GB280283A - Improved means for generating products of combustion for use in engines, turbines or rotary machines - Google Patents

Abstract

280,283. Levy, M. Aug. 11, 1926. Combustion-product plant. - In apparatus for generating products of combustion for use in an expansion engine or turbine 11, the apparatus comprising a double-ended cylinder 1, a free piston 2 and means for producing explosions at both ends of the cylinder, the piston is operated by the pressure of an incoming compressed charge. As shown, the cylinder is provided at each end with inlet and exhaust valves 3, 4 and a sparking plug 5. Combustible mixture under pressure is supplied from a main pipe 8 through pipes 7, and the main 8 may be connected to the pipes 7 in turn bv a butterfly valve 9 operated concurrently with the movements of the piston 2. The exhaust valves 4 are connected by pipes 10 to the expansion engine or turbine 11. In operation, mixture under pressure admitted to the end a of the cylinder drives the piston 2 to the right, expelling exhaust gases from the end b through the open exhaust valve 4. The left inlet valve 3 then closes, the mixture in the end a is exploded by the plug 5, the left exhaust valve 4 is opened and the exhaust gases escape until the pressure falls to that of the combustible mixture supply. The right inlet valve 3 is then opened, and mixture admitted to the end b drives the piston 2 to the left, expelling the remaining exhaust gases from the end a, whereupon the cycle is repeated. In a modification, the expansion engine 11 is a reciprocating engine, one of the cylinders of which supplies the compressed charge to the pipe 8 on the compression stroke and is supplied with exhaust gases from the cylinder 1 on the expansion stroke. In other forms, the inlet pipe. 8 is replaced by separate inlet pipes for gas and air, and a number of combustion chambers 1 supply a single expansion engine or turbine, the period of low pressure of the exhaust from one such chamber corresponding with that of high pressure of the exhaust from another, in order to maintain a high mean pressure.