IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I JAMES MACKENZIE of 48 Osnaburgh Street, London in the county of Middlesex
Gas Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS ENGINES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to certain improvements in gas engines. The engine
consists of an ordinary cylinder, with water jacket and piston, connected with and
actuating the crank shaft and fly wheel common to all gas and steam engines.
My invention consists of the following improvements:―
I secure in a suitable position a chamber communicating with the interior of the
cylinder, and truly bored and faced internally. Inside the chamber I place a
circular disc valve, mounted upon a spindle, carried through the outer or front case
of the chamber, the aperture being rendered gas tight, by double cones and lock
nut, stuffing box or suitable means.
Rotary motion is imparted to the spindle and disc valve, and synchronised with
the rotation of the crank shaft by means of chain wheels of suitable dimensions,
fixed thereon, and connected with an endless chain, or by other equivalent
mechanical means. In the face of the chamber are certain apertures for the
admission of gas, and for the expulsion of the products of combustion; the pro-
portions of gas and air required for securing an explosive mixture, being regulated
by inlet cocks and valves. Corresponding apertures are arranged in the disc valve,
through certain of which the charge may be admitted into the combustion chamber,
in front of the disc valve and at the back of the piston. I lubricate the disc valve
and inner face of the chamber, by means of a lubricator on the suction principle, so
that at the outstroke of the piston, oil is sucked into the chamber, and at the
return stroke, the. valve is held to its seat by the air pressure; thus there is no
loss of power through leakage at the oil cup. The oil by means of suitable oil
races, lubricates the whole face of the disc valve and chamber.
On the outer side of the disc valve I place a spring of convenient shape, to keep
the disc valve constantly against the face of the chamber.
The action of the engine is as follows:-
During about one third of the outstroke of the piston, the charge is drawn in
through the before mentioned apertures, which are then closed by the rotating disc

page_text: valve, and so soon as the ignition orifice in the disc valve, coincides with the orifice
in the face communicating with the master light, explosion takes place between
the front of the valve, and the back of the piston, tending to drive the disc valve
against the face of the chamber.
The crank at the moment of explosion, is in the best position for receiving the
impetus, being at the point of maximum leverage, and the piston at its back stroke
expels the products of combustion through the exhaust apertures arranged in the
disc valve and chamber faces for that purpose.
Dated this Twenty seventh day of March 1885.

page_text: I JAMES MACKENZIE of 48 Osnaburgh Street, London in the county of Middlesex
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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in gas engines, the object being to
simplify construction as much as possible by reducing the number of working parts
and thus also diminishing friction.
I will now proceed to describe my invention more clearly, aided by the accom-
panying drawings, in which, Figure 1, is a plan partly in section, showing general
arrangement of an engine constructed according to my improvements. Figure 2,
is a longitudinal section through cylinder, water jacket, and combustion chamber,
showing seat of rotary disc valve. Figure 3, is a rotary disc valve. Figure 4, is
an elevation of one side of combustion chamber. Figure 5 is an end elevation of
back of cylinder showing an alternative arrangement of rotary valves. Figure 6,
is a plan view of same. Figures 7, and 8, are side elevations of same, showing
delivery valve chamber and valve in two positions with passages dotted.
In all of these figures like letters refer to like parts A, is a cylinder provided
with a water jacket a and containing piston B, connected by usual connecting
rod b, to the crank shaft C, capable of rotation in bearings in the usual way, and
carrying the fly wheel. Upon the crank shaft C, a chain wheel D, is keyed, and
connected by an endless chain d, to the chain wheel D¹, so that when D, and D³,
are of the same diameter, their rotation will be synchronous with that of the crank
shaft. I may employ two or more endless chains and sets of wheels if required, so
that in case of one chain breaking or requiring repair another will be available.
Upon the end of the cylinder A, the combustion chamber E, is secured and also
surrounded with water jacket a, and fitted with gas and air inlets e, and e¹,
provided with regulating cocks and indicator in the ordinary way, and also an
exhaust port e². Within the combustion chamber E, a rotary disc valve F, is
arranged, held up constantly against its seat by the spring f or its equivalent. In
valve F, a port f¹, is formed and also an ignition orifice f; or two disc valves F
and F, may be employed as shown in figure 1, in which case the ignition orifice f³,
may be arranged in the valve F1, if desired according to the position in which the
masterlight hereinafter described is situated. A relief valve G is provided, commu-
nicating with the combustion chamber E, controlled by disc plate F¹, or in case of
only one valve F, being employed, by a regulating cock, for the purpose of
supplying an extra quantity of air on starting the engine, or when required. The
combustion chamber E, communicates with the interior of the cylinder A, by port
or orifice g g is a chimney containing the constant flame or masterlight m, which
is supplied with gas by the pipe M, figure 4, suitably fitted with regulating cocks.
Another pipe M, supplies gas to the outer end of a passage g², which may be
slightly enlarged; this gas is lit by the constant flame or masterlight m, so that
when communication is effected between the flame m, through g², and f' explosion

page_text: or burning of the combustible charge in E takes place between the fronts of the
disc valves F, and F, and the back of the piston B, tending to drive the disc valve
or valves against their seats and to expel the piston to the end of its stroke.
The chimney, masterlight, and general arrangement, may be placed on the other
side of the combustion chamber E, as may be found most convenient, in which case
the ignition orifice f³, would be formed in valve F¹. The rotary disc valve F, or
valves F and F¹, is or are mounted upon the spindle H, carried through the outer
or front face of chamber E, and the aperture rendered gas tight by double
cones h, h, and lock nut h¹, or by stuffing box, or other suitable means.
alternative arrangement of valves shown in figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, K is a gas and
air inlet valve, the gas being admitted by pipe e, and air by pipe e¹. L, is an
exhaust valve leading to exhaust pipe e².
In the
The cycle of operations of the engine is as follows:-Between about one third
and one half of the outstroke of the piston a charge consisting of a mixture of gas
and air, regulated by inlet cocks and valves to secure an explosive mixture of
proper proportions is admitted through inlet pipes e, and e¹, and port f¹, in disc
valve F. At the moment the proper combustible charge is admitted to E, the said
inlet pipes are closed by the rotation of the valve F; a further rotation brings the
ignition orifice f2, in valve F, or F¹, as arranged, opposite to the passage g², and
explosion or burning of the charge instantly occurs. At the moment of explosion
the crank is in the best position for receiving the impetus, being at the point of
maximum leverage as shown figure 1. The piston at its back stroke expels the
products of combustion through the exhaust port and pipe e*, which is in turn
opened by the same port f1, in the valve F, and the cycle is completed. By another
arrangement instead of placing the rotary valves inside the combustion chamber,
I may place them outside, preferably at the back end of the cylinder or in any
suitable position. This arrangement is shown in figures 5, 6, 7, and 8. The chain.
wheel D, is mounted upon the spindle H, common to both valves K and L, and
rotary motion is imparted to them from wheel D, on crank shaft C, by one or more
endless chains d, as before described. The combustible charge is admitted direct to
the back of the piston, through passages e, and e¹, formed in different planes in the
valve K. This valve K, is shown in figure 7, in such a position that the gas port e,
is fully open, and the air port e¹, just beginning to open; as rotation of the valve
proceeds in the direction indicated by the arrow, the gas port e, is gradually closed,
and the air port e¹, is first opened fully, and then also closed; the valve K, arrives
at this position which is shown in figure 8, at from about one third to a half of the
outstroke of the piston, when both passages e, and e', are closed. At this time
ignition takes place, and the piston completes its stroke working the exhaust
valve L, about a quarter revolution more, when the said valve L commences to
open the exhaust pipe e², and the next back stroke of the piston expels the
products of combustion through said exhaust valve L and pipe e2, which is so timed
as to be fully open. Ignition may be effected by any suitable known means as for
example by a cam fixed in suitable position upon and revolving with the spindle H,
so that at the proper moment for ignition the cam engages with the spindle of a
spring slide valve of any suitable type and opens the valve, communication is thus
instantly effected between a constant flame or masterlight and the interior of the
cylinder through the said spring valve. The suction caused by the out going
piston, will draw the flame through the passage and valve, and cause explosion or
burning of the combustible charge therein. As soon as the revolving cam clears
the spindle, the valve is 'instantly closed by the action of its compressed spring.
By these arrangements an, explosion occurs at each revolution of the crank.
By a modification of the above arrangements compression of the charge of
explosive mixture may be effected with facility, as the speed of rotation of the
valve or valves varies directly as the diameter of the chain wheels D, and D¹,
therefore by halving the diameter of the wheel D, the speed of D¹, would be reduced
to one half that of D, and thus the ports would be opened and closed as described

page_text: but at half the speed, so that explosion would only take place every second
revolution of the crank. The cycle of operations would then be as follows:-
At the outstroke of the piston a full combustible charge of gas and air is drawn
in; at the backstroke this charge is compressed. At the beginning of the second
outstroke of the piston the ignition orifice is immediately opened and explosion or
burning takes place. At the second backstroke the products of combustion are
expelled through the exhaust. Ignition in this case would be effected at the right
moment, either by a cam and spring slide valve action as described, or by any other
'suitable known means. The disc valves and their seats, or inner faces of the
combustion chamber are lubricated by means of one or more lubricators on the
suction principle, so that on the outstroke of the piston, oil is sucked into
the chambers and at the return, stroke the valve is held to its seat by the fluid
pressure, and the oil cup is firmly closed by same pressure. Thus there is no loss
of power or leakage at the oil cup. The oil by suitable races lubricates the whole
face of the valves and seats.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In the construction of gas engines the arrangement of a rotary valve or valves
inside the combustion chamber on the front side of or between which the burning
or explosion of the charge takes place in combination with the means of rotating
such valves consisting of one or more endless chains and chain wheels all arranged
substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated.
2. In the construction of gas engines the arrangement of rotary valves in
combination with the means of rotating such valves consisting of one.or more
endless chains and chain wheels substantially as and for the purposes described and
illustrated.