IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Whittaker of Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Engineer and Machinist for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
APPLICABLE TO GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Whittaker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th December 1882.
GEORGE WHITTAKER of Manchester in the County of Lancaster Engineer and
Machinist, IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO GAS MOTOR ENGINES.
These improvements relate to a novel arrangement and construction of ignition
valve and mechanism for operating the same whereby the original cost of a gas
motor Engine is considerably reduced, less power is required to work the valve and
the engine itself is capable of working at a higher pressure than has hitherto been
practicable.
In carrying out my invention I employ a disc or circular plate valve working
upon a central axis against the back cover of the cylinder this valve has teeth
upon its circular edge and gears by means of a spur wheel with the cam shaft
which operates the gas and air inlet and escape valves which are separate and
distinct valves in this invention and thus such ignition valve has revolving motion
imparted to it. In this valve a series of chambers are formed for conveying the
lighted flame to ignite the gaseous charge contained in the cylinder. And each of
such series of chambers are provided with a pair of ports to correspond with similar
ports also formed in the cylinder cover. This valve is faced on both sides and is
pressed against the cylinder cover by a metal plate supported by bolts and having
spiral springs introduced between the heads or nuts of such bolts and the plate so
as to exercise a constant pressure upon the valve. In the inner face of this plate
a pair of ports or passages are formed the upper one communicating constantly
with a lighted flame which burns constantly in the usual chimney and the other
port is in communication with the outer atmosphere. A further smaller port is also
provided which is in constant communication with the upper port herein before

page_text: .
mentioned and with a gas supply and opens into a segmental slot formed in the
face of such plate.
The action of this valve is as follows:-As the valve revolves on its axis the
double ports first come opposite to the corresponding ports formed in the back plate
and so the gas contained between such ports becomes ignited, and continues to burn
receiving its supply of gas to support combustion from the small port and the air
supply from the lower port in the cover. As soon however as these ports become
covered and the larger port on the inner side of the valve comes opposite to the
port in the cylinder cover a rush of the charge contained in the cylinder escapes
and so drives the still ignited gas forward into the cylinder through the smaller
hole in the cover and thus explodes the charge.
I prefer to have four series of chambers and ports in the valve and to drive such
valve at one fourth the speed of the driving shaft but it will be obvious that
I might have either one two or more series of chambers and ports and drive the
valve at a proportionately quicker or slower speed.
By having the ignition valve entirely separate and distinct from the air and gas
inlet valves as aforesaid I am enabled to increase the gaseous charge and so to
work at a higher pressure than has hitherto been practicable

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Whittaker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th June 1883.
GEORGE WHITTAKER of Manchester in the County of Lancaster Engineer and
Machinist "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO GAS MOTOR ENGINES
These improvements relate to a novel arrangement and construction of ignition
valve and mechanism for operating the same whereby the original cost of a Gas
Motor Engine is considerably reduced less power is required to work the valve and
the engine itself is capable of working at a higher pressure than has hitherto been
practicable
In carrying out my invention I employ a disc or circular plate valve working
upon a central axis against the back cover of the cylinder this valve has teeth upon
its circular edge and gears by means of a spur wheel with the cam shaft which
operates the gas and air inlet and escape valves which are separate and distinct
valves in this invention and thus such ignition valve has revolving motion
imparted to it, In this valve a series of chambers are formed for conveying the
lighted flame to ignite the gaseous charge contained in the cylinder. And each of
such series of chambers are provided with a pair of ports to correspond with similar
ports also formed in the cylinder cover, This valve is faced on both sides and is
pressed against the cylinder cover by a metal plate supported by bolts and having
spiral springs introduced between the heads or nuts of such bolts and the plate so
as to exercise a constant pressure upon the valve, In the inner face of this plate
a pair of ports or passages are formed the upper one communicating constantly
with a lighted flame which burns constantly in the usual chimney and the other
port is in communication with the outer atmosphere, A further smaller port is.
also provided which is in constant communication with the upper port herein before
mentioned and with a gas supply and opens into a segmental slot formed in the
face of such plate, The action of this valve is as follows, As the valve revolves
on its axis the double ports first come opposite to the corresponding ports formed
in the back plate and so the gas contained between such becomes ignited and
continues to burn receiving its supply of gas to support combustion from the small
port and the air supply from the lower port in the cover, As soon however as
these ports become covered and the larger port on the inner side of the valve comes
opposite to the port in the cylinder cover a rush of the charge contained in the
cylinder escapes and so drives the still ignited gas forward into the cylinder
through the smaller holes in the cover and thus explodes the charge,
I prefer to have four series of chambers and ports in the valve and to drive such
valve at one eighth the speed of the driving shaft but it will be obvious that I
might have either one or two series of chambers and ports and drive the valve at a
proportionately quicker or slower speed,
By having the ignition valve entirely separate and distinct from the air and gas
inlet valves as aforesaid I am enabled to increase the gaseous charge and so to
work at a higher pressure than has hitherto been practicable,
I annex hereto a sheet of drawings the several figures of which are marked by
corresponding letters of reference,
Figure 1. is a broken off section of the outer or valve end of my cylinder
Figure .2. shews the front of back cover .D. as shown in section
Figure 3. shews the face of valve working against face .a .a. of back cover .D.
Fig 2.
Figure 4. shews the other side of valve .E. Fig .3. in which are a series of
double passages .c. c. c. c. Terminating in the single chambers on the other side as
shown at h h h h

page_text: Figure 5. shews the face side of the front .F. with its chimney .G. dotted
behind as likewise the igniting flame .d. The face .c. e. of this front cover is fixed
on to the Fig.4. side on the central axis f. on which also works the valve .3. and .4.
The ports .g. and .. correspond with the passages .c. c. in valve face Fig 4.,
.A. in Fig.1. is an ordinary piston .B. an ordinary gas engine cylinder .C. dotted
is air passage there is a similar passage behind for Exhaust .D. is back cover of
cylinder E. the valve, F. front cover, .G. chimney, .N. flame chamber .d. flame
.I. pipe for supply of gas for same f. axis on which the valve works,
The engine is represented on the drawings Fig.1. is supposed to be horizontal=
the cylinder .B. has two ports .C. and C¹ one for admitting air and the other for
exhaust, suitable valves are used for adınitting the one in-and letting the other
out these valves are of the ordinary type not necessary for me to describe,
The action and use of this valve is as follows, The valve .E. is driven by
pinnion .H. Fig .3. face to face on .a. a. Fig 2. which revolves on its axis f. f. on
this side of valve .E. are four ports .b. these four ports on this side of the valve are
chambered through into eight ports on the other side of the valve shown on Fig.4.
and marked .c. c., .i. i. i. i. are four small chambers for pure gas for mixing as
they both enter the cylinder as the valve .E. Fig .3. revolves the several passages
pass over passage j. the side of valve Fig.4. is covered by the back plate. Fig.5.
the face.e. e. pressing the side .K. K. the ports .C. C. in rotation the passages in
such back plate .g. and .h. The passage .g. goes into the chimney and is the
passage through which the flame .d. is drawn for ignition from the chimney the
passage .h. is for the admission of pure air and is open to the outside of back plate,
the small hole .. and circular groove .m. are for the admission of gas to keep up
the flame feed for ignition and is in communication with the port .g; n, and n¹ on
Fig.2. is the gas feed pipe for mixing, Thus the gas is taken in by cover .D. and
the air imediately underneath by the body of the cylinder at dotted passage
marked .C. thus the two currents meet and mix in the cylinder behind the piston
the ignition flame is drawn through passage .p. when the circular valve .E. in its
traverse brings its passage fair and open to the cylinder,
Having described my invention and the way I use it I do not confine myself to
the precise details I have had occasion to describe as I may vary without deviating
from the principle, nor do I wish to assume to rights belonging to any one else but
what I claim is "Improvements in a revolving ignition valve" entirely seperate
and distinct from the air, gas, and exhaust valves, Substantialy as and for the
purposes herein before set forth.
In Witness whereof I. George Whittaker have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and eighty three
GEORGE (L.S.) WHITTAKER