IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF INFLAMMABLE GAS AND APPLYING ITS COMBUSTION FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Davey of Leeds in the County of. York for an
invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
INFLAMMABLE GAS AND APPLYING ITS COMBUSTION FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
MOTIVE POWER
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Davey at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1882.
HENRY DAVEY of Leeds in the County of York
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF INFLAMMABLE GAS AND APPLYING ITS COMBUSTION FOR
THE PRODUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER
"
My invention relates to apparatus for generating inflammable gas under pressure,
and applying it in conjunction with compressed air for the production of motive
power. I construct a gas producer producing gas at a pressure sufficient to cause
it to enter the working cylinder, along with compressed air, thus requiring no
mechanical means for compressing it. For this purpose I provide a cylindrical
vessel into the top of which I introduce carbonaceous fuel through a hopper valve
so constructed as to pass in the fuel without letting out a considerable quantity of
gas. I also provide at the base of the producer, a similar hopper valve for the
discharge of ash. In the lower part of the vessel and under the fuel I provide an
inverted cup shaped vessel into the hollow of which I introduce compressed air and
steam, which rising through perforations in the vessel and through the fuel, produce
the gas by partial combustion of the fuel Around the upper part of the producer
I provide a water jacket, which serves to cool the gas and to generate steam. The
water which is introduced into this jacket is previously heated by being made
to pass through water jackets surrounding the valve chests and exhaust pipes of
the engine.
According to one construction I make the engine with three cylinders fitted
with plungers arranged side by side, the centre cylinder being that in which the
power is produced, and the side cylinders acting as air compressing pumps, the

page_text: three plungers are coupled to one crosshead which is linked by a connecting rod to
the crank. The three plungers work through stuffing boxes packed with refractory
material such as asbestos, and water jacketted. Below the main stuffing boxes I
provide a tray. or vessel containing lubricant through which and through stuffing
boxes at the bottom of the tray the plungers work. At the upper end of the
working cylinder I provide a valve chest, containing the supply and exhaust
valves, and the igniting apparatus. The valve chest is water jacketted to protect
the valves. The exhaust pipe is also enclosed in a water jacket connected to the
jacket of the valve chest. Water fed into the jackets, passes along them and being
thus heated, passes on to the jacket surrounding the producer, the steam generated
in which supplies the producer, a considerable portion of the heat of both engine
and producer that would otherwise be wasted being thus utilized. The air pump
valves, and also the power cylinder valves are worked by means of eccentrics from
the crank shaft, with a link or other reversing motion when required for reversing
the engine.
The motion of the eccentrics is made to lift the admission valve at
the commencement of the working stroke or a little before, the valve being closed
at an earlier or later period of the stroke by means of trip gear, which may be
operated by a governor or regulated by hand so that the cut off can be varied.
The admission valve governs two passages, through which air and gas are admitted
separately, These two passages joining into one, just before entering the cylinder.
At the junction of the two passages the mixture of gas and air is ignited by any
of the known means employed for that purpose in gas motor engines. At about
the end of the working stroke, the eccentrics open the exhaust valve, and the spent
gases escape imparting heat to the water in the jackets. The body of the working
cylinder is preferably lined with refractory material, and the end of the plunger is
shielded in the same way. The exhaust valve is closed before the end of the
return stroke by a trip or other gear, so that a portion of the spent gas is retained
and compressed in the cylinder before the opening of the inlet valve. Thus
sufficient pressure in the cylinder is produced to relieve the inlet valve facilitating
its movement, and at the same time the waste spaces are filled with compressed
fluid before the next charge is admitted, The air pumps discharge the compressed
air into a pipe leading to the inlet valve and also to the gas producer. In the
latter branch I provide an air reservoir in which a reserve of compressed air is kept
available for the purpose of starting the engine after it has been stopped. I also
provide in the producer space to store a reserve of gas.
In order to avoid dead points and equalise the action I arrange three or more
engines such as I have described to act on one crank shaft.
By thus retaining a store of fluid under pressure and combining three engines
on one shaft I am enabled to start and stop and reverse the engines in the same
way as a steam engine is manipulated.
For starting the engine after stoppage, stop valves are opened, admitting the
compressed air and gas to the engine in the determined proportions. The engine
having no dead point is thus caused to move by the simple pressure of the air and
gas. The admission valve closes during the working stroke, and if there is no
ignition the engine continues to move under the expansive action of the compressed
air and gas. When however the mixture is ignited, the full power of the engine is
obtained.
Instead of governing the engine by varying the cut off of the admission valve,
. it may be governed by varying the cut off of the exhaust valve so as to cause
a greater or less resistance to the working plunger on its return stroke, and also
a greater or less resistance to the admission of the air and gas for the next working
stroke.
In applying an engine such as I have described for working pumps without
rotative motion, I cause the engine to be governed by effecting release of the
exhaust valve by differential motion obtained by combining the motion of the
engine with that of a regulated subsidiary piston.
The valves are worked by a trip gear moved by an air cylinder, the piston of

page_text: which is reversed at each end of the stroke by means of a valve actuated from the
main engine. In proximity to the trip of the exhaust valve, I place a differential
lever, one end of which moves in accord with the engine, and the other end of
which moves in the opposite direction in accord with the regulated subsidiary
piston, an intermediate point of the lever being adjacent to the trip. Should the
engine move too fast relatively to the piston of the subsidiary cylinder, the trip is
released and the exhaust valve suddenly closes so as to resist the back stroke of
the piston, or according to a modified arrangement of the trip gear the exhaust
valve may be opened before its time so as to reduce the working pressure. This
part of my invention is applicable to the valves of pumping engines worked by
steam.
Gas engines such as I have described when used for pumping are preferably
made double, that is to say with two cylinders facing each other on the same axial
line, and a plunger common to both cylinders which may be connected to the
pumping gear, either directly without rotative motion or may have side connecting
rods, linked to cranks on a fly-wheel shaft.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Davey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th November
1882.
HENRY DAVEY of Leeds in the County of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF INFLAMMABLE GAS AND APPLYING ITS COMBUSTION FOR
THE PRODUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER
"
My invention relates to apparatus for generating inflammable gas under pressure,
and applying it in conjunction with compressed air for the production of motive
power. I construct a gas producer producing gas at a pressure sufficient to cause
it to enter the working cylinder, along with compressed air, thus requiring no
mechanical means for compressing it. For this purpose I provide a cylindrical
vessel into the top of which I introduce carbonaceous fuel through a hopper valve
so constructed as to pass in the fuel without letting out a considerable quantity of
gas. I also provide at the base of the producer, a similar hopper valve for the
discharge of ash. In the lower part of the vessel and under the fuel I provide an
inverted cup shaped vessel into the hollow of which I introduce compressed air
and steam, which rising through perforations in the vessel and through the fuel,
produce the gas by partial combustion of the fuel. Around the upper part of the
producer I provide a water jacket, which serves to cool the gas and to generate
steam. The water which is introduced into this jacket is previously heated by
being made to pass through water jackets surrounding the valve chests and exhaust
pipes of the engine.
According to one construction I make the engine with three cylinders fitted with
plungers arranged side by side, the centre cylinder being that in which the power
is produced, and the side cylinders acting as air compressing pumps; the three
plungers are coupled to one crosshead which is linked by a connecting rod to the
crank. The three plungers work through stuffing boxes packed with refractory
material such as asbestos, and water jacketted. Below the main stuffing boxes
I provide a tray or vessel containing lubricant through which and through stuffing
boxes at the bottom of the tray the plungers work. At the upper end of the
working cylinder I provide a valve chest, containing the supply and exhaust
valves, and the igniting apparatus. The valve chest is water jacketted to protect
the valves. The exhaust pipe is also enclosed in a water jacket connected to the
jacket of the valve chest. Water fed into the jackets, passes along them and being
thus heated, passes on to the jacket surrounding the producer, the steam generated
in which supplies the producer, a considerable portion of the heat of both engine
and producer that would otherwise be wasted being thus utilized. The air pump
valves, and also the power cylinder valves are worked by means of eccentrics from
the crank shaft, with a link or other reversing motion when required for reversing
the engine. The motion of the eccentrics is made to lift the admission valve at
the commencement of the working stroke or a little before, the valve being closed
at an earlier, or later period of the stroke by means of trip gear, which may be
operated by a governor or regulated by hand so that the cut off can be varied:
The admission valve governs two passages, through which air and gas are admitted
separately, these two passages joining into one, just before entering the cylinder.
At the junction of the two passages the mixture of gas and air is ignited by any of
the known means employed for that purpose in gas motor engines. At about the
end of the working stroke, the eccentrics open the exhaust valve, and the spent
gases escape imparting heat to the water in the jackets. The body of the working

page_text: cylinder is preferably lined with refractory material, and the end of the plunger is
shielded in the same way. The exhaust valve is closed before the end of the
return stroke by a trip or other gear, so that a portion of the spent gas is retained
and compressed in the cylinder before the opening of the inlet valves. Thus
sufficient pressure in the cylinder is produced to relieve, the inlet valve facilitating
its movement, and at the same time the waste spaces are filled with compressed
fluid before the next charge is admitted. The air pumps discharge the com-
pressed air into a pipe leading to the inlet valve and also to the gas producer.
In the latter branch I provide an air-reservoir in which a reserve of compressed
air is kept available for the purpose of starting the engine after it has been
stopped. I also provide in the producer space to store a reserve of gas.
In order to avoid dead points and equalise the action I arrange three or more
engines such as I have described to act on one crank shaft. By thus retaining a
store of fluid under pressure and combining three engines on one shaft I am
enabled to start and stop and reverse the engines in the same way as a steam
engine is manipulated.
For starting the engine after stoppage, stop valves are opened, admitting the
compressed air and gas to the engine in the determined proportions. The engine
having no dead point is tifus caused to move by the simple pressure of the air and
gas. The admission valve closes during the working stroke, and if there is no
ignition the engine continues to move under the expansive action of the compressed
air and gas. When however the mixture is ignited, the full power of the engine is
obtained.
Instead of governing the engine by varying the cut off of the admission valve, it
may be governed by varying the cut off of the exhaust valve so as to cause a
greater or less resistance to the working plunger on its return stroke and also a
greater or less resistance to the admission of the air and gas for the next working
stroke.
In applying an engine such as I have described for working pumps without
rotative motion. I cause the engine to be governed by effecting release of the
exhaust valve by differential motion obtained by combining the motion of the
engine with that of a regulated subsidiary piston.
The valves are worked by a trip gear moved by an air cylinder, the piston of
which is reversed at each end of the stroke by means of a valve actuated from the
main engine. In proximity to the trip of the exhaust valve, I place a differential
lever, one end of which moves in accord with the engine, and the other end of
which moves in the opposite direction in accord with the regulated subsidiary
piston, an intermediate paint of the lever being adjacent to the trip. Should the
engine move too fast relatively to the piston of the subsidiary cylinder, the trip is
released and the exhaust valve suddenly closes so as to resist the back stroke of
the piston, or according to a modified arrangement of the trip gear the exhaust
valve may be opened before its time so as to reduce the working pressure. This
part of my invention is applicable to the valves of pumping engines worked by
steam.
Gas engines such as I, have described when used for pumping are preferably
made double, that is to say with two cylinders facing each other on the same axial
line, and a plunger common to both cylinders which may be connected to the
pumping gear, either directly without rotative motion or may have side connecting
rods, linked to cranks on a fly-wheel shaft.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in section of a triple engine with vertical
section of producer according to my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the
engine and Fig. 3 is a section to an enlarged scale of the upper part of one of the
engine cylinders shewing the supply and discharge valves and means of working
the former by trip gear. The producer consists of a strong cylindrical vessel lined

page_text: at its lower part with refractory material A and having in its upper part an
annular water casing B. The fuel is fed from time to time through a hopper
valve C (which is kept cool by a water casing) and rests on the perforated
refractory bottom D the interior of which is supplied with steam by a pipe d
leading from the steam space of the casing B and with compressed air by the
pipe d¹ from the air reservoir R, both supplies being regulated by suitable stop
cocks or valves. The fuel can be stirred by a poker rod a introduced through a
stuffing box. The ash falls into a space at the bottom whence it is removed from
time to time by a water cased valve C'. Each of the three engines which are
connected to three throw cranks on a shaft E, has at each side of its working
cylinder F a pump cylinder f for compressing air, the valves of these being slides
worked by eccentrics on the shaft E. These pumps discharge the air compressed
by them partly into the air reservoir R and partly into each of the working
cylinders successively by the air pipe r which communicates with the slide cases of
the cylinders. The gas from the producer also communicates by a pipe g with
these slide cases. The slide S worked by trip gear as shewn in Fig. 3 at the
beginning of the down stroke of the working plunger admits a charge of gas and
air which being ignited propels the plunger downwards. The eduction valves V
discharge into a pipe which has a water casing supplied by a pump W. The
water taking up heat from the exhaust and from the casings at the upper parts of
the cylinders as also from the cases of the fuel and ash valves C and C. finally
passes by the pipe w into the water space of the producer. The working plunger
and the two pump plungers of each engine are connected to a crosshead which
works in guides and is linked by a connecting rod to the crank of the shaft E. In
order to lubricate the plungers they are made to pass through packing at the
bottom of a fixed tray H which is supplied with lubricant. An engine operating
in the way described above may be arranged as shewn in the side view partly
sectional Fig. 4 and plan Fig. 5, the valve gear being shewn to an enlarged scale in
elevation at Fig. 6 and in section at Fig. 7.
In this arrangement there are two working cylinders F and air compressing
pumps fin line facing each other respectively, a crosshead G to which both sets of
plungers are connected being linked by side connecting rods to cranks on a
flywheel shaft E. In this case the valve gear is worked through a differential
lever L worked from the crosshead G and controlled by an adjustable cataract
arrangement M.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim:
The combination of a gas producer in which kindled fuel supplied with com-
pressed air and with steam generated by the heat of the combustion produces
combustible gas under pressure, with an engine worked by the combustion of a
mixture of the gas so produced with compressed air, and a pump worked by the
engine for compressing the air, constructed and arranged substantially as herein
described.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Davey have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty fourth day of November in the year of our Lord
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