IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I CHARLES HENRY ANDREW, of the firm of J. E. H. Andrew and Company, of
Waterloo Road, Stockport, Cheshire, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES, to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in the arrangement and con-
struction of gas motor engines whereby two or more impulses can be exerted for
each revolution of the flywheel and at the same time a compact and simple form
of construction is obtained.
Hitherto great difficulty has been experienced in starting gas engines of even
moderate power. It has also been found that excessive heat is generated by the
explosion or combustion of large charges of explosive mixture within cylinders of
large capacity.
To obviate these evils and at the same time gain steadier running of the engine
I provide two power cylinders preferably of a truncated form and cast in one
piece with their trunk ends facing each other in tandem form and their outer ends
somewhat after the arrangement shown in my Specification to Letters Patent
No 3066 of 1883. I also provide what I term a charging cylinder for each of the
power cylinders. I prefer to arrange these charging cylinders so that they form
a part of the base plate of the engine and are also placed in a similar relative
position to the power cylinders. The power pistons are cast or connected together
by a rod or frame. The charging pistons are or may be connected in a similar
manner.
I provide the engine with a single crank and crank shaft placed centrally
between the two power cylinders. The crank is actuated through the medium of
a connecting rod or rods attached to the piston or pistons of the power cylinders.
The charging pistons are actuated by a suitable connection, such as a rocking
lever which is jointed to the connecting rod of the power pistons.
One slide valve is arranged to regulate the admission of the charges to the
charging cylinders. For the purpose of igniting the explosive charges after their.
admission and compression within the power cylinders a slide valve is attached to
each cylinder. These valves are preferably placed on the inner sides of the com-
bustion chambers of the power cylinders and may be actuated by a single eccentric
keyed on the crank shaft.
The starting and operation of this arrangement is as follows:-One power
cylinder and its charging cylinder are left open to work free without the admission'

page_text: of an explosive charge therefore the negative action to contend with will simply
exist within one power cylinder and its charging cylinder. The flywheel is turned
by hand or otherwise when a regulated charge of explosive mixture is drawn
through the first named slide valve into a reservoir connecting the charging and
power cylinders. On continuing to turn the flywheel for another half a revolution
the explosive charge is forced through a non-return valve into the power cylinder
at a short period before the power piston has reached the end of its outward
stroke. Still continuing to turn the flywheel for another half a revolution, the
charging cylinder will receive another charge and the charge within the power
cylinder will be compressed by the inward stroke of the piston. At this stage the
slide valve of the power cylinder introduces a flame to the explosive charge and
ignites it, thereby imparting an impulse to the power piston up to a short period
previous to the completion of its outward stroke when the power piston will expose
exhaust passages formed in the side of the cylinder through which the waste gases
are expelled by the introduction under pressure of the next charge from the before
mentioned reservoir. The engine is now started and by the closing of a suitable
valve or tap the other power cylinder and piston are put into action. Thus, from
the fact that within each power cylinder an impulse is obtained for each consecutive
stroke, two impulses take place for every revolution of the fly wheel.
By duplicating the above arrangement, that is to say, by placing another set of
cylinders on the opposite side of the base plate and placing the fly wheel between
them and two outside cranks attached to one crank shaft I obtain four impulses
to every revolution of the flywheel and by leaving three sets of cylinders free from
negative actions in the manner herein described I am enabled to start the engine
with one set as in the previous arrangement, therefore engines of considerable
power can thus be started with ease.
By the division of the explosive charges into separate charges I avoid the evil of
excessive heating which very frequently causes premature ignition of the charges.
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: each revolution of the fly wheel and at the same time a compact and simple form
of construction is obtained.
Hitherto great difficulty has been experienced in starting gas engines of even
moderate power. It has also been found that excessive heat is generated by the
explosion or combustion of large charges of explosive mixture within cylinders of
large capacity.
To obviate these evils and at the same time gain steadier running of the engine
I provide two power cylinders preferably of a truncated form and cast in one piece
with their trunk ends facing each other in tandem form and their outer ends
somewhat after the arrangement shown in my Specification No 3066 of A.D. 1883.
I also provide what I term a charging cylinder for each of the power cylinders.
I prefer to arrange these charging cylinders so that they form a part of the base
plate of the engine and are also placed in a similar relative position to the power
cylinders. The power pistons are cast or connected together by a rod or frame.
The charging pistons are or may be connected in a similar manner. I provide the
engine with a single crank and crank shaft placed centrally between the two power
cylinders. The crank is actuated through the medium of a connecting rod or rods
attached to the piston or pistons of the power cylinders. The charging pistons are
actuated by a suitable connection such as a rocking lever which is jointed to the
connecting rod of the power pistons.
One slide valve is arranged to regulate the admission of the charges to the
charging cylinders. For the purpose of igniting the explosive charges after their
admission and compression within the power cylinders a slide valve is attached to
cach cylinder. These valves are preferably placed on the inner sides of the com-
bustion chambers of the power cylinders and may be actuated by a single eccentric
keyed on the crank shaft.
The starting and operation of this arrangement is as follows:-One power
cylinder and its charging cylinder are left open to work free without the admission
of an explosive charge therefore the negative action to contend with will simply
exist within one power cylinder and its charging cylinder. The fly wheel is turned
by hand or otherwise when a regulated charge of explosive mixture is drawn
through the first named slide valve into a reservoir connecting the charging and
power cylinders. On continuing to turn the fly wheel for another half a revolution
the explosive charge is forced through a non-return valve into the power cylinder
at a short period before the power piston has reached the end of its outward
stroke. Still continuing to turn the fly wheel for another half a revolution the
charging cylinder will receive another charge and the charge within the power
cylinder will be compressed by the inward stroke of the piston. At this stage the
slide valve of the power cylinder introduces a flame to the explosive charge and
ignites it thereby imparting an impulse to the power piston up to a short period
previous to the completion of its outward stroke when the power piston will expose
exhaust passages formed in the side of the cylinder through which the waste gases
are expelled by the introduction under pressure of the next charge from the before
mentioned reservoir. The engine is now started and by the closing of a suitable
valve or tap the other power cylinder and piston are put into action.
Thus from the fact that within each power cylinder an impulse is obtained for
each consecutive stroke, two impulses take place for every revolution of the
fly wheel.
By duplicating the above arrangement, that is to say, by placing another set of
cylinders on the opposite side of the baseplate and placing the fly wheel between
them and two outside cranks attached to one crank shaft I obtain four impulses to
every revolution of the fly wheel and by leaving three sets of cylinders free from
negative actions in the manner herein described I am enabled to start the engine
with one set as in the previous arrangement therefore engines of considerable
power can thus be started with ease.
By the division of the explosive charges into separate charges I avoid the evil
of excessive heating which very frequently causes premature ignition of the charges.

page_text: And in order that our Invention may he fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will describe the accompanying three Sheets of Drawings, reference
being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation of an engine embodying my Invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section upon the plane of the dotted line xx,
Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar horizontal section upon the plane of the dotted
line yy, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the engine upon the
plane of the dotted line z z, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through one of
the combustion chambers and the jacket enclosing said chamber and the cylinder
and also through a portion of the passage and apertures whereby the charging
cylinder and power cylinder are connected.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A A¹ are two power cylinders which are arranged in line facing one another and
are here represented as connected by a brace or frame A³ cast in one piece with
them; B B are two charging cylinders which are also arranged in line facing
each other and are here represented as below the power cylinders A A¹. These
charging cylinders are as here shown preferably cast with the bed plate or frame B³
and the connecting brace A² between the power cylinders is formed with a broad
horizontal foot or flange A³ whereby the two power cylinders are firmly secured
upon the bedplate B². The bed plate B2 is likewise constructed with two standards B³
in which are formed or held bearings b for the crank shaft C which as here shown
is provided with a fly wheel C¹ from which power may be transmitted by a belt,
not shown. At their outer euds the two power cylinders A A¹ are in free and
open communication with the two combustion chambers D D1 having their inlet
passages a presented in a horizontal direction and at the side of the cylinders.
Both the power cylinders A A' and the combustion chambers D D are surrounded
by jackets D2 D3 to which cold water may be supplied by pipes a¹ and from which
the water may be discharged by pipes a², as best shown in Fig. 1. To the power
cylinders A A¹ are fitted two power pistons E E¹ which are connected by a brace
or tie E made in the same casting with the piston bodies and motion is imparted
from the power pistons by a connecting rod E3 which is connected with a pin c in
the brace E of the pistons and with the crank pin c of the crank C³ on the crank
shaft C consequently it will be understood that the two power pistons E E' move
simultaneously, each performing its outward stroke while the opposite piston
performs its inward stroke.
In the oppositely arranged charging cylinders B B' are fitted charging pistons F F¹
which are connected by a rod F' and motion is transmitted from the power pistons
to the charging pistons by a lever F³. The upper end of the lever F³ is pivoted
on a pin c inserted in a slide or sliding bock c² and secured fast in the brace E³
between the two power pistons E E¹.
The block or slide is fitted to a
slideway which is formed in the brace or connection A³ between the power
cylinders as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The lever Fs is slotted or yoked at c4 c³
so as to receive slides or blocks c6c7, the former of which c is supported by and
free to turn upon a pin es fast in the bedplate B2 and the latter of which c7 is
carried by a pin c³ projecting from the rod F³ connecting the two charging pistons.
As the two power pistons E E' are moved backward and forward they impart a
simultaneous movement to the two charging pistons F F in a reverse direction to
that in which the power pistons are moving the lever F³ sliding freely upon the
blocks cc in order to compensate for the varying distance between the pins or
pivots c¹c and the fulcrum pin or pivot c³.
Extending from the outer ends of the two charging cylinders B B' and formed
partly in the power cylinder structure and partly in the bed plate E² are
passages d d' through which the explosive mixture of air and gas is discharged
from the charging cylinders to the power cylinders and below each cylinder
structure is bolted a chest or passage d2 which covers apertures or openings d³ d
in the cylinder structure whereby communication is established between the
passages d d and the combustion chambera D D'. The mouths d³ of the

page_text: passages & d¹ which are covered by the chests or passages d' have secured over
them wire gauze or analogous material d forming fine meshes and the explosive
mixture of air and gas in passing through either passage d or d¹ from either
charging cylinder must pass through the opening or aperture d³ which is shielded
by the wire gauze d³ in order to reach the combustion chamber D or D¹. By the
passage of the air and gas through the wire gauze do they become more uniformly
mixed and afford better results when exploded.
Extending from the power cylinders near their ends which are open are exhaust
pipes e and each power piston E or E¹ at the termination of its outward stroke
passes just beyond the exhaust pipe e and allows the free exhaust of waste gases
from behind the piston to the said exhaust pipe. The return of the explosive
mixture through the openings d' d' is prevented by check valves do d' applied
thereto as shown in Fig. 5.
The ignition of the explosive mixture within the combustion chambers D D¹ is
controlled by sliding valves G G¹ which are fitted to slideways closed by plates or
covers which are held in place by bolts f having springs f³ arranged between
the said plates and nuts f* upon the said bolts. In each valve G G¹ is formed
a passage f³ which by the reciprocation of the valve is alternately brought into
communication with the throat a leading from the combustion chamber and the
ignition pocket or cavity f* wherein is an ignition or master burner which is
supplied with gas and to which is admitted air to support combustion by a passage
leading into the said ignition pocket or cavity. When the valve G or G₁ is moved
in the direction to bring the passage or chamber f5 opposite the ignition pocket f
each chamber becomes charged with gas which when the chamber f³ reaches the
ignition pocket f is re-kindled and upon the return movement of the valve serves
to ignite the explosive mixture within the throat a and the combustion chamber D
or D. The plate or valve chest cover f' has in it an aperture f which is opposite
the ignition pocket ƒ and serves to ventilate the chamber or valve passage f³ to
free it from foul gases.
When the explosive mixture in the combustion chamber D is exploded the
pressure thereby produced will force the piston E outward and produce its working
stroke. When the power piston E has completed its outward stroke it comes just
beyond the exhaust pipe e, so as to permit the free exhaust of the waste gases
through the exhaust pipe and the charging piston F. has at this time completed its
inward stroke and discharged its capacity of the explosive mixture into the power
cylinder A.
During the inward movement or stroke of the piston E¹ the explosive mixture
within the cylinder A' and chamber D' are compressed into the combustion
chamber D¹ and are there ignited by the valve G₁ to produce a return movement
of the power pistons. Hence it will be seen that the power pistons being arranged
in line and connected transmit to the crank shaft C two impulses during each
revolution and so tend to produce the running of the engine at a uniform speed.
The two valves G Gas here shown are operated by eccentric rods G³ G³
extending from a single strap G¹.
The admission of air and gas to the charging cylinders B B¹ is controlled hy a
slide valve H which is reciprocated by a rod H₁ connecting it with the eccentric
red G. This valve works within a chest h having a covering plate i held to its
place by springs and bolts like those shown for holding the valve chest covers f1
in place. The valve chest h is constructed with an air inlet passage j and with the
mixture passages which lead respectively to the outer ends of the charging
cylinders B B¹. The cover i of the valve chest is constructed with a crossbar ¹
and a pocket 2 and a passage i³ through which gas is supplied from the supply
pipe controlled by the piston valve which is actuated by the valve H through
an extension H2. The valve H has a line or series of apertures h¹ which work
against and are alternately exposed above and below the crossbar i¹ and on the
inner face of the valve H is a recess or cavity h² whereby the mixture passages j¹j
are placed alternately in communication with the air inlet passage ; and the gas

page_text: pocket 12. The construction of the valve. H and chest with its ports and openings
is best shown in Fig. 4.
It will be obvious that if desired two other power cylinders might be arranged
opposite each other and in line by the side of the two power cylinders here shown
and connected with the same crank shaft the two cranks being set at right angles
to each other if desired and the fly wheel being arranged centrally between the two
pairs of power cylinders. Each pair of oppositely arranged power cylinders would
then have its pair of oppositely arranged charging cylinders and the mechanism
would all be duplicated for each engine.
Having now 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
1. The construction, combination and arrangement of parts forming the
improved gas motor engine, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and as illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
2. The combination in a gas engine of two power cylinders arranged in line
with each other, two connected power pistons working in said cylinders, two
charging cylinders and two connected charging pistons working therein and
connections between the said power pistons and the said charging pistons, all
substantially as herein described for the purposes herein specified.
3. The combination of the power pistons, the charging pistons, the connecting
rod, the crank shaft and crank, and the lever connecting the power pistons and the
charging pistons, substantially as herein set forth.
4. The combination with the ignition valve and the eccentric rod for operating
the same, of the charging valve working transversely to the ignition valve and the
connection between the latter valve and the said eccentric rod, substantially as
herein set forth for the purposes specified.