Improvements in or relating to Motors and Trans nission Gear for Autocars and General Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1896
Complete Specification Left. 21st Apr., 1897-Accepted. 29th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Motors and Trans nission Gear for
Autocars and General Purposes.
We, GEORGE DOMINY of King Street, Weymouth in the County of Dorset,
Purveyor and JOHN JAMES HENRY STURMEY, of No. 19 Hertford Street,
Coventry in the County of Warwick, Journalist, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to motors and transmission gear for autocars and general
purposes, and has for its principal objects,-simplicity, diminution of vibration,
noise and size and economy of power.
Our inventions consists in the production of a moving or rotary force, by
causing steam, before losing its power, to push or draw water, oil or other
suitable liquid and impart its power thereto, and cause the liquid or steam and
liquid, to operate on the blades of a fan wheel, turbine, screw or the like. We
will first describe one method of carrying out our invention as applied to a
motor suitable for propelling an autocar.
From a steam generator a steam pipe is led into a suitable chest.
The end of
the pipe is preferably located in the lower part of the chest in a horizontal or other
suitable position and is directed towards the blades of a light vertical fan wheel
adapted to rotate at a high speed in the said case. The lower part of the case is
filled with water or other suitable liquid which preferably does not reach up to
the wheel, the level being prevented from rising by an overflow pipe hereinafter
referred to. Around the end of the steam pipe we arrange a tapered or other
suitable nozzle in such a manner that the water is able to enter the back and
underside of the nozzle and is carried therethrough by the action of the steam :-
on the principle of the well known injector for supplying steam boilers with
water. The nozzle may form a projection from the side of a vertical hollow
cylinder or case fixed to the bottom of the chest or special frame in such a way
that the water may freely enter the cylinder; the steam pipe may be led through
the wall of the cylinder opposite to the nozzle. The lower part of the nozzle
cylinder may be provided with a strainer. The nozzle may be adjustable as to
angle and to adapt it to the variable pressure of steam, quantity of water,
temperature and other varying circumstances in any suitable manner. The water
on being forced from the nozzle impinges on the blades and rotates the wheel.
Beyond the wheel a plate, with its upper part curved forward towards the nozzle,
may be fitted to direct the disturbed water downwards or otherwise and so back
to the cylinder and nozzle. The spent water may drive an assistant wheel.
A loosely fitting float or floats may be employed to help prevent the water
splashing unduly. The fan is adapted to rotate at a high speed though it is
anticipated that a lower speed than is employed with steam turbines at present in
use will be sufficient to produce the same amount of power. The water in the
tank will soon become heated by the steam and cause the condensation to become
less rapid. The overflow water rising from condensation may be returned along
a tube having its exit end below the level of a small tank of water and thence
into the boiler. The said tank (which may be arranged to operate as a cooler)

page_text: and the chest before mentioned may be made steam tight or not or up to a
pressure regulated by a suitable valve or valves. The overflow or pressure from
the chest is preferably made under water. The shaft carrying the fan is preferably
geared to another shaft adapted by any suitable means to revolve at a much
slower speed but with correspondingly increased power. The first or any shaft or
a connection thereto may be made flexible so that its motion may be transmitted
in an indirect line with an avoidance of complicated mechanism.
The motor may be carried on the same springs as the body of the vehicle or
otherwise. There may be any suitable number of fan wheels and jets. A horizontal
fanwheel adapted to be acted from internally by the liquid may be employed. If
a screw be einployed instead of a fan the blades or worm may be attached to a
casing or may rotate separately.
According to another arrangement we fill a pressure cylinder with water or
other suitable liquid and introduce steam at the top of the cylinder forcing the
water out at the bottom and thence to the fan or like wheel." We may employ
a Hoat, preferably consisting of a nonconducting material, in the form of a disc
to rise and fall with the liquid for the purposes of preventing the condensation of
steam, and of operating cut off valves or the like both of the liquid and the steam.
The valves may be operated inside or outside the cylinder; in the latter case, a
piston rod may be attached to the float and, passing through a stuffing box in the
cylinder cover, be connected by a beam or lever device to the operating parts of
the valves and cocks. An arrangement of pulleys and guides or some other
suitable device may be employed to guide the float parallel to the length of the
cylinder, and the valve gear may be arranged so as to allow the steam to drive
partly by expansion. The cylinder may be jacketed to retain heat or water lined.
Two cylinders would be sufficient to work together but more may be employed
to assist the continuity of the flow of the liquid. As the float is acted upon by
both gravity and flotation it need not fit the inside of the cylinder closely. The
fan wheel and case are preferably arranged above the cylinders which after each
impulse of steam are refilled ready for the next impulse by gravitation assisted by
the vacuum caused by the previous impulse. An exhaust tube or connection from
cylinder to fan wheel chest may be directed to help the fan wheel motion either
by the steam only or by the steam forcing the water, or the exhaust steam may
help to assist the water to fill the cylinder. The valve or cock governing this
exhaust tube is operated separately or in conjunction with the filling water valve
movement or steam valve.
According to a modification of the last arrangement we create the necessary
pressure in the cylinder by explosions of gas, oil or the like operated and regulated
in any well known manner. To keep the pressure as uniform as possible a large
number of explosions may be effected in the cylinders and a reserve dome or
cylinder may be employed. And the valve box may be provided with an air
cushion dome or the like.
Suitable reversing devices may be applied to the above motors when required.
In making different applications of our invention we may make such modifications
as circumstances may require.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, Patent Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Motors and Transmission Gear for
Autocars and General Purposes.
We, GEORGE DOMINY of King Street, Weymouth in the County of Dorset,
Purveyor, and JOHN JAMES HENRY STURMEY of No. 19 Hertford Street,
Coventry in the County of Warwick, Journalist, 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 :-
Our invention relates to motors and transmission gear for autocars and general
purposes, and has for its principal objects, simplicity; diminution of vibration,
noise and size; and economy of power.
Our invention consists in the production of a moving or rotary force, by
causing steam, before losing its power, to push or draw water, oil or other
suitable liquid and impart its power thereto, and cause the liquid, or steam and
liquid, to operate on the blades of a fan wheel, turbine, screw or the like. By
thus burdening the steam with the liquid which is a practically incompressible
fluid body we utilize the steam's power while greatly reducing its velocity.
And in order that our invention may be readily understood we will describe the
sane as applied to a motor suitable for propelling an autocar, making reference
to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in the several figures of which
corresponding reference letters indicate corresponding parts.
Figure I is a broken view in side elevation of a motor constructed according to
our invention.
Figure II is a plan and Figure III an end view of the same.
Figures IV and V are detail views of parts employed in or in connection with
such motor.
From a suitable steam generator, a steam pipe E is led into a chest G which
may conveniently consist of a wooden case lined with metal. The end of the
pipe E is preferably located in the lower part of the chest in a horizontal or other
suitable position and is directed towards the blades of a light vertical fan wheel A
adapted to rotate at a high speed in the wheel case I and chest G. The lower
part of the case is filled with suitable liquid, say water, which preferably does
not reach up to the wheel, as shown by the line g; the level is prevented from
rising by an overflow pipe F hereinafter referred to. Around the end of the
steain pipe E we arrange a tapered or other suitable nozzle C in such a manner that
the water is able to enter the same and is adapted to be carried forward there-
through by the action of the steam, on the principle of the well known injector
for supplying steam boilers with water. The nozzle forms a projection from one
sile of a vertical hollow cylinder B; the steam pipe E is led through the opposite
side of such cylinder and terminates in an inner nozzle e located within the outer
or main nozzle Cas indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The water is free to
enter the lower part of the cylinder B and the said cylinder may either be fixed
to the bottom of the case or it may, as preferred and shewn, be fixed to the
plate H which forms the top of the chest and to which (H) all the working
parts and fittings are, so far as is convenient, secured. The lower part D of the
cylinder B may be provided with a strainer. The nozzle may be adjustable as to
angle and to adapt it to the variable pressure of steam, quantity of water, temperature
and other varying circumstances, in any suitable manner as desired.
On steam being admitted through the pipe E, a continuous and more or less

page_text: compact jet of water will be forced from the nozzle against the blades a and
thereby cause the wheel A to rotate. Beyond the said wheel a plate Y with its
upper part curved forward is fitted to direct the disturbed water downward, and
so back to the cylinder B and nozzle (. The spent water may drive an assistant
wheel. A loosely fitting float or floats may be employed to help prevent the water
splashing unduly. As it is desirable that the wheel should run clear of the water
(apart from the jet) and that the supply of water to the injector should not be
interrupted, when the motor is to he applied to autocars for use where the roads
are very hilly or rough, or to small vessels for seafaring purposes, we prefer to
form the chest G with a concave false bottom culminating in a well into which
the spent water is precipitated and into which the lower end of the cylinder B is
sunk. And the injector may be lowered somewhat and inclined upwards so that
the mouth of the inner or steam nozzle e is located just below the normal surface
of the water and the mouth of the main nozzle C is located just above that
surface. Or oscillating tanks may be used to keep the body of water in position
on uneven roads, and a non-return valve may he fitted at the lower end of the
cylinder B to prevent snatching of the water from the steam nozzle.
The water in the tank soon becomes heated by the steam and causes the
condensation to become less rapid. Any overflow water arising from condensation or
otherwise may be returned along the tube F, which may conveniently have its exit
end below the water level in a small tank, whence it passes into the boiler. The said
tank (which may be adapted to operate as a cooler) and the chest G are made steam
tight up to a pressure regulated by a suitable valve or valves. The overflow or
pressure from the chest may be made under water if preferred.
The shaft J carrying the fan A is preferably geared to another shaft such as M
adapted by any suitable means such as the gear wheels K and L to revolve at a much
slower speed than the shaft J, but with correspondingly increased power.
The
continuation M' of the shaft M may be made flexible so that its motion may be
transmitted in an indirect line with an avoidance of complicated mechanism.
The necessary reversing motion may be provided by any suitable means. In the
arrangement represented in Figures II and III an idle gear wheel S in mounted free
on a stud shaft T supported by the bracket U which is fixed to the bed plate H. The
shaft M on which is secured the gear wheel L, is mounted in an eccentric sleeve V
carrying a spring arm W. When the parts are in the position shown in Figure II,
the wheel L is in gear with the wheel K on the fan wheel shaft J and the motor
drives forward. But if the eccentric sleeve V be turned over to the position shown
in the diagrammatic Figure IV the wheel L will be withdrawn from the wheel K.
The wheel S may then be slid along the stud shaft T into gear with both the wheels K
and L, thus reversing the direction of rotation of the wheel L, its shaft M and the
driving gear as a whole. The eccentric is held in position by the spring aru W
engaging with one or other of the catches X shown in elevation in Figure V. The
wheel S may be moved along the stud shaft T by a clutch and lever, or it may be
moved by hand and be secured by a distance piece or sleeve and transverse pin, or by
any other suitable known means.
The motor may be carried on the same springs as the body of the vehicle or other-
wise. There may be any suitable number of fan wheels and jets. A horizontal fan
wheel adapted to be acted on externally or internally by the liquid or a screw may be
substituted for the vertical fan wheel. If a screw be employed instead of a fan, the
blades or worm may be attached to a casing or may rotate separately.
It will be observed that the same liquid is used again and again, passing through
the injector by which it is hurled against the fan wheel, then down and back to the
injector again.
We wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the details herein
described and illustrated and that in making different applications of our invention
we hold ourselves at liberty to make such modifications as circumstances may
require.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. A motor in which the moving or rotary force is produced by causing active
steam to act directly on water, oil or other suitable liquid, by an injector device so as
to impart its power thereto, and cause such liquid or steam and liquid to operate in a
continuous and more or less compact jet, on the blades of a fan wheel, or the like,.
substantially as set forth.
2. A motor consisting of a steam generator, a steam pipe leading therefrom into an
injector situated in a chest containing a free body of water, oil or other suitable.
liquid, and a fan wheel, such injector being adapted for the propulsion therethrough,
by the direct action of the steam, of a continuous and more or less compact jet of
the said liquid against the blades of the said wheel, substantially as set forth.
3. In a motor in which the moving or rotary force is produced by active steam
forcing water, oil or other suitable liquid against the blades of a fan wheel or the
like, causing the said liquid or the bulk thereof to pass through the injector, against
the blades of the wheel or the like, down and back to the injector without leaving the
chest containing such injector and wheel, substantially as set forth.
4. The improvements in or relating to notors whereby the power of steam is
utilized and the velocity of active steam is reduced by burdening it with a practically
incompressible fluid body, substantially as described in the above specification and as
exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of April 1807
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, 75 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
49 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Patent Agent for the Applicants.