Improvements in internal Combustion Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in internal Combustion Engines.
I, JOHN HENRY HAMILTON, of Sandiacre, in the County of Derby, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The first part of my invention relates to an arrangement for circulating
water through the piston of an internal combustion engine, which I propose
to effect, as follows:
An arm is pivotted in fixed bearings attached to the frame-work of the
engine, and so that it is free to oscillate in a plane passing through the axis of
the cylinder, or parallel thereto, and preferably a vertical plane.
Two links connect the free end of the arm to which they are pivotted with
the piston to which is attached a pair of pivots, upon which pivots the other
ends of the links work. The arm may be forked towards the free end, or may
consist of two separate arms secured to, or formed in one piece with the pivot
which works in the fixed bearing.
Water is led to the centre of one of these pivots, passing through this it goes
along a passage formed in the arm, thence through a passage in the pivot,
at the free end of arm, and into a passage formed in the corresponding
link, thence through the pivot fixed to the piston, to the water jacket of the
latter. The return water follows a similar, but opposite course through the
other link, thence through another passage formed in the arm, and out at the
opposite pivot to that at which it entered, these pivots being coaxial.
The jacket in the piston may be formed by casting a partition parallel to
the back end, and near the latter, so as to enclose a disk of water at the back
of the piston, or a separate hollow end may be bolted to the piston.
Suitable partitions are used to make the water circulate in a proper manner.
I propose to make the joints at each of the moving connections, as follows:
The swinging arm has trunnions formed on it at both ends, that is, two at
each end, each pair having one axis. These trunnions, as above described, are
hollow, and into each of them fits the end of a connecting piece, which has a
passage for the water, and is packed in the trunnion with cup leather, hemp.
or other packing. This connecting piece has an enlarged end of about the
same diameter as the outside of the trunnion, which enlarged end fits in another
bearing coaxial with the bearing for trunnion. These-two-bearings are formed
Lin-the-ends-of-the links, or in the fixed part which carries the swinging arm.
and are bored out in line. They are split in an axial plane, and so arranged that
when the bolts holding the two halves together are tightened up the connecting
piece above described is nipped tightly_in_its-bearing, but the trunnion is free
to move: This connecting piece is preferably ground to a seat in its bearing.
so that when nipped tight, as described, there will be a water tight joint round
the passage which cuts through the surface of the seat. A set screw, or other
means is adopted for prevently the connecting piece turning in the bearing.
The connections made in this way are readily disconnected, and connected up
again.
Instead of passages being formed in the swinging arm and links, tubes may
he attached to these parts to convey the water to and from the jacket,

page_text: The second part of my invention. relates to the valve which regulates the
time of ignition, when a hot tube is used for igniting the charge.
This consists of a small valve held to its seat against the pressure inside the
cvlinder by a spring, and pulled away from its seat by a lever operated by a
cam. A nut is screwed on this valve, and the end of the lever works against
this nut. the screwing on or off of which alters the time of ignition.
The valve spindle passes outwards from the cylinder through a guide, and
beyond the guide is a closed chamber surrounding the valve spindle. Beyond
this chamber is another guide through which the valve spindle also passes.
Beyond this second guide is the nut which operates the valve, and beyond the
nut the spindle has a square formed on it. This square fits in a square hole
in a bush which bush can be rotated in a bearing formed in the outer end of
the casting, which has the two guides and chamber formed in it. This casting
also has a portion which prevents the nut above mentioned from being rotated,
thus when the bush is turned the valve spindle turns in the nut, and the time
of ignition is thereby altered.
Inside the bush and beyond the end of the valve spindle and bearing against
it is a spring, the compression of which may be varied by a plug screwed into
the end of the bush. This spring holds the valve to its seat, and the pressure
may thus be regulated.
Dated this 24th day of January 1800
Improvements in Internal Combustion Engines.
I, JOHN HENRY HAMILTON, of Sandiacre, in the County of Derby, 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 first part of my invention relates to an arrangement for circulating
water through the piston of an internal combustion engine, which I propose
to effect, as follows:
An arm is pivotted in fixed bearings attached to the framework of the engine,
and so that it is free to oscillate in a plane passing through the axis of the
cylinder, or parallel thereto, and preferably a vertical plane.
Two links connect the free end of the arm to which they are pivotted with
the piston, to which is attached a pair of pivots, upon which pivots the other
ends of the links work. The arm may be forked towards the free end, or may
consist of two separate arms secured to, or formed in one piece with the pivot
which works in the fixed bearing.
Water is led to the centre of one of these pivots, passing through this it goes
along a passage formed in the arm, thence through a passage in the pivot, and
into a passage formed in the corresponding link, thence through the pivot fixed
to the piston, to the water jacket of the latter. The return water follows a
similar, but opposite course, through the other link, thence through another
passage formed in the arm, and out at the opposite pivot to that at which it
entered, these pivots being co-axial.
The jacket in the piston may be formed by casting a partition parallel to
the back end, and near the latter. so as to enclose a disc of water at the back
of the piston, or a separate hollow end may be bolted to the piston. Suit-
able partitions are used to make the water circulate in a proper manner.

page_text: The joints at each end of the moving connections may be made as follows:
-The swinging arm has trunnions formed on it at both ends, that is two at
each end, each pair having one axis.
These trunnions, as above described, are hollow, and into each of them fits
the end of a connecting piece, which has a passage for the water, and is packed
in the trunnion with cup leather, hemp, or other packing. This connecting
piece has an enlarged end of about the same diameter as the outside of the
trunnion which enlarged end fits into another bearing co-axial with the bear-
ing for trunnion. These two bearings are formed in the ends of the links, or
in the fixed part which carries the swinging arm, and are bored out in line.
They are split in an axial plane, and so arranged that when the bolts holding
the two halves together are tightened up, the connecting piece above described
is nipped tightly in its bearing, but the trunnion is free to move.
This con-
necting piece is preferably ground to a seat in its bearing, so that when nipped
'tight, as described, there will be a water-tight joint round the passage which
cuts through the surface of the seat. A set-screw, or other means, is adopted
for preventing the connecting piece turning in the bearing.
The connections made in this way are readily disconnected, and connected up
again.
Instead of passages being formed in the swinging arm and links, tubes may
be attached to these parts to convey the water to and from the jacket.
The second part of my invention relates to the valve which regulates the
time of ignition, when a hot tube is used for igniting the charge.
This consists of a small valve held to its seat against the pressure inside the
cylinder by a spring, and pulled away from this seat by a lever operated by a
cam. A nut is screwed on this valve, and the end of the lever works against
this nut, the screwing on or off of which alters the time of ignition.
The valve spindle passes outwards from the cylinder through a guide, and
beyond the guide is a closed chamber surrounding the valve spindle. Beyond
this chamber is another guide through which the valve spindle also passes.
Beyond this second guide is the nut which operates the valve and beyond the
nut the spindle has a square formed on it. This square fits in a square hole
in a bush which bush can be rotated in a bearing formed in the outer end of
the casting, which has the two guides, and chamber formed in it.
This casting also has a portion which prevents the nut above mentioned from
being rotated thus when the bush is turned, the valve spindle turns in the
nut, and the time of ignition is thereby altered.
Inside the bush, and beyond the end of the valve spindle, and bearing against
it is a spring, the compression of which may be varied by a plug screwed into
the end of the bush. This spring holds the valve to its seat, and the pressure
may thus be regulated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1 is an end elevation, and Fig. 2a longitudinal section of-the
piston, and water circulating arrangement. Fig. 3 shows an alternative arrange-
ment of the links, etc., and Fig. 4 is a detail of a method of packing the moving
joints.
j
Water under sufficient pressure to force it through-this-system-is-led-say to
the pipe whence it passes to the swinging arm B down through the side b
through the moving joint to the link C, thence through another moving joint
to the tube, thence to the water space E at the back of the piston, which
space has preferably partitions cast in it to ensure the circulation of the water.
After passing through E the water goes out through a similar set of passages,
that is a pipe similar to d₁, a link C. similar to C₁, and passage b, similar to b₁,
Fig. 1, Sheet 1 is an end elevation, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of-the-
piston, and water circulating arrangement. Fig. 3 shows an alternative arrange-
ment of the links, etc., and Fig. 4 is a detail of a method of packing the moving
joints.
j
Water under sufficient pressure to force it through-this-system-is-led say to
the pipe A whence it passes to the swinging arm B down through the side b
through the moving joint to the link C, thence through another moving joint
to the tube, thence to the water space E at the back of the piston, which
space has preferably partitions cast in it to ensure the circulation of the water.
After passing through E the water goes out through a similar set of passages,
that is a pipe similar to d₁, a link C. similar to C₁, and passage b,, similar to b₁,
in the swinging arm, and finally out through the pipe F.
It is evident that, instead of having the arm B swinging in a fixed support,

page_text: it could be jointed to brackets such as G Fig. 3 fixed to the piston, and oscil-
late in a movable link or links such as C₁.
Fig. 4 shows a method of packing the joints, and is a horizontal section of
one of the joints aty, Fig. 1. In this the water arrives in space b₁, and
passes through the hole h to passage C₁. The end of the link forms a split
bearing, in which the trunnion K is free to oscillate, but in which the piece L
is securely clamped, it being made slightly larger in diameter than the trun-
nion K.
i
It may be ground to make a metal to metal joint at m, or a piece of thin
jointing may be inserted, in which case the piece L need not be made larger in
diameter than the trunnion K. A set-screw S may be used to prevent the
piece L turning round.
Packing material, such as is used on piston or pump glands may be put in
as shown at P, and pressed in by the spring T, and metal washers R, R..
Fig.'s 5 & 6 represent my improved timing valve being respectively a vertical,
and a horizontal section.
In these is the hole leading from the cylinder to the timing valve. V is
the valve pressed normally to its seat by a spring S. and opened at the correct
time by the end of a lever M pressing on the nut N screwed on the valve V.
The valve is guided in the casting provided with a chamber C. The outer
end of the spindle is square, and slides in a square hole in the sleeve X.
This sleeve can be turned round and locked in any position, thus altering the
position of the nut N on the spindle, and consequently the time of ignition.
The tension of the spring S can be regulated by means of the screw Y.
When the valve is open there is a free communication between the hole O
and Z, the passage leading to the ignition tube. The gases that escape into
the chamber C have their pressure lowered by reason of the comparatively large
capacity of that chamber, consequently there is only a very slight escape from
the chamber to the atmosphere, the more so as the guide at F being further
away from the burning gases remains perfectly cool, and can consequently be
made a good fit on the valve stem.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
(1) For the purpose of cooling the piston of an internal combustion engine,
an arrangement consisting essentially of an arm pivotted at one end to some
part attached to the framework of the engine, and at the other end to some part
attached to the piston, and having in it one passage for the inlet of water to
the piston, and another passage for the outlet of water from the piston substan-
tially as described.
(2) The arrangement of swinging arm, and links substantially as described
with reference to Fig.'s 1 & 2 of the accompanying drawings.
(3) The arrangement of swinging arm, and links substantially as described
with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
(4) The arrangement of pivotted joints substantially as described with
reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
(5) The timing valve substantially as described with reference to Fig.'s 5 & 6
of the accompanying drawings.