IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS OR INFLAMMABLE LIQUID ENGINES OR PRIME MOVERS communicated to him from ab by
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Kenworthy Dutton, of 41 John Dalton street,.
in the City of Manchester, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS OR INFLAMMABLE LIQUID ENGINES OR
PRIME MOVERS communicated to him from abroad by Johannes Spiel of
Berlin in the Empire of Germany
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edward Kenworthy Dutton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th August 1883.
EDWARD KENWORTHY DUTTON, of 41 John Dalton Street, in the City of
Manchester; Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS OR
communicatel to me from
INFLAMMABLE LIQUID ENGINES OR PRIME MOVERS
"
abroad by Johannes Spiel of Berlin in the Empire of Germany.
In the prime mover constituting the subject matter of this Invention a mixturé
of gas or inflammable vapour and atmospheric air or oxygen is fired in the presence
of vapour or steam arising from hot water in the firing chamber the expansion
arising from the combustion combined with the steam pressure supplying the
propelling force acting upon the piston or pistons. In the accompanying drawings
which illustrate the said Invention Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a
horizontal engine Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line in Fig 2, Fig 3 is a plan
and Fig 4 is an end or back elevation. In the said drawings the piston works in
a cylinder which extends into end chambers A and B which are partly filled with
water which is heated by means of a furnace F. The products of combustion from
this furnace pass through the flues c, c'-which are surrounded by water-and are
conveyed away through the pipe 8. The method of heating the water may be
varied. Above the cylinder is a reservoir for petroleum or hydro-carbon or other
liquid which is used to supply the inflammable vapour. The liquid flows through
pipes, r, which discharge into reservoirs a, a', which are fitted with inlet valves
which open inward to the chambers A and B. The supply may be regulated by
hand by means of cocks h, h', or by means of a governor R.
The mixture is fired
by means of a slide valve which acts in a similar manner to the firing valve in a
gas engine. This valve is illustrated by Figs 5 to 10 and is actuated by means of

page_text: a cam or wiper d on a shaft w which receives motion from the crank shaft. The
sliaft w is also provided with wipers which at the proper times open outlet
valves v, v. The shaft w revolves at half the speed of the crank-shaft so that the
firing takes place at each alternate stroke of the piston. The action of the engine
is as follows:-
Supposing for example the piston to be in the position shewn in Fig 1 the
combustion chamber A will contain a compressed explosive mixture of vapour of
inflammable liquid and water, the combustion chamber B will contain a charge of
explosive mixture inspired through the valve in a' and also steam from the hot
water. The mixture A is ignited by the flame i in Fig. 4 which is put in cominu-
nication with the chamber A. by a movement of the firing valve l. The result of
the firing is that a portion of the water in A is converted into steam thus
increasing the initial steam pressure and the piston is driven forward by the
combined pressure of the expanding gases and vapour. The combustible mixture
in the chamber B is compressed by the movement of the piston and when the
piston has passed the port o the burning gases behind the piston communicate
with and ignite the mixture in B whereupon the piston is driven back by the
expansion of the burning gases in B and the steam pressure arising from the said
combustion acting on the water in B. During the return stroke of the piston the
products of combustion are driven off through the outlet valve v by the combined
effect of the piston stroke and steam pressure.
At the next forward stroke of the
piston combustible mixture is drawn into the chamber A and the steam therein is
partly condensed and at the same time the products of combustion are driven out
of B through the outlet valve i¹. At the next reaward stroke of the piston the
mixture is drawn into B and steam partly condensed therein while in A the
mixture is being compressed for ignition at the end of the stroke. The ignition
of the mixture in the chamber A is effected in the following manner: The liring
valve works on a face R formed on the cylinder end and is held down by n
cover p. A simple burner b is fixed in the valve & to which during the compression
period combustible gas or vapour finds its way from the chamber A through the
passage q. In front of and surrounding the burner is a chamber e which serves to
convey a flame from the outer jet i to the charge in the cylinder. The chamber e
forms an annular space round the burner and the passage q opens into the said
annular space and maintains a communication for the supply of combustible gas or
vapour during the times when the main passage to is closed whereby an equilibrum
of pressure of gas in the chambers e aud A is maintained. The gas passing
through g flows around the burner and thus becomes heated and ignites more
readily. When the chamber is filled with gas the valve is moved by the wiper d
until the burner b is opposite the port Z in the cover p. The gas is then ignited
by the outer flame and continues to burn during the return stroke of the firing
valve until the chamber e comes opposite the passage w when the charge in the
chamber A is ignited. The maintenance of the firing flame is effected by the flow
of gas through the passage q. The engine may be provided with two single acting
cylinders in which case the firing would be communicated from one cylinder to the
other and thus only one firing valve would be required. The engine may be
constructed to be supplied with gas instead of or along with petroleum or other
inflammable liquid in which case the gas would be admitted to the chambers
through inlet valves in a similar manner to ordinary gas engines or in a suitablo
manner.
A modification is represented in Fig 11 sheet 4 wherein is represented in section
a vertical engine having a single-acting piston. In the example the lower end of
the cylinder opens into a chamber A which is formed with the shell or casing M.
and is closed at its lower end by a cover p." Water is supplied to the chamber A
and rises in the cylinder to such a height as that when the piston is at the bottom
of its stroke its lower surface just touches or nearly touches the surface of the
water as shewn in the drawings. The upper end of the chamber A is closed by
the partition D between which and the water is a space R. The inlet valve a

page_text: which admits the combustible mixture as well as the exit valve v' which valves are
both actuated by the shaft W which receives motion from the crank shaft-
communicate with the cylinder by means of the passage-n. On the commencement
of the upward piston stroke the combustible mixture which is then drawn in
becomes mixed only with the steam arising from the water as the proximity of the
steam to the water does not admit of the presence of the products of combustion.
On the return of the piston and consequent compression of the mixture the water
is driven downwards in the cylinder and rises into the space R. After the
explosion and as the pressure diminishes the water in the cylinder and chamber
regain a common level-or the water rises in the cylinder. In some cases the
water may be heated only by the firing of the charges in the horizontal engine as
in the case of the vertical engine.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of the said Invention and
the manner in which the same is carried into effect I would have it to be understood
that I claim on behalf of my Foreign correspondent.
First. The combination of parts substantially as and for the purpose set forth
and indicated herein before and in and by the accompanying drawings.
Secondly. In engines operated by the firing of gases or inflammable vapours or
mixtures, the combination with the cylinder of a chamber or of chambers partly
filled with water and partly with steam and heated by the outward application of
heat or by the heat arising from the firing of the charge or by both.
Thirdly. The firing in such engines of a mixed charge of steam and combustible
gases or vapours whereby a comparatively gradual combustion is obtained and full
expansion of the mingled gaseous products and steam is secured.
Fourthly. In the firing apparatus of gas and "petroleum" engines, the warming
of the mixture conveyed to the burner to sustain the lighting flame by leading
the mixture over the outer surface of the burner b in the chamber e of the sliding
valve on its way to the interior of such burner substantially as set forth and
indicated.
Fifthly. The water chambers A and B and the flues c, c¹, communicating with a
heating furnace substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
And sixthly. In a vertical gas or inflammable liquid engine the use of a water
chamber below the cylinder and a space for water to rise in during the compression
of the charge and the complete or nearly complete exhaustion of the products of
combustion ensured by permitting the water to ascend to meet the piston when
exhausting substantially as set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Kenworthy Dutton have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three
EDWARD K. DUTTON (L.S.)