Improvements in Gas or Combustible Vapour Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas or Combustible Vapour Engines.
I HORACE ROBINSON 78 Great Bridgewater Street Manchester Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in engines in which the piston is propelled
by the ignition and expansion of a mixture of gas or combustible vapour, and air
or other supporter of combustion.
The cylinder of my engine is cooled by means of water and the water is
contained in the foundation of the engine which also acts as the tank and which I
may make in such a manner that the water will circulate about the cylinder without
assistance in the following manner: the cylinder may be bolted upon the tank to a
suitably planed surface and the surface may be formed at such an angle that the
cylinder is considerably below the centre of the crank shaft so that the cylinder is
oblique and is close to the ground at its end furthest from the crank shaft. The
cylinder is formed with a water space or jacket round it and this space is in free
communication with the tank or bed of engine. The jacket at the front end of the
cylinder is extended forward so that a part or the whole of the front end becoines
horizontal so that the water in the jacket as it becomes heated is free to circulate
into the tank or bed and cool water from below takes its place and this without
water pipes or other connections. Beyond the crank shaft or at the end of the
tank furthest from the cylinder the tank may be heightened and a suitable opening
formed through which the tank may be filled. The warmer water will find its way
into this highest part or prolongation of the tank or bed and cooler water will find
its way along the lower part of the tank to the cylinder jacket. A web may extend
from each of the crank shaft bearings to the heightened part of the tank to stiffen
and help to support the bearings. The tank and water jacket may be in one.
To actuate the valves of my engine the exhaust valve may be operated by a cam or
eccentric upon the engine shaft a rod from the eccentric or cam actuating a wheel
with various sizes of teeth which throw the rod into and out of position for actuating
the exhaust in the manner as described in my Patents Number 14787 A.D. 1890 and
Number 1083 A.D. 1891 and the speed of the engine may be governed by the catch
or détent or tongue piece pivoted on the exhaust valve stem or prolongation in such
a manner that when the exhaust is opened the tongue piece comes against a stop which
moves it into such a position that it would come in contact with another stop during
the early part of the action which would otherwise close the exhaust; a spring or
gravity or their equivalent tend or tends to move the tongue piece into such a
position that it will miss the last named stop when the engine is running at or below
its normal speed thus allowing the exhaust to close. Should the engine run above
its normal speed the tongue piece has not time to get into position to miss the stop
and the exhaust is not allowed to close as described in my Patent No. 1083
A.D. 1891 and in addition to this governing device I may place a stop to restrict
the motions of the tongue piece which stop may be adjustable. The inlet valve of
my improved engine may be placed behind the exhaust valve and the exhaust
valve or an extension of the exhaust valve I may form of the same diameter as the
inlet passage through which the gas or vapour and air flow into the cylinder. The
exhaust valve or extension does not interfere with the gas or vapour and air
entering the cylinder provided the said exhaust valve is closed onto its seat but
when the exhaust valve is forced backwards to open it it or its extension. enters the
before mentioned inlet passage and prevents the combustible mixture from flowing

page_text: or being drawn into the cylinder through the inlet valve and passage. The inlet
passage may be made cylindrical the exhaust valve or extension entering it in the
manner described. The inlet valve for the admittance of the charge I prefer to
form in the following manner to obtain a large lip opening and a suitable mixture
and proportion of air and gas or vapour.
A number of small holes are formed
through the valve seat. These holes are placed in a ring or in concentric rings.
The valve itself is of the flat mushroom type covering these holes. Openings may
be formed in the valve also concentric with the centre of the valve but in such a
position that they do not coincide with the holes in the seat. The lip opening of the
valve is thus enlarged. The air may enter at an outer row of holes and the gas or
vapour at an inner row or the gas or vapour may be admitted by holes forming part
of the ring or rings of holes, that is to say the gas or vapour holes may be inter-
posed between the air holes, several air holes being used to each gas or vapour hole.
The gas or vapour holes lead into an annular passage formed at the back of the
valve seat.
When the air and gas or vapour holes are not interposed in the same
ring or rings of holes grooves may be turned in the valve seat for the admission of
air and gas or vapour preferably an outer one for air and an inner one for gas or
vapour.
may apply the mode of closing an inlet passage by the exhaust valve or
extension of exhaust valve to the closing of a gas or vapour inlet passage from a
gas or vapour valve. In this case an air valve is left free to admit air.
A quieting chamber may be used behind the inlet valve to subdue the sound and
this quieting chamber may consist of a passage in which is placed cotton waste or
other sound subduing material of a similar nature; this waste or equivalent may be
contained in a suitable cage formed of wire gauze or otherwise as may be most
convenient.
I prefer to ignite the charge by the igniting incandescent tube and I may secure
the said tube in position in the following manner: The open end of the tube may
be made conical to fit a seat formed on the inlet passage or where most convenient,
a collar is screwed or formed upon the pipe near to its open end; a small clamp
with an open slot at one end making it forked shaped bears with its forked end
upon the said collar and a nut or screw bears upon the said forked piece preferably
near the centre of its length in such a manner that it holds the tube to its seat but
by slackening the screw or nut the fork may be withdrawn and the tube taken out
for renewals etcetera: a slot may be formed in the said forked piece for the said
screw or a stud for the said nut to pass through the said forked piece to allow of
its withdrawal.
Dated this 27th day of November 1891.
HORACE ROBINSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas or Combustible Vapour Engines.
1 HORACE ROBINSON 78 Great Bridgewater Street Manchester 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:—
My invention relates to improvements in engines in which the piston is propelled
by the ignition and expansion of a mixture of gas or combustible vapour and air or
other supporter of combustion.
The cylinder of my engine is cooled by means of water and the water is con-
tained in the foundation of the engine which also acts as the tank and which I may
make in such a manner that the water will circulate about the cylinder without
assistance in the following manner the cylinder may be bolted upon the tank to a

page_text: suitably planed surface and the surface may be formed at such an angle that the
cylinder is considerably below the centre of the crank shaft so that the cylinder is
oblique and is close to the ground at its end furthest from the crank shaft. The
cylinder is formed with a water space or jacket round it and this space is in free
communication with the tank or bed of engine. The jacket at the front end of the
cylinder is extended forward so that a part or the whole of the front end becomes
horizontal so that the water in the jacket as it becomes heated is free to circulate
into the tank or bed and cool water from below takes its place and this without
water pipes or other connections. Beyond the crank shaft or at the end of the tank
furthest from the cylinder the tank may be heightened and a suitable opening
formed through which the tank may be filled. The warmer water will find its way
into this highest part or prolongation of the tank or bed and cooler water will find
its way along the lower part of the tank to the cylinder jacket. A web may extend
from each of the crank shaft bearings to the heightened part of the tank to stiffen
and help to support the bearings. The tank and water jacket may be in one.
al
To actuate the valves of my engine the exhaust valve may be operated by
cam or eccentric upon the engine shaft a rod from the eccentric or cam actuating
a wheel with various sizes of teeth which throw the rod into and out of position
for actuating the exhaust in the manner as described in my Patents Number 14787
A.D. 1890 and Number 1083 A.D. 1891 and the speed of the engine may be
governed by the catch or detent or tongue piece pivoted on the exhaust valve stem
or prolongation in such a manner that when the exhaust is opened the tongue piece
comes against a stop which moves it into such a position that it would come in
contact with another stop during the early part of the action which would otherwise
close the exhaust; a spring or gravity or their equivalent tend or tends to move
the tongue piece into such a position that it will miss the last named stop when the
engine is running at or below its normal speed thus allowing the exhaust to close.
Should the engine run above its normal speed the tongue picce has not time to
get into position to miss the stop and the exhaust is not allowed to close as described
in my Patent No. 1083 A.D. 1891 and in addition to this governing device I may
place a stop to restrict the motions of the tongue piece which stop may be adjustable.
The inlet valve of my improved engine may be placed behind the exhaust valve and
the exhaust valve or an extension of the exhaust valve I may form of the
same diameter as the inlet passage through which the gas or vapour and air flow
into the cylinder. The exhaust valve or extension does not interfere with the gas
or vapour and air entering the cylinder provided the said exhaust valve is closed
onto its scat but when the exhaust valve is forced backwards to open it it or its
extension enters the before mentioned inlet passage and prevents the combustible
mixture from flowing or being drawn into the cylinder through the inlet valve and
passage. The inlet passage may be made cylindrical the exhaust valve or extension
entering it in the manner described. The inlet valve for the admittance of the
charge I prefer to form in the following manner to obtain a large lip opening and
a suitable mixture and proportion of air and gas or vapour. A number of small
holes are formed through the valve seat. These holes are placed in a ring or in
concentric rings. The valve itself is of the flat mushroom type covering these
holes. Openings may be formed in the valve also concentric with the centre of the
valve but in such a position that they do not coincide with the holes in the seat.
The lip opening if the valve is thus enlarged. The air may enter at an outer row
of holes and the gas or vapour at an inner row or the gas or vapour may be admitted
by holes forming part of the ring or rings of holes. That is to say the gas or
vapour holes may be interposed between the air holes several air holes being used
to each gas or vapour hole. The gas or vapour holes lead into an annular passage
formed at the back of the valve seat. When the air and gas or vapour holes are
not interposed in the same ring or rings of holes grooves may be turned in the
valve seat for the admission of air and gas or vapour preferably an outer one for
air and an inner one for gas or vapour.

page_text: I may apply the mode of closing an inlet passage by the exhaust valve or
extension of exhaust valve to the closing of a gas or vapour inlet passage from a
gas or vapour valve. In this case an air valve is left free to admit air.
A quieting chamber may be used behind the inlet valve to subdue the sound and
this quieting chamber may consist of a passage in which is placed cotton waste or
other sound subduing material of a similar nature. This waste or equivalent may
be contained in a suitable cage formed of wire gauze or otherwise as may be most
convenient.
I prefer to ignite the charge by the igniting incandescent tube and I may secure
the said tube in position in the following manner. The open end of the tube may
be made conical to fit a seat formed on the inlet passage or where most convenient;
a collar is screwed or formed upon the pipe near to its open end; a small clamp
with an open at one end making it forked shaped bears with its forked end upon
the said collar and a nut or screw bears upon the said forked piece preferably near
the centre of its length in such a manner that it holds the tube to its seat but by
slackening the screw or nut the fork may be withdrawn and the tube taken out for
renewals etcetera: a slot may be formed in the said forked piece for the said screw
or a stud for the said nut to pass through the said forked piece to allow of its
withdrawal.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my engine through the centre line of the cylinder.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the engine, the section being taken through the
centre line of the cylinder which is raised in this Fig. 2 to bring it and other parts
clearly into sectional plan.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section at line a Fig. 1.
A is the cylinder B is the water jacket and B' is the tank forming the bed of
the engine B being the extended part of the tank into which the warmest water
finds its way.
B3 B3 are the extended front of cylinder water jacket forming the means of
circulation between 13 and B. C is the crank shaft bearing with its webs C' C¹.
E Fig. 2. is the exhaust valve actuated at each alternate revolution of the engine
as described. F Fig. 2 is the inlet valve and Figs. 4 and 5 show this to a larger
scale. G Fig. 2 is the passage through which the charge is drawn into the
eylinder.
The exhaust valve E is driven into this passage when it is opened for the
escape of exhaust products and so prevents gas or vapour and air from being drawn
through the inlet valve F at such time as the exhaust is open.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 K. K. are the air holes and M M the gas or vapour
holes and forming a ring with them as shown, and leading into the annular
passage N Fig. 4. F is the valve. F' being openings to increase the lip opening
of the valve.
Figs. 6 and 7 show the mode of attaching the ignition tube. I is the tube
having the collar L'. P is the forked shaped clamp and P is the open slot at its
end. R is the nut or screw which tightens the tube L upon its seat.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
First. The form and construction of the engine having the water tank as bed and
the cylinder inclined with the front end extended as and for the purpose described
and illustrated at Figs 1. 2. and 3.
Second. The tank B forming the bed of the engine with the extension B² all in
free communication with the cylinder jacket B and 133 so that the water can
circulate in the manner described all as described and illustrated.
Third. The construction of the exhaust valve E. Fig. 2 in combination with the
inlet passage G so formed and combined that the said valve fits the passage Gand
enters it when it opens the exhaust passage so cutting off the inlet of the charge
when the exhaust is open as described and illustrated.

page_text: Fourth. The combination of the valve F as shown with the valve seat having
the gas holes M M interposed between and forming a ring with a number of air
holes K K as shown at Figs. 4 and 5.
Fifth. The peculiar construction and form of clamp P Figs. 6 and 7 with its
forked end P1 in combination with the screw R at about the middle of its length
and tightening the ignition tube L to its seat all as described and shown.
Dated this 12th day of August 1892.
HORACE ROBINSON.