An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Generating Motive Power by Explosions.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1897--Accepted, 24th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Generating Motive
Power by Explosions.
I, THOMAS WHITE, of 30, Victoria Road, Surbiton, in the County of Surrey,
Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, (a communication to
me from abroad by Percy Hull Brown, of Kamloops, British Columbia, Land
Agent), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for
generating motive power, in the form of gaseous expansive mixture, to be used
as a motive agent for driving engines and for analogous purposes.
The apparatus
consists essentially of a reservoir connected with an air-supply, and a gun for firing
blank cartridges containing nitro powders, the gaseous discharge of the gun being
made into the said reservoir. In order to more clearly show my invention, 1
make reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1, is a
sectional side elevation. Fig. 2, transverse section through line 2-2 of Fig. 1,
and Fig. 3, is an enlarged transverse section of the gun barrel with the stop cock
in a closed position. Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the Figures. A is a suitable and strongly constructed reservoir provided
at one end or head with a bearing B to carry the outer end of the barrel C¹ of a
gun C of magazine or other type, and adapted for firing blank cartridges D
containing nitro powders as the charge. In the barrel C is a stop cock E for.
The reservoir A
opening and closing the said barrels as shewn in Figs. 1, and 3.
is also connected with discharge pipe F¹ of an air compressor F of any approved
construction to supply the said reservoir with compressed air. The air compressor F
is connected (by means of a clutch G of any suitable construction) with the main
driving shaft H of an engine H having its valve supply pipe H2 connected with
the reservoir A so that the expansion mixture contained in the said reservoir may
pass into the said engine by way of the pipe H2 to actuate the engine in the usual
manner. The reservoir A is also provided with a pressure gauge I and a safety
valve J, also a blow off cock. The action is as follows:-Blank cartridges of the
character described are fired from time to time in the gun C so that the gaseous
discharge from barrel C¹ passes into the reservoir A to be mixed therein with
As soon
compressed air delivered to the said reservoir by the air compressor F.
as a cartridge has been fired, the stop cock E is closed and previous to the firing
et the next cartridge the cock E is opened to permit the gas to pass from the
barrel into the reservoir. This operation is repeated from time to time so that an
expansive gaseous mixture accumulates in A, and this mixture is conducted by
pipe H2 to the cylinder of the engine H and actuates the piston in the usual
manner. By having the clutch G the compressor F is driven from the engine
whenever it is required to replenish the reservoir A with expansive mixture, it
being understood that cartridges are successively exploded in the gun C to provide
u gas to be mixed with the compressed air from F.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
CLAIMS.
1. An apparatus for generating motive power, comprising a reservoir connected
with an air supply and a gun for firing blank cartridges containing nitro powders,
the gaseous discharge of the gun being made into the said reservoir substantially
as shewn and described.
2. An apparatus for generating motive power comprising a reservoir, an air
compressor connected therewith and an explosion device connected with the said
reservoir and arranged to discharge the gaseous products of the explosion into the
said reservoir to mix with the air contained therein, substantially as shewn and
described.
3. An apparatus for generating motive power provided with a gun for firing
blank cartridges, a stop cock in the barrel of the gun, and a reservoir connected
with the free end of the said gun substantially as shewn and described.
4. An apparatus for generating motive power provided with a gun for firing
blank cartridges, and also with a stop cock in its barrel, substantially as shewn
and described.
Dated this 14th day of June 1897
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.