IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Bickerton and Henry Nield Bickerton both
of Ashton under Lyne in the County of Lancaster for an invention of
$5
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO GAS MOTOR ENGINES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Bickerton and
Henry Nield Bickerton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
18th May 1882.
SAMUEL BICKERTON and HENRY NIELD BICKERTON both of Ashton under Lyne
in the County of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO GAS
MOTOR ENGINES"
The object of these improvements is to construct a Gas Engine in which the
exploded products of combustion are forced out of the compression chamber
automatically and effectively and this without the assistance of mechanical means—
or in which the exploded products are divided and separated from the incoming
charge.
In performing our invention we arrange that the cylinder of the Gas Engine
shall be extended beyond the limits of the back stroke of the piston so as to form
a compression chamber for the gaseous charge and to ensure that this chamber or
space shall be entirely emptied of the products of the previous explosion, and also
to prevent an ignition of the incoming charge, we arrange the piston rod to be
extended backwards and on this rod we mount a disc provided with an annular
space facing the piston and capable of sliding along this extended rod.
The action of this engine is as follows:-Assuming that the piston and disc are
separated as far as the extended rod will allow-the intervening space being filled
with air or gas or a mixture of both the explosive mixture is then introduced
behind the disc whilst the piston is making its forward stroke The cylinder thus
becomes charged and during the return stroke such charge becomes compressed and
the disc during the compression is eventually forced up close against the piston so
compressing the air or gas enclosed between the two and which now occupies the
annular space in the disc. The explosion which then takes place drives the piston

page_text: forward and instantly the exhaust is opened, the disc owing to the compressed gas or
air enclosed within its annular space being free to expand separates from the
piston and thus practically forms an elongation of the piston for driving out the
products of the explosion behind it.
In a modification of our invention we arrange that the piston shall be capable of
drawing in air through a valve between itself and the disc to cause such disc to
separate from the piston to form the practical elongation above mentioned and
which air is permitted to escape through the same valve whilst the compression is
going on, and the piston is making its return stroke
In another arrangement we permit a part of the exploded charge to pass the
disc and to accumulate between it and the piston within the annular space-such
charge expanding and separating the two pistons when the exhaust valve opens.
In this case we also apply a valve to relieve the pressure between the piston and
disc whilst the compression stroke is being performed. It will be apparent that in
this case although the whole of the products of combustion are not expelled from
the cylinder and compression chamber-the disc affords a means of separating the
incoming charge from what remains of the previously exploded charge—and thus
prevents them mixing together.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Bickerton and Henry Nield Bickerton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 18th November 1882.
SAMUEL BICKERTON and HENRY NEILD BICKERTON of Ashton under Lyne in
the County of Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO GAS MOTER
ENGINES"
The object of these improvements is to construct a Gas Engine in which the
exploded products of combustion are forced out of the compression chamber
automatically and effectively and this without the assistance of mechanical means
or in which the exploded products are divided and separated from the incoming
charge.
In performing our invention we arrange that the cylinder of the Gas Engine
shall be extended beyond the limits of the back stroke of the piston so as to form
a compression chamber for the gaseous charge and to ensure that this chamber or
space shall be entirely emptied of the products of the previous explosion, and also
to prevent an ignition of the incoming charge we arrange a disc in which is formed
an annular space or cavity and which disc is free to slide to and fro in the
compression chamber and which is operated as hereafter described.
And in order that this our said invention may be the more readily understood
and carried into practical effect we have hereunto annexed a drawing of several
modifications of our invention and will now proceed to describe the same with the
assistance of the Figs and letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig 1 is a side sectional view and Fig 2 a sectional plan of the cylinder of a Gas
Engine constructed and fitted in accordance with our invention. In both views A
is the cylinder and B the piston which latter is shewn in the position of its
extreme back stroke the extension C of the cylinder beyond the limit of the back
stroke of the piston being designed to serve as a compression chamber for the
gaseous charge. To ensure that this chamber C shall be entirely emptied of the
products of the previous explosion and also to prevent an ignition of the incoming
charge we arrange the piston rod D to be extended backwards and on this extension
we mount a disc E provided as illustrated with an annular space e facing the
piston B this disc being loose and free to slide to and fro upon the rod D.. In
Fig 2 G is the inlet valve for air and gas mixed in suitable proportions and H is
the exhaust valve.
The action of this engine is as follows:-Assuming that the piston B and disc E
are separated as far as the extended rod will allow as seen in Fig 1 the intervening
space or chamber C being filled with air or gases exploded the explosive mixture is
then introduced behind the disc E through the inlet valve G whilst the piston is
making its forward stroke. The cylinder A thus becomes charged and during the
return stroke such charge becomes compressed and the disc E during the com-
pression is eventually forced up close against the piston B as seen in Fig 2 the two
surfaces being faced or ground together to ensure a tight joint so compressing the
air or gas enclosed between the two and which now occupies the annular space e in
the disc E. The explosion which then takes place drives the piston and disc
forward and instantly the exhaust is opened the disc E owing to the compressed
gas or air enclosed within its annular space e being free to expand separates from
the piston and thus practically forms an elongation of the piston for driving out
the products of the explosion from the compression chamber
In Figs 3 and 4 we illustrate a side sectional view and sectional plan respectively
of a modification of our invention which only differs from that illustrated in Figs 1
and 2 in the disc I being arranged to permit a part of the exploded charge to pass
or escape by the edge and so to accumulate between such disc and the piston within
the annular space i such charge expanding and separating the piston and disc
when the exhaust valve opens.

page_text: In this case we also apply a valve J mechanicly operated from any convenient
part of the engine to relieve the pressure between the piston and disc whilst the
compression stroke is being performed. It will be apparent that in this case
although the whole of the products of combustion are not expelled from the
cylinder and compression chamber the disc affords a means of separating the
incoming charge from what remains of the previously exploded charge and thus
prevents them mixing together.
Instead of the cylinder being extended backwards as in the two previous
modifications in which it will be noticed that the aunular space is formed opposite
to or facing the back of the piston we also construct another modification of our
invention as illustrated in sectional side view and plan respectively in Figs 5 and 6.
In these two views it will be noticed that the extension of the cylinder or com-
pression chamber K is of wider diameter than the cylinder proper and that the
disc L has its cavity or chamber facing the back cover M. In this case also the
disc L simply travels to and fro in the shallow chamber K and does not follow
the piston B as in Fig's 1 to 4. The action of this modification is the same as that
described in reference to Figs 1 and 2 the air or gas becomes compressed during
the back stroke of the piston for operating the disc and so clearing out the
exploded charge but in this case is entrapped between the cylinder cover and the
back of the disc and during the extreme compression occupies the cavity or
chamber (7) formed in the disc.
Although in all the previously described arrangements the cavity or space is
formed in the disc we wish it to be understood that it might be formed wholly or
partially in the piston or in the cylinder cover, but these we should consider
to be modifications of our invention and although only shewn as applied to the
horizontal cylinder of a Gas Engine it will be apparent that the improvements
are equally applicable to the cylinder of a vertical Gas Engine.
We wish it further to be understood that we do not claim the use of a disc in a
Gas Engine even for clearing out the products of the explosion save and except
when provided and arranged with a cavity formed either in itself or in the piston
or cylinder cover as and for the purposes herein before described.
We would further remark that the size of the said cavity in the disc, piston, or
cover must be proportioned to the capicity of the compression chamber and to the
degree of compression of the gases before explosion in accordance with Marriotts
law. for instance if the compression amounted to 30 lbs on the square inch the
cavity should be about one third the capicity of the compression chamber.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention together with the best methods with which we are acquainted for
carrying the same into practical effect we wish it to be understood that we claim
as applied to the construction of Gas Motor Engines
1st The use of a disc when fitted with and operated by a cavity or space
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
2nd Constructing a cavity or space in a disc or its equivalent substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Bickerton and Henry Neild
Bickerton have hereunto set our hands and seals this Seventeenth day
of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and
SAM BICKERTON
(L.S.)
HENRY NIELD BICKERTON (LS.)