Improvements in and relating to Internal Combustion or Explosive Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1898-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Internal Combustion or Explosive
Engines.
•
I. THOMAS TOMLINSON, of Ballywaltrim Cottage, Bray, in the County of
Dublin, Ireland, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to internal combustion or explosive engines and com-
prises the improvements hereinafter set forth.
According to my said invention I provide a cylinder or two cylinders placed
in line, with a common or central explosion chamber, and fitted with a pair of
pistons placed back to back with the common explosion chamber located between
them, and working against a suitable fixed air pressure-the cylinders in front
of the pistons being in free communication with a reservoir of air under pres-
sure (the high pressure reservoir). These pistons are connected to cranks set
at an angle of 180°, and are so arranged that they have a greater area at their
back, or explosion side, than at their front, or compression side, by the area of
the piston rod of suitable diameter. On opening connection between the front
and back of the pistons by means of any suitable valve gear, the said pistons will
move outwards by reason of the excess of the total pressure at the back of the
said pistons over that in front thereof, which excess is due to the equality of pres-
sure at the back and front and the greater area at the back than at the front,
so admitting air from front to back, that is to say, from the high pres-
sure reservoir which supplies the cylinders in front of the pistons, to the explo-
sion chamber between the pistons. The amount of air so admitted is regulated
by arranging the valve gear to close the connection between the front and back
in such a manner that it may be altered at will according to the air-charge
desired.
During this preliminary outward movement of the pistons the necessary
amount of gas to form the explosive mixture is measured and mixed with the
air, or the necessary amount of oil is measured, vaporized, and mixed with the
air for the like purpose, and the explosive mixture so formed is exploded and
the remainder of the outgoing stroke is then made under the influence of the
said explosion. The return stroke is caused by opening the exhaust by suitable
valve gear, either to the atmosphere or to any suitable reservoir (the low pres-
sure reservoir) kept at any suitable pressure below that of the high pressure
reservoir which is in connection with the compression ends of the pistons, by
the constant withdrawal of the compressed air therein preferably to feed a suit-
able auxiliary engine with air pump supplying part or the whole of the com-
pressed air required to feed the explosion chamber the balance being supplied
by a suitable air pump geared to the engine shaft.
The cycle of operations is as follows:
The first part of the outgoing stroke is made at the expense of the energy of
the compressed air in the high-pressure reservoir supplying the compression ends

page_text: of the cylinders by reason as before mentioned of the difference of the area of
the back and front of the pistons, and the remainder of the outgoing stroke is
made under the influence of the explosion. The return stroke is made under
the influence of the compressed air in the high pressure reservoir, the energy
used in the return stroke representing energy borrowed from the explosion part
of the outward stroke (as in the return stroke of a modern single acting engine
with air compression cylinder) and it is evident that, by closing the connection
between the compression ends of the cylinder and the high pressure reservoir at
any part of the outgoing stroke, the pressure on the compression ends of the
cylinders will rise higher and the amount of energy, taken from the forward
stroke and returned on the back stroke, will be increased, so that by varying
the point of the stroke at which this closing of the connection between the
cylinder and the reservoir takes place, that is to say the point at which cushion-
ing begins, the total energy of the explosion may be divided between the forward
and return strokes, so as to equalise the turning moment on the engine shaft.
The regulation of the amount of air, of the amount of oil or gas, and of the
degree of cushioning, all of which increase and decrease together, may, if desired.
be effected by so connecting or linking them together that one movement will
govern them all.
When gas is used as an explosive medium it must be maintained at a fixed
pressure (at or near that of the high pressure reservoir) in the reservoir from
which it is withdrawn by the measuring piston. Light oils may be also gasified
at this pressure and withdrawn in the desired quantities. Heavy oils are pre-
ferably first heated to a fixed temperature by any waste heat available for the
purpose and in the state of oil are drawn from the containing reservoir in the
required quantity, at each stroke, and then sprayed under the pressure of air.
steam, or of the lighter oils, given off by their own heating, into a vaporizer
filled with heated air, or heated exhaust products, and then drawn or forced with
the new charge of air into the explosion chamber.
The charge of oil is preferably drawn from the reservoir by passing into and
out of the said reservoir a hollow rod closed at the inner end, and pierced with
holes or slots, and into the hollow of which rod fits a piston with a screwed
spindle engaging with a nut attached to the said hollow rod. By rotating the
not the piston can be made to advance towards. or recede from, the closed end.
and the space filled with oil at each stroke made smaller or larger.
Dated this 10th dox of Aument 1007
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Internal Combustion or Explosive
"Engines.
I, THOMAS TOMLINSON, of Ballywaltrim Cottage, Bray, in the County of
Wicklow, Ireland, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to internal combustion or explosive engines and com-
prises the improvements hereinafter set forth.
According to my said invention I provide a cylinder, or two cylinders placed
in line, with a common or central.explosion chamber, and fitted with a pair of

page_text: pistons preferably placed back to back with the common explosion chamber
located between them, and working against a suitable air pressure, the cylinders
in front of the pistons being in free communication with a reservoir of air under
pressure (the high pressure reservoir). These pistons (where two are used) are
connected to cranks set at an angle of 180°, and are so arranged that they have
an area at their back or explosion side greater than at their front or compres-
sion side by the area of the piston rod which is of suitable diameter, as in the
Specification of my previous Patent No. 28514 of 1896; the piston rod in the
particular form now shown being hollow and forming a cylinder in which
the air pressure acts. On opening connection between the high pressure reser-
voir and the explosion cylinders by means of any suitable valve gear, the explo-
sion pistons will move outwards by reason of the excess of the total pressure
at the back of the said pistons over that in front thereof, which excess is due to
the equality of pressure at the back and front and the greater area at the back
than at the front, so admitting air from front to back, that is to say, from the
high pressure reservoir which supplies the cylinders in front of the pistons, to
the explosion chamber between the pistous. The amount of air so admitted is
regulated by arranging the valve gear to close the connection between the front
and back in such a manner that it may be altered at will according to the air-
charge desired.
During this preliminary outward movement of the pistons the necessary
amount of gas to form the explosive mixture is measured and mixed with the
air, or the necessary amount of oil is measured, vaporized, and mixed with the
air for the like purpose, and the explosive mixture so formed is exploded, after
the closing of the admission valve and the remainder of the outgoing stroke is
then made under the influence of the said explosion. The return stroke is
caused by opening the exhaust, by suitable valve gear, to the atmosphere.
When working, the first part of the outgoing stroke is made at the expense
of the energy of the compressed air in the high pressure reservoir supplying
the compression cylinders, by reason, as before mentioned, of the difference of
the area of the back and front of the parts, and the remainder of the out-going
stroke is made under the influence of the explosion. The return stroke is made
under the influence of the compressed air in the high pressure reservoir, the
energy used in the return stroke representing energy borrowed from the outward
stroke (as in the return stroke of a modern single acting engine with air com-
pression cylinder). The energy of the explosion is thus divided between the
outgoing stroke and the return stroke, thus making the engine virtually a double-
acting one.
In the accompanying drawings, which show the application of my inven-
tion to an engine using heavy oils-it being understood that this differs from its
application to an engine using gas or light oils only in the matter of vaporization.
Figure 1 is a plan partly in section.
Figure 2 is an end view, and
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line, Figure 1, showing my improved
engine, certain far details shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 being omitted for the
sake of clearness.
Figure 4 is a plan, partly in section showing the trip gear for regulating the
cut off and the device for controlling the oil supply on an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the trip gear, taken on the line A-A in
Figure 4, (the slide being shown partially in elevation) and the lever for regu-
lating the cut-off, and
Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, drawn to the same scale as
Figures 4 and 5, of the device for controlling the oil supply.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
and c.
a is the bed or base plate of the engine; b, bare the explosion cylinders;
c, c the pressure cylinders, and d the pumps connected with the cylinders
The cylinders b, c and d are provided with pistons b, c, d¹ and the said cylin-

page_text: ders & are water-jacketted at the top and bottom as shown at 61* Figure 3 but not
at the sides, or at least not to the same depth, so as to allow space or the con-
necting rods.
The cylinders c are formed within the pistons b', these being con-
structed hollow for the purpose as shown clearly in Figure 3. it will be evident
that this arrangement admits of great simplicity and compactness of construc-
It will be seen that either set b, c, of the above cylinders would or
by themselves a complete explosive engine. I, indicate the main air supply
pipes, f, the on supply pipes; and 7**, * the pipes from the air pumps.
is a reuet valve.
tion.
io a
g is a common opening leading from each pair of explosion cylinders
valve chest g into which latter open admission valves and exhaust valves
The valves and i are balanced inside and out, the former by means of a very
sinali hole drilled through the valve spindle and opening between the valve and
gland on one side and between the guide piston and gland on the other, the
atter by equal atmospheric pressure on the exterior of the valve and guide
piston; and both on the interior by equality of areas of the valve and guide
piston. The pressure desired to keep the above valves closed is supplied by
coil springs m²,
To operate the valves I provide cams fixed to a countershaft which
latter is driven from, and at the same speed as, the main shaft by suitable
clutches and chain gearing. as shown (or by eccentrics placed at an angle
of 90°) by means of sleeves mounted upon the said shait k, and passing
through the bearings thereof. The clutches are adapted to be operated in
the usual manner by forks, not shown in the drawing, which forks engage
between collars upon sleeves k* formed on, or connected to, the bosses of the
clutch discs . The cams j operate to move to and fro the sliding pieces m
against the pull of the springs m³. Centrally within such spring-controlled
sliding pieces m the valve spindles m project. Upon the ends of these valve
spindles the extremities of the fingers n bear and the valves are therefore moved
by the sliding pieces except when the fingers are forced apart as hereinafter more
particularly described. The fingers n may be opened at any desired point, or
kept entirely open by the action of the trip levers s', which upon being pushed
more or less to the right separate the fingers n by acting upon the crooks
an earlier or later period of the stroke and allow the valve to close under the
action of the spring m2, the valve spindle m passing up inside the sliding
piece m between the opened fingers n. I am thus, it will be seen, enabled to
regulate the point of cut off of the admission valve in a manner practically
similar to that adopted in the Corless valve gear. The trip levers s¹, which are
connected by a cross bar z* are operated by means of the lever ** fulcrumed to
a bracket Z bolted to one of the bearing caps, and the connector 21 (shown only
in Fig. 5) and may be retained in the desired position by means of the bolt 2
engaging one of the notches in the quadrant 23.
at
mare sliding pieces operated by cams q', serving to actuate the exhaust
valves but such sliding pieces m³ form one piece and no fingers or trip levers
are required as in the ones m.
In general but two positions (fixed by notches in the quadrant *) will be
required, one in which the levers are out of action (that is do not touch the
crooks of the fingers at any part of the stroke) so that admission is through the
whole stroke and the other in which the levers acting upon the crooks open
the fingers and allow the valve to close when a predetermined proportion of the
stroke is performed:-the former to be used for starting as an air engine; the
latter when it is desired to work as an explosive engine.
p is one of a pair of oil pumps preferably of that kind or class known as the
Brayton oil pump, the spring-controlled slide valve spindle 2* and pump
plunger of which are operated respectively by cams q* and q, the cam q³,
which controls the slide valve spindle being fixed to, or formed on, the counter-

page_text: shaft ; and the one q, which controls the pump plunger, being fixed to, or
formed on, the sleeve.
The outward travel of the pump plungers p¹ and consequently the amount
of oil delivered at each stroke thereof, may be regulated by the hooks r upon
the levers s limiting the outward travel by bearing against a stud p² projecting
from the plunger p. Moving the levers s, which are connected by the cross-
bar z, towards the right increases the stroke of the plungers, and moving them
towards the left decreases the said stroke and finally altogether shuts off the
supply. This regulating action is effected automatically by means of a cylinder t
as will be hereinafter described.
q is an electrical commutator which makes contact for ignition and as shown
is adapted for a non-reversing engine. If reversing be desired, by rotating or
turning the counter shaft k through an angle of 180°, (having first thrown the
clutches out of gear,) all the valves, and therefore the engine, will be reversed.
The cams 9 being on the sleeves 3 and not on the shaft k will not be reversed
during this operation. In the case of a reversing engine the commutator is
divided and placed upon the sleeves 3 instead of centrally upon the shaft k as
shown in the drawing.
u is an air and oil heater which consists of a closed reservoir containing water
through which pass a copper coil u¹ for the exhaust, and one u² for the air for
vaporising purposes, and also short coils u³ for the oil on its way from the oil
pumps to the cylinders. The steam pressure which is a measure of the heat of
the water in the reservoir u should be kept as high and as constant as possible,
which may be advantageously effected by so operating a bye-pass valve on the
exhaust pipe as to pass more or less of the exhaust through the heater.
In cases where weight of the engine is a matter of importance the oil only
need be so heated, the air being heated in the usual way by being passed round
a flame lamp. I sometimes moreover employ flame heating in conjunction with
the heater in order to insure more effective vaporization.
vis an air reservoir communicating with the pressure cylinders c, the pump
cylinders and the explosion cylinders b. The reservoir vis closed by one
inwardly-opening valve which may be either opened or closed by the hand
wheel as shown, or the opening of the valve may be effected by means of a
bell crank lever operating directly on the valve spindle passing through a gland
at the top of the hand wheel spindle, the hand wheel being in this case only
employed for screwing the valve tight upon its seating so as to prevent leakage
during long stoppages.
3,3 are outwardly-opening delivery valves from the pump cylinders d into
the pressure cylinders c, the pipes fx f and u² and the reservoir v.
To admit of regulating or adjusting the point at which compression in the
air pumps d is commenced I provide in connection with each of them a piston
or plunger w which when moved outwardly in its cylinder w¹ will uncover the
slots or apertures w², so that the amount of air delivered by the pump will be
decreased, and when moved inwardly the amount of the said air will be
increased. The spindles w³ of the pistons w of the pair shown are connected
to the pair belonging to the other cylinders by cross pieces w which latter are
moved inwards and outwards together either by right and left handed screws
operated by a hand wheel, or by levers, or in any other convenient manner.
is one of two hand wheels to screw down the lift valves 2 on the hot air
admission, which valves are for the purpose of preventing the diffusion of oil
vapour back into the air heating coil during stops, and one of which is shown
in the sectional part of the plan.
is one of two hand wheels for screwing down spindles which close small
orifices y, one of which is shown in the plan, by which the heated oil enters the
chambers y from which, on the lifting of the main admission valve h, it passes
into the annulus y, and thence as vapour through the openings in the valve

page_text: seating into the cylinders being vaporized and carried off by the passage over
it of hot air through the valves 2.
of
The cylinder for automatically regulating the stroke of the plungers
the oil pumps p, is mounted on trunnions t¹ carried from the flange of the beam
which also carries the bearings of the countershaft k. The piston rod 2 of the
piston ³ is connected to the cross piece z connecting the oil-supply regulation
levers s, the piston being forced backwards by the pressure of air from the line
of connecting pipes and against the pull of a spring 2¹ as shown in Figure 3.
The strength of this spring 21, the area of the piston 3, and the shape of the
hooks are such that the oil-admission, regulated by the stroke of the oil-pump
plungers pas allowed by the position of the said hooks r, will be the proper
quantity for any fixed and constant admission of air to the cylinders at the air-
pressure in the system. The spring is secured at the opposite end from the
piston rod t to an upright from the bearing cap, or to any other convenient
point of attachment. For example suppose that the air cut-off and point of
ignition be fixed at about a quarter of the stroke, by fixing the position of the
levers so that they force open the fingers and allow the valve to close when
a quarter of the outgoing stroke is performed, then by the combined action of
the governing cylinder, the spring ¹, and the hooks r, the amount of oil
delivered per stroke will be automatically controlled.
As will be clearly seen from Figures 1 and 2 the levers s connected to the
crosspiece or rod z are forked for steadiness and to get guidance from abutting
against one limb of the adjacent forked levers st, the other limbs of which abut
against lugs 2 carrying the rods. In the case of the levers s¹ they are con-
nected by the cross bar 3* and are forked partly for guidance and steadiness and
also so as to give two limbs one on each side of the sliding pieces m. Each of
these limbs when the lever is pushed towards the right will come in contact with
one of the crooks n* the fingers n carried in the slides m, as shown in Figures 1, 4
and 5 a spring m¹ keeping their points together and so bearing on the top of
the valve spindle m. When the limbs bear on the crooks n of the fingers n
the points are pushed outwards and the slides can then pass up and down on
the valve spindle m* but do not operate it. The above mentioned limbs form in
fact a
trip gear" and as two are used any side strain on the slide m is pre-
vented. If the levers s¹ are kept back, admission will be made during the whole
of the forward stroke; by pushing them towards the right the fingers n open
and the valve closes at the predetermined point.
66
The regulation of the oil supply is effected by the levers s in the manner
already described. That is to say the stud 2 projecting on the outside of the
plunger pin conjunction with the hook r attached to the lever s, prevents the
plunger head from keeping in contact with the cam g through the entire stroke
as it would if the levers s were pushed to the right. It is clear that the face of
the hook may be so shaped that the travel of the oil pump plunger pin its
suction stroke (and therefore its delivery on the delivery stroke) shall provide
the proper quantity of oil for the amount of free air represented by the charge
at the then actual pressure in the system.
The action of the cylinder t may be suspended by means of a three way cock
on the air supply pipe f which when in one position will close the supply of
air and open the cylinder to the atmosphere, and when in another position will
close the opening to the atmosphere and open the air supply to the said cylinder t.
The operation of my improved engine is as follows:-
Assuming that air under pressure has been retained in the reservoir from the
last stop, (the valve being screwed tight upon its seating for prolonged stops,)
the heater is brought to the required temperature by means of external heat
the degree of heating being shown by the steam pressure. Oil is then passed
from the oil reservoir through the coils until it appears at the overflow from
the chambers y, by hand-pumping air into the oil cylinder and leaving the bye-
pass valve open, the latter being afterwards closed.

page_text: The oil supply regulation levers are drawn back as hereinbefore described,
which action also breaks the electric circuit to the ignition device, the air supply
regulator is drawn back to allow admission of air through the whole stroke, and
the pump admission regulators are kept well open. The valve vl is now
opened and the engine starts as an ordinary air engine the power for the instroke
being borrowed from the outstroke as in an ordinary single acting steam engine
with air compression cylinders, or with air exhaust cylinders, except that the
counter pressure will be nearly constant and will not increase as it does when
air compression or exhaust cylinders are used.
After some strokes, the number of which will depend upon the relative capa-
city of the cylinders b to that of the system of connecting pipes f, fx and u² and
the reservoir v, (which latter may be cut off by closing the valve v), the pres-
sure in the system will fall to a suitable point. The levers s may then be moved
or released so as to start the oil supply, and allow the electric current to pass for
ignition, and at the same time the pump supply pistons should be drawn inwardly
to equalize the supply of compressed air at each stroke to the consumption in the
main cylinders.
During running the power may be regulated by increasing or decreasing the
amount of air delivered per stroke by the pumps, by suitably operating the
pistons 20.
If the air supply delivered from the pumps be in excess of that consumed in
the explosion cylinders 6 then the pressure in the system will increase and so
also will the amount of oil consumed and the power generated. If on the con-
trary the air pump delivery be less than the air consumed then the air pressure
in the system will diminish and so will also the amount of oil consumed and
the power generated. That is to say the power, when the engine is running,
can be completely controlled by one simultaneous movement of the regulating
pistons w.
To stop the engine the oil supply must be cut off, by drawing back the levers s.
and the electric circuit broken, and the air inlet stopped by pushing forward the
levers s or by suitably operating the hand wheel 2.
If a quick stop be desired, then, in addition to cutting off the supply of power
as above the pump delivery should be increased rapidly, and as the pump
capacity at full stroke is very large as compared to that of the explosion cylinders,
it will be seen that a very large braking power can be thus made available, the
energy so absorbed being stored in the reservoir where it is available for the
restarting of the engine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
:-
1. In an internal combustion engine, one or more explosion pistons and
evlinders and one or more pressure pistons and cylinders so operating as to
divide the energy of explosion between the outgoing stroke and the return stroke.
2. The improved internal combustion engine constructed substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawings and operating in the
manner hereinbefore specified.
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.