Improvements in Gas and other Explosive Engines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas and other Explosive Engines.
JOHN FLETOHER SHAW 2 Elvey Street Nowton Heath Manchester, Draughtsman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in gas & other explosive engines, whereby
increased expansion can be obtained from the exploded gases. The explosion expan-
sion, if necessary, partial exhaustion, feed & further exhaustion, & compression, are
accomplished in one revolution of the crank shaft. In a cylinder surrounded by a
water jacket, & having two diameters, in which works a properly fitted piston with
two diameters, which I call the working piston, which piston is connected to the
crank, on the crank shaft, by a suitable connecting rod. The smaller diameter of the
said working piston is hollow, or through it is formed a passage or passages which
communicate with the larger diameters of the said working piston & cylinder. In
the said smaller diameter of the said working piston is a valvo or piston, which
controlls the said passage or passages, one end of which passes through the end of
the working piston connected to the connecting rod end, & is in contact with the
connecting rod end, or a heel or mechanism for the purpose of controlling the said
piston or valve. In the smaller diameter of the cylinder & at the end or near the end
fartherst from the crank shaft are ports or passages for the feed, & the firing of the
explosive gases. In the larger diameter of the cylinder, is an exhaust passage or
passages, which are placed at any desired point of the stroke of the piston, & which
point is determined, so as to obtain, the greatest advantage, from the engine.
said passage, or passages, are controlled by the piston, passing over them, or hy a
valve, or valves, mechanically or otherwise worked. The valves for feeding & firing
the explosive gases are ordinary lift valves, or slide valves, or V shaped valves, or flat
valves, with properly arranged ports, or passages, for mixing, the said explosive
gases, & firing the same, which said valves are worked mechanically or otherwise,
from the crank shaft, or otherwise. The mixing of the explosive liquids, with atmos-
pheric air, the said liquids, are sprayed by a sinall pump in the mixing chamber, or
passage, or otherwise vaporized, but I do not bind myself to any particular design
or mode of mixing. The firing of the explosive gases, can be accomplished by
electricity, or a naked light, or a hot tube, but I don't bind myself to any particular
mode of firing. The regulating of the feed supply is accomplished by governors.
The feed valve being selfacting or worked from the crank shaft or otherwise.
The operations are as follows.
The
When the crank is on the dead centre & at its instroke, the explosive gases are then
under compression, ready for firing, at the same time, the valve or piston, which
controlls the passage, or passages, in the small diameters of the working piston, which
communicates with the larger diameters of the working piston, & cylinder, is opened
by the heel on the end of the connecting rod, or mechanism for that purpose. When
the firing takes place, the exploded gases drive the piston forward, the increased
pressure caused by the explosion acting on both diameters of the piston, & thus giving
increased space for expansion.
When the piston has travelled to any desired point of its outstroke, (which point
will be determined so as to obtain the greatest advantage from the engine). If
necessary, the exhaust passage, or passages, in the larger diameter of the cylinder,
will then be opened, mechanically or otherwise, & the pressure, above atmospheric
pressure, if any, in the cylinder, allowed to exhaust. As soon as the pressure in the
cylinder has been reduced to atmospheric pressure, the exhaust passage or passages,
if open, will immediately be closed, & at the same time, or nearly the same time the
feed valve will be opened, & the piston while travelling the remainder of its stroke

page_text: will draw in a new charge of explosive mixture, and as tho feed enters at the small
end of the cylinder, the larger diameter of the working piston will draw out all, or
nearly all of the foul or otherwise gases, from the smaller end of the cylinder, through
the aforesaid passages in the smaller diameter of the working piston, while the new
charge will fill up the space, or smaller diameter of the cylinder. When the working
piston has reached the end of its outstroke, the small piston or valve in the smaller
diameter of the working piston will then be closed, & during the whole or nearly the
whole of the return stroke, the new charge, in the smaller diameter of the cylinder,
will be compressed, while in the larger diameter of the cylinder, & at the beginning
of the return stroke, the exhaust passages will be opened mechanically or otherwise
& will remain open during the whole or nearly the whole length of the return stroke
of the piston, to allow the remainder of the exploded or otherwise gases to be forced
out of the said larger diameter of the cylinder.
When the working piston reaches the end or nearly the end of its instroke, the
exhaust passage or passages in the larger diameter of the cylinder, will be closed, &
the small piston or valve in the smaller diameter of the working piston will be opened,
and allow communication between the larger & smaller diameters of the cylinder &
working piston. The explosive gases will again be fired & the piston driven forward
until the exhaust passage or passages are opened or atmospheric pressure is reached.
The cycle then being repeated.
Dated this 15th day of December 1888.
improvements in Gas and other Explosive Engines.
JOHN FLETCHER SHAW 2 Elvey Street, Newton Heath Manchester in the county of
Lancashire, Draughtsman, 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 gas & other explosive engines, whereby
increased expansion can be obtained from the exploded gases. In the accompanying
drawing
Figure 1. is a sectional elevation of the engine.
Figure 2. is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 3. is a plan of the engine.
Figures 4. & 5 are longitudinal sections of the working piston showing the valve, h,
with passages, g¹ & g, with modified modes of working the said valve h.
Figure 6, is an enlarged sectional view of a double faced lift valve, m, which
controlls the exhaust passages && valve box P.
C
The discription & oporations are as follows. In a cylinder a, having two
diameters a & a surrounded by a water jacket b. & in which works a properly fitted 4
piston with two diameters c & c which I call the working piston which piston is con-
nected to the crank d, on the crank shaft, e, by a suitable connecting rod. The
smaller diameter c¹, is hollow or through it is formed a passage or passages g² & g³,
which communicate with the larger & smaller diameters of the said cylinder a¹ & a².
In the smaller diameter of the said working piston e' is a valve or piston, h, which 4
controlls the said passages gone end of which passes through the end of the
working piston & is controlled by a heel, on the connecting rod end j. or mechanism o.
shown in Figure 5. In the smaller diameter a³ of the cylinder a. & at the end or
near the end furtherst from the crank shaft are ports or passages k & k³ for the feed
& firing the explosive gases. In the larger diameter a¹ of the cylinder a, is an
exhaust passago . which can be placed at any desired, point of the piston's stroko,
but I prefer placing it at the point l, as shown in Figure 1. The said passage, l, is
controlled by a double faced lift valve m, which said valve is worked by the lever P.
which lever is worked by the cam q. on the shaft r, shown in Figure 3, which shaft,

page_text: is driven by bevel wheels.s. s. from crank shaft, e, or the said passage 1. might be con-
trolled by the piston passing over it, if I determined to have the said passage at any
other point of the stroke. The valve n. controlls the feed passage k & is an ordinary
lift valve, which said valve is worked by the lever p' which lever is worked by cam q¹
on shaft r. the valves or mechanism for mixing the said explosive gases or liquids or
vapours with atmospheric air & for firing the same can be of any suitable design.
The regulation of the speed of the engine can be accomplished by any suitable method.
The operations are as follows, when the crank d. is on the dead centre & at its instroke,
the explosive gases, are then under compression ready for firing. At the same time the
passages are opened by the valve or piston, ' which valve or piston is controlled,
by the heel on the end j of the connecting rod, f, or mechanism o. Fig. 5. When the
firing takes place, the exploded gases drive the working piston forward. The increased
pressure caused by the explosion, acting on both diameters of the piston, & thus
having increased space for expansion. When the piston has travelled half way or
about half way of its outstroke, the exhaust passage l. in the larger diameter of the
cylinder will then be opened by the double faced valve m, & the pressure above
atmospheric pressure, if any in the cylinder, allowed to exhaust, as soon as the pressure
in the cylinder, has be reduced to atmospheric pressure, the exhaust passage L. will
immediately be closed, by the top side of the double faced valve, m, and at the same time
or nearly the same time the foed valve, n. will be opened by the lever p¹ Fig. 3. & the
piston while travelling the remainder of its out stroke will draw in a new charge of
explosive mixture, and as the feed ontors at the small end, a², of the cylinder a. the
larger diameter, c, of the working piston will draw out all, or nearly all of the foul
or otherwise gases from the smaller end a² of the cylinder a. through the aforesaid
passages g¹ & g² in the smaller diar. c¹ of the working piston, while the new charge
will fill up the space or small diameter a of the cylinder a. When the working
piston has reached the end of its outstroke, the valve or piston, h, will be closed by
the spring t. & during the whole length of the return stroke, the new charge in the
smaller diameter a of the cylinder a. will be compressed, while in the larger diameter
a', of the cylinder a. & at the beginning of the return stroke, the exhaust passages &
will be opened & will remain open during the whole or nearly the whole length of
the return stroke of the piston, to allow the remainder of the exploded or otherwise
gases to be forced out of the said larger diameter a¹ of the cylinder a. When the
working piston reaches the end, or nearly the end of its return stroke the exhaust
passage, 2, in the larger diameter a¹ of the cylinder, a. will be closed & the valve or
piston,, will open the passages 9 & allow communication between the larger &
smaller diameters of the working piston & cylinder. The explosive gases will also
again be fired & the piston driven forward the cycle is then repeated, which cycle is
completed in one revolution of the crank shaft.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention, & in what manner the same is to be performned, I declare that
what I claim is-
First. In an engine worked by gas & other explosive mixtures, a cylinder having
two diameters in which is a working piston, with two diameters & through which are
passages &g opening communication between the smaller & larger diameters of
the cylinder. The larger diameters providing increased space for the expansion of the
exploded gases & drawing the foul gases out of the smaller dia. a of the cylinder a,
and assisting in drawing in a new charge, substantially as, & for, the said purpose,
herein set forth & illustrated.
Second. In an engine worked by gas & other explosive mixtures a working piston
with two diameters, in the smaller of which is a valve or piston h. which controlls the
said passages g¹ & g³ one end of which passes through the end c. of the working piston,
& is controlled by a spring t. & a heel jou the connecting rod end j. or mechanism o.
in Fig. 5, substantially as, & for the purpose herein before set forth & illustrated.
Third. In an engine worked by gas & other explosive mixtures a cylinder with two
diameters with passages for feeding, firing & exhausting. To which said cylinder

page_text: is attached the valve box, 12, with properly fitted valve seats in which works the double
faced lift valve, m, Fig. 6, for controlling the exhaust passages 1. & 1, & the mode of
working the said valve substantially as, & for the purpose, herein set forth.
Fourth. An engine worked by gas & other explosive mixtures constructed with all
or any of the improvements shown or described.
Dated this 14th day of September 1889.
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