Improvements in Explosion-motors.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosion-motors.
I, GEORGES RICHARD, of 13, Rue Théophile Gautier, Paris, in the Republic.
of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
These improvements relate to explosion motors using petroleum gas, either
rich or poor in quality. and so forth and the distinguishing feature of the
invention is the special mode of regulating the speed and of ignition as will
be hereinafter described.
In existing motors the regulation of the speed is effected either by the total
suppression of the exhaust, or by a variable admission valve for the explosion
gases; in both cases the working is defective.
Indeed in suppressing the exhaust the action of the motor is abruptly altered
which in a four-cycle motor causes the motor to perform four revolutions or
8 cycles without an explosion so that the cylinder is finally filled with pure
gas and a violent explosion caused.
With variable admission a variable explosion for four cycles is obtained
but the volume of the cylinder being constant and the admission less than the
normal the gas is rarefied in the interior of the cylinder and thus the final
compression is inferior to the normal compression and consequently the working
unsatisfactory.
My system for regulating the speed obviates these inconveniences. It con-
sists in causing the time or duration of the exhaust to be varied. It will be
easily understood that if a greater or less proportion of the explosion gases
remain in the cylinder in proportion to the energy exerted these gases will,
after the dead centre has been passed and the return at the closing point have
been reduced to a lower pressure than the atmosphere and consequently the
quantity of fresh gas drawn in will be proportional to the energy exerted
because it is inversely proportional to the quantity of explosion gas remaining
in the cylinder.
The fresh gas and the burnt gas do not mix and the compression remaining
constant, because the cylinder is filled partly with the fresh and partly with
the burnt gas, explosion must occur at each period with a force proportional
to the quantity of fresh gas drawn in and consequently the consumption will
be proportional to the spent energy not taking into account the mechanical
work performed by the motor properly speaking.
The closing of the exhaust in advance may be effected in a two cylinder motor
by means of cams operated by the regulator.
The exhaust valves are each actuated by means of a connecting link the
extremity of each of which is furnished with a roller which is in contact with
a cam. The two cams are operated from the motor shaft through the medium
of gear wheels which reduces their speed by half.
The cams are of triangular form so that the connecting links will be actuated

page_text: at variable times relatively to the position of the said cams in contact with the
rollers. To this effect a regulation or governor of any convenient construction
is arranged to displace the cams transversely in one or the other direction
according to whether the speed tends to increase or decrease.
If we suppose the motor to be started without load, the speed tending to
increase causing the balls of the governor to spread and the cams to be dis-
placed into their most extreme position when they present their shortest pro-
jection to the rollers. Thus the valves are opened for a short period sufficient
to exhaust the excess of explosion gases and to reduce the cylinder-pressure
to that of the atmosphere. The piston in returning compresses the explosion
gases which, after the dead centre has been passed, expand until the moment
when the pressure is reduced below atmospheric pressure and allows the admis-
sion valve to open and a small quantity of fresh gas to enter the cylinder.
This new mixture is again compressed and at the end of the stroke it ignites
producing only a weak explosion sufficient to keep the motor running.
Moreover the burnt gas absorbs a part of the heat from the explosion and
is thus raised to a higher pressure which produces a longer diagram and gives
a better working, result.
If now the load be put on the motor the speed tends to decrease, the governor
falls and brings a longer portion of the cams into contact with the rollers
operating the exhaust valves. The latter are thus opened for a longer period
with regard to the piston stroke, so that they exhaust a larger quantity of the
burnt gases and enable the cylinder to draw in a larger volume of fresh gas
which at the explosion produces greater energy. Therefore the load on the
motor causes the cam to be so regulated in position as to always ensure a regular
speed with a consumption in fresh gas which is proportional to the energy
exerted.
The electric igniter for this two cylinder motor consists in connecting the
ignitors in tension and in using a single contact maker in connection with the
motor shaft. It will be clear that a spark is produced simultaneously in both
cylinders but as the one exhausts while the other compresses the fresh gas,
ignition only takes place in the latter.
In case the cranks are arranged at 180° and one of the cylinders draws, in
fresh gas while the other compresses, there may be danger of abnormal
explosions occurring.
In this case it is necessary to place the contacts upon the cam for ordinarily
reducing the speed and that each igniter should be attached to a small brush
by which it is alternately short circuited by means of a double cam fast on the
motor shaft.
The cranks may be keyed upon the same radius of the shaft, or they may be
arranged at an angle of 180°. Upon the shaft with reduced gearing is keyed.
a first cam having two projections insulated from the bed which in approaching
the spring of the contact screw closes the circuit of a battery upon the primary
convolutions of an induction coil; the two wires of a secondary circuit are each
connected to one of the igniting carbons and furthermore these wires are con-
nected to two insulated brushes in contact with two cams forming a part of
the bed of the machine. When the current is closed upon the secondary circuit
one of the brushes is disengaged while the other brush is in contact with the
cam and the current of the secondary circuit passes direct into the mass and
returns through the ignitor. When the second projection operates the contact
then the second brush will be disengaged while the first brush falls upon the
cam and thus the spark will be produced by the other ignitor.
.In the case where the pistons are set at 360° the operation is simpler. Upon
the shaft of the motor is keyed a cam operating an insulated con-
tact for closing the current from the battery to
two wires of the secondary circuit are each connected to an ignitor. The cur-
the primary coil, the
rent arrives in one of the ignitors, the spark passes to the mass and then causes

page_text: another spark in the other ignitor after which it returns into the coil. One
piston compresses while the other exhausts; no harm arises from the sparks
being produced simultaneously in both ignitors.
This method permits of the electric ignition being adopted in motors in
which incandescence ignition is used.
In both cases the ignitors are in tension by the mass serving as a conductor
between them; in the case of the crank's being disposed at 180° the ignitor
which should not act is short circuited, while the other ignitor alone produces
a spark.
Improvements in Explosion-motors.
I, GEORGES RICHARD, of 13, Rue Theophilé Gautier, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Engineer, 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 explosion motors of that type in which petroleum,
either rich or poor in quality is used and the distinguishing feature of my said.
invention is the special mode of regulating the speed and of ignition as will
be hereinafter described.
In existing motors the regulation of the speed is effected either by the total
suppression of the exhaust, or by a variable admission valve for the explosion
gases; in both of which cases the working of the motor is defective, and con-
stitute a source of danger, inasmuch as in suppressing the exhaust the action
of the motor is abruptly altered which in a four-cycle motor causes the motor
to perform four revolutions or eight cycles without an explosion so that the
cylinder is finally filled with pure gas and a violent explosion caused..
With variable admission a variable explosion for four cycles is obtained,
but the volume of the cylinder being constant and the admission less than the
normal the gas is rarefied in the interior of the cylinder and thus the final
compression is inferior to the normal compression and consequently the working
of the motor is unsatisfactory.
My improved system for regulating the speed is designed to obviate these
inconveniences. It consists essentially in causing the time or duration of the
exhaust to be varied.
It will be easily understood that if a greater or less proportion of the explosion
gases remain in the cylinder in proportion to the energy exerted, these gases
will, after the dead centre, has been passed and at the return at the closing
point, have been reduced to a lower pressure than the atmosphere, and con-
sequently the quantity of fresh gas drawn in will be proportional to the energy
exerted, because it is inversely proportional to the quantity of explosion gas
remaining in the cylinder.
The fresh gas and the burnt gas do not mix and the compression remaining
constant, because the cylinder is filled partly with the fresh and partly with
the burnt gas, explosion must occur at each period with a force proportional
to the quantity of fresh gas drawn in and consequently the consumption will
be proportional to the spent energy not taking into account the mechanical
work performed by the motor properly speaking.

page_text: In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will describe the same fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which the closing of the
exhaust in advance may be effected in a two cylinder motor by means of cams
operated by the regulator.
Figure 2 is a detail plan of a similar motor.
Figure 3 is a face view of a cam and the part operated thereby.
Figure 4 is a diagram shewing the disposition in which the cranks may be
keyed upon the same radius of the shaft and
Figure 5 is a view shewing the disposition of the cranks at an angle of 180°.
The exhaust valves S S¹ are each actuated by means of connecting links L L'
the extremity of each of which is furnished with a roller g g' which is in con-
tact with a cam C C³. The two cams are operated from the motor shaft M
through the medium of gear wheels E E¹ which reduces their speed by one
half.
The cams C C are of triangular form so that the connecting links L L' will
be actuated at variable times relatively to the position of the said cams in
contact with the rollers 9 g. To this effect a regulator or governor R of any
convenient construction is arranged to displace the cams transversely in one
or the other direction according to whether the speed tends to increase or
decrease.
If we suppose the motor to be started without load, the speed tends to
increase, thus causing the balls of the governor to spread and the cams to be dis-
placed into their most extreme position when they present their shortest pro-
jection to the rollers. Thus the valves are opened for a short period sufficient
to exhaust the excess of burnt- gases and to reduce the cylinder-pressure
to that of the atmosphere. The piston in returning compresses the explosion
gases which, after the dead centre has been passed, expand until the moment
when the pressure is reduced below atmospheric pressure and allows the admis-
sion valve to open and a small quantity of fresh gas to enter the cylinder.
This new mixture is compressed, and at the end of the stroke it ignites,
producing only a weak explosion sufficient to keep the motor running.
Moreover the burnt gas absorbs a part of the heat from the explosion and
is thus raised to a higher pressure which produces a longer diagram and gives
a better working result.
If now the load be put on the motor the speed tends to decrease, the governor
falls and brings a longer portion of the cams into contact with the rollers
operating the exhaust valves. The latter are thus opened for a longer period
with regard to the piston stroke, so that they exhaust a larger quantity of the
burnt gases and enable the cylinder to draw in a larger volume of fresh gas
which at the explosion produces greater energy. Therefore the load on the
motor causes the cams to be so regulated in position as to always ensure a regular
speed with a consumption in fresh gas which is proportional to the energy
exerted.
The electric igniter for this two cylinder motor consists in connecting the
igniters in series and in using a single contact maker in connection with the
motor shaft. It will be clear that a spark is produced simultaneously in both
cylinders but as the one exhausts while the other compresses the fresh gas,
ignition only takes place in the latter.
In case the cranks are arranged at 180° and one of the cylinders draws in
fresh gas while the other compresses there may be danger of abnormal
explosions occurring.
In this case it is necessary to place the contacts upon the cam for ordinarily
reducing the speed and that the igniter should be attached to a small brush
by which it is alternately short circuited by means of a double cam fast on the
motor shaft.
17

page_text: Upon the shaft with reduced gearing is keyed. a first cam having two pro-
jections A insulated from the bed, which in approaching the spring of the
contact screw closes the circuit of a battery P upon the primary convolutions
of an induction coil B; the two wires of a secondary circuit D are each con-
nected to one of the igniting carbons 6 6 and furthermore these wires are
connected to two insulated brushes c c¹ in contact with two cams d d forming
a part of the bed of the machine. When the current is closed upon the
secondary circuit one of the brushes is disengaged while the other brush is
in contact with the cam d and the current of the secondary circuit passes direct
into the mass and returns through the ignitor. When the second projection
operates the contact then the second brush will be disengaged while the first
brush falls upon the cam and thus the spark will be produced by the other
igniter.
In the case where the pistons are set at 360° as shown in Figure 4 the
operation is simpler. Upon the shaft M of the motor is keyed a cam K operating
an insulated contact for closing the current from the battery to the primary
coil, the two wires of the secondary circuit are each connected to an igniter.
The current arrives in one of the igniters, the spark passes to the mass and
then causes another spark in the other igniter after which it returns into the
coil. One piston compresses while the other exhausts; and consequently no
damage can occur from the sparks being produced simultaneously in both
ignitors.
This method permits of the electric ignition being adopted in motors in
which incandescence igniter is used.
In both cases the igniters are in series by the mass serving as a conductor
between them; in the case of the cranks being disposed at 180° the igniter
which should not act is short circuited, while the other igniter alone produces
a spark.
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:-
1. In explosion engines or motors provided with one or several cylinders,
the method of regulating the speed consisting in varying the duration of the
exhaust for the burnt gases, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In explosion engines or motors, the arrangement of the circuit for the
electric ignition whereby two-cylinder motors with incandescent ignition may
be transformed into motors with electric ignition, the arrangement consisting
in connecting the two igniters in series these igniters being when the pistons
are keved at 180°, alternately short circuited, substantially as described and
illustrated and for the purpose specified.
3. The arrangement described and shown of our improved motor for explosion
gases provided with the arrangements described for regulating the speed and
the electric ignition substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Tth 11
Ja of T... 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.