Improvements in the Conversion. of Heat Energy into Mechanical Energy, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 20th Feb.. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Conversion. of Heat Energy into Mechanical
Energy, and in Apparatus therefor.
I, HUDSON MAXIM, now temporarily residing a the Astor House, in and of
the City of New York, State of New York, United States of America, (Post
Office Box 2488), Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The present invention relates to a novel process and means or apparatus for
producing and utilizing motive power, and consists generally in combining a
combustible element or material such as carbon, carbonaceous material, hydro-
carbons whether light or heavy, and whether solid, liquid or gaseous, with oxygen
or atmospheric air and utilizing the expansion of the products of combustion by the
heat of the reaction of the combustion.
In carrying out my invention the combustible or combustibles and also preferably
the oxygen or air are subjected to a pressure greater preferably than that of
atmospheric pressure; such greater pressure being also preferably greater than
the pressure in the combustion chamber or in the motor. Furthermore, instead of
as heretofore burning the combustibles intermittently by successively exploding
proper mixtures of the combustible with atmospheric air I employ a continuous
combustion, and thus provide for a continuous supply of heated products of
combustion, which is rendered possible in that the pressure of the feed of the
combustible is greater than the pressure produced in the combustion chamber or
generator because the generator is allowed to vent itself to do work in the motor-
portion of the apparatus. The heat radiated from the generator is utilized for
evaporating the combustible, such as a liquid hydrocarbon for instance, or for
superbeating the combustible or other vapor or fluid if such be used.
The excess of pressure for the feed of the combustible over that produced by
the explosion or continuous burning of the combustible and. oxygen is effected or.
maintained by means of an air compressor or pump connected to the motor, or
operated by other means independent of the motor, the air compressor being kept
cool by admitting water thereinto aud allowing it to pass therethrough, and out
with the compressed air. The temperature of the air becomes thereby lowered
and the beat is utilized for heating or evaporating the water. The water and air
reservoirs are connected so that, the steam evaporated from the water may become
mixed with the air and pass with the air into and through the generator, whereby
the heat given out by the air by its compression is utilized. The water reservoir
is also preferably connected and preferably below the water line to the motor
parts of the apparatus whereby water or steam as desired may be admitted to
the motor cylinder for the purpose of keeping its parts cool or lowering the
temperature thereof.
In starting the apparatus I first begin combustion preferably by means of an
electric spark as by terminals or by heat or in incandescence as by an electrode
or a resistance within an electric circuit, heated to a sufficiently high temperature
for the purpose. When once combustion has started it will be maintained as long
as the pressure of the feed is maintained greater than in the generator. If,
however, the pressure of the feed becomes too much lowered or if too much work
be put upon the motor then the pressure in the generator will an:ount to that of the
feed, combustion will cease and the motor stop. The generator is. supplied

page_text: preferably with any non-combustible or refractory material such as asbestos or
fire clay which may serve as a screen or the like to slightly impede the transit of
the blast or flame from the feeding apparatus through the generator and at the
same time serve when heated to a sufficient temperature as a means of constant
ignition to the inflow of the mixture of combustible and air into the generator.
In carrying out a slightly modified form of the invention I prefer to employ
acetylene or a compressed hydrocarbon gas either condensed into the form of a
liquid or a dense vapor capable of exerting an initial pressure under its retained
heat under normal temperatures or the heat supplied from the surrounding
atmosphere at ordinary temperatures. This obviates the necessity of pumping up
by hand, or otherwise, an initial pressure sufficient to utilize a proper injector for
the mixture of the said vapors with atmospheric air, and to obtain sufficient
pressure of the products of combustion to operate a motor. After the apparatus
is once started, however, the pressure may be maintained and a heavier hydro-
carbon or heavier combustible be employed, such as kerosene, crude petroleum and
the like, or even asphalt, which are either liquid or solid at ordinary temperatures.
The vapors produced are admitted with atmospheric air into a combustion chamber
or retort and there burned. The heat radiated through the walls of the said
combustion chamber or retort are utilized for supplying heat to evaporate the said
liquid hydrocarbon or liquid or solid fuel by admitting the vapors of the same
into a heating or evaporating chamber or jacket about or surrounding or enclosing.
the said combustion chamber or retort. By throttling the outlet of the said
jacket-chamber a higher pressure may be maintained in the jacket-chamber and a
corresponding pressure maintained in the reservoir holding the fuel than the
pressure of the combustion chamber, whereby the fuel may be fed by its gravity
into the evaporating chamber about the retort or combustion chamber. The
evaporating chamber may be made to surround the combustion chamber only, or it
may be so constructed as to enclose the combustion chamber and at the same time.
form a casing about the whole or a part of the motor portion of the apparatus, to
utilize not only the heat of radiation from the combustion chamber,.but as well the
heat of radiation through the walls of the motor itself, thereby producing an
additional useful effect in conducting away the excess of heat within the motor to
prevent the destruction or injury to the parts thereof.
When employing the last named modification of the apparatus, the liquid fuel
or the fuel and liquid in gaseous form is first admitted into the jacket chamber
around the motor-portion of the apparatus say at or near the exhaust end of the
same to cool the motor or a portion thereof and also to raise the temperature
of the fuel gases before the said gases enter the heating or evaporating chamber
about the said retort or combustion chamber. These gases being very highly
superheated in the heating or evaporating chamber will when permitted to pass
therefrom be at very high pressure or at a pressure considerably in excess of
the pressure in the combustion chamber and may thus be usefully employed for
the injection of air in sufficient quantity to support combustion under pressure
in the combustion chamber and to produce a pressure sufficiently great to do
useful work in the motor.
It is obvious that by the described arrangement of the feed of fuel and expansion
of the same prior to its admission to the combustion chamber, any desired degree
of pressure may be had in the feed supply of fuel above the pressure utilized in
the motor for doing useful-work, thereby rendering it possible not only to pass the
vaporous fuel into the combustion chamber of the motor against great pressure
therein, but at the same time to carry along with the said gases the desired quantity
of air to support combustion in the combustion chamber.
In a further modification of the invention and according to either of the forms
and methods before described, 1 may also provide for the utilization and for the
feed under pressure of a solid carbonaceous matter in the form of coal, coke, or
the like, in such manner as to be heated and burned with the combustible and
oxygen or atmospheric air before referred to, or by the flame of combustion.or

page_text: products of combustion of said combustible and oxygen, and thereby materially
augment the volume of gases passing to the motor, permitting the use in the first
instance of a less quantity of said combustible than would otherwise be necessary,
and in fact utilizing the injection of the combustible an oxygen primarily as a
means for effecting and maintaining the combustion of the solid fuel under
pressure. In the preferred construction this solid carbonaceous matter is fed to
the combustion chamber or generator in the path of the gases passing to the
motor, a grate being provided to support the solid fuel while being burned and
having an airtight ash pit for the collection and removal of the ashes; means
being provided for preventing the ashes from passing with the motor fluid to the
motor. The feed of the solid fuel may be had automatically or otherwise and is
such that it may be supplied under pressure and so as to prevent but little or any
loss of pressure in the combustion chamber.
So far as the motor is concerned adapted to utilize the continuously produced
heated products of combustion it is obvious that the class or type of motor may be
varied according as the designer may elect, but in further carrying out the invention
I prefer to utilize the expansive force of the heated products of combustion as well
as the force of their momentum, and to this end I prefer to employ a compound or
triple or other expansion engine consisting of high and low pressure cylinders and
their pistons as is usual in such engines; and furthermore I prefer to employ a
novel construction and arrangement of engines of the rotary type and having a
common main shaft passing through both or all of the cylinders so that the motive
power of the products of combustion is taken directly by the one shaft without the
loss of power incident to intermediate connections and the like. And still further
in order to correct the loss of power incident in this type of engine to the leakage
of pressure past the ends and sides of the piston-blades the latter are provided with
a novel gas check, so constructed as to utilize the pressure of the expansion of the
gases within the motor to exert a greater pressure upon the packing of the gas
cheek against the internal periphery of the motor cylinder than the pressure of the
gases themselves within the motor.
The motor or motor cylinder or cylinders may be cooled by circulating any
proper medium such as water or the combustible in a jacket chamber around the
motor, or, and in addition thereto, a limited quantity of water may be supplied to
the interior of the first motor cylinder which being converted into steam will
augment the motor fluid admitted therefrom from the combustion chamber.
The motor may be regulated to a nicety in its speed and an effective brake
placed on the apparatus the motor is connected with by shutting or choking its
exhaust, thereby raising the pressure therein until it shall be at or nearly equal to
the inflowing feed supply. It is preferable, however, to control the speed of the
motor by controlling the inflow of the combustibles aud air to the generator from
the feeding apparatus by the use of suitable valves or by varying the pressure
maintained in the feeding apparatus.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicaut.
Improvements in the Conversion of Heat Energy into Mechanical
Energy, and in Apparatus therefor.
I, HUDSON MAXIM, of Thurlow Lodge, 377 Norwood Road, London, S.E.,
Chemist and Mechanical Engineer, lately residing at the Astor House, in and of
the City of New York, State of New York, United States of America, (Post
Office Box 2488), do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained.
in and by the following statement :-
The present invention relates to a process and means or apparatus for obtaining
and utilizing motive power, and consists generally in burning a combustible
element or material (such as carbon, carbonaceous material, hydrocarbons whether
light or heavy and whether solid, liquid or gaseous), in a combustion chamber with
oxygen or atmospheric air and utilizing the heat of the products of combustion to
convert water into steam the said water being admitted into the presence of the
products of combustion whereby the expansion of the mixed products of combustion
and steam is employed for working a motor.
In carrying out my invention the combustible or combustibles and also, preferably,
the oxygen or air are subjected to a pressure greater than that of atmospheric
pressure and in excess of the pressure in the combustion chamber or in the motor.
Furthermore, instead of as heretofore buruing the combustibles intermittently by
successively exploding proper mixtures of the combustible with atmospheric air,
I employ a continuous combustion, and thus provide for a continuous supply of
heated products of combustion, which is rendered possible in that the pressure of
the feed of the combustible is greater than the pressure produced in the combustion
chamber or generator because the generator is allowed to vent itself to do work in
the motor-portion of the apparatus. The heat radiated from the generator is
utilized for evaporating the combustible, such as a liquid hydrocarbon for instance,
or for super-heating the combustible or other vapor or fluid if such be used.
The excess of pressure for the feed of the combustible over that produced by
the explosion or continuous burning of the combustible and oxygen is effected or
maintained by means of an air compressor or pump connected to the motor, or
operated by other means independent of the motor, the air compressor being kept
cool by admitting water thereinto and allowing it to pass therethrough, and out
with the compressed air. The temperature of the air becomes thereby lowered
and the heat is utilized for heating or evaporating the water. The water and air
reservoirs are connected so that the steam evaporated from the water may become
mixed with the air and pass with the air into and through the generator, whereby
the heat given out by the air by its compression is utilized. The water reservoir
is also preferably connected below the water line, to the 'motor parts of the
apparatus whereby water or steam as desired may be admitted to the motor
cylinder for the purpose of keeping its parts cool or lowering the temperature
thereof.
In starting the apparatus I first begin combustion preferably Ly means of an
electric spark as by terminals or by heat or by incandescence of an electrode or a
resistance within an electric circuit, heated to a sufficiently high temperature for
the purpose. When once combustion has started it will be maintained as long as the
pressure of the feed is maintained greater than in the generator. If, however, the
pressure of the feed becomes too much lowered or if too much work be put upon
the motor then the pressure in the generator will amount to that of the feed,
combustion will cease and the motor stop. The generator is supplied preferably
with any non-combustible or refractory material such as asbestos or fire clay which
may serve as a screen or the like to slightly impede the transit of the blast or
flanie from the foeding apparatus through the generator and at the same time serve,
when heated to a sufficient temperature, as a means of constant ignition to the
inflow of the mixture of conibustible and air into the generator.
In carrying out a slightly modified form of the invention I prefer to employ
acetylene or a compressed hydrocarbon gas either condensed into the form of a
liquid or a dense vapor capable of exerting an initial pressure under its retained
beat under normal temperatures or the heat supplied from the surrounding
atmosphere at ordinary temperatures. This obviates the necessity of pumping up
by hand, or otherwise, an initial pressure sufficient to utilize a proper injector for
the mixture of the said vapors with atmospheric air, and to obtain sufficient
pressure of the products of combustion to operate a motor. After the apparatus is

page_text: once started, however, the pressure may be maintained and a heavier hydrocarbon
or heavier combustible be employed, such as kerosene, crude petroleum and the
like or even asphalt, which are either liquid or solid at ordinary temperatures.
The vapors produced are admitted with atmospheric air into a combustion chamber
or retort and there burned. The heat radiated through the walls of the said
combustion chamber or retort are utilized for supplying heat to evaporate the said
liquid hydrocarbon or liquid or solid fuel by admitting the vapors of the same into
a heating or evaporating chamber or jacket about or surrounding or enclosing the
said combustion chamber or retort. By throttling the outlet of the said chamber
or jacket a pressure may be maintained therein and in the reservoir holding the
fuel, higher than the pressure of the combustion chamber, whereby the fuel may
be fed by its gravity into the evaporating chamber about the retort or combustion
chamber. The evaporating chamber may be made to surround the combustion
chamber only, or it may be so constructed as to enclose the combustion chamber
and at the same time form a casing about the whole or a part of the motor
portion of the apparatus, to utilize not only the heat of radiation from the
combustion chamber, but also the heat of radiation through the walls of the
motor itself, thereby producing an additional useful effect in conducting away
the excess of heat within the motor to prevent destruction or injury to the parts
thereof.
When employing the last named modification of the apparatus, the liquid fuel or
the fuel and liquid in gaseous form are first admitted into the chamber or jacket
around the motor-portion of the apparatus, say at or near the exhaust end of the
same to cool the motor or a portion thereof and also to raise the temperature of the
fuel gases before they enter the heating or evaporating chamber about the said
retort or combustion chamber. These gases being very highly superheated in the
heating or evaporating chamber will, when permitted to pass therefrom, be at a
very high pressure or at a pressure considerably in excess of the pressure in the
combustion chamber and may thus be usefully employed for the injection of air
in sufficient quantity to support combustion under pressure in the combustion
chamber and to produce a pressure sufficiently great to do useful work in the
motor.
It is obvious that by the described arraugement of the feed of fuel and expansion
of the same prior to its admission to the combustion chamber, any desired degree
of pressure may be obtained in the feed supply of fuel, above the pressure utilized
in the motor for doing useful work, thereby rendering it possible not only to pass
the vaporous fuel into the combustion chamber of the motor against great pressure
therein, but at the same time to carry along with the said gases the desired quantity
of air to support combustion in the combustion chamber.
In a further modification of the invention and according to either of the forms
and methods before described, I may also provide for the utilization and feed,
under pressure, of a solid carbonaceous matter in the form of coal, coke, or the
like, in such manner as to be heated and burned with the combustible and oxygen
or atmospheric air before referred to, or by the flame of combustion or products of
combustion of said combustible and oxygen, and thereby materially augment the
volume of gases passing to the motor, permitting the use in the first instance of a
less quantity of said combustible than would otherwise be necessary, and in fact
utilizing the injection of the combustible and oxygen primarily as a means for
effecting and maintaining the combustion of the solid fuel under pressure. In the
preferred construction this solid carbonaceous matter is fed to the combustion
chamber or generator in the path of the gases passing to the motor, a grate being
provided to support the solid fuel while being burned and having an airtight
ash pit for the collection and removal of the ashes; means being provided for
preventing the ashes from passing with the motor fluid to the motor. The feed of
the solid fuel may be obtained automatically or otherwise and is such that it may
be supplied under pressure so as to prevent but little or any loss of pressure in the
combustion chamber.

page_text: So far as the motor is concerned for utilizing the continuously produced heated
products of combustion, it is obvious that the class or type of motor may be varied
according as the designer may elect, but in further carrying out the invention
1 prefer to utilize the expansive force of the heated products of combustion as well
-as the force of their momentum, and to this end I prefer to employ a compound or
triple or other expansion engine consisting of high and low pressure cylinders and
their pistons as is usual in such engine; and furthermore I prefer to employ a
novel construction and arrangement of engines of the rotary type having a common
main shaft passing through both or all of the cylinders so that the motive power
of the products of combustion is taken directly by the one shaft without the loss of
power incident to intermediate connections and the like. And still further in
order to correct the loss of power incident, in this type of engine, to the leakage of
pressure past the ends and sides of the piston-blades, the latter are provided with
.a novel
gas check, so constructed as to utilize the pressure of the expansion of the
gases within the motor, to exert a greater pressure upon the packing of the gas
check against the internal periphery of the motor cylinder than the pressure of the
-gases themselves within the motor.
The motor or motor cylinder or cylinders may be cooled by circulating any
proper medium such as water or the combustible in a jacket around the motor, or,
in addition thereto, a limited quantity of water may be supplied to the interior of
the first motor cylinder which being converted into steam will augment the motor
fluid admitted thereto from the combustion chamber.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceed
.to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1, is a sectional elevation of the generator portion of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line 2, 2, of Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are details of means for controlling the air pressure and
for regulating the supply of water to the air compressor.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the motor and a modified form
of the generator portion of the apparatus.
Figure 8 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a modified form of motor and a
portion of the generator.
Figure 10 is an elevation partly in section of a modified form of apparatus
showing means for employing solid fuel for combustion.
Figure 11 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of a portion of the apparatus
similar to that shown in Figure 10.
Figure 12 is an enlarged cross-section of a portion of a piston blade with the
improved gas-check packing.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of an improved form of the packing.
The generator portion of the apparatus is represented in a general way by the
letter A and comprises essentially a combustion chamber connected directly to
the motor D feed reservoirs a and b, a pump B, and other apparatus for supplying
the said combustion chamber as will be hereinafter described.
The said combustion chamber C for the fluid combustible and air consists of a
tube e arranged concentrically within a strong cylinder or casing C* and is
attached at one end to the induction orifice e* of the motor and at its opposite or
entrance end with an ejector e embracing an air pipe 6' and a passage for the
supply of fluid combustible. The space between the tube el and the casing C*.is
heated by radiation from said combustion chamber and thereby forms a vaporizing
-chamber C for the vaporization of the fluid combustible fed thereto by the pipe a
the combustible vapor passing thence in contact with the exterior of the heated
tube to the entrance end of said tube to mingle with the air from the air pipe 6'
and passing thence into the said tube for combustion. This combustible mixture
is burned by passing between terminals, or electrodes e which project through the
walls of the tube and are connected in circuit with an electric generator e; and
of course other means of igniting the mixture may be used.

page_text: proud
Beyond the place of ignition of the fuel and in the path of the
combustion to the motor there may be interposed a screen, consisting of some
orous non-combustible or refractory material' such as kaolin which will prevent
he entrance of flame and any solid particles from the fuel chamber into the motor,.
he said screen also serving to ignite the combustible gases and to secure constant
combustion within the combustion chamber.
The means for supplying the fluid combustible, consists in Figures 1 and 2, of an.
oil tank or reservoir a and a combined water and air reservoir b, both connected.
with the combustion chamber by the aforesaid pipes a b', having suitable
valves a' b, in which combustion chamber the explosive mixture is burned and the
products of combustion therein produced, admítted to the motor D. The air
compressor or pump B is connected by a pipe e with the bottom of the reservoir b,
and said air compressor or pump is operated by the motor for maintaining in the
feed reservoirs a and b the necessary pressure in excess of that produced by the
combustion in the chamber C, so that the feed of the oil and air may be continuous
and against the pressure of the products of combustion. The initial pressure ins
the feed reservoirs may be supplied from some other source such as an independent.
compressor or storage reservoir or hand pump, but after the motor is in operation.
this may be maintained by the air compressor B which being of much less area
than the motor will work effectively.
The water and air reservoir b, (which may be simply an air reservoir), is in this.
instance connected by a relatively small pipe with the upper part of the oil-
reservoir to exert pressure on the body of oil therein to effect its feed. Both the
reservoire a and 6 may have if desired sight tubes a', to indicate the height of"
liquid therein.
The filling or supply of water and oil to the reservoirs a and b may be effected"
with but small loss of pressure therein, by the use of auxiliary feed reservoirs d,.
one for each main reservoir a and b, and each of like construction to the other.
The bottom of each auxiliary feed reservoir, (see Figure 2), is connected to the top
of its respective main reservoir by a pipe d' provided with a valve d", and from the
top of the main feed reservoir, leads another pipe d³, controlled by a valve d';
leading to the upper interior portion of the auxiliary feed reservoir. The top of
the auxiliary feed reservoir is provided with an induction feed pipe d controlled
by a valve and also with a vent cock d. To supply, say additional water to the
main reservoir b, or oil to the main reservoir a, it is only necessary to see that the
valves d' and d' are closed, whereupon the vent d and valve controlling the feed
pipe are opened and the water or oil thereby allowed to pass into and accumulate
in the said auxiliary feed reservoir d. When about full, the vent and said valve
are closed and the valves d and d opened, whereupon the air pressure in the maint
reservoir b or a, and the respective auxiliary feed reservoir d will be the same and
the water or oil will flow by gravity through the pipe d into the main reservoir.
The main reservoir b, may, by a pipe (Figure 1) controlled by a valve r, be
connected to the first cylinder k of the motor D to be hereinafter described. The
water thus admitted will immediately be converted into steam, which will aid in
lowering the temperature of the products of combustion therein, and thus tend to
keep said cylinder much cooler than would otherwise be the case. The steam so
generated augments the expansive power of the motive fluid and passes onward with
the exhaust to the other cylinder or cylinders of the motor should a multiple
cylinder motor be used.
The air compressor B is preferably of the rotary type employing transverse
blades carried by an eccentrically set hub fixed to the main motor shaft D' herein-
after referred to. The compressor takes its air from an induction orifice c
compresses it and forces it through the air pipe e into the reservoir b, the said
pipe e being controlled by a suitable valve to be hereinafter described. The
3 compressor may be cooled from time to time by admitting a small quantity of water
thereto from the reservoir b through a pipe controlled by a valve e, the wate
thus entering the compressor being raised in temperature and forced back with the

page_text: air into the reservoir b. The communication of this pipe with the compressor is
had at a point where the air is under but little compression. Of course other
means of cooling the compressor may be adopted.
a
Should the air pressure in the reservoirs of the main feed reservoirs a and b rise
unduly, means are provided for automatically allowing the air from the compressor
to escape to the atmosphere. Thus the valve in the air pipe c in addition to
controlling that pipe, also controls an escape vent f, (see Figure 5), which when the
valve is turned in the direction of the arrow opens the compressor side of the pipe
to the atmosphere and closes the reservoir side of said pipe so that the air therein
is confined. This movement of the valve c is obtained automatically when the
pressure in the main feed reservoir reaches a predetermined point, by providing
by-pass (Figures 3 and 4) leading from the air pipe c above the valve to act
on a vibratory blade f' in a chamber 3, (Figure 4), the axis of the blade being
fast to the stem of the valve c*. When the air pressure reaches the predetermined
point the blade f2 is rocked and the valve e consequently turned into its venting
position. This rocking of the blade takes place in opposition to a suitable spring f
(Figure 3) which is of such tension that, as soon as the air pressure on the blade
drops to the required extent, it will return the blade and valve c³ to their normal
position. Obviously other modes of controlling the air pressure in the main feed
reservoirs may be adopted. When water is used as a cooling medium for the com-
pressor, the valve c of the water pipe e may be likewise moved in unison with the
controlling blade f and valve c². Thus the stem of the valve c² may have a
projecting wrist pin c arranged to engage with an arm e projecting from the stem
of the valve c', as in Figure 6, so that when said valve is turned the valve c
will likewise be turned to shut off the feed of water to the compressor. The
supply of oil and air to the chamber C may be regulated to any extent by adjusting
the valves a, 62; and the oil, air and water pipes may be provided with check
valves (Figure 1) to prevent back pressure therethrough and also avoid premature
explosion.
To obviate the breakage of the reservoir 6 should the water therein freeze while
the apparatus is not in use, the bottom of the reservoir is connected to a discharge
pipe the entrance to which from the said reservoir is normally closed and
protected by a fragile or glass bulb 36, which by the expansion of the freezing
water will be broken and a vent be thereby opened through the said pipe for the
discharge of the water yet unfrozen.
a
In the generator shewn in Figure 7, the combustion chamber is supplied with
fuel gas or vapour by pressure, and with air by injection. I feed oil to the
vaporizing chamber from the tank a, and, after its vaporisation by the heat
from the combustion chamber it passes through a pipe to the pressure nozzle of
the injector h¹. The pipe is controlled by a stop valve h and check valve h as
shown, and ignition of the combustible vapors is effected by electric sparking as
before described. In order to force the oil to the vaporising chamber C, there is
provided a small can or tank of a highly compressed gas such as carbon dioxide
or a fuel gas, preferably acetylene, which is in communication with the upper part
of the oil reservoir or tank a, which is connected at its lower part with the vapor-
ising chamber. All the passages and communications between the tanks and the
combustion chamber being free and open, the pressure due to the compressed
acetylene forces the oil into the vaporising chamber. Should it not be desired to
use acetylene for maintaining the pressure, there is provided a communicating
pipe between the vaporising chamber, and the upper part of the oil reservoir,
which, being opened by the valve h, and the acetylene tank being closed,
communicates the pressure of the vaporising chamber to the upper part of the oil
reservoir a. In order to start combustion, I may conduct acetylene directly to the
vaporising chamber through a pipe h' controlled by a valve h
In connection with the generator shewn in Figure 7 I have shewn one form of
my motor which is preferably of the rotary type and provided with a plurality. of
cylinders arranged in expansion or compound form. In the construction shown

page_text: the cylinders are located end to end and form with the heads and the partition j
two motor cylinders kk' the former of less size than the latter. but both common to the
single main shaft D' which has bearings in the said partition and passes through
glands in the cylinder heads, the motor itself being supported by suitable
brackets. D is a belt pulley with which the shaft may be provided. The said
shaft is set eccentrically with respect to the internal bore of the cylinders as is
usual in a certain class of rotary type of motor and carries in each motor cylinder
a transversely reciprocating blade m, m', whose edges, during the rotation of the
shaft and blade, travel in contact with the interior surface of the motor cylinder.
The products of combustion with the admixture of steam, pass from the combustion
chamber into the smaller or high pressure cylinder k on one side of the piston
blade m, which acting on its greater area (see Figure 8) rotates the blade and shaft
in the direction of the arrow, until the side of that portion of the blade which is
being acted on uncovers an exhaust port n in the partition j. As soon as this
exhaust port is open to what has been the effective pressure side of the blade the
opposite side of the other portion of the blade has already cut off the further
admission of the products of combustion to that side of the blade and, coincident
with the opening of the exhaust, has opened the opposite side of the blade to said
products of combustion from the combustion chamber, and so on. The exhausted
products of combustion from the cylinder k pass thence to the second cylinder kl.
of larger area than the first cylinder to perform work in acting upon the blade m¹
therein, and the exhausted products of combustion from this second cylinder
escape by the exhaust pipe D³. This exhaust pipe may be provided with a
stop valve by adjusting which the exhaust from the last cylinder may be more
or less choked and thus affect the speed of the engine, which may thus be
utilised as a brake in cases where the motor is employed for traction or other
purposes.
The partition performs the office of a conduit for the products of combustion
passing from one cylinder to the other; and for this purpose is formed hollow and
preferably of two discs o, o¹, held a certain distance apart and united together and
held in place by bolts . One or the other of the discs or both may have interior
ribs to strengthen the partition and prevent it from bending or collapsing under
the pressure of the motor fluid. The exhaust port n of the smaller cylinder is
formed in the disc o, and the induction port n' for the second cylinder is formed in
the disc o. The main shaft in passing through the partition will be suitably packed
as by a split ring usual in packing pistons; or other suitable packing or packing
glands may be used.
The main disadvantage in the use of the rotary type of motor is the difficulty
encountered in properly packing the ends and sides of the piston blade or blades
in their sliding contact with the interior surface of the cylinder, which difficulty is
effectually overcome by the improved structure now to be described more
particularly with reference to Figure 12. The outer edges of the piston blade, and
preferably both sides thereof, are provided with a gas check g arranged to meet
and exert a greater pressure upon the surface of the cylinder than the pressure of
the propulsive gases. Each gas check consists of a slidable L-shaped body, q'
confined against the surface of the piston-blade by a housing 92, the housing having
a flanged outer end to fit the smaller portion or leg of the body g'. The inner
or larger end of the slidable gas check which may or may not have an interposed
loose plug bearing against it, is open, through an aperture or apertures g³ in the
housing, to the free entrance of the propulsive gases, and as this end of the gas
check is much larger in area than its outer end, it results that such gases exert an
unbalanced pressure on the gas check, the greater pressure producing an outward
movement of the gas check with respect to the piston blade. Of course the sliding
contact between the piston-blade, gas check, and housing should be sufficiently
tight and close to prevent accumulation of pressure in the space between the gas
check and housing. Should there be a leakage of gas pressure past the large area
of the gas check, such gas will meet a recess q which communicates, by a passage q³
R

page_text: in the blade, with a similar recess in the gas check on the opposite side of the
piston blade, and thus such gas pressure can escape to the exhaust side of the blade
through the passage q', and the recess g of the other gas check, and thence out by
the aperture q. The smaller or outer ends of the gas checks may be formed by a
suitable packing u such as shown in Figure 13, consisting of alternate strips of
asbestos or plumbago or combined asbestos and plumbago u between metal
strips and united by wire stitching us. Such packing will withstand the heat
of the motor fluid, have great wearing quality and yet not unduly wear the
cylinder.
According to a modification of the motor shown in Figure 91 make the motor
conical in form and divide it into three compounded cylinders k, k¹² of increasing
size, by the partitions and similar to the partition before described. A jacket D
is constructed around the said motor and is connected with a water reservoir by a
supply pipe to through which and the sight tube w¹ water is allowed to pass into
the said jacket to be vaporized by the heat radiated from the motor. Any suitable
material such as excelsior shavings and the like is placed in the jacket to facilitate,
in a well known manner, the evaporation of the water therein. The water vapor
or steam finds an exit through the pipe w² to a super-heating chamber whence
it is conducted through the upright tube w into the tube of the combustion
chamber C in order to cool the products of combustion and by its own expansion
to impart thereto additional expansive force as before described.
The combustion chamber C is connected in the before described manner with an
oil supply pipe a¹ and an air supply pipe 6¹ which latter serves to inject the oil or
oil vapor.
Igniting electrodes e³ are provided as before together with the kaolin screen e³.
If desired the motor shewn in Figures 7 and 8 may be provided with a jacket
similar to the one D2 referred to above in connection with Figure 9. Instead of
employing water for passing through the said jacket I may employ the compressed
air from a compressor B' (Figure 10), which air will more or less expand in said
jacket and thereby cool the enclosed parts of the motor. As such air becomes
heated I may then lead it away by a pipe p, to mingle with and more or less cool
the products of combustion as they pass from the fuel chamber to the motor
through the conduit C. It will be apparent that this jacket may be utilized for
other purposes, as for instance for preliminarily vaporizing the liquid combustible
before it passes to the combustion chamber.
Where the products used as the motor fluid are capable of other uses, the
exhaust pipe D may be led to a reservoir such as G, (Figure 10) and be stored
therein for use as is indicated in this figure.
The modified construction of generator shown in Figures 10 and 11 is adapted
for use in employing solid fuel and consists of a receptacle F for holding a charge
of solid carbonaceous material such as coal, coke or the like, a combustion chamber
or generator C for the burning of a fluid combustible and oxygen, communicating
with a furnace F1 and connected with any suitable supply of combustible such as
a liquid hydrocarbon, and a motor D to which the gaseous products or products of
combustion from the furnace E' are conducted for effective work.
The coal, coke or other solid cart onaceous matter is fed from a closed hopper F2
into the receptacle F which as before stated communicates with the furnace F, such
communication being controlled by a valve g. The entrance for the solid fuel to
the hopper is controlled by a valve gl operated by a hand wheel g³. When the
hopper is to be charged the weighted valve g is clused to prevent the escape of
pressure from the combustion chamber, the valve g¹ is then opened and the coal or
coke is fed into the hopper; the valve g' is then closed and the valve g raised
whereupon the fuel or portion of the fuel cau fall by gravity into the
furnace F¹.
Combustion of the solid fuel in the furnace F¹ is obtained and maintained
under pressure by a suitable blast continuously supplied thereto and the heated

page_text: products of combustion of said fuel pass onward and enter the motor cylinder by
an induction orifice ex.
This blast is preferably formed by a fluid combustible and oxygen burned in the
presence of the solid fuel or burned so that the flame or products of combustion
thereof are led to and through the solid fuel, which will effectually cause the
combustion of the latter, and also cause its products of combustion together with
the products of combustion of the fuel combustible, to be conducted onward to be
utilized as a motor fluid.
For this purpose the lower portion of the furnace F' communicates with the fluid
combustion chamber C, such fluid having been vaporized in the chamber C and
led to the injector comprising a vapor supply pipe a and the air pipe b¹. The
products of combustion of the fluid combustible with or without an additional
supply of oxygen in the form of air or steam, pass into the solid fuel in the
furnace F¹ and aid in combusting it, and all the heated products of combustion then
pass from the upper portion of the furnace by the conduit C to the motor D.
These products of combustion may be more or less cooled by a quantity of air
admitted to said conduit through the pipe p hereinbefore referred to, the said air
being supplied say by the compressor B¹, indicated by dotted lines. In lieu of
air, steam or water may be supplied to said products of combustion through a
pipe s. These pipes p and s are each controlled by suitable check valves and stop
valves as shown.
Should the products of combustion or other products be formed faster than can
be utilized in the motor, or should its operations be stopped, without stopping the
blast to the furnace F¹, the weighted valve g will be raised under the excess of
pressure in the said furnace F¹ so as to permit the products of combustion to pass
off by the conduit t, to a storage reservoir or tank G for subsequent utilization,
which, should the products from the furnace F¹ be unburned and be on the form
of carbonic oxide and the like, may be conducted away for use as a fuel gas, or be
treated to form an illuminating gas. Where sufficient oxygen is not admitted to
the furnace F the products of combustion from the chamber C will raise the coal
or the like in the furnace to incandescence and react therewith to form carbonic
oxide which after being utilized to drive the motor D may be stored for use.
In the further modification of this portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 11
the products from the furnace F' are first cooled before entering the motor D by
passing off through a coil C³ within a steam boiler or other vessel H the water in
which will absorb the heat from the products passing through the coil to form
steam, which steam may be allowed by a pipe s to mix with or augment the
products as they pass from the cooling coil to the motor.
When sufficient atmospheric air or oxygen for the burning of the solid fuel in
the furnace F is not supplied to the chamber C, air under pressure may be separately
supplied to said furnace from the air reservoir.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would state that I am
aware that it has before been proposed to work a motor by the expansion of
mixed gaseous products of combustion and steam, and to such I make no claim, but
what I do claim is :-
1. The improved apparatus for obtaining and utilizing motive power substantially
as herein before described with reference to one or other of the arrangements
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with the motive power generating portion of the apparatus
of a rotary motor provided with two or more cylinders of unequal size, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings, and for the
purpose specified.
3. The combination with the water reservoir of a pump or air compressor adapted
to supply said reservoir with compressed air, which in passing through the contained

page_text: water tends to elevate its temperature and moisten the compressed air substantially
as described and for the purpose specified.
4. In the hereinbefore described method of obtaining and utilizing motive power,
means whereby the exhaust gases from the motor can be collected for use as fuel
substantially as described with reference to Figure 10.
5. The arrangement wherein the hot products of combustion are passed through
a coil of piping or other conduit contained within a water tank or jacket, for the
purpose of evaporating the water to produce steam which is afterwards commingled
with the products of combustion during their passage to the motor substantially as
described with reference to Figure 11.
6. The combination with the liquid fuel reservoir of a detachable cylinder
containing acetylene or other compressed gas for forcing the said liquid fuel from
the reservoir into the combustion chamber of the apparatus substantially as
described with reference to Figure 7.
7. The construction of the piston of the motor with a gas-check or packing
device substantially as described with reference to Figures 12 and 13.
-ונו
ليمم
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T
HUDSON MAXIM.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.