Improvements in Gas and Oil Motor Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE GAS MOTOREN FABRIK DEUTZ, of Koeln-
Deutz, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Gas and Oil Motor Engines.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention has for its object, to arrange four-stroke-cycle gas and petroleum
motor engines to operate in such manner as to obtain during the working stroke
any desired degree of expansion of the hot combustion gases, whereby a considerable
economy in the expenditure of gas or oil is effected.
At the same time the arrangement is such that the premature firing of the com-
bustible charges while they are being drawn in, such as frequently occurs in
four-stroke-cycle gas motor engines of known construction, and the consequent
violent explosions, is entirely obviated.
Lastly the improved arrangement admits of the easy starting of the engine from
a state of rest.
The said improved arrangement and mode of operating consists essentially in
drawing in a charge of air alone through an air inlet valve during the suction stroke
so that no explosive mixture is at that time introduced into the cylinder, while
during the following compression stroke part of the air drawn in, which mixes with
the residue of combustion gases remaining in the cylinder, is driven out of the
cylinder again during the first part of such stroke, the remainder of the charge
being then compressed during the completion of the stroke, while at the same time
combustible gas or petroleum is injected into the charge of mixed air and combustion
gases, so as to form an explosive mixture.
The explosive charge thus produced being in a compressed condition at the end
of the instroke, is then ignited by any suitable known means.
On the following working stroke of the engine there will consequently occur an
increased expansive action of the hot combustion gases on the piston, the degree of
expansion being the greater, the greater was the volume of air and combustion
residues expelled from the cylinder during the previous compression stroke.
On the completion of the working stroke the combustion gases are expelled from
the cylinder by the following expelling stroke in the usual manner, thus completing
the four-stroke-cycle.
It will be readily understood that the engine may be variously arranged for
operating according to this invention.
On the accompanying drawing is shewn by way of example one such
arrangement.
Fig. I shews a longitudinal section,
Fig. II a part sectional plan,
Fig. III a cross section,
Fig. IV a detail of the regulating device.
Figs. V and VI shew diagrams of the action.
The piston a in working in the cylinder leaves at the end of its instroke a
charging space with which communicate the self acting air valve c, the discharge
valve the igniting device Z, as also the gas supply passage v.
This passage,
which is closed in the cylinder by a finely perforated rose, is opened by a slide d
when the cam on the sleeve k actuated by the governor r acts upon it in opposition
to the spring m, which brings the slide back into its original position when released
"

page_text: The arrangement shewn at Figs. II and IV for causing the governor r to act
upon the sleeve k for controlling the speed of the engine, is the well known one in
which, on the normal speed being exceeded the governor moves the sleeve on the
countershaft X revolving at half the speed of the engine shaft, so as to prevent the
cam from acting on the slide, and thus preventing the admission of combustible
gas or oil during one or more strokes.
The gas passage in the slide d is supplied with combustible gas under pressure
through a regulating cock e and pipe from an accumulator
into which gas is
forced from a suitable pump through a pipe h, the uniformity of the pressure in the
accumulator being insured by any known arrangement, such as a loaded plunger as
shewn.
The action of the engine will be understood on reference to the diagrams Figs. V
and VI.
During the movement of the crank from A to B Fig. V the piston a draws air
into the cylinder through the self acting air valve c; during the part of the return
stroke represented by the are B C, that is, during the angle a, passed through by
the crank, which is determined by the degree of expansion required, a cam o on the
countershaft is made to open the discharge valve i Fig. III, so that a portion of the
air and combustion gases contained in the cylinder is driven out. When the crank
has arrived at the point C the cam o allows the valve i to close again, so that during
the reminder of the stroke from C to A the remaining charge in the cylinder is
compressed.
During such compression the cam also moves the slide d so as to allow
combustible gas to be injected through it into the cylinder.
As the pressure in the accumulator y can be regulated to any required degree,
the proper velocity with which the gas must enter the cylinder for effecting a
reliable distribution thereof among the charge of air can be insured.
When the piston arrives at the end of its stroke at A Fig. VI, the compressed
charge is ignited by any suitable igniting device Z, and the piston is made to
perform its working stroke from A to B. From B to A Fig. VI, the cam n Fig. III
opens the discharge valve i, allowing the combustion gases to be expelled, whereupon
the above described cycle of operations is repeated.
It will be seen from the foregoing that according to the proportion of the capacity
of the charging chamber and of the angle a chosen, the degree of expansion of the
engine can be increased or decreased, and the explosive force of the charge can be
utilized to the fullest possible degree.
No explosion can take place during. the charging stroke as the cylinder at that
time contains no explosive charge.
The easy starting of the engine can be effected on account of a gas supply under
pressure being available.
For this purpose the accumulator is directly connected to the cylinder by a pipe
provided with a cock through which, at starting, gas is allowed to enter the
cylinder so as to form an explosive mixture with the air therein, the crank shaft is
then turned so as to bring the piston to the end of its instroke whereupon the
ignition of the charge will take place. As soon as the engine is started, the cock e
on the gas supply to the slide d is opened so that after the first working stroke the
engine will work in the normal manner, the cock on the separate gas supply being
then closed.
Instead of regulating the engine by cutting off the gas supply entirely during
one or more strokes, as above described, this may be effected, in cases where it is
desired to obtain great uniformity of motion, by reducing the explosive action by
decreasing the charges of combustible gas admitted to the cylinder:
'
For this purpose the cam is formed with an incline in such a manner that, on
an increase of speed, the governor r moves the cam so as to bring its decreased
sections to act upon the slide d and in thus reducing the motion of the latter, to
effect a greater or less throttling of the gas supply.
When the engine runs without any load, so that a number of strokes are made

page_text: without any admission of combustible gas, then air will be repeatedly drawn in and
compressed until, the gas cam is again brought to act. upon the slide d so as to
admit combustible gas to the cylinder, and, thus produce an explosive charge
again.
gas
Instead of using an accumulator g, the engine may be arranged to force the
at the requisite pressure directly into the cylinder by means of a force pump
Fig. VII shews a side view of an engine with such an arrangement. The crank,
shaft is made to work a force pump p through speed reducing gearing so arranged
as to force in the gas supply during the compression stroke through a pipes and
check valve t into the cylinder.
The slide d is in this case actuated by a cam / which is fixed on the countershaft
so as to cause the slide to be brought into the open position at every compressing
stroke, the regulation being effected by connecting the governor r with a regulating.
valve on the gas supply pipe w of the gas pump, so that by throttling such
supply when the engine runs too fast, the quantity of gas supplied to the cylinder
is reduced.
The governor can also be so arranged as to entirely close the regulating valve
when the engine runs too fast, so as to prevent any explosions until the speed has
been reduced again.
The method of regulating described with reference to Figs. II and IV can also
be applied to an engine working a gas pump as at Fig. VII if care be taken
that the action of the gas pump is stopped when the slide keeps the gas supply
closed.
This can be effected by throwing the suction and delivery valves of the pump out
of action simultaneously with the slide d, or by using this slide also as a slide valve,
for the pump, or by providing an arrangement whereby, if the pump continues to
force gas while the slide valve remains closed, such gas is made to return to the
suction pipe of the pump.
In the above description it has been stated that a part of the cylinder charge of
air is expelled by the action of the camo on the discharge valve i at the commence-
ment of the compressing stroke. The desired action of the engine would however
not be altered if a portion of the charge were expelled by the same or another
device during any other part of the compression stroke.
Dated this 16th day of May 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas and Oil Motor Engines.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby
O 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 that construction of four stroke cycle gas and oil motor
engines wherein a way shaft driven at half the speed of the engine shaft has firstly
a cam operating the discharge valve, and secondly a cam operating a valve whereby
an explosive mixture of combustible gas or vapour, or of petroleum spray and air is
admitted under a higher pressure than that of the atmosphere during the compression
stroke of the piston, while during the suction stroke of the piston air under
atmospheric pressure is drawn into the cylinder through an air valve in the side of
the cylinder.
This invention has for its object to arrange such engines to operate in such a
manner as to obtain during the working stroke any desired degree of expansion of
the hot combustion gases, whereby a considerable economy in the expenditure of
gas or oil is effected.
1

page_text: 'At the same time the arrangement is such that the premature firing of the
combustible charges while they are being drawn in, such as frequently occurs in
four-stroke-cycle gas motor engines of known construction, and the consequent
violent explosions, is entirely obviated.
Lastly the improved arrangement admits of the easy starting of the engine from
a state of rest.
The said improved arrangement and mode of operating consists essentially in
drawing in a charge of air alone through the air inlet valve during the suction stroke
so that no explosive mixture is at that time introduced into the cylinder, while
during the following compression stroke part of the air drawn in, which mixes with
the residue of combustion gases remaining in the cylinder, is driven out of the
cylinder again during the first part of such stroke, the remainder of the charge
being then compressed during the completion of the stroke, while at the same time
combustible gas or petroleum is injected into the charge of mixed air and combustion
gases, so as to form an explosive mixture.
The explosive charge thus produced being in a compressed condition at the end of
the instroke, is then ignited by any suitable known means.
On the following working stroke of the engine there will consequently occur an
increased expansive action of the hot combustion gases on the piston, the degree of
expansion being the greater, the greater was the volume of air and combustion
residues expelled from the cylinder during the previous compression stroke.
On the completion of the working stroke the combustion gases are expelled from
the cylinder by the following expelling stroke in the usual manner, thus completing
the four stroke-cycle.
On the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification is shown a gas or
oil motor engine of the kind referred to arranged to operate in the above described
manner.
Fig. I shews a longitudinal section,
Fig. II a part sectional plan,
Fig. III a cross section,
Fig. IV a detail of the regulating device,
Figs. V and VI shew diagrams of the action.
The piston a in working in the cylinder leaves at the end of its instroke a
charging space with which communicate the self acting air valve c, the discharge
valve i the igniting device Z, as also the gas supply passage v. This passage, which
is closed in the cylinder by a finely perforated rose, is opened by a slide d when the
cam on the sleeve & actuated by the governor r acts upon it in opposition to the
spring m, which brings the slide back into its original position when released by
the cam.
The arrangement shewn at Figs. II and IV for causing the governor ŕ to act
upon the sleevek for controlling the speed of the engine, is the well known one in
which, on the normal speed being exceeded the governor moves the sleeve on the
countershaft X revolving at half the speed of the engine shaft, so as to prevent the
cam from acting on the slide, and thus preventing the admission of combustible gas
or oil during one or more strokes.
The gas passage in the slide d is supplied with combustible gas under pressure
through a regulating cock e and pipe f from an accumulator g into which gas
forced from a suitable pump through a pipe h, the uniformity of the pressure in the
accumulator being insured by any known arrangement, such as a loaded plunger as
shewn.
The action of the engine will be understood on reference to the diagrams Figs. V
and VI.
During the movement of the crank from A to B Fig. V the piston a draws
air into the cylinder through the self acting air valve c; during the part of the
return stroke represented by the arc B C, that is, during the angle a passed through
by the crank, which is determined by the degree of expansion required, a camo on
the countershaft is made to open the discharge valve i Fig. III, so that a portion

page_text: of the air and combustion gases contained in the cylinder is driven out.
When the
crank has arrived at the point C the cam o allows the valve i to close again, so that
during the remainder of the stroke from C to A. the remaining charge in the cylinder
is compressed.
During such compression the cam also moves the slide d so as to allow
combustible gas to be injected through it into the cylinder.
As the pressure in the accumulator g can be regulated to any roquired degree,
the proper velocity with which the gas must enter the cylinder for effecting a
reliable distribution thereof among the charge of air can be insured.
When the piston arrives at the end of its stroke at A Fig. VI, the compressed
charge is ignited by any suitable igniting device Z, and the piston is made to
perform its working stroke from A to B. From B to A Fig. VI, the cam n
Fig. 1 opens the discharge valve i, allowing the combustion gases to be expelled,
whereupon the above described cycle of operations is repeated.
It will be seen from the foregoing that according to the proportion of the capacity
of the charging chamber and of the angle a chosen, the degree of expansion of the
engine can be increased or decreased and the explosive force of the charge can be
utilized to the fullest possible degree.
No explosion can take place during the charging stroke as the cylinder at that
time contains no explosive charge.
The easy starting of the engine can be effected on account of a gas supply under
pressure being available.
For this purpose the accumulator is directly connected to the cylinder by a pipe
provided with a cock through which, at starting, gas is allowed to enter the
cylinder so as to form an explosive mixture with the air therein, the crank shaft is
then turned so as to bring the piston to the end of its instroke whereupon the
ignition of the charge will take place. As soon as the engine is started, the cock e
on the gas supply to the slide d is opened so that after the first working stroke the
engine will work in the normal manner, the cock on the separate gas supply being
then closed.
Instead of regulating the engine by cutting off the gas supply entirely during one
or more strokes, as above described, this may be effected, in cases where it is
desired to obtain great uniformity of motion, by reducing the explosive action by
decreasing the charges of combustible gas admitted to the cylinder.
For this purpose the cam is formed with an incline in such a manner that, on an
increase of speed, the governor r moves the cam so as to bring its decreased sections
to act upon the slide d and in thus reducing the motion of the latter, to effect, a
greater or less throttling of the gas supply.
When the engine runs without any load, so that a number of strokes are made
without any admission of combustible gas, then air will be repeatedly drawn in and
compressed until the gas cam 1 is again brought to act upon the slide d so as to admit.
combustible gas to the cylinder, and thus produce an explosive charge again.
Instead of using an accumulator g, the engine may be arranged to force the gas
at the requisite pressure directly into the cylinder by means of a force pump.
Fig. VII shews a side view of an engine with such an arrangement. The crank
shaft is made to work a force pump p through speed reducing gearing so arranged
as to force in the gas supply during the compression stroke through a pipe and
check valve into the cylinder.
The slide d is in this case actuated by a cam / which is fixed on the countershaft,
so as to cause the slide to be brought into the open position at every compressing
stroke, the regulation being effected by connecting the governor r with a regulating
valve on the gas supply pipe w of the gas pump, so that by throttling such supply
when the engine runs too fast, the quantity of gas supplied to the cylinder is
reduced.
The governor can also be so arranged as to entirely close the regulating valve
when the engine runs too fast, so as to prevent any explosions until the speed has
been reduced again.

page_text: The method of regulating described with reference to Figs. II and IV can also
be applied to an engine working a gas pump as at Fig. VII if care be taken that
the action of the gas pump is stopped when the slide keeps the gas supply closed.
This can be effected by throwing the suction and delivery valves of the pump out
of action simultaneously with the slide d, or by using this slide also as a slide valve
for the pump, or by providing an arrangement whereby if the pump continues to
force gas while the slide valve remains closed, such gas is made to return to the
suction pipe of the pump.
In the above description it has been stated that a part of the cylinder charge of
air is expelled by the action of the cam o on the discharge valve i at the
commencement of the compressing stroke. The desired action of the engine would
however not be altered if a portion of the charge were expelled by the same or
another device during any other part of the compression stroke.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a four stroke cycle gas or petroleum motor engine of the kind herein
referred to, the arrangement whereby a charge of air drawn in at one outstroke is
partially expelled again during a portion of the following instroke, the remaining
charge being compressed by the completion of such stroke while at the same time
combustible gas or gaseous mixture or oil under pressure is forced into such charge
during its compression, the resulting explosive mixture being fired at the end of
such stroke, so as to effect the working outstroke by the expansion of the combustion
gases, which are then expelled by the following instroke, substantially as described.
2. In a four stroke cycle gas or petroleum motor engine, the combination with
the cylinder and piston a, of an air inlet valve e, a discharge valve i an inlet v for
combustible gas or an explosive mixture of combustible gas or vapour or oil spray
and air under pressure controlled by a slide d, a countershaft a revolving at half the
speed of the crank shaft, and carrying firstly a cam or tappet o for opening the
discharge valve during part of the compression stroke of the piston, secondly a cam a
for opening the discharge valve during the expelling stroke, and thirdly, a cam for
actuating the slide & so as to admit the explosive mixture under compression to the
cylinder during the compression stroke of the piston, substantially as described.
3. The use, in combination with a gas motor engine constructed and operating as
set forth in the preceding claims, of either an accumulator containing explosive
mixture or gas or petroleum under pressure, or a pump worked by the engine for
forcing charges of explosive mixture, gas, or petroleum into the cylinder during the
compression stroke, substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of February 1899
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.