Improvements in Internal Combustion or Detonating Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application 25th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 25th May, 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897
Improvements in Internal Combustion or Detonating Engines.
I, PARIS EUGENE SINGER, of 19 Kensington Court, London, Middlesex, Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce a motive-power engine in which a cool
working cylinder is always ready for the compression and expansion of an explosive
mixture at each revolution of the crank shaft.
In carrying out this invention, I employ a crank shaft connected with one or more
pistons, and use a series of working cylinders, which are brought into use in
succession. Near the end of the working stroke, the piston leaves the cylinder, and
rests in a holder, and while in this position, the cylinder from which the piston has
been withdrawn is replaced by a cool one containing air, into which, at a desired
moment, the gas or other material to be ignited is forced. The return of the piston
compresses the mixture, and the ignition is done electrically in the usual way.
A convenient way of arranging the working cylinders, is to group two, three, or
more together, mount them on a central hollow axle, and to revolve them by suitable
gearing after each explosion, so as to bring a cool cylinder into line with the working
piston or pistons.
The cylinders must be then locked in position, to allow of the piston or pistons
compressing a fresh charge of mixed gases.
It is through the hollow axle that the gas or other medium of combustion is
conveniently supplied to the cylinders, and through which also the exhaustion of the
spent gases is obtained, the axle being, for this purpose, divided into two passages,
which connect respectively with the supply and exhaust.
The cylinders I propose to employ will consist of thin steel tubes open at one end
to receive the piston, and closed at the other end to provide for the compression of
the enclosed gases.
The closed end will be fitted with a valve which is normally open, but is shut by
the pressure of the piston upon the entrapped mixed gases, and ports will be
provided in the cylinders to meet the supply and exhaust ports of the hollow axle.
When the valve in the closed end is relieved from pressure by the explosion in the
cylinder driving out the piston, the valve will open, and allow a draught of air to
rush through and cool the cylinder; thus, an undue amount of heat will never
accumulate in my improved engine.
Dated this 25th day of July 1896.

page_text: Improvements in Internal Combustion or Detonating Engines..
I, PARIS EUGENE SINGER, of 19 Kensington Court, London, Middlesex, Gentleman,
do bereby 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:-
This invention relates to motive-power engines in which a cool working cylinder is
always ready for the compression and expansion of an explosive mixture at each
revolution of the crank shaft, the object of the invention being to improve the
construction of such engines.
In carrying out this invention, 1 employ, as before, a crank shaft connected with
one or more pistons, and a series of working cylinders, which are brought into use in
succession. Near the end of the working stroke, the piston leaves the cylinder, and
rests in a holder, and while in this position the cylinder from which the piston has
been withdrawn is replaced by a cool one containing air, into which, at a desired
moment, the gas or other material to be ignited is forced. The return of the piston
compresses the mixture, and the ignition is done electrically in the usual way.
The working cylinders are grouped two, three, or more together, and mounted on a
central hollow axle, around which they are caused to revolve by suitable gearing after
each explosion, so as to bring a cool cylinder into line with the working piston or
pistons.
The cylinders must be then locked in position, to allow of the piston or pistons
compressing a fresh charge of mixed gases.
It is through the hollow axle that the gas or other medium of combustion is
conveniently supplied to the cylinders, and through which, also, the exhaustion of the
spent gases is obtained, the axle being, for this purpose, divided into two passages,
which connect respectively with the supply and exhaust.
The cylinders I propose to employ will consist of thin steel tubes open at one end
to receive the piston, and closed at the other end, to provide for the compression of
the enclosed gases.
The closed end will be fitted with a valve for the outlet of the burnt gases and the
cleansing air, which valve will be closed during the compression of the mixed gases,
and ports will be provided in the cylinders to meet the supply and exhaust ports of
the hollow axle.
After the explosion, the valve will be opened, and allow a draught of air to rush
through and cool the cylinder; thus an undue amount of heat will never accumulate
in my improved engine.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceed to
fully describe it, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a frout elevation of my improved engine.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan, taken on the line - of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4, which is a top plan;
and
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a slight modification in the arrangement of the
working cylinders.
A is a standard of any convenient form mounted on a suitable base, and provided
with a sleeve A¹ for the crank shaft B, which carries at its outer end the fly wheel B¹.
In the standard A is provided a cylindrical chamber A to receive the end of a hollow
axle C, and also a second cylindrical chamber A, to form a holder for the piston D
during a portion of its stroke, as will be hereafter described.

page_text: It is the piston rod, which is connected to the crank pin B, and this pin is
prolonged beyond the attachment of the rod, for a purpose to be presently
explained.
E is a frame which is mounted upon the upper part of the hollow axle C, and
carries two, three, or more cylinders E.
These cylinders form the explosion or working cylinders, and are consecutively
brought into position to register with the bolder A³, so that the piston D may freely
enter during the stroke.
The frame E is rotated on the axle C by the means which will be now described.
Upon the prolonged portion of the crank pin is mounted the boss of one end of a
rock lever G, which has its fulcrum at G1 on a slide H working in agroove in the face
of the holder A3. The upper end of this lever is cranked, and carries a pin G, which
drops into conveniently shaped notches E' in the frame E.
As the crank pin revolves, the lever G is rocked from one side to the other side, for
the purpose of rotating the frame E, with its cylinders F, as indicated by the dotted
position in Fig. 1, and it is also raised and lowered to disengage the pin G² from one
notch of the frame E, and cause it to enter another notch, preparatory to moving the
frame the necessary distance to bring another explosion or working cylinder into
position, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4.
At the back of the slide H, and attached thereto and working therewith, is a
bolt H, which enters conveniently placed notches or catches E on the edge of the
frame E, and so locks the particular explosion or working cylinder F in position to
receive the piston D.
Crepresents a chamber in the hollow axle for the gas or other fluid under
pressure supplied by a pipe C, Fig. 4, and C is the firing chamber, the firing being
effected by an electric spark in the usual way, or by any other convenient means.
The operation of the engine will be as follows:-
Supposing the piston D to be in the drawn position, Fig. 3, that is to say,
withdrawn into the holder A', clear of the cylinders F, the frame E of which will be
rotated to bring a fresh cylinder opposite the holder.
By reason of the cylinder being open at bottom, it will be full of air as it comes
into position. Just before it comes to rest, a port a in the wall of the cylinder is
brought opposite a port b in the wall of the gas chamber C, to permit of a charge of
gas entering the cylinder.
The piston D will now commence to rise, and the bolt H', moving with it, by reason
of its connection with the crank pin through the rock lever G, will lock the cylinder
in position before the piston enters, and will hold it firm during the compression and
explosion of the gases, and the return of the piston to its holder A'.
The piston rising to the dotted position, will compress the mixture of air and gas,
and force a portion of it into the firing chamber through the ports c d. At this
moment, the circuit will be closed, and the electric spark will ignite the gases and
cause the explosion, which propels the piston forward.
As the piston leaves the cylinder, a portion of the gases of combustion will rush
out by the port e, and enter the hollow axle by the port f, from whence they will pass
by the outlet g to the atmosphere or other convenient place.
When the piston is clear of the cylinder, the crank pin will be in the drawn
position, Fig. 1, and as it passes to the dotted position, the rock lever G will rotate
the frame E with its cylinders F, to bring a fresh cylinder to register with the
bolder A', the bolt H' having also been withdrawn from its notch.
By the continued movement of the crank pin, the pin G will be raised out of one
notch, traversed across and dropped into another notch, ready to again move the
fraine E when required.
It will thus be seen that the movements of the piston D, bolt. H', and the rock
lever G, are simultaneous.
As the cylinders leave the holder, the gases will be free to escape at the open end,
air taking their place, thus cleansing the cylinders. The cleansing operation may be
hastened and completed by causing a current of air to pass through the cylinders, by
bringing the port d of the cylinder successively opposite ports in the upper part of

page_text: the hollow axle C, which, acting as a ventilating shaft, causes a suction or draught
through the cylinders, as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 3.
In the modification Fig. 5, the closed end of each cylinder has a spring-operated
valve, the normal position of which is open, the closing being effected during the act
of compression by the pressure of the mixture.
I would here remark that I have described only one piston, but it will be obvious
that I may have more, if desired; neither do I wish to confine myself to four working
or explosion cylinders, as shown, nor to the precise arrangement, as the cylinders may
be placed below the crank axle, as well as above, or may be horizontal, instead of
vertical.
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 use, in internal combustion or detonating engines, of a series of cylinders
closed at one end and open at the other, provided with suitable ports in the walls, in
combination with a hollow axle, divided up into separate chambers, and provided with
corresponding ports, as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The use, in internal combustion or detonating engines, of a hollow axle to carry
a series of explosion or working cylinders, such axle being formed with compartments
or chambers serving for the admission of the gas or other fluid for firing and for
exhaust purposes, substantially as shown and described.
3. The use, in internal combustion or detonating engines, of a series of cylinders
closed at one end and open at the other, each provided with means placed at the
closed end for ensuring the passage of a current of air through such cylinder, for
cleansing purposes as set fortb.
4. In interual combustion or detonating engines, the combination with a series of
cylinders and a hollow axle on which the series of cylinders is mounted, of means,
such as herein shewn and described, for rotating the series of cylinders, as and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this 25th day of May 1897
NEWTON & SON
Agents for the Applicant.