Improvements in Gas and Petroleum Engines and Motors.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas and Petroleum Engines and Motors.
ROBERT OWEN ALLSOP of 37, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, Architect, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In carrying out this my invention I employ a piston or plunger to slide into the
compression chamber or compression space of gas or petroleum engines or motors
and thus-by advancing or withdrawing the piston or plunger and diminishing or
increasing the cubical contents of the compression chamber or space-varying the
extent to which the explosive mixture of air and gas or oil vapour is compressed in
the back stroke of the motor piston of the cylinder of engine. By the employment
of this my invention the starting of gas or petroleum engines is greatly facilitated,
as with the plunger set so that the cubical contents of the compression space is
greatest the compression is small and the resistance to the movement of the motor
piston and to the turning of the flywheel is small also. When the engine is fairly
started the plunger is advanced by means of a worin, screw, lever, or other suitable
means and the power of engine is increased with the greater force of the explosion
under increased compression. By this, my invention also, it is possible to regulate
the speed of the gas or petroleum engine, as the speed or power of an explosion.
engine such as a gas or petroleum engine varies as the amount of compression of
the explosive mixture; and by suitably connecting the plunger in the compression
chamber with the motion of the engine, the engine may be made to govern itself
and run at a regular speed, the said speed being determined by the initial adjustment
of the controlling plunger.
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R. OWEN ALLSOP.
Improvements in Gas and Petroleum Engines and Motors.
ROBERT OWEN ALLSOP, of 37, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, Architect, do
bereby 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:-
In carrying out this my invention I employ a piston or plunger to slide into the
compression chamber or compression space of gas or petroleum engines or motors
and thus-by advancing or withdrawing the piston or plunger and diminishing or
increasing the cubical contents of the compression chamber or space-varying the
extent to which the explosive mixture of air and gas or oil vapour is compressed in
the back stroke of the motor piston of the cylinder of engine. By the employment
of this my invention the starting of gas or petroleum engines is greatly facilitated
as with the plunger set so. that the cubical contents of the compression space is
greatest the compression is small and the resistance to the movement of the motor

page_text: piston and to the turning of the fly-wheel is small also. When the engine is fairly
started the plunger is advanced by means of a worm, screw, lever, or other suitable
means and the power of engine is increased with the greater force of the explosion
under increased compression. By this my invention also it is possible to regulate
the speed of the gas or petroleum engine as the speed or power of an explosion
engine such as a gas or petroleum engine varies as the amount of compression of
the explosive mixture; and by suitably connecting the plunger in the compression
chamber with the motion of the engine, the engine may be made to govern itself
and run at a regular speed, the said speed being determined by the initial adjustment
of the controlling plunger.
or four-
Referring to the accompanying drawings Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 shew this
invention applied to an ordinary gas or petroleum engine of the "Otto"
cycle principle viz. -with one motor stroke in every four strokes of the motor
piston. The figures named shew an ordinary engine with one cylinder, motor
piston, crank fly-wheel, mechanical inlet, exhaust and ignition-timing valve-all the
latter operated in the customary manner through levers and cams by an auxilliary
shaft revolving at half the speed of the crank shaft and an ordinary centrifugal
governor controlling the inlet of gas or oil vapour. The cylinder has a liner and
water jacket, but for the sake of clearness the compression chamber in these and
the rest of the figures is shewn without such a water jacket.
In all the drawings given herewith the cylinder is marked C and the compression
chamber is marked B.
In the compression space or combustion chamber I provide a piston or plunger
marked A, which being advanced or withdrawn diminishes or increases the cubical
contents of the space into which the explosive mixture of gas or oil vapour
and air is compressed in the return compressing stroke of the motor piston.
In all the accompanying drawings this adjustable piston or plunger is marked A the
compression chamber and cylinder respectively B and C as above stated and the
motor piston is marked D.
This invention is applicable to all types of gas or petroleum engines where
the explosive mixture is compressed by a return stroke of the motor piston.
The compression chamber employed in carrying out this invention may be water
jacketed in gas or petroleum engines and in the latter also may be employed as and
for the purposes of vaporisation of the oil. The space at the back of the adjustable
piston or plunger made by suitable means be water-jacketed if desired.
In carrying out this invention I place the adjustable plunger or piston at any
desired or convenient angle with respect to the centre line of the engine and I place
either a separate bored casting or liner for it to slide into or I adapt it to a
continuation or extension of the metal casing or liner forming the motor cylinder,
or to any other suitable casing.
I advance or withdraw the adjustable piston or plunger either by means of a
screw or by a lever or cam, or by a combination of screw and lever, or by any
other suitable and convenient means according as to whether this invention is
required to be adapted either to a stationary engine a marine engine or a
locomotive or self propelled road vehicle or cycle or to tramway engines and
the like.
In locomotives and road vehicles and the like I by suitable means bring the hand
operated regulator lever or wheel or other suitable means for adjusting the position
of the plunger to a position convenient for operation by the driver of such
locomotive or vehicle.
I make the compression or combustion chamber of any convenient diameter and
length, and the range of adjustability of the plunger of any extent according as to
whether a greater or less degree of variation in amount of power or speed is
required in the engine or motor the pressure on the pistons of explosion engines
varying as the amount of compression before ignition as above stated. For the
purposes of this invention I assume that approximately the utmost pressure in lbs.
per square inch on the motor piston resulting from explosion is say three times the

page_text: amount of the initial compression in lbs. per square inch on the piston; but this
may be more or less and varies with the proportion and quality of the explosive
mixture.
I make the adjustable plunger or piston of any suitable length diameter section
and form, but I preferably employ a perfectly round section. I make such plunger
or piston either as a trunk piston such as an ordinary motor piston, or longer or
shorter and I place sufficient piston rings, metal and other suitable packing or
copper expanding gas-checks or rings as may best prevent the escape and leakage
of the compressed gases & the resultant products of their explosion.
In carrying out this invention I arrange the inlet and exhaust & ignition
timing valves or electrical igniting arrangements in any suitable and convenient
position.
The accompanying drawings show this invention with several suitable and
convenient methods of advancing the adjustable piston or plunger.
Fig. 1 is a sectional plan: Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, Fig. 3 is a
side elevation; Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevation cutting through compression
chamber and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of an ordinary "Otto" gas engine as above
described and fitted with this invention. A B C & D are respectively the
adjustable piston or plunger, the compression or explosion chamber, the cylinder
and the motor piston. The compression chamber, as shewn is a separate bored
casting bolted to the cylinder by suitable flanges. The adjustable piston is
advanced or withdrawn by revolving the hand wheel E which operates the screwed
spindle working in the screw threads cut in the bored boss G forming a
continuation of the adjustable plunger or piston A. At H are placed suitable
metal piston packing rings to check the escape of gases. J is a casting against
which the flange of the screwed spindle F bears and is bolted to the casting forming
the compression or explosion chamber. J is bored to receive G.
At K and L are shewn respectively the exhaust and inlet valves. At M is a
valve timing the ignition of the charge of compressed gas or oil vapour and air.
N is the ignition tube with Bunsen or other suitable burner.
In Fig. 1 the adjustable piston or plunger A is shown drawn back and with the
cubical contents of compression or explosion chamber at its greatest. In Fig. 2
A is advanced to its furthest travel and the cubical contents of compression
chamber is least. With the engine running with A as in Fig. 1 the compression
of the explosive mixture will be at its smallest and the power of engine least;
when the engine is running with A as in Fig. 2 the compression will be great and
the maximum of power given out. Between these two positions of the adjustable
pistou or plunger will be, practically, an infinitesimal variation of power.
The
Fig. 6 is a side elevation, Fig. 7 a sectional plan and Fig. 8 a back elevation
shewing this invention fitted to a two-cylinder gas or petroleum engine of the
"Otto" type with the two cranks set at 360°. The adjustable pistons or plungers
are operated at one and the same time by one regulating hand wheel.
drawings shew only the cylinders and parts of engines necessary to demonstrate
the application of this invention. A B C and D are respectively the adjustable
pistons or plungers the compression or explosion chambers, the cylinders and the
motor pistons. The screw-advancing arrangements are similar to those shewn in
the above described Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and are lettered the same as in these
Jast named figures but in place of a hand-wheel at the end of the screwed
spindles are fixed suitable toothed gear wheels O, working into a
wheel P.
worm
The screwed spindles F have the one a right hand and the other a left band
thread. The worm wheel-P is caused to revolve in either direction by turning the
band wheel which with its spindle R revolve in suitable bearings in a bracket
suitably bolted to the compression chamber. The adjustable pistons or plungers
are shewn withdrawn with the cubical contents of the compression space at a
maximum and power of engine at a minimum. The arrangement as shewn is very
suitable for small marine engines and the like.

page_text: Fig. 9 is a sectional plan and Fig. 10 an end elevation of this invention with a
plunger advanced by a screw and suitable levers weighted at their ends, and with
the gas checks at the end of compression chamber furthest way from the cylinder.
A B C and D are respectively the plunger the compression chamber, the cylinder
and the motor piston. The plunger is turned and ground perfectly círcular,
parallel and true but does not quite fit the compression chamber. At S the plunger
is embraced by suitable piston packing rings or gas checks and rings of suitable
form to prevent the escape of the explosive mixtures or the resultant products of
their combustion. The gas checks are placed in a suitable recess or recesses turned
at the end of the compression chamber and are kept in their place by a turned
flange, T, bolted to the flange of compression chamber.
The plunger A is advanced or withdrawn by means of the screw U which works
in a thread cut in the plunger. The screw U passes through and bears against the
stilted bridging-piece V and is revolved by means of the lever arms W the heavy
weights X at the end of which assist by their momentum to overcome the pressure
of the explosions when the plunger is advanced whilst the engine is running.
At V are suitable nibs on the plunger sliding in suitable grooves or channels in
the compression chamber to prevent the revolution of the plunger on its axis. The
screwed spindle U is drilled throughout in length to allow of the escape of air that
would otherwise be compressed in the hollow space in the plunger and tend to resist
the advance of the screwed spindle in such space.
In the figures the plunger is shewn screwed home with the compression space at
its smallest and the engine giving a maximum of power.
Fig. 11 is a sectional plan and Fig. 12 an end elevation of this invention with
the plunger advanced by a large screw and with a gas-check on the face of the
plunger. A B C and D are respectively the plunger compression chamber, cylinder
and motor piston.
The plunger is a suitable casting at one end turned and ground to fit the bore of
the compression or combustion chamber and for its remaining length reduced some-
what in diameter and cut with a large and powerful thread which at Z works in a
thread cut in the end of the compression chamber. At 1 on the face of the plunger
is suitably fixed a copper or other ring or gas check of any form adapted to prevent
the escape of gases under pressure. On the end of the plunger at 2 is keyed a
ring 3 with arms 4, with heavy weights 5 similar to and for the purposes specified
in my above description of Figs. 9 and 10. The plunger is revolved by means of
these lever arms and advanced or withdrawn in the compression chamber. Figs. 11
and 12 shew the plunger screwed home with the engine working at its maximum of
power.
The plunger in Figs. 11 and 12 is shewn with a central hollow space bored out.
This may be supplied with cooling water in circulation by suitable pipes joints and
packing and if the compression chamber be also water jacketed the whole arrange-
ment is then eminently suitable for large and powerful engines working with great
compression of the explosive mixture.
In igniting the explosive charge in carrying out this my invention I employ any
suitable system. For large stationary gas and petroleum engines I use preferably
hot tube ignition with a timing valve; for locomotives and road motors and the
like I employ preferably one or another suitable systems of electrical ignition.
Either hot tube ignition or electric ignition are well suited for ignition in carrying
out this invention.
This invention affords a ready means of facilitating the starting of engines and
motors for gas or petroleum driven locomotives for rail or road or for motor-cars
or motor-cycles, by lessening the compression when pulling round the fly wheel by
hand.
This invention affords a ready means of regulating the speed and power of engines
and motors. Advancing the plunger towards the motor pistons will increase the
initial compression of the explosive mixture and consequently the power of the
explosion. Withdrawing the plunger in a direction away from the motor piston,

page_text: will, conversely diminish the compression and consequently the force of the explosion.
will be less. Thus the engine becomes differentially regulated, and its power and
speed elastic and variable at will. Moreover, in the use of this my invention it is.
not necessary, in regulating the engine, to interfere with or alter the actual amount
and proportion of gas or oil vapour supplied, and thus the delicate adjustment of
gas or oil vapour to air need not be disturbed.
The maximum of profitable and practicable compression of the explosive mixture
may in this invention be practically utilised; consequently the maximum of power
and work for a given quality and quantity of explosive mixture is obtained from
an engine fitted with this invention.
In road motors and vehicles and cycles propelled by gas or petroleum engines
this invention facilitates the adjustment of the power of the motor or engine to the
gradient of the road.
If for example the average initial compression employed on the level be say
50 lbs. per square inch this can readily by adjustment of the plunger be increased:
to say 60 or 70 lbs. on an up gradient and to say 80 or 90 lbs. on a steeper gradient
and so to the maximum of initial compression of the explosive mixture that can be
profitably employed.
In like manner, conversely on a down gradient the initial compression may be
decreased to say 40, 30 and to 20 lbs. and so to the minimum compression as may
be suited to the decline.
Any small shade or degree of variation in compression may be thus obtained
and the speed and power of the engine will vary differentially and a gas or
petroleum engine or motor may thus for all practical purposes be made as elastic
in speed and power as a steam engine.
In gas or petroleum engines or motors geared to the driving wheels of
locomotives or road motor vehicles either by gear wheels chains or belts and the
like, where in stopping such locomotive or vehicle such gearing chain or belt is
disconnected and wholly thrown out of gear, this invention prevents the racing
and excessive speed of the engine or motor when thrown out of gear with the
driving wheels, since the withdrawal of the adjustable plunger at once lessens the
force of the explosion and thus reduces the speed of the engine and lessens
vibration and noise resulting from the free running of an uncontrolled engine at
high speed.
This invention affords a ready and simple way of governing or self controlling
gas or petroleum engines and motors. By providing revolving balls or weights, or
other suitable means suitably connected with the motion of the engine, to raise a
lever when the engine runs too quickly, or depress the lever when the engine runs
too slowly, the said lever throws in and out of gear revolving gear wheels or
actuates other suitable means whereby the plunger is advanced or withdrawn..
When the halls or weights rise by the centrifugal force by reason of the excessive
speed of the engine, the plunger is withdrawn and cubical contents of compression
chamber are increased and the compression in lbs. per square inch is lessened.
When the balls or weights fall by reason of the engine running too slowly the
plunger is advanced the cubical contents of the compression space are lessened
and the amount of compression of the explosive nixture is increased in lbs. per
square inch. In governing an engine in this way the speed at which the engine
will run depends upon the initial adjustinent of plunger in the compression
chamber.
In carrying out this invention it is necessary to have regard to means for
lubricating the adjustable piston or plunger that it inay slide smoothly and easily
in the compression chamber.
In large engines when convenient and suitable in carrying out this invention
I employ suitable gear wheels or a train of gear wheels to gear with a toothed
gear wheel such as that shewn at O Figs. 6 7 and 8. By the gain in power thus
obtained very little force is required to overcome the resistance of the explosions
when advancing the adjustable plynger whilst the engine is running.

page_text: 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 gas and petroleum engines and motors of the "Otto" four-cycle type and
in gas or petroleum engines or motors of all other types where a back stroke of
the motor piston compresses-either wholly or in part-the explosive mixture of
gas or oil or oil vapour and air, the combination of such engine or motor with an
adjustable piston or plunger for varying the cubical contents of the compression
combustion or explosion chamber-or its equivalent-and for varying the amount
of compression of the explosive mixture for the purposes and objects and in the
manner hereinbefore specified and set forth.
2. In gas and petroleum engines and motors of the "Otto" four cycle type and
in gas and petroleum engines of all other types where a back stroke of the motor
piston compresses-either wholly or in part-the explosive mixture of gas or oil
or oil vapour and air, whether such engines and motors be for factory or other
stationary purposes or for locomotives tramway-motors, self-propelling road
vehicles and cycles or for propelling boats or ships or for any other purposes, the
use of an adjustable plunger or piston sliding into a compression combustion or
explosion chamber-or its equivalent for the purpose of controlling and
regulating and governing the speed and power of such engines and motors and
for facilitating the starting and preventing racing of such engines and motors,
substantially as hereinbefore specified and set forth.
3. In gas and petroleum engines and motors of the "Otto" four-cycle type and
in gas and petroleum engines of all other types where a back stroke of the motor
piston compresses-either wholly or in part-the explosive mixture of gas or oil
or oil vapour and air whether such engines and motors be for factory or other
stationary purposes or for locomotives, tramway-motors, self propelling road
vehicles and cycles or for propelling boats or ships or for any other purposes the
act of starting controlling governing and regulating and preventing racing of such
engines and motors, by means of an adjustable piston or plunger sliding in a
compression combustion or explosion chamber-or its equivalent, substantially in
the manner herein before specified and set forth.
4. The apparatus comprising a gas-tight adjustable piston or plunger sliding in
a compression or combustion chamber-or its equivalent, with suitable means
for adjusting the position of such piston or plunger for the purposes hereinbefore
set forth, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 25th day of March 1907
R. OWEN ALLSOP.