Year: 1885

page_text: I, STEPHEN WILCOX, of Brooklyn in the county of Kings, and State of New
York, United States of America, 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 :-
In engines of this class, in which the combustible gases are usually fired in
the working cylinder, more or less difficulty has been met with in practice in
maintaining an igniting flame, particularly in devices designed to ignite each
successive charge, and the principal object of my present invention is to overcome
this difficulty. The invention consists in a separate combustion chamber or
furnace connected to, and communicating with, the working cylinder valve chests,
and to certain details in the construction and adaptation of said combustion
chamber wherein the gases are introduced, mixed and fired, preparatory to
admission to said working cylinder.
In order that others may understand and practice my invention I will proceed
to describe it in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1
represents a central longitudinal section of a part of a working cylinder and valve
chests, and a connected combustion chamber and furnace.
In Fig. 1 a portion of the working cylinder is shown at 1, together with its
induction ports, 2, 2, valves 3, 3, and valve chests 4, 4.
The valves 3, 3, shown for example, are constructed in cylindrical form with
passages made directly through them and are oscillated by any well known
nechanism, to cause said passages to register with and close the ports leading from
the furnace and to the working cylinder, at any desired predetermined time during
the stroke of the piston.
5, represents the combustion chamber or furnace, in which the gases are mixed
and fired preparatory to admission to the working cylinder 1.
This furnace is preferably made of a shell of cast metal in cylindrical form with
removable heads or bonnets, and of a capacity equal to the requirements of its
intended service. Its shell 6, and head 7, are provided with water chambers 8
throughout, forming a water jacket, and its entire interior surface and openings
exposed to the action of the heated gases, lined with fire brick, or other refractory
material as indicated at 9.

page_text: These expedients for counteracting the effect of high temperature are, individually,
well known, and the circulation of water through chambers arranged throughout
all working parts of this class of engines, as intended in this case, is equally well
understood.
The furnace 5, is arranged adjacent to the working cylinder 1, and in the present
instance attached directly to the valve chests 4, 4, as shown, this arrangement
having certain advantages, including a convenient location of the eduction passages
10, 10, and separation of the furnace and working cylinder, besides presenting
uniformity in design, and is, therefore, a preferred construction.
12 represents the burner to which the air and inflammable is conveyed from the
source of supply. It is connected with, and forms a part of, the head or bonnet 13,
whereby it may be readily placed or removed by detaching its pipe connections
and removing the bonnet.
The burner consists in a hollow head 14, projecting into the combustion chamber,
and cast in a single piece, with the bonnet 13, as shown. It may, however, be
made in a separate piece.
The end or lap of this head 14, is bevelled as shown at 15, and covered by a
hollow spherical cap 16, resting on and fitted to said beveled portion, and held in
place by a central depending boss 17, and connected spindle 18, that passes through
a lug 19, projecting from the head 14.
The spindle 18 is connected with the boss 17 by a screw thread, and passes
loosely through the lug 19, and carries a spiral spring 20, placed between said lug
and the spindle head 21, whereby the tension of the spring is made adjustable and
capable of holding the cap 16, in place, under various degrees of air pressure.
This cap or valve 16, not only covers the central air passage 22, but its beveled
rim also covers the annular passage 23, through which the inflammable fluid enters
from the pipe 24, leading from its source of supply.
25 represents an absorbent that may be composed of any porous substance, that
surrounds the head 14, and receives the saturated air, and from this absorbent the
flame is derived.
A stop valve 26, is placed beneath the central air passage and regulates the
admission of the air from its reservoir or source of supply, an auxiliary air pipe 27,
being provided, to allow a small quantity of air to enter the burner sufficient to
maintain a flame when the engine is stopped, and the stop valve 26, closed, a plug
cock 28, being provided to shut off the passage of air through the auxiliary
pipe 27.
The main stop valve 26 may also be used in place of the auxiliary pipe 27, for
admitting air to maintain combustion in the furnace, when the engine is still, by
partially opening the same.
29 is a relief or escape passage that is closed by a swinging gate 30.
This gate is provided with a recess that contains a valve 31, covering the
passage 29.
This valve is made in cup shape, and held on its seat by the enclosed
spiral spring 32, which is compressed to more or less tension by the set screw 33.
The gate 30 is pivoted at 34, and operated at the will of the attendant, by
means of the handle 35, that is projected through a slot in the surrounding escape
pipe.
The object of this gate 30, is to facilitate the ignition of the burner at starting,
to exhaust the furnace when desired, or to vent the same in maintaining slow com-
bustion when the engine is at rest, the valve 31, operating to insure a gas tight
joint.
A safety valve 36, is also provided and preferably arranged in the reversed
position shown, in order to protect it so far as possible, from the action of the hot
gases.
It will be observed, that the escape passage leading to this safety-valve from the
combustion chamber, is made at an angle to the direction of escape through the
refractory lining, the same expedient being also applied to the eduction passages

page_text: leading to the induction valves of the working cylinder; the object of this construc-
tion being to check a return of the gases to the combustion chamber after once
entering these passages, wherein a sensible cooling effect may be produced from the
incidental exposure of these connections to the water jacket or external air.
This valve is of the ordinary type in construction and operation, and adjusted to
any desired point to relieve the furnace from an excess of pressure in the usual
way.
38 is the igniting port, through which a lighted torch is passed for igniting the
burner 12, a suitable cap or cover shown at 39, being provided.
40 and 41, represent openings through which the attendant can inspect the
interior of the furnace and eduction ports. These openings are located opposite
the eduction ports in direct line of sight, and are furnished with transparent sight
caps, as shown at 42, and interposed cocks to open and close the same.
Having now referred to such details of an apparatus embodying my invention,
that will enable others to construct the same, I will briefly describe the operation
of such details and subsequently point out the novel characteristics in the claims.
Air under compression is admitted to the central chamber 22, and regulated by
the stop valve 26, and the inflammable or oil supply, enters the adjacent passage
and chamber 23, through the pipe 24 that is connected with a pump or other
charging device.
The initial air pressure lifts the cap 16, and the air is directed downward under
the rim of said cap, and across its beveled seat 15, to the absorbent 25.
In lifting the cap 16, the annular passage leading from the oil supply is
uncovered, which allows the inflammable to escape simultaneously with the air, and
by which it is carried to the absorbent 25, where it is vaporised and made avail-
able upon ignition, as the impelling agent, the torch being applied to the burner
through the firing port 38.
When the engine is at rest, the flame may be maintained with a slow combustion
by the admission of a small quantity of air through the auxiliary air pipe 27, or
stop valve 26, the gate 30 being opened a sufficient amount to regulate the same.
Small engines may be immediately set in motion upon lighting the fire, but large
engines require means for maintaining the fire until it is convenient to start the
same, therefore I place the igniting port at the bottom, and the escape outlet at the
top of the furnace.
When the valves covering these openings are open, and a small supply of oil
delivered by means of a hand pump or otherwise, the fire may be started and
maintained by the natural draft through said openings, so as to gradually heat up
the furnace, this being conducive to the durability of the refractory lining and keeps
the furnace in condition for instant service.
In small engines the lighting port may also serve as the escape outlet, when air
is admitted to sustain slow combustion.
In Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawing I have shown separate com-
bustion chambers arranged to supply the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston as
a modification of my invention, and have included such necessary parts of an engine
as to illustrate the embodiment of such separate chambers, in which
Fig. 2 represents an elevation partly in section.
Fig. 3 a similar transverse view of the cylinder and connected operative parts of
a gas engine, in which my improvements are embodied.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the igniting device, and
Fig. 5 a view of the igniting wick, detached and partly separated to show its
structure.
A is the cylinder, B the working piston, a a the induction valves, and b b the
exhaust valves.
In the present instance these valves are represented as puppet valves, operated
through lifting toes, a rock shaft, and connecting rods in the ordinary way.
C, C, are two separate combustion chambers, located at the opposite ends of the
cylinder over its respective induction ports d, d; and within such combustion

page_text: chambers the induction valves a, a are placed and operated, the valve rods passing
through the bonnet g, in which a stuffing box h is provided.
-
These combustion chambers are duplicates and in describing the same it will only
be necessary to refer to the details of one, for the purpose of this application. I wish
however to be here understood that these separate combustion chambers may be
connected by a pipe, for example, lined with a refractory material, whereby
through such communication the igniting flame may be transmitted from one to
the other, which, in effect, merges said chambers into one.
i is a removable shell, provided with an inwardly projecting flange k, and a
lining m, and between the lining and shell an oil passage n, is made, communi-
cating with the oil supply pipe, and with the furnace through the perforations p,
as shewn.
The air supply connection is shown at s, with branch pipes (Fig. 3) leading to
the respective chambers C, c. The air enters the furnace through the opening
within the annular flange k, the latter being more particularly designed for the
protection of the bonnet g, from the radiated heat of the furnace.
The lighter D, shown enlarged and detached in Fig. 3, is composed of a candle or
annular wick e, placed upon a central tube j, forming a passage, for the air, that
supports the flame, and is saturated with oil through the passage 1.
The wick e, is made up of one or more separate layers of mineral and vegetable
fibre as shown in Fig. 4. The lighter D; is located adjacent to, and communicates
with, the furnace of the combustion chamber and is provided with an igniting
port 1.
Safety valves W, W, are placed at the opposite ends of the cylinder, and seated
upon the inner walls of the cylinder head. This arrangement avoids lost space in
the cylinder and provides exterior space for containing the valve fixtures.
xx are coverings or protecting plates, generally made of cast iron, and applied to
the surfaces exposed to the heated gas. These plates are recessed on their inner
faces or recesses are made on the adjacent surfaces and filled with a non-conducting
material as indicated in the drawing.
The advantages attending the novel features of this modification of my invention
hereinafter claimed, may be suminarized as follows:
.
1st The separate combustion chambers contain but a fraction of the volume of
the combustible and the division admits of such a reduction in size as to effect a
comparative reduction in loss of heat.
2nd In feeding the oil through a passage made between the furnace lining and
its shell, the temperature of the lining is in a degree reduced and the oil evaporated
before reaching the furnace.
3rd In providing an inwardly projecting flange above the furnace as shown, the
bonnet and stuffing box are protected from the radiated heat of the furnace; also
the entering air is materially heated thereby.
4th The location of the safety valve avoids lost space in the cylinder and also
provides room for the valve fixtures that would otherwise project beyond the
cylinder head.
5th The metallic coverings having inner recesses for holding the non-conducting
material, prevent the latter from getting into the cylinder.
Having thus referred to such parts to which my improvements are applied, so
that others may understand the same, I do not deem it necessary to include such
other features shown that are common to this class of engines, nor to herein. repeat
their well known method of operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st A gas engine containing a working cylinder, a combustion chamber separated
therefrom and an intermediate induction valve chest, to which said parts are con-
nected, whereby the valve is independently located so that it may be removed

page_text: without disturbing the adjacent parts and also water jacketed for its special
protection.
2nd In a separate combustion chamber of a gas engine, the combination of the
main or the auxiliary air supply, with auxiliary gate, whereby combustion is
maintained while the engine is still.
3rd A burner for gas engines, consisting of a head having a central air passage,
an annular oil passage; a cap covering said passages, and an external absorbent,
said cap being capable of automatic action by the pressure of the air.
4th A double acting gas engine, provided with separate combustion chambers,
communicating respectively, with the opposite sides of the cylinder piston, through
independent induction valves actuated by the engine mechanism.
5th In a gas engine a combustion chamber provided with a suitable lining, and
an oil passage, between said lining and the adjacent wall or shell.
6th In a gas engine, a combustion chamber constructed with an inwardly pro-
jecting flange, or annular ring, arranged above the point of combustion and
intermediate of the same, and the entering air, for the purpose set forth.
7th A gas engine having its interior surfaces exposed to the action of the heated
gas, covered with metallic plates, said plates or adjacent parts, having a recessed
inner surface filled with a non-conducting material.