Improvements in Internal Combustion Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Internal Combustion Engines.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 44, Albert Road, Alexandra Park,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates, more particularly, to internal combustion engines in
which a combustible mixture of gas or vapour and air is drawn in, compressed and
exploded in a chamber behind a piston and thereby a rotary motion is imparted
to the motor shaft.
The chief object of this invention is to make such an engine capable of having
its power and speed varied when running by increasing or reducing the degree
of compression of the combustible charge.
This I propose to effect by varying the stroke of the piston and compensating
for the difference between the stroke and the sweep of the crank by the inter-
position between the piston and the connecting rod of suitable link work or
lever motion working upon a movable fulcrum.
In carrying out my invention I use a cylinder in length proportionate to the
clearance space
throw of the crank of the motor shaft and having a
for using a combustion chamber of suitable proportions. I connect the piston
with a link forming a lever, one end of which I mount upon a bearing capable
of having its position with respect to the cylinder varied by suitable means so
as to shorten the distance between the fulcrum and the point of connection of
the piston rod to the lever. These means may consist of a stationary slide in
which the bearing of the lever is held by a screw capable of moving it therein, or
of an eccentric and worm, adjustment. To the other or free end of the lever I
attach the connecting rod.
By this arrangement the travel of the piston in the cylinder can be greater or
less as the fulcrum or bearing of the lever is moved in one direction or the other
thereby shortening or lengthening the distance between the piston rod connection
with the lever or link and the fulcrum, the angular movement of the lever
being always the same.
Any suitable valve and gear may be used, but a gear in which the opening
of the valve or valves is timed to act and vary in accordance with the stroke of
the piston and operated by the lever or link is preferably employed.
P T
1000
R. J. TRQUHART, C.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent, 57, Barton Arcade, Manchester.

page_text: Mechanician, 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, more particularly, to internal combustion engines in
which a combustible mixture of gas or vapour and air is drawn in, compressed and
exploded in a cylinder behind a piston the reciprocating motion of which is con-
verted into the rotary motion of the crank-shaft of the engine or motor.
The chief object of this invention is to make such an engine capable of having
its power and speed varied when running by increasing or reducing the degree
of compression of the combustible charge.
This I propose to effect by varying the stroke of the piston and' compensating
for the difference between the stroke and the sweep of the crank by the inter-
position between the piston and the connecting rod of suitable link work or
lever motion working upon a moveable fulcrum.
In carrying out my invention I use a cylinder in length proportionate to the
throw of the crank of the motor shaft and having_a
clearance space
for using a combustion chamber of suitable proportions. I connect the piston
with a link forming a lever, one end of which I mount upon a bearing capable
of having its position with respect to the cylinder varied by suitable means so
as to shorten the distance between the fulcrum and the point of connection of
the piston rod to the lever. These means may consist of a stationary slide in
which the bearing of the lever is held by a screw capable of moving it therein, or
of an eccentric and worm adjustment. To the other or free end of the lever I
attach the connecting rod.
The accompanying sheet of drawings illustrates an engine or motor constructed
in accordance with my invention. In the said drawings, Figure 1 represents an
end elevation partly in section, Figure 2 a side elevation and Figure 3 a plan of the
engine.
The engine illustrated is designed chiefly with a view to adaptation to motor-
carriages and is shewn with a light tubular frame or bed and other lightly con-
structed parts. The frame or bed is represented by the parallel tubes a which are
braced together at the front end by the stretcher a¹ and at the back end by the
cylinder casting of the cylinder b. The latter is shewn with a water jacket be
having an inlet pipe 63 and outlet pipe for the circulation of the water. The
combustion chamber is represented by b and the valve chamber or box by 66. The
crank or motor shaft e carrying the crank is preferably mounted above the
cylinder in this case, in the pedestal bearings d, the engine being designed to work
according to the well known "Otto" eyele the exhaust valve 67 is only required
to open every two revolutions, the air valve 2 opening automatically during
the suction stroke. It is preferably operated by the gearing working in connection
with the motor shaft as illustrated. This gearing consists of a spur wheel 6" keyed
to the motor shaft engaging with another spur wheel of double the number of
teeth freely mounted upon its bearing 610 The spur wheel carries a cam
which bears against the end of a bell crank levere the other end of the lever
coming in contact with the exhaust valve b. The cam is set so that its
prominent bearing part moves the lever e and opens the exhaust valve during the
exhaust stroke of the piston. I may however use any other suitable known valve
gear. The engine is suitably provided for hot tube ignition, the tube being
represented by f the burner however not being shewn. The piston g according to
this invention is connected to the crank c¹ in an indirect manner as follows. A
lever or beam his fulcrummed upon a movable bearing h. This bearing is
designed to move a certain distance in the direction, approximately, of the length
of the lever. The distance it is designed to move is governed by the desired
minimum stroke of the piston in the cylinder. The movable fulcrum bearing h¹
of the lever h may be mounted in a slide and moved therein by means of a screw
in the well known way, but at present I prefer to mount it in the manner indicated
in the drawings. This consists in connecting the lever at its fulcrum to a bell-

page_text: crank lever mounted upon the fixed bearing l¹, which has its free end ³ provided
with a handle having a lever catch . This catch engages with a segmental
rack k having notches by which the position of the fulcrum can be adjusted to
remain fixed in any position desired. The lever k at its other end is connected to
the crank by means of the connecting rod . Between the ends of the lever h
is formed an intermediate slide 2 in which a slide-block h³ is mounted, to which
slide block is connected the cross head g¹ of the piston rod 2. The crosshead is
guided by means of the slide-blocks which are mounted in the slides formed
between the frame tubes a. It is obvious that the angular movement of the
lever his governed by the throw of the crank c and remains always the same.
Owing however to the lever h having the movable fulcrum h¹ and to the cross-
head g having only a linear movement transversely to the said lever, the distance
between the said fulerum and the point at which the power is applied, can be
varied and the travel of the crosshead g¹ can be regulated as desired. Preferably
as the stroke of the piston is reduced the capacity of the combustion chamber 6 is
kept constant. This better insures a more regular composition of the charge
drawn in during the suction stroke, and is preferably obtained by arranging the
fulcrum i of the lever below the lowest point attained by the fulcrum bearing
thereof, so that the latter moves nearer to the cylinder as the stroke of the piston
is reduced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
First. The improvements in the constructive arrangement of internal com-
bustion engines working with an explosive mixture of gas or vapour and air,
which improvements consist in the use of a lever or beam interposed between
the piston rod or its equivalent and the crank transversely to the axis of the
cylinder, connected to the piston rod by means of a sliding joint intermediate
between the ends of the lever, and to the crank from one end by means of a
connecting rod, the other end being fulcrummed upon a bearing capable of adjust-
ment so as to vary the distance between the fulcrum and the piston rod connection
to the lever.
Second. The improvements in the constructive arrangement of internal com-
bustion engines working with an explosive mixture of gas or vapour and air,
which improvements consist in the use of a lever or beam interposed between
the piston rod or its equivalent and the crank transversely to the axis of the
cylinder, connected to the piston rod by means of a sliding joint intermediate
between the ends of the lever, and to the crank from one end by means of a
connecting rod, the other end of the lever being fulcrumed upon a lever capable of
varying the distance between the fulcrum and the piston rod connection sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and lustrated by the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
Third. The improvements in internal combustion engines working with gas or
vapour and air substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
several figures of the drawings.
TL OL
e
1000
R. J. URQUHART, C.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent, Manchester & Liverpool.