US1089681A - Utilizing heat energy. - Google Patents

Description

W.l H. SMYTH. l UTILIZING 'HEAT ENERGY. A?PLIOATIOE P'ILED AUGA, 1903. RENEWED JUNE 7, 1913.l

' Patented Mar. 10, 1 914.

' 2. BEBBTHHEE? 1 nven w. H. SMYTH. UTLIZING HEAT ENERGY. unicum! FILED we@ 190s. Bnxnwrm JUNI: 7, 191s. 1,089,681; Patented Mar.10,1914.

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WILLIM H. SEYH, SSIGQ'OR T0 HUHPHEEY GAB P'E' CGMPNY, .EL CGBPOB-TIUN 0F HEN YORK,

UTILIZNG ENERGY.

Specicatlon of Letters a'zent.

Apnlicaten lel iigiist 4', 5.965, Serial No. l. Renewed June 7, 1913. Serial No. 772,424.

fo all whom mensonge ri'.

Be it known 'met l. .i intimo Siirfrn, citizen of the United te residing at Beikele-f. in the county of larneila and State oif' lifornia. lri'e infected cer-+3' An Uli" l (leclare the and exact ile Heat Energy; .and i flo he; following to he a full. clear, scription of the T his inver rela 'to the. nrt anal means oi utili/:ing heat energy.

Though the la nnclv principles governing theeconomical trains-formation of lineal; energy into a lorin more available for clicctive i'vorlr are well known and fully appreciatecl by physicists and mechanics, the 1ntensely destructive and excessively fugitive nature of the element involved, has heretofore rendered msm-mountable the practical difficulties of the problem. ".llms the internally fired engine which repre. the highest expression oit the art, returns in use ful Work seldom more then 'lofi/f1 of the fuel heat value in rood average present practice. This wastefulncss arises ont of errors both in principle and. design. in other words flepartures fromv the natural laws fincl` prin ciplcs which All agree must underlie the mechanical expression of the theoretical or ideal lient motor.

ASo wi-le .incl obvious the departure frfoni correct rinciples in modern. practice that even in tieory the interinilly lired engine neither attempts nor aimsto utiliz/.c the Wholev of the fuel heat. On the contrary provision is v made to uscles'sly dissipate seven-tenths or more of the heat generated in thecylinder. Two essentials to the hrw of operation of the typical internally tired engine, the exhaust and the. water-jacket cost in the neighborhood of 7523?; of ell the 'Enel heat generated.

The object. or' the present invention is to utilize sind transita-xn into work the whole of the energy ierated hy the coi'nhustion of the incl, vand as e. secondary object to at. least save the loss incident to the'wvater jacket :incl exhaust hy so arranging;v t'e de.- vice that these costly provisions may be Clispensed with.

Authorities agree that for the economical conversion of heat energy into work it is essential to providwmlst. High initie-al temperature. Qnfl-ll11iw termine tenineraturc, flrrl. lilinimuni Contact uctwfeen hot in the modern high Spee internally fired engine.

any, improvement is to he anticipated alongr the lines of present prac ice.

The imperections and limitations ,are the outgrowth and result of the mechanical character of the transforming and storing means employed. These means are so inconsistent and out of harmony with-the con- 'ditions and desired object asto suggest an impossibility that they should over have been contemplated as the logical mechanical satisfaction of the conditions of the problem involvecl in the internally fired engine.

The cranl-1-connectingrod and fly-wheel, notwithstanding its universal adoption never has horno any rational relation to the problem in its customary association. It is simply an illogical and accidental left over 'from steam engine practice.

Owing to its nature, the crank-connecting-rod and fly-wheel precludes tl'ievnecessary high piston speed at the very time in the cycle when it is most essential. No matter hoiivr high the rotatiye speed of the crank7 the linear motion of the piston at the time of ignition must necessarily be slow. This constitutes one of the disqualifications of this mechanism.. Another and equally serious one is that the crank-motion limits the available expansion to the original at-I mospheric volume of the `charge regardless of its pressure. It thus mak the exhaustof the still inllaming gases a practical necessity. Again as it restricts the initial and terminal range to destructivel temperatures, the wasteful water-inc (et he.- comes unavoidable.

The cranlcconnecting-rod and fly-wheel, as a transformer of reciprocating into rotary motion7 is all that could be wished, as 105 a converter of heat into Work it is any thing but that. As a modifier of molar motion it is appropriate and economical, as a con- -vertrof molecular into molar motion itis costlyanil wasteful. No netter or more con- 110 s easily (lemonstrnhle am?. yhat little,l

high 10o elusive .evidence of this is required than thev amazing difference which exists between the mechanical efliciency and the theoretical thermal efficiency in internal combustion engines. As a machine, the gas engine is practically perfect-as a heat motor z'. e. a de- `vice for converting heat or hea-t energy into available or useful work, it is raw, crude and illogical to the last degree.

.Further objects of the present invention are togvoid the stated difficulties and provide conditions and constructions in accordance with the correct theory of an economical heat motor in those respects in which present practice departs therefrom. In the accomplishment of these objects the present invention differs from present practice in the following 'radical particulars :-1st. Expansion instead of `being mechanically'limited to atmospheric changes regardless of cylinder pressure, is practically unlimited and always extends to many volumes inv excess of the riginalatmospheric volume of the charge. 2nd. The terminal temperature instead of being that of flame is never more than atmosphere. 3rd. The heatdissipating water jacket is avoided and replaced by non -conductor of heal 1th. Atmospheric back pressure'is nenti ...-d and avoided. 5th. The mechanically limited piston speed is replaced byunlimited velocity. 6th. The .fiaming exhaust is avoided by the practical absence of all exhaust.

Notwithstanding the rad-ical and revolutionary character of thepresent invention its objects are mainly accomplished, as just sug sted, by the simple expedient of discar ing from the ordinary internally fired ,engine those improper and redundant parts to the presence of which is due its inefficiency as a heat motor.

The accompanying drawings show characteristic forms of this invention whichwith the description herein will enable skilled vmechanics to make and use the invention not only in the forms illustrated, butin the multitudinous modifications by which it may be adapted to the varying conditions of operation. I

ReferringI to the drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section. 'Fig 2 is a vertical section of a modified detail, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a plan section ofa detail also on an enlarged. scale. Fig.

4 is an elevation of a vertical single acting form partly in section.

In general terms this invention may be described as comprisin a cylinder and a free, independent or projectile piston therein,

means for introducing, compressing and igniting explosive charges and an inclosed re'- silient .cushion against which the charge expends itsenergy. This generic conception is carried out with some elaboration of detail in the accompanying drawings to which reference will be made in the`fuller description which follows.

1 is a cylinder preferably of considerable length compared with its diameter. It is closed at both ends with the exception of valved passages or apertures to which more particular reierenoe will later be made. These endsform charge chambers or expan# sion chambers. As the device may be either single or double acting and as in the latter case both ends are substantially alike, the description of one end will suffice, it being understoodv that the description applies to either end. In the cylinder is a free, independent or projectile piston 2. An air chamber 3' is provided, which for convenienee is shown as integral with and. surf rounding the cylinder 1. A passage 4 controlled by a valve 5 connects the air chamber and cylinder. The, air chamber is also provided with an outlet pipe 6. There is also provided another aperture or passage 7 from the cylinder, this one however communicates with the exterior and is controlled by a valve 8. Both of the valve controlled passages 4 and 7, though for simplicity of illustration shown as single apertures, may be multiplied.

Means for introducing suitable fuel are provided, shown in the present instance as a. gas pump consisting of-a plunger 9 fitting cylinder 10; a valve block 11 is seated snugly in anenlarged extension bore of cylinder 10 and Acarries a fuel inlet valve 12. In the enlarged bore is also a buffer spring 13 resting between the valve block 11 and a plug 14 adjustably secured in the outer end of the'enlarged bore. The pump cylinder 10 isfadjustably-secured to the end of cylinder 1 in any suita-ble manner as shown in Fig. l o'r Fig. 4. A fuel inlet 15 is provided and passages 16 for the fuel between the interior of cylinder 10 and cylinder 1.

An igniting device is provided shown for the purpose ofthis disclosure as an ordinary wiping sparker consisting of a spring electrode 17 Iattached to the plunger 9 and an adjustable insulated Contact 18 and a source of electrical energy to which the electrodes are connected as diagrammatically indicated at 19.

A starting device' is provided which may consist as shown in Fig'. land Fig. 8 of a rock shaft 20 projecting through the side wall-of the cylinder having on its inner end a tappet or finger 21 adapted to engage with piston 9 and on its vouter en d a suitable operating hendle 22. The .device may also be started by compressed-air from'chamber 3.

In Fg.`2 is illustrated a. modification of .valve 5 and its immediate mrroundings, the pvprpoee of which will be later described. iis modification consista in providing a pocket or small chamber A oil from both 139 Lesesaal the cylinder i and air chamber S but into which a portion of valve projects. This pocket e. passage B of consideralie between it and cylinder l normally closed by inwardly opening valve 7). There is also si second pus-sage C 'of very much smaller area, the entrance area of which is made variable by suitable means shown es n needle valve D. To start this device. the nandle 222 depressed causing the teppet to dorive the piston 9 inward and the ges pump to perform its functions whereby. volume of gas or other suitable fuel is introduced into cylinder i. This motion also eifeets sparking contact between the electrodes and thus Y)reduces en explosion. The 'piston is thusl riveli to the opposite end of the cylinder'wliere it engages with the corresponding gas pump Sac., and the operation becomes continuous. r

The machine being in operation the following cycle is repeated indefinitely 1-The explosive expansion of the ignited charge starts the piston instantly sind with a. ve-

locitylcommensurete to the explosive energy expended, as the charge has but to overcome the. inertie of the free piston unhampered by a. rod passing through :i gland or any mechanical attachment. The piston consequence of its rojectile character, stores -up in the form ci) momentum all ofthe energy exerted upon it less only the fractional percenit. lost by friction, When the piston has reached a position in its travetwhere the charge grises have expanded to. below atmospheric pressure, the valve 8 opens by atmospheric pressure and air rushes in, this prevents e vacuum forming and neutriilizes the otherwise unbalanced atmospheric pressure.

Owing to its stored up energy the projeotile' piston continues with great `velocity compressing the air in front of ittill the pressure in front. of the piston in cylinder l vis greater than that in the air chamber.. At this point the valve 5 in front of 'the piston 'opens sind the compressed sir passes into the air chamber. This continues till the piston has p ssed valve 5 'when it meets with the incressing pressure of the confined air to which it trnsfers its remaining energy. i

During the last part .of its travel the piston 2 has encountered the buffer piston t) and driven the gas out of cylinr.1 r l() into the. confined :ind compressed iiir in troni; el' the piston 2 and sparked. the thus formed explosive mixture. Whatever reninnnt of energy remainA in piston 2 is absorbed and stored by boiler spring 13. The cycle thus complete will repeat indeiiiitely. Each end though` performing its own functions coperates-witli-the other making together a double acting 'transformer of hea-t energy.

The adjustable character of the attachment of cylinder l0, the electrode 18 and .buffer spring lf3 provide for sperkingiit the proper time and also against shock in the iinel stoppiiigo the piston by permitting of longer travel of piston and' consequently grou-ter compression of the charge."

Under most conditions, prop ei proporticning of the parts will provide against opening of valve 5 by direct pressure-of the expanding charge. though should this happen it would not materially afectthe operation of the device. W'hen however 1t is decnied advisableto prevent this occurring, the modification on Fig. 2- miiy be adopted. Vtith this construction chamber A- will be charged :it each explosion with the initial piesure. This high pressure exerted on suiiicient preparation of the hack of valve 5 Afidded to the noi-mal pressure of chamber upon the enlarged sui-fece ofthe back of the valve will more than counterbalance the 'direct pressure upon the front of valve 5.

The pressure existing in cylinder l when valve 5 is uncovered -by the passing piston is of course much less than the initial pressure, on account ofthe expansion of the gases permitted bythe travel o fythepiston. The passage C is a hleeder to relieve charnber A and valve of the excess of pressure ov the time the-piston returns on its back devi'e dees not in ,any essentiel 'manner effect its working. f Inthis forni .the upper puri. of the `cylinder l heroines and performs the iunclions of :i resilient cushion to take un .find return the impact energy of the piston. lt niaiylie provided with ii cock or valve "E to rene-iv (ir-control the 'volume of :eirin cylinder 'l iiliove the piston 2. A

it will he (disci-ved that by iirriinging the vulve i2 to open freely in response to utmosplieric pressure. the. unproductive work which would otl'ie 'selnie to be expended in lifting or displacing the etiiiosplierc is converted into productive wor'i. ln other words, when the pressure of thc expanding! gases -fells' below zil'inosnnericpressure upon tiie opposite side of the piston it permits the' remaining und corre. lending explosive energy to be profitably exerted.v This petically to illustrate that the position of the A' iss culiar effect a art from the many other novel features in t is disclosure1 is wholly new 'and does not appear in any form in this .or

any other art with the exception of the devices for-ming the subject matter of my copending applications which it also characterizes; ln 'further explanation it may be sgtatedthat as this method of utilizing heat energy, owing to the projectile character of the piston; provides for expansions unlimited mechanically, that is to say'uhlimited except bythe resistance to bev over- 'come z'. e. useful work, the expansion will usu lly extend far beyond that degree which wou reduce the pressure below atmospheric press re, but expansion below atmosphere would be resisted by the lthus unbalanced atmospheric'prcssure and in effect and in fact add the difference in pressure' to the work which the ex anding` ases are per-A forming. If there ore at t e instant at which the pressure of expansion falls below that of atmosphere, the atmospheric presditions of the present invention, atmospheric pressure is applied inside instead of outside, so to speak. lt is applied to a piston already in. mot-ion the static -inertia of which has been overcome vbyenergy acting in the same direction. Thisdifference is an important one from the practical vand commercial `point of.view. As illustrated in the `mechanisms and this in additionto consid-v present invention the pressure of the expanding gases and that of atmosphere are united in a single continuous effect witlrconsquent smlilification in an economy of controlling erations of thermal etliciency.

It' will be seen from the foregoing that. notwithstanding the radical nature of the departure from present practice involved inV this disclosure, there is no mechanism there# in necessary for the complete carrying into effect` the invention or inventions described, which requires other than the ordinariY llznowledge of mechanics skilled in gas engine practice. Such mechanics also will be enabled from the disclosure by means of their skill and knowledgeto' modify the form, lo-

cationrcons'truction, proportion, of the various parts even to the extent of altering radically the appearance. without departing from the essential nature ofthe invention.'

Such changes will inevitably be made to nlnet thel ideas of designers and constructors to adapt to the varieiisfrequiisements of .location andfoperation. Some lof into e'ect .some of the. objects of the tion in a more satisfactory manner than'the forms herein used.A as illustration. 'These forms are not supposed to be die-best possible, either in design or construction, but Vare simplypreferred forms for erdinaryqgen -eral use' and which best the present Purpose- As illustrated the facility with which the invention herein described lends itself to change and modification. of form and struction, some -su'ch'di'erences are shown in the vaiious figures.. For example the pipe lable communication between thecoinpresaed nection with the starting. handle 22. It will be seen that by this .means if there be com'- press'ed air in lthe chamber 3, by openingtlie valve f at the appropriate'end of the cylinder, the piston may be driven to the opposite end 'and so etl'ect the starting.

ity of the projectile piston itself with or in Fig. 1 assists ind the starting of the device. In this latter 'figure also i s illustrated the arrangement both of air inlet and Voutlet.

plicity ofsu'ch vulves is provided for. These valves may be arranged Yin circular groups or otherwise as circumstances or the vform-of the contact and butter s ring arrangement is butter spring 13 is substituted air, the -ilate "11 forming a piston snuglyf fitted iiftothev enlarged extension of cylinder'lO. A hollow rod G connected/to the plate 11 forms 'a gas" inlet. A pipe H- with a valve h controllably commiifcates either'with the outside atmospheric air or with air chamber 3 so that any desired resistance may be offered to the piston '2.

The means for adjusting the -volume of. the charge or its compression by increasing or cylinder end 'is also in this figure shown fas consisting of a slidable. connection between the-end of cylinderl andthe remainder of vided for this purpose. The means also for providing vfor the contact between :the pump plunger 9 and piston 2.is.s'h,own in Fig. 4 to be modified from atail piece' projecting from piston. It thus formsjan a-ir 'cushion or butler betweenplungerv9 and lpiston 25g? No specific igliiting Ydevice Vissshowsn "m 'thse changes may and doubtless Willvalve-8 and 5 respectively in-which a multishown-in a mannenw iclrav'oids metallicsprings by substituting air cushions. Eor f im@ i F with its valve f which forms a controlair chainber 3 andthe cylinder l maybe em; i ployed as a starting device alone or in con- In the form illustrated inFig. 4,- the gravwithout the starting' appliances illustrated f' icc the machine may indicate. Again inFig. 4t, l

diminishing the which. murs of uw cyil' inder 1 between the outlet valve 5 and the the cylinder with adjusting' screws I prothe piston 2 to a socketJ recessed into the` i noeaeei I F ig. 4, and this is omitted for the 'purpose of illustrating the fact that under suitable con.u ditions, the igniting device may 'ne omitted 'or at least thrown out of operation and the vdevicepermitted to perform the igniting function by high compression ofthe charge.

In viewl therefore of the radical nature of this invention and the facility with which practically each one of its mechanical elements may be changed and modified, i do not vdesire to confine myself in any oi' 'the above particulars or in fact lo any partcula: material expression of this invention.

What I claim is z 1. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder with an independent piston, a charge chamber' attached to the cylinder provided with :i pump suitably placed to 4engage the piston and be operated thereby and introduce fuel into the cylinder, means for commingling a volume of air with the fuel to form an 'explosive cha rge in the cylinder, an igniter operated by the piston, the cylinder and piston being suitably arranged to compress the charge. by the momentum of the independent. piston, a resilient cushion against which the charge partially eapende its energy and a` bulfer in addition to ine resilient cushion to arrest the piston.

2. An internal combustion engine compris ing a cylinder with an independent, piston,

a charge chamber attached to the cylinder provided with a pump suitably placed to cn-4 gage the piston. and be operated lliereby te introduce fuel, means for ci'nnmingling a volume of air with the fuel to form :in e5:- plosive charge in the cylinder, an igniter operated by the piston, the cylinder and piston being suitably arranged to compress the charge by the momentum of the piston, a resilient cushion aga-inst. 'which the charge partially expends its energy, a buli'er to ab- Sorb the remaining energy. and arrest the piston, and an air chamber surrounding and communicating With the cylinder by a valve. controlled passage. 1

3. A device for utilizing heat energy cour prising a cylinder and a free metallic piston therein, a charge chamber attached to the cylinder provided with. a pump operated by the piston adapted to introduce fluid fuel, means for commingling a volume of air with the fuel' vto orm an explosive charge, an igniter operated by the piston, adapted to'form a resilient. cushion against which charge expcnds .its ener and an air cham-A ber surrounding the c nder.

4. A device for utilizing' heat energy 'com'4 prising a cylinder and a free metallic piston therein, a charge lmmbcr attached to the cylinder provided with a pump operated by the piston adapted to n. means for ccmmingling a the fuel to form an caniliA` niter operated by the pis..

)laune of air with an igi-oducc finiti nel, 3

ing suitably arranged to compress the charge by ite momentum, a resilient cushion against which the charge ly expcnds ils ergy and butler in addition to the resilient cushion adapted to arrest the fori'ard motion oi tlie piston and an air chamber surrounding and communicating with the cylinder by valve controlled passage.

la device of character described, the combination ofY a, cylinder having an expansion chamber at 'the end thereof, a piston adapted to reciprocate cylinder, a valve controlled air intake connected with the expanrion chamber, means for introducing combustible gas inte tire expansion chamber, said means controlled 'ny the piston whereby the gas is mixed with the air in the expansion chamber, and the mixture compressed by the movement of the piston, and means for igniting the mixture.

t2. In a device of the character described, the combination of'a cylinder havin an expansion chamber at-'tli'e end there@ a pisten adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder, a valve controlled air intake connected with the expansion chamber, means for intraducing combustible gas into the expansion chamber. means controlled by the pie-- ton whereby 'the gas is mixed with the air trapped in' the expansion chamber and'tlie mi xture compr piston, and pi. oir-controlled means for igy uiting the mixture.

7. ln a device of the character described, the combination of a cylinder haileng an expansion changer the end theran, a piston adapted to reciprocate in the 'eylinden a -valve controlled air intake connected with the expansion chamber, means for introducing combustible into the expansion cl'xambcr, said means controlled by the piston" 'whereby the gas is mixed With the air in the expansion chamber and the mixture compressed by the mini-'ement of the piston, means for igniting the mixture, and manually operative means for arbitrarily actu ating the intmdncing; means and thc uiting y 8. ln a device of the character described, the combination of a 'linder havii'tg an e1;- pansion chamber at t, end thereof, an air chamber having valve controlled connection with the cylinder. a free piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder. valve controlled air intake ffonncctcrl with the. pair-fion chamber, nie-ans for introducing combustible gas into the expanfon chamber. said means actuated by me n whereby the aas is mixed with the air tipped in the c 'leien chamber.. and the mixture c only) I i. and mee i.

il. ln a device tu th diameter described, the combination oi' a cylinder havingr eX- pansion chambers at the ends thereof. an air I0 pressed by the momentum of chamber having valve controlled connection with the cylinder, a free piston adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder, valve controlled air intakes connected with the expansion chambers, means for introducing combustible'gas into the expansion chambers, said means actuated by the piston whereby the gas is mixed with the air trapped in the expansion chamber and the mixture comi the piston,

means Afor igniting the mixture, and means for equalizing the pressures on the opposite sidespf the valve controlling communication between the cylinder and the air reservoir during the early period of expansion of the combustible charge. 4

VILLIAM H. SMYTH. VVitnesees W. STUART SMITH, JESSE R. Eorr.

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