US774392A

US774392A - Explosive-engine.

Info

Publication number: US774392A
Application number: US17309203A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1903-09-14
Filing date: 1903-09-14
Publication date: 1904-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1921-11-08

Description

PATENTED NOV. 8. 1904.

R. MILLER.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1903.

2 SHEETSSHEET '1.

N0 MODEL' //%zass es PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

R. MILLER.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPL IOATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

fiw'ezziar UNITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

ROBERT MILLER, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXPLOSlVE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,392, dated November 8, 1904.

To all whom it may concern:

A city, (Bronx,) county and State of New York,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an explosive-engine of simple construction and great thermodynamic efiiciency. This efliciency is obtained by an initial pressure of high intensity, due to thorough scavenging and to a complete expansion and utilization of the explosive charge.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal section, partly in plan, of my improved explosive-engine; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same, partly broken away; and Fig. 3, a cross-section on line 3 3, Fig. 2.

The letters A A represent the cylinders of a two-cycle explosive-engine, divided by a head A and containing pistons B. Each cylinder is stepped, having abore of varying diameter, the outer section a being of greater diameter than the inner section a. The cylinder-sections a a are divided by a step (0 that extends at right angles to the axis of the cylinder. Each piston Bis hollow and is also stepped, as at 6 being composed of sections 7) Z), that correspond in diameterto the respective diameters of the cylinder-sections a a. Thus two separate working chambers a a are formed, of which the chamber a is annular. The chamber 11/ which constitutes an explosion-chamber, is located at the inner end of cylinder-section a, while the chamber a, which constitutes an expansion-chamber, is formed between the reduced piston-section I), the wall of the enlarged cylinder-section a, and the steps (L2 b The chambers a (4* are adapted to communicate with each other by a by-pass 0, controlled at its inner end by a balanced valve 0 and opening-into chamber (4* through step (0 The stem 0 of valve 0 is engaged by a cam (Z, mounted upon a shaft (Z, which is rotated in manner hereinafter described. The valve is timed to open during or immediately after the explosion of the charge, so that while a part of the exploded charge acts upon the I head 6 of piston-section 6 another part is conveyed to chamber a through opened valve 0 and by-pass 0, thus simultaneously acting upon the piston-step 5 The valve 0 remains open during the entire forward stroke of the piston and is closed at or about the completion of such stroke.

The pistons B B are connected to one another byscrew-rods a, passing through perforations of steps 72 and carrying collars e and nuts '6 The rods e are .slidable in perforations or sleeves of the cylinder-walls, so that both pistons move simultaneously in the same direction. To one of the pistons B is connected by pivot 6* a pitman f, that engages the crank g of power-shaft g. The latter is rotatable in suitable bearings g and carries atone end a beveled gear-wheel 9", while the otherend is provided with a crank g2 engaging a pitman h of a gas-pump H. The gear-wheel g engages a beveled gearwheel 6Z2, fast on shaft (Z, so that the rotation of power-shaft Q will be transmitted to shaft (Z.

The explosive charge may. be introduced into chamber a (that constitutes the compression and explosion chamber) from the fuelmagazine in any suitable manner, according to the nature of the explosive medium. The drawings show the invention applied to a gas engine; but it is obvious that different explosive charges and different means for introducing the same may be employed. If, for instance, coal-dust is to be used, the construction must be adapted for thisparticular purpose.

The gas-pump H, having cylinder h and piston h, is double-acting,.so that at each stroke a certain quantity of gas is driven alternately through either of the fuel-pipes 1' 2? into either of the explosion-chambers a a of the two cylinders A. The quantity of gas admitted is regulated by inlet-valves a to accord to the work of the engine, said valves being influenced by the governor (not shown) in the usual manner. Between the outlet of each pipe Z and the explosion-chamber a there is mounted avalve 7', influenced by spring 7" and controlling the admission of gas and also the admission of air.

For compressing the air I employ the pistons B B in the following manner: The enlarged section a of each cylinder A is extended beyond the terminal position of the piston. This extended section is closed by a wall a,

so that an aircompression chamber a is formed. In order to reduce the entire length of the engine, part of crank-shaft g g is inclosed within one of the chambers a. Each chamber a has a check-valve (flfor the admission of air by suction during the inward stroke of the piston. The chamber a is connected to the chamber a by an air-pipe la, having valve 7;, such pipe connecting, therefore, the cylinder at opposite ends of the piston. The outflow of compressed air from pipe K: into chamber afis controlled by the valve j.

The burned or dead gases are exhausted from chambers a and (6 in the following manner: Each contracted cylinder-section a is provided with a series of circumferential exitports Z, which are so arranged that they are uncovered by piston-section I) when piston B is in its outermost position. These ports Z open into an exhaust-chamber m, that extends around cylinder-section a. From chamber at the exhaust-gases escape through pipe m. For the exhaust of the dead gases from chamber a I form in the step a an exit-port n, that opens into a valve-chamber 0, having valve 0. The stem 0 of valve 0 is engaged by a cam (Z fast on shaft (Z. The valve 0 is so timed that it will open during the inward stroke of piston B, and thus the dead gases may escape during such stroke through port a, chambers 0 m, and pipe on.

The cylinder-sections a may be provided With cooling-water jackets 1), while the sections (0 do not require such jackets, because they are cooled by the large quantity of air entering at each stroke through checkvalves a As the operation in both cylinders A A is the same, that of the left cylinder only will be described.

The left side of Fig. 1 shows the position of the piston B and valves 0, j, and u at or immediately after the explosion of the compressed charge in chamber (4 Valve ,7' had previously been closed by the pressure of the compressed charge within chamber a in manner hereinafter described. \V hen the explosion takes place, valve 0 is opened by cam (Z, so as to admit the exploded gases from chamber a to working chamber a" through port 0, while valve 0 is closed to prevent the exploded gases from escaping through chamber 0 into the exhaust. It will be seen that by the arrangement thus far described the exploded charge will simultaneously act upon the head 6 of piston-section I) and upon the step 72 of piston-section b, so that the charge is completely expanded and utilized. During the forward stroke of the piston the air in chamber a will be com- This compressed air will, through ressed.

pipe Z; and check-valve 7e, act upon the upper side of valve j; but as the pressure of the compressed air is considerably less than the pressure of the exploded gases in chamber a" the valve 7' will remain closed. When the piston B arrives atits terminal position, valve 0 is closed by cam 61. At the same time the exhaust-ports will be uncovered, so that the dead gases from chamber a will escape through chamber m and pipe 911/. By the escape of the gases from chamber a the pressure therein will decrease, so that at a certain moment the air-pressure at the top of valve j will overcome the gas-pressure at the bot tom of the valve, and thus the latter Will open. (The opening of the valve j may also take place before the completion of the outward stroke in case the air-pressure acting against one side of valve jexceeds, for any cause, the.

gas-pressure acting against its opposite side.) A strong air-blast will now enter chamber a" through pipe l: and valve j and completely scavenge chamber a. When the pressure of the air-blast has been expended, the valve j will be closed by its spring 7". Thus at the beginning of the back stroke of the piston chamber (0 contains pure air, which will be compressed, together with the gas, to be introduced in manner hereinafter described. Immediately after the piston B has commenced its back stroke the valve will be closed by suction in chamber a and pipe is. At the back stroke of the piston valve 0 is opened by its cam (P, so that the dead gases in chamber a will be driven out by the step 6 through port n, chambers 0 m, and pipe m. During the back stroke of piston B the piston 7& of the gas-pump H also moves inward to compress the gas within the pump for the subsequent admission of the compressed gas into the explosion-chamber (f. This admission of the gas will take place When valve 11 is opened for a certain time, depending upon the work of the engine, such time being automatically regulated by the governor in the usual manner. The gas under superior pressure will after passing valve '5 open valvej, so that it enters the chamber ('6 filled. with fresh air. After the proper quantity of gas has been admitted into chamber at" valve 2" is closed, and then valve jwill also be closed by its spring j. The mixture of gas and air is now compressed in chamber a by piston B, the valves 0 and j being closed. After the compression is completed the explosive mixture is ignited in suitable manner, and the operation is repeated.

The invention is equally applicable to double acting and single-acting explosive engines.

hat I claim is- 1. In an explosive-engine, a stepped cylinder and a stepped piston that form an explosion-chamber and a compressed-air chamber at opposite ends of the piston, and an intermediate expansion-chamber between the reduced piston-section and the wall of the enlarged cylinder-section,combined with a valvecontrolled by-pass connecting the explosionchamber with the expansion-chamber, and a pipe connecting the compressed-air chamber with the explosion-chamber, substantially as specified.

2. In an explosive-engine, a stepped cylinder and a stepped piston that form an explosion-chamber and a compressed-air chamber at opposite ends of the piston, and an intermediate expansion-chamber between the reduced piston-section and the wall of the enlarged cylinder-section, combined with a pipe connecting the compressed-air chamber with the explosion-chamber,a fuel-magazine, a pipe for connecting the same with the explosionchamber, means for controlling the flow of compressed air and fuel, to the explosionchamber, and with a valve-controlled by-pass connecting the explosion-chamber with the expansion-chamber, substantially as specified.

3. In an explosive-engine, a stepped cylinder and a stepped piston that form an explosion-chamber and a compressed-air chamber at opposite ends of the piston, and an intermediate expansion-chamber between the reduced piston-section and the wall of the enlarged cylinder-section, combined with a Valvecontrolled by-pass connecting the explosionchamber with the expansion-chamber, an exhaust-chamber, ports that connect said chamber with the explosion-chamber and expansion-chamber respectively, and an exit-valve ifin ctlhe exhaust-chamber, substantially as speci- 4:. In an explosive-engine, a stepped cylinder and a stepped piston that form an explosion-chamber and a compressed-air chamber at opposite ends of the piston, and an intermediate eXpansion-chamber between the reduced piston-section and the wall of the enlarged cylinder-section, combined with a pipe connecting the compressed-air chamber with the explosion-chamber, a fuel-magazine, a pipe for connecting the same with the explosionchamber, means for controlling the flow of compressed air and fuel to the explosion-chamher, a valve-controlled by-pass connecting the explosion-chamber with the expansion-chamber, a valve-controlled exhaust-chamber, and ports that connect said chamber with the explosion-chamber and expansion-chamber, respectively, substantially as specified.

Signed by me at New York city, (Manhattan,) New York, this 12th day of September, 1903.

ROBERT MILLER.

Witnesses:

B. N. OHMERS, J. MILLER.