Improvements relating to Gas Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application. 19th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Gas Engines.
I, PAUL JOSEPH VERMAND, of Port de Brest, France, Marine Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to gas engines of the kind or class known as atmospheric
gas engines, and is characterized principally by an arrangement of parts admitting
of their being employed either as pumps (pumps for elevating or extinguishing fires)
or as compressors for hydraulic apparatus, or for a hydraulic propeller.
It consists essentially of three cylinders the pistons of which are connected
together in an invariable manner.
These cylinders may be arranged either in line, the pistons being in this case fixed
upon the same rod, or parallel, or side by side, the pistons being in the latter case
coupled by a cross piece or cross bar provided with suitable guides to direct or
control its movements. A certain quantity of air compressed to two or three
kilograms per square centimetre is introduced after having been passed through a
gasoline or other carburettor into one of the cylinders which I will hereinafter call
the expansion cylinder; upon the closing of the slide an electric spark is kindled in
the interior of this cylinder, the mixture explodes, and the piston is moved a
considerable distance, the gas expanding up to a very low pressure. During this time
the two other cylinders, one of which compresses the air necessary to the operation
of the apparatus, and the other which forms the pump or propeller are both open to
admission and consequently offer no resistance of any moment to the forward movement
of the motor. Arrived at the extremity of its travel or stroke (a point which is
moreover variable) the piston of the expansion cylinder is returned to its normal or
original position under the action of the atmospheric pressure and in this movement
also carries back the other pistons which are then in the position for compressing.
At a predetermined point in the travel or stroke a slide valve or one of the arrange-
ments shown in the drawing opens communication between the cylinder of the pump
and the suction or supply tank, and from this instant the pump offers no resistance
to the movement or causes a communication between the two sides of the piston with
the hydraulic propeller. When the gases in the expansion cylinder have expanded
to the pressure of the atmosphere a slide places the interior of this cylinder in
communication with the external atmosphere. These arrangements are for the
purpose of permitting the return of the cylinders to the bottom of their stroke, and
the expulsion of the burnt or consumed gases from the expansion cylinder. The
latter has moreover at the end of the return stroke an advance of the opening of
the admission so as to cushion it or obviate any shock which might otherwise occur.
The above are the main features of the arrangement of parts adopted in my
improved gas engine, of the atmospheric type and to which I wish to secure the sole
and exclusive right by my present application.
Moreover in order to render more clear and better understood the nature of my
said invention I have shown in the herewith annexed drawing two general arrange-
ments of the apparatus.
In the said drawing Figures 1 and 2 show in sectional elevation and plan an
application of my improved apparatus to an hydraulic propeller.
Figures 3 and 4 show in longitudinal and in transverse section the cylinder of a
pump for replacing the propeller in a different application from the preceding.
As will be seen in Figures 1 and 2 the expansion cylinder A which is placed
horizontally is provided with a piston B the rod or stem C of which also carries the
piston D of the hydraulic propeller E. A bracket or cross piece F keyed or other-
wise secured, or formed on the rod C operates the piston G of the air compressing

page_text: cylinder H. The admission orifice I of the expansion cylinder A. is closed by
means of a small slide valve operated by means of a tappet or rod K sliding in
a hole provided in the cylinder bottom. This slide valve is maintained in its closed
position by a spring L. One extremity of this tappet or rod K extends through
the cylinder bottom into the path of the piston B in such a manner that it will be
struck thereby at the desired time. An arrangement comprising a spring M and
suitable contacts, is provided for the purpose of permitting an electric current
derived from any available source of supply (as a Ruhmkorff or other coil) to
produce a spark between the two clectrodes N projecting into the carburetted gas.
The piston rod C is provided with a projection or wiper O adapted to operate a
suitable lever P. connected to the rod or stem of a slide valve Q by means of which
the interior of the expansion cylinder A is opened at the proper moment to the
atmosphere. The air compressing cylinder H is provided with admission valves R
and with a delivery valve S.
Figures 3 and 4 show a longitudinal and a transverse section of the pump which
in a modified arrangement replaces the hydraulic propeller E.
This pump having no special features I have only illustrated it in the drawing as.
an example of another application of my apparatus.
I wish it clearly understood that I can modify the details, forms, materials and
dimensions, without departing in any way from the nature of my said invention,
which consists essentially in the direct connection of the pistons, the compression
of the air in a separate cylinder, and the special arrangement or combination with
respect to the propeller or pump for compressing water.
Lastly I reserve the right of adopting an arrangement intended to augment the
mechanical power of the apparatus consisting in providing a communication between
the working face of the piston with a reservoir of compressed air, with or without
a modification in the weight of the said piston.
Dated this 19th day of August 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Gas Engines.
I, PAUL JOSEPH VERMAND, of Port de Brést, in the Republic of France,
Marine 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 :-
My invention relates to gas engines of the kind or class known as atmospheric
gas engines, and is characterized principally by an arrangement of parts admitting
of their being employed either as pumps (pumps for elevating or extinguishing
fires) or as compressors for hydraulic apparatus, or for a hydraulic propeller.
It consists essentially of three cylinders the pistons of which are connected
together in an invariable manner.
These cylinders may be arranged either in line, the pistons being in this case
fixed upon the same rod, or parallel or side by side, the pistons being in the latter
case coupled by a cross piece or cross bar provided with suitable guides to direct
or control its movements. A certain quantity of air compressed to two or three
kilograms per square centimetre is introduced after having been passed through a
gasoline or other carburettor into one of the cylinders which I will hereinafter call
the expansion cylinder; upon the closing of the slide an electric spark is kindled
in the interior of this cylinder, the mixture explodes, and the piston is moved a
considerable distance, the gas expanding so as to be reduced to a very low pressure.
During this time the two other cylinders one of which compresses the air necessary
for the operation of the apparatus, and the other, which forms the pump or
propeller are both open to admission and consequently offer no resistance of any

page_text: moment to the forward movement of the motor. After the piston of the expansion
cylinder has arrived at the extremity of its travel or stroke (a point which is
moreover variable) it is returned to its normal or original position under the action
of the atmospheric pressure and in this movement also carries back the other
pistons which are then in the position for compressing. At a predetermined point
in the travel or stroke a slide valve, or one of the arrangements hereinafter
described opens communication between the cylinder of the pump and the suction
or supply tank, and from this instant the pump offers no resistance to the movement,
or opens communication between the two sides of the piston with the hydraulic
propeller. When the gases in the expansion cylinder have expanded to the
pressure of the atmosphere a slide places the interior of this cylinder in com-
munication with the external atmosphere. These arrangements are for the purpose
of permitting the return of the pistons to the bottom of their stroke, and the
expulsion of the burnt or consumed gases from the expansion cylinder. The
latter has however at the end of the return stroke, an advance of the opening
of the admission so as to cushion it or obviate any shock which might otherwise
occur.
In order to enable the nature of my said invention to be better understood I
have shown in the drawing left with my Provisional Specification and in the
drawing left with my Complete Specification, how the sanie may be conveniently
and advantageously carried into practice.
Figures 1 and 2 show in sectional elevation and plan respectively, the application
of my improved apparatus to an hydraulic propeller.
Figures 3 and 4 show in longitudinal and in transverse section of another
application of my invention, showing the cylinder of a pump for replacing the
propeller. In the drawing accompanying the present Specification
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section showing the arrangement of the auxiliary
reservoir, and,
Figure 6 is a diagram showing the working of the engine with and without the
said reservoir.
As will be seen in Figures 1 and 2 the expansion cylinder A which is placed
horizontally is provided with a piston 13 the rod or stem C of which also carries
the piston D of the hydraulic propeller E. A bracket or cross piece F keyed or
otherwise secured, or formed on the rod C operates the piston G of the air
compressing cylinder H. The admission orifice T of the expansion cylinder A is
closed by means of a small valve I operated by means of a tappet or rod K sliding
in a hole provided in the cylinder end (as shown in Fig. 1). This slide valve is
maintained in its closed position by a spring L. One extremity of this tappet or
rod K extends through the cylinder end into the path of the piston B in such a
manner that it will be struck thereby at the desired time. An arrangement
comprising a spring and suitable contacts, is provided for the purpose of permitting
an electric current derived from any available source of supply (as Ruhmkorff
or other coil) to produce a spark between the two electrodes N, projecting into
the carburetted gas.
The piston rod C is provided with a projection or wiper O adapted to operate a
suitable lever P connected to the rod or stem of a slide valve G by means of
which the interior of the expansion cylinder A is opened at the proper moment to
the atmosphere. The air compressing cylinder H is provided with admission
valves R and with a delivery valve S.
Figures 3 and 4 show a longitudinal and a transverse section of the pump which
is a modified arrangement adapted to replace the hydraulic propeller E.
As this pump has no special features I have only illustrated the same in the
drawing as an example of another application of my apparatus.
I wish it clearly understood that I can modify the details, forms, materials and
dimensions, of the improved apparatus without departing in any way from the
nature of my said invention, which consists essentially in the direct connection of
the pistons, the compression of the air in a separate cylinder, and the special

page_text: arrangement or combination with respect to the propeller or pump for compressing
water.
I arrange an auxiliary reservoir Figure 5 in communication with the working
face of the piston which reservoir has for its object to augment the force which
presses against this face. The said reservoir may communicate with the cylinder
as shown in the drawings or in any desired manner. In certain engines the
respective positions of the driving cylinder and pump body will have to b
reversed; it will then be sufficient to allow this reservoir to communicate with the
working face of the piston through large conduits.
The full lines in Figure 6 indicates the diagram obtained when the engine
operates without an auxiliary reservoir, the line of counter-pressure or more
accurately the working pressure being the same as the atmospheric pressure.
The diagram in dotted lines is that obtained when an auxiliary reservoir is
employed the line of counter-pressure being straight and the reservoir having a
considerable capacity.
The parts marked by section-lines represent the surface of the diagram of
work. In this second case for the same cylinder capacity the work produced
will be more considerable, and as naturally the pressure of the detonating gas
introduced per cylinder will be more considerable the piston will receive a total
pressure which is likewise more considerable under the force of the explosion.
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 :-
First. The herein described gas engine, or atmospheric engine, in which the
pistons are connected together in an invariable manner and in which the compression
of the air to be carburetted is produced in a special cylinder.
Second. The application of an engine or motor of the kind or class above
mentioned to an apparatus, for propulsion, or to a pump of any suitable and well
known description.
Third. The arrangement for augmenting the mechanical power of the apparatus,
which consists in providing communication between the working face of the piston
with a reservoir of compressed air, with or without a modification in the weight of
the said piston the whole substantially as described with reference to the drawing
and for the purpose specified.
Dated this Oth day of Mov 1801
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.