US296197A - Liquid for and process of generating a compound vapor as a motor power - Google Patents

Description

Nrrn STATES ArnNr LIQUID FOR AND PROCESS OF GENERATING A COMPOUND VAPOR AS A MOTOR POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,197, dated April 1, 1884.

Application filed November 12, 1883.

To CtZZ whom it in-(Ly concern:

Be it known that l, WILLA-n L. Lownnv, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Masfication.

The object of my invention is to gain power in engines, and to economize fuel. Any steamengine having a boiler of ordinary construction with a surface-condenser can be used.

My invention consists, first, in mixingwater slightly alkaline, but not to exceed one (1) per cent, with alcohol, either absolute, methylic, the alcohol of commerce, or of any other kind or name, jointly or separately, their mixtures or compounds in the proportions hereinafter mentioned; secondly, in introducing the compound liquid thus formed into boilers and vaporizing the same by heat; thirdly, in the compound vapor so generated; and, fourthly, in using said compound vapor as a motor power. lhe proportions of the alcohols or their compounds and water depend on the size of the boilers and the degree of pressure required. In small b0ilers-viz., boilers used in engines of from two (2) to twenty (20) horsepower-equal parts of the alcohols, or their compounds, and water may be used for ordinary working-pressure; but if a lighter pressure than the ordinary workingprcssure of the boiler is desired, the proportions of the alcohols or their compounds may be varied-i-. 6., sixty (60) per cent. of water to forty per cent. of the alcohols or their compounds, and so on, varying the proportions of the water and alcohols or their compounds, if a still lighter pressure is desired, to ninety (90) per cent. of water and ten (10) per cent. of the alcohols or their compounds. A larger percentage of the alcohols, their mixtures or compounds than is herein mention ed may be used under certain circumstances and conditions; but such use is dangerous and hazardous, and I have therefore limited the percentage to fifty per cent. as the highest that should be used in any case.

In large boilers-i. 0., boilers in engines of (No specimens.)

twenty (20) horsepower and upward-theproportions of the liquids for ordinary workingpressure are: alcohols or their com pounds, forty (40) per cent. water, sixty (60) per cent. These proportions, the same as in smaller boilers, may be varied by reducing the percentage of the alcohols or their compounds and increasin g the percentage of water, where lighter than ordinary working-pressure is necessary or desirable, until the desired pressure is obtained. The proportions of the liquids, however, must not be changed to more than ninety-five (95) per cent. of water or less than five (5) per cent. of the alcohols or their compounds. In most cases, in large boilers, the liquid compound need not contain more than ten (10) to twenty (20) per cent. of the alcohols or their compounds.

By varying the proportions of the alcohols or their compounds and water, as above directed, the degree of pressure can be increased or diminished, as required. Asthe same pressure cannot always be maintained in boilers of the same size, owing to atmospheric and other conditions, different proportions of the liquids may be found necessary in such boilers in order to obtain a given pressure. To increase the pressure, the proportions of the alcohols or their compounds must be increased, and to diminish the pressure the proportions of the alcohols or'their compounds must be diminished, the degree ofheat remaining the same.

the above-described compound liquid, the alcohols or their compounds will first vaporize at a comparatively low temperature and the vapor pass into the steam-chamber. When the temperature is raised to two hundred and twelve'degrees, (212,) the steam generated fromthewaterwillcombineandminglewith the alcoholic vapor, forming a new compound vapor possessing the elasticity and expansion of the alcoholic vapor and the volume and tension of the steam, the elastic expansion of the alcoholic vapor being imparted to the steam, and the volume and tension of the steam being communicated to the alcoholic vapor. By the union of these qualities of the respective vapors the new compound vapor will be found to be capable of producing with the same de- Vihen heat is applied to a boiler filled with gree of heat at least twice the pressure or expansive power of steam, and with one-half the degree of heat a pressure equal to, if not greater than, steam. This result is due to the factthat the alcoholic vapors surrounded and permeated bythesteam become thereby superheated, and thus acquire a volume and tension nearly, if not quite, equal to steam. The alcoholic vapors, though superheated by the steam, are protected thereby, so that they do not decompose, but distill over into liquid unchanged.

The compound vapor formed as above described can be controlled and managed with. equal facility and safety to steam. As the compound vapor passes into the cylinder and becomes condensed, the latent heat of the steam is given off to the lower or alcoholic vapors, maintaining their elastic tension, and enabling them to expand and force the piston forward to its full stroke. The compound vapor protects the interior of the boiler, pipes, and cylinders from corrosion, and, being to some degree a lubricant, assists in lubricating the cylinder while in use. After the vapor has been used, it passes into the condenser, is reliquefied, returned to the boiler, and again used as before, without perceptible diminution in quantity or quality. There is, therefore, no loss in the liquid, or at least so slight a loss as to be inconsiderable.

No changes in the construction of boilers suitable for generating steam is necessary or desirable.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A compound liquid to be used in engineboilers to generate a vapor for a motor power, consisting of alcohol, either absolute, methylic, the alcohol of commerce, or of any other kind or name, either jointly or separately, their mixtures or compounds, and water in the following proportions, viz: for small boilers-i. e. boilers of from two (2) to twenty (20) horsepower-equal parts of water and alcohol or alcohols, their mixtures or compounds; and for large boilers-22 e., boilers of twenty (20) horse-power and upward-six (6) parts water and four (4) parts alcohol or alcohols, their mixtures or compounds, and the U or separately, with water in equal proportions for small boilers, and for large boilers six (6) parts water to four (4) parts absolute or methylic alcohols, their mixtures or compounds, and modifications and variations of such proportions, and subjecting thesame to heat in engine-boilers the same as water is heated to generate steam, substantially as described.

3. A compound vapor generated by heat in boilers from water and alcohol, either absolute, methylic, the alcohol of commerce, or of any other kind or name, either jointly or separately, their mixtures or compounds, mixed in the following proportions: in small boilers i. 6., boilers of from two (2) to twenty (20) horse-powerequal parts of water and alcohol or alcohols, their mixtures or compounds; in large boilersi. e., boilers of twenty (20) horsepower and upward-six (6) parts water and four (4) parts alcohol or alcohols, their mixtures or compounds, and the modifications and variations of said proportions, substantially as set forth and described.

4. The improved method or process of operating steam or vapor engines, which consists in applying thereto the compound vaporherein described and claimed, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in- WVitnesses:

XV. H. DELAOY, GEO. M. LOOKWOOD.