Improvements in Ammonia Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1892--Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ammonia Engines.
I, WILLIAM MATHER, of Salford Iron Works, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to engines worked by ammonia gas, in which the exhaust
gas from the engine is absorbed in water or a weak aqueous ammonia solution, the
temperature of which is raised by absorption of the exhaust gas.
The principal objects which I have in view are to provide against the escape of
ammonia into the atmosphere by leakage, to secure effective absorption of the gas
after it has performed work, to lessen the amount of absorption water that has to
be carried when the engine is used as a motor for vehicles, also to lessen the cost of
redistilling the ammonia and to ensure lubrication of the moving parts of the engine.
For this purpose, the engine and vessel or vessels containing the store of ammonia
gas are arranged within a tank containing either water or weak ammonia solution.
This tank is divided into several compartments; one of these compartments, which
contains the ammonia gas storage vessel or vessels is charged with water or weak
solution heated to the temperature necessary to produce the desired pressure of
gas in the storage vessel; the other compartments are charged with cold water or
weak solution, these compartments being of dimensions and number suited to the
conditions under which the engine is to be worked.
The exhaust gas from the engine passes first into the compartment containing
the hot water or hot solution and is there absorbed giving out heat which maintains
the pressure in the gas vessel. When the liquid in this compartment is surcharged
with gas, the exhaust gas from the engine is then passed into one of the other
compartments containing the cold water or solutions; and when the liquid in this
compartment is surcharged, the exhaust gas passes into another compartment, and
80 on successively. The connecting rod, piston rod, crank shaft and other working
parts of the engine are enclosed in an oil vessel which is itself enclosed within the
tank containing water or solution.
The crank shaft projects from the oil vessel through a stuffing box to prevent
leakage of the oil, and to provide doubly against escape of ammonia into the
atmosphere.
The stuffing boxes for the starting rod, and such other stuffing boxes as are
necessary, as well as pressure or other gauges are immersed in water.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1891.
0
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ammonia Engines.
I, WILLIAM MATHER, of Salford Iron Works, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to engines worked by ammonia gas, in which the exhaust
gas from the engine is absorbed in water or a weak aqueous ammonia solution, the
temperature of which is raised by absorption of the exhaust gas.

page_text: The principal objects which I have in view are to provide against the escape of
ammonia into the atmosphere by leakage, to secure effective absorption of the gas
after it has performed work, to lessen the amount of absorption water that has to
be carried when the engine is used as a motor for vehicles, also to lessen the cost of
redistilling the ammonia and to ensure lubrication of the moving parts of the engine.
For this purpose, the engine and vessel or vessels containing the store of ammonia
gas are arranged within a tank containing either water or weak ammonia solution.
This tank is divided into several compartments; one of these compartments, which
contains the ammonia gas storage vessel or vessels is charged with water or weak
solution heated to the temperature necessary to produce the desired pressure
of gas in the storage vessel; the other compartments are charged with cold water
or weak solution, these compartments being of dimensions and number suited to the
conditions under which the engine is to be worked.
The exhaust gas from the engine passes first.into the compartment containing the
hot water or hot solution and is there absorbed giving out heat which maintains the
pressure in the gas vessel. When the liquid in this compartment is surcharged
with gas, the exhaust gas from the engine is then passed into one of the other
compartments containing the cold water or solution; and when the liquid in this
compartment is surcharged, the exhaust gas passes into another compartment, and
so on successively.
The connecting rod, piston rod, crank shaft and other working parts (of.the
engine are enclosed in an oil vessel which is itself enclosed within the tank con-
taining water or solution.
The crank shaft projects from the oil vessel through a stuffing box to prevent
leakage of the oil, and to provide doubly against escape of ammonia into the
atmosphere.
The stuffing boxes for the starting rod and such other stuffing boxes, as, are
necessary, as well as pressure or other gauges are immersed in water.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view partly in section, Fig.. 2 is
a sectional plan, and Fig. 3 a transverse section of an ammonia engine, arranged
according to this invention.
Fig. 4 is a section to an enlarged scale of stuffing box for crank.shaft..
Figs. 5 and 6 shew a section and plan of an equaliser for the discharge. of the
exhaust ammonia into the absorbing liquor.
A are vessels containing a store of anhydrous ammonia, arranged within the
tank B containing water or weak ammonia solution.
The tank B is divided into compartments, C¹ containing the holders A, C³:con-
taining the motor engine, C³ and C¹ containing the absorbing liquor in different
degrees of saturation.
The compartment C¹ is filled with a weak solution which may be heated by the
absorption of the exhaust ammonia, or may be a cold weak solution.. The com-
partment Chas an inner compartment, containing the working parts of the motor
only and filled with oil or oil and water to ensure effective lubrication of the moving
parts. The outer portion of C' is filled with weak ammonia solution, into which
the exhaust ammonia gas is discharged, heating it. From C' a pipe leads to C³ the
surplus gas which is not absorbed in the outer part of C2, and this is absorbed or
partially absorbed by the weak solution in C and similarly a pipe connects C*
to C. The compartments are provided with suitable cocks or valves so that these
can be discharged separately, and thus only these need be discharged, which contain
so much ammonia in solution, as to be suitable for redistilling.
Although the tank B is shewn as divided into four compartments,.the number of
compartments may be varied.
In the stuffing box Fig. 4, a is a spiral spring acting on the box b' which has
sufficient elasticity to press the metallic ring c against the pinion flange..
The oil contained in the tank may pass through the bearing but is intercepted in
the box and thus all leakage is intercepted.
The ring c may be made of india rubber or other suitable packing material.

page_text: The stuffing boxes for the starting rod or other parts are also immersed in the
absorbing liquor or in oil to prevent leakage of gas.
In order to promote the absorption of the gas after it has performed work, the
exhaust is delivered into the compartment containing the absorbing liquor through
an equalizer Figs. 5 and 6 consisting of a vessel provided with a large number of
minute orifices, which discharge the gas in the form of spray into the absorbing
liquor. This has also the effect of steadying the flow and pressure and thereby
improving the absorption.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In an ammonia engine a tank divided into several compartments, one containing
a reservoir of the gas immersed in water or weak solution, one containing the motor
engine having all its moving parts enclosed in an oil vessel, and others containing
absorbing liquor into which the exhaust from the engine is discharged, constructed
and arranged substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of Santamber 1802
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.