reciprocating engine
TRANSCRIPT
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8/10/2019 Reciprocating Engine
1/4
( N o
M o d e l . )
N.
TESLA
RBGlPRooATING ENGINE.
P a t e n t e d
P e b . 6 , 1 8 9 4 .
Q .
5 1 4 , 1 6 9 .
? u e n t o z
7
/ . .
?
_ n u l l u
A
JU
o n
a
2
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8/10/2019 Reciprocating Engine
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UNITED
STATES
PATENT
OEEICEs
NIKOLA
TESLA
OF YORK
N .
Y .
RECIPROCATING
ENGINE.
SPECIFICATION f o r m i n g p a r t o f
L e t t e r s
P a t e n t N o . 5 1 4 , 1 6 9 ,
d a t e d
F e b r u a r y 6 , 1 8 9 4 .
A p p l i c a t i o n f i l e d A u g u s t
1 9 ,
1 8 9 3 . S e r i a l N o . 4 8 3 , 5 6 3 -
( N o
m o d e l . )
T 0 M _ Z whom t may
o n c e r n .
Be t known h a t I , NIKOLA
TESLA c i t i z e n
o f t h e U n i t e d
S t a t e s , r e s i d i n g
a t New Y o r k ,
i n
t h e county and S t a t e - o f New o r k ,
have
i n
_ v e n t e d c e r t a i n new
and u s e f u l Improvements
1 n
R e c i p r o c a t i n g
E n g i n e s ,
o f
which
t h e
f o l
l o w i n g
i s a
s p e c i f i c a t i o n ,
r e f e r e n c e
b e i n g
had
t o t h e d r a w i n g accompanying and f o r m i n g a
p a r t of t h e same.
[O
I n t h e i n v e n t i o n w h i c h f o r m s t h e
s u b j e c t o f
my r e s e n t a p p l i c a t i o n , my o b j e c t
h a s
b e e n ,
p r i m a r i l y
t o p r o v i d e an e n g i n e , w h i c h under
the
i n f l u e n c e
o f
an applied f o r c e such
as th e
e l a s t i c tension of steam or gas u n de r
pressure
2 5
30
3 5
4 5
s maintenance
o f
constant s p e e d . T h i s ,
w h i l e l
5 0
w i l l
y i e l d
an o s c i l l a t o r y movement
w h i c h ,
_ w i t h i n
v e r y
w i d e V
l i m i t s , w i l l b e
o f c o n s t a n t
p e r i o d , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f
v a r i a t i o n s o f
l o a d , f r i c
t i o n a l
l o s s e s
and
o t h e r
f a c t o r s which
i n a l l
o r d i n a r y
e n g i n e s
p r o d u c e c h a n g e i n
t h e
r a t e
o f
r e c i p r o c a t i o n .
The
f u r t h e r
o b j e c t s o f
t h e
invention
a r e
t o
p r o v i d e a m e c h a n i s m , c a p a b l e o f c o n v e r t i n g
t h e energy o f steam o r gas
under
p r e s s u r e
i n t o
m e c h a n i c a l power more
economically
t h a n
t h e
f o r m s o f e n g i n e
h e r e t o f o r e u s e d ,
c h i e f l y by
v e r c o m i n g
t h e l o s s e s
w h i c h r e s u l t
i n t h e s e by t h e c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h r o t a t i n g
p a r t s
p o s s e s s i n g
g r e a t i n e r t i a o f a r e c i p r o c a t
i n g s y s t e m ; w h i c h a l s o ,
i s b e t t e r
a d a p t e d f o r
u s e a t
h i g h e r
t e m p e r a t u r e s
and
r e s s u r e s , a n d l
which
s
c a p a b l e o f
u s e f u l
and
p r a c t i c a l
a p ;
p l i c a t i o n
t o g e n e r a l
i n d u s t r i a l p u r p o s e s ,
p a r
t i c u l a r l y
i n s m a l l > u n i t s .
The i n v e n t i o n
i s
based upon
c e r t a i n w e l l
known
mechanical
p r i n c i p l e s a
s t a t e m e n t
o f
which w i l l a s s i s t i n a b e t t e r understanding
o f t h e >
n a t u r e and p u r p o s e s o f t h e o b j e c t s
s o u g h t and r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d . H e r e t o f o r e ,
where the pressure o f steam
o r any
gas has
been u t i l i z e d and a p p l i e d
f o r
t h e p r o d u c t i o n
o f ` m e c h a n i c a l
motion
t h a s
been cust omary
t o
c o n n e c t w i t h t h e
r e c i p r o c a t i n g o r moving
p a r t s o f t h e engine a
f l y - w h e e l
o r
some
r o t a r y
s y s t e m e q u i v a l e n t
i n
i t s e f f e c t and o s s e s s i n g
r e l a t i v e l y
g r e a t
m e c h a n i c a l
i n e r t i a ,
u p o n
> w h i c h d e p e n d e n c e was
m a i n l y
p l a c e d
f o r t h e
s e c u r i n g
i n a
measure h i s
o b j
c t , r e n d e r s im
p o s s i b l e
t h e a t t a i n m e n t
o f
t h e
r e s u l t
a t
which
I have
a r r i v e d ,
and
s
a t t e n d e d by
i s a d v a n
t a g e s which b y my n v e n t i o n a r e
e n t i r e l y
ob
v i a t e d .
On
t h e
o t h e r - _ _ h a n d ,
i n c e r t a i n c a s e s ,
where
e c i p r o c a t i n g e n g i n e s
o r t o o l s have been
used
w i t h o u t
a r o t a t i n g system o f g r e a t i n e r
t i a , no
attempt s o f a r a s I know has been
made o
secure
conditions wh i c h woul d nec
e s s a r i l y y i e l d such r e s u l t s a s I have
r e a c h e d .
I t i s
a
e l l
known
r i n c i p l e
t h a t
i f
a
spring
p o s s e s s i n g
a
s e n s i b l e
i n e r t i a
be
brought u n
d e r
t e n s i o n , a s
b y b e i n g
s t r e t c h e d ,
and t h e n
f r e e d
i t w i l l perform
v i b r a t i o n s
which
a r e
i s o c h r o n o u s a n d ,
a s t o p e r i o d ,
i n t h e main de
pendent
upon
t h e
r i g i d i t y o f
t h e
s p r i n g , and
i t s own n e r t i a o r that o f the system o f wh i c h
i t mayv form an immediate p a r t . This i s
known to b e true in
a l l
cases
whe r e the force
vwhic h tends
t o
b r i n g t h e s p r i n g o r movable
s y s t e m i n t o
a g i v e n
p o s i t i o n i s
p r o p o r t i o n a t e
t o the displacement.
In carrying out
my
nvention
and o r
secur
i n g t h e
o b j e c t s
i n g e n e r a l t e r m s
s t a t e d
a b o v e ,
I
employ
t h e
energy
o f
steam
o r
gasunder
p r e s s u r e ,
a c t i n g
t h r o u g h p r o p e r m e c h a n i s m ,
t o
maintain
i n o s c i l l a t i o n a p i s t o n , a n d ,
tak
i n g advantage
f
t h e
law
above s t a t e d , I
con
nect with s a i d p i s t o n , o r
cause
o a c t
upon
t ,
a s p r i n g ,
under su c h
conditions a s t o auto
m a t i c a l l y r e g u l a t e t h e
p e r i o d
o f
t h e v i b r a
t i o n , s o t h a t t h e a l t e r n a t e impulses o f t h e
power im e l l e d
p i s t o n ,
and h e n a t u r a l v i b r a
5 5
6 5
7 0
t i o n s o f
the spring s h a l l
always correspond
i n
d i r e c t i o n
a n d c o i n c i d e i n t i m e .
V h i l e , i n -
t h e p r a c t i c e
o f
t h e i n v e n t i o n I
may employ any kind o f s p r i n g o r e l a s t i c body
o f which
t h e
law o r p r i n c i p l e o f
o p e r a t i o n
above d e f i n e d
h o l d s t r u e , I
p r e f e r
t o use
an
a i r
s p r i n g , o r
g e n e r a l l y
speaking
a
c o n f i n e d
body or
cushion f
an
e l a s t i c f l u i d , as the r n e
chanical d i i c u l t i e s i n t h e use o f ordinary r
m e t a l l i c
s p r i n g s
a r e
s e r i o u s ,
owing a i n l y , t o
t h e i r tendency t o
b r e a k . M o r e o v e r ,
i n s t e a d
o f p e r m i t t i n g
t h e
p i s t o n t o i m p i n g e d i r e c t l y
u pon
such cushions
within
i t s own c y l i n d e r ,
I p r e f e r ,
i n o r d e r
t o a v o i d t h e
i n i i u e n c e o f t h e
Varying
pressure f the steam r
gas
h a t a c t s
upon t h e p i s t o n and
which might
d i s t u r b
t h e
r e l a t i o n s necessary f o r
t h e maintenance o f
i s o c h r o n o u s v i b r a t i o n , and
a l s o
t o
b e t t e r u t i l
i z e t h e h e a t g e n e r a t e d by h e c o m p r e s s i o n , t o
emplo y an
independent
plunger connected
with
t h e
main
p i s t o n ,
and
.
chamber
o r c y l
i n d e r
t h e r e f o r ,
c o n t a i n i n g a i r which i s n o r
mally at
the
same
pressure
as the
external
a t m o s p h e r e , f o r t h u s a s p r i n g
o f
p r a c t i c a l l y
8 5
90
9 5
IDO
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8/10/2019 Reciprocating Engine
3/4
IO
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 5
c o n s t a n t r i g i d i t y
i s
o b t a i n e d , b u t
t h e
a i r
o r
g a s
w i t h i n t h e c y l i n d e r may be maintained
a t any p r e s s u r e .
In order t o
d e s c r i b e t h e
b e s t manner o f
w h i c h I am aware i n wh i c h the invention i s
o r
may e c a r r i e d i n t o
e f f e c t , I
r e f e r now t o
t h e
a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a w i n g w h i c h
r e p r e s e n t s
i n c e n t r a l c r o s s - s e c t i o n an e n g i n e embodying
my m p r o v e m e n t s .
A s
t h e main
c y l i n d e r
i n whic h works a
p i s t o n B . I n l e t p o r t s
O C
p a s s through t h e
s i d e s
o f
t h e c y l i n d e r ,
o p e n i n g
a t
t h e
m i d d l e
p o r t i o n t h e r e o f and on
o p p o s i t e
s i d e s . Ex
h a u s t
p o r t s D D
x t e n d through
t h e w a l l s o f
t h e c y l i n d e r and a r e
formed
with
branches
t h a t
open i n t o t h e i n t e r i o r o f
t h e
c y l i n d e r on
e a c h
s i d e o f
t h e i n l e t p o r t s and on o p p o s i t e
sides of the cylinder.
_
The i s t o n
B s
formed i t h two c i r c u m f e r
e n t i a l
g r o o v e s
E
F , which communicate
t h r o u g h
o p e n i n g s
G
i n
t h e p i s t o n
w i t h
t h e
c y l i n d e r
on
o p p o s i t e
s i d e s
o f s a i d p i s t o n r e
s p e c t i v e l y .
I
do
n o t
c o n s i d e r
a s o t
s p e c i a l importance
t h e p a r t i c u l a r c o n s t r u c t i o n and r r a n g e m e n t
o f
t h e c y l i n d e r , t h e p i s t o n and t h e p o r t s
f o r
c o n t r o l l i n g i t , e x c e p t t h a t i t i s d e s i r a b l e
t h a t
a l l the
p o r t s , and
more
e s p e c i a l l y ,
the ex
h a u s t
p o r t s
s h o u l d
be
made e r y
much
a r g e r
than i s
u s u a l l y
the c a s e , s o
t h a t
no
f o r c e
due
t o t h e
a c t i o n o f
t h e steam
o r
compressed a i r
w i l l
tend
o
r e t a r d
o r a e c t
the
return o f
the
p i s t o n i n e i t h e r
d i r e c t i o n .
The
p i s t o n
B
s s e c u r e d
t o
a p i s t o n r o d H
whic h works i n s u i t a b l e s t u f f i n g
boxes i n
t h e
heads
o f t h e c y l i n d e r
A .
This
r o d
i s
p r o
longed on one
i d e and extends t h rough
bear
i n g s
V i n
a c y l i n d e r I s u i t a b l y mounted o r
s u p p o r t e d
i n
l i n e w i t h t h e
f i r s t , and w i t h i n
which s
a d i s k
o r
plunger
J c a r r i e d b y
t h e
r o d I - I .
The
c y l i n d e r I
i s
w i t h o u t
p o r t s
' o f any kind
and
s
a i r - t i g h t e x c e p t
a s
a m a l l leakage may
o c c u r t h r o u g h
t h e
b e a r i n g s V ,
w h i c h
e x p e r i
ence has
shown
need not b e
f i t t e d
with any
very
c o n s i d e r a b l e a c c u r a c y .
The
c y l i n d e r
I
i s surrounded
by
a jacket K h i c h l e a v e s an
open space
o r chamber around
t .
The e a r ~
i n g s V
n t h e
c y l i n d e r I ,
e x t e n d
t h r o u g h t h e
j a c k e t
K o
t h e o u t s i d e
a i r and
t h e
chamber
between t h e c y l i n d e r and j a c k e t i s
made
steam o r a i r
t i g h t
a s by s u i t a b l e p a c k i n g .
The main supply pipe
L
f o r steam o r com
p r e s s e d
a i r
l e a d s
i n t o
t h i s chamber and t h e
two
p i p e s t h a t l e a d t o
t h e
c y l i n d e r
A
run
from t h e
s a i d
chamber i l
cups
M eing
con
v e n i e n t l y
a r r a n g e d
t o d e l i v e r o i l ' i n t o t h e s a i d
p i p e s f o r
l u b r i c a t i n g t h e
p i s t o n .
I n
t h e p a r t i c u l a r f o r m
o f e n g i n e
s h o w n , t h e
j a c k e t
K hich o n t a i n s t h e c y l i n d e r I i s p r o
v i d e d w i t h a i i a n g e N
y which
t i s screwed
t o t h e end o f
t h e c y l i n d e r
A . A m a l l cham
b e r O
s t h u s
formed which
has a i r
v e n t s
l ?
i n i t s s i d e s and r i p
p i p e s
Q e a d i n g o u t from
i t
t h r o u g h
which t h e
o i l
which
c o l l e c t s
i n i t
i s
carr ied o.
5 1 4 , 1 6 9
To e x p l a i n
now
h e o p e r a t i o n o t t h e d e v i c e
a b o v e d e s c r i b e d .
I n
t h e p o s i t i o n o f
t h e
p a r t s
shown
o r
when
t h e p i s t o n i s
a t
t h e
middle
p o i n t
o f i t s s t r o k e , t h e
p l u n g e r
J i s a t t h e
c e n t e r o f
t h e c y l i n d e r
I and
t h e
a i r
on both
s i d e s o f
t h e same i s a t t h e normal p r e s s u r e w
o t '
the
o u t s i d e
atmosphere.
I f a
source
o f
steam o r
compressed
a i r be
then
connected
t o
t h e
i n l e t p o r t s C C o f
t h e
c y l i n d e r A and
a
movement
be imparted t o
t h e p i s t o n
a s
by
a
sudden
b l o w , t h e l a t t e r i s caused t o
r e c i p
rocate
i n
a
manner
well understood.
The
movement
t t h e p i s t o n i n e i t h e r d i r e c t i o n
c e a s e s when t h e f o r c e
tending toimpel t
and
t h e
momentum
which i t has
acquired
a r e
c o u n t e r b a l a n c e d by t h e i n c r e a s i n g p r e s s u r e
o t '
t h e steam o r compressed a i r i n t h a t end
o f
t h e c y l i n d e r toward which
i t i s moving and
a s i n i t s
movement
t h e
p i s t o n
has
shut
t t a t
a
g i v e n
p o i n t ,
t h e p r e s s u r e
t h a t
i m p e l l e d
i t
and
e s t a b l i s h e d t h e
pressure
t h a t
tends
o r e
t u r n
i t , i t i s t h e n
i m p e l l e d
i n t h e
o p p o s i t e d i ~
r e c t i o n , and
t h i s
a c t i o n i s continued a s l o n g
a s t h e
r e q u i s i t e p r e s s u r e i s a p p l i e d . The
movements
o f t h e
p i s t o n
c o m p r e s s and r a r i t y
t h e a i r i n t h e c y l i n d e r I a t o p p o s i t e
ends o f
the same
l t e r n a t e l y . A orward
stroke
com
p r e s s e s t h e
a i r
ahead o f t h e
plunger
J which
a c t s a s a spring t o return
i t .
Similarly on
t h e back
s t r o k e t h e a i r
i s compr essed on t h e
o p p o s i t e
s i d e
o f t h e p l u n g e r J and
t e n d s
t o
d r i v e i t f o r w a r d . T h i s a c t i o n o f t h e p l u n g e r
upon
t h e
a i r contained i n
t h e o p p o s i t e
ends
o f
t h e c y l i n d e r i s
e x a c t l y
t h e same i n
p r i n c i
p l e
a s
though
t h e p i s t o n r o d
were c o n n e c t e d
t o
t h e
middle
p o i n t
o f
a
c o i l e d
s p r i n g , t h e
ends o f which
are
connected
o
f i x e d s u p p o r t s .
Consequently t h e two chambers
may
be con
s i d e r e d a s
a s i n g l e s p r i n g . The o m p r e s s i o n s
o f
t h e
a i r
i n
t h e
c y l i n d e r I and t h e
c o n s e
quent
l o s s
o f
e n e r g y
due mainly
t o t h e
im
p e r f e c t e l a s t i c i t y o t
t h e
a i r ,
g i v e
r i s e
t o
a v e r y
c o n s i d e r a b l e amount o f
h e a t .
This heat
I
u t i l i z e
by
o n d u c t i n g
t h e s t e a m o r compressed
a i r
t o
t h e e n g i n e c y l i n d e r
t h r o u g h
t h e cham
b e r formed
by
h e j a c k e t s u r r o u n d i n g t h e a i r
s p r i n g c y l i n d e r . The h e a t t h u s t a k e n
u p
and
used
t o
r a i s e t h e
temperature f
t h e steam
o r
a i r a c t i n g upon t h e p i s t o n
i s
a v a i l e d o f t o i n
c r e a s e t h e
e t l i c i e n c y
o f
t h e
e n g i n e .
I n
any
g i v e n
e n g i n e
o f
t h i s
kind t h e normal p r e s s
ure w i l l produce a
s t r o k e o f
determined
l e n g t h , and t h i s w i l l be i n c r e a s e d o r dimin
i s h e d
a c c o r d i n g
tothe i n c r e a s e o f
p r e s s u r e
above o r t h e
reduction
o f pressure below h e
normal.
I n
c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e
a p p a r a t u s
I a l l o w
f o r
a
v a r i a t i o n
i n
t h e l e n g t h o f s t r o k e
bygiving
t o
t h e c o n
l i n i n g
c y l i n d e r o f t h e
a i r
s p r i n g
p r o p e r l y d e t e r m i n e d d i m e n s i o n s . The r e a t e r
t h e p r e s s u r e upon t h e p i s t o n , t h e
h i g h e r
w i l l
be h e
d e g r e e o f c o m p r e s s i o n
o f t h e
a i r - s p r i n g ,
and t h e c o n s e q u e n t c o u n t e r a c t i n g
f o r c e
upon
t h e
p l u n g e r . The
r a t e o r
p e r i o d o f
r e c i p r o
c a t i o n
o f
t h e p i s t o n however
i s no
more d e ~
p e n d e n t upon t h e p r e s s u r e a p p l i e d t o
d r i v e
7 0
7 5
90
9 5
IOO
1 0 5
IIO
x 1 5
120
[ 2 5
-
8/10/2019 Reciprocating Engine
4/4
U L
IO
2 5
3 5
4 5
5 0
5 5
5 1 4 , 1 6 9
i t ,
t h a n
w o u l d
b e
t h e p e r i o d o f o s c i l l a t i o n o f
a
pendulum p e r m a n e n t l y
m a i n t a i n e d
i n
v i
b r a t i o n , upon t h e f o r c e which
p e r i o d i c a l l y
i m p e l s
i t ,
t h e e f f e c t o f
v a r i a t i o n s
i n s u c h
f o r c e
b e i n g m e r e l y t o p r o d u c e c o r r e s p o n d i n g v a r i
a t i o n s
i n t h e l e n g t h
o f
s t r o k e
o r
amplitude
o f
V i b r a t i o n
r e s p e c t i v e l y .
The
e r i o d
i s m a i n l y
> d e t e r m i n e d
by t h e r i g i d i t y
o f t h e a i r s p r i n g
and t h e
i n e r t i a
o f t h e moving s y s t e m , and I
may h e r e f o r e
s e c u r e any p e r i o d
o f
o s c i l l a
t i o n
w i t h i n v e r y wide
l i m i t s
by r o p e r l y p o r
t i o n i n g
t h e s e
f a c t o r s ,
a s by v a r y i n g t h e
d i
mensions f
t h e
a i r
chamber which
s
e q u i v a
l e n t t o v a r y i n g t h e r i g i d i t y o f t h e
s p r i n g ,
o r
b y a d j u s t i n g
t h e w e i g h t
o f
t h e m o v i n g p a r t s .
These c o n d i t i o n s a r e
a l l
r e a d i l y
d e t e r m i n a `
b l e , and an e n g i n e c o n s t r u c t e d a s h e r e i n de
s c r i b e d
may be m a d e t o f o l l o w
t h e
p r i n c i p l e
o f - operation above s t a t e d and
maintain
a
p e r f e c t l y u n i f o r m
p e r i o d t h r o u g h
v e r y
much
wider i m i t s
o f
p r e s s u r e than i n ordinary u s e ,
i t
i s
e v e r
l i k e l y t o
be
u b j e c t e d
t o
and
t
may
b e
s u c c e s s f u l l y used a s
a
prime
mover wher
ever a constant
r a t e
o f v o s c i l l a t i o n
o r speed
i s
r e q u i r e d , p r o v i d e d
t h e
l i m i t s
W i t h i n which
t h e
f o r c e s t e n d i n g t o b r i n g
t h e
m o v i n g s y s
t e m t o
a
given p o s i t i o n
a r e
p r o p o r t i o n a t e t o
t h e d i s p l a c e m e n t s , a r e
not
m a t e r i a l l y ex
c e e d e d .
The p r e s s u r e
o f t h e
a i r c o n f i n e d
i n
t h e
c y l i n d e r when t h e p l u n g e r
J i s i n i t s
c e n t r a l
p o s i t i o n w i l l
a l w a y s b e
p r a c t i c a l l y
t h a t o f t h e s u r r o u n d i n g a t m o s p h e r e , f o r W h i l e
thecylinder i s s o > c o n s t r u c t e d a s
not
t o per
mit such sudden e s c a p e
o f
a i r a s t o s e n s i b l y
i m p a i r _ o r modify
h e a c t i o n
o f t h e a i r
s p r i n g
t h e r e
w i l l
s t i l l
be
s l o w
leakage
f
a i r
i n t o o r
o u t
o f
l i t around t h e p i s t o n r o d a c c o r d i n g t o
t h e p r e s s u r e . t h e r e i n , s o t h a t t h e p r e s s u r e - o f
t h e a i r on o p p o s i t e s i d e s o f t h e plunger w i l l
always t e n d t o
remain a t t h a t o f t h e o u t s i d e
i atmosphere.
s
an instance o f the
uses
o which h i s en
g i n e may b e a p p l i e d
I h a v e
shown t s p i s t o n
r o d c o n n e c t e d w i t h a
pawl
R t h e o s c i l l a t i o n
o f which r i v e s a r a i n o f w h e e l s . These may
> c o n s t i t u t e the
t r a i n
o f a clock o r o f any
other
mechanism.
The pawlR i s p i v o t e d
a t
R
and t s b i f u r c a t e d end e n g a g e s w i t h t h e t e e t h
o f
t h e r a t c h e t Wheel a l t e r n a t e l y
v o n
oppo
s i t e
s i d e s o f
t h e
same
one end o f the
pawl
a t
e a c h
h a l f
o s c i l l a t i o n
a c t i n g
t o
p r o p e l t h e
wheel forward thr ough
t h e s p a c e
o f one
o o t h
when
t i s engaged and
l o c k e d
by t h e
o t h e r
~ endon
the l a s t half
o f
the o s c i l l a t i o n
w h i c h
b r i n g s
t h e f i r s t end i n t o p o s i t i o n
t o
engage
with another
tooth.
Another a p p l i c a t i o n o f
t h e
i n v e n t i o n i s
t o
move a conductor n a magnetic i e l d f o r gen
e r a t i n g
e l e c t r i c
c u r r e n t s , and i n t h e s e
and
s i m i l a r
u s e s i t
i s obvious t h a t t h e
c h a r a c t e r
i s t i c s o f t h e e n g i n e r e n d e r i t e s p e c i a l l y a d a p t
ed f o r use in
small s i z e s o r u n i t s .
Having now d e s c r i b e d
my
n v e n t i o n , what
I
claim is
l .
A
r e c i p r o c a t i n g
e n g i n e c o m p r i s i n g
i n
c o m b i n a t i o n , a c y l i n d e r , a p i s t o n anda p r i n g
c o n n e c t e d
with o r a c t i n g upon t h e r e c i p r o c a t
i n g e l e m e n t ,
t h e
s a i d s p r i n g
a n d
r e c i p r o c a t i n g
e l e m e n t
b e i n g r e l a t e d i n
s u b s t a n t i a l l y t h e
manner escribed
o t h a t t h e f o r c e s which
end
t o
b r i n g
t h e
r e c i p r o c a t i n g p a r t s
i n t o a g i v e n
p o s i t i o n a r e p r o p o r t i o n a t e t o t h e d i s p l a c e
m e n t s , whereby
an
i s o c h r o n o u s v i b r a t i o n
i s
o b t a i n e d .
2 . A e c i p r o c a t i n g e n g i n e c o m p r i s i n g i n
c o m b i n a t i o n ,
a
c y l i n d e r ,
a
p i s t o n i m p e l l e d by
steam
o r
gas under
r e s s u r e , and
an
i r
spring
maintained i n v i b r a t i o n by h e movements f
t h e p i s t o n , t h e
p i s t o n
and p r i n g
b e i n g
r e l a t e d
i n s u b s t a n t i a l l y the manner
described
o t h a t
t h e
f o r c e s
which
tend
t o
b r i n g
t h e r e c i p r o
c a t i n g
p a r t s
i n t o
a g i v e n
p o s i t i o n
a r e
p r o
p o r t i o n a t e
t o
t h e
d i s p l a c e m e n t s whereby
an
i s o c h r o n o u s
v i b r a t i o n i s o b t a i n e d .
3 . The
combination
o f a
c y l i n d e r
anda i s
t o n
adapted t o be
r e c i p r o c a t e d
b y steam o r
g a s under
r e s s u r e ,
a c y l i n d e r
and
a plunger
t h e r e i n
r e c i p r o c a t e d bythe
i s t o n
and
o n s t i
t u t i n g an
a i r
s p r i n g
a c t i n g upon
s a i d
p i s t o n ,
t h e
p i s t o n and
s p r i n g b e i n g
r e l a t e d i n t h e
manner described
s o that the f o r c e s which
t e n d t o b r i n g
t h e
p i s t o n i n t o
a g i v e n p o s i t i o n
a r e p r o p o r t i o n a t e
t o
t h e d i s p l a c e m e n t
w h e r e
by an
isochronous o s c i l l a t i o n
o f
t h e
p i s t o n i s
obtained
`
4 .
The
combination
f
a
y l i n d e r
and
p i s
t o n adapted t o be r e c i p r o c a t e d b y steam o r
g a s under r e s s u r e , a y l i n d e r and i s t o n con
s t i t u t i n g
an a i r s p r i n g
connected with
t h e
p i s t o n , a
j a c k e t
f o r m i n g a chamber around
t h e a i r s p r i n g
through
which
t h e
s t e a m - o r
compressed g a s i s passed
on
i t s way t o t h e
c y l i n d e r ,
a s
and f o r
t h e
purpose s e t f o r t h .
5 .
The
method o f producing i s o c h r o n o u s
movement
h e r e i n d e s c r i b e d , w h i c h c o n s i s t s i n
r e c i p r o c a t i n g a p i s t o n by steam o r g a s under
p r e s s u r e and c o n t r o l l i n g t h e
r a t e
o r p e r i o d
o f
r e c i p r o c a t i o n b y t h e v i b r a t i o n o f a s p r i n g , a s
set forth.
6 . The method f
o p e r a t i n g a r e c i p r o c a t i n g
e n g i n e
which
c o n s i s t s
i n
r e c i p r o c a t i n g
a
p i s
t o n ,
m a i n t a i n i n g
by h e
movements
f t h e p i s
t o n , t h e
v i b r a t i o n o f
an
i r spring
and apply
i n g t h e h e a t g e n e r a t e d
by
h e c o m p r e s s i o n o f
t h e s p r i n g t o t h e steam v o r
g a s d r i v i n g t h e
p i s t o n .
NIKOLA TESLA.
Witnesses:
PARKER
W . P A G E ,
R. F .
GAYLoRD.
6 5
7 0
7 5
8 5
90
9 5
IOO
1 0 5