IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO GAS ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Grace Wastfield of the City of Liverpool
in the County of Lancaster Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO GAS ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Grace Wastfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st December 1883.
EDMUND GRACE WASTFIELD of the City of Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO GAS ENGINES.
The main objects are to construct cheap efficient and economical Gas Engines
together with such structural and other modifications as will enable them to be
driven at a speed when required greatly in excess of that at which Gas Engines
have usually heretofore been driven. Whereas letters patent have already been
granted to me for and in respect of certain improvements relating to Gas Motor
Engines being Numbered 1098 and dated the first day of March 1883 certain
parts of which said Invention I desire to use and employ in conjunction and in
Combination with this my new Invention which is as follows:-
Firstly In the Construction of Gas Engines of the non-compressing type which -
are in general construction similar to the Vertical Engine described and set forth
in the hereinbefore mentioned Patent but being fitted with one Slide Valve
controuling the admission of the combustable Charge either wholly or in part-
the arrangment for firing said Charge and the release and expulsion of the
products of such combustion through special ports and passage ways formed in
the Slide Valve-Slide Valve Box or adjacent parts.
Secondly-The construction of a Gas Motor Engine with in one modification
two Cylinders the said Engine being of Vertical construction such engine being
fitted with suitably arranged Valves for the introduction of the Charge and which
said Valves are more particularly described hereinafter the Cylinder and Valves
being so constructed that in one form each Cylinder will be caused to impart power
to the Crank at every revolution or by a modification of such arrangment each
Cylinder may be caused to act as pump and Motor Cylinder alternately--or one
Cylinder may be used as a Combustable fluid pressure pump to the supply the other
Cylinder which would then be the Motor Cylinder.

page_text: Thirdly The construction of a Gas Engine with three Cylinders in combination
with the said intake and other valves each Cylinder acting as a pump and Motor
alternately or one Cylinder being made double acting being employed as a
Combustable fluid pressure pump to feed the two other Cylinders which would then
be Motor Cylinders.
Fourthly The Combination of a Gas Motor Engine the said intake or other
valves, the Cylinders being placed in an inclined position and one, two or three, or
more Cylinders being employed, the whole number being arranged to act as pump
and Motor Cylinders alternately or one or more may be Motor Cylinders and one or
more of the remaing number of Cylinders being used as Combustable fluid
compression pumps and being either single or double acting.
Fifthly The Combination of a Gas Motor Engine of either of the types forms
or combinations hereinbefore mentioned coupled direct to the shaft of Dynamo
Electric Machine-and being all on the same main bed plate-The said Engine being
fitted with or without an arrangment of friction or other Coupling between it and
the Dynamo Machine.
Sixthly The Construction of the bottom Cylinder Cover of a Vertical Gas
Engine Inverted Cylinder Engine or Air or Combustable fluid compression pump
with an annular oil Cup or reservoir fitted to the lowest part of the Cylinder
bore And into which the piston would dip at the end of each downstroke.
Seventhly The modifications in construction arrangment and general combina-
tion of parts necessary to utilize the Valve arrangment described in relation to
Vertical Engines in Patent N° 1098 aforesaid to enable them to be made of
horizontal instead of Vertical form.
Eightly-The construction and combination of a Gas Motor Engine with
horizontal Motor Cylinder or Cylinders with a Vertical horizontal or inclined
Combustable fluid Compression pump worked by an arrangment of bell Crank
levers and links coupled to the Motor Piston-and the necessary Valves to actuate
same.
Ninethly The Construction as a whole and also the parts to be hereafter
specified of a Gas Motor Cylinder arranged to operate the equivalent of a hammer
head or tup.
The slide Valve controuling the action of the said Motor being worked by a
connexion with the hammer head or by a lever controuled by an Attendant-In
the place of an hammer head so actuated I may substitute a pump for raising or
forcing Water or other Fluids or for any purpose where a reciprocating motion is
desired to be obtained by explosions or Combustion of Air and Gas by means of a
Gas Motor Engine without the use of a Flywheel Crank shaft or other usual
appendages to reciprocating Gas Motor Engines.
Tenthly-The combination of a Gas Motor Engine and Gas generating or
producing apparatus the whole being mounted on wheels and so rendered portable-
But not essentially self propelling.
Eleventhly Constructing the intake of a Gas Motor Engine of such a form that
the Air is made to pass through a Passage Way surrounded by an annular space in
connexion with the Gas Supply, and the peculiar form of Curve over which the air
being made to pass on its way to the inlet valve of the Engine acts inductively on
the Gas in the said annular space.
Twelvethly The construction of a Chamber into which the exhaust products
from a Gas Motor Engine are conveyed being fitted with an arrangment of Gratings
and a deflector arrangment for the reduction or abolishing the noise caused by the
exhaust of a Gas Engine-And also being equally applicable to any kind of Motor
where the exhaust issuing with considerable force produces noise.
Thirteenthly-The construction and arrangment of parts in connexion with the
slide Valve or Valves of a Gas Motor Engine consisting of a Valve or cock controuling
the necessary passage ways in such a manner that at starting a Gas Motor Engine a
supply of Coal Gas is allowed to pass to the moving or firing light-But that when
the Engine has been started and is in full motion, by an alteration of the position of

page_text: said Valve or Cock the supply of Coal Gas to the firing light is cut off and in the
place thereof a portion of the Combustable fluid in the Cylinder is allowed to pass
into the Slide Valve cavity thus to form and supply a firing light.
Fourteenthly The construction and arrangment of a series of Gratings and
deflectors through which the air required to constitute the Charge being taken the
noise usually produced is mitigated or abolished-Being equally applicable either
to the Cylinder direct or to an air pump-Or to an air compressing Engine,
Fifteenthly The arrangment of a Combustable fluid pressure pump in con-
junction with the vertical Engine described in said Patent No. 1098-Both pump and
Motor Cylinders being enclosed in the vertical water jacket formed in the Main
Casting both Motor and pump pistons being driven off the same Crank shaft.
Sixteenthly The construction and arrangment of a Valve or its equavalent
controuled by the Governer of a Gas Engine of such a nature that when the Governer
suppresses the supply of Gas to either the Combustable fluid pressure pump or the
Cylinder of such a Gas Motor the said Valve being released by the Governer prevents
the air previously indrawn from being compressed thereby absorbing power from
the Engine-As also a modification whereby the Governer in a like case by closing
at the proper time the air inlet passage way a partial Vacuum results which may
be utilized on the succeeding instroke of the Piston of either Pump or Motor
Cylinder thereby yielding a return of part of the power.
Seventeenthly-The construction and arrangment of a combustable fluid
compression pump preferably used in conjunction with Engines described in
modifications one to four-Said pump being actuated by horizontal or inclined
Rocking Beams connected with the necessary links to either the working pistons-
The Crank shaft or Eccentric or other suitable or convenient part-The said pump
being so arranged to deliver its previously indrawn Charge of Air and Gas at or
about the end of the stroke of the working piston in the Motor Cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Edmund Grace Wastfield
in the Patent Office on the 21st July 1884.
EDMUND GRACE WASTFIELD of the City of Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO GAS ENGINES"
The main objects of this Invention are to construct cheap, efficient, and
economical Gas Engines, which may be driven, when required, at a speed greatly in
excess of that at which Gas Engines heretofore have been driven.
1. In non compressing Gas Engines, according to this Invention, I fit and make
use of but one slide Valve for controlling the admission of the combustible charge,
the firing said charge, and the expulsion of the products of explosion. Special
ports and passage ways are formed either in the slide valve, slide valve box, or
adjacent parts to attain these said objects.
2. I combine in one form of Gas Motor Engine two cylinders fitted with the
before mentioned valves and so arranged that they impart power to the crank at
every revolution or I may so arrange said cylinders and valyes that one cylinder
may be used as a combustible fluid pressure pump to supply the other cylinder
which would then be the Motor Cylinder and by another modification I cause the
two cylinders to act alternately as Pump and Motor.
3. I construct Gas Motor Engines with three cylinders so that each cylinder
acts alternately as pump and Motor and, by a modification of this arrangement, one
cylinder made double acting may be employed as a combustible fluid pump and
serve to feed the two other cylinders, the latter two cylinders in this case being
Motor Cylinders.
4. I construct Gas Motor Engines of one, two, three or more cylinders placed in
an inclined position and so arranged that each cylinder may act both as pump and
Motor, or one or more cylinders may be used as Motor Cylinders, and one or more
as pumps, and each cylinder may be either single or double acting.
5. According to this part of my Invention, I couple Gas Motor Engines of either
of aforementioned types to the shaft of a dynamo-electric machine, all on the same
main bed plate and an arrangement of friction coupling between said Gas Motor
Engine and the dynamo-machine may be fitted if required.
6. I construct the bottom cylinder cover of my improved Gas Motor Engines
with an annular oil cup or reservoir at the lowest part of the cylinder bore into
which the piston rod drops at the end of each down stroke.
7. I modify the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts
of Vertical Gas Motor Engines enumerated and described in my Specification of
Royal Letters Patent No. 1098 1883 so as to adapt such arrangement and
combination of parts to horizontal gas motor Engines.
8. I construct a Gas Motor Engine with a horizontal Motor Cylinder or Cylinders
combined with a vertical or inclined combustible fluid pump worked by an
arrangement of bell crank levers and links coupled to the Motor Piston or pistons
and actuating valves.
9. I construct Gas Motor Engines arranged to operate the equivalent of a
hammer-head or "tup," the Motor Cylinder slide valve being worked by a connection
with the hammer-head or by a lever controlled by an attendant. By these my
improvements in Gas Motor Engines a reciprocating motion is obtained without
the use of a fly-wheel, crank shaft and other usual appendages to reciprocating
gas motor engines.
10. I combine a Gas Motor Engine with the gas producing apparatus on one
bed plate and render the whole portable by mounting on wheels. It may also be
self propelling

page_text: 11. I construct the intake of a Gas Motor Engine of such a form that the air is
made to pass through a passageway surrounded by an annular space in connection
with the gas supply. The peculiar form of curve over which the air is made to
pass on its way to the inlet valve of engine acts inductively on the gas in the said
annular space.
12. I construct a chamber into which the exhaust products from the cylinder
are conveyed. Such chamber I fit with an arrangement of gratings and deflectors
which reduces considerably the noise caused by the exhaust of a gas Engine.
13. I construct and arrange the parts in connection with the slide valve or valves
of Gas Motor Engines in a novel manner. I have a valve or cock to control the
necessary passage ways or ports so that, at starting, the necessary volume of gas to
supply the travelling light required to fire the combustible charge is allowed to pass
into the slide valve. When the Engine is running an alteration in the position of
aforesaid cock or valve causes the gas to be cut off and causes a portion of the
combustible fluid in the cylinder to form and supply the firing light.
14. I enclose both Motor and Pump Cylinders of Vertical Gas Motor Engines as
described in my beforementioned Specification of Royal Letters Patent No. 10981883
in a vertical water jacket formed in the motor and pump casting, and I drive both
motor and pump pistons off the main crank shaft.
15. In these my improvements in Gas Motor Engines I have an arrangement of
valve or its equivalent controlled by a Governor. When the Governor suppresses the
supply of gas to either the Pump Cylinder or the Motor Cylinder, the air indrawn
instead of being compressed and thereby absorbing power is allowed to escape
through said valve or its equivalent into the exhaust pipe or otherwise in a
practically uncompressed state. By another modification the Governor instead of
opening a relief valve or its equivalent as above described controls a valve or its
equivalent whereby air is prevented entering the Motor or Pump Cylinder, thus
causing a partial vacuum which is utilized on the succeeding instroke.
16. I construct an arrangement of combustible fluid compression pump preferably
used in conjunction with the type of Engines mentioned in Clauses One to Four and
the Valves and parts in connection with same, consisting in chief of the air pump
cylinder worked by means of a rocking beam and links connected with the working
piston of the Engine, an eccentric or crank, the said rocking beam being made to
deliver its previously indrawn charge of combustible fluid at or about the time
the motor piston is at the end of its stroke. I also construct an arrangement of a
combustible fluid pump preferably used in conjunction with engines described in
clauses One to Four in which said pump is actuated by horizontal or inclined rocking
beams connected with the necessary links to either the working pistons, the crank
shaft or eccentric or suitable convenient parts. The said pump is so arranged
as to deliver its previously indrawn charge of air and gas at or about the end of
the stroke of the working piston in the working cylinder.
And in order that this my Invention may be more fully understood reference is
had to the accompanying Drawings:-
Figure 1 Sheet 1 shews in part section my improved type of Gas Motor Engine
with inverted cylinders, a being the slide valve, b the exhaust valve, and c the air
valve.
Figure 2 Sheet 2 shews in detail my arrangement of slide valve, a is the
passage way through which the air necessary for mixing with the gas is brought.
Gas is introduced through a perforated pipe 6 extending across the passage way a.
Two cavities d d contain the firing light, c is a stationary light for relighting the
firing lights after each explosion, e is the exhaust cavity of valve which at the
proper time connects the main cylinder passage f with exhaust port g.
Figure 3 Sheet 2 is the chamber into which the exhaust from cylinder is conveyed.
The chamber A is fitted with a trumpet shaped cone B and a deflecting cone C.
D is the inlet from cylinder and E is the outlet. The waste gases are deflected
against C and lose their speed and pressure and escape gradually and quietly by
the outlet E.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, I claim :--
Firstly. The construction and arrangement of a Gas Engine with two Cylinders
having one water jacket surrounding both Cylinders and being fitted with the
arrangement of Intake and exhaust Valves substantially as herein set forth.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement in combination of & Gas Motor
Engine with three cylinders all enclosed in one Water Jacket the same being fitted
with the Intake and Exhaust Valves substantially as herein set forth.
Thirdly. The construction of a chamber into which the exhausts from a Gas,
Steam or Compressed Air Engine, are discharged and more especially the arrange-
ment of the said trumpet shaped Cone B and the deflector-cone C substantially as
herein set forth.
Fourthly. The general construction arrangement and combination of parts
of Gas Motor Engines exhaust chambers substantially as hereinbefore set forth and
described.
In witness whereof I the said Edmund Grace Wastfield have hereunto set my
hand and seal this nineteenth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
E. G. WASTFIELD (L.S.)
Witness to the signature of
Edmund Grace Wastfield
THOS. HARROLD
Secretary British Inventors & Patentees' Association Limited
10 St. Georges Crescent, Liverpool.