Improvements in Internal Combustion Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Internal Combustion Engines.
We, EDWARD SAMUEL BOND, Engineer, and CHARLES LEE, Machinist, both of
Crown Works, Booth Street, Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines, and
chiefly intended for those employed for motor car or the like uses.
Its objects are primarily, to provide an improved construction and arrange-
ment of combustion chamber and exhaust; a self adjustable vertical carburetter:
also improved exhaust controlling mechanism.
The combustion chamber, inlet charge valve and exhaust valve are in one,
and bolted to end of cylinder. The combustion chamber is made as wide at its
front as the diameter of the cylinder, and preferably shaped somewhat half
round (concave). This gives freedom to ignition, and concentrates force under
explosion. The charge valve is placed above and near to the junction with
cylinder so that it immediately enters the combustion chamber. Centrally in
the end of the chamber is the ignition tube. As near the side of the ignition
tube as convenient is now placed the exhaust, so as to be in as straight a line
as possible from the cylinder, and as near thereto as convenient. Hence the pro-
ducts of combustion are readily and very completely expelled.
The valve of the carburetter, which latter is connected up to the inlet charge
valve, as now made is liable to stick except when in the vertical position, that
is to say, it does not work so freely when the car is travelling up or down an
incline, which thereby throws the valve out of the upright. In order to obviate
this, we carry the said carburetter upon swivel or flexible connections, so that
it shall by gravitation always assume a vertical position. It is further found
desirable to provide improved means for directly controlling the exhaust valve.
This we do as follows:-The governors are carried and operated upon a half
speed shaft, geared from the main shaft. Upon a sliding sleeve which is con-
nected to and operated by the governor is a collar, or the like which revolves
in a groove formed in a further sliding sleeve, which latter is carried upon the
end of a lever whose other end operates the exhaust valve. In order to operate
the exhaust valve this lever receives movement by means of a cam upon the
aforesaid governor shaft, which travels upon a roller carried upon the sliding
sleeve on the lever end. Hence it will be evident that so long as the governors
are at their normal speed the cam operates the lever to close the exhaust, but
when such speed is increased the roller is drawn endwise clear of the cam, so
that the exhaust is then continuously open. This endwise movement of the
cam roller is also effected by means of a hand lever conveniently placed for
manipulation. so that the charges to combustion chamber may be voluntarily
regulated or directly stopped.
Dated this 29th day of May 1899.
CHARLES T. POWELL.
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a side sectional elevation of the combustion chamber on line A—B
(Fig. 2).
Fig 4, is a side sectional elevation of the combustion chamber on line C-D
(Fig. 2).
Fig. 5, is a part sectional view in elevation, Fig. 6, is a plan view, and
Fig. 7, an end view, all of the vertically self righting device for the carburetter.
Fig. 8, is an end view and Fig. 9, a side view of the mechanism for operating
the exhaust valve.
Fig. 10, is a sectional view in detail of the exhaust valve.
Fig. 11, is a view of the exhaust valve operating mechanism showing it in
the position for closing the main valve, but still leaving an outlet open to
atmosphere.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4:-The combustion chamber 14, the inlet charge
valve 15, and exhaust valve box 16, are made in one, and bolted to end of
cylinder 17. The combustion chamber is made as wide at its front as the
diameter of the cylinder, and preferably shaped somewhat half round (concave).
This gives freedom to ignition, and concentrates force under explosion. The
charge valve 15, is placed above and near to the junction with cylinder so
that the charge immediately enters the combustion chamber. Centrally in the
end of the chamber is the ignition tube 13. As near the side of the ignition
tube as convenient is now placed the exhaust passage 18, so as to be in as straight
a line as possible from the cylinder as seen in Fig. 2, and as near thereto as
convenient. Hence the products of combustion are readily and very completely
expelled.
Referring to Figs. 5, 6 & 7. The valve 19 of the carburetter 20, which latter
is connected up to the inlet charge valve 15, (see Fig 2), as hitherto made, is
liable to stick except when in the vertical position, that is to say, it does not
work so freely when the car is travelling up or down an incline, which thereby
throws the valve out of the upright. In order to obviate this, in this our inven-
tion, we carry the said carburetter 20, upon swivel or flexible connections 21,
22, so that it shall by gravitation always assume a vertical position.

page_text: This may be carried out as follows:--23, represents a part of the frame of the
car or other similar fixture upon which is secured the clip 24, having the long
sleeve like bearing 25, in which works the swivelling spindle 26. This spindle
is secured firmly to the carburetter 20, so as to be as one therewith. On the
outer end of the spindle 26, is further secured the depending arm 27 having at
its extremity the gravitating weight 28. The axial line of the spindle 26,
agrees with the axial line of the ordinary axles of the car. Hence it will be
seen that by reason of the weight 28, the carburetter 20, will always be main-
tained in the true vertical position, subject of course to the permissive action of
the elastic or swivel joints 21 and 22. These joints may be made in any con-
venient manner, or substance, that of india-rubber apparently answers the
purpose very well.
It is further found desirable to provide improved means for controlling the
exhaust. Upon reference to Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11, it will be seen that the
governors 29, are carried upon a half speed shaft 30, driven from main shaft 31.
To the governors is connected the sliding sleeve 32, upon which is collar 33.
Also upon the said shaft 30, is secured the cam 34, which operates upon the
roller 35, carried upon the end of lever 36, the said roller being capable of end-
wise movement upon its pin 37. In this roller is also a groove 38, in which
works the collar 33, and by which it is moved endwise as the speed of the
governors vary. The movement of this roller affords communication with the
exhaust. The lever 36, is pivoted at 39, so that its end 40, may act upon the valve
stem 41, which forms part of the valve 42. The spent gases from the
cylinder pass through the valve box 16, by means of the valve 42, into the
outlet passage 43, Ol' by the valve 44, into the outlet passage 45,
both of which are open to the atmosphere. The valve 44, i9
operated from the roller 35, by means of the end 46, of the lever 47, which,
when the roller is drawn endwise by the increased speed of the governors, as
seen in Fig. 11, is pushed back so as to cause the other end 48 of the lever 47,
to open the valve 44, to exhaust. Thus when the engine is running at a low
or not beyond a given speed, the roller 35, is pushed beneath the cam 34, and
consequently while there, the valve 42, is opened and closed regularly every two
revolutions of the engine, so as to receive the charge, compress it, explode it and
exhaust it. When however the speed has been increased too much, the roller 35,
is drawn from the cam 34, which closes the valve 42, but has now operated
lever 47, and opened the valve 44, which remains open until the speed has again
been reduced.
The control of the exhaust may be effected by hand lever 49, whose handle
end (not shown) may be brought conveniently near to the operator, and whose
other end 50, may engage in the groove 38. Hence it will be seen that by this
means the exhaust can be operated directly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In internal combustion engines such as herein described, constructing the
combustion chamber of a hemispherical or approximately hemispherical sectional
shape whose diameter equals that of the cylinder, substantially as set forth and
shown on the drawings.
2. The combination with the combustion chamber, of the charge valve box
being placed close to the cylinder, the exhaust passage in an approximate
straight line from cylinder and as close as convenient thereto, as set forth and
shown.
3. In engines of the class herein referred to, maintaining the vertical position
of the carburetter and other necessary accessory parts by a swivelling device
operated by gravitating weight substantially as set forth and shown.

page_text: 4. The combination with the exhaust mechanism of the endwise movable
roller 35, constructed and operating substantially as herein set forth and slown
and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 27th day of February 1900
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent, 158, Edmund Street, Birmingham.