IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Steel, Gas Engineer and Henry Walton Whitehead
of the firm of Taylor Wordsworth and C Machine Makers both of Leeds in,
the County of York for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Steel and Henry
Walton Whitehead at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
1st March 1883.
ROBERT STEEL Gas Engineer and HENRY WALTON WHITEHEAD of the firm of
Taylor Wordsworth and Co Machine Makers, both of Leeds in the County of York
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES"
Our Invention relates to the pistons of gas engines and consists in making such
pistons of a hollow cylindrical form and closed at its outer end. Ordinary piston
rings may be employed thereon so as to ensure a perfect fit within the cylinder.
The piston in its outward movement draws into the cylinder the explosive mixture
of gas and air, and on its inward stroke the whole of the mixture passes from the
cylinder into the hollow piston and is there compressed. When the piston has
arrived at the bottom of its stroke and the bottom of the cylinder, sufficient
compression is thereby obtained, the explosion is then allowed to take place. The
size of the hollow piston is varied to suit the power of engine required.
Our Invention further relates to the application of a pipe or tube for conveying
a portion of the compressed mixture out of the hollow piston to the igniter for the
purpose of increasing the igniting power thereof.
The gas and air are mixed in a mixing chamber, the gas being admitted by
preference to the mixing chamber through the same valve that admits the
explosive mixture into the cylinder but through a separate and distinct port in
that valve.
Our Invention further relates to a catch motion for opening an exhaust valve for
the purpose of getting rid of the products of combustion. This catch motion is
actuated by the slide valve as follows. A lever mounted in a suitable position
coming in contact with a movable catch or "sneck" in connection with the slide
valve actuates the exhaust valve, and thereby allows the requisite portion of the
products of combustion to escape.
The igniter may be of any convenient construction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Steel and Henry Walton Whitehead in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 1st September 1883.
ROBERT STEEL, Gas Engineer, and HENRY WALTON WHITEHEAD, of the firm of
Taylor Wordsworth and Company Machine Makers,. both of Leeds, in the County
of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES".
Our Invention relates to the pistons of gas engines, and consists in making such
pistons of a hollow cylindrical form and closed at its outer end. Ordinary piston
rings may be employed thereon so as to ensure a perfect fit within the cylinder.
The piston in its outward movement draws into the cylinder the explosive mixture
of gas and air, and on its inward stroke the whole of the mixture passes from the
cylinder into the hollow piston and is there compressed.
When the piston has arrived at the bottom of its stroke, and the bottom of the
cylinder, sufficient compression is thereby obtained, the explosion is then allowed
to take place. The size of the hollow piston is varied to suit the power of engine
required.
Our Invention further relates to the application of a pipe or tube for conveying
a portion of the compressed mixture out of the hollow piston to the igniter for the
purpose of increasing the igniting power thereof.
The gas and air are mixed in a mixing chamber, the gas being admitted by
preference to the mixing chamber through the same valve that admits the
explosive mixture into the cylinder but through a separate and distinct port in
that valve.
Our Invention further relates to a catch motion for opening an exhaust valve
for the purpose of getting rid of the products of combustion.
This catch motion is actuated by the slide valve as follows. A lever mounted in
a suitable position coming in contact with a movable catch or "eneck" in connection
with the slide valve actuates the exhaust valve, and thereby allows the requisite
portion of the products of combustion to escape.
The igniter may be of any convenient construction.
And in order that our Invention may be more completely understood reference
in mizon to the anomaansing drawing and in the lattos and make tharaan
Figs 1 and 2 are respectively right and left side elevations. Fig 3 is a part
transverse section on line A. B Figs 1. 2. and 4 and part end elevation. Fig 4 is a
sectional plan on line C D Figs 1. 2. and 3.
a is the piston which is of a hollow cylindrical form and is closed at its outer
end.
Ordinary piston rings may be employed, c is the pipe for conveying the gas to
the engine, à is the inlet for air, e is the slide valve which is actuated from the
crank shaft by means of the toothed wheels ƒ and g crank pin h, and connecting
rod k is a face plate on which the slide valve e works. The chamber 1 in the
slide valve e connects the gas inlet c with a passage 2 leading to the air inlet d.
The passage 2 communicates with the air inlet d by means of several small round
holes3 Fig 3 which assists greatly in causing the gas to mix thoroughly with the
air. The explosive mixture passes from the air inlet d along the passage 4 (in the
slide valve e) to the passage 5 leading to the interior of the cylinder l. A portion
of the explosive mixture passes from the passage 4 through the opening 6 (in the
slide valve e) to the igniter at m.

page_text: The piston a in its outward stroke draws into the cylinder the explosive
mixture of gas and air as above described, and during the return or inward stroke
the whole of the mixture filling the cylinder and the hollow piston a is compressed
within the hollow piston a. When the piston has arrived at the end of its stroke
sufficient compression is obtained, and the slide valve e is then in such a position
that the passage 5 and consequently the interior of the hollow piston a are in
communication with the igniter at m when the explosion takes place.
After the explosion has taken place and the piston has completed its outward
stroke, the exhaust valve n is opened (simultaneously with the commencement of
the return stroke) through which the products of combustion escape or are forced
by the return stroke of the piston. The exhaust valve n is operated by a rotating
cam o, actuated by gearing p from the main shaft, such motion being transmitted
to the valve n through the rod r and levers 8 and t. The spring 7 is employed for
retaining the valve n closed till such times as it is required to be opened for the
escape of the products of combustion.
The bolts u and springs vare employed for retaining the cap w over the slide
valve e in contact therewith.
The water jacket surrounding the cylinder and other parts of the engine may be
of ordinary construction
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and described with the
aid of drawings how the same may be carried into practice we would have it
understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details or configuration of
the parts we have described and shewn as the same may be varied or modified
without departing from the nature of our said Invention; what we do claim is :-
The employment in gas engines of a hollow piston a for the purpose of receiving
and compressing the explosive mixture substantially as described.
The general arrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts
forming the gas engine substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In Witness whereof, we, the said Robert Steel and Henry Walton
Whitehead have hereunto set our hands and seals this seventh day of
August in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty
three.