IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Philip Braham and Robert Henry
Seaton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th June 1882.
PHILIP BRAHAM and ROBERT HENRY SEATON both of Bath in the County of
Somerset Gentlemen "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES"
Our Invention has for its object to so construct or arrange engines worked by
gas or petroleum that they are simple in their parts practically noiseless and very
effective in action.
According to our said Invention the valve by which the explosive (say the
mixture of gas and air) is introduced into the cylinder of the engine and the
exhaust withdrawn therefrom consists of a long cylindrical valve arranged to
rotate once for each revolution of the engine in a casing extending along the side
of the working cylinder. The interior or bore of this cylindrical valve is provided
with passages for the inlet of the gas and air thereto and for their exit therefrom
into the working cylinder. The admittance and ignition of the explosives takes
place at cach side of the piston alternately so that the engine is. double acting the
gas inlet way through the valve casing communicates with an annular recess
around the valve through which radial holes lead the gas to the interior of the
valve whence it passes in opposite directions. At each end of the said valve at a
short distance inwards from each end is a passage covered by a disc valve opening
outwards and at each end of the cylindrical main rotating valve are air passages
covered by a disc valve opening inwards. These dise valves when closed against
their seats form virtually three chambers in the interior of the cylindrical main
valve viza chamber in the centre for the gas and two chambers one at each end
for the admittance of gas through the first mentioned disc valves and of air through
the outer disc valves. From each of these end chambers passages are formed
respectively communicating with the working cylinder at either side of the piston
thereof. In the periphery of the cylindrical main valve just beyond the said
passage is formed an ignition chamber with a jet supplied with gas and air from
the chamber. This ignition chamber passes before an igniter when the charge is
being received into the working cylinder and just before the revolution of the
cylindrical valve brings the said ignition chamber before the opening in the
working cylinder through which the charge passes.
The exhaust passages from

page_text: either end of the working cylinder are made partly around the cylindrical rotating
main valve at the parts which come opposite the passages by which the explosive
entered the working cylinder after the inlet and ignition passages have passed
therebefore the said passages extending there along and communicating with the
passages for the escape of the exhaust. It will be understood that these passages
are so arranged in the main cylindrical valve that as the said valve revolves the
gas and air inlet, the ignition chamber and the exhaust passage are successively
brought before the opening leading to the working cylinder and this is the case on
both sides of the cylinder excepting that the said passages at the one end are half
a revolution in advance of those at the other end.
It is preferred that the explosive be drawn in for about one sixth of the stroke
and ignited at about one third of the stroke.
The cylinder or cylinders of an engine constructed according to our Invention
may be either single or combined and may be arranged in any convenient position.
The cylinder or cylinders and valve casing are to be surrounded by a water casing.
The piston and rod should be a loose fit and the inside of the cylinder valve
and gland be turned or lined with a metal or alloy Mercury will be used as a
lubricant for the cylinder valve and gland.
By turning the cylindrical valve half round by suitable means although the
direction of its motion is unaltered the engine will be reversed in its direction of
motion. The connecting rod will be shaped to act as a spring to prevent harsh
concussion on ignition and the cylinder and valve casing will be made of a
thickness sufficient to deaden noise. The valves which cover the inlets for air and
gas will be disc valves of a flexible material such as India-rubber so as to be easily
replaceable.
By removing the gas valve and plugging the air valve passages in the ends of
the cylindrical main valve with a porous material and drawing the air through
the gas way with a small stream of volatile hydrocarbon (petroleum) the engine
can be worked as a petroleum engine the igniter being a small wick communicating
with the inside of the cylindrical valve and the permanent flame supplied by a
petroleum air jet. The motion of the piston may be communicated backwards by
a curved connecting rod attached at one end to the guided end of the piston rod
and at the other end to a cranked shaft from which shaft the motive power of the
engine is taken. Gear in connection with this shaft will be arranged to give the
rotatory motion to the valve.