IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTOR ENGINES WORKED BY GAS OR COMBUSTIBLE VAPOUR AND AIR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Clayton, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTOR ENGINES WORKED
BY GAS OR COMBUSTIBLE VAPOUR AND AIR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Clayton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1880.
SAMUEL CLAYTON, of Bradford, in the County of York, Engineer. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MOTOR ENGINES WORKED BY GAS OR COMBUSTIBLE VAPOUR AND AIR."
This Invention relates to engines in which the piston of the cylinder is moved
by the pressure from the combustion of a mixture of air and inflammable gas or
vapour admitted and compressed within the cylinder.
And the improvements consist firstly in driving in a mixture of gas and air
or vapour by a pump having a plunger or piston with a stroke in advance of the
stroke of the cylinder piston, by which means the gaseous mixture is forced in the
cylinder in a more diluted state, to be there ignited and force up the cylinder
piston and actuate the engine; when the piston has been driven up by the exploded
gaseous mixture, the return stroke of the piston forces out the burnt gaseous
mixture through the exhaust, and at the same time the pump is drawing in a fresh
supply of air and gas or vapour, which is effected by the stroke of the pump being
in advance of the stroke of the cylinder; at the next upward stroke of the piston
the pump is forcing the gaseous mixture into the cylinder, the piston moving up,
and on the downward stroke of the piston the gaseous mixture is compressed and
the pump drawing in air, and when the compressed mixture is fired and the
explosion actuates the piston the plunger is forcing out air. To stop the return of
the gaseous mixture from the cylinder to the pump a mushroom valve.is employed,
which is fitted in the chamber or passage between the cylinder and pump; the
pressure when pumping in the mixture lifts up the valve and the valve closes with
the back pressure. The valve is made with skewed wings, which cause the valve to
revolve when gas is passing in the cylinder which keeps the valve always clear.
Secondly. In a peculiarly constructed valve for firing and exploding the gaseous
mixture, which is made with a chamber having in the bottom a valve to admit
atmospheric air and fire from a small jet of gas kept burning underneath the
valve; this valve is actuated by gear worked by the tappet motor of the engine ;

page_text: in the top of the chamber is fitted a valve for the escape of the burned mixture in
the chamber after firing and exploding; when the bottom valve opens the bad or
burnt mixture escapes from the chamber through the top valve; but the top valve
can be dispensed with if a chimney is fitted in connection with the bottom valve,
which causes the bad or burnt mixture from the chamber to pass through the..
bottom valve, the flame from the gas jet burning under the valve forming a current.
The chambered valve is also made with a horizontal valve which passes through an
opening made in the side plate of the chamber or passage between the pump and
the cylinder and on the cylinder side of the valve fitted in the passage, in this side
of the passage is bored a small hole leading to another similar sized small hole
bored in the flange of the chambered valve; this small hole is fitted with a
regulating screw. The gaseous mixture from the cylinder when under compression
is forced through the small holes and in a circular passage into the firing valve
chamber; this circular passage or cavity gives a large firing surface which keeps a
strong steady fame in the firing chamber to ignite the mixture in the cylinder;
the mixture in the valve chamber is fired by the light coming from the jet of gas
fitted under the bottom valve and at the firing point, and when the mixture in
the chamber is fired, a bell crank actuated by the tappet and worked by wheel
gear closes the bottom valve and at the same time opens the horizontal valve,
firing the gaseous mixture in the cylinder passage and cylinder bottom which is
under compression, and causing the explosion which actuates the engine.
Thirdly. In regulating the supply of gas by means of the governor so as to give
a supply or stop the supply, either all or none.
The governor spindle is connected to a light lever working on a fulerum fitted
on a stud; the back of the light lever is made with a slot hole in which works a
stud fitted to the governor spindle, and the fulcrum is also made with a slot hole
to allow when the governor lever presses down to come in the way of a gas supply
peg and cut off the supply of gas, and at the same time to bring in contact a small
hook with a notch cut in the back of the small lever, which, on the governor
coming to rest and lifting the governor spindle, which lifts up the small lever into
the way of the gas supply peg which cuts off the gas supply.
To start the engine the small hook is lifted from contact with the notch at the
back of the small lever, which allows the front part of the lever to fall by its own
weight and fall out of the way of the gas supply peg and allow the gas to be
taken in by the engine until the engine exceeds its speed. When the engine
exceeds its speed the governor balls fly out and lower the governor spindle, which
coming in contact with the small lever presses down the lever, bringing the long
lever in the way of the gas supply peg, keeping the same from the gas lever stopping
the supply of gas.
Fourthly. In taking the compression from the working cylinder when the
engine exceeds its speed.
For this purpose a light lever is connected to the exhaust lever; one end of the
light lever passes over the stud on which the exhaust lever works, and the other
end of the lever is forked and receives a second small roller working on the same
stud as the first or ordinary exhaust roller; the light lever works on a joint near
the exhaust lever stud; on the exhaust cam is fitted a projection which revolves
with the exhaust cam, and on the governor spindle are fitted two small cones or
projections, so that when the engine exceeds its speed the upper cone comes in
contact with a lever, forcing it in and causing the forked end of the light lever to
carry the small rollers over and in the way of the projection which lifts the
exhaust valve open and allows the air in the working cylinder to escape instead of
being compressed; on the engine reducing its speed the lower cone comes in contact
with the light lever, forcing it back to its position, allowing the gaseous mixture to
be compressed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Clayton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th April
1881.
"
SAMUEL CLAYTON, of Bradford, in the County of York, Engineer. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MOTOR ENGINES WORKED BY GAS OR COMBUSTIBLE VAPOUR AND AIR."
The said Invention relates to that class of engines in which the piston of the
cylinder is moved by the pressure from the combustion of a mixture of air and
inflammable gas or vapour, admitted and compressed within the cylinder. And the
improvements consist, firstly, in driving into the cylinder of the engine a mixture
of gas and air or vapour, by means of a pump having a plunger or piston, and by
preference with a stroke of from about one and a half to three inches in advance of
the stroke of the cylinder piston, by which means the gaseous mixture is forced
into the cylinder in a more diluted state, to be there ignited for forcing up the
cylinder piston so as to actuate the engine; when the piston has been driven up
from the effect of the exploded gaseous mixture, the return stroke of the piston
forces out the burnt gaseous mixture through the exhaust, and at the same time
the pump is drawing in a fresh supply of air and gas or vapour, which is effected
by the stroke of the pump being in advance of the stroke of the cylinder as
herein before described; the next upward stroke of the piston the pump forces
the gaseous mixture into the cylinder, the piston moving up, and on the downward
stroke of the piston the gaseous mixture is compressed and the pump draws in air,
and when the compressed mixture is fired and the explosion actuates the piston,
the plunger of the pump is forcing out air previously drawn in. To stop the
return of the gaseous mixture from the cylinder to the pump a mushroom valve is
employed, which is fitted in the chamber or passage between the cylinder and
pump; the pressure when pumping in the mixture lifts up the valve and the valve
closes with the back pressure; the valve is made with skewed wings, which cause
the valve to revolve when gas is passing in the cylinder, which keeps the valve
clean.
Secondly. The improvements consist in a peculiarly constructed valve for firing
and exploding the gaseous mixture; this valve is made with a chamber having in
the bottom a valve to admit atmospheric air, and to fire from a small jet of gas
kept burning underneath the valve; this valve is actuated by gear worked by the
tappet motion of the engine; in the top of the chamber is fitted a valve for the
escape of the burned mixture, or for the admission of air in the chamber after firing
and exploding; when the bottom valve opens, the vitiated or burnt mixture escapes
from the chamber through the top valve, but the top valve can be dispensed with
if a chimney is fitted in connection with the bottom valve, which causes the
vitiated or burnt mixture from the chamber to pass through the bottom valve, the
flame from the gas jet burning under the valve forming a current; the chambered
valve is also made with a horizontal valve which passes through an opening made
in the side plate of the chamber or passage between the pump and the cylinder,
and on the cylinder side of the valve fitted in the passage; in this side of the
passage is bored a small hole leading to another hole of similar size bored in the
Hange of the chambered valve; this small hole is fitted with a regulating screw.
The gaseous mixture from the cylinder when under compression is forced through
the small holes and into a circular passage which forms a circular or tubular
burner in the firing valve chamber; this circular passage or cavity gives a large
firing surface, which keeps a strong steady flame in the firing chamber to ignite
the mixture in the cylinder, and the mixture in the valve chamber is fired by the
light coming from the jet of gas fitted under the bottom valve and at the firing

page_text: point, and when the mixture in the chamber is fired, a bell crank actuated by a
tappet closes the bottom valve, and at the same time opens the horizontal valve,
firing the gaseous mixture in the cylinder passage and in the bottom part of the
cylinder which is under compression, thereby causing the explosion which actuates
the engine.
Thirdly. The improvements consist in regulating the supply of gas by means of
the governor, so as to give a supply or stop the supply, either all or none.
The governor spindle is connected to a light lever working on a fulcrum fitted
on a stud; the back of the light lever is made with a slot hole in which works a
stud fitted to the governor spindle, and the fulcrum is also made with a slot hole
to allow the lever when pressed down to come in the way of a gas supply peg, and
cut off the supply of gas, and at the same time to bring a small hook in contact
with a notch cut in the back of the small lever, which, on the governor coming
to rest and lifting the governor spindle, lifts up the small lever in the way of the
gas supply peg, which cuts off the gas supply.
To start the engine, the small hook is lifted from contact with the notch at the
back of the small lever, which allows the front part of the lever to fall by its own
weight out of the way of the gas supply peg and allows the gas to be taken in by
the engine until the engine exceeds its proper speed.
When the engine exceeds its proper speed the governor balls fly out and lower
the governor spindle, which coming in contact with the small lever presses down
the lever, bringing the long lever in the way of the gas supply peg, keeping the
same from the gas lever, and thereby stopping the supply of gas.
Fourthly. The improvements consist in taking the compression from the working
cylinder when the engine exceeds its proper speed.
For this purpose a light lever is connected to the exhaust lever; one end of the
light lever passes over the stud on which the exhaust lever works, and the other
end of the lever is forked and receives a second small roller working on the same
stud as the first or ordinary exhaust roller; the light lever works on a joint near
the exhaust lever stud; on the exhaust cam is fitted a projection which revolves
with the exhaust cam, and on the governor spindle are fitted projections, so that
when the engine exceeds its speed, the upper projection comes in contact with a
lever, forcing it in, and causing the forked end of the light lever to carry the small
roller over and in the way of the projection, which lifts the exhaust valve open and
allows the air in the working cylinder to escape instead of being compressed; on
the engine reducing its speed the lower projection comes in contact with the light
lever, forcing it back to its position, allowing the gaseous mixture to be compressed.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood I will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1,
Sheet 1, represents a side elevation with the cylinder in section of the improved
gas engine; Figure 2, Sheet 1, front elevation with section of cylinder and pump,
and Figure 3, Sheet 1, sectional plan of the same; Figure 4, Sheet 1, represents an
elevation of the cylinder and pump with exhaust valve gear and gas supply gear;
Figure 5, Sheet 1, represents a plan of part of the gas supply gear; Figure 6,
Sheet 1, represents a side elevation of part of the gear for taking the compression
from the working cylinder when the engine exceeds its speed; Figure 7, Sheet 1,
plan of the same, and Figure 8, Sheet 1, projections on small rods to carry a lever
and small roller to lift or close the exhaust valve; Figure 9, Sheet 2, represents a
sectional side view of the valve for firing and exploding the gaseous mixture, and
Figure 10, Sheet 2, is a front view of the same with chimney. Similar letters of
reference are used to represent similar parts.
A is the pump having a plunger or piston B, with a stroke in advance of the
cylinder piston C for the purpose of forcing the gaseous mixture into the cylinder
Ď in a more diluted state, to be there ignited for forcing up the piston C so as to
actuate the engine; when the piston C has been driven up by the exploded
gaseous mixture, the return stroke of the piston C forces out the burnt gaseous
mixture through the exhaust E, and at the same time the pump A is drawing in a

page_text: fresh supply of air and gas or vapour by reason of the stroke of the pump being in
advance of the cylinder piston stroke. On the next upward stroke of the piston
C the pump A forces the gaseous mixture into the cylinder D, and on the
downward stroke of the piston C the gaseous mixture is compressed, the pump A
drawing in air. When the compressed mixture has been fired and the explosion
is actuating the piston, the plunger B is forcing out the air previously drawn.
in. To stop the return of the gaseous mixture from the cylinder D to the pump A,
a mushroom valve F is employed; the pressure when pumping in the mixture lifts
up the valve F, and the valve is closed by the back pressure, and the valve F is
made with skewed wings G, which cause the valve to revolve when gas is
passing into the cylinder, which keeps the valve clean. The gaseous mixture
passes through the passage or chamber H, and through the valve F into the passage
or chamber I to the cylinder D.
The valve for firing and exploding the gaseous mixture represented in Figures 2
and 3, Sheet 1, and in full size in Sheet 2, is made with a casing B1, having a firing
chamber J, in which is fitted a valve K to admit atmospheric air and for firing by
means of a small jet of gas L which is kept burning; the valve is actuated by a
bell cranked lever M connected to a lever N having a forked end O, Figures 1 and 5,
Sheet 1, and the forked end is actuated by a cam P which is fitted on a shaft Q
actuated by wheel gearing R. The cam P actuates a small roller S which works
on a stud fitted to the forked end O. The lever M actuates the rod or spindle T
secured in the valve K, and the cam P is kept in position by the spring U and
closed by its own weight. When the valve K opens after firing and exploding, the
vitiated or burnt mixture escapes through the valve V, or air is admitted; but if a
chimney W is employed the top valve V can be dispensed with. On one end of
the valve casing B' is screwed in a valve seat ✗, over which is fitted a valve Y
(Figures 2 and 3, Sheet 1, and Figures 9 and 10, Sheet 2). The valve Y opens in
the passage I, and in the side plate Z is bored a small hole leading to a similar
small hole A bored in the flange of the valve casing B¹. The small hole leads to
another small opening C¹ bored in the casing B', in which is fitted a regulating
screw D¹. The gaseous mixture from the cylinder when under compression is
forced through the small holes into a circular cavity E' made in the seat X.
compressed gas mixture in the circular cavity El forms a tubular burner, which
keeps a strong steady flame in the firing chamber for igniting the mixture in the
cylinder D, and the mixture in the valve chamber is fired by the gas jet L at the
firing point, and directly the mixture is fired the bell crank lever M actuated by
the lever N closes the valve K, and at the same time the lever or bracket F' presses
on the end of the spindle H³, forcing in the spindle and opening the valve Y, which
ignites the gaseous mixture under compression in the passage or chamber I and
cylinder D, thereby causing the explosion which actuates the up stroke of the
piston C. The burning mixture passes through openings Cs made in the valve Y,
passing when the valve Y is opened into the chamber I.
The
For regulating the supply of gas by means of the governor so as to give a supply
or stop the supply, either all or none, the governor spindle J' is connected to a light
lever K, which works on a pin L' fitted to the spindle J'; this pin works in a slot
hole M¹, so that when the lever K¹ presses down to come in the way of one of the
small gas supply spindles or pegs N¹, Figure 5, and which small spindles or pegs
are of similar construction and action to those described in the Specification of my
forner Letters Patent, No. 3140, dated the Fourth day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine. The small supply spindle N' cuts off the supply of
gas, and at the same time brings a small hook P¹ in contact with a notch Q₁ cut in
the end of the light lever K¹. When the governor R¹ comes to rest, the spindle J¹ rises,
lifting up the small lever K' in the way of one of the small spindles N', which cuts
off the gas supply. To start the engine, the small hook P' is lifted from contact with
the notch Q by means of the light lever S¹, which allows the front part of the
lever K¹ to fall by its own weight, and fall out of the way of the small spindle N¹,
allowing the gas to be taken in by the engine until the engine exceeds its speed,

page_text: but should the engine exceed its speed, the governor balls fly out, and the
spindle J falls, and coming in contact with the bottom end of the slot hole M',
brings the lever K¹ in the way of the small spindle N', thereby stopping the supply
of gas.
For taking the compression from the cylinder when the engine exceeds its speed,
a light lever T" (Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 1) is connected to the exhaust lever U¹;
one end of the light lever T¹ passes over the stud V' on which the exhaust valve
lever U¹ works, and the other end of the lever is fitted with a small roller W¹,
and on the stud X' of the lever U¹, on the exhaust cam Y¹, is formed a projection
which revolves with the cam, and on the governor spindle J¹ is fitted a bent
lever Z¹, having cut out parts A and B*, so that when the engine exceeds its
proper speed, the upper cut out part A comes in contact with the light lever T',
forcing the lever in, and causing the end of the lever to bring the small roller wi
in the way of the second projection on the cam Y¹, which lifts the exhaust
valve C² open and allows the air in the cylinder D to escape instead of being
compressed; on the engine reducing its speed the lower cut out part B comes in
contact with the light lever T₁, forcing it back to its position, and allows the
gaseous mixture to be compressed.
Having thus described my improvements, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
contine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as these may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what I do
claim is,―
Firstly. The peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of gas engine
and pump, which allows of forcing into the cylinder of the engine, as herein
described, a mixture of gas and air or vapour, by means of the said pump having a
plunger or piston in advance of the stroke of the cylinder piston, substantially in
the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented in Sheet 1,
of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and employment of the valve for firing and exploding
the gaseous mixture, substantially as herein before described and represented in the
accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The method or means of regulating the supply of gas by means of the
governor so as to give a supply or stop the supply, all or none, substantially as and
for the purpose herein before described and represented in Sheet 1 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The method or means for taking the compression from the working
cylinder when the engine exceeds its speed, substantially as herein before described
and represented in Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Clayton, have bereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
SAMUEL CLAYTON. (L.S.)