Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 21st Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1887.
A
Improv
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of Gas motor engines wherein a
single acting working cylinder is combined with a pump for compressing the air
supply and a pump for compressing the gas supply in such manner that while the
piston is being propelled by the pressure produced by the combustion of a
mixture of gas and air, the air pump draws in a charge of air and the
gas pump draws in a charge of gas during a variable part of its stroke,
which latter charge during the return stroke of the working piston is compressed
while at the same time the charge of air is first forced by the air pump into the
working cylinder, assisting in the expulsion of the products of combustion and then
the compressed charge of gas is forced by the gas pump together with the air into
the working cylinder, so that by the time the working piston has completed its
instroke a chamber at the end of the cylinder is made to contain a compressed charge
of combustible gas and air, which is richest in gas at the firing port, and which is
then fired, so that the engine makes a working stroke at each revolution of the crank
shaft, the engine piston and the pistons of the air and gas pumps being all connected
to one and the same crank so as to make their strokes together. The power of the
engine is regulated, by regulating the gas supply to the gas pump, this supply being
entirely cut off when the normal speed of the engine is exceeded.
The accompanying drawings shew a gas engine constructed according to the above
described invention. Fig. 1 shews a sectional plan of the engine, the section through
the slide being taken on the line ed Figs. 3, and 3 while the section through the
same parts at Fig. 1 is taken on line a b. Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section,
Fig. 3 is an end view, with the slide removed. Fig. 4 is a part plan, shewing the gas
regulating valve in section, Fig. 3ª is a front view of the slide valve. Figs. 5
and 6 are vertical sections taken respectively on lines i Fig. 3 and efy Fig. 1.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 shew details of the cams, and Figs. 10 to 13 shew diagrams of
motion.
The piston of the working cylinder (1), and the two coupled pistons of the air pump
cylinder (2) and of the gas pump cylinder (3) are connected to the crank shalt (4) by
means of connecting rods, the cranks being set in the same direction and parallel fo
one another, forming one common crank as shewn.

page_text: .
The working cylinder (1) is generally similar in construction to that of the 'Otto'
engine, that is to say, it is of greater length than the stroke of the piston, so that,
when the piston is at the end of its instroke, there is a space of material capacity
between the latter and the back of the cylinder, which is to receive the compressed
charge.
In the air pump and gas pump cylinders, no more than the unavoidable so-called
waste spaces between pistons and cylinder ends are left at end stroke.
The valve shaft (5) receives its motion from the crank shaft, in such a manner by
gearing at (23) that it makes one revolution to one of the crank shaft. The valve
shaft, works the slide valve (6) by means of a crank (24) and the exhaust valve (7) of
the working cylinder, by means of the requisite intermediate parts of known construc-
tion, and likewise the ball governor (8) which serves to regulate or to cut off the
admission of gas into the gas cylinder (3) by means of a gas valve (9) acted on by a
cam and suitable levers.
The mode of operation of this engine is as follows:
When the working piston is at the end-of-its instroke (Fig. 1), the engine doing its
normal work, the rear space in the working cylinder (1) is filled with a compressed
mixture of combustible gases or vapours and atmospheric air, and, with a portion of
the products of combustion, which had not been expelled.
Towards the end of the just completed stroke of the piston, gas and air will have
been admitted simultaneously to the space of (1) through the inlet passage (10) in
such manner that, when the piston attains the end of the instroke, a richer explosive
mixture is present in the passage (10) than there is in the charging space of (1), in
which the explosive mixture has been diluted by a surplus of air and a portion of the
residual products of combustion. The ignition of the mixture compressed in the
space of (1) is effected by a flame burning in a cavity (22) of the slide (6). This
flame on being brought to the aperture of the passage (10) securely effects the ignition
of the richer mixture contained in the passage (10).
The pressure produced by the combustion of the charge causes the working piston
to perform its outstroke during which work will be performed by expansion and
transmitted to the flywheel shaft.
During the same outstroke, the piston of (2) draws atmospheric air into the air
pump cylinder through the passage (11), the cavity (21) in the slide (6), and through
the pipe (12) which communicates with the surrounding atmosphere. The piston of
the gas cylinder (3) as a rule, draws in gas during a variable part of the stroke, or it
may draw in no gas at all when no combustible charge is to be formed'; in which
case a partial vacuum will be produced in the gas cylinder.
The admission of the gas is controlled by a cam (25) Fig. 8 acting on a bell crank
lever (13) and causing it to open the gas admission valve (9) at the commencement
of the suction period. The gas from the valve (9) passes through the connection
pipe (14) and through the cavity (15) in the slide to the intermediate valve (16), and
this being held open during the suction period, it passes on through the pipe (17) to
the gas pump.
During this time the slide valve (6) has been moving in the direction of the arrow
(see slide valve diagram Fig. 10), so that at the end of the suction period, the slide
has again attained the position shewn on the drawing.
The quantity of gas to be admitted can be varied at pleasure for the purpose of
regulating the power of the engine, by means of the oblique cam (25) shewn in
Fig. 8, which by the action of the ball governor (8) causes the gas valve (9) to be held
open either during the whole stroke or only a part of it, according to its relative
position on the shaft, in a similar manner to the gas admission cam of the Otto
engine.
When the pistons have attained the end of their outstroke, they commence, simul-
taneously their return stroke in the three cylinders under the following circumstances.
The piston of the working cylinder (1) expells the products of combustion,
discharging them into the atmosphere through the exhaust valve (7) which has been
made to open for this purpose. At the same time the slide valve (6), which at this

page_text: moment is in the position shown in Fig. 1, begins to establish a communication
between the air cylinder (2) and the cylinder space of (1) by means of the passage (11)
the cavity (21) in the slide, and the passage (10).
The atmospheric air previously drawn into the cylinder (2) is now forced into the
cylinder (1) by the piston and assists in the expulsion of the residual products of
combustion contained in the cylinder (1) and parily mixes with them.
In the gas cylinder (8), the gas will be compressed, if gas has previously been
drawn in during the whole stroke, the intermediate valve (16) being closed but if
gas has been drawn in during part of the outstroke only, the partial vacuum produced
will be equalized and the work expended previously in producing a vacuum will be
driven out again.
The exhaust valve (7) of the working cylinder (1) is made to close at about one half
of the stroke of the piston, by means of a cam (26) Fig. 9 on the valve shaft and
suitable levers. As soon as the exhaust valve (7) has closed, the intermediate
valve (16) is opened by means of the cam (18) Fig. 7 and the bell crank lever (19)
Fig. 3, so that the gas from the gas cylinder (3) may pass through the pipe (17) to
the intermediate valve (16) which has been opened, thence to the cavity (15) in the
slide, and to the passage (20) in the slide cover, thence to the cavity (21) in the slide,
and finally to the inlet passage (10) of the working cylinder and into the cylinder
itself.
In this engine therefore by the action of the air and gas pumps first fresh air, and
afterwards, during the remaining part of the instroke, gas together with air are
admitted through the passage (10) into the compression space (1). The mixture
thus stored up in the passage (10) and cylinder space (1) is thus compressed by the.
joint action of the three pistons until these have attained the end of their instrokes.
When the working piston has arrived at the end of its instroke, ignition is
effected, and the above described cycle of operations begins again, so that, in this
engine an explosion takes place at every revolution of the crank shaft.
The operations in the three cylinders, during one revolution of the crank, are
represented diagrammatically in Figs. 11, 12 and 13.
The above described construction of engine embodies the following advantages,
which are peculiar to it.
It admits of an almost perfect expansion of the gases, which are at a high pressure
after combustion, the degree of expansion depending on the ratio, which the volume
of the charging or compression space is made to bear to the volume swept through
by the piston of the working cylinder.
Although the capacities of the gas and air pumps have to be in a suitable proportion
to the capacities of the charging space, yet, by varying the time, when the exhaust
valve closes, and the gas valves open, the quantity and composition of the charge
can be regulated at pleasure. The efficiency of this engine will therefore be of a
very high degree.
The mode of regulating this engine by introducing more or less gas into the
charge, produces a very high degree of uniformity in the working of the engine.
The ignition is rendered very secure, even with weak charges, in consequence of
a strong explosive mixture being always present in the inlet passage.
Moreover, in consequence of the air pump forcing first pure air through the
working cylinder, after the explosion and working stroke have been effected, the
cylinder is cooled, and the residuary products of combustion are expelled, so that
when the gas enters the cylinder no premature ignition can be caused.
As there is only one crank to work the pistons of the three separate cylinders,
this engine occupies only very little space.
ADEL & IMRAL,
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Gas Motor Engines.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
tlie nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statenient :-
This invention relates to an improved construction of Gas motor engines wherein a
single acting working cylinder is combined with a pump for compressing the air
supply and a pump for compressing the gas supply in such manner that while the
piston is being propelled by the pressure produced by the combustion of a mixture of
gas and air, the air pump draws in a charge of air and the gas pump draws in a charge
of gas during a variable part of its stroke which latter charge during the return stroke
of the working piston is compressed, while at the same time the charge of air is first
forced by the air pump into the working cylinder, assisting in the expulsion of the
products of combustion, and then the compressed charge of gas is forced by the gas
pump together with the air into the working cylinder, so that by the time the working
piston has completed its instroke a chamber at the end of the cylinder is made to
contain a compressed charge of combustible gas and air which is richest. in gas at the
firing point and which is then fired, so that the engine makes a working stroke at each
révolution of the crank shaft, the engine pistons and the pistons of the air and gas
pumps being all connected to one and the same crank so as to make their strokes
together. The power of the engine is regulated by regulating the gas supply to the
gas pump this supply being entirely cut off when the normal speed of the engine is
exceeded.
Referring to the drawings accompanying my provisional Specification No: 5804 of
1886, Fig. 1 shews a sectional plan of a gas motor engine constructed according to
the above described invention the section through the slide being taken on the line e d
Eigs. 3 and 3, while the section through the same parts at Fig. 1 is taken on line ah.
Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section, Fig. 3 is an end view with the slide, removed,
Fig. 4 is a part plan shewing the intermediate gas regulating valve in section, Fig. 3
is a front view of the slide valve, Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sections taken respectively
on lines i Fig. 3 and e, f, y Fig. 1. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 shew details of the cams and
Figs. 10 to 13 shew diagrams of motions.
The piston of the working cylinder (1) and the two coupled pistons of air pump
cylinder (2) and of the gas pump cylinder (3) are connected to the crank shaft (4) by
means of connecting rods the cranks being set in the same direction and parallel to
one another, forming by preference one common crank as shewn. The working
cylinder (1) is generally similar in construction to that of the "Otto" engine, that
is to say it is of greater length than the stroke of the piston so that when the
piston is at the end of its instroke there is a space of material capacity between
the latter and the back of the cylinder, which is to receive the compressed charge.

page_text: In the air pump and gas pump cylinders no more than the unavoidable, so called
waste spaces
between pistons and cylinder ends are left at end-stroke.
The valve shaft (5) receives its motion from the crank shaft in such a manner
by gearing at (23) that it makes one revolution to one of the crank shaft. The
valve shaft works the slide valve (6) by means of a crank (24) and the exhaust
valve (7) of the working cylinder by means of the requisite intermediate parts of
known construction such as are used in the "Otto" engine, and likewise the ball
governor (8) which serves to regulate or to cut off the admission of gas into the
gas cylinder (3) by means of a gas valve (9) acted on by a cam and suitable
fevers, also as in the "Otto engine." The mode of operation of this engine is as
follows:
When the working piston is at the end of its instroke (Fig. 1) the engine doing
its normal work, the rear space in the working cylinder (1) is filled with a con-
pressed mixture of combustible gases or vapours and atmospheric air, and with a
portion of the products of combustion which had not been expelled. Towards the
end of the just completed instroke of the piston, gas and air will have been
admitted simultaneously to the space of (1) through the inlet passage (10) in such
manner that when the piston attains the end of the instroke, a richer explosivo
mixture is present in the passage (10) than there is in the charging space of (1) in
which the explosive mixture has been diluted by a surplus of air and a portion of the
residual products of combustion.
The ignition of the mixture compressed in the space of (1) is effected by a
flame burning in a cavity (22) of the slide 6. This flame on being brought to the
aperture of the passage 10 effects with certainty the ignition of the richer mixture
contained in the passage (10).
The pressure produced by the combustion of the charge causes the working piston
to perform its outstroke during which work will be performed by expansion and
transmitted to the flywheel shaft. During the same outstroke the piston of (2) draws
atmospheric air into the air pump cylinder through the passage (11) the cavity (21)
in the slide (6) and through the pipe (12) which communicates with the surrounding
atmosphere. The piston of the gas cylinder (3) as a rule draws in gas during a
variable part of the stroke or it may draw in no gas at all when no combustible charge
is to be formed, in which case a partial vacuum will be produced in the gas cylinder.
The admission of gas is controlled by a cam (25) Fig. 28 acting on a bell crank (13)
and causing it to open gas admission valve (9) at the commencement of the suction
period. The gas from the valve (9) passes through the connection pipe (14) and
through the cavity (15) in the slide to the intermediate valve (16) and this being held
open during the suction period it passes on through the pipe (17) to the gas pump.
During this time the slide valve (6) has been moving in the direction of the arrow
(see slide valve diagram Fig. 10) so that at the end of the suction period the slide
has again attained the position shewn on the drawing.
The quantity of gas to be admitted can be varied at pleasure for the purpose of
regulating the power of the engine by means of the oblique cam (25) shewn in
Figure 8 which by the action of the ball governor (8) causes the gas valve (9) to be
held open either during the whole stroke or only a part of it according to its relative
position on the shaft, in a similar manner to the gas admission cam of the Otto
engine.
When the pistons have attained the end of their outstroke, they commence simul-
taneously their return stroke in the three cylinders under the following circumstances:
The piston of the working cylinder (1) expels the products of combustion,
discharging them into the atmosphere through the exhaust valve (7) which has been
made to open for this purpose. At the same time the slide valve (6) which at this
moment is in the position shewn in Fig. 1 begins to establish a communication
between the air cylinder (2) and the cylinder space of (1) by means of the passage (11)
the cavity (21) in the slide and the passage (10).
The atmospheric air previously drawn into the cylinder (2) is now forced into the
cylinder (1) by the piston and assists in the expulsion of the residual products of

page_text: •
combustion contained in the cylinder (1) and partly mixes with them.
In the gas
cylinder (3) the gas will be compressed if gas has been previously drawn in during
the whole stroke, the intermediate valve (16) being closed, but if gas has been
drawn in during part of the outstroke only the partial vacuum produced will be
equalized and the work expended previously in producing a vacuum will be given out
again. The exhaust valve (7) of the working cylinder (I) is made, to close at about
one half of the stroke of the piston, by means of a cam (26) Fig. 9 on the valve shaft
and suitable levers." As soon as the exhaust valve (7) has closed, the intermediate
valve (16) is opened by means of the cam (18) Fig. 7 and the bell-crank (19) Fig. 5
so that the gas from the gas cylinder (3) may pass through the pipe (17) to the inter-
mediate valve (16) which has been opened, thence to the cavity (15) in the slide and
to the passage (20) in the slide cover, thence to the cavity (21) in the slide, and
finally to the inlet passage (10) of the working cylinder and into the cylinder itself.
In this engine therefore, by the action of the air and gas pumps first fresh air and
afterwards, during the remaining part of the instroke, gas together with air are
admitted through the passage (10) into the compression space (1). The mixture thus
stored up in the passage (10) and cylinder space (1) is thus compressed by the joint.
action of the three pistons until these have attained the end of their instroke.
When the working piston has arrived at the end of its instroke, ignition is effected
and the above described cycle of operations begins again, so that in this engine an
explosion takes place at every revolution of the crank shaft.
r
The operations in the three cylinders during one, revolution of the crank are repre-
sented diagrammatically in Figs. 11, 12 and 13.
2
The above described construction of engine embodies the following advantages
which are peculiar to it. It admits of a very perfect expansion of the gases which are
at a high pressure after combustion, the degree of expansion depending on-the ratio
which the volume of the charging or compression space is made to bear to the volume
passed through by the piston of the working cylinder.
Although the capacity of the gas and air pumps have to be in a suitable proportion
to the capacities of the charging space yet by varying the time when the exhaust
valve closes and the gas valves open, the quantity and composition of the charge can
he regulated at pleasure. The efficiency of this engine will therefore be of a very
high degree.
"
"The mode of regulating this engine by introducing more or less gas into the charge
produces a very high degree of uniformity in the working of the engine.
+
Thic ignition is rendered very secure even with weak charges in consequence of a
strong explosive mixture being always present in the inlet passage.
Morcover in consequence of the air pump forcing first pure air through the working
cylinder after the explosion and working stroke have been effected, the cylinder is
cooled and the residuary products of combustion are expelled so that when the gas
enters the cylinder no premature ignition can be caused.
As there is only one crank to work the pistons of the three separate cylinders this
engine occupies comparatively little space.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner. the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is--
1. In a gas motor engine the combination of a single acting working cylinder with
an air pump and a gas pump, the pistons of said air and gas pumps performing their
strokes in time with the working cylinder piston, the air pump drawing in its charge
during the working outstroke of the engine piston and discharging its contents into
the engine cylinder during the entire instroke of the engine piston so as to assist in the
expulsion of the products of combustion and allow the escape valve to be closed at
about one half the instroke of the engine piston, while the gas pump draws in a
variable charge during the outstroke of the engine piston and forces that charge into
the engine cylinder after the closing of the escape valve and while the charge of the
engine cylinder is, being compressed by the completion of the instrokes of the engine
piston and air pump piston substantially as herein described.

page_text: 2. In a gas motor engine the combination with the working cylinder (1) of an air
pump (2) moving in time with the engine piston and communicating with the
cylinder (1) through passages (10) and (11) and cavity (21) of slide (6) making one
to and fro motion for each revolution of the crank shaft, the pump (2) being made to
draw in a charge of air while the engine piston performs its working outstroke, and to
force that charge into the engine cylinder through the slide valve during the return
stroke, during the first part of which the products of combustion are expelled through
an escape valve while during the last part the charge of air introduced is compressed,
substantially as herein described.
3. In a gas motor engine the combination with the engine cylinder (1) of a gas
pump (3) moving in time with the engine piston and communicating with the gas
supply valve (9) through pipe (14), slide cavity (15), valve (16) and pipe (17) and
with the cylinder (1) through pipe (17) valve (16) and slide cavity (15), the pump (3)
being made to draw in a variable charge of combustible gas while the engine piston
performs its outstroke, then to compress the charge during the first part of the
instroke of the engine piston, and lastly to deliver the charge into the engine cylinder
during the last part of the piston's insiroke, substantially as herein described.
4. In combination with a gas motor engine, a gas pump receiving a charge of gas
through a regulating valve and delivering such charge into the engine cylinder
through an intermediate valve actuated by a cam on the slide valve shaft, the said
intermediate valve being opened by the cam to allow the charge of gas to pass to the
working cylinder after the gas pump has performed part of its instroke, substantially
as and for the purposes herein described.
5. In a gas motor engine the combination with a working cylinder (1) of an air
pump (2) and a gas pump (3) having their pistons coupled together, and a single
crank (4) actuating the pistons of all three cylinders simultaneously, as and for the
purposes described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.