Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 26th Sept.. 1896
We, COUNT ALBERT DE DION, and CHARLES BOUTON, both of 12 Rue
Ernest, Puteaux, France, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in motors worked by explosive mixtures,
and comprises more particularly an arrangement of three cylinders and three
pistons designed to annul the vibrations due to the impulse of the moving parts,
and to obtain perfect equilibrium of the strains or efforts which the pistons
experience, due to the explosion.
To obtain these results, we give to one of the cylinders an area treble that of
either of the other cylinders, the latter being equal to each other. The piston of
the larger cylinder has a neck or extension equal in area to each of the smaller
cylinders, so that the useful area of the larger piston is equal to the combined areas
of the smaller pistons. We also arrange that the weight of the larger piston shall
be equal to the joint weight of the smaller pistons, and that these latter shall
work with an equal speed to that of the larger piston, but in a contrary
direction.
The explosion is brought about, at the desired moment, by a suitable igniter, and
is produced in an explosion chamber common to the three cylinders, and provided,
on its exterior, with strengthening pieces.
The motor has a three-throw crank and the smaller pistons are connected to the
outer cranks, while the larger piston is connected to the centre one so as to balance
the strains and produce an equal couple.
The distribution of the explosive mixture may be effected in any suitable
manner; for instance we may employ valves actuated by cams or eccentrics driven
from the driven shaft through helicoidal or other gearing.
The larger piston, and its neck or extension, may be of any diameter, so long as
the useful area of the larger piston remains equal to the sum of the areas of the
smaller pistons.
D
1 1
We, COUNT ALBERT DE DION, and CHARLES BOUTON, both of 12 Rue
Ernest, Puteaux, France, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
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 internal combustion engines and has for its object an
engine having three cylinders and three cranks on the same crank shaft and so

page_text: constructed and arranged that the moving parts are balanced and the vibration due
to the momentum of such parts is reduced to a minimum. The cylinders com-
municate with each other by a combustion chamber which is common to all of them
so that only one igniting device and one valve mechanism are required.
Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates in longitudinal central
section an engine constructed according to our invention,
A, B, D are the three cylinders communicating with a combustion chamber G
which is common to all the cylinders and which is made very strong by webs K to
withstand the internal pressure due to the explosions. The cross sectional area of
the cylinder A is, in the construction shown, three times that of either of the
cylinders B and D which are of equal size and the axis of the cylinder A is
midway between the axes of the cylinders B, D. The piston of the cylinder A is
constructed with a trunk C having the same diameter as the cylinders B and D and
working in a cylindrical guide C₁ as shown. It follows that the effectual annular
area of the large pistou is double that of either of the small pistons, or is equal
to the combined areas of the small pistons.
The connecting rods of the small cylinders B and D are coupled to cranks
arranged on the same centre, while the connecting rod of the large cylinder is
coupled to an intermediate crank arranged ou the opposite centre. All the cranks
have the same throw. The weight of the large piston is made equal to the
combined weights of the smaller pistons.
This construction and arrangement of cranks ensures a perfect running balance
both as regards momentum of the reciprocating parts and couples acting on the
crank shaft.
The explosion of the gases or vapours is effected by an electric igniter E or
other suitable igniting device.
The distribution of the explosive mixture may be effected in any suitable manner
for example by means of valves F actuated by cams or eccentrics driven from the
crank shaft by helicoidal or other gearing H.
We may vary the construction and arrangement of the parts somewhat without
departing from the nature of our invention for example we may make the
cylinder A larger or smaller than that shown in the drawing if the diameter of
the trunk C is correspondingly increased or diminished so that in all cases the
effective annular area of the piston is equal to the combined areas of the pistons B
and D.
By our invention vibration is largely if not completely avoided; a very large
cooling surface is ensured compared to the size of the explosion chamber; and
there is required only one igniter which serves for the three cylinders, and only
one valve mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
-
1. An internal combustion engine having three cylinders communicating with a
single combustion chamber and constructed and arranged, substantially as described,
and for the purpose, specified.
2. An internal combustion engine constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 94th dox of August 1906
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.