Improvements in Toy Motors.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toy Motors.
A communication by the Firm of JEAN SCHOENNER, of 7, Dammstrasse,
Nuremberg, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 :-
Among the toy models serving more particularly for instruction, small motors,
suitable for producing a small amount of power, take, in recent times, one of the
foremost positions, corresponding to the progressive development and extension of
technology. This industry has hitherto been limited merely to the manufacture
of steam motors. Toy gas-motors have, on the other hand, not hitherto been
known, although such, in consequence of the possibility of obtaining a somewhat
large amount of power and the wide distribution of gas-motors in all branches of
manufacturing industry, may be considered as peculiarly suitable for toy models.
The reason for this must be found in the difficulties which are encountered in
producing a reliable working gas-motor of the necessary small dimensions, regard
being had simultaneously to the simplicity and cheapness requisite for this
special purpose.
This invention has for its object the production of a toy gas-motor, which, by
reason of its peculiar mode of action, construction and arrangement of the main
parts, is very suitable for making on a small scale, and further places clearly before
the eyes of the persons playing with it (which is of great importance) the principle
of the operations in the cylinders of gas-motors.
This improved toy gas-motor is made on the principle in which the mixture of
gas and air present in the cylinder is not first compressed before being exploded.
It works in the following manner :-
On the moving forward of the piston out of its rear end position, first air and
then gas is drawn in, thereupon the mixture formed is ignited immediately behind
the piston, and the latter is driven forward to the end of its stroke by the resultant
expansion. On the return of the piston, the gaseous products of combustion are
forced out through the air inlet opening.
The arrangement of motor acting on the above named manner is shown on the
accompanying drawing in Figures 1 to 8,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gas-motor :
Figure 2, a plan view:
Figures 3, 5 and 7, sectional views of the piston in different positions :
Figures 4, 6 and 8 are details.
At the deepest point of the cylinder a, namely in the cover b, is formed the air
inlet opening c¹ forming the mouth of a passage c bored through the projection d.
This passage is interrupted by a piston slide e, which is moved vertically to the
axis of the cylinder, and, according to the position which it assumes, closes the
opening c to the outer air, or, by means of its perforation e', connects the sanie
with the outer air. Somewhat further along there is placed, on the circumference
of the cylinder, a gas admission valve f, which is connected, by means of 'the
branch and the pipe g, to the gas main.
Both valves are automatically closed by means of springs h and i and operated
by means of the spindle k at the side of the cylinder.

page_text: On this spindle there are, for this purpose, two eccentric discs or projections
and m, which, on the rotation of the spiudle k, act on the front ends e² and of the
valves e and fand press down the same, overcoming the resistance of the springs h
and i. The discs and m are so formed that the opening of the air or of the gas
inlet always takes place at the right moment.
The ignition in this improved toy or model motor is brought about by means of
an open lighting flame, which burns from a tube r placed outside the cylinder and
opening beneath the ignition opening o. This last named opening o is covered by
a valve p, which opens inwards. The valve p may, however, be omitted, and the
ignition may take place directly by means of the opening o, which is a very
small one.
The gas-motor arranged in this manner works as follows:-
In the deepest position of the piston, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the air
admission passage c is opened, and the piston therefore first draws in air on moving
forward. The dise is so formed that, after the requisite quantity of air has been
drawn in, the slide e is released, and springs upwards by means of the spring hand
thus closes the air inlet. When this moment has been reached, the gas valve fis
opened by means of the disc m, and the requisite quantity of gas is supplied to the
cylinder, which mixes with the air already contained in the same. The ignition
opening o, which was hitherto covered by the piston k, is so arranged that the
piston passes away and has its rear edge only over the same when the mixture of
gas and air has been completed. The valve p, in case such is employed, opens
consequently inwards, and the flame r', following the draught of air, passes into
the cylinder, where it ignites the explosive mixture. The piston k is driven forward
into its front, end position by means of the power of expansion thereby developed.
When this position is attained. the air inlet is opened by the disc l, and, on the
subsequent return of the piston, the products of combustion are expelled through
this opening. The ignition valve is thus closed, and the gas inlet valve also remains
closed during the return movement.
The same process is repeated on the piston again moving forward, and a regular
movement of the motor is produced by the above described simple means, as has
been determined by thorough experiments.
In order to equalise small inequalities of the valves, unavoidable in toys, changes
in the composition of the mixture of gas and air, and local circumstances, there is
arranged in the cover of the cylinder a second air valve 9, which opens on the
piston moving forward and also allows air to flow in. The movement of this
secondary air-valve may be regulated by means of a screw s, so that the quantity
of air conveyed through the same may be increased or diminished according to
requirements. As the essential constituents, more particularly the valves, lie at
the outside, and their function may be followed with the eye, the mode of action
of the motor is clearly visible from the outside, and the principle of the gas-motor
may be more easily understood by means of this model in a comprehensible
manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A toy gas-motor, operating in such a way that, on the moving forward of the
piston, air first enters from the rear, and, after the air inlet has been closed, gas
enters the cylinder at a point arranged further forward, the mixture formed in the
cylinder being then exploded immediately behind the piston, whereby the latter is
driven forward to the end of its stroke, whilst, on the return of the piston, the
products of combustion are expelled, substantially as described and shown.
2. In a toy gas-motor such as described in Claim 1, the admission of fresh air
and the expulsion of the products of combustion, by means of a common passage e,
arranged on the rear end of the cylinder and regulated by means of a perforated
slide e arranged vertically to the axis of the cylinder, which slide receives its

page_text: motion, together with a gas inlet valve farranged further forward, from a spindle k
provided with eccentric discs or projections / and m, substantially as described and
shown.
3. In a toy gas-motor such as described in Claim 1, a secondary adjustable air
inlet valve g, whereby the supply of air (and, correspondingly, the composition of
the mixture of gas and air) may be varied according to requirements, substantially
as described and shown.
Dated this 29th day of May 1894