IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS-ENGINES AND THE AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF GAS THEREFOR
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hugh Williams, Civil Engineer, of Southport, in the
County of Lancaster, and of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, also in the County
of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS-ENGINES AND THE
AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF GAS THEREFOR,”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hugh Williams at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th August 1881.
HUGH WILLIAMS, Civil Engineer, of Southport, in the County of Lancaster, and
of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, also in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS ENGINES AND THE AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF GAS THEREFOR,"
My Invention relates, in the first place, to gas engines in which the gas is
obtained from petroleum oil or other suitable hydro carbon oils or spirits. Here-
tofore it has been customary when working a gas engine by gas obtained from
petroleum or other hydro carbon oils or spirits to employ special gas generating
appliances for generating the gas on a comparatively large scale, and to store it in
a holder from which the engine draws its charge.
Now my Invention consists in so arranging the engine that the gas is produced
by the action of the engine only as it is required in sufficient quantity for each
stroke of the engine, the gas being generated a charge at a time as the engine
works, and sufficient only for one effective stroke being produced at a time.
I effect the object of my Invention by generating a measured intermittent charge
of permanent gas generated from an intermittent injection of hydro carbon oil
or spirit into a heated retort forming part of and worked and governed by the
engine.
The following is a method which I adopt in putting this part of my Invention
into practice :-
I form in or near the slide valve of the engine a retort, preferably of platinum.
Once in every double or other arranged stroke of the valve a sufficient quantity of
the petroleum or other oil or spirit is injected into this retort, which is subjected to
the necessary heat to generate gas. The heat may be derived either from the
Price 6d1

page_text: master or ignition light of the engine, or from some special heating medium. The
gas being thus produced is carried into the cylinder, and intermixing on its passage
thereto with the necessary charge of air to form the required combustible mixture,
is exploded in the usual way. By this means I avoid the necessity of the usual gas
generating appliances and the danger of having a store of gas.
To regulate the working of the engine the governor may be arranged to control
the generation of gas by regulating the injection of oil or spirit into the retort.
Another part of my improvements consists in igniting the explosive charge in
gas engines by means of a flame of petroleum or other suitable oil or spirit. For
this purpose I make a suitable chamber or port in the slide valve, and fix therein a
plug of carbon, or fire clay, or other suitable material, which forms the wick or
burner. The oil is fed to this carbon or other plug through a small tube which
communicates with a small chamber in the slide valve. At a certain portion of the
stroke of the valve this small chamber communicates with a larger or supply
reservoir of oil. The action therefore is as follows:-The valve in the course of its
travel causes the small chamber to communicate with the supply reservoir, and it
is immediately filled with oil, which passing along the small tube saturates the
porous wick or burner. The recess or port in which this burner is placed is
in the course of the stroke caused to communicate with the master flame, which
immediately ignites the oil in the porous burner, which passing on ignites the
charge in the cylinder, but in the meantime the stroke of the valve has moved the
little chamber in the valve away from the hole which communicates with the
supply reservoir, so that when the charge is. exploded no communication exists
between the supply chamber and the small chamber, which at that time is securely
closed. In this manner the explosive force is prevented from driving back the oil.
The dense nature of the material used for the wick or burner also contributes to
this end.
This part of my Invention is applicable to gas engines, whether using ordinary
coal gas or gas produced from hydro carbon oils for the explosive charge.
The improvements described above may also be applied to engines having double
acting slide valves, such as that described in the Specification of a Patent granted
to me and James Malam, dated 10th September 1880, and numbered 3685, and one
great advantage of adopting these double acting slide valves when dealing with
hydrocarbon oils is that the valve being double acting does not require so quick a
-stroke as a single acting valve, and therefore more time is given for generating the
gas and igniting the sliding light and the charge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hugh Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th February
1882.
HUGH WILLIAMS, Civil Engineer, of Southport, in the County of Lancaster, and
of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, also in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS ENGINES AND THE AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF GAS THEREFOR.”
My Invention relates, in the first place, to gas engines in which the gas is
obtained from petroleum oils or other suitable hydro carbon oils or spirits; and, in
the second place, to a means of igniting the combustible charge of air and gas in
gas engines by means of a flame of petroleum or other suitable oil or spirit.
The following is a description of my Invention in such full, clear, and exact
terms as to enable any one acquainted with the art or science to which it appertains
to carry out the same into practical effect, reference being had to the accompanying
two Sheets of Drawings, which are marked with letters and figures of reference
corresponding with those used in the following explanation, the same letters and
figures of reference being used to denote like or corresponding parts throughout
the various views:-
Figure 11s & plan shown in section of the end of a cylinder of a gas engine with
my improvements for the automatic generation of gas applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation through X, X, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section through Z, Z, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a plan of an alternative arrangement of Figure 1, and is shown in
detail at Figures 5, 6, and 7.
Figure 5 is an end elevation shown in section of the alternative gas generating
apparatus shown at Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a plan of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a section on the line Y, Y, Figure 6.
Under the first part, my Invention consists of so arranging the cylinder A of the
gas engine that the gas is produced by the action of the engine only as it is
required in sufficient quantity for each stroke of the engine, the gas being generated
charge after charge as the engine works, and sufficient only for one effective stroke
being produced at a time.
I effect the object of my Invention by generating a measured intermittent charge
of gas generated from an intermittent injection of hydrocarbon oil or spirit into a
heated retort or system of retorts forming part of and worked and governed by
the engine.
The following description read in conjunction with the references to the
Drawings will explain the methods which I adopt in putting my Invention into
practice. I form in or near the slide valve B of the cylinder A of the gas engine
a retort or system of retorts C, preferably of platinum tubes. Once in every
double or other arranged stroke of the valve B a sufficient quantity of petroleum
or other hydrocarbon oil or spirit is injected into the retort C, which retort C is
subjected to the necessary heat to generate gas. The heat may be derived either
from the master or ignition light of the engine, or from some special heating
medium. The gas being thus produced flows into the chamber D, and from thence
passes through the slide valve B to the cylinder A, intermixing on its passage
through the slide valve B with the necessary quantity of air to form the required

page_text: combustible mixture, which combustible mixture is ignited and expanded in the
cylinder A in the manner common to gas engines. By my Invention I avoid the
necessity of independent gas generating appliances, the danger of having a store of
gas. To regulate the working of the engine the governor may be arranged to
control the generation of gas by regulating the injection of oil or spirit into the
retort C.
In the arrangement shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen that the retorts
Care set horizontally in the slide valve cover E; the retorts C are set over the
burners or master lights F hereafter described, and are supplied with hydrocarbon
oil or spirit through the pipe G, the supply being controlled by the valve H; the
gas after generation in the retorts C flows into the gas chamber D, from
whence it is supplied to the cylinder A through the ports a, a, of the valve B.
Should the generation of gas be too rapid the pressure of gas in the chamber D
will increase, and the gas through the pipe J pressing on the flexible diaphragm K
will close the valve H against the spring L and arrest the flow of oil through the
pipe G into the retorts C. On the other hand, should the full supply of oil or
spirit through the pipe G be required, the spring L keeps the valve H full open.
The master burners F shown in the Drawing consist of plugs of carbon or fire-clay
or other suitable material b, which are set in the adjustable holders d at the.
bottom of the chimney M, passing through the oil or spirit reservoir N which is
supplied through the pipe N¹. These master burners F serve as the medium for
heating the retorts C and generating gas under the first part of my Invention;
they also serve as the master light for igniting the igniting flame under the second
part of my Invention, hereafter described.
In the arrangement shown at Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, it will be seen that I use a
system of vertical retorts C which communicate with the gas chamber D and the
slide valve cover E. The retort system C consists of the nine vertical retort tubes
C set over the oil or spirit lamp F, which gives a flame which impinges directly
under the retort tubes, as shown at Figure 5. The lamp F is so arranged that it
can be adjusted in its distance from the ends of the retort C by the milled screws
F which support it in the retort casing C¹. In this example of my Invention the
retorts C consist of the tubes e closed at their lower ends and opening into the gas
chamber D at their upper ends, as shown. The oil or spirit from which the gas
is generated flows down into the tube e through the internal pipes h, which pass
out through the top of the gas chamber D and receive the feed of oil or spirit in
an intermittent manner by means of the groove i and the hole in the revolving
disc P. The groove i is in constant communication with the hole Z in the top
cover Q, and by the rotation of the disc P the hole k is intermittently brought
over and successively feeds the tubes h and thereby the retorts C with oil or
spirit. The communication and feed of oil may be prolonged as required by
carrying a groove from the hole k on the underside of the revolving disc Pas
shown by the dotted lines k', Figure 6. R is the oil or spirit supply pipe through
which the oil or spirit is forced or caused to gravitate. The disc P is rotated by
means of worm wheel gearing as shown, the teeth of the worm wheel being formed
on the circumference of the disc P, the worm being driven by a cord and pulley
from the engine shaft, or other means of rotating the disc may be adopted. S is a hole
through which compressed air or steam is forced so as to enter the retort C
with the oil or spirit, and assist in the generation of the gas. The retorts C are in
the cylindrical casing C₁, which is provided with an asbestos lining C" and a fire
clay central pillar C, as shown. The top of the cover Q is held to its place by
bolts and springs, as shown at Figure 7; K is a regulator or governor so arranged
as to cut off the supply of oil and air or steam to the retorts C when too much gas
is being generated. The gas on being generated rises in the tubes e in the annular
space round the pipes h and fills the chamber D. When the pressure rises too high
in the chamber D the gas through the tube J presses the flexible disc of the
regulator K, which acting on the lever K² shuts the plunger valves H, and thus
arrests the further supply of oil or spirit to the retorts C, the supply being again

page_text: given as the pressure reduces. The gas is 'conveyed to the cylinder of the engine
through the slide-valve, in manner as; before described upon reference to Figure 1,
and the pressure to which the gas is to be supplied may be regulated by weighting
the regulátor K. by the weights t. In the lamp F the currents of air for supporting
combustion pass through the annular spaces f, as shown at Figure 5, and the lamp
is provided with an asbestos wick b and may be kept supplied with liquid fuel
through a suitable pipe in connection with a supply cistern. The lamp may be
provided with a wick or be arranged to work on the principle of the blow pipe.
Under the second part my Invention consists in igniting the explosive charge of
gas engines by means of a flame of petroleum oil or spirit. This portion of my
Invention will be understood upon reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3. I form a
chamber or port T in the slide valve B, and I fix therein a plug of carbon, fire clay,
or other suitable material carried by the holder U. The plug of carbon U¹ forms
the wick or burner. Hydrocarbon oil or spirit is fed to this carbon or other
plug U¹ through a small passage U₁ which communicates with the small chamber V
in the slide valve B, and the carbon or other plug U₁ is kept supplied with oil or
spirit through the groove and supply pipe W. At a certain portion of the stroke
of the slide valve B this small chamber V communicates through the groove and
supply pipe W with a larger or supply reservoir of oil or spirit. The action there-
fore is as follows:-The slide valve B in the course of its travel, causes the small
chamber V to communicate through the groove W with the oil or spirit supply,
which may be a reservoir or force pump. The chamber V is immediately filled
with oil or spirit which passes through the holder U and saturates the carbon or
other burner in the chamber T. In the course of the stroke of the slide valve B
the burner U communicates with the master flame F through the port T', and the
burner U¹ ignites. The further stroke of the valve brings the chamber T opposite
the port, which opens into cylinder A and thus ignites the combustible charge in
the cylinder A. In the meantime the stroke of the valve B has moved the
chamber V away from the passage which communicates with the supply reservoir,
so that when the charge in the cylinder is ignited no communication exists between
the supply chamber V and the reservoir. In this manner the explosive-force is
prevented from driving back the oil. The dense nature of the material used for
the wick or burner also contributes to this end. This, the second part of my
Invention, is applicable to gas engines, whether using ordinary coal gas or gas
produced from hydrocarbon oils for the combustible charge.
The improved igniting burner is particularly applicable to engines having double
acting slide valves, such as those described in the Specification of British Patent,
No. 3685, A.D. 1880, and one great advantage of adopting these double acting slide
valves when dealing with hydrocarbon oils is that the valve being double acting
does not require so quick a stroke as a single acting valve, and therefore more
time is given for generating the gas and igniting the sliding light and the
charge.
Having now described my Invention and shown how the same may be put into
practical operation, I claim,-
Under the first part,—
First. Supplying and regulating the supply of hydrocarbon oils or spirits and
generating gas therefrom for use in gas engines, in the manner and by an apparatus
such as herein described and shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Second. Supplying and regulating the supply of hydrocarbon oils or spirits and
generating gas therefrom for use in gas engines, in the manner and by an apparatus
such as herein described and shown at Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Under the second part I claim,-
The use of a plug of carbon, fire clay, or other suitable material, such as herein
set forth, supplied with hydrocarbon oils or spirits as a means for igniting the

page_text: combustible charge in gas engines, substantially as herein described and shown at
Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hugh Williams, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty first day of February, in the year of our Lord One'
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.