Year: 1885

page_text: I WALDEMAR VON RUCKTEYCHELL of St. Petersburg, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to what may be termed an impact motor. The construction
of the machine is shown in the accompanying drawings.
In Sheet 1. the piston b transmits the impact to the connecting rod a at the
moment when it is tangential to the circle described by the crank a¹. Behind
the piston b, in the cylinder A, is a piston c which remains stationary during
the inward-stroke of the piston b and until the connecting rod a has reached the
tangential position. At this moment the ends of the insulated wires, with which
the piston C is provided, come into contact with the contacts on cylinder A. which
are connected with a dynamo-machine. By this means, the electric spark, or current, is
led into the combustion chamber containing the charge, which is thereby transformed
instantly into gases, which, in consequence of their great expansion produce an
impact, or 'sudden pressure, upon the piston b which is transmitted to the crank a¹
by the connecting rod a. The tangential position of the connecting rod, allows the
utilization of the momentary action of the impact produced by the gases without
damaging the machine, especially the bearings of the shaft q. When, by means of
the fly-wheel, the crank is again brought to the above mentioned position, a new
impact takes place, thus producing a constant working. At the moment of the
expansion of the gases the piston c bears against cams g, (Sheet 3.), in order to
offer the necessary resistance these cams are connected with the eccentrics p, on the
shaft q by means of the levers h, and rods 8, which give the cams such a motion,
that they are turned immediately after the impact, so as to permit of the back ward
motion of the piston c. The stud connects the lever h with the rod s¹, the latter
being connected with the piston c by means of the stud ¹; thus the rotation of
the cam g brings the piston c back to its first position for receiving the charge.
In this position the chamber in the piston ċ coincides with the channel d (Sheet 2).
The speed of the engine is regulated by means of an ordinary governor, acting
upon a valve k, which regulates the amount of the charge supplied. Above the
channel d (Sheet 2) is a drum e which receives alternate circular motion about its
axis, and is provided with a cavity which receives the charge from the channel d',
31

page_text: and then rotates sufficiently to bring the cavity opposite to the channel d through
which the charge falls into the chamber The alternate circular motion of the
drum e is produced by means of the system of levers f. f' f' and the sliding rod 8.
The lever f' is linked to the lever f' which is fixed to the axis of a drum el
provided with a spring strip z (Sheet 2) the end of which, by the rotation of the
drum e is brought down through the cylinder A in front of the chamber * in the
piston o to prevent the falling out of the charge therefrom. This strip s comes
down as soon as the piston c has returned to its original position, and only ascends
again when the piston b has returned so near to the piston c as to prevent the
falling out of the charge. Sheet 4 shows a pair of such engines coupled together,
and in connection with two air-compressing pumps ; the compressed air is stored
in a reservoir, provided with valves, underneath the engine, and is conveyed from
the reservoir through a regulating valve for use in lieu of steam for working the
engines of boats, as well as locomotives; the coupled engine maintaining a constant
pressure in the reservoir.

page_text: I WALDEMAR VON RUCKTESCHELL of St. Petersburg, 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 :-
This Invention relates to an explosion engine in which the sudden force or
impulse derived from the decomposition of nitro-cellulose in the cylinder of the
engine is applied at the moment when the connecting rod is in a position tangential
to the circle described by the crank.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification.
Referring to figures 1 and 2, the connecting rod a is actuated by the piston b
when the former is tangential to the circle described by the crank a' during the
outward stroke of the piston b, at which moment electrical contact is made between
the extremity of the insulated wire r projecting from the rear and enlarged head
of the abutment piston c and a contact piece on the cylinder A, and connected
with a dynamo-electric machine. The electric spark or current being thereupon
conveyed to the explosion chamber x in the piston o and containing nitro-cellulose
(figure 9) the latter is immediately converted into gases which, owing to their
great expansion, impart an impulse to the piston b which is communicated by the
connecting rod a to the crank a¹, the tangential position of the connecting rod
enabling the powerful momentary impulse of the gases to be utilized without
injury to the engine. The inward stroke, and the first portion of the outward
stroke, are performed by the momentum of the fly-wheel, a fresh impulse being
imparted to the piston b at the moment when it again reaches the tangential
position shewn in figure 2, whereby a constant rotary motion is maintained.
In order to give the abutment piston c the necessary forward and backward
stroke enabling it to receive and carry forward the charge of nitro-cellulose and
to also ensure the fixity of its position at the moment of explosion, the construction
hereafter described is employed. To the cylinder A is bolted a frame or support B
in which are mounted rock shafts E E¹ on which are keyed curved slotted
segments G G¹. The segment G or the end of the shaft E has a journal H received
in a corresponding bearing in the shaft E¹ so that the shafts E and E¹ mutually
support each other at this point, although they rotate in opposite directions. To
the outer ends of the shafts E and E' outside the bearings are keyed the crank
disca to whose crank pins are connected rods K and K. The other ends of
said rods K K are slotted as at T figure 4 and rest on, and slide across, the crank
shaft and they are operated by pins and friction rollers R fixed on the rods K. K¹
received in eccentric cam slots M in discs L on shaft Q. By this means alternate
and opposite rocking motion is imparted to the shafts E E¹ and segments G G¹, the

page_text: radius of eccentricity of the cams M relatively to the radius of the crank pins of
discs ; being such that the segments G move through an angle of less than 90°, their
extreme positions being illustrated in figures 5 and 7. Through the slots Sand S¹ of
segments GG passes the cross pin D fixed in the forked head of the piston c while
its extremities slide in slots U formed in the frame B. By this means a to and
fro motion is imparted to the piston c in the cylinder A, there being short pauses
between these two motions. One of these short pauses is utilized for the intro-
duction of the nitro-cellulose into the chamber x, while during the other pause the
conversion of the nitro cellulose into a gaseous state is effected and the power
developed thereby acts upon the piston b. At the moment of explosion the cross
shaft D is situated at the outer ends of the slots S S¹ as in figure 7 whereby the
segments G and G¹ receive the thrust of the piston c and hold it stationary, the
impulse of the explosion moving only the piston b which is pushed forward in the
cylinder and rotates the crank shaft Q. By the continued motion of the shaft the
segments are moved from the position shewn in figure 5 to that shewn in figures 1
and 3. During the momentary stoppage of the piston c at the end of its outward
stroke, a fresh charge of nitro-cellulose is introduced into the chamber x. Figures 6
and 8 shew how this is effected. The receptacle N is of sufficient capacity to
contain a store of nitro-cellulose which is fed by a screw conveyor P (driven from
shaft by a belt running on fast and loose pulleys 0 0¹) to an outlet in line with
the conveyor and leading through a channel d in the side of the cylinder A into
another channel at right angles to the first and radial to the cylinder as shewn in
figure 6. In this vertical channel is a piston e which is actuated by the eccentric
rod K through the lever arms and rock shaft f. The short fibred nitro cellulose
contained in receptacle N is forced by the screw-conveyor into the channel d whence
it passes into the vertical channel beneath the piston e when the latter is in its raised
position. Meanwhile the piston c has assumed the position shewn in figures 3 and 5,
the chamber therein being directly below the mouth of the vertical channel. At
this moment the piston e is moved down thereby forcing the charge of nitro
cellulose into chamber and closing the channel d. The piston c is then moved
forward, and on the electric circuit being closed by the wires rr meeting the
contact pieces oo, an electric spark is produced in the chamber x whereby the
charge of nitro-cellulose contained therein is caused to pass into the gaseous state.
This operation is repeated at each revolution of the crank shaft Q. By means of
an ordinary governor actuated by the crank shaft the speed of the conveyor P, and
consequently the rate of feed of the nitro-cellulose may be regulated according to
requirements. The gases are exhausted from the cylinder by the return of the
piston through an outlet pipe z provided with a suitable valve (see figure 8).
The above described machine can be rendered capable of being coupled or con-
nected with compressed air pumps. Figures 10, 11, and 12, shew a side elevation
plan, and end elevation of a pair of such engines coupled together, and in connection
with two air-compressing pumps (V.) the compressed air passing at (v) into
reservoirs (W) situated below, or forming part of the bed of the engine and here
represented as of tubular construction, although they may be of any other suitable
kind. The compressed air stored in the reservoirs (W) passes through a pressure-
reducing valve or pressure regulator (y) to the motor or engine, for use in
ships as well as in locomotives in place of steam. By means of the air punips of
the reservoir the coupled machine supplies compressed air in proportion to the
consumption or requirement of the air engine.
The charge herein before referred to is a novel form of nitro-cellulose forming the
subject of another application for Letters Patent of even date herewith which
does not explode by contact with a flame, or under a blow, but burns with a
quick flame, without leaving any residuum. By the electric current it is suddenly
caused to pass from the solid to the gaseous state, when a fall of temperature
occurs, in consequence of heat becoming latent, so that overheating of the machine
is impossible.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what
I claim is ;-
1. A motor, wherein nitro-cellulose, or other material possessing similar properties,
is introduced into a cylinder provided with a piston, and converted without com-
bustion into a gaseous state by electricity, or by any other means producing a
strong and sudden, expansion or heat, whereby, besides the powerful expansion
resulting from the formation of the gases, heat is rendered latent, and the machine
is protected from over-heating while the expanded gases may be expelled unburnt,
and can thus be utilized.
2. A motor in whose cylinder A the solid nitro-cellulose is converted into a
gaseous state by an electric current in the chamber x, an impulse being thereby
imparted to the piston b and communicated by means of the connecting rod a and
the crank a¹ to the shaft Q as specified.
3. The combination of the pistons b and c in the cylinder A, and the gear in
connection there with, in such manner that the impulse imparted to the piston b is
so timed as to act on the crank through the connecting rod a when the latter is
tangential to the circle described by the former, and the piston c is immovably
fixed, the latter piston receiving in the intervals a to and fro motion for the
purpose of supplying fresh charges, substantially as specified.
4. The machine hereinbefore specified and claimed coupled in connection with
two compressed air pumps and a reservoir for compressed air, in which form the
said machine may be used for the propulsion of ships, and of railway-trains.