IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Simon, of Deering Street, in the Town of
Nottingham, and Francis Wertenbruch, of Briar Street, Wilford Road,
Nottingham, in the County of Nottingham, Engineers, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Simon and Francis
Wertenbruch at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
24th November 1880.
LOUIS SIMON, of Deering Street, in the Town of Nottingham, and FRANCIS
WERTENBRUCH, of Briar Street, Wilford Road, Nottingham, in the County of
Nottingham, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
The first part of our Invention consists of a cylinder, preferably open at one end,
in which a piston of any convenient construction works in the usual manner by
means of a connecting rod, crank, and flywheel.
This cylinder is jacketed so that it may be kept cool by circulating cold water,
or that the surplus heat may be used to generate steam.
The cylinder (which is an after part of this description is spoken of as the main
cylinder) is somewhat by preference about one half longer than the stroke of the
piston (afterwards called the main piston), which is so placed in it that it con-
sequently traversing only about two thirds of the cylinder, leaves about one third
of the capacity thereof full of air or gaseous mixture.
At any suitable part of the closed end of the cylinder is placed a valve to admit
gas and air, and one which may be a part of the first to ignite the mixture thus
obtained. Many of the arrangements for this purpose now known to engineers
may be adapted for that purpose, but we prefer to use the piston valve which forms
the subject of the second part of our Invention.
To provide for the escape of the products of explosion, we place a clack valve at
about one third the length of the cylinder, measuring from the open end, that is,
therefor, about the middle of that portion of the cylinder traversed by the piston.
This valve is so constructed and placed, that the pressure of the atmosphere
joined to the weight of the valve keeps it down on its seat (closed), and that any
excess of pressure in the cylinder opens it. We sometimes prefer to use a valve or

page_text: slide of different construction opened and closed by means of a cam or excentric, or
the valve may be weighted. The novel and essential feature is, that whatever kind
of escape valve is used, it is placed at or about the position named.
We sometimes prefer to use either in conjunction with the valve, or instead of it
one or more grooves or channels formed in the walls of the cylinder, and so placed
that their inner openings are in the same place as above described for the clack or
other escape valve, and that their outer openings are a little beyond the outer
surface of the piston, in order that by the traverse of the latter, the interior of the
cylinder is placed in momentary communication with the exterior for the expulsion
by the force of their own tension of a portion of the products of explosion.
The second part of our Invention consists of a piston valve formed by a solid
piston with by preference three expanding rings of any usual kind working in the
valve cylinder. The office of the rings is to make the valve piston work airtight
on the valve cylinder, and by this arrangement we dispense with much of the
friction incident to any form of slide valve at present in use.
One particular form of this part of our Invention is as follows:-At about the
middle of the valve cylinder is a chamber communicating by means of a back
pressure valve, with the air and gas supply pipes, and by means of a similar valve
at the top with the inside of the main or explosion cylinder.
The positions of these valves may be varied without affecting the principle, so
long as one valve is closed by pressure in the chamber, and the other by pressure
in the main cylinder.
At one end of the piston valve or valve piston is a small chamber communicating
by means of apertures with the outer air. Through one or more of these air and
gas enter, and are ignited through another by means of an external stationary
flame.
Another form of valve piston consists substantially of a chamber in the valve
piston, to which a mixture of gas and air is supplied and ignited in the above
described manner, but in this case the flame is allowed by the movement of the
valve piston to communicate direct with and to explode the compressed gaseous
mixture in the main cylinder, as soon as by that motion the valve piston has closed
the apertures leading to the outer air. Suitable passages and vents are provided
in the valve piston.
In order to proportion the consumption of gas to the power required when the
engine above described is doing work which varies, such as hoisting, several
methods may be used, such as cutting off the gas for one or more revolutions, or
partly throttling it, or by allowing air to enter the cylinder, thus diminishing its
capacity for a new charge, or the escape valve may be throttled to allow more or
less of the products of combustion to escape with the same object, viz., diminishing
the capacity of the cylinder for a new charge.
Either of the above may be done by means of a suitable valve controlled by a
governor in the usual way.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Louis Simon and Francis Wertenbruch in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th May 1881.
LOUIS SIMON, of Deering Street, in the Town of Nottingham, and FRANCIS
WERTENBRUCH, of Briar Street, Wilford Road, Nottingham, in the County of
Nottingham, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
The first part of our Invention consists of a cylinder, preferably open at one end
except when the grooves afterwards described are used in which a piston of any
convenient construction works in the usual manner by means of a connecting rod,
crank, and fly wheel.
This cylinder is jacketed so that it may be kept cool by circulating cold water,
or that the surplus heat may be used to generate steam.
To
The cylinder (which is an after part of this description is spoken of as the main
cylinder) is somewhat by preference about one half or one third longer than the
stroke of the piston (afterwards called the main piston), which is so placed in it
that it consequently traversing only about two thirds or three fourths of the
cylinder, leaves about one third or one fourth of the capacity thereof full of air or
gaseous mixture. At any suitable part of the closed end of the cylinder is placed
a valve to admit gas and air, and one which may be a part of the first to ignite
the mixture thus obtained. Many of the arrangements for this purpose now
known to engineers may be adapted for that purpose, but we prefer to use the
piston valve which forms the subject of the second part of our Invention.
provide for the escape of the products of explosion we place a clack valve at about
one third or one fourth the length of the cylinder, measuring from the open end,
that is therefore about the middle of that portion of the cylinder traversed by the
piston. This valve is so constructed and placed that the pressure of the atmosphere
joined to the weight of the valve keeps it down on its seat (closed), and that any
excess of pressure in the cylinder opens it. We sometimes prefer to use a valve or
slide of different construction opened and closed by means of a cam or eccentric,
or the valve may be weighted. The novel and essential feature is that whatever
kind of escape valve is used it is placed at or about the position named.
We some-
times prefer to use either in conjunction with the valve or instead of it one or
more grooves or channels formed in the walls of the cylinder, and so placed that
their inner openings are in the same place as above described for the clack or other
escape valve, and that their outer openings are a little beyond the outer surface of
the piston, in order that by the traverse of the latter the interior of the cylinder is
placed in momentary communication with the exterior for the expulsion by the
force of their own tension of a portion of the products of explosion.
The second part of our Invention consists of a piston valve formed by a solid
piston with by preference three expanding rings of any usual kind working in
the valve-cylinder. The office of the rings is to make the valve piston work air
tight on the valve-cylinder, and by this arrangement we dispense with much of
the friction incident to any form of slide-valve at present in use. One particular
form of this part of our Invention is as follows:-At about the middle of the valve
cylinder is a chamber communicating by means of a back pressure valve with the
air and gas supply pipes and by means of a similar valve at the top with the
inside of the main or explosion cylinder. The position of these valves may be
varied without affecting the principle, so long as one valve is closed by pressure
in the chamber and the other by pressure in the main cylinder.
At one end of the piston valve or valve piston is a small chamber communicating
by means of apertures with the outer air. Through one or more of these air and

page_text: gas enter and are ignited through another by means of an external stationary
flame.
The action of the engine is as follows:-When the main piston is drawn
outwards by means of the fly wheel, gas and air are drawn through the piston
valve chamber (the valves of which are lifted by the vacuum induced by the
motion of the main piston) into the main cylinder; the piston on returning
exercises pressure on the contents of the cylinder, and thus closes the communi-
cation with the chamber of the piston valve; a portion of the contents of the
cylinder are forced out through the escape valve on the grooves until these are
covered by the piston when the rest of the gaseous contents of the cylinder are
When the piston is on the point
compressed into the chamber at the back of it.
of returning (or at any suitable movement preferred) the motion of the valve
piston worked by a cam or eccentric) allows the flame burning in its chamber to
fire the mixture in the chamber (or directly that in the main cylinder). In the
first instance the small explosion thus induced lifts the valve leading into the
main cylinder and explodes the mixture therein, thus impelling the main piston
outwards; as soon as the escape valve or grooves are thus uncovered part of the
products of combustion having excess of pressure escapes; the outward motion of
the piston causes a vacuum which draws in more gas and air, which is compressed
on the return stroke of the piston (a further portion of the products of the
explosion being expelled at the commencement of the piston's return through the
escape valve or groove mentioned). The rest of the products of combustion
remains in the cylinder but do not materially affect the new charge, which mostly
remains at the further end of the cylinder where it enters.
Suitable passages and vents are provided in the valve piston.
In order to proportion the consumption of gas to the power required when the
engine above described is doing work which varies, such as hoisting, several
methods may be used, such as cutting off the gas for one or more revolutions, or
partly throttling it, or by allowing air to enter the cylinder, thus diminishing its
capacity for a new charge; or the escape valve may be throttled to allow more or
less of the products of combustion to escape with the same object, viz.,
diminishing the capacity of the cylinder for a new charge.
Either of the above may be done by means of a suitable valve controlled by a
governor in the usual way.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND MANNER OF WORKING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing the cylinder and piston valve in section;
Figure 2 is a plan; Figure 5 is a cross section of the cylinder on the line A, B, and
Figures 3 and 4 are sections in plan of the piston valve and gas and air inlet box k ;
Figure 6 is a cross section of the piston valve on the line C, D. The letters refer
to the same parts throughout.
In the position shown in the Drawing the piston E is being drawn outwards by
the motion of the fly wheel, and gas and air enter the cylinder through the clack
valves F and G respectively, which are lifted by the vacuum produced in the
cylinder by the outward motion of the piston E.
On the return stroke of the piston E this mixture of gas and air is (after the
port H and the grooves P are closed by the piston) compressed into the portion K
of the cylinder L lying beyond the traverse of the piston E. This compressed
mixture being exploded at the end of the stroke by means of the travelling frame a
carried in the piston valve b closes the back pressure valve M (Figure 1) and
impels the piston E outwards. When the piston E in its outstroke uncovers the
port H leading through the back pressure valve I into the exhaust chamber o
pipe N, the tension of the products of the explosion causes a portion thereof to leave
the cylinder and escape into the chamber and pipe N.
[When grooves or channels are used, either with or without the port H, a portion
of the products of combustion will pass through the grooves P (which are rathe

page_text: longer than the piston E is wide, to the outer side of the piston E into the part o
(which is in free communication with the chamber H by means of port R) of the
cylinder L, which is in this case provided with a cover Q.]
The escape of a portion of the products of combustion reduces the pressure in
the cylinder to that of the atmosphere, and consequently the piston E, continuing
its outward stroke, draws a fresh charge of gas and air into the cylinder, which
fresh charge remains chiefly at the end K of the cylinder L. [When the grooves P
are used that portion of the products of combustion which has passed into the
cylinder L is expelled by the remainder of the outstroke of the piston E through
the port R into the exhaust chamber and pipe N.]
On its return stroke the piston E expels a further portion of the contents of the
cylinder through the port H and back pressure valve I [and also through the
grooves P], and compresses the remainder of the contents of the cylinder, which
consist of gas and air mingled, especially towards the piston E, with what is left
of the products of explosion, into the part K of the cylinder L, when the mixture
is fired and the piston E impelled outwards as before.
The grooves P are made in a casing let into the cylinder L, as shown in the
Drawing.
The piston valve b, shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, and 6, has motion imparted to it
by the eccentric and eccentric rod worked from the crank shaft, as shown in the
Drawing. The exhaust back pressure valve I may also be worked by means of a
lever actuated by an eccentric on the crank shaft, and in this way may be made to
open at any part of the stroke required.
In Figures 3, 4, and 6, a is the internal travelling flame burning in a chamber in
the piston valve b, to which air is admitted by holes, as shown at m in the
cylinder or casting c, and gas by a small gas pipe similarly disposed, shown at n,
Figure 6.
Figures 3 and 6 show the piston valve 6 in the position in which the flame a is
lighted or relighted (for it is blown out at every explosion) by the external flame d,
which is fixed.
Figure 4 shows the piston valve 6 by a further traverse (actuated by the
eccentric on the crank shaft) in the position in which it ignites the mixture of gas
and air drawn through the valves F and G into the chamber e (see also Figure 1).
The explosion thus caused lifts the.back pressure valve M (Figure 1) and ignites
the compressed mixture at K; f, g, and h are the metallic rings of the piston
valve b, which serve to make it work air tight in the casing c with a minimum of
frictional surface. The rings ƒ and g are so placed (as shown in the Drawing) to
constitute an equilibrium valve.
The position of the port H and the grooves P, shown in the Drawing, is
illustrative only, and we do not intend to limit ourselves to that exact
position.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,-
First. Placing in the cylinder of a gas engine an exhaust port and channels,
either combined or separate, and preferably at or about the positions shown in the
annexed Drawings, so that one portion of the products of combustion may escape
by their own tension before the piston has completed its outward stroke, and that
another portion may be expelled by the piston in the first part of its return stroke,
as hereinbefore described.
Secondly. In a gas engine igniting the explosive mixture in the cylinder by
means of a travelling flame carried in a piston valve to a chamber where a
preliminary explosion is thus caused, substantially as bereinbefore described and
shown at Figures 1, 3, 4, and 6 of the annexed Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of parts and mechanical arrangements forming a gas
engine, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and 6 of the annexed Drawings.

page_text: Fourthly. The construction of a piston valve for igniting the explosive mixture
contained in a gas engine cylinder, substantially as herein before described and
shown at Figures 1, 3, 4, and 6 of the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Louis Simon and Francis Wertenbruch, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twentieth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
LOUIS SIMON.
(L.S.)
FRANCIS WERTENBRUCH. (L.S.)