US41299A - Improvement in gas-engines - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. HUGON. GAS ENGINE.

Patented Jan. 19, 1864.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. HUGON.

GAS ENGINE.

Patented Jan. 19, 1864.

4 Sheets-Sheet; 4.

P. HUGON.

GAS ENGINE.

Patented Ja.11.19, 1864.

UNITED .STATES PfrnNT Onlilne.- I

runnen HUeoN, oF PARIS, FRANCE.

INIPROVEMENTA IN GAS-ENGINES.

Specification forming pal-trof Letters Patent No. 41,299, dated January 19, 1864.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be' it" known that I, PIERRE HUeoN, of Paris,in the Empire of France, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Machineryfor' Obtaining and Applying Motive Power; fand l rdo hereby declare the nature of my said'invention, and. in what manner the same isto beperforined, to be particularly described and, ascertained in and by ythe following statement thereof, `reference beinghad to the 'drawings hereunto annexed-that' is to y sayz- Y Ihave observed in gas-engines that the .direct action ,of the gaseous mixture when exploded to obtain motive power formed a great di'fculty in'. its application arising from the instantaneousness of the eiiect'produced. l then thought of employing this instantaneous explosive force by making it vact upon an in-y termediate body.. I at iirst triedair and caused the explosive force to compress the airl Vina receiver, the air afterward pressed Vupon one face of a piston, While 4the vacuum produced in the tube from Y,which the airhad been expelled caused a vacuum on the other face and moved the piston; but thefgreatfelas -ticity of air and the short duration of the explosion, or the high'temperature produced,

4 caused unsatisfactory results. y l. Now, the` present Yinvent on consists in the employment of-,Water instead.- oi compressed air, and in causing the explosive force of the,

gaseousmixture to act upon an intermediate column ot'l water, and thus indirectly upon the piston. The Vcylinder iiis'vhich the. piston works is separated from V'the tubes wherein thevexplosion takes place. The power resulting from the dilatation of the gases sem ployed to e'xpel a certain quantity of Water from the explosion-tube and' to produce a vacuum, the effect of which isad'ded to thatfduev to the condensation of steam arising from the combina- *1cm ofthe' hydrogen and oxygen, and can be f utilized inV the cylinder. flhe several reser- Voirs ofthe engine are arranged insuch manwhich'produces the movement of the piston. The Water expelled 'from the tube which tills the opposite chamber, the capacity of which increases gradually, acts in the same manner at the following explosion'. The'resnlt ot' this method ofl employing the'. power produced at the instant ot' the combination ofthe gases is that the shock produced by the sudden and instantaneous dilatation of the mixture is not transmitted immediately to the motive parts. The power -is applied Ito an independeiitliquid, which isfreely displaced by the press'nreexercised uponits surface; The contactof thegasecus residuum with water, the temperatureof which never exceeds 1130 Fahrenheit, allows the steam produced -to be partly condensed, and to increase, 'owing to expansion. The utilization of the vacuum is rendered as perfect as possible by the presence of Water in all parts ot' the engine. for it is never filled except by columns ot' liquid., the movementiof which determines that of the piston. Water enters every part of the engine. It is Water which,

`displaced by Water 'when the explosion takes place, makes the vacuum as perfect as possible.

My engine is therefore an enginefof -indirect action. It utilizes the explosiveforce, and the vacuum resulting from the combinationof i different kinds of gas mixed with air, and when the explosion of the gas takes place a 'vacuum is .formed in a .tube or chamber separated from the cylinder, and "produces -by the displace-VY ment of an intermediate column ot'v Wate'rfthe tofand-fro movementot' the piston','and conseqnently the rotation of the driving-shaft of engine'. vM y invention is thusbased iipon the substitution for the direct action ot' 'ordinary gasengines ot' an indirect action, which is exerted by `means of -an intermediate column ot' water nponthe surface of the piston when the explosion of 'the mixture takes place. The explosion of the gaseous mixture isy produced at the-top of thecolumu ot watermtended as the medium to change the sudden e-tect of the ext2i Figure lris-arsectional elevation-ofzmy improved machinery; Fig. 2, van end vie'w, partly in section Fig. 235 a side view'of one ,ofthe ,tubes A, and Figr' a plan o f'my engine-and gas pump. Figs. 4, 4ms, and 4*" are different views ot' a section-pump, hereinafter described, with my gaspump applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a section ofthe cylinder E ot'the motive 'engine carrying valves I2 lf J3 J4, which may be substituted for the distribzitingslides I I JJ, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 shows an arrangement of, the valves ofthe geueratiugtube which may be adopted. Figs. 7 and 8 are views in section of the slide I) for iniiaming the mixture of gas and air inclosed in the box x with passage through the tube o. Fig.'9 is a view ofthe i'ans or blowersF4 to .F8 for introducingr the inflaming-mixture. Fig. 10 shows a reservoir, P,

for the intlaming-mixture.

A A A2 are tubes of siphon form, in which the combinationof the explosive mixture takes place, and in which the vacuum is formed.

' The same effect is produced Yin each of the The larger branch of this tube has valves C` C C2 G3 O4 at its extremity, which remain closed -by their own weight. These valves are immersed in a reservoir, B, Fig. 2. In a certain variable part of the larger branch of the tube A is a passage, N, connecting it with the cylinder E of the engine. This cylinder has two inlets and two outlets for the liquid. Upon these inlets and outlets are four slides, l I J J', Fig. 2. The slides I l communicate with the tube A, wherein the vacuum is produced, and the slides J J with thcbasin K, where the water driven from the tubes'enters. Gas enters the gas-pump by tubes O O2, Fig. 3, and air enters the air-pump by the tube O3. The distrilmtionot' the mixture ot' air and gas takes place by the tube O4. 'lhe rod R ot' the piston Q. of the. cylinder E transmits motion to the air and gas blowers or fans F F F2 F3 through the connecting-rod S, crank T, and shaft U. (See Figs. 3, llt-,pand ter.) The shaft U transmits the motion through suitable gear to the shafts'V V V2 V3, which actuate, through cams Y and levers Z, the slides ot' the tubes A A A2 and of the cylinder'E. Electric wires n put the induction ap-` paratus t in communication with the slides G G' G2, Z Z Z'Z are rollerscarrying plates for intlamiug the mixture.

,Before setting the machinery to work the tubes A A A2, the reservoirs B B( B2, the tubes N NN?, the cylinder E, and the basin K, up to about the point iX', Fig. 2, must be filled with water. When these ditl'erent parts contain liquid, as aforesaid, ifa certain quantity of an explosive mixture be introduced through-a suitable tap, slide, or valve into the small branch ot' the tube A A A, and if there'be brought in contact with 'such mixture either an electric spark, an incandescent platinum wire, a. gas-jet, (by means of the in-v iiaming-slide D, Figs. 7 and 8,-which advances to intlame the mixture in the o'rice e, a

which then recedes to have its jet `t relightet., the explosion having extinguished it by the iixed jet u,) there will be combination of the oxygen of theair and`of the hydrogen of the gas, with a considerable disengagement of heat. Thevapor resulting from this combination will become immediately red hot, as well as the gases not combined, and there will ensue dilatation of the vapor and of the gases, and considerable power will be produced, which will drive a certain portion of water contained in the tube A through the valves C C O2 C3 into the reservoir B, which will run out into the basin K; butin a very short time the gases remaining after combustion will cool and the steam will condense in contact with the water contained in the tubeA. The valves C C C2 G3 wi'l close immediately, and there Willfbe avacnum produced proportional to the quality and quantity of the mixture introduced, at least to a certain extent. This vacuum mayvary. When produced in the tube A, it opens the valves L L', and closes on the contrary, by means of the pipe N3 the similar valves corresponding with the other tubes, A A2, and shuts them off in consequence from the machine. It remains, theret'ore, only to openthe passages MM, and the piston Q of the motive engine E, by the arrangement of its slides I and J becomes on one I side, g, in contact with the vacuum of the tube A, and on the other side or face, h, in contact with the water of the basin K, submitted to atmospheric pressure'. This piston necessarily works in the direction of the vacuum with a force equal to the vacuum pro. duced in the tube A. The piston in working causes the water contained on the face g to replace a certain portion of that which has been expelled from the' tube A during the combination of the explosive gases; but on reaching the end of' its stroke the slides I and J close and the slides I and J open. The piston is again placed in contact with the vacuum of the tube A by its face h, and its face gis then in contact with the water in the basin K. It returns back, or makes a back-stroke, and the water on its face h lls up the vacuum still existing in the tube A. It during this movement of the piston, which, by mea-ns of the crank T, transmits rotary motion to the shaft U, as in ordinary steam-engines,'there has been introduced by the pumps or fans F4 F5 F6 F7 F8, Fig. 9, a certainI quantity of the mixture in the tube A, and this mixture is iniamed at the moment when the crank completes its entire revolution and has attained the dead-point, the same et't'ect which has been produced by the .tube A will be reproduced by the tube. A', and the engine E will continue to work. It will be the same with -the tube A2 and all the other tubes which might be employed; but while-the tube A works the engine the escape-slide H of the tube A will open, and by. the crank l m, Fig. 2, will cause the tail or finger n lto rise, and

by means of the tappet p open the valve or valves() C( C2 C. Pressure due to the difference in the water-level in the larger branch of the tube A will press upon the gases resulting from 4combustion contained in the small branch, where the combination ofthe explosive mixture took place, and will lexpel them through the slide H into the tube 0; then the slide H will close. The inlet-slide G will open to introduce the mixture, which will be inflamed at the proper time, as has been above explained, and these same workings will be repeated indefinitely in each tube.

The vacuum-forming tubes A A Ag'may be placed unlimited number to work a machine by means ofthe valves L L', which insulate them completely from each other. The speed of the engine depends up to certain limits on the degree ofvvacuum-generating tubes and on the size of the inlet and outlet passages for the Water from the cylinder of the motive engine. By means of the pumps and air and gas blowers, the stroke of which is increased or diminished at will, the quantity and quality of the mixture to be introduced into the tubes is regulated, and there-fore the vacuum is dininished or increased (always within certain `limits) according to the power to be used. It

is unnecessary to add that the Yposition occupied by the vacuum generating tubes may be varied at will. They may be placed parallel on both sides of the engiue,'oron one side only. They may be placed perpendicularly to the shaft of the engine on one or both sides, or otherwise. The tubes A may be. cast in a piece with the cylinder E and the frame X. The valves C U1() L L', tc., may vary indetinitely both in form andmaterial. The slides for distributing the water in the cylinder may also vary both in form, material, and position. They may be placed horizontally, vertically', or inclined. The slides ot' the tubes may be replaced by taps or valves, if desired. The same with the slides; or the surfaces on which they run/may be furnished with bronze, brass, or gun-metal plates, or others little liable to oxidation. The means of moving the slides, whether of the tubes or of the cylinders, may be imparted without any lever directly on the rods ofthe slides by means 'of double cams or by other suitable mechanical means.

The explanations which' I have given of the different organs and Working of my appara` tus or .power'generator show that it may be protably applied to work all forms and kinds of steam-engines, whether fixed or, movable, horizontal, inclined, vertical, rotary, locom'otive, or marineait being only necessary to alter the diameters of the cylinder and the form or section ,of the passages for the inlet and' outlet of.-the'water. This apparatus or generator may be applied to exhaust and to raise water; to make use of it for irrigation, or to direct it onto water-wheels, turbines, and others... for which it would only be ne'cessary to lengthen the tube A to extend above thelevel ot' the water` to b e raised. lf-it be"` also be made to work automatically by they (See Figs. 4. 4ms, and 4mm) following means: At some point a valve, b, which may be replaced by a piston, e', Fig. 4ms, is tted to them. This valve or piston may be placed at any point in the suction-tube, and is intended to put in motiontheair and gas pumps F Fr F2 F3, the inlet and iniaming slides G and D, and that O forV the escape of the residual gases. These different operations occur as follows: At the moment of the production of the vacuum in the tube or pump serving to raise water in the same manner thatit is produced in the generating-tube for the engine. As the water to be raised is only from six to seven yards, all the vacuum produced above six to seven yards may be used to raise the valve b, Fig. 4, charged with a weight or the piston e', and thereforethey will raise the lever 1, attached to the rack 2, which rackis Y charged with a movable Weight, X4. This lever l turns round a point, 4. In rising, it lifts up the rack 2, which rubs against the ratchet-wheel 5 by means of the spring 3. This ratchet cannot turn back, being stopped by the tappet 6; but when the valve b has passed beyond the point g', Fig. 4, or the'piston e', Fig. 4b, has passed the point gz g2, free passage is left to the water, which tills the vacuum existing in the tu e a,and when this vacuum has been in part ii led, the pistou c', or the valve b, acting by means of the rod d on the lever 1 and the rack 2, in descending, causes, by means of the spring 3, the ratchetwheel 5 to turn. This wheel is mounted on the shaft which gives motion to the air and gas pumps, and to the distributingslides from the pump to the tube. i

' The descending movement' of the piston e',

or of the valve b, is easily explained in thismanner: That the escape slide opening first immediately leaves on the valve b, or on the piston e', a pressure of water, which causes it to descend with a rapidity depending on the greater or lesser accuracy in 'the fit of the piston in the cylinder, or of the valve on its exterior iloatin g part, for if the piston or the valve closed completely and hermetically, the liquid or water not being compressible, the stop-valve e would prevent the piston or fthe valve descending; but if a little play is lallowed, or some grooves or other means ensuring the same result are adopted, the valve or the piston in descending will cause the liquid that they displace below to rise above them, and at the same time, by means of the toothed rack and ratchet-wheel/, drive the shaft carrying the di'erent slides and air and .gas pumps necessary to the good working of 'the pump or machine for raising water.

Mv apparatus or generator does not causeV any shock to the ditiereutmachines tliatit works. The povve'r is produced and stored outside the cylinder exactly as takes place' in an ordinary steam-engine where the boilers perform the part ot' my tubes in which the vacuum is produced. l

Having now described the nature ot' my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that my invention is based upon thc indirect action ot' an. ex-

plosive mixture upon the piston ot' an engine by means of an intermediate column of water,

which is exhausted bythe vacuum which the explosion produces in the generating-tubes.

The characteristic features ofthe invention are: lirst,the substitution of the indirect action ot' the exploded mixture for the direct action which takes place in ordinari7 gasengines. Second, the indirect action ot' the explosive power upon the piston-rod through :in injter-A mediate column of wateigon.-thcfisuacefot' lwhich the mixture of air'and 'gas isexploded. Third, the inaming of the mixture of airand gas in a tube of the receiver .separated from the engine cylinder. Thevacuumproducedin aI space separated from. the cylinder determines the to-and-fro movement of the piston. Fourtlnthe constant'circulation ot' the same vwaterin the machine;- and, fifth, the presence -ot' water in every part of the machine for the scribing Witnesses.v

P. HUGON,

Witnesses E.IJAUME, E. SHERMAN GoULD..

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