IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: JOHN RAMSDEN WOODHEAD Mechanical Engineer Steam Hammer Works
Whitehall Rd Leeds Yorkshire do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES to be as follows:-
This invention of Improvements in Gas Motor Engines relates to that kind of
Engine having one or more working Cylinders.
In connection with such Cylinders I employ a small Hand pump single or double
acting to compress a charge of combustible mixture into the space cavity or port
provided at the end of Cylinder untill such pressure presses the charge into the
Explosion valve or Igniting pipe thus Ignited the expansion of Gases from such
explosion causes the piston Connecting Rod and Crank Shaft to move thus the
Engine makes its first start on its outward stroke when the piston as travelled say
two thirds or more towards the end of its outward stroke I cause a port to be
uncovered by the piston when the exhaust takes place through the said port over,
which I place a vessel the size and capacity I determine according to the Horse
Power of each engine this vessel I call a vacuum box this vacuum box as also
a relief or exhaust Valve thus when the exhaust takes place the condensation due
to expansion in this large vacuum box causes a vacuum to take place and to assist
this I cause the piston to travel on to the end of its outward stroke so that with
the vacuum in Box and travel of piston passed the exhaust port I draw in a fresh
charge of combustible mixture through Mixing Valve when the piston returns back
on its inward stroke the products left in from port to End of Cylinder are
compressed out through Vacuum box to exhaust Valve untill the piston as traveled
so far back as to cover the exhaust port then completing its inward stroke it
compresses the remaining Gases ready for Igniting again thus by the said mode
I start explode exhaust and draws in a charge of Combustible Mixture and
compress same evey revolution.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention I would have it
understood that what I consider novel and original and therefore Claim is
1st The use of a Vacuum Box between working cylinder and exhaust valve.
2nd The mode I use of Small Hand Pump to charge & Start the Engine with.
Dated this 4th day of February 1884.

page_text: I JOHN RAMSDEN WOODHEAD of Steam Hammer Works Whitehall Road Leeds
in the county of Yorkshire Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my 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:—
This invention of Improvements in gas Motor Engines relates to Engines giving
off one explosion every revolution or one explosion every two revolutions and
consists as follows
When the Engine is ready for starting I employ a Small Hand Pump single or
double acting to compress the mixed charge or gases into a Vessel Port or Cavity
provided at the end or near the end of Cylinder, untill such pressure will press the
charge into the explosion or Igniting pipe or port in slide so that when the Engine
is moved on to the dead center the charge is let into the space at the end of
Cylinder arranged to receive the compressed charge Thus on moving the Fly
Wheel foward the slide uncovera a small port which allows the mixed gases to
come in contact with the exploding pipe, thus Ignited it causes the Engine to Start
giving motion to piston connecting rod & Crank Shaft Another mode, I use the
Hand Pump with Vessel, port, or cavity is to compress pure Air into Vessel port or
cavity so arranged for engines working (with one explosion evey revolution being
charged with a pump or with engines giving one explosion every other revolution
the slide being arranged to allow the compressed air to force the piston on its
outstroke thus the momentum given to the first part of the revolution will
cause the Engine to make several revolutions when this takes place the air is
shut of, then the Engine draws in a charge by its next outstroke & compresses
same by its inward stroke ready for Ignition as arranged according to Type of
Engine with one explosion every revolution, or every other revolution.
When the piston is Set in Motion and has travelled two thirds of its stroke or
any possition from that to the end of its stroke I cause a port to be uncovered by
the piston when the exhaust takes place through the said port and over which
I place a Vessel the capacity of which I determine according to Size of
Engine this vessel as also a relief Valve, when the exhaust takes place through
Vessel and relief valve then the condensation due to the cooling and expansion
in the vessel causes a Vacuum to take place and to assist this I cause the piston to
travel on to the end of its Stroke thus with the travel of piston & Vacuum Box
I obtain a Strong Vacuum which draws into the space at the end of Cylinder
a new charge through the Mixing Valve or air if the gas is cut, off, as a flushing
agent against the Ignition of the new charge as being drawn or forced into Cylinder.
When the piston returns by its instroke the products from piston to exhaust port
is pressed out through the Vacuum Box & relief Valve untill the port is covered by
piston when travelling inward then compressing the charge drawn or forced in
during the remainder of its inward Stroke ready for Ignition in engines arranged
for one explosion every revolution.
In Engines arranged for one explosion to take place every other revolution
I cause the Vacuum Box to be in the same possition so that when the Ignition takes
place & propells the piston on its first outstroke untill the port is uncovered so that
the excess of pressure is at once let into Vacuum Box and then with the piston
traveling to the end of its stroke and the condensation in Vacuum Box, causes
a Strong Vacuum which I utilize on its return Stroke untill the port is covered by the

page_text: piston. Then I exhaust the remaining products of combustion through an ordinary
exhaust Valve at the end of Cylinder then during its next outstroke the piston
draws in a charge of combustible gases at the Igniting end of Cylinder then on the
piston returning to compress the charge the products of combustion are forced
through port into Vacuum Box & relief Valve untill the port is covered then there
is only left in Cylinder a pure mixture of combustible gases to be compressed
instead of a Stratified charge as in engines of the compressing Type. Engines
according to my Invention may be made Horozontal Vertical combined or otherwise
and in order that my Invention may be properly understood I will proceed to more
fully describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings which shew the
Hand Pump Vessel, Vacuum Box as used either on Engines giving one Ignition
every revolution with or without a Pump or Engines giving one. explosion every
second or third revolution and similar letters denote the like parts wherever they
occur.
Fig 1 is an elevation in Section of Cylinder Fig 2 is a Plan of Fig 1 with the
section of Exhaust Valve Mixing Valve and Slide Fig 3 is Plan of Vessel and
Hand Pump in part section Fig 4 is elevation of Vessel & Hand Pump in part
section Fig 5 is diagram of Cycle of Revolution of Engine with one explosion
every revolution Fig 6 is diagram of Cycle of Engine with an explosion every
other revolution.
Fig 1 The Cylinder A with piston B at at the end of its outstroke with port W
leading into vacuum Box C with relief Valve D Fig 2 shews the Cylinder A Fig 1
with the arranged Valves. E is the End Plate carrying the Mixing Valve F also
exhaust Valve H with Valve I also the Stop Cock K for letting the compressed
gases or air into Slide for Starting Engine, L is the slide cover M is Slide for
timeing the explosions or Ignitions N is Side connecting Rod O is Igniting
pipe Pis Bunsen Burner for Heating Pipe O, R is port, leading from Mixing
Valve to Cylinder S is port for Exhaust at End of Cylinder.
Fig 3 is plan of Vessel & Pump 1 is cover 2 is body of Vessel 6 is piston
working in Pump 7. 8 is inlet Valve 9 is outlet Valve to pipe 12 leading into
Vessel 2 10 is Stop Cock on pipe 11 which leads to pipe in K Fig 2. Fig 4 is
elevation of same 3 is Hand Flywheel 4 is excentric with 5 connecting rod to
piston 6.
Fig 5 is diagram of cycle for Engine with one explosion every revolution Fig 6
is cycle for Engine with one explosion evey other revolution.
In operation Fig 4 Hand Pump & same as Fig 3 is arranged to work by Hand
to pump either either mixed Gases or pure air, but in this case say the mixed gases
is pumped drawn in through Valve 8 and delivered through Valve 9 into Vessel 2
to any desired pressure then Stop Cock 10 is opened and allows the compressed
gases to go to Stop cock K on end plate E on Fig 2 The Engine is set at dead
center leaving the space at the end of cylinder to receive the compressed charge
the Slide M is moving from Crank Shaft as on Fig 6 diagram from 4 to 1 and is in
possition of almost cutting of inlet 4 in Port U from port T which leads to chamber
over F and port R into the space at end of Cylinder so that when Stop cock K is
opened the compressed Gases go into Port U through inlet 1 & out at outlet 4 into
port T and over Valve F into port R to space allowed for charge then on moving
the Fly wheel over the center the Slide M cuts the gases of at T from outlet 4 and
moving the Flywheel foward the pressure sends the piston foward on its outstroke
and Port V comes in connection with Port T and pipe O. Then the Ignition takes
place giving force to drive the engine several revolutions. The Stop cock K can be
shut of when Started or left open till the pressure is exhausted then the Valve F
begins to operate automactically. When the Engine is arranged to work one
explosion every revolution the Vacuum box operates thus when the piston uncovers
the port W leading into Box C from cylinder A. the pressure of explosion at this
point rushes into Box C and out at relief Valve D then a Vacuum due to conden-
sation and the Foward traveling of piston acts on Valve F and draws in a new
charge ready for compressing after the piston as covered Port W by its inward

page_text: stroke When used on an Engine which is charged with a pump I utilize the
Vacuum obtained to draw in a Flushing agent against Back Firing in the port
through which the charge is forced in.
When used on an Engine which explodes every other revolution I then utilize
the Vacuum obtained by keeping all ports and Valves closed during the first half of
the return Stroke before the exhaust takes place at Valve Box H to draw the piston
Back till the port W is covered and the Vacuum destroyed then I open the ordinary
exhaust Valve I during the remainder of the inward Stroke and then on its next
outstroke the piston draws in a pure mixture of Combustible Gases to the end of
its stroke but on returning to compress same the products of combustion escape
through Valve D untill the port W is covered with the piston returning to compress
the remaining pure mixture ready for Ignition.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
•
1st The mode I use the Small Hand Pump & Vessel to charge & Start Engine,
either with explosive Gas or Air as described.
2nd The use of a Vacuum Box between Working Cylinder & exhaust or relief
Valve as described for Engines giving an explosion every revolution or every other
revolution or every third revolution or when used for flushing Ports against back
Firing or when utilized for power in Engines giving one Explosion every other
revolution.
Dated this 25th day of October 1884.