Liquid Piston Engine

[Brian]

The winter edition of the National Vintage Tractor and Engine magazine "Vaporising" has an extremely interesting article on page 9 about a Liquid Piston Engine that was built in the 1880's by M. Vogt.

It had two cylinders with a piston connected to a flywheel that pushed water up one cylinder then the other on the return stroke. Gas was introduced in the space between the water and the cylinder head which was then ignited. The expansion then pushed the water down the cylinder, acted on the piston which pushed the water into the second cylinder, compressing the gas and this was then fired.

Water lost by being turned into steam and ejected through the exhaust was replaced by an ingenious system of valves.

Just think of it though. No pistons, no rings, no big and little ends just water!

No need to worry about using ether in Dexta's in cold weather either. Would have to have lots of antifreeze though.

[Kiwi Kev]

Brian
Sounds interesting. I presume that with it being the 1880's it would be a stationary engine, or would that predate the combustion engine as we know it.
I've seen water pumps that lie in a small stream and will pump cotinuiosly using the water flow only as the motive power. Does not need a great flow of water to operate it either, will also pump a reasonably head.

I know you can't post the article on here, but it would make good reading for us people "over the ditch"

Thanks
Kiwi Kev

[commander]

Brian,
that does sound very interesting..too bad we can't all see the article. (perhaps the magazine publishers could be convinced to allow it to be posted) When I first read through your post I thought you were describing a stirling engine variant known as a fluidyne.
But then you talked about igniting gas in the cylinder. (a stirling would've been external combustion.)

Kev,
sounds like you are describing what's known here as a water ram. I have seen one working example, gentleman used it to pump water to a tank for use in his garden. If you're interested in these there is quite a bit of info available on the net and a number of plans and examples of homebuilt ones. I believe there are a few companies still making them commercially also.