Improvements in the Method of and Means for the Production of Motive Power for Tram-cars, Motor-cars, Launches and the like.

摘要

21,607. Nicolson, J. T. Oct. 30. Propelling ; brakes.-Relates to heated compressed-air engines for tramcars. The motor while driving the vehicle also compresses air, which is stored in reservoirs and is supplied through the valve 1, Fig. 1, to the pipes 3 and 5. Air passing to the pipe 3 is controlled by the reducing-valve 2 and the cock 2d, and is heated in the furnace 4 prior to passing to the motor valve 12. As the temperature varies, the thermostat 10, which comprises an annular chamber 10a filled with a fusible alloy and a weighted plunger 10b, adjusts the cock 2d by means of the links shown. The air in the pipe 5 passes through the branch 5c to the heating-coil 5d, and emerges at 4d and draws oil through the nozzle 7 of the injector burner 6, shown to an enlarged scale in Fig. 12, which consumes the vapour, the products of combustion passing with the heated air to the valve 12. The oil tank 9 communicates with the chamber 9c, in which is fitted an eccentrically-perforated disc 9e driven by worm gearing from the shaft 9f of a fan. The supply of oil to the injector is proportional to the speed of the fan, which is rotated by the air pressure in the pipe 5. The hot compressed air from the furnace on reaching the rotary valve 12 passes through ports 12c, 12d, 12e to the compound motor and air-compressing cylinders 14, 14a, and 14b, which are fitted with trunk pistons with top and bottom peripheral extensions which control the cylinder ports 14d. The motor valve 12 and air-compressor valve 19 are worked from the crank shaft by the chain gearing shown, the wheels 20, 20a of which are hollow for the admission of air to the three suction ports 19a of the valve 19, which has three discharge ports 19b, the air after compression passing through the central cavity 19e to the outlet 19f. Water for cooling enters by the pipe 19h, and passing through the channels 19g and 19i reaches the jacket 19j and then flows through a pipe to the jackets of the cylinders and pipe 12j to the central cavity of the valve, and leaving through orifices 12k passes to a jacket and pipe not shown. If the compression of the air is performed in two or more stages, air for the motor may be re-heated in the pipe 13, Fig. 1. The valves 12 and 19 are lubricated by the tubes 21a connected to the main lubricator 21, having a pipe 21b leading to the compressed-air reservoir. Equilibrium valves are fitted by means of which the pressure on the discharge side of the compressors is increased and serves to brake the vehicle.