IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Emmet at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th January 1882.
CHARLES EMMET of Leeds in the County of York.
ENGINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
Gas engines constructed in accordanco with my improvements may be either
horizontal or vertical
Firstly my improvements have reference to horizontal engines.
I employ a cylinder from which motion is conveyed to the crank shaft through
piston connecting rod and crank in the usual way, I arrange the opposite end of
the cylinder to that at which the explosion takes place to act as a cold air pump
and is provided with an ordinary cover and stuffing box, also lifting inlet valves. I
also provide a receiver of suitable size to hold the air supplied by such pump. The
cylinder is fitted with an exhaust valve arranged in communication with an
annular port surrounding the inner or crank end of cylinder This annular port
communicates with the interior of cylinder through longitudinal slots, these being
placed at crank end of cylinder.
A plunger or pump is attached to the engine frame for the purpose of supplying
gas, and provision is made that such pump can be readily disconnected from engine
and worked by hand, the object of this being for the purpose of starting the
engine. I also provide an arrangement whereby the quantity of gas pumped may
be varied. A receiver for the gas is attached to the engine having overflow valve
arranged in such a manner that any overflow of pressure may pass back into the
pump barrel thus ensuring a constant and regular pressure in the gas receiver. A
communication is made by means of a pipe between the gas receiver and a chamber
formed in the rear of cylinder cover.
This chamber is put in communication with the interior of cylinder by a number
of small holes arranged in a concentric or other convenient manner so as to
subdivide the gas into a number of jets and prepare it for more readily mingling
with the pure air in the cylinder. A rotary hollow plug shaped lighting valve is
Price 1071

page_text: applied to the cylinder or air valve box and is actuated by preference from crank
shaft through bevel and spur gearing. The chamber which is provided in the
interior of the plug shaped lighting valve is supplied with a jet or Haine for the
purpose of igniting the combustible gases. As this valve rotates it receives a
supply of gas which is ignited by a fixed atmospheric burner through ports in
walls of rotating valve. The light in the valve chamber is carried round
until the port in valve arrives in communication with the port provided
in cylinder or air valve box and causes the required explosion A supply
of gas is kept up to the valve chamber until just before the explosion takes
place. The chamber of the valve after the explosion is filled with products of
combustion which it is necessary to remove. I effect this end by placing the valve
chamber in communication with air pump end of cylinder. By this means a
quantity of pure air is drawn through it thus clearing it of its contents; having
the effect also (by such supply of fresh air) of increasing the heat of the lighting
Bame consequently more effectually igniting the explosive charge in the cylinder.
In order to prevent the force of explosion driving back the gas into the port which
supplies the light an overflow port is provided and arranged in such a manner that
the feed port at certain times is placed in direct communication with the atmosphere
and at such times the pressure of gas from the interior forces out the products of
combustion. The lighting valve is so arranged that it can be operated by hand
and in my engine there is no necessity to turn round the flywheel to start it. A
governor operating sliding.cams for actuating the gas and air valves is also
provided.
.
The cylinder is supplied with a water jacket which is so arranged that there is a
free circulation of cold water frequently passing through it. A pump or other
convenient means may be employed for the supply of such water.
Secondly. In constructing vertical engines in accordance with my Invention, I
-may employ two open top cylinders one being the explosion or power cylinder and
the other the cold air pump. The gas pump and igniting arrangements are-of the-
same construction as for the horizontal engine.
When the engine is required to work without compression for small powers and
exploded at every revolution it may be constructed with one open topped cylinder.
In this arrangement the piston is connected direct with the crank.
Suitable valves for the admission of air and gas and apparatus for mixing the
same in combination with a check valve for preventing the escape of gas when
engine is starting are provided. The piston on its upward or outward stroke
draws into the cylinder a supply of air and gas which when sufficient the gas
admission valve is closed then the herein before mentioned igniting valve comes
into operation and ignites the gas. The explosion closing the air admission valve.
The piston is thus prevented causing a vacuum in cylinder before explosion.
In some cases along with an air pump I employ another for pumping air and
gas combined the latter being employed after the air pump has supplied a sufficient
quantity of air for ejecting the products of combustion.
I also pass the exhaust products of combustion in a tube through the air
chamber in order to impart the heat thereof to the air contained therein and thus
bring it to a more fit state for combustion.
I also regulate the supply of gas by a rising and falling gas holder such gas
holder adjusting a cock on the supply pipe through suitable levers as it riscs or
falls.
As a lubricator I by preference employ a syphon feed supplied with cotton wick
such wick by its capillary action transferring the lubricant in regulated quantities
(which is varied by size of the wick) in the interior of the cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Emmet in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th July
1882.
CHARLES EMMET of Leeds in the County of York. " IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
ENGINES."
Gas engines constructed in accordance with my improvements may be either
horizontal or vertical.
Firstly my improvements have reference to horizontal engines. I employ a
cylinder from which motion is conveyed to the crank shaft through piston,
connecting rod, and crank in the usual way I arrange the opposite end of the
cylinder to that at which the explosion takes place to act as a cold air pump and is
provided with an ordinary cover and stuffing box, also lifting inlet valves. I also
provide a receiver of suitable size to hold the air supplied by such pump. The
cylinder is fitted with an exhaust valve arranged in communication with an
annular port surrounding the inner or crank end of the cylinder. This annular
port communicates with the interior of the cylinder through longitudinal slots,
these being placed at the crank end of the cylinder.
A plunger or pump is attached to the engine frame for the purpose of supplying
gas and provision is made that such pump can be readily disconnected from the
engine and be worked by hand, the object of this being for the purpose of starting
the engine. I also provide an arrangement whereby the quantity of gas pumped
can be varied. A receiver for the gas is attached to the engine having an overflow
valve in such a manner that any overflow of gas may pass back into the pump
barrel thus ensuring a constant and regular pressure in the gas receiver. A com-
munication is made by means of a pipe between the gas receiver and a chamber
formed in the rear of the cylinder cover. This chamber is put in communication
with the interior of the cylinder by a number of small holes arranged in a
concentric or other convenient manner so as to subdivide the gas into a number of
jets and prepare it for more readily mingling with the pure air in the cylinder. A
rotary hollow plug shaped lighting valve is applied to the cylinder or air valve box
and is actuated by preference from the crank shaft through spur and bevel gearing.
The chamber which is provided in the interior of the plug shaped lighting valve
is supplied with a jet or flame for the purpose of igniting the combustible gases.
As this valve rotates it receives a supply of gas which is ignited by a fixed
atmospheric burner through ports in the wall of the rotating valve. The light in
the valve chamber is carried round until the port in the valve arrives in communi-
cation with the port provided in the cylinder or air valve box and causes the
required explosion. A supply of gas is kept up to the valve chamber until just
before the explosion takes place. The chamber of the valve after the explosion is
filled with products of combustion which it is necessary to remove. I effect this
end by placing the valve chamber in communication with the air pump end of the
cylinder. By this means a quantity of pure air is drawn through it, thus clearing
it of its contents having the effect also (by such supply of fresh air) of increasing
the heat of the lighting flame consequently more effectually igniting the explosive
charge in the cylinder. In order to prevent the force of the explosion driving
back the gas into the port which supplies the light, an overflow port is provided
and arranged in such a manner that the feed port at certain times is placed in
direct communication with the atmosphere, and at such times the pressure of the

page_text: return stroke closes the longitudinal port h the object being to confine the gases
till after the working stroke has been completed and to expel them during the first
portion of the back stroke.
At the back end of the cylinder are provided a gas admission valve i and an
air admission valve k and a compression valve l. The valves i and 2 are actuated
by cams m and n sliding longitudinally on the shaft o, the cams being controlled
by the governor p. The air admission valvo k is self acting.
A plunger · or equivalent pump g is attached to the cylinder a and is worked
by the eccentric r and serves as a gas pump. Provision is made whereby this pump
can be disconnected and worked by hand for the purpose of starting the engine.
Provision is also made whereby the quantity of gas pumped can be varied, this
is effected by causing the plungers to approach nearer to or further away from
the end of the pump. If the plunger s approaches close to the end of the pump
then all the gas will be expelled but if the plungers at the end of its stroke does
not approach close to the end of the pump and expel all the gas in the pump
barrel then this compressed gas will expand on the forward stroke and will prevent
gas entering through the inlet gas valve t till the pressure in the pump barrel falls
below the atmospheric pressure. This regulation of the admission of gas is effected
by unlocking nut u and turning the plunger a round by means of holes v formed
in the front end thereof. This regulation can be effected whilst the engine is
running
A gas reservoir wand overflow valve z are also arranged in such a manner that
any excess of gas may flow back into the pump barrel ensuring a constant pressure
in the gas reservoir w and preventing gas from being pumped during the time
that through the action of the governor p the gas admission valve i remains
closed.
Communication is made between the gas reservoir w and a chamber y formed in
the back cylinder cover. This chamber y is put in communication with the
cylinder through perforations in the plate z. The gas is admitted to this chamber y
through the gas valve i which is under the control of the governor
The object of the perforations in the plate 2 is to cause the gas to issue in
jets into the pure air already in the cylinder a, so that it may the more readily
diffuse itself and form a combustible or explosive mixture with the air in the
cylinder
A revolving hollow plug shaped lighting valvo 61 Figs 78, 9 and 10 revolving
in the seat is fixed to the air admission valve box k and is actuated by spur and
bevil gearing from the crank shaft. The chamber in the interior of the valve b¹
contains a lighting jet or flame at d' which as the valve rotates receives a supply
of gas from the passage e¹ and being ignited by the atmospheric burner f¹ through
ports g¹ in the walls of the valve seat carries the light round till the port g' in the
rotating valve b² arrives in communication with the port h' provided in the air
valve box when combustion takes place and the piston is propelled on its
forward stroke. A supply of gas follows the rotating light by means of the port i
cut in the circumference of the valve till just before combustion takes place,
when the light is extinguished to be again relighted at the atmospheric burner f¹
at the next revolution of the valve.
The interior of the valve being now filled with products of combustion the
rotating light would not again relight unless the chamber of the valve were first
cleared of its contents, which is effected by placing the interior of the valve and
front or air end of the cylinder in communication at the time when the piston is
causing air to enter the cylinder whereby a quantity of pure air which can be
regulated in amount is drawn through the chamber of the valve clearing it of
previous contents and fanning and increasing the heat of the rotating lighting
Hame thereby more effectually igniting the combustible compound in the cylinder.
The supply of gas to the rotating light being continued till near the moment of
combustion it may happen through imperfect fitting of the valve or wear that the

page_text: force of the explosion might drive back the gas in the port e¹ supplying the
rotating light so that this port would then be filled with incombustible gases and
would be unable to supply the rotating light with gas at its next revolution. To
avoid this an overflow port c¹ is provided in such a manner that tho feed port for
supplying the rotating light is for a time placed in communication with the
atmosphere the pressure of the gas therein will then force out any accumulation
of gas and the feed port is then ready at the next revolution of the valve to supply
it with gas.
The supply of gas to the feed port e¹ of the rotating light is governed by the
regulating tap, a second tap m' regulates the gas passing to the fixed
atmospheric burner f¹. These taps are regulated by means of holes through their
projecting ends till the proper quantity of gas is obtained, after which they will not
require further regulation. A master tap n' is provided for shutting off the
supply to the above mentioned taps. The fixed lighting burner o' is provided
with a tube f' to form an atmospheric burner. The object of this is to prevent
the flame from forming a deposit of soot or carbon on the surface of the rotating
valve. The lighting valve is so arranged that in starting the engine it can bo
rotated by hand, that is to say the rotating light being ignited by the stationary
burner the valve b' can then by means of the lever pl be rotated by hand till it
ignites the contents of the cylinder thus avoiding any turning round of the wheel
in starting the engine. The spur pinion q¹ runs loose on the spindle of the
rotating valve b' and is provided with a driving pin which imparts motion to
the valve b' through the lever p' which is keyed on to the valve spindle enabling
the valve to be readily turned by hand. A regulating set-screw S' is so arranged
as to keep the valve b' in free easy contact with the seat.
A governor p operating sliding cams m and n on the horizontal shaft o is also
-arranged in such a manner that when the gas supply valve i to the cylinder is
working, the compression valve remains closed and vice-versa that is to say,
when the engine is at the normal speed the gas supply valve i opens at every
revolution and the compression valve being closed the piston during the back
stroke will compress the charge of air and gas already in the cylinder but when
through the action of the governor p gas is no longer needed then the gas supply
valve i will remain closed and the compression will open allowing air to pass
freely through the port t' into the atmosphere thus avoiding compression and the
loss of power due to compression when the engine exceeds its proper speed.
The cylinder is formed with the usual water jacket. A centrifugal pump may
be placed in connection with this jacket and the pipes leading to and from the cold
water reservoir to aid in the rapid carrying away of hent
A lubricator u¹ is fixed so as to be in communication with the cylinder during the
back stroke of the piston. This lubricator consists of an oil chamber u' provided
with a syphon feeder vl, and tap w' through which the oil passes to the inverted
seat of the valve x' and thence when the pressure of the atmosphere opens the
valve during the back stroke of the piston into the interior of the cylinder. The
valve spindle being furnished with a spiral spring will close the valve when the
forward stroke has commenced. The tap w¹ is for the purpose of preventing the
oil flowing to waste when the engine is standing.
A gas governor not shewn in the Drawings is also provided and consists of an
ordinary gas holder working in a water cistern in such a manner that when the
holder is at the top of its stroke it will by that time have closed an ordinary plug
tap through the medium of a weighted lever fixed to the plug of the gas valve
and connected to the top of the holder by means of a chain. It thus follows that a
steady uniform pressure of the gas (which can be regulated by weights on the top
of the holder) is easily maintained and hence if the gas pump be regulated as
previously described it will always supply a constant volume and pressure of
gas. The supply of gas to the rotating and fixed igniters will also be constant
A trumpet shaped pipe y' fixed in the interior of the cylinder will so direct the

page_text: incoming puro air that immediately the exhaust valve g opens the burnt contents
of the cylinder will be swept away through the exhaust by reason of the pressuro
of the air in the air reservoir opening the air admission valve k immediately the
exhaust valve g opens. A volume of air will thus sweep through the cylinder
clearing it of previous contents and preparing it for receiving gas from the gas
reservoir above mentioned in jets through the plato
A pipe is led in such a manner that when the gas admission valve i opens a
jet of gas will be thrown into the air admission box k it will there commingle
with the pure air already there and a combustible compound will be formed in the.
air valve box k and trumpet shaped tube y' which will be ignited by the rotating
light. The trumpet shaped tube and air admission valve box form a sort of
"touch hole" to the contents of the cylinder
The following is the mode of starting and operating the engine.
g
The piston being put into a suitable position at about the centre of the
cylinders length, the gas supply pump q is disconnected by withdrawing the pin all
and the ran s is worked by hand forcing gas through the gas supply valve i and
perforated plate into the interior of the cylinder and into the air valve box k
this gas mingling with the pure air in the cylinder will form a combustible
compound. The lighting valve being ignited and turned by hand fires the charge
and the explosion sets in motion the engine
h
When the piston has arrived at the end of the forward stroko the cold air
pump fornied by the front end of the cylinder has now compressed into the air
reservoir its charge of air The piston by this time having uncovered the longi-
tudinal port communicating between the cylinder and the exhaust valve
g the
latter opens and the products of combustion are free to pass into the atmosphere
Immediately the exhaust valve opens the air admission valve k also opens by
reason of the air pressure beneath it, the contents of the air reservoir now rush
through the trumpet shaped pipe y' are deflected against the cylinder cover and
the cylinder is thus cleared from the products of previous combustion and is also
filled with pure air. The longitudinal exhaust port h is of sufficient length and
capacity to ensure time being given for the admission of pure air and the expulsion.
of the products of the previous combustion before the return of the piston closes
the exhaust port h. The exhaust valve.g does not open till the piston has arrived
at the completion of its stroke ensuring that no pressure is lost before the stroko
is completed.
After the admission of air ceases communication is made between the gas
reservoir w and the chamber y and perforations in the back cylinder cover the gas
then rushes through the pipe z¹ into the cylinder and air valve box k. The piston
on its back stroke compresses this mixture into a prolongation of the cylinder not
traversed by the piston which is ignited at the proper time by the rotating light
and this being repeated gives continuous motion to the engine
Should the engine exceed the set speed then the governor p stops the supply of
gas by pulling the cam m out of gear with the roller b, at the same time putting
the cam n into gear with the roller c" on the lever d" operating the compression
valve so that the piston during its back stroke forces the contents of the cylinder
(which is now air only) through the compression valve into the atmosphere and
no power is lost in useless compression of the air.
During the time that the gas admission valve i is closed the overflow valve
comes into play the excess of pressure forcing the gas through the overflow valve
into the pump barrel 9 until the pressure in the gas reservoir falls when the pump
is again free to act. The construction and arrangement here described of the gas-,
and air-pumps, the reservoir, and the gas regulator ensure a constant and steady
pressure of the gas and air.
By providing a larger pump fitted with the usual inlet and outlet valves and a
gas mixing apparatus similar to the one shewn in Figs 13, and 14 and 15 a
combustible mixture can be injected into the cylinder after the air admission'

page_text: A vertical engine can be constructed on the herein before mentioned principles as
follows. Two open topped vertical cylinders are provided fitted with pistons,
connecting rods, cranks (set at right angles) in a similar manner to the arrange-
ments shewn in Figs 11 and 12. One cylinder serves as the power cylinder the
other which is fitted with inlet air and delivery valves and reservoir of the same
construction as shewn in Figs 1 to 6 serves as the cold air pump. A plunger gas
pump driven by overhead eccentric or as previously explained a combined air- and
gas-pump fitted with the before mentioned air and gas mixing and regulating
apparatus is also provided. The ignition valve and air-gas- and exhaust valves aro
the same as described and shewn in Figs 1 to 6.
Figs 11 and 12 shew an arrangement of a vertical engine for small powers,
working without compression, but firing at each revolution. " is the piston,
the connecting rod g¹ the crank the exhaust valve the lighting valve
and the inlet air and gas valves combined Figs 13, 14 and 15. The top portion in
which is the port " forms the gas and air inlet. " is the gas supply, ml is the
air supply, n are perforations allowing the gas to mix with the air at X O" is 2
the air regulating valve, p" the atmospheric burner and g" the chamber containing
the rotating light. is the port for supplying the rotating light which is
alternately closed and opened by the rotation of the valve, the supply being cut off
by this means before the explosion occurs in the cylinder. 8" is the overflow port
and the ventilating port which is placed for a time in communication with the 2
cylinder whilst the piston moves upwards so that a current of air may be drawn
through the chamber as already described with reference to the horizontal engine.
u is a check valve for preventing the waste of gas whilst the engine is standing.
is a bracket provided with bearings for the shaft w driving the rotating
valve. The arrangement readily admits of removing the valve for the purpose of 3
being cleaned.
The action of this engine is as follows:-
When the piston has ascended about one third of its stroke drawing in through
the air and gas ports the requisite charge which are closed just before the lighting
valve has advanced into position to light the charge when the explosion occurs 3
driving the piston to the top of its stroke. The exhaust " then opens and the
momentum of the fly wheel completes the downward stroke. Should the lighting
valve fail to explode the charge, the momentum of the wheel would cause a vacuum
to be formed in the cylinder to prevent which the cam all is so arranged as to lift
the spindle of the exhaust valve h¹¹.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and described with the
aid of Drawings how the same may be carried into practico I would have it
understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of the
parts I have described and shewn as the same may be varied or modified without
departing from the nature of my said Invention; what I claim are:-
The arrangement construction and application of the lighting valves and parts
connected therewith for imparting the required motion to the same, also the
arrangement of the regulating taps substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
The combination of air and gas pumps a¹ and q for supplying air and gas in the 5
manners and for the purposes herein set forth.
The arrangement and construction of the lubricator substantially as herein set
forth.
The general arrangement construction and combination of the various parts

page_text: forming the horizontal and vertical gas engines substantially as described and
illustrated with mere modifications of the saine.
The arrangement construction and application of a gas governor or regulator
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
The arrangement and application of the tube for passing the exhaust products
of combustion through the air reservoir for the purpose of heating the air prior to
ignition as herein set forth.
The arrangement construction and application of the compression valve
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Emmet have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty first day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
CHARLES EMMET. (L.S.)