Patent GB-189718546-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Internal Combustion or Explosive Engines.
Inventor: TOMLINSON THOMAS
Filed: 1897-08-10
Granted: 1898-11-10
Abstract: 18,546. Tomlinson, T. Aug. 10. Gas and explosive-vapour engines.-The engines work on a two-stroke cycle. The charge expands behind the piston for about a quarter of the out-stroke before it is ignited. The in-stroke is performed by the expansion of air compressed in front of the piston and into a reservoir during the out-stroke. The engines are particularly applicable to motor road vehicles. There are two pairs of cylinders b, one pair being shown in longitudinal section ; each pair has a common combustion chamber with the crank shaft l beneath it and connected to each piston by a pair of return connecting-rods. Air pumps d charge the reservoir v and supply the air for ordinary working and for starting, and act as a brake for suddenly stopping the engine. For this purpose, the amount of air compressed in the pump is regulated by slide valves w which uncover more or fewer of the ports w<2> in the sides of the pumps. Starting.-The engine is started by admitting air from the reservoir v to both sides of the pistons b<1>, the difference in the area of the two sides being sufficient to cause the pistons to move outwards; the pressure in c forces them inwards when the exhaust valve is open. When the engine s started the fuel supply and igniter are put into operation. Vaporizers; heating charge.-The exhaust pipe, the air pipe for supplying air for vaporizing the oil, and the oil pipe are coiled in a vessel which is filled with water and steam at as high and constant a pressure as possible. Valves and valve gear; reversing; igniting; speed regulating, non-automatic.-The admission valves h and the exhaust beat valves are balanced by making holes through their stems from their delivery sides to the space behind their guide-pistons. They are operated from cams on the shaft k, which may be connected by a clutch to a sleeve in either of two positions at 180‹ to each other. The sleeve is driven at the same speed as the crank shaft, and carries a cam for working the plunger of a Brayton oil pump ; the valve of the pump is worked from a cam on the shaft k. The stroke of the pump plungers is controlled by hooks r on levers s, which in turn are controlled by the pressure of the air in the reservoir acting on a piston t<3> of a cylinder t against a spring z<1>. The oil supply increases with the air pressure, and is cut off when the cylinder t is opened to the atmosphere. The stems of the admission valves h are attached to the sleeves m, which are operated by cams j, by spring grippers, which can be released at any part of their stroke to allow the valve to close by the grippers impinging against an adjustable lever s<1>. For igniting, an electric spark is employed controlled by a commutator on the shaft k, or on its sleeves which drive it. The current is cut off by the action of stopping the oil pumps. As the amount of oil consumed depends on the pressure of the air in the reservoir, the speed of the engine may be regulated by adjusting the valves w and controlling the amount of air compressed. In the Provisional Specification is described a device for withdrawing charges of oil from the reservoir, comprising a hollow rod containing a piston actuated by a screw and of adjustable stroke. The rod passes into and out of the reservoir.