IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTORS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edwin Powley Alexander at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th September 1879.
A communication from abroad by Conrad Angele, of the Firm of G. A. Kroll
and Company, Hanover, in the Empire of Germany, Engineer.
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, and British, Foreign, and Colonial Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTORS." A communication from abroad by Conrad
Angele, of the Firm of G. A. Kroll and Company, Hanover, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer.
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction & arrangement of what are
commonly known as gas engines or motors, whereby greater simplicity of
construction & a more efficient & regular action are combined, whilst facility is
afforded for constructing gas motors of the smallest dimensions up to sixteen horse
power. According to this arrangement a more perfect admixture of gas and air
is effected, and the action takes place at each revolution of the crank, thereby
permitting of a slow motion of the engine with reduced consumption of gas. The
mixture of gas and air under compression is ignited at each stroke in rear of the
piston, that is to say, in the end of the cylinder farthest from the stuffing box, &
by the effect in rear & front of the piston a perfectly regular motion is obtained.
In lieu of using the ordinary slide valve with rectilinear motion, a rotary slide
valve is employed thereby dispensing with the passage for equalizing the pressure
as the igniting flame in the valve always maintains its required pressure, & the
exit for the products of combustion is effected by draft through the rotary
valve. The gas enters by a cock into a valve box and against the inlet valve, the
air entering similarly & against a separate air valve. The levers for working
these valves are actuated by eccentrics or cams on a second motion shaft driven
from the main shaft, which also actuates the rotary slide valve by spur gear. The
rear end cylinder cover is held in position by screws & springs, & is provided
with a gas jet, & apertures for supplying the requisite amount of air to the burner.
Two passages are made through the rotary valve, the one (by which the ignition is
effected) being in a direction from the centre or thereabouts towards the periphery,
the other passage serving for the exhaust. The piston carries two conical valves which
are opened by their spindles striking against the cylinder cover towards the end of
the stroke, & are closed again by the aid of springs. The ignition takes place
directly against the piston, the rod of which transmits the motion by the usual
arrangement to the crank shaft & fly wheel. When the piston moves towards

page_text: the rear end of the cylinder or end farthest from the stuffing box, it draws in
the inflammable mixture behind it, & compression & ignition then take place
driving the piston back. As the inlet valves to the cylinder are closed the gas is
compressed, but previously to the piston arriving at the opposite end of its stroke
the eduction passage in the rotary valve opens, after which the valves in the piston
also open & establish a communication between both sides of the piston, thereby
instantly equalizing the pressure. The mixture of gas and air is now distributed,
the remaining products of combustion are driven out by the equalization of
pressure, the outlet passage in the rotary valve closes again & the inflammable
mixture occupies the space on both sides of the piston. The valves in the piston
close, & as it moves towards the end of the cylinder it compresses the gas therein
whilst gas and air are drawn in at the opposite end. On the piston arriving at or
near the end of its stroke, ignition takes place & the action is repeated. In the
rotary slide valve there is also provided another passage which, after the ignition
has taken place, is brought into communication with the cylinder. Through this
small passage the flame in the rotary slide valve is fed from the cylinder during
the ignition, & is thus constantly maintained at the same pressure or tension.
From the preceding description it will be seen that the various operations and
their sequence at each revolution of the crank are as follows, namely:-In front of
the piston or rear end of the cylinder. 1st. Compression of the gases. 2nd. Ignition,
3rd. Exhaust.
In rear of the piston or at the front end of the cylinder. 1st. Indraught of the
gases. 2nd. Compression. 3rd. Equalization of pressure.
A governor or speed regulator operates upon the valve actuating eccentrics in
such a manner as to withdraw them from the valve actuating levers when the
engine is working too fast, thereby cutting off or reducing the supply of gas &
air until the eccentrics have been again brought into action. A water jacket is
provided for cooling the cylinder by the circulation of cold water.