US Patent: 31,722
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| Air Engine
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Patentee:
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| Jean-Joseph Étienne Lenoir (exact or similar names) - Paris, France |
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Patent Dates:
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| Granted: |
Mar. 19, 1861 |
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Patent Pictures:
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Joel Havens
"Vintage Machinery" entry for Reading Ironworks Co., Ltd.
"Vintage Machinery" entry for Dry Dock Iron Works
"Vintage Machinery" entry for Barrett, Exall & Andrewes
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Description: |
| This engine was manufactured in factories in Paris, France, Reading, England, New York, U.S.A & Leipzig and Stuttgart, Germany.
Abstract:
This my invention relates to engines, whether stationary or locomotive, in which the motive power is air dilated or expanded or heated by the combustion of an inflammable gas and it consists in or is based upon two fundamental principles, which constitutes the characteristic features of my discovery or invention, viz., first, the application of the combination or mixture with atmospheric air of lighting-gas or any other inflammable gas; second, the simultaneous action of both in a machine or engine deriving its elements of function from electricity and operating substantially in the manner of the ordinary steam-engine. From these statements it will appear that although I employ gas and air in the proportions of about eighty-five per cent of the latter to fifteen per cent. (which, by the way, is a maximum) of the former, this my engine cannot be classed among gas-engines. Indeed, the functions of the gas I employ do not consist in detonating or exploding it, thereby impelling the piston, as this has heretofore been done or suggested, but in the use of the gas as a fuel that can be instantaneously and regularly ignited, and without producing any shock, for the purpose of heating the air that is mixed with it. The air thus dilated or expanded will act on the piston in the same manner as steam would in ordinary steam-engines.
The cylinder, according to my invention, is made to act alternately as the generator of the motive power and as the recipient thereof, the elastic fluid acting with high pressure and expansively, according to the length of the cylinder. The products or residue of the combustion escape at regular intervals at each stroke of the piston, so that when in operation the engine has the appearance of a steam-engine, while in reality it is an engine working with dilated or hot air.
Engines constructed and operating according to my invention are easily regulated by applying the means of regulation or of adjustment upon either of the three component elements i. e., either upon the admission of air, or upon the flow of gas, or upon the apparatus generating electricity.
Instead of lighting-gas, the liquid hydrocarbons may be used by reducing the same into vapor, also pure hydrogen gas, sulphureous gas, the inflammable vapors or gases produced by the heating of the essence of boghead, gazine tar, or other hydrocar-bon, or of the mixture of said substances.
Claim:
The arrangement in an engine substantially as described, of the parts for the admission to the cylinder successively of air and inflammable vapor or gas in such requisite quantities and proportions as that the former shall act upon the piston by expansion on being heated by the ignition of the latter, as de- scribed, in combination with a device for igniting said vapor or gas by electricity at each end of the cylinder. |
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