Improvements in Gas Engines.
Year: 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Engines.
We, JOHN CHARTER, THOMAS ALEXANDER GALT, and GEORGE STEPHEN TRACY, all
residing at Sterling, in the County of Whiteside, and State of Illinois, one of the
United States of America, gentlemen, 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 :—
My invention has reference to gas engines and pertains especially to that class of
gas engines in which each forward movement of the working piston is effected by the
explosion of a charge of mixed air and gas, and my improvement consists in
constructing the engine. as fully set forth hereinafter, so as to insure an instantaneous
explosion of the entire charge.
In the drawings
Figure, 1 is a side elevation of a gas engine embodying my invention.
Figure, 2, is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.
Figure, 3, is a horizontal longitudinal section thereof.
Figure, 1, is an end view thereof.
Figure, 5, is a partial cross section in the line,,, of figure, 1.
Figure, 6, is a partial longitudinal section in the line, yy, of figure, 1,
Figure, 7, are sectional details of the head of the working cylinder.
A, is the usual balance of fly wheel rigidly seated on the shaft, B, from which latter
the power is communicated to the machinery to be operated by such engine either by
means of the belt pulley, C, seated on such shaft or in any other suitable mode. D', is
the power piston attached at its outer end in the usual way to the shaft, B, and having
its action in the power cylinder, D. E, is the supply cylinder placed beneath and
parallel with the power evlinder, D. E, is the supply piston which traverses the
supply cylinder, E, and has its action derived from and coincident with the crank
wrist to which the power piston is attached.
F, is a cylindrical horizontal cut off and ignition chamber seated against and
communicating by means of inlet, a, with the power cylinder, D. G, is a mixture and
transition chamber seated beneath the chamber, F. and to the chamber, G, air is
supplied from beneath through the vertical tube, 6, and gas through an annular
opening, e, around the upper end of the tube, /, the lower portion of the opening, e,
communicating with the horizontal chamber, H, into which latter gas is introduced
through the tube, d.

page_text: Communication is established between the supply cylinder E, and the chamber, G,
by means of a tube, I, (figure, 1). The outstroke of the supply piston. E', draws the
mixed charge through the chamber, G, and tube, L. into the supply cylinder. E, the
valve, e, seated in the bottom of the chamber, G (and normally closing the tube, b, and
opening, e) rising to admit the gas and air and communication with the chamber, F,
being intermittently suspended as hereinafter described.
:
The instroke of the supply piston, E', forces the charge back through the tube, I,
and chamber, G (the valve, e, by its own gravity meanwhile closing the tube, b, and
opening, e) and inlet into the chamber, F, and thence through the inlet, a, into the
power cylinder, D. A plunger, K, reciprocated horizontally in the chamber, F. by
being eccentrically attached to the axle, B, opens and closes the inlets, and, a, at the
proper intervals and such plunger is so arranged as not to uncover the inlet, until
the supply piston, E', has advanced slightly on its instroke and thereby created a
slight compression of the mixture in the supply cylinder, E. The plunger, K, also
performs the additional function of carrying ignition from the external gas jet, h, to
the charge within the power cylinder, D. But as the construction and operation of
the igniter is the same as that fully described in letters patent of the United States
No. 335,564, granted to me for improvements in gas engines of date February, 9 1886,
on which no claim is herein made, I do not deem it essential to here repeat the
organization or operation of the plunger, K. as an igniter. An exhaust port,, is
formed in the opposite side of the power cylinder, D, and is opened and closed at
proper intervals by the cut off, L, reciprocated from the shaft, B, in the open-ended
chamber, with which the exhaust port, d, communicates.
About the limit of the outsiroke of the power piston, D', the cut off, L, opens the
exhaust port, and closes such exhaust at or shortly before the return of such piston
to the port, The piston, D², may be made to itself close the port, 4, at the inner
extremity of the latter.
as
Soon after the beginning of the insiroke of the piston D³, the inlet, a is opened
before said by the plunger, K, and at this time the supply piston, E', has advanced
slightly on its insiroke and the charge been somewhat compressed. The charge is
therefore introduced into the power cylinder. D, during part of the instroke of the
piston, D', the introduction of such charge having its initiative shortly after the
beginning of the instroke of the supply piston, E. The charge is therefore
compressed by the coincident action of both pistons. The supply piston, E',
contributes to the compression of the charge by forcing the latter into a chamber
constantly decreasing in capacity to wit: the power cylinder.
The power piston, D', cooperates in the compression of such charge by directly
decreasing the capacity of that end of the power cylinder into which the charge is the
while being forced by the supply piston, E, as aforesaid. The exhaust port, i, is not
closed until the power piston. D', has advanced nearly half of its instroke and such
incoming piston. D', therefore expels through the exhaust port, 7, that portion of the
products of combustion contained in the power cylinder between such exhauster port
and the outer limit of the power piston, the coincidentally incoming charge prevents
such residuum from passing into the inner end of the power cylinder
The action of the two pistons is so related that at the time one half the contents of
the supply cylinder has been forced into the power cylinder the power piston, D', has
reached the exhaust, 7. on its instroke and expelled the products of combustion to that
point as aforesaid. From this time onward during the remainder of the instroke of
both pistons the compression of the charge is the joint act of each the supply piston
completing its injection of the charge a sufficient interval before power piston reaches
the limit of its instroke to permit the closing of the inlets, and, without
interrupting the injection of such charge. The explosion generates intense heat in
the power cylinder, D, and even after the exhaust, is open and the heat of the
products of combustion largely reduced as the result of such products remaining in
ihe cylinder, D. are at a very high temperature but greatly rarified. The introduction
of a new charge at its normal temperature so reduces the temperature of such residuum
and thereby so greatly shrinks its volume that no objectionable results are experienced

page_text: from its presence. The instroke of the plunger, K, closes the inlets, and, a,
immediately after the introduction of charge. The supply piston, E', by reason of its
crank connection as shown, is on its instroke slightly in advance of the power
piston, D, and therefore forces the charge into the power cylinder, D, slightly in
advance of the power piston, I, reaching the limit of its instroke and thereby time is
afforded as aforesaid for closing the inlets, and, a, without interrupting the ingress
of the charge.
In order that the residuum of the products of combustion may be suddenly cooled
and thereby shrunk in volume it is essential that the incoming charge be instantly
distributed throughout the interior of the power cylinder, D. In practice I find that
this can be effectually accomplished by placing a vertical partition or deflection, M, on
the inner side of the head, D², of the power cylinder, D. The partition, M, extends
into the cylinder, D, to nearly the limit of the instroke of the piston, D₁, and is
provided with orifices, M', and is nearly or quite the width of the internal diameter of
the cylinder, D.
As the incoming charge strikes the adjacent face of the partition, M, and the nearer
half of the head, D², it is instantly deflected towards the piston, D, as far as the
exhaust,, and from thence to the opposite side of such partition at once permeating,
cooling and shrinking the residuum of the products of combustion remaining in such
cylinder. This process is assisted by a portion of such charge passing through
openings M, in such partition. The feed of gas and thereby the velocity of the
engine is regulated as follows:-A vertical arm, 1, is pivoted at its lower end to the
bed, A, and is provided at its upper end with the friction roller, 2. A horizontal
rod, 3, is pivoted at its outer end about midway of the arm, 1, and at its opposite end
extends into the gas chamber, H, and in such chamber beyond the juncture of the gas
pipe, d, therewith, is provided with a circular head adapted on the withdrawal of such
rod, to close the opening of the tube, d.
A coiled spring, 4, placed on the rod, 3, and held between a fixed collar, 5, thereon
and the end of the chamber, H, tends to hold the roller, 2, against a collar, 6, on the
shaft, B, and to draw the head of such rod over the opening into the tube, d. A loose
collar, 6, is placed on the shaft, B, and provided with a semi-annular external flange, 7.
Two bell crank levers, 8, (figure, 3.) are pivoted at their angle to the collar,,
attached to the shaft, B, and their inner end pivoted in slots to opposite sides of the
collar. 6. The outer ends of the levers, 8, are projected within the pulley, C, and
provided with governor balls, 10, which latier are adjustably connected by means of a
spiral spring, 11.
In the normal condition of the engine the friction roller, 2, with each revolution of
the shaft, B, traverses the flange 7, and thereby the gas tube is intermittently opened
into the chamber, H. Any accelerated speed of the engine causes the balls, 10, to
separate and thus draw the collar, 6, outward and flange, 7, out of the path of the
roller, 2, and the latter then traversing only the smooth exterior of such collar, the
tube, d remains nearly or quite closed until the reduced speed again brings the
flange, 7, into the path of such roller and thereby forces the arm, 1, inward and
increases the said opening of the tube, d. Difficulty has heretofore been experienced
in sufficiently sealing the communication between the igniter and power cylinder to
prevent the escape of a portion of the mixture at the time of explosion. To obviate
this seat in the side of the chamber, F, and around the inlet, a (figs. 5, &, 6) an
djustable plug, N, having the central opening, N.
The plug, N, at its onter end extends Eat way around the interior of the chamber, F.
and has its upper edge seated in a recess formed in the wall of such chamber and its
lower portion held from outer movement on the withdrawal of the plunger K, by the
projected lower portion of the latter. A slight recess, N2, is formed at the interior
end of the plug, N, for the admission and outward pressure of the mixture so as to
hold the concave end of such plug firmly against the cylindrical plunger, K, when the
latter closes the inlet, a.
Thus the outer margin of the inlet, «, is held firmly against such plunger and any

page_text: wear of such contiguous paris compensated by the outward pressure of the mixture,
and any escape of the latter around the outer end of such inlet wholly prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The cylinder, D, provided on its head, D2, with the partition, M, projected into
such cylinder from the inner face of such head, substantially as shown and for the
purpose specified.
2. The combination of the cylinder, D, provided with the interiorily projected
partition, M, and the inlet, a, the piston, D¹, and means for forcing the mixture into
such cylinder through such inlet, whereby such mixture is quickly distributed
throughout the internal area of such cylinder, substantially as shown and for the
purpose described.
3. In combination with the power cylinder of a gas engine, provided with an inlet, a,
the partition, M, projected interiorily from the head of such cylinder in front of such
substantially as shown and for the purpose mentioned.
4. The construction substantially as shown of a power cylinder having inlet, a, and
a partition, M, extended interiorily from the head of such cylinder, so as to intercept
the charge in its ingress through such inlet.
5. The combination of the power cylinder, D), the chamber, F, provided with
recess, № the inlet, a, communicating from said cylinder to said chamber the
cylindrical plunger, K, and the plug, N, having the upper edge of the outer end
seated in a recess formed in the wall of said chamber, and provided with central
opening, N, and the concaved outer end to partially embrace such plunger, laterally,
substantially as shown and for the purpose described.
6. The combination with a power cylinder provided with exhaust port,, a power
piston, a supply cylinder and piston an inlet, a, communicating from one of said
cylinders to the other, ilie cut off, L, and plunger, K, said parts being so arranged and
their co-actions timed, that said plunger, K, prevents the admission of the mixture into
the inlet,
until the supply piston has partially advanced on its instroke and then
opens the passage into said inlet, and the cut off, L, opens the exhaust, i, about the
limit of the outstroke of said power piston and closes such exhaust when the power
piston, on its instroke has nearly or quite reached such exhaust, whereby the inlet..a,
is opened after partial compression of the mixture has been accomplished in the supply
cylinder, and said exhaust port remains unclosed until after said mixture has been
introduced in part within said power cylinder.
7. The combination of the arm, 1, suitably pivoted at one end and provided at its
other end with the friction roller 2, the rod, 3, pivotally connected at its outer end to
the arm, 1, and having its inner end projeciel into the chamber, H, and adapted to
adjustably open and close the communication of the tube, d, with such chamber, the
spring, 4, chamber, H, the collar, 6, provided with external semi-annular flanges, 7,
and levers, S, pivotally connected at collar, 6, and adapted to be actuated in the usual
way by governor balls, 10, substantially as shown and for the purpose specified.
8. In a gas engine, the combination substantially as shown of a power cylinder and
piston, a supply piston, a supply cylinder provided with the admission and exit tube, I,
and communicating intermittently with said power cylinder, and a plunger, K,
adapted to intermittingly open and close said communication, and so time in its
action as to open said communication between said cylinders for the admission of the
charge into said power cylinder, only after said supply piston shall have advanced
somewhat on its instroke, for the purpose described.