different burners be employed as
required. A suitable door, shutting hermetically, placed upon the tube D
under the glass, will allow of the air necessary for the combustion being taken
from the apartment itself, and by causing the gas to be supplied by a supple-
mentary pipe, starting from the meter and entering at the upper part of the
tube C, the lighting can be continued while the moving power is stopped.
When lighting is not required the glass cylinder A is always to be covered with
cylindrical tubes to reduce the loss of heat.
In the preceding description I have supposed that the combustible would
be ordinary gas; to use an oil, however, or a spirit, a modification of the
pro-

page_text: portions of the apparatus used for feeding would be necessary. It will be
necessary also, to place in the interior of the tube D, and in place of the
tube C, some concentric doors separated by wide spaces, which serve for the
circulation of air, and supplied by a tube, of which the supply would be
regulated by a force pump, a weighted condenser, or other suitable means.
To give more solidity to the glass cylinder A it can be made in one piece, it
being necessary to place two metallic rings at either extremity arranged to
open or shut the apertures necessary for lighting from the open air; these
rings will be supplied with bayonet joints to facilitate their working. For
obtaining motive power only the apparatus may be heated by any kind of
combustible material or fuel. Suppose that it is heated by a nakid fire, the
heating chamber can be arranged vertically in the uptake of the chimney.
This is what will always take place on board of a steam ship, where space is
so valuable. In very rare cases, where it will be necessary to give another
direction to the tubular system, the general conditions can be easily re-
arranged by means of some modifications of detail. Thus, for example,
chimnies of locomotives cannot pass a certain limit of height; it will be
necessary probably in order to obtain the necessary length of tube to cut in
two the cylinder which contains them, and place one part horizontally, placing
the furnace in its interior, as in an ordinary upright boiler; the other as a
chimney, placing it in connection with the former, so that their bases touch
at the circumference, and leaving between them a space which is useful, as
allowing for cleaning. Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section of the
apparatus; Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the line 1, 2; Figure 4
shows a half end view and half section through the line 3, 4.
While working the machine the air is. drawn from the exterior, and being
forced by the pumps arrives in the reservoir A, Figures 2 and 4, of which the
stop valve B is open, penetrated by the pipes C in the exterior covering; it
circulates round the furnace and the uptake of the chimney, keeps ascending
in the outer casing the length of the chimney, enters at the holes D, D', in
the heating chamber E, which is traversed its whole length by a multitude of
small smoke tubes, and is closed at its upper and lower parts by a plate, upon
which the ends of the tubes are fixed. The holes D, D', which place the
envelope in communication with the heating chamber, are placed upon two
rows, one above and the other below. The air which enters from the upper
holes is kept at the same temperature by the plate F until it arrives at the
open space at its centre, and is thus obliged to traverse the spaces left free
between the central tubes. That which enters by the lower holes D¹ is
obliged to descend through the discharge tubes, so that all the tubes, whatever

page_text: their position, are surrounded by the air which comes from the outer covering
and envelopes their whole length in a contrary direction to that taken by the
smoke in their interior. This air heats itself more and more by contact with
the tubes, the pressure remaining the same throughout; since all the spaces
are in communication with one another it increases in volume, and con-
sequently in speed, arrives thus at the lowest part of the heating chamber,
going out by the holes G into the annular space H, and not finding any other
exit passes through the superheating tubes I, and from there into the pipe L
which takes it to the distributing pipes in the state of expanded air. After
having produced its effect on the pistons, and being consequently reduced in
volume, this air goes away by the escape pipe, which branching off into three
pipes M, M', leads it to the furnace in proportions as required above or below
the fire-bars; it supplies the combustion, and escapes finally by the interior of
the heating tubes, and thence into the chimney. The exterior envelope or case
of the apparatus answers a double purpose; first, it is obliged to expand a thin
film of the fluid to be heated, which facilitates the transmission of the beat,
then it diminishes to a great extent the loss by radiation of the heat, since
instead of the bridge of the furnace and of the heating chamber, which are at
a high temperature, there is nothing more in contact with the air beyond a
film of fluid about to enter into the apparatus, and consequently only having
relatively a very low temperature. For the time, while stopping at the com-
mencement of heating, two valves are fixed with seats, each worked by a
lever under the control of the engineer. The first valve is placed in the
box B, or (if desired a similar one may be placed on each branch C) situated
towards the point S past the stop valve upon the pipe which goes from the
air chamber to the heating apparatus. The second is arranged in a special
pipe, which makes a communication between the expanded and unexpanded
air, that is to say, which allows the air coming from the heating apparatus to
pass through the furnace without passing through the cylinders, so that it will
be stopped in shutting the stop valve of the air chambers; these two valves
should be open, but the second before the first, so that the air tends towards
the fire instead of being returned behind it. These valves will be always
more or less open according to the wants of the draught, which will continue
thus during the working, but under atmospheric pressure only. When it is
desired to put it in motion the two valves are shut, the first after the second,
but very quickly, so that the air has not time to return; the stop valve is
opened, and the air in the chamber which is retained under pressure decides
the movements, forcing before it the hot air contained in the apparatus. To
set it to work after a long stoppage, that is to say, all being cold, the fires

page_text: must not be lighted till after the valves with seats have been opened. The
air chamber is filled to the desired pressure, the furnace doors are shut, so
that the fire is well alight, and should not be opened until all the apparatus
is warmed, and a regular current is established in all the pipes and. in the
chimney. The temperature is ascertained to be sufficient by means of a.
thermometer placed in the heated air pipe near the supply pipe, and at the
precise moment when it is desired to put it to work the seated valve is shut,.
and the movement is regulated by the opening of the stop valve or the
regulator of the air chamber. It remains to say a few words on the ash-pit;.
it is of double depth, and closely shut in front and at the sides, so as to stop
as much as possible the entrance of cold air into the furnace; the two depths
are jointed and hinged, and work by levers at the ends outside; in opening the
top plate the cinders descend upon the lower one, which in its turn is not
opened until the other is shut.
The apparatus previously described is a moving power by hot air. To
make it serve for superheating steam the heating chamber is placed in
the "uptake" of the chimney. I do away with the furnaces and the air
chamber, and I establish force pumps, so that they force the steam to the
upper part of the boiler to reheat it, as they did the cold air in the exterior
envelope of the apparatus. The circulation is made in the same manner, the
steam being conducted to the supply pipes. At its exit from the cylinders it
is delivered as required into the atmosphere or into condensers. The super-
heating is thus made exclusively by means of the heat which would be lost in
the chimney. There is thus no increase of expense, and the power is not
sensibly diminished, because the tubes are all vertical. The gases which
escape into the chimney can be utilized by a tubular apparatus sometimes
for producing steam, this steam serving to work a special engine, or other-
wise it can be used for the cylinders of moving power by hot air. In this
latter case it will work either alone or mixed with air. It is sufficient to
make some very simple modifications to the hot-air apparatus to construct
a steam generator of great power; the force pumps will become feed pumps,
and discharge their water into a part somewhere at the base of the envelope
or case; the dimensions only are changed, the air chamber is done away
with, and the exterior envelope continued in its place over all the upper part
of the furnace; there is a constant communication between the outside
casing and the space comprised between the fire-bridge and the sole which is
under the chimney, and a plate of cast iron placed horizontally at the height
of the fire-bars, but a little raised at its edges to facilitate the circulation of
the rising of steam; the normal level wit be fixed well above the furnace, but

page_text: low enough down to have no fear of the projection of water by the holes D, D¹.
The direct heating surface will be composed, however, of the whole of the
internal surface, since the furnace door up to the back part of the foot of the
chimney comprise in them the fire-bridge and the sole. Consequently when
the steam forms it rises and enters the tubular chamber by the holes D, D¹ ;
on leaving at the lower part it is superheated and delivered to the supply
pipes. At its exit from the cylinders it is conducted to the open air or to a
condenser. The advantages of this arrangement are evident; no explosion is
possible; the level of the water is so much above the direct heating surfaces
that they are never left exposed whatever may happen; the steam only is
delivered into the tubular spaces, consequently all deposits are made in the
envelope (or casing) and under the sole, that is to say, in places very
accessible and easy to clean; there being a very small quantity of water, a
very short space of time will suffice to obtain enough pressure to commence
working.