Improvements in the Valve and other Arrangements of Gas Bags for Gas Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Valve and other Arrangements of Gas Bags
for Gas Engines.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHESTER, of 13 Bedford Row, London W.C.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the valve arrangements and other details
of gas bags for gas engines and it is intended to perfect the action of such gas bags
so as to obviate more completely than hitherto the fluctuations of pressure in the
gas pipes supplying gas engines.
In one mode of carrying the invention into effect I arrange a metal ring or
cylinder of considerable diameter compared with its length and I enclose both sides
with rubber or other diaphragms suitably and conveniently attached to the metal
cylinder by rings or other device. The metal ring or cylinder carries the gas inlet
and gas exit pipes and with the two rubber sides forms the gas bag. To the upper
interior part of the metal ring or cylinder I attach stirrups or staples and suspend
from these stirrups a strip or strips of leather or other flexible material in such manner
as to form a loop or double or treble loop hanging towards the centre or below the
centre of the cylindrical gas bag. I attach the loop to the rubber sides at or near
the centre of the circle by plates and rivets at a point or position above the lower
end of the suspended loop. In the opening leading into the gas bag I place a loose
conical plug or valve which may be constructed of light sheet metal or preferably
of wood and I support this plug or valve by a light rod resting in the end of the
suspended loop and attach the end by eyelet, cord, wire or other convenient
method.
The length of the rod is so proportioned that when the rubber or flexible sides
of the gas bag are flat because of the absence of excess pressure of gas within the
gas bag, then the loop hangs in such position that the valve or plug allows very free
access from the gas supply pipe. If the suction from the engine causes the sides to
bulge inwards or become concave then the loop is in its most extended position
and the plug or valve is full open. When the gas pressure distends the flexible
sides then the loop is pulled up and acts like a toggle linkage on the rod
controlling the gas inlet valve or plug and so closes the plug or valve or diminishes
the inlet area to a greater or less extent. The valve thus opens more or less as the
bag requires more or less gas to supply it as determined by the requirements of
the gas engine.
In order to prevent too rapid movements of the gas plug or valve which would
tend to cause rapid fluctuations of pressure within the gas supply pipes, I some-
times attach above the valve or plug a closed case divided by a flexible diaphragm
of leather or other material which diaphragm I connect by discs and spindles or
link to the gas valve or plug. I pierce the disc or ring to which the spindle
or link is attached with a hole of regulated diameter and so the diaphragm
interposes resistance and acts as a dash pot to prevent too rapid variations of
the position of the valve and causes it to hold the valve approximately at a
position of mean area of gas inlet opening suited to any particular requirements of
the gas engine. This prevents rapid oscillation when the engine is taking its
charge and preserves an approximately constant flow into the gas bag although
the discharge from the gas bag to the engine varies according to each action of the
governor.
The
gas plug or valve may be supplied with a rubber ring to form a face if
required but in most cases I dispense with such a ring.
The dash pot may be inserted in other positions than those described wherever

page_text: sufficient movement exists to make it effective and resistances other than air
may be applied to damp the movement of the valve. A diaphragm having specific
resistance to flexure may be adopted and it may be arranged to act as gas valve
as well.
A rod clipped by a ring of rubber or metal clips may be used to set
up some frictional resistance to the movement. Liquid resistance too may be
applied by a perforated plate working, through a liquid and the liquid may be per-
manently retained by arranging the vessel holding it with the well known inverted.
cone used in ink bottles to prevent spilling.
In arranging a diaphragm to combine the functions of dash pot and valve I form
a suitable expansion at that portion of the casting where I place the gas inlet and
plane a face having a circular central recessed portion to form the diaphragm
chamber, I cut a joint of insertion cloth or other suitable material and cut holes
for the gas inlet, above this joint I bolt down a hollow plate carrying the gas inlet
aperture in the centre and having a suitable ring to clip the diaphragm between
the cover and the metal below.
I connect the centre of the diaphragm by small discs and a metal rod passing
through a small hole underneath, to the loop arrangement hereinbefore described,
and sometimes I arrange a regulated aperture to the diaphragm chamber but in
other cases I allow the rod to be of easy fit so as to dispense with a special aperture.
When such a diaphragm is rapidly moved by the centre rod, it is liable to bulge
on both sides of its original plane and so cause little change in volume with
considerable movement of parts of the diaphragın. This action would prevent any
accuracy in the adjustment of a valve carried by it if the valve were mounted at
the positions liable to movement of this kind. There is however a nodal line or
circle which is stationary notwithstanding the opposite movement of different parts
of the diaphragm and'! mount a ring valve on this line which consequently only
changes position when the quantity of gas confined by the diaphragm changes
volume. The ring edge is laid upon the diaphragm and the upper part is preferably
provided with feathers or wings entering the gas supply aperture; the valve thus
opens and closes as herein before described with reference to the plug valve and is
independent of opposite bulgings of the diaphragm.
The valve edge may be formed of smaller diameter than the nodal ring edge
to give a suitable area of valve opening and accommodate the particular diameter of
nodal circle peculiar to the diaphragm in use.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1801
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Valve and other Arrangements of Gas Bags
for Gas Engines.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHESTER, of 13 Bedford Row, London W.C.
Engineer, do hereby declare the 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 statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in the valve arrangements and other
details of gas bags for gas engines, and it is intended to perfect the action of such
gas bags so as to obviate more completely than hitherto the fluctuations of pressure
in the gas pipes, supplying gas engines.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying sheet of drawings;
in one mode of carrying the invention into effect I arrange a metal ring or
cylinder a of considerable diameter compared with its length, and I enclose both
sides with rubber or other diaphragms c, c', suitably and conveniently attached to
the metal cylinder by rings a', a² or other device. The metal ring or cylinder a
carries the gas inlet pipe, and gas exit pipe m, and with the two rubber sides

page_text: forms the gas bag. To the upper interior part of the metal ring or cylinder,
I attach stirrups or staples b', 6', and suspend from these stirrups a strip or strips >>
of leather or other flexible material, in such manner as to form a loop or double or
treble loop hanging towards the centre or below the centre of the cylindrical gas
bag. I attach the loop or loops to the rubber sides at, or near the centre of the
circle by plates and rivets 62, 12 at a point or position above the lower end of the
suspended loop b. In the opening e leading into the gas bag I place a loose conical
plug or valve such as (Figure 1) or d (Figure 4), which may be constructed of
light sheet metal, or preferably of wood; and I support this plug or valve by a
light rod d resting in the end of the suspended loop, and attach the end of the
said rod by eyelet, cord, wire or other convenient method. The length of the rod d
is so proportioned that when the rubber or flexible sides c, c¹ of the gas bag are
flat, because of the absence of excess pressure of gas within the gas bag, then the
loop hangs in such position that the valve or plug d' or fallows very free access
from the gas supply pipe e'. If the suction from the engine causes the sides to
bulge inwards or become concave, then the loop is in its most extended position,
and the plug or valve d' or fis full open. When the gas pressure distends the
flexible sides c, then the loop bis pulled up and acts like a toggle linkage on the
rod d controlling the gas inlet valve or plug, and so closes the plug or valve, or
diminishes the inlet area to a greater or less extent. The valve thus opens more or
less, as the bag requires more or less gas to supply it, as determined by the
requirements of the gas engine.
In order to prevent too rapid movements of the gas plug or valve d' or f, which
would tend to cause rapid fluctuations of pressure within the gas supply pipes,
I sometimes attach above the said valve or plug, a closed case & divided by a
flexible,diaphragm d³ of leather or other material, which diaphragm d³ I connect
by discs, and spindle or link as d, to the gas valve or plug. I sometimes pierce
the disc or ring d², to which the spindle or link d is attached, with a hole of
regulated diameter, and so the diaphragm interposes resistance, and acts as a dash-
pot to prevent too rapid variations of the position of the valve, and causes it to
hold the valve approximately at a position of mean area of gas inlet opening,
suited to any particular requirements of the gas engine. This prevents rapid
oscillation when the engine is taking its charge, and preserves an approximately
constant flow into the gas bag, although the discharge from the gas bag to the
engine varies according to each action of the governor.
The gas plug or valve d', f may be supplied with a rubber ring to form a face if
required, but in most cases I dispense with such a ring.
The dash pot may be inserted in other positions than those described wherever
sufficient movement exists, to make it effective, and resistances other than air may
be applied to damp the movement of the valve.
A diaphragm having specific resistance to flexure may be adopted, and it may be
arranged to act as gas valve as well. A rod d clipped by a ring of rubber or metal
clips may be used to set up some frictional resistance to the movement. Liquid
resistance too may be applied by a perforated plate, working through a liquid, and
the liquid may be permanently retained by arranging the vessel holding it with the
well known inverted cone used in ink bottles to prevent spilling.
This arrangement is shown at Figure 5, where d is the rod terminating in a
perforated disc n, which disc moves in the fluid o contained in the vessel p. The
disc n may, or may not, be perforated, but may be a loose fit in the vessel p.
The intention is to cause some hydraulic resistance.
In arranging a diaphragm to combine the functions of dash pot and valve, I form
a suitable expansion at that portion of the casting, where I place the gas inlet e,
and plane a face 1 (Figures 1 and 3) having a central circular recessed portion
to form the diaphragm chamber. I cut a joint of insertion cloth or other suitable
material, and cut holes g, g for the gas inlet; above this joint I bolt down a hollow
plate or casting k, carrying the gas inlet aperture e in the centre, and having a
suitable ring to clip the diaphragm d³ between the cover k and the metal face!

page_text: below. I connect the centre of the diaphragm d³, by small discs d² and a metal
rod d passing through a small hole underneath, to the loop arrangement 6 herein-
before described, and sometimes I arrange a regulated aperture from the gas bag
to the diaphragm chamber, but in other cases as in Figures 1 and 2 I allow the
rod d to be of easy fit, so as to dispense with a special aperture. When such a
diaphragm is rapidly moved by the central rod, it is liable to bulge on both sides
of its original plane and so cause little change in volume, with considerable
movement of parts of the diaphragm. This action would prevent any accuracy
in the adjustment of a valve carried by it, if the valve were mounted on the positions
liable to movement of this kind. There is however a nodal line or circle which is
stationary notwithstanding the opposite movement of different parts of the
diaphragm, and I mount a ring valve f on this line which consequently only changes
position when the quantity of gas confined by the diaphragm changes volume.
The lower ring edge of is laid upon the diaphragm and the upper part is sometimes
provided with feathers or wings entering the gas supply aperture, the valve thus
opens and closes, as hereinbefore described, with reference to the plug valve, and is
independent of opposite bulgings of the diaphragm.
The upper valve edge as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is formed of smaller diameter
than the nodal ring edge below, which rests upon the diaphragm, to give a suitable
area of valve opening, and accommodate the particular diameter of nodal circle
peculiar to the diaphragm in use.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively front sectional elevation, end sectional
elevation, and plan, of my gas bag having diaphragm d³, and ring valve f to rest
upon the nodal line of the said diaphragm.
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section showing the gas bag with my loop
arrangement b, and valve plug d', but without dash pot arrangement.
Figure 5 illustrates the application of my liquid dash pot.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1)-A gas engine gas bag, in which the valve or plug is actuated by the motion
of the flexible sides, the connection between the valve and the sides being made by
a flexible loop or loops and a rod or other link, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(2) A gas engine gas bag, in which the valve action is accomplished by a
flexible diaphragm, so arranged that the opening and closing of the admission
passage is effected on the nodal line of the said diaphragm substantially as herein-
before described.
(3) A gas engine gas bag, in which the valve and the flexible sides are connected
to a loop or loops as hereinbefore described, and a flexible diaphragm is employed
as a damper, whether the diaphragm be arranged to move a ring valve resting on
its nodal line, or not, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
drawings.
(4) A gas engine gas bag as herein before described when constructed in
accordance with the modification described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3,
or Figure 4 or Figure 5, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1891.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Strect, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.