An Improved Explosion Engine also adapted to be Driven by Steam.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 13th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Explosion Engine also adapted to be Driven
by Steam.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the Firm of G. F. Redfern & Co.,
The General Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of
London, Patent Agents, do bereby declare the nature of this invention (a
communication to me by Per Nordenfelt, of 15, Rue Picot, and André Christophe,
of 46, Boulevard Maillot, both in Paris, in the Republic of France, Civil
Engineers,) to be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to an engine or motor adapted to be operated by the
explosion of mixtures of hydrocarbon vapour or gas and air or by steam, and to
apparatus for forming and igniting the explosive mixtures when such are used as
the motive power.
The motor proper comprises a turbine adapted to be driven at a very high rate
of speed and means for reducing such speed.
This turbine consists principally of what may be termed a motor wheel, a
distributing wheel and an escapement wheel, the two latter being bolted or
otherwise joined to one another and with two covers constituting an outer envelope
in which the motor wheel works. The distributing wheel through which the
motive fluid first passes has formed in it helicoidal channels similar to those in a
hydraulic tourniquet so that the passage of the gases through the said channels
impart to the distributing wheel a rotary motion. The motor wheel placed between
the other wheels has formed in it buckets arranged in such a manner that the
motive fluid passing through the same causes it to rotate in the opposite direction
to that of the distributing wheel. The escapement wheel has buckets similar to
the motor wheel but inclined in an opposite direction so that the said escapement
wheel has a rotary motion in an opposite direction to that of the motor wheel but
in the same direction as the distributing wheel.
The buckets of the motor wheel can be cut in the outer circumference of the
wheel itself or they can be separate therefrom and retained in the wheel by an
outer ring shrunk on hot, or by other means, in order to prevent them from being
displaced by the centrifugal force.
As it may be difficult to ensure that the centre of gravity of the motor wheel
shall be exactly in its centre of form, it is important that its axle should be allowed
to centre itself during its rapid rotation; for this purpose one end of the axle is
pointed and turi s in a bearing, movable against the pressure of a spring, the other
end being conical or ogival and turning between friction wheels. The motor wheel
can thus centre itself by a displacement sideways. The cylindrical ends of the
outer envelope move in bearings fixed to a frame.
The great speed which it is necessary to give to the motor wheel in order to
utilize to the best advantage the velocity of the gases, is reduced by the following
means which also control the relative speeds of the motor wheel and the outer
envelope. In connection with the friction wheels of the motor wheel axle are
other friction wheels of reduced diameter which again act by friction upon the
inner surface of the outer envelope. These friction wheels are mounted in oblong
bearings (so as to enable them to fly outwards under the centrifugal force) in an
inner revolving frame, whose axle is in alignment with the motor wheel axle and
which passes through the cylindrical portion of the envelope.

page_text: The force of the motor wheel is thus transferred to the inner revolving frame
axle at greatly reduced speed, and the envelope with the distributing wheel and
the escapement wheel turn with reduced speed in an opposite direction from that of
the inner revolving frame.
The force of the inner revolving. frame axle, is transferred by toothed gearing
through a free pinion to the driving shaft, and the force of the outer envelope is
also transferred by toothed gearing. direct to the driving-shaft, so that both act
upon that shaft in the same direction.
The motor wheel rotating with the highest speed which can be conveniently
allowed, considerable effect is gained by causing the gases to act upon the
tourniquet shaped passages in the distributing wheel, and upon the buckets of the
escapement wheel with their remaining energy after the motor wheel has taken up
as much as possible of the energy of the gases.
In some cases it is advantageous to use a motor wheel without buckets the
gases being then made to strike the motor wheel either on the outside of its
circumference, or on its side, or even on the inner surface of a ring at or near its
circumference, when the energy of the gases and their friction against the motor
wheel cause it to rotate.
One or
more motor-wheels without buckets can be used with or without a
rotating distribu'ing wheel or escapement wheel, either of which can be made
to rotate in the same direction as the motor-wheel or in an opposite direction.
In the motor hereinbefore described slight modifications or rearrangements of
the parts of the turbine may be necessitated by the use of a motor wheel
without buckets..
The lubrication of the different parts of the motor is effected by causing
lubricant to flow from a reservoir, to the bearings of the friction wheels through a
slightly conical channel in the inner revolving frame axle, the centrifugal force
driving the lubricating oil towards the wider part of the conical channel. The
lubricating oil is in a similar manner conveyed to the movable bearing in which
the point of the motor wheel axle turns through a tube or passage running
through the axle of the inner revolving frame, and connected with a conical
channel in the centre of the motor wheel axle, the centrifugal force driving the
oil to the widest part of the conical channel which opens up on
movable bearing.
to the
When steam is to be used as the motive power it may be conveyed to the
distributing wheel in any suitable manner; when, however, explosive mixtures
of combustible vapour or gas and air are the motive agents I advantageously
make use of apparatus .constructed as follows, I provide an air chamber having
a valve for establishing communication between the said air chamber and the
atmosphere an explosion chamber arranged within the air chamber and communi-
cation with the passages of the distributing wheel the said explosion chamber
having a valve for controlling the communication between itself and the air
chamber, and an igniter and when hydrocarbon vapour is to be used for the
explosive mixtures I provide a pump for injecting the liquid hydrocarbon into
the explosion chamber and a sprayer.
The air entering the air-chamber, surrounding the explosion chamber, through
the outer air-valve (which closes automatically when the air-pressure in the
air-chamber is greater than that of the outer air) is heated, and its pressure
increased by the heat radiating from the walls of the explosion chamber (which
can be provided with webs or other means for communicating more rapidly the
heat to the air) whereby such heat taken up from the explosion chamber is
utilized.
The valve between the air-chamber and the explosion chamber is closed by
the pressure of each explosion, and is again opened by the pressure in the air-
chamber as soon as this pressure becomes bigher than that in the explosion
chamber. In order to ensure the rapid opening of this valve, a spring can be
added to assist in the opening movement. Furthermore when after each explosion

page_text: the pressure of the gases is reduced to that of the atmosphere, the motor wheel as
well as the outer envelope being heavy act as a fly-wheel, cause the turbine wheels
to create a suction which reduces the pressure in the explosion chamber below the
atmospheric pressure, and thus assists the pressure in the air-chamber (increased
by the heat) in opening the inner air-valve leading from the air-chamber to the'
explosion chamber.
The pump for injecting the desired quantity of petroleum required. for
carburetting the air, is advantageously a prolongation of the stem of the inner
air-valve, and thus obtains from that valve its to-and-fro pumping motion. The
pump rod reaches outside the motor so that oil can be pumped in by hand when
the motor is to be started.
The quantity of petroleum to be injected by each stroke of the pump can be
regulated by adjusting screws.
The petroleum is conveyed to the pump by a pipe from a main cistern, the
pump driving it through a channel cut in the pump-rod, and through one or
more pin-holes violently against a vaporizing tube in the explosion chamber
whereby the liquid is vapourized. This vaporizing tube or sprayer can be
heated by a burner or lamp until the explosion chamber itself becomes sufficiently
hot for instantaneously vaporizing the petroleum without the use of such burner.
Near the pin hole or holes is a back valve which allows the petroleum to pass
from the pump into the explosion chamber but which is closed by the pressure of
each explosion, thus preventing the petroleum from being driven back into
the pump.
The heated air and the petroleum vapour enter the explosion chamber together
and mix to form a detonating gas which fills the explosion chamber and is
ignited by coming into contact with an igniter in the passage which connects
the explosion chamber with the distributing wheel of the turbine. This igniter
is heated by a lamp or by a burner supplied with petroleum vapour from the main
cistern; or the gas can be detonated by electricity in the tube. None of the
explosive gas can thus reach the turbine without being detonated in the explosion
tube, and the whole of it is utilized for driving the turbine.
A regulator is applied to the driving shaft to control the shaft when the
maximum speed allowed is exceeded. This regulator comprises weights actuated
by the centrifugal force and moving a sleeve which operates an arm the end of
which acts as a stop to the pump-rod and prevents air or petroleum from being.
introduced into the explosion chamber and thus causes the explosions to cease.
When the speed of the driving shaft is reduced below the maximum and the
centrifugal force thus diminished, a spring acting upon the sleeve releases the arm
from the pump-rod, and the explosions recommence.
In cases where it may he desired to inject into the explosion chamber gas or
combustible vapour instead of fluid, a separate vaporizer can be used and
connected by pipes with the explosion chamber which vaporizer can be advan-
tageously placed near the ignition tube in order to utilize the heat of its burner
for the vaporization. In this case the pump drives the fluid to the vaporizer
instead of to the explosion chamber, and the vapour mixes with the heated air on
entering the explosion chamber, the heated tube inside the explosion chamber'not
then being required.
The principal operations constituting the cycle of the motor are thus the
following:
-
1. Introduction of heated air and petroleum or gas into the explosion chamber."
2. Detonating the explosive mixture.
3. Utilization by the turbine of the detonated gas.
4. Suction by the turbine from the explosion chamber which, together with the'
increased pressure caused by heat in the air-chamber, causes the automatic opening
of the inner air-valve which also actuates the pump, this air-valve being again
closed by the pressure of the subsequent explosion.
The following means are sometimes used for applying the force generated by

page_text: the motor. In cases where variable speeds or reversions of the rotary movement
are required (for instance, when the force is to be used for driving a carriage axle)
a driving wheel, fixed on a tube turning freely on an intermediary shaft of the
motor and the carriage axle, is set in motion by a chain from the driving shaft of
the motor.
Two or more sleeves, turning freely outside the tube, are connected by
chains with the carriage axle, such sleeves being capable of giving different speeds
to that axle according to different proportions between the diameters of the
chain-wheels.
When either of these sleeves is moved lengthwise in one direction, a friction
ring on the sleeve is engaged by a friction surface on the tube turned by the
driving wheel, and the movement of the latter is thus transferred to the carriage
axle through that sleeve, giving the carriage-axle the corresponding speed.
In order to reverse the motion of the carriage axle, the intermediary shaft is
turned by toothed gearing from the driving shaft of the motor, and is thus turned
in the opposite direction from that of the driving wheel moved by chain-gear.
A reversing sleeve is keyed on the intermediary shaft. When this reversing
sleeve is moved lengthwise in one direction its friction ring engages with a
corresponding friction surface on one of the sleeves connected by chain-gear with
the carriage axle which sleeve is thus turned in the opposite direction to that in
which it would turn when the sleeve which drives it by chain-gear has been
engaged by the driving-wheel tube.
Dated the 13th day of June 1894
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Explosion Engine, also adapted to be Driven
by Steam.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the Firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The
General Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London,
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by Per Nordentelt, of 15, Rue Picot, and André Christophe, of 46, Boulevard
Maillot, both in Paris, in the Republic of France, Civil Engineers) 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 an engine or motor adapted to be operated by the
explosion of mixtures of hydrocarbon vapour or gas and air or by steam, and to
apparatus for forming and igniting the explosive mixtures when such are used as
the motive power.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure is a longitudinal section of an engine or motor and apparatus for
forming and igniting explosive mixtures of hydrocarbon vapour or gas and air for
use with such engine or motor, constructed according to the invention:
Figure 2 is a section at right angles to that shewn in Figure 1 of the apparatus
for forming and igniting the explosive mixtures, certain parts being removed:
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Figure 1:
Figures 4 and 5 are elevations at right angles to. each other of a part of the
engine or motor; and,
Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Figure 4:
Figures 7 to 21 are views illustrating details of construction of the engine or
motor:
Figures 22 and 23 are an elevation and horizontal section illustrating a motor
wheel operated by the friction therewith of jets of gases:

page_text: Figures 24 and 25 are respectively a section and an elevation illustrating
modifications of such motor wheel; and,
Figures 26 and 27 are an elevation and a plan illustrating another modification:
Figures 28 and 29 are respectively a sectional plan and a longitudinal vertical
section illustrating other forms of the improved motor:
Figure 30 is a section on the line 30, 30, Figure 29.
Similar reference letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
The motor proper comprises a turbine adapted to be driven at a very high rate
of speed and means for reducing such speed.
As shewn in Figure 1, the turbine consists principally of what may be termed a
motor wheel a, a distributing wheel and an escapement wheel c, the two latter
being bolted or otherwise joined to one another and with two covers d, d constituting
an outer envelope in which the motor wheel a works. The distributing wheel b
(shewn detached in Figures 4, 5 and 6) through which the motive fluid first passes
has formed in it helicoidal channels similar to those in a hydraulic tourniquet so
that the passage of the gases through the said channels imparts to the said
distributing wheel a rotary motion. The motor wheel a placed between the
wheels b, c has formed in it buckets a', a' arranged in such a manner that the
motive fluid passing through the same causes it to rotate in the opposite direction
to that of the distributing wheel b. The escapement wheel c has buckets c¹, c¹
similar to the motor wheel a but inclined in an opposite direction so that the said
escapement wheel c has a rotary motion in an opposite direction to that of the
motor wheel a but in the same direction as the distributing wheel b.
The buckets a¹ of the motor wheel a can be cut in the outer circumference of
the body of the wheel itself or they can be separate therefrom and retained in the
wheel by an outer ring a shrunk on hot, or by other means, in order to prevent
them from being displaced by the centrifugal force. Figure 7 which is a developed
section shews one way of forming the buckets a¹ in the body of the wheel a which,
in this case, is composed of two discs a³, a as shewn in the said figure and in
Figure 8 which is a sectional elevation of the wheel. The shaft or axle e can be
made in one piece with one of these discs, to which the other disc is joined by a
screw-nut as shewn or by other convenient means. The walls a, a' between the
apertures a cut in the said discs near their circumferences form wings or half
buckets, and when the two discs are joined together two corresponding wings form
a complete bucket with angles suitable for giving the best useful effect by the
fluids, steam or gas used for driving the turbine. In cutting the apertures a¹ a thin
outside wall a is left continuous around the circumference in order to give rigidity
to the wings a³ and to avoid undue friction of the fluids, steam or gas against the
outside envelope or casing d, d of the motor.
Figures 9 and 10 which are sections and Figure 11 which is an elevation of part
of the motor wheel shew a convenient way of forming the buckets in a motor wheel
composed of two discs. In this arrangement radially elongated holes a', a',
Figures 9 and 11, are first cut by a spherical ended milling cutter aⓇ in the opposing
surfaces of the two discs forming the wheel, a square ended milling cutter a being
afterwards used at an angle to form openings between the outside of the said discs
and the holes a².
Figures 12, 13 and 14 which are sections and Figure 15 which is part of the
motor wheel shew another convenient way of forming the buckets in a motor wheel
composed of only one disc. In this arrangement radially elongated holes a', a' are
first cut on one surface of the wheel by a spherical ended milling cutter aⓇ at a
suitable angle as shewn in Figures 12 and 15 and then the same milling cutter in a
second operation is caused to cut similar holes on the other surface and meeting the
first mentioned boles. The apertures in both the arrangements described with
reference to Figures 9 to 11 and Figures 12 to 15 are finished by filing off the
sharp corners. In these arrangements also a thin continuous wall a is left around
the circumference in order to ensure rigidity and to prevent friction.

page_text: Figures 16, 17 and 18, which are respectively a horizontal section, a sectional
elevation and a developed section, illustrate a wheel with buckets a made
separately from the body of the wheel which are placed in slots at cut radially in
the said body. These buckets, one of which is shewn in Figures 19, 20 and 21
which are respectively elevations at right angles and a horizontal section, are held
in position radially by an outer ring a shrunk on hot round the outer ends of the
said buckets. One or more screwed collars a support the buckets on each side of
the wheel.
As it may be difficult to ensure that the centre of gravity of the motor wheel a
shall be exactly in its centre of form, it is important that its shaft or axle e should
be allowed to centre itself during its rapid rotation. For this purpose one end of
the said shaft is pointed and turns in a bearing e' in the wheel b, Figure 1, the said
bearing being movable against the pressure of a spring e, the other end being
conical (or ogival) as at e and turning between friction wheels f,f supported in the
wheel c; three of which friction wheels are generally used as shewn clearly in
Figure 3. The motor wheel a can thus centre itself by the radial displacement of
its shaft. The cylindrical ends of the outer envelope d, d turn in bearings d¹, d
fixed to a frame not shewn.
The great speed which it is necessary to give to the motor wheel in order to
utilize to the best advantage the velocity of the gases, is reduced by the following
means which also control the relative speeds of the motor wheel and the-outer
envelope d, d. In connection with the friction wheels f, f engaged by the motor
wheel shaft e are other friction wheels, concentric with the wheels f, but of
reduced diameter which again act by friction upon paths on the inner surface
of one of the outer covers d and wheel c. These friction wheels are mounted in
oblong bearings (so as to enable them to fly outwards under the centrifugal force)
in an inner revolving frame y provided with a shaft or axle g' in alignment with
the motor wheel shaft e and which passes through the portion of the envelope d, d
carried in the bearing d. Instead of friction surfaces it will be obvious that gear
teeth can be employed.
The force of the motor wheel a is thus transferred to the shaft gl at greatly
reduced speed, and the envelope d, d with the distributing wheel 6 and the
escapement wheel c turn with reduced speed in an opposite direction from that of
the inner revolving frame g.
The power transmitted through the shaft g' from the motor wheel a is transferred
by toothed gearing / directly to the driving shaft and the power transmitted
through the outer envelope d, d from the wheels b, c is also transferred by.toothed
gearing to the driving shaft h¹ but through a pinion i¹. By this arrangement both
the wheel a and the combined wheels b and c act upon the shaft h¹ in the same
direction.
The lubrication of the different parts of the motor is effected by causing lubricant
to flow from a reservoir to the bearings of the friction wheels through a slightly
conical channel in the shaft g', the centrifugal force driving the lubricating oil
towards the wider part of the said conical channel. The lubricating oil is in a
similar manner conveyed to the movable bearing e¹ through a tube or passage j
running through the shaft g', and connected with a conical channel in the centre
of the motor wheel shaft, the centrifugal force driving the oil to the widest part
of the conical channel which opens on to the said movable bearing.
In all turbines hitherto known the energy of the motor force is applied to
buckets, wings or curved channels, which, whatever their forn may be, are
exposed, by changing the direction of the fluid jets, to considerable friction by
which much force is lost. I have in some cases found it advantageous to construct
a-motor wheel without any buckets at all, in which arrangement the friction
(caused by the deviation of the direction of one or more fluid jets) is utilized-for
contributing as one of the principal means to give rotation to the said motor
wheel.

page_text: The system of motor wheel without buckets can be used with advantage for jets.
of steam or gas as well as of fluids which all work in a similar manner though their
coefficients of friction and other circumstances may vary.
It is preferable to give to the motor wheel without buckets the form of a disc,.
Figures 22 and 23, with a brim or flange k at its circumference as shewn, thus.
constituting a kind of shallow cup. The motive power is applied to this wheel by
one or several jets of fluids, steam or gas, escaping from nozzles &¹ against the
inner, surface of the flange at a convenient angle for preventing as much as.
possible any loss of power by shock. The jet then follows circumferentially the
said inner surface and carries with great force the wheel with it by the friction-
and the pressure which it exerts while trying all the time to escape, first in the.
direction given to the jet by the nozzle and afterwards tangentially.
In order to prevent the fluids, steam or gas from encountering fresh jets coming
from other nozzles, the flange or cup can be made slightly conical, opening
outwards. The best useful effect is obtained when the jet after having exerted its
energy on the flange escapes from the wheel with the same remaining velocity as
the circumferential speed of the flange.
The motor wheel can also be made without buckets, as shewn in Figure 24, in
which the jet of fluid, steam or gas strikes the inner circumference of an elongated
conical wheel a near one end where its diameter is greatest and at a convenient
angle for giving the jet a helicoidal or screw-shaped course towards the end.
where the diameter is smallest.
As the velocity of the jet of fluid, steam or gas diminishes in consequence of 'the-
energy imparted by it to the wheel, it acts progressively upon parts of the cone-
whose circumferential velocity is smaller, until it escapes at the smallest end of the
wheel with, as near as can be, the same velocity as that of the latter having thus
imparted by friction and by pressure a very large proportion of its energy to the
motor wheel.
A motor wheel without buckets can also be turned by jets of fluids, steam or gas.
projected at convenient angles against the periphery of the wheel or against its
sides near the outer edge, as shewn clearly in Figures 25, 26 and 27, Figure 25.
shewing the jet acting upon the periphery of the wheel while Figures 26 and 27
shew it acting against one side of the wheel.
Figure 28 shews an arrangement of motor in which there is no rotating
distributing wheel b but the jets are conducted to the motor wheel through fixed
distributing tubes ¹. In this arrangement a motor wheel without buckets is shewa.
of the form illustrated in Figures 22 and 23.
The jets of fluid, steam or gas act first upon the motor wheel a aud when escaping
from this act with their remaining energy upon the escapement wheel which, in
this instance, is provided with an elongated Hange surrounding that of the said
motor wheel. The escapement wheel thus rotates in the same direction as the
motor wheel though with less speed, the force of both being transmitted to the
driving shaft by suitable gearing not shewn.
In the motors hereinbefore described modifications or re-arrangements of
the
parts of the turbine may be necessitated by the use of a single motor wheel.
Figure 29 shews a turbine in which a motor wheel is used without a distributing
wheel or an escapement wheel. In this arrangement a motor wheel is again shewn.
without buckets. It will be understood, however, that the same arrangement will
also suit a motor wheel with buckets, with different forms of the inlet and outlet
for the steam or gas.
The helicoidal channels b¹, preferably more than one, and so placed as to
equilibrate the presence of the jets on the wheel, are in this case fixed. The jets
of steam or gas, issuing from these channels are projected at suitable angles against
the motor wheel a as before described.
The steam or gas is supplied to the channels b' from the circular inlet / and
escapes, after it has imparted its energy to the motor wheel a, through the outlet /-
to the outer air.

page_text: The transmission of force with reduced speed from the motor wheel a to the
ain shaft his in this case effected by means of friction wheels and an inner
revolving frame as in Figure 1.
The
In addition to the conical portion of the shaft e a conical roller et is keyed on
the said shaft which together with the said cone e actuate the friction wheels f
(preferably three) the said wheels having corresponding bevels to bear against the
parts e, while the friction wheels 1, ₁ formed on the wheels f, f roll on
paths f, on the outer envelope d, d which in this case does not rotate.
journals of the friction wheels turn in radial grooves or bearings in the frame g.
The frame g turns in bearings d', d² in the outer envelope d, d, and it can be made
in one piece with the main shaft from which the power can be transmitted by
means of the pulley m.
The roller is arranged to be moved lengthwise along the shaft e towards the
conical part e by means of a nut e' thereby exerting pressure between the said
parts and the wheels and consequently between the wheels f' and the paths f*
so as to prevent any slip. The centrifugal force also increases the pressure
between the friction wheels and the paths f..
In order to allow the motor wheel a with its shaft e to centre itself, if its centre
line of gravity should not coincide with the centre line of form, a spring is
introduced between the nut e and the roller e¹. If the shaft tends to displace
itself radially, it can do so by pushing the roller towards the nut e while
compressing the spring e, the shaft e or the friction wheel at the same time being
slightly displaced longitudinally.
When steam is to be used as the motive power it may be conveyed to the
distributing or motor wheel in any suitable manner; when, however, explosive
mixtures of combustible vapour or gas and air are the motive agents I advan-
tageously make use of the apparatus shewn in Figures 1 and 2 in combination with
the motor also shewn therein. In this apparatus an air-chamber.n is provided
having an aperture n' for establishing communication between the said air chamber
and the atmosphere; an explosion chamber o arranged within the air chamber and
in communication with the passages 6 of the distributing wheel b, the said
explosion chamber having a valve o' for controlling the communication between
itself and the air chamber, and an ignition tube p. When hydrocarbon vapour is
to be used for the explosive mixtures, a pump 9 is provided for injecting the
liquid hydrocarbon into the explosion chamber o and a sprayer r.
The air entering the air-chamber n, surrounding the explosion chamber, is
heated by the heat radiating from the walls of the explosion chamber o (which
can be provided with webs or other means for communicating more rapidly the
heat to the air) whereby such heat taken up from the explosion chamber is utilized.
The valve o' between the air chamber n and the explosion chamber o is closed
by the pressure of each explosion. When after each explosion the pressure of the
gases is reduced to that of the atmosphere (the motor wheel a and the outer heavy
envelope d, d acting as a fly wheel) the turbine wheels create a suction which
reduces the pressure in the explosion chamber o below the atmospheric pressure,
and thus causes the air valve o' leading, from the air chamber to the explosion
chamber to open.
In order to ensure the rapid opening of the valve o' a spring o² can be added to
assist such opening movement.
The opening movement of the valve o' can be made more rapid and more
accentuated by the difference in the inside and outside pressures being increased by
the air outside the explosion chamber being put under pressure higher than that of
the atmospheric air by pumps or other suitable means.
The pump rod 9' for injecting the desired quantity of petroleum required for
carburetting the air, is advantageously a prolongation of the stem of the air-valve
and thus obtains from that valve its to-and-fro pumping motion. The pump rod g
extends outside the motor so that oil cau be pumped in by hand when the moto
is to be started.

page_text: The quantity of petroleum to be injected by each stroke of the pump can be
regulated by adjusting screws q'.
The petroleum is conveyed to the pump 7 by a pipes from a main cistern, not
shewn, the pump by means of the part q screwed thereon driving it through a
channel q cut in the pump rod, and through one or more pin holes at t violently
against a vaporizing tube in the explosion chamber o whereby the liquid is
vaporized. This vaporizing tube can be heated by a burner or lamp until the
explosion chamber itself becomes sufficiently hot for instantaneously vaporizing the
petroleum without the use of such burner.
Near the pin hole or holes at t is a back valve gt which allows the petroleum to
pass from the pump into the explosion chamber but which is closed by the
pressure of each explosion, thus preventing the petroleum from being driven back
into the pump.
The heated air and the petroleum vapour enter the explosion chamber o together
and mix to form a detonating gas which fills the said explosion chamber and is
ignited by coming into contact with the igniter in the tube or passage which
connects the explosion chamber o with the distributing wheel b of the turbine.
This igniter is heated by a lamp or by a burner w supplied with petroleum vapour
from the main cistern; or the gas can be detonated by electricity. None of the
explosive gas can thus reach the turbine without being first detonated and the
whole of it is utilized for driving the turbine.
A regulator or governor is applied to the driving shaft to control the shaft
when the maximum speed allowed is exceeded. This regulator comprises
weights, actuated by centrifugal force and moving a sleeve which
operates an arm y the end of which acts as a stop to the pump-rod g¹ and thus
prevents air or petroleum from being introduced into the explosion chamber and
thus causes the explosions to cease when the shaft / revolves above the maximum
speed. When the speed of the driving shaft is reduced below the maximum
and the centrifugal force thus diminished, a spring acting upon the sleeve z
releases the arm from the pump rod ql and the explosions recommence.
In cases where it may be desired to inject into the explosion chamber o gas or
combustible vapour instead of fluid, a separate vaporizer can be used and connected
by pipes with the explosion chamber, which vaporizer can be advantageously
placed near the ignition tube p in order to utilize the heat of its burner for the
vaporization. In this case the pump drives the fluid to the vaporizer instead
of to the explosion chamber, and the vapour mixes with the heated air on entering
the explosion chamber, the heated tube u inside the explosion chamber not then
being required.
:
:
The principal operations constituting the cycle of the motor are thus the
following:-
--
(1) Introduction of heated air and petroleum or gas into the explosion chamber:
(2) Detonating the explosive mixture:
(3) Utilization by the turbine of the detonated gas:
(4) Suction by the turbine from the explosion chamber which causes the auto-
matic opening of the air valve o' by the atmospheric pressure or by a pressure
above that of the atmosphere produced by pumps or other means, the said opening
movement actuating the pump 9, the air-valve being again closed by the pressure
of the subsequent explosion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what mauner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A. turbine or motor in which the motor wheel is assisted by a distributing
wheel in movement or by an escapement wheel in movement, or by both, in
utilizing as much as possible of the energy of the gas or steam used as motive
power, substantially as described.
2. A turbine motor wheel for steam or gas composed of two discs in which
B

page_text: apertures have been cnt at suitable angles, the walls between such apertures
forming wings or half buckets, so that when the two discs are joined together each
corresponding pair of wings forms a complete bucket, substantially as described.
3. A turbine motor wheel for steam or gas consisting of a single disc in which
apertures are cut in such a manner that the walls between them form buckets with
suitable angles, substantially as described.
4. The mode of manufacturing turbine motor wheels for steam or gas consisting
of two discs or of one single disc by cutting radial apertures by means of milling
tools of suitable form and set at suitable angles substantially as described and
illustrated in Figures 9 to 11 and in Figures 12 to 15 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. Allowing the displacing of a motor wheel and its shaft or axle when rotating
with great rapidity, whose centre of gravity may not be exactly in the centre line
of the said axle, by forming both ends of the axle pointed or ogival, one end
turning in a bearing which can move longitudinally against the pressure of a
spring while the other end turns between conical friction wheels, substantially as
described.
6. In a turbine for steam or gas, the mode of transmission with reduced speed
of the power of the motor wheel by arranging its shaft or axle to revolve friction
wheels or cog wheels, to which are connected smaller friction or cog wheels which
revolve an outer casing or envelope by a friction surface or gear teeth while the
stems of the combined friction wheels or cog wheels turn in radial bearings formed
in a revolving frame to which the force is thus transmitted with a reduction in
speed depending upon the various diameters of the different parts of the gear, the
axle of the said frame serving as a main shaft for the further transmission or
distribution of the force.
7. A turbine motor wheel without buckets, in which the jets of fluids, steam or
gas, used as motive power, are projected against the wheel at suitable angles at
or near its circumference and glide along its surface thereby causing a friction
which constitutes one of the principal means of imparting the force of the jets.
of fluids, steam or gas to the motor wheel, thus causing it to rotate substantially as
described.
8. A turbine motor wheel without buckets provided with a flange round. the
inner smooth surface of which the fluids, steam or gas used as motive power glide
and thus by their friction and pressure cause the rotation of the said motor wheel,.:
substantially as described.
"
9. A turbine motor wheel without buckets made in the form of a hollow cone
against the inside of which the jets of fluids, steam or gas are projected at such angles
as to give them a helicoidal course inside the said cone from the end of its larger
diameter towards the end of smaller diameter in such a manner that, as ther
velocity of the fluid, steam or gas, is reduced by their energy being imparted to
the wheel, they act progressively upon parts of the cone, whose circumferential
velocity becomes lower in proportion as their diameters are smaller by the sides of
the cone approaching its axis of rotation, substantially as described.
10. In a turbine for steam or gas the system of lubrication by conical channels
through axles rotating at great speed, the lubricant being forced to the points
where it is required by the centrifugal force, substantially as described.
11. A turbine for steam or gas substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
12. A generator of detonating gases in which also their explosion takes place,
and in which the explosion chamber is surrounded by a chamber in which the air
to be used is heated by the walls of the explosion chamber, substantially as
described.
13. The arrangement for introducing into a generator of detonating gases a
detonating gas or the elements of which such gas is to be composed through a
valve actuated alternately by the pressure of the explosion for closing the valve
and by the pressure due to the difference between the lower pressure of the gas

page_text: inside and the higher pressure of the air outside the explosion chamber for opening
the valve by a spring, substantially as described.
and
ог
14. In a generator of detonating gases arranging the valve, through which the
air is introduced into the explosion chamber, upon or attaching it to the rod of a
pump which at each stroke injects the quantity of petroleum required for each
explosion, substantially as described.
15. In a generator of detonating gases for use with a turbine a tube through
which all the products of the explosions must pass on their way from the explosion
chamber to the turbine, in which tube means are provided for igniting the detonating
gas either by it being rendered incandescent or by an electric spark or other
suitable igniting arrangement, substantially as described.
16. A generator of detonating gases for a turbine or motor substantially as
described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
17. A complete explosion engine consisting of a detonating gas generator and a
turbine, the gas generator being provided with an automatic supply valve for the
detonating gases or for their component elements, and with an ignition tube
through which the products of the explosions pass to the turbine, the latter being
provided with organs of transmission of force at reduced speed, all substantially
as described, such complete explosion engine working in accordance with the cycle
of operations as set forth.
A
1100
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.