IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I WILLIAM CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W Clark of 53 Chancery Lane,'
in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS 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 relates to the class of engines known as non-compressing gas.
engines, in which the explosive mixture is ignited and exploded under atmospheric
pressure; and it consists in mechanism for admitting gas and air in proper
proportions at alternate revolutions of the main crank and for exhausting the
products of combustion at every instroke of the piston. It also consists in devices
for introducing the explosive or combustible mixture in the direction of the igniting
aperture so as to ensure a prompt ignition of the gas. It further consists in slide
valves for admitting air and gas, and exhausting the products of combustion
arranged parallel with the main cylinder and formed integral with the water
jacket of the said main cylinder to ensure the cooling of the slide valves.
further consists in a combined oil receiver and exhaust tube communicating
between the exhaust valve and the exhaust port of the cylinder for receiving
and retaining oil or water that may flow through the exhaust port. It also
consists in novel mechanism for operating the igniting valve, all as hereinafter more
fully described.
It
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved
gas engine. Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through the cylinder and
valves, and Figure 3 is an end elevation. Figure 4 is a transverse section of a
gas pumping-engine.
Like letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures of the
Drawing.
To the top of the base A at one end is secured the cylinder B, which is made
in two parts a b, and provided with a water jacket C. The piston D slides in the
part a of the cylinder between the open end thereof and the exhaust port E, and
that portion of the cylinder between the said exhaust port E, and the cylinder
head F, constitutes a combustion chamber G, for containing the mixture of air and
gas which is exploded to propel the piston forward.

page_text: Upon opposite sides of the part of the cylinder, arranged parallel with its
axis, and formed integrally with the outer wall of the water jacket C are the air
and exhaust slide valves H, I, each consisting of a cylindrical valve d sliding in
a cylindrical casing formed on the wall of the water jacket. The air valve H is
provided with an inclined inlet port e, communicating with the combustion
chamber G and opening in the direction of the ignition aperture ƒ so that a
portion of the strong mixture of gas and air is sure to fill that part of the
chamber G in the vicinity of the ignition aperture.
The air valve d is operated through a rod 'g by a crank J, the said crank being
mounted on the shaft h, and carrying at its outer end a spur wheel K, mounted
eccentrically on the crank pin and axially in line with the shaft h. The spur
wheel K is driven by a pinion L, on the main crank shaft M, and the said pinion
and spur wheel are so proportioned that the spur wheel K makes one revolution
while the pinion L makes two revolutions, and the port e, valve H, and crank J
are related to each other so that the port e is open to admit air during one-quarter
of one revolution of the crank J, this period being equal to that of an outstroke
of the piston D. By this construction the air valve H is opened during each
alternate outstroke of the piston D, and closed at all other times. A gas supply
valve N communicates with the interior of the air valve and is of the well known
form arranged to be opened by pushing in its stem i against the pressure of a
spring, the said spring being capable of returning the valve to its seat when the
pressure on the valve stem is removed. The valve stem i is connected by a rod k
with an arm pivoted in a fixed bracket m, and carrying at its upper end a
roller n.
The roller lies in the path of a cam o, secured to the back of the
crank J, and related to the said crank J so that it will open the gas valve N, after
the air porte has been open for about one-half its period of being open, and will
allow gas to enter the combustion chamber with the air during the remainder of
the said period. The gas valve cam o is equivalent in length to about one-eighth
the circle it describes, so that the gas valve N and air valve H close simultaneously
and remain closed during the return stroke of the piston D and the following
outstroke and instroke of the said piston.
The exhaust valve I communicates with the exhaust port E, through a tube p
which leads to the port q in the casing of the exhaust valve I, the cylindrical
valve d of the exhaust valve I is connected by a rod O, with a strap P of the
eccentric Q on the main shaft M which is adjusted with reference to the main
crank R and piston D connected therewith so as to open the exhaust valve and
hold it open during every instroke of the piston, and to close the exhaust valve
during every outstroke of the piston.
In a bearing supported by an arm S projecting from the head F of the cylinder
is journailed a rock shaft T, carrying at its upper end an ignition valve U,
consisting of a segment of a hollow cylinder concentric with the shaft T, and
capable of swinging in a concave seat r formed in the cylinder head. There is an
igniting aperture of in the concave seat and the valve U is provided with an
igniting aperture f¹ which will coincide with the aperture fin the cylinder head
once in each stroke of the valve. A small burner 8, projecting through the arm S
supports an ignition flame t opposite and near the ignition aperture f
The lower end of the shaft T is provided with an arm V pivoted to a rod W,
which in turn is pivoted to a lug t¹ formed on the slide valve d of the air valve H
and projecting through a slot in the bottom of the valve casing. The ignition
valve U is turned in its movement so as to bring the aperture f¹ opposite the
aperture, when the piston D completes its instroke after having taken in air
and gas.
P
The tube p forming the exhaust passage also forms a receptacle for oil or water
that may accumulate in the bottom of the cylinder and a cock u is provided in the
lowest place in the said tube for the removal of oil or water that may flow from
the cylinder into the tube.

page_text: The water jacket C, is supplied with water to carry off the superfluous heat,
through the tube vand the water flows off through the tube w.
The piston D is preferably connected directly with the crank R by means of
the usual connecting rod R', but a guide may be interposed between the pistou and
connecting rod if desirable.
The operation of this improved gas engine is as follows:-The gas being turned
on and the igniting flame t being lit, the main crank shaft M is turned by means
of the fly wheel secured thereto, thus drawing forward the piston D which first
draws in air and then air and gas through the air valve H in the manner already
described; the air valve then closes and the exhaust valve I opens when that
portion of the contents of the cylinder lying between the piston D and the exhaust
port E, consisting of some of the products of combustion and some air, is driven
out through the exhaust port by the instroke of the piston leaving in the combustion
chamber G behind the port E a uniform combustible or explosive mixture of gas
and air. Before the piston completes its instroke, the valve U has been moved by
virtue of its connection with the air valve so as to cause its ignition aperture f¹ to
coincide for an instant with the ignition aperture f in the cylinder head and the
slight further movement of the piston D during this time forces a small quantity
of the combustible mixture from the cylinder through the aperture into the
flame which ignites the combustible mixture which in turn ignites the gas within
the combustion chamber G which explodes and pushes the piston forward through
its outstroke. The momentum of the fly wheel returns the piston, and the exhaust
valve I being open, that portion of the products of combustion lying between the
piston and the exhaust port E is driven out through the exhaust port. When the
exhaust valve closes, and the air valve H opens first admitting air to the cylinder
and then gas and air as already described, as the piston moves outward still by the
momentum of the fly wheel, the products of combustion lying in the combustion
chamber G are drawn forward with the piston, the air and then the mixture of gas
and air following. When the piston is returning the products of combustion and
the air lying between it and the port E are driven out through the said port, the
exhaust valve I being open, and the air valve H being closed.
The method of igniting the combustible mixture herein described prevents the
accumulation of carbon in the ignition aperture.
The removal of the exhaust tube p from the cylinder and water jacket allows the
said tube to be cooled by the surrounding air and prevents the unequal heating of
the sides of the cylinder.
When the piston reaches the limit of its instroke the ignition flame t again
ignites the gas in the cylinder, another explosion follows and the piston is again
pushed forward and the cycle of operations just described is repeated for every two
revolutions of the engine. To reduce the distance through which the flame must
pass to enter the cylinder, the inner surface of the cylinder head F is concaved
around the ignition aperture f, rendering the head very thin at that point.
The object of that portion of the Invention shown in Figure 4 is to regulate the
flow of water required in cooling the cylinders of gas pumping engines, so that the
cylinder may become neither too hot nor too cold.
The engine cylinder A¹ is provided with a water jacket B¹, which communicates
at the top with the air chamber C', of the pump D', by means of the pipe E'. The
pipe E' also communicates with the riser F, which carries the water away from
the pump. A pipe G' communicating with the bottom of the water jacket, enters
the pipe El obliquely and projects a short distance into the said pipe E', so that
the water, passing in the direction of the arrows through the pipe E', and over the
end of the pipe G', will produce a partial vacuum at the end of the said pipe G¹,
and cause the water to How from the water jacket into the pipe E' and mingle
with the water discharged by the pump D'. The column of water discharged by
the pipe E, is divided at the point of connection of the said pipe with the water
jacket B', the greater portion of the water passing up the riser F', while a small,

page_text: portion of the water passes into the water jacket, and after circulating around the
working cylinder, is drawn out through the tube G¹, as before described. The
tube E, is provided with a stop cock H, by which it may be closed more or less,
so that if the circulation produced in the manner already described through the
water jacket and pipe G¹, is insufficient to produce the required temperature in the
cylinder A, as, for example, when the engine is running very slow, the stop
cock H¹, may be closed more or less, allowing a portion of the water discharged by
the pump to pass in the reverse direction through the pipe Ginto the water
jacket of the cylinder A¹ and be discharged into the riser F, along with the water
from the pipe E¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
1 In a gas engine in which the ignition of the explosive mixture occurs during
alternate outstrokes of the piston, an air and gas inlet port opening into the
combustion chamber in the direction of the ignition aperture as herein specified.
2ndly The combination with the power cylinder and exhaust valve of a gas engine,
of ports in the under side of the said power cylinder and exhaust valve, and a tube
connecting the said ports and forming a combined exhaust passage and oil and
water receptacle as herein specified.
3rdy In a gas engine wherein the power cylinder is provided with a water jacket,
the combination with the outer walls of the water jacket, of air and exhaust slide
valves, arranged parallel with the power cylinder and formed integrally with the
water jacket, whereby the said air and exhaust valves are prevented from becoming
unduly heated as described.
4th In a gas engine the combination of the air valve and mechanism for
operating the same, the oscillating ignition valve, and the connecting rod for
connecting the said air and ignition valves, to cause them to nove synchronously,
as and for the purpose specified.
5thly In a gas engine the combination with the air supply valve, of a gas supply
valve communicating with the interior of the air valve casing, and mechanism for
opening the said gas supply valve when the air valve is open to effect the
simultaneous entrance of air and gas to the combustion chamber G through the
port e as specified.
6thly In a gas engine provided with a combustion chamber G behind the part of
the cylinder in which the piston moves, the combination with the cylinder, of an
exhaust tube p communicating with the forward part of the combustion chamber,
and with the exhaust valve, and made wholly exterior to the cylinder and water
jacket as herein specified.
7thly In a gas engine having an ignition valve formed of a segment of a hollow
cylinder, and working in a concave seat in the cylinder head, the combination with
the said ignition valve of an igniting burner supported parallel with the axis of the
ignition valve and capable of holding a flaine parallel with the concave surface of
the ignition valve as described.
8thly In a gas engine, provided with an exhaust tube connecting the exhaust
port of the power cylinder with the exhaust valve, the combination with the said
exhaust tube, of a cock placed in the lowest part thereof, for removing the contents
of the exhaust tube as specified.
9thly The combination in a gas engine, of a power cylinder provided with a
water jacket, exhaust and air valves placed on opposite sides of the cylinder,
communicating with the interior thereof and formed integrally with the outer wall
of the water jacket, and mechanism worked by the power piston for operating the
air and exhaust valves as specified.
10thly In a gas engine provided with an oscillating ignition valve as described,
the cylinder head F concaved around the ignition aperture fas herein specified.

page_text: 11th The method herein described of igniting the combustible mixture within
the cylinder of a gas engine, the same consisting in forcing a small quantity of the
said combustible mixture outward through an ignition aperture into an ignition
flame as herein specified.
12thly In a gas pumping engine, the combination with the power cylinder and
water pump, of a water discharge pipe communicating with the pump, the riser and
the top of the water jacket of the power cylinder, and an eduction pipe leading
from the bottom of the water jacket and entering the water discharge pipe
between the pump and the water jacket of the power cylinder, substantially as
herein specified.
13thly The combination with the discharge pipe E', water jacket B¹, and pipe G¹,
of a stop cock H₁ for regulating the flow of water through the water jacket B', as
herein specified.