US708637A - Combined gas and steam engine. - Google Patents

Description

' No. 708,637. l Patented sept. 9, |902.

w. HECKERT.

COMBINED GAS AND STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1901;)

EHiiiiiiiiiiii llllllllllllllll n CMBINED GAS AND STEAM ENGINE.

(Application fuga o'ce. 29, 1901.) (no Model.) l 5 sheets-sheet 2.

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N@ 708,637. Patented sept. 9, |902.-

v w. HECKERT.

COMBINED GAS AND STEAM ENGINE. Y (Appx'ication'fued' out. 29; i901.)-

(Nu Model.)

HHUWHUW I No. 708,637. y'

W. HECKEBT.

` Patenfed Sept A9; 1902.`

COMBINED GAS AND STEAM ENG|NE. V

(Application med oct. 29, 1901,)

(No Model.)

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W4 7. 3 .6, 00 D 7 a N COMBINED-GAS A'ND STEAM ENG'INE.

' (Application med oct 29, 1'901.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM IIEOKERT, on EINDLAY, OHIO, AssIGNoR oEoNE-IIALF To HENRY W. sENEY, OE TOLEDO, OHIO.

-COVMB|NED GASA'KND STEAM ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 708,637, dated-September 9, 1902.

p Application filed October 29, 1901. Serial No. 80,433. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: steari1- boiler. Any suitable charge of gas Be it known that I, WILLIAM HECKERT, a and air, vaporized naphtha, or other fuel used k citizen of the United States, residing at Findin any of the known gas, air, or oil engines lay, in the county of Hancock and State of may be intermittently admitted into the gas :,5 5 Ohio, have invented certain new and useful end of the cylinder, the fuel or mixture used Improvements in a Combined Gas and Steam being preferably determined and regulated Engine; and I do hereby declare the followwith reference to obtaining the greatest proing to be a full, clean-and `exact description duction of heat and the highest expansive of the invention, such as will enable others power at each ignition or explosion, and said 6o 1o skilled in the art to which it appertains to gases after expanding and spending their make and use the same. force against the piston instead of being ex- This invention relates to steam and gas enhansted and wasted at a high temperature, `eines or motors, and Inore `particularly to a as in t-beordinary gas-engines, are utilized as combined gas and steam engine. furnace-gases of combustion, being conveyed I5 The principal objects of the inventionare in suitable lire-dues `which pass through the to produce a highly efficient and economical water-boiler and then preferably further con? engine or motor combining all in one comveyed through succeeding series of tubes or pact arrangement a gas-engine and asteam lines which pass through and gradually heat engine and boiler and to provide means for the feed-water on its passage 'to the boiler 7o zo economizing in the use of fuel and more comand are finally exhausted at a low temperapletely utilizing the heat of the gas-engine or ture into the atmosphere. The heat taken expansive gases, which is usually wasted in up by the cylinder-walls is of course transgenerating steam as a further motive power Initted to the surrounding Water, While that for driving the engine. absorbed by the cylinder-head at the gas end 25 Other objects are to provide for continuis employed in heating the fuel before its adously and economically heating the feed-Wamission into the cylinder, the fuel'being iirst ter during its passage to the boiler and for introduced into a chamber adjacent to said preliminarily heating the propelling gas or cylinder-head. The steam generated'is prefergases before admission thereof into the pisablycollectedinasteam-domemountedon the 8o 3o ton-cylinder, to utilize to the best advantage boiler, and conveyed directly toa steam-chest the combined action of steam and explosive for introduction in theusual mannerinto the gases as a motive power, and to further utilsteam end of the cylinder, where it impels the ize the heat of the expanded gases in reheatpiston at each forward stroke of the engine, ing or superheating the steam which is being and to use the steam to better advantage the 35 used as a propelling force, and thereby lowspace between the piston-rod and cylinderering the temperature of the piston-cylinder7 walls is preferably reduced at the steam end, and finally to provide an improved machine thusconinngtheexpansion ofthe steam withof the character referred to which shall ocin limits suitable to the amount generated at cupy but little space while possessing great each gas-exhaust stroke of the piston. After 9o 4o power. exhaust the steam may be condensed and re- In carrying my in vention into effect the turned to the boiler by the feed-pump. It gas and steam are automatically and at difwill thus be observed that al highly efficient ferentintervals introduced into a pistonfcyland economical motor is provided the relainder at opposite sides ofthe Working piston, tive power of which developed from a given 45 which is thus impelled in reverse directions amount of fuel is greatly increased beyond by the said motive forces, and said cylinder that of either the gas or steam engine, the is preferably provided with an outer shell or motor having an additional impulse over the casing the intervening space between Which gas-engine at each forward stroke, thus seand the inner shell or cylinder proper is concuring more uniform speed, as well as greater loo 5o veniently utilized as a Water-chamber, servpower, and the heat of the motive gases loeing the double function of a water-jacket and ing completely utilized. Moreover, the heat taken up by the cylinder-walls at each ignition of the gas serves to reheat or superheat to an extent the steam next admitted and increase its expansive power, while the steam, in connection with the surrounding boiler, reduces the cylinder walls to a practical working temperature unattainable by water-jackets in the ordinary gas-engines, and serves also to lubricate and preserve the sides of the cylinder, thus considerably prolonging the life of the motor. Any suitable means may be provided for automatically controlling the supply and exhaust of gas and steam to their respective ends of the cylinder and for reversing and stopping or starting the motor, rendering the same adaptable fonpropeiling street-cars and other vehicles.

The invention consists in certain novel features and combinations, which will first be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and then pointed out in the claims following the description.

In said drawings, which illustrate one form of embodiment of my invention, and in which corresponding parts are designated by similar letters of reference in different views, Figure lis a side elevation of a combined gas and steam engine with boiler embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same with parts broken away, the piston-cylinder being shown in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. et is a front view. Fig.5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 7 is a detail of the cams and connections for operating the exhaust-valve of the gas-explosion chamber and the feedpump. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the application of a link motion and cooperating devices for reversing the engine; and Fig. 9 is a detail end View of the reversing-lever.

In said drawings the letter A denotes an ordinary engine crank-shaft with a fiy-wheel A thereon, mounted on a bed-frame B. C denotes a rod or pitman extending from the crank on said shaft and having a direct connection with the piston C' by means of a wristpin c, fitted in openings in the bifurcated head of a bolt c', inserted through an opening in the head of the piston and. secured by a nut at the opposite side; but any suitable connection may be employed.

D denotes the cylinder in which the piston works, having a water-space (l between its inner and outer walls and preferably constrncted in two diameters internally, the reduced portion d being of a length equal to the distance traveled by the piston, which fits snugly therein, and the larger portion d2 providing a suitable chamber for receiving the usual charge of gas and air or vaporizednaphtha, as in ordinary gas-engines, the admission of mixed gas and air to such chamber being controlled by a valve E and the exhaust by a valve E. These valves may be automatically operated at the proper time by any suitable mechanism, such as ordinarily employed for such purposes in gas and other engines, and which are so well known in the art that no description thereof herein is deemed necessary. The residue of combustion or waste products of the explosions are exhausted through the valve E and pass into a space F, formed around the end of the water-space d, Figs. 2 and 3, and thence into fire-flue tubes G, connecting the space or ue F with a similar space F at the opposite end of the cylinder, said tubes passing through said waterspace CZ. From this latter space the gases pass through an openingfdown into a space g at one end of a subjacent tube-chamber consisting, preferably, of upper and lower compartments and each containing a series or bank of tubes, through the first series of which the gases pass from the space g to a similar space g at the other end of the tubechamber and thence downward through an opening g2 to the space g3, from which the lower bank of tubes conduct the gases back again into a space g4, which communicates with the exhaust-pipe II. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 3.) The intermediate series or bank of tubes are denoted by the letter G' and the lower bank by the letter G2.

I denotes an ordinary water-boiler feedpump which may be connected with any convenient water-supply and driven by a counter-shaft K, geared to the engine crank-shaft, the piston of the pump being connected by a rod 7a with crank-pin 7a on a cam K', carried by the said counter-shaft K, the latter being so geared to the main crank-shaft A that the latter will make two revolutions to one revolution of the counter-shaft, so as to operate the gas-exhaust at each second reverse stroke of the piston. The pump communicates by a suitable line of pipe, as i, with the lower tube-chamber, as at t", into which chamber the feed-water enters and passes thence through a suitable opening or openings, as at i2, at the front of the boiler, into the central tube-chamber, and thence back and up through an opening or openings 3 into the water-space d around the cylinder D. The water-space cl communicates through a suitable opening in the top or outer wall of the cylinder D with a steam-dome L, from which a suitably-valved conduit or pipe m m leads to a valve-chest M, which may contain any suitable valve, connected with the crankshaft of the engine in any desired manner for controlling the admission and exhaust of steam, as in ordinary steam-engines. In Fig. .l of the drawings I have shown a rod n con- IOO IIO

necting a slide-valve within the steam-chest with a valve-operatin g lever N, pivotally supported at one end on the bed-frame and piv- 'otallyconnected at an intermediate point piston B in the usual way,`said pistou will be driven forward, imparting motion to the crankshaftand as the piston begins its first reverse stroke mixed gas and air will be admitted through the valve E, and on the next forward stroke said gases will be compressed inthe explosion-chamber d2 and at the proper time explodedby means of the well-known hot-tube igniter, such as at E2, to force back or impel the piston in a direction opposite to that in which it is impelled by the steam, gas being admitted on the first, third, and fifth reverse strokes, and so on, as in the wellknown Otto type of engine. Thus on the first reverse stroke, with reference to the steam side, gas is admitted inthe explosion-chamber.- On-the forwardstroke itis compressed. On the second reverse stroke it expands and does its work on the piston, and on the return stroke it is exhausted; and during: the next stroke gas is again admitted, and so on, steam being admitted at t-he opposite side of the piston at each forward stroke and exhausted through flues or pipes common to bothexhaust-valves. In Fig.v 8 is shown a sect-ion of thesteam-valve and its exhaust through some ofthe tubes through which the gases at the other end of the cylinder escape'. Inthis latter view I have sh'own for the purpose of permitting vthe engine to .be reversed a wellknown form of link-motion in place of the single eccentric and connectiousshown in Fig. l and which I will presently describe.

P denotes a rod which is jointed at one end to the exhaust-valve-operating level-p, whichv its roller p', to be moved horizontally or from side to side Atocause the roller p'to engage either one or the other of the two cam-surfaces yon -the cam K, so as to Vrun the engine either forward or back by causing said roller y to act on either the right or the left hand cam at will.` The construction ot said cam is shown more clearly in Fig. 7. As will be seen, it is double or has reversely-inclined cam-surfaces lc 7a2, with a dividing-flange 7c3 between them. When the roller" 1o' on the end ofthe rod P, operating the exhaust of the gas-explosion chamber, runs on the said dividing-flange, the exhaust will be heldV open continuously, and when the roller is shifted to the left-hand cam the engine will run to the left,`and when t-he roller is shifted to the right-hand cam the`engine will run to the right, or in a reverse direction.v

In Fig. 8 I have `shown a link-motion and operating-lever whereby both the steamand exhaust valves are shifted at the same time for reversing the `engine when desired, and especially when used to operate street-cars, or for other purposes where it is desired to run at different speeds or reverse the motors. In connection with the double eccentrics and connections l and 2 with the link-motion for operating the steam-valve I have shown an operating-lever R fulcrulned beside the exhaust-valve-operating rod' P,` the said lever R having an obliquely-arranged open -slotted end rto receive said rod, so that when the lever is raised or lowered for the purpose of shifting the steam-valve the end of the rod P carrying the cam-engaging rollerp' will be shifted laterally to cause the roller to be en` gaged by the cam-surface at the other side of` the camiK.

From the foregoing description, taken iny into the atmosphere at not less than 800 Fah-V IOO renheit, while in my engine such heated gases are treated the same as the 4hot gases of combustion under or in an ordinary boiler and are passed through fire-fines surrounded by water to receive said heat and generate steam in the water-space around or surrounding the cylinder, such cylinder now being considered as the combustion-chamber of an internallytired boiler, and as such no former method of ring boilers uses fuel with equal perfection oi' combustion and development and utilization of heat, every part ofthe combustion chamber being surrounded `by water,

through which the heated gases must pass at their highest temperature, thence pass down to the central bank of tubes surrounded by still colder water, thereby insuring a continued flow of heat from'gases to water while passing through this second set of tubes, then passing to a lower bank of tubes surrounded. by cold feed-water, where practically all available heat is recovered from the gases. The steam may be exhausted in the same way or it may be condensed, so as to permit the pump to return the water to the boiler, and thereby reduce both amounts of fuel and water required by all steam-motors by more than on ehalf in the development of the same horsepower. The heated cylinder of gas-engine, which the usual water-jacket fails to keep sufliciently cool, is by the introduction of steam at the opposite end of the same cylinder reduced to practical working temperature of best engine-s u rface, while increased energy is given the motor by introducing steam in the boilers combustion-chamber, and thereby further raising the temperature of the steam acting on the piston therein. With perfect mixture of gas and air compressed and consumed or explodedin engine-cylinder almost perfect combustion is insured, and as a result a high temperature in such combustion-chamber, and on the return stroke steam admitted at the other end of the cylinder comes in direct contact with the heated walls of this cylinder or part of combustion-chamber directly following after the heated gases are being pushed out by the other side of the piston, the steam being superheated and the intense hot walls of gas-engine lowered in temperature much more than by water-jacket alone. The combination of steam and gas motor requires much less fuel than is required by either of the old styles of engines giving or designed to give the same power, since the heat of combustion used by gas-engines is not available with steam-engines, but passes up the stack with the heated and expanded nitrogen, which does the work of the gas-engines. In my motor these separate portions of heat are each utilized, thereby giving twice the power from a given amount of fuel. It is also apparent that with my motor, using steam at each outward stroke and gas at every other reverse stroke, a more uniform speed is secured and that such steam-supply will admit of motors being stopped, started, and reversed the same as any locomotive when supplied with double or triple cylinders and link-valve motions, as hereinbefore stated.

It will be understood, of course, that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction and general arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, and I do not desire to be limited to the construction shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A self-contained motor or engine comprising in a unitary structure a cylinder having a water-space around the same, a subjacent water wayorpassage extending upwardly in a serpentine or zigzag course from a source of supply to said water-space, heat-flues extending downwardly from said cylinderto the exhaust through said serpentine or zigzag waterway, and a piston working in said cylinder having a suitable connection with the driving-shaft, together with mechanism for automatically controlling the admission and exhaust of steam at one side and of explosive gases at the other side of the piston to actuate the latter by the expansive force of said gases and steam operating alternately to drive the piston in opposite directions; substantially as described.

2. A self-contained motor or engine comprising in a unitary structure a cylinder having a water-space around the same opening into a steam-dome at the top, a subjacent water way or passage extending upwardly in a serpentine or zigzag course from a source of supply to said water-space, heat-flues forming a descending passage for the residue of heat and products of combustion from said cylinder through said water-space and subjacent water-passage, and a reciprocating piston working in said cylinder having a suitable connection with the driving-shaft, together with mechanism for automatically controlling the admission and exhaust of steam at one side and of explosive gases at the other side of the piston to actuate the latter by the expansive force of said gases and steam operating alternately to drive the piston in opposite directions; substantially as described.

3. A self-contained motor or engine comprising in a unitary structure a cylinder, a subjacent waterway ascending step by step in reverse directions from a source of supply to a water-space at the boiler, a passage for the residue of heat and products of combustion descending step by step through said ascending waterway, and a piston working in said cylinder having a suitable connection with the driving-shaft, together with means for automatically admitting explosive gases and exploding the same at every second reverse stroke of the piston, for effecting such reverse stroke, and means for automatically admitting steam at the other side of the piston for impelling it at each forward stroke, substantially as described.

4. A self-contained motor or engine comprising in a unitary structure, a cylinder having a water-space around the same opening into a steam-dome at the top, a subjacent Waterway gradually ascending from a source of supply to said water-space, a heat-passage gradually descending through said waterway to the exhaust, and a reciprocating piston working in said cylinder having a suitable connection with the driving-shaft, together with means for automatically admitting explosive gases and exploding the same at every second reverse stroke of the piston, for effecting such reverse stroke, and means for autoA iOO IIO

matically admitting 'steam at the 'other side of the piston for im pelling it at each forward stroke, substantially as described.

5; A motor or engine comprising in a unitary structure a cylinder having a surrounding Water-space and air spaces or fiues at its ends,tubes connecting said air-spaces through said water-space,a subjacent ascending Waterway connecting said water-space with a feedpipe, and other tubes passing through said subjacent waterway and connecting the airspaces With the exhaust; a piston Working in said cylinder, means for automatically admitting explosive gases at one end of said cylinder and for exhausting the residues of combustion into and out through said air-dues and tubes, and means for automatically controlling the admission and exhaust of steam at the other side of the piston for impelling the latter in a direction opposite to the action of the expansive gases, substantially as described.

6. A motor or engine consisting of a cylinderhavingasurrounding Water-space and firedues separated therefrom, one at each end, a subjacent waterway ascending from a feedpipe to said Water-space, fire-flue tubes connecting said flues through said water-space, other tubes connecting similar dues at opposite ends of the cylinder with an exhaust-pipe and passing downwardly through said subjacent Waterway, means for automatically admitting explosive gases at one end of said cylinder and igniting the same, and mechanism for automatically controlling the admission and exhaust of steam at the other` end of said cylinder to effect the movements of the pistou in one direction only, together With means for exhausting the residues of combustion through said i'ire-lues and ire-ue tubes,sub stantially as described.

'7. In a combined gas and steam engine, a cylinder having a piston-chamber, and an explosion-chamber at one end, together With a water-Space around the cylinderand dues at each'end separated from said Water-space by suitable partitions or Webs between the inner and outer Walls of the cylinder, a series of re` flue tubes connecting said lues through said Water-space, and a subjacent Water-chamber With re-iiue tubes therein connecting a Hue at the outlet from said first-mentioned fines, with a similar i'lue'at the other end of said water-chamber; the latter iiue communicating with the exhaust, so as to provide a zigzag course for the escape of the residues of combustion, together With a feed-pipe for supplying said Water-space through said fire-fluetube-containingWater-chamber,substantially as described.

8. In a combined gas and steam engine, a cylinder having a piston-chamber, and an explosion-chamber at one end, together with ar Water-space around the cylinder and flues at each end separated from said Water-space by suitable partit-ions or webs between the inner and outer walls of the cylinder, a series of tireiiue tubes connecting said iiues through said water-space, and a subjacent water-chamber with fire-flue tubes therein connecting a flue at the outlet from said first-mentioned fines With a similar vflue at the other end of said Water-chamber; the latter flue communicating with the exhaust, so as to provide a zigzag course for the escape of the residues of combustion, together with a feed-pipe'for supplying said Water-space through said {ire-lluetube-containing Water-chamber, and a steam- `Water-chamber at the ends thereof, tubes connecting said ues, an inlet-valve for the admission of explosive gases at one side of the piston, a valve at'the same side for exhausting the residues of combustion through said flues and tubes, and a valve at the other end of the cylinder for admitting steam to impel the piston in a direction opposite lto the direction given by the expansive gases, whereby the heat and residues of combustion resulting from the explosion of the gases is utilized in heating the feed-Water and reheating or superheating the steam, substantially as described.

lO. In combination with the cylinder having a water-space around the same, a steamdome mounted thereon; i'lues at the ends thereof, and tubes connecting said flues through said Water-space, a subjacent waterchamber having a series of tubes therein which communicate with the outlet from said flues at one end and With a similar flueatthe other end, other tubes connecting the latter fille through said subjacent chamber with the exhaust, and means for feeding the Water in a zigzag course through said subjacent-chamberin contact With said tubes and the Walls of said flues, substantially as described.v

1l. In a combined gas and steam engine a piston having areduced area working 'in the steam end of cylinder and an enlarged portion or area in end forming a gas-explosion chamber, said piston having a hollow extension or trunk extending through stuffing-box in one head of cylinder to receive the connecting-rod of engine and provide reduced steam-piston areaaround said extension in cylinder,as and for the purpose described.

12. In combination with the cylinder and its surrounding Water-space and subjaceut water-chamber, ues at the ends of the cylin- IOO heated as it ascends to the water-space at the Ic, top of the boiler, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I aflx my signature der and subjaeent chamber communicating at opposite ends, and a. series of pipes forming a, zigzag course for the escape of the residues of combustion through said Water-space in presence of two witnesses.

and subjacentcl1amber,togetl1er with a boiler WILLIAM HEGKERT feed-pipe and means for supplying Water in a zigzag course through said subjacent Water- Witnesses:

chamber and Water-space in Contact with the fixe-fiues,\vhereby the feed-Water is gradually LUCY WILSON, JOHN M. I-IAMLIN.

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