Improvements in Gas and other like Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas and other like Engines.
I, GEORGES DE ROUSSY DE SALES, of 133 Cours Gambetta, Lyons, France,
Captain of Cuirassiers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in gas and other like engines, and has
reference more particularly to the formation of the piston with a concave surface,
in such a manner that the useful gas is kept separate from the burnt gases of the
previous explosion.
According to one construction, the face of the piston is made hollow or concave
approximating to the form of a spherical, or a parabolic mirror, and around its
edge is formed an annular channel or rebate. The inlet for explosive mixture is
placed centrally of the cylinder end, so that the mixture, when drawn in, may
spread itself out in the form of a cone and displace the residual or spent gases
towards the cylinder wall. The object of this construction is that the molecules
of the explosive mixture may be struck by the "reflecting" surface of the piston
and thereby compressed towards the axis of the cylinder, while the spent gases,
acted on by the annular channel or rebate, remain around the peripheral space
near the cylinder wall where they form a non-conducting layer.
In some cases, the gas inlet may be situated at or near the edge of the cylinder
the "reflecting" surface of the piston being modified, so that its axis will
still pass through or near the inlet.
cover,
The invention may be applied to gas and like engines in which the cylinder
moves and the piston remains stationary.
Improvements in Gas and other like Engines.
I, GEORGES DE ROUSSY DE SALES, of 133 Cours Gambetta, Lyons, France,
Captain of Cuirassiers, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention relates to improvements in gas and other like engines, and has
reference more particularly to the formation of the piston with a concave surface,
in order to obtain, as completely as possible, during the working of these engines,
the separation of the fresh charge of explosive mixture from the burnt gases in the
cylinder, up to the moment of explosion.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the rear face of one form of piston constructed
according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a cylinder provided with a piston such
as shewn in Fig. 1, illustrating the action during the suction, the piston being at
half stroke.
Fig. 3 is a corresponding view to Fig. 2, illustrating the action during the
compression, the piston again being at half stroke.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of piston and cylinder.
The central part or face 1, of the piston 2 subjected to the expansive action of
the gases, is made hollow or concave, and partakes of one of the forms imposed by
the laws of reflection on concave mirrors to obtain the convergence of luminous
rays in a real focus, that is to say, its shape is that of a concave surface generated
by the revolution of a semicircle, a parabola, or one of the curves approaching a
parabola, for the reflection does not require to be so exact as in optical applica-
tions. The outer part, surrounding the first or central part, forms an annular
channel 3, with the wall of the piston 4.
The gas is admitted at 5, as near the centre of the cylinder end as possible,
that is, as near the axial line of the concavity of the piston as possible, as the
purpose of this construction of piston would not be so effectively attained if the
inlet were arranged laterally.
The explosion is effected by an ignition tube 6.
The operation is as follows:
The column of fresh explosive mixture entering behind the piston spreads itself
out in a regular cone form, without eddying, as shewn in Fig. 2, and does not
mingle with the residual gases from the previous explosion. During the com-
pression, all those molecules that the "reflecting" face of the piston strikes
against, are driven towards and compressed near the horizontal axis x, x, of the
cylinder, whence it follows that the central portion of the cylinder is full of fresh
and homogeneous gas, and it is upon this gas that the ignition acts, as shewn by
the full lines in Fig. 3, and that the inert gas, shewn by dotted lines, is compressed
around the wall of the cylinder. From this it follows that the gas does not
require to be so rich, thus conducing to economy of consumption and ease of
regulation, whilst the inert gases tend to form a non-conducting peripheral layer,
and the heating of the cylinder is diminished.
I have supposed that this admission and this igniting are effected in the centre,
to simplify the explanation, but one may readily imagine them oblique, or annular,
according to the arrangement shewn in Fig. 4.
It is evident that this system can be adapted to all motors working by gaseous
expansion, whether it be from petroleum, gasoline, or illuminating gas, and may
also be applied to motors in which the cylinder moves and the piston remains
stationary. The principle is, moreover, independent of any question of ignition or
of admission of the mixture.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same may be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The adaptation to pistons of gas, petroleum, gasoline, and other like engines,
of concave surfaces formed according to the laws of reflection, and serving to
effect the separation of the useful gas from the residual or burnt gases, substantially
as described.
2. A gas or other like engine having its piston formed with a concavity around
which is an annular channel or rebate, and having its gas inlet placed axially of
the concavity, so that the gas drawn in may assume a conical form and displace
the residual gases towards the cylinder wall, substantially as described.
3. My improvements in gas and other like engines, substantially as herein before

page_text: described with reference to Figs. 1. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, or
modified as described with reference to Fig. 4 of such drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1896.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78 Fleet Street, London, and 5ª Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.