Improvements in or relating to Gas Engines and in Carburetors Applicable therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1888
Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Gas Engines and in Carburetors
Applicable therefor.
A communication from abroad by DANIEL STEPHEN REGAN, of 105, Beal Street, San
Francisco, California, United States of America, Machinist.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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 --
The invention relates to improvements in "combined gas engines, governor, and
carburetor: The invention consists, firstly, in the construction, arrangement and
application of the igniter, in which arrangement a spring is employed, which makes
and breaks the circuit by being placed in such a position that it comes in contact with
the piston at each stroke, thus connecting the circuit in the igniting chamber N.
Secondly: In the construction, arrangement and operation of the governor, by
means of which the supply and exhaust valves are operated once in every two revolu-
tions; or the supply valves may only be operated when the engine is running at as
low a speed as is required.
Thirdly: In the construction and arrangement of the carburetor which furnishes the
gas for supplying the engine in an extremely compact and portable form, thus forming
an important feature in a small portable motor available in all places requiring the
same.
The following is the construction, combination, and arrangement of the improved
combined engine and carburetor. The important feature of the improved igniter
consists in closing the circuit by a direct contact with the piston in the igniting
chamber.
In Figure sheet 1, the head of the cylinder is shown with the cap of the igniting
chamber and the valve removed.

page_text: Figure 2. of sheet 1, is a longitudinal sectional view showing the cylinder cut verti-
cally through the centre.
A represents the cylinder, B, the piston, C, the contact projection, D, the contact
spring. E, the insulated spring holder, F the spring clamping block, G
the set screw for clamping the spring "D," and holding the same, H represents
the set nut for attaching the insulating spring holder E, and receiving the
electric wire I. which. connects with the cylinder A by the wire J, K represents
the water jacket or water space, L represents the cap for the igniting chamber
N, and the valve chamber 0. M represents the cylinder head, N represents
the igniting chamber. O represents the valve chamber. P represents the gas supply
pipe. represents the air supply pipe, R ropresents the check valve. S represents
the throttle valve. The electrical connections are made in the usual way as indicated
by the electric wires I and J.
In Figure 2, sheet 1, the contact is being made with the spring D. This is effected
at each stroke of the piston B, and the circuit being closed and again broken, thus
produces the spark and ignites the gas which is supplied to the cylinder at every other
stroke.
In sheet 2, the governor is shown and the action thereof may now be fully explained.
Figure 1. in sheet 2, is a side elevation of the governor showing its attachment to
the frame which is broken off.
Figure 2, is an inside view of the governor showing the operating gear.
Figure 3, is an outside view of the governor showing the position of the connecting
rod and a broken section of cylinder. The position of the gear of the governor is
shown by the dotted lines. The position of the valve operating cams are also shown
in Figure 3.
The wheel or sleeve A and inside gear, and the wheel gearing with the same,
may be formed of metal, and may be finished as smoothly as that class of machinery
is generally finished.
The cams and are attached upon the periphery of the wheel A for the
purpose of operating the valve levers D and E to open and close the valves. F
represents the inside spur gear or teeth of the wheel A. The main spur wheel
upon the crank shaft S is represented by the letter G, and the intermediate gear
by the letter H.
The collar I which carries the arms J and K is attached firmly to the main
shaft S.
The governor balls L and M and the levers O and P are attached by pivots to
the pivot arms J and K.
Attached to the gear wheel A, is the grooved collar with the groove of which
the levers and are connected for the purpose of moving the gear wheel A
in and out sufficiently to connect and disconnect the cam C with or from the
lever E. The gear is constructed sufficiently wide to allow of the required
sliding movement upon the intermediate wheel II, and to allow of the connecting
and disconnecting of the cam and the lever E as will be more fully explained
in describing the operation of the same. The action of the governor balls is similar
to that of other ball governors.
It will be seen that the wheel A, with cams B and C, and the connecting
collar with groove R is capable of sliding longitudinally upon the shaft S and of
revolving therewith independently of said movements. T represents the piston,
and U, the connecting rod or pitman of the engine. V represents the cylinder.
X and Y represent the antifriction rolls of the valve levers."
The following is the operation of the improved governor.
Both the exhaust and supply valves are operated once in two revolutions; the gear
wheels F, G, and H. are so proportioned that the wheel A is made to revolve once
while the wheel G, and the shaft S, make two revolutions.
As the main or crank shaft S is revolved the piston is moved outwards and inwards
in the cylinder. The first outward stroke of the piston fills the cylinder with the
proper gas and air supply in the same manner as in other gas engines by means of

page_text: connecting pipes provided with check valves. As the crank continues to revolve,
the piston is forced inwards and compresses the gas. The electric spark is now
produced, the charge of gas in the cylinder ignited, and the piston is consequently
forced outwards expending its force upon the crank of the engine. The crank
continuing to revolve, the cam B reaches the exhaust lever D, and the exhaust is
opened and held open, until the piston has reached the end of the backward or inward
stroke, when the exhaust is completed. The cam B, having then passed the end of
the lever D, the exhaust valve again closes. The supply valve is then opened (as the
cam comes in contact with the lever E) and remains open until the outward stroke
of the piston is complete. The cylinder is then full, and as the piston passes back, the
charge is compressed and ignited, and the piston forced out as before, giving its force
to the crank of the engine.
:
It will be seen that the cams B and C each occupy one-fourth of the circumference
of the wheel A, which corresponds to the time taken for one-half stroke of the
piston: thus two revolutions are obtained for each action of the supply and exhaust
valves.
The action of the governor is as follows: As the speed of the shaft is accelerated,
the balls L, and M, are thrown outwards and the lever arms O and P draw the
wheel A outwards. The cam C is thereby drawn outwards beyond the lever E which
then has a bearing upon the whole circumference of the wheel A, thus omitting the
operation of the supply valve until the speed of the engine is lessened to the required
extent. Anti-friction rolls X and Y are generally employed for the bearings of the
ends of the valve rods as shown.
In sheet 3, Figure 1 is a sectional view, showing the carburetor cut vertically
through the dotted lines a
a figure 3.
Figure 2, a perspective view of the same.
Figure 3, a sectional view, showing the same cut vertically through the dotted
lines d- ------d figure 1.
Figure 4 is an enlarged broken perspective view showing the diaphragm more
clearly, and
Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the carburetor upon a reduced scale, and
connected with the engine.
The following is the construction of the improved "Gas Carburetor."
The outer wall or body of the carburetor A is formed of any suitable material such
as sheet metal. Leather or other flexible material, such as is generally used in that
class of construction, may be employed for the diaphragm D.
The spiral partition B is generally formed of similar sheet metal to that forming the
outer wall of the carburetor.
The air supply pipe is extended down into the gasoline, so as to cause it to pass
through the same, thereby agitating the gasoline, and rapidly carburetting the air, as
it passes to the gas chamber C.
The following is the operation of the improved carburetor.
At each stroke of the piston when the valve is open to receive it, à charge of gas is
drawn from the chamber C.
The diaphragm D yields to allow the charge of gas to be drawn out freely, and the
atmospheric pressure forces the air in through the air pipe E, thus furnishing in
chamber Canother charge, and so on continuously, while the engine is running.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a gas engine, the combination of the insulated contact spring D, connected
with one pole of an electric battery of a contact finger Cattached to the piston B and
of the cylinder A in contact with said piston and connected with the opposite pole of
said battery by means of the electric wire J whereby the circuit is closed by the
direct action of the piston, at each stroke of the same, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.

page_text: 2. In a gas engine, the combination of the contact spring D arranged within the
ignition chamber and the removable insulated spring holding device attached to the
cylinder head or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a governor applicable to gas engines, the pivot arms or hangers J and K
attached to the fixed collar I rotating with the shaft, the sleeve and internally geared
wheel A, having the collar with groove R, the weighted connecting levers O and P
and the cams B and C in combination with the valve levers D and E, the whole
constructed and operated, substantially as, and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a governor, applicable for a gas engine, a sliding wheel A, an internal geared
spur wheel Fattached thereto a central gear G fixed to the shaft and intermediate
gear H, in combination with the cams B and C for operating the valve levers. D
and E, the whole constructed and operated substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
5. In combination with a gas engine governor having a revolving wheel provided
on its periphery with cams B and C, the levers D and E for operating the valves,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. In a carburetor applicable for generating gas for a gas engine the partition B
forming a spiral passage for the gas and air in combination with the gas chamber C,
having the Hexible diaphragm D, the whole constructed and operated, substantially as,
and for the purposes set forth.
7. In a carburetor such as herein described and applicable for a gas engine, the
chamber C and the flexible diaphragm D, whereby a free supply of gas is provided for
the engine, substantially as set forth.
Dited this 26th day of October 1888
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.