IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: We EMIL CAPITAINE, Civil Engineer and OSCAR BRÜNLER, Merchant, both of
Berlin in the German Empire do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES, and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to improvements in gas engines and consists in an arrange-
ment of the passages for the inlet of the combustible gaseous compound into the
cylinder and in an arrangement for effecting the ignition of such compound.
These improvements are hereinafter described as applied to a gas engine which
may be employed as a rotary as well as a fixed gas engine, and is shewn in the
accompanying drawing in which Figs 1 and 2 are respectively sectional front and
end elevations; and Fig 3, a sectional view of the igniting arrangement drawn to
a larger scale than Figs 1 and 2.
A, A¹, are the cylinders-B, B¹, pistons-C, C¹, connecting rods-D, D¹, two
parts which form a hollow casing-E, E¹, E", crank shaft-L, L', bearings and V
igniting arrangement. The casing D. D¹ is combined with the cylinders A, A', in
such manner that each cylinder is in one piece with its respective half of the
casing D, D¹. The journal D" is also combined with or fixed to the casing D, D',
and is carried in the fixed bearing L serving as a pivot on which the whole
engine may turn. The part E" of the shaft E, E', E", is carried in the socket D¹¹I
whilst the part E is carried in the fixed bearing L. The rings R, R', connect the
two halves of the casing D, D¹, together. When the shaft E, E, E", is fixed
immovably in the bearing L, the engine, that is, the cylinders, pistons, etcetera
may be caused to turn round on the crank shaft, and the engine then resembles the
one described in the German Patent Specification Nº 7731. On the other hand,
if the cylinders and casing are made immovable and the shaft to turn, then the
engine will work like any ordinary fixed gas engine with revolving fly wheel S.
In the part E of the shaft E, E, E, is a passage e through which an explosive
gas mixture is conducted into the interior of the casing D. D¹. When the piston B
or B¹ is at the extreme end of its inward stroke, that is to say, in the position in
which the piston B¹ is represented in Fig 2, the passages G, G, for the admission
into the cylinder of the explosive gas mixture out of the casing are laid open or
free, as are also the passages H, H, for the escape of the burnt gases from the
cylinder. When the piston moves outwards, the passages G, G, as well as the
passages H, H, are covered and closed by the piston. In a manner similar to that
described in the German Patent Specification No 582 the gas mixture is then
compressed by the piston in the explosion space a within the cylinder. The gas
mixture streams in the direction of the arrows to the cylinder end and forces the
burnt gases out of the cylinder through H, H. In the position in which the
piston B is shewn in Fig 2 the gas mixture is supposed to be fully compressed. In

page_text: .
this position of the piston the gas mixture in the cylinder compressed by the
piston is ignited and the high pressure thereby generated in consequence of the
ignition of the gases, drives the engine as in the case of all similar engines.
The igniting arrangement which is clearly shewn in detail in Fig 3 consists of a
tubular part i surrounded by non conducting bodies, ¹, the whole being
surrounded and nearly enclosed within a casing V. Each of the pistons has an
orifice v formed in it which corresponds to and comes opposite the passage v so
soon as the respective pistons arrive in the position occupied by the piston B in
Fig 2. In this position of piston a small quantity of the compressed gas mixture
present in the cylinder passes to the interior of the casing D, D', through the tubular
part i, the passage v, the orifice v and the hollow or cavity of the piston. Previous
to the engine being started the tubular part i is made glowing hot whereby the
compressed gas mixture is there ignited when on its passage through i, v, and v¹.
A premature or too early ignition of the gas mixture is prevented by the residues
of combustion (burnt gases) which after each explosion fill up the space a in front
of the tubular part . Upon the cylinder being charged with the explosive gas-
mixture the space a is only partially freed from such residues of combustion. At
the moment of the ignition of the gas mixture in the cylinder a small portion of
the ignited highly heated gases escapes through i, v, and vl, and these highly
heated gases impart to the tubular part i always so much heat as the same loses by
radiation or conduction to the parts surrounding it so that the tubular part i is
maintained at a glowing heat during the time the engine is at work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. In gas engines effecting the supply of the gaseous mixture or compound
to the cylinder through the hollow shaft end E and the closed casing D, D¹
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In gas engines the passage G for the admission of the gaseous mixture or
compound into the cylinder, and the passage H for the exit of the used gases out
of the cylinder, such passages being so arranged in the cylinder as to be laid open
by the piston so soon as this latter approaches the end of its inward stroke the
passage G being of such form and arrangement that the gaseous mixture or
compound forced or passed into the cylinder through the same flows in a compact
stream to the cylinder end, whereupon the used gases present in the cylinder are
forced through the exit passage H which is also laid open by the piston, the
passages G and H being closed by the piston on its return stroke substantially as
described and illustrated.
3. In gas engines effecting the ignition of the gaseous mixture or compound by
means of the arrangement in the periphery of the cylinder-so as to pass through
the same of the passage i, v, in communication with the cylinder at two points,
which passage contains a glowing body at which the compressed gaseous mixture
or compound in the cylinder ignites so soon as the passage v formed in the piston
meets or comes opposite the passage i, v, and allows of the exit of the gaseous
mixture present in the cylinder substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 10th dow of Inno 1005
CAPITAINE & VON HERTLING,
Agents for the Inventors,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.