IMPROVE- MENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I ORLANDO THOMAS NEWTON of 23 Walmsley Street, Egremont, in the County
of Chester, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the construction of a Gas Motor Engine with a
steadier and more uniform action than has hitherto been obtainable and consists in
so arranging the cylinder that the charge is admitted into an explosion chamber at
one end, say the inner end of the cylinder-such chamber being constructed with
a narrow mouth into which a cylindrical projection on the main piston enters-In
this manner I present a smaller piston area to receive the first effect of the blow
or force of the explosion and then when the charge is expanded and the smaller
piston emerges into the cylinder. the further force is received by the main piston
upon a more extended area.
I also arrange two exhaust valves the main one opening when the piston has
travelled about a third of its stroke and continuing open until half the stroke is
reached, when it closes and a supplementary exhaust valve opens a communication
with a vacuum pump which still further empties the cylinder of the previous
products of combustion.
By the time the piston has reached about two thirds of its stroke the vacuum
exhaust valve closes and a disc valve opens a communication with the other side of
the vacuum pump, acting as a compression and thus admits a mixture of gas and air
under pressure. This mixture is then compressed not only by the compressing
piston but also by the advancing main piston until the gas and air valve closes and
the compression is then continued by the main piston to the end of its stroke.
Immediately after passing the dead-centre the explosion ensues and the cycle of
operations is repeated. It will thus be seen that obtain an explosion or ignition
for every revolution of the crank and this in addition to the smaller area of piston
presented to the first shock tends to give the desired steadiness of motion.
By having a pair of cylinders with their pistons working on to the same crank
it will be apparent that an impulse may be given twice in every revolution of the
crank and hence a still further steadiness of motion is secured.
In performing my invention I arrange the vacuum cylinder and which also acts
as the air and gas compressor beneath the main cylinder and I operate the same by
rocking shaft oscillated by an eccentric on the main shaft, giving half the stroke
of and set to work in advance of the main crank The air compressor is arranged

page_text: with a double piston so that if desired the smaller of such pistons can compress gas
alone and the larger can compress air alone or the larger area can compress both
gas and air together.
This invention further relates to the construction and arrangement of a gas and
air regulating governor or cut-off-whereby a strong mixture of gas and air may be
admitted when the full power is required or a less charge of the same mixture
when less power is required, or which will give a greater charge of air proportioned
to the gas when still less power is required-or air only when an explosive mixture
is not needed. This cut-off consists of a hammer-faced lever depending from the
central spindle of the Governor-working in a radial shoe at one side and at the
other side in touching contact with a friction or diminishing roller capable of
sliding to and fro in a suitable recess and actuated at the opposite side by a tappet
cam- This radial shoe is mounted upon a fixed centre and its lower extremity is
connected by a rod to one arm of a bell-crank lever, the other arm of which is
connected to the valve spindle This valve is of a compound nature consisting of
a large and small valve upon the same spindle-the former admitting air and being
arranged with a piston surface fitting into a suitable recess as the valve rises and
thus cutting off a part of the supply of air and the other or smaller valve
controlling the gas supply.
The ignition valve also forms a feature in my invention and consists of a tapered
plug in which two ignition chambers are formed and in each of which gas jets are
ignited a constant supply of compressed gas and air being supplied to these
chambers through small orifices at the larger end-Suitable ports as the plug
revolves comes opposite to the orifice leading to the explosion chamber and thus
ignite the charge.
And in order to effect a starting of a gas-engine I arrange the front part of the
main cylinder, or the space which is otherwise occupied by the slide bars as an air-
compressing and starting cylinder-by means of which air is compressed into a
suitable receiver and is there stored up ready to start the Engine-By this
arrangement and by the combined action of suitable delivery, suction and slide
valves facility is afforded for either compressing the air necessary for restarting or
for utilising the air so stored in driving the engine until the gas comes properly
into play When neither required for compressing nor re-starting I disconnect the
valve and so permit the piston to reciprocate freely.

page_text: "
ICATION,
I ORLANDO THOMAS NEWTON of 23 Walmsley Street Egremont in the County
of Chester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of this invention is the construction of a gas motor Engine with
a steadier and more uniform action than has hitherto been obtainable and consists
in so arranging the cylinder that the charge is admitted into an explosion chamber
at one end, say, the inner end of the cylinder, such chamber being constructed
with a narrow mouth into which a cylindrical projection or the main piston enters.
-In this manner I present a smaller piston area to receive the first effect of the
blower force of the explosion and then when the charge is expanded and the
smaller piston emerges into the cylinder the further force is received by the main
piston on or more extended area.
I also arrange two exhaust valves the main one opening when the piston has.
travelled about a third of its double stroke and continues open until half the stroke
is reached, when it closes and a supplementary exhaust valve opens a communi-
cation with a vacuum pump which still further empties the cylinder of the previous
products of combustion,
By the time the piston has reached about two thirds of its double stroke the
vacuum exhaust valve closes and a disc valve opens a communication with the
other side of the vacuum pump, acting as a compressor and thus admits a mixture
of gas and air under pressure-This mixture is then compressed not only by the
compressing piston, but also by the advancing main piston until the gas and air
valve closes and the compression is then continued by the main piston to the end
of its stroke, passing the dead centre the explosion ensues and the cycle of
operations is repeated. It will thus be seen that I obtain an explosion or ignition
for every revolution of the crank and this in addition to the smaller area of piston
presented to the first shock tends to give the desired steadiness of motion.
By having a pair of cylinders with their pistons working on the same crank it
will be apparent that an impulse may be given twice in every revolution of the
crank and hence a still further steadiness of motion is secured.
In performing my invention I arrange the vacuum cylinder and which also acts
as the air and gas compressor beneath the main cylinder and I operate the same
by a rocking shaft oscillated by an eccentric on the main shaft giving half the
stroke of, and set to work in advance of the main crank. The air compressor is
arranged with a double piston so that, if desired, the smaller of such pistons can
compress gas alone and the larger can compress air alone; or the larger area
can compress gas and air together.
This invention further relates to the construction and arrangement of a gas and
air regulating governor or cut off.-whereby a strong mixture of gas and air can
be admitted when the full power is required, or a less charge of the same mixture
when less power is required or which will give a greater charge of air proportioned

page_text: to the gas when still less power is required-or air only when an explosive
mixture is not needed. This cut off consists of a hammer faced lever depending
from the central spindle of the governor working in a radial shoe at one side and
at the other side in touching contact with a friction or diminishing roller capable
of sliding to and fro in a suitable recess and actuated at the opposite side by
a tappet cam. This radial shoe is mounted on a fixed centre and its lower end is
connected by a rod to one arm of a bell crank lever, the other arm of which is
connected to the valve spindle. This valve is of a compound nature consisting
of a large and small valve upon the same spindle-the former admitting air and
being arranged with a piston surface fitting into a suitable recess as the valve rises
and thus cutting off a part of the supply of air and the other or smaller valve
controlling the gas supply.
The ignition valve also forms a feature in my invention and consists of a tapered
plug in which two ignition chambers are formed and in each of which gas jets are
ignited; a constant supply of compressed gas and air being supplied to these
chambers through small orifices at the larger end. Suitable ports as the plug
revolves come opposite to the orifice leading to the explosion chamber and thus
ignite the charge.
And in order to effect the starting of a gas engine I arrange the front part of
the main cylinder or the space which is otherwise occupied by the slide bars as an
air compressing and starting cylinder by which air is compressed into a suitable
receiver and is there stored up ready to start the engine. By this arrangement
and by the combined action of suitable delivery, suction and slide valves facility
is afforded for either compressing the air necessary for restarting or for utilizing
the air so stored in driving the engine until the gas comes properly into play.
When neither required for compressing nor restarting I disconnect the valve and
so permit the piston to reciprocate freely.
:
On the accompanying drawing Fig 1 represents a longitudinal view partly in
section; and Fig 2 a plan also partly in section of a double cylindered gas motor
engine embracing my improvements. Fig 3 is an end sectional view of Fig 1
showing more particularly the improved Governor and gas and air valves, and
Fig 4 is an end sectional view through the main cylinder and exhaust opening
and valve chamber. Fig: 5 is a section of the main cylinder end. Fig. 6 is an
end view, and Fig 7 a side sectional view of the improved disc valve-and Figs 8
and 9 are similar views respectively of the fixed disc plate. Fig 10 is an enlarged
end view of the improved igniting valve and Fig: 11 is a side sectional view of
the self starting and air compressing valve box and air receiver.
In Figs 1 and 2. A is the main cylinder surrounded at the front end by the
enlargement A constituting an air compressing and starting cylinder and also
acting as a slide block. In this cylinder the main piston B reciprocates and is
connected by the connecting rod B' to the crank C upon the crank shaft C¹.
Beneath the main cylinder A is situated the combined vacuum and gas compressing
cylinder D and which is divided by the double piston E into three working parts
the front part acting as (and hereinafter referred to as) a vacuum pump D¹ the
middle part (hereinafter referred to) as a gas and air pump D2 and the rear part
(hereinafter referred to) as a gas pump D³ only.-The rod of the piston E passes
through a stuffing, box and is cottered to a cross head E¹ which is fitted with slide
blocks embracing a pin F projecting from a lever arm F¹ keyed on to the rocking
shaft F working in pedestals upon the base plate E and which rocking shaft in
turn is connected by the rod F³ to the actuating eccentric F* keyed upon the crank
shaft C. In this manner a rocking motion is imparted to the rocking shaft H
and a parallel motion of one half the traverse of the main cylinder piston is
imparted to the double piston E working in the air compressing cylinder D.
gas and air pump D2 has two suction valves, a gas valve I and an air valve J
communicating with gas and air valves actuated by the cut off governor and such
valves I and J are coupled together by a pipe J in the length of which is inter-
posed the two way gas tap J'. The gas supply pipe J³ is connected to the gas
The

page_text: suction valve I and to the gas regulating valve K. The air suction valve J is
connected by the pipe J* with the air governing valve L. The combined gas and
air pump D' has two separate actions. It will either take air separately or gas
and air combined. The gas pump D³ will take gas only and can be used either
separately or in conjunction with the pump D2. The action of the pump D' will
draw air through the governing air valve L, pipe J', and valve J at the same time
drawing gas through the governing gas valve K through pipe Js and gas suction
valve I (passing through the two way tap J2 which in this case is turned on to
communicate with the pump D2) up the pipe J¹ into an air valve chamber J³,
where the gas mixes with the air and passes through to the pump D². The
mixture is then compressed and forced up the pipe K into the main cylinder A
through a port m in the disc valve M hereinafter more particularly described) to
meet the advancing main piston B which still further compresses the mixture until
the disc valve closes and cuts off the communication after which the compression
is continued by the main piston to the end of its stroke and immediately after
passing the dead centre the mixture is fired and the explosion ensues.
The rear extremity of this main piston B is formed with a projection B³ fitting
accurately into the narrow mouth or opening of the ignition or explosion chamber A².
This is so designed in order that when the piston B moves to the end of the stroke
the projection B' shall force the gaseous mixture into the ignition chamber, so
corking it as it were into a bottle whilst the explosion takes place. In this manner
I present a smaller piston are to receive the first effect of the blow or force of the
explosion and then when the charge is expanded and the smaller piston emerges
into the cylinder A the further force is received by the main piston upon a more
extended area. I also employ a side shaft G geared to the crank shaft C' by bevel
gearing C² so as to revolve two to one for operating the various valves hereinafter
described.
The main exhaust valve H which communicates with the cylinder through
the opening H¹ being controlled by the tappet cain H2 through the intervention
of the lever H³ (see Fig 4) and exhausting into the main exhaust pipe H*
whilst the weighted supplementary exhaust valve N is lifted by the cam N'-
This cam imparting a partial revolution to the rocking shaft N* and so by
means of its arm N³ lifting the said supplementary valve and opening a com-
munication between the cylinder A (through the opening H¹) and pipe N 4
and the vacuum pipe D-The main exhaust valve H is timed to open when
the C crank has travelled about a third of its revolution after the explosion
and immediately upon its closing, say, when half the revolution is reached, the
supplementary exhaust valve N is opened by its cam N¹ and the vacuum pipe D¹
still further empties the cylinder by sucking the previous products of combustion
direct through the pipe N and expelling the same through valve O and pipe O'
into the main exhaust pipe H*.
Second Action. The combined pump can be used for compressing the gas and air
separately. Thus pump D2 can pump air and D³ can pump gas, the two-way gas
tap J being turned to close the communication off from D and opening the
communication with D-D2 will then draw air through governing air valve L,
pipe J and suction valve J and at the same time pump D³ will draw gas only
through governing gas valve K through pipe J³ to gas valve I and through tap J³,
thus compressing separately and forcing gas through pipe P and valve P' into
mixing chamber Q formed in the end of the cylinder A (see section of end of
cylinder Fig 5) and also forcing air separately through pipe K¹ into the same
chamber and wherein the gas and air mix before entering the cylinder and are
thence forced into the cylinder through port m in disc valve M as aforesaid.
I will now proceed to describe the gas and air regulating apparatus and governor
or cut off (Figs 1 and 3) a is the rising and falling governor spindle connected to
the governor ball arms b-c is a coupling link connected to the lower end of the
governor spindle a and which latter is fitted with a collar pinned on passing
through a slot formed at the top end of coupling link c-The lower end of

page_text: this coupling link c is connected to a hammer-faced lever d having two pointed
faces, sliding up and down in an oscillating shoe-lever e mounted on the
stationary pin e affixed to the governor base e² and the other face & sliding on a
roller fcapable of rolling to and fro in a slot f1 to keep it in a vertical position one
side of its periphery facing the lever d and the other facing the actuating cam fl
keyed on the side shaft G, the lower end of the lever e is connected to one arm g of
a bell crank lever, the other arm of which is jointed to the vertical spindle h of the
gas and air valves K and L which are mounted on one and the same spindle h
so as to lift together and are weighted by the weight L'. On the top of the air
valve a boss is cast which, as it lifts, fits into the air space L'-This valve draws
its supply of air through the orifices L³ and L*, whilst the gas valve K receives its
supply of gas through the stop cock U. This improved governor combined with
the gas and air regulating valves is thus designed to give a greater or less charge of
gas and air according to the power required, that is to say it will give a strong
charge of gas proportioned to the air when the full power is required, or a less
charge of the strong mixture of gas and air when less power is required, or it will
give a greater quantity of air and less gas as lesser power is required, or air only
when an explosive mixture is not required.
This is effected as follows: When the governor balls are down, as seen in Fig 3,
the hammer faced lever d is in a position to give a strong charge of an explosive
mixture of gas and air; for in this position the swell upon the cam f' will be in
contact with the roller f and so force it against the hammer faced lever & which in
turn is forced against the sole of the radiating shoe lever e and so by means of the
connecting rod connected to the bell crank lever lifting and opening the air and gas
valves L and K to their full extent and admitting a full and strong charge of gas
and air, the air entering through ports L³ and L' and the gas through the stop
tap U. As soon as the cam f2 turns and ceases to press upon the roller f the gas
and air valves close again and stop all communication with the pump at the end of
every charge. The valves being weighted fall automatically into their seats and
cannot be lifted again until the swell upon the cam f2 comes round and once more
strikes the roller f. The amount of the next charge will depend upon the position
into which the governor has brought the hammer faced lever d for instance when
the full charge is required the contacting faces of lever d will be in their highest
position or nearest to the suspended centre e¹ of the shoe lever e and in proportion
as the governor brings the lever d downwards so in proportion will the traverse of
the radial lever e be shortened and the opening of the gas and air valve be reduced
and thus facility is afforded for regulating the charge of gas and air according to
the power developed by the engine.
Again when the engine is at or about its full speed and the governor balls are
expanded to their full extent the projection d' upon the haminer face lever d will
be down below the contact point of the roller f and so the roller will have no action
on such lever. Thus the engine being at its full speed the air and gas valves will
be dead in their seats and the air port L3 and air space L2 will be alone open to the
pump. The pump will thus only take in air through port L³ and through air
space L² and so force compressed air alone into the working cylinder. Under these
circumstances D³ is fitted with a weighted air valve to open when no gas is required.
The one governor, gas and air valves acting it will be observed for each cylinder
at every half revolution of the crank.
I will now describe my improved revolving disc valve M combined with the
ignition or explosion chamber or heat and pressure retainer A². This latter is an
inner shell fitted into the hinder part of the cylinder A and having an internal
lining of asbestos packing or non-conducting material to prevent the radiation of
heat and secured in position by the cylinder cover A³. This cylinder cover and a
fixed disc plate M' (see Figs 8 and 9) having corresponding ports m formed in
them. Between the cylinder cover A³ and this fixed disc plate (which is formed
hollow and filled with non-conducting material) is mounted the revolving disc
valve M (see Figs 6 and 7) and which is fitted on a short shaft R working through

page_text: This
the cylinder cover A³ to the outside where a spur wheel R' is keyed on.
wheel R¹ gearing through an intermediate wheel R³ with a spur wheel R³ on the
side shaft G and thus receiving revolving motion therefrom. This revolving disc M
and the fixed disc plate M¹ are fitted on their outer edges with metallic packing
rings to secure a tight joint when placed face to face in position in the inner
shell A² the internal pressure itself serving to force their flat surfaces together and
so making a tight joint between them-Instead of the explosion chamber A² being
in the form of an inner shell the same could be formed in the wall of the main
cylinder.
The improved igniting valve seen in Fig. 2 and in enlarged section in Fig. 10
consists of an inner cone i and outer casing ; and which latter is bolted to the
cylinder side whilst its inner plug or cone is revolved by the spur wheels k from
the side shaft G.-This conical plug i is internally divided by a mid feather into
two distinct chambers n and o each containing a gas jet p and q. Each gas jet is
supplied with gas by the annular chamber r cut around the inner plug and which
chamber is in constant communication with the gas entrance r¹. These jets p
and q are screwed into the body of the plug i so that their other ends penetrate
into the chambers n and o and grooves are cut along them extending as far as the
gas chamber for admitting gas and which gas meets the air and flame coming
through port 8.
Lower down the plug are small ports t for opening a communication with the
explosive mixture in chamber A2 and to light p and q. When brought into that
position all communication is closed with the outer flame coming through port 8.-
The chambers n and o are in communication with the compressed gas in cylinder
coming through small ports u into port at the end of the plug by two small
ports wand x for supplying compressed gas and air to the gas jets p and q (when
the connection with the outer air is cut off) which are kept ignited by the
incoming explosive mixture from the cylinder A before the explosion takes place in
such cylinder and are so kept burning by the explosive mixture until the port t
comes opposite the explosion port y and thus the explosive mixture is fired.
The air compressing and self-starting arrangement may be described as follows:-
To the side of the main cylinder A is bolted a valve-box 1 containing three
ports 2, 3 and 4 covered by a slide valve 5 actuated by an eccentric 6 on the crank
shaft C and secured by a removable cotter 51. The central port 3 communicates
constantly with the air compressing cylinder A¹ and such valve box is further
provided with four outlets 7, 89 and 10 and one screw-down valve 11 upon the
inlet pipe 12 communicating with the afr receiver 13 (seen in Fig. 11 and dotted
in Figs 1 and 3.)
Combined with these ports and outlets are a suction valve 14 and a delivery
valve 15. Two screw-down valves 16 and 11 and the aforesaid slide valve 5.
Suction valve 14 is connected to air pipe 17 opening into the atmosphere:
Screw down valve 16 is also connected to the same pipe 17. Delivery valve 15 is
connected by pipe 18 to the air receiver 13.
The action as an air compresser is as follows:-First screw down the valve 16
and the starting valve 11 firmly into their seats, then connect the slide valve
spindle by cotter 5¹ to eccentric rod. This leaves the suction valve 14 and the
delivery valve 15 free-these being governed only by the slide valve 5 actuated
by the eccentric 6 the slide valve 5 will slide forward so uncovering the ports 3
and 4 thus giving free access from the air to the pump the outward stroke of the
compressing pump A¹ taking in air. The return stroke of the slide valve 5 closing
ports 3 and 4 opening communication from cylinder A' to air receiver 13 opening
ports 2 and 3 thus compressing the air from cylinder through port 3 down port 2
through outlet 7 through delivery valve 15 down pipe 18 to air receiver 13 and
this action is repeated consecutively by the right and left hand cylinders until the
desired pressure is attained in the air receiver 13 say 200 lbs per square inch.
The self starting action may be described as follows:-The air receiver 13 being
charged with compressed air and the engine standing still-First open the screw

page_text: down valve 16 this action turns the ports 2 and 3 from delivery into exhaust ports
from the cylinder A¹. The slide valve 5 being coupled to its eccentric and the
starting valve 11 being now opened coin pressed air will rush up pipe 12 into port 4
down port 3 into cylinder A¹ pushing the piston before it at every half stroke of
the crank and thus starting the engine from whichever side the starting ports are
open. In the return stroke the used or exhaust air passing from cylinder up port 3
down port 2 through outlet 8 and pipe 17 into the air.
In this manner I use the front part of the engine either as an air compressor or
a starting cylinder and leaving the main cylinder free for the explosive mixture
only Further when the explosive mixture has started the engine and the
compressed air is no longer required the starting valve 11 is closed and the
working slide valve 5 is thrown out of gear by taking out the cotter 5' and
pushing the slide valve back as far as it will go the slide valve will thus be
brought over the two ports 2 and 3 leaving the cylinder A¹ in free communication
with the air and which by taking in air both in its outward and inward strokes
so assists in keeping the cylinder cool.
Having thus 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
1st The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting an improved
gas motor engine substantially as herein before described.
2nd Forming the front part of the main cylinder as an air compressor and
self-starter and the rear part as a heat and pressure retainer-this latter being
provided with a narrow mouth into which a protruding part of the main piston
projects to receive the first blow or effect of the firing of the explosive mixture
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3rd In combination with the inain cylinder as aforesaid the use and application
of a combined vacuum and gas and air compressing cylinder mounted beneath the
main cylinder and operating substantially as herein described.
4th The employment of two exhaust valves a main and supplementary exhaust
valve operating substantially as hereinbefore described,
5th The improved construction and arrangement of gas and air regulating
governor or cut-off in combination with the improved air and gas valve operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
6th The general construction and arrangement of ignition valve provided with
two ignition chambers each fitted with a gas jet and suitable ports or passages
communicating with the supply of compressed gas and air and with the gas supply
substantially as hereinbefore described.
7th The improved combination and arrangement of slide valve box and delivery
and suction valves whereby the front part of the main cylinder can be utilised
as an air compressor self-starter and slide block substantially as hereinbefore
described.