IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTOR ENGINES WORKED BY GAS OR COMBUSTIBLE VAPOUR AND AIR "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Clayton of Bradford, in the County of York,
Engineer for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTOR ENGINES WORKED
BY GAS OR COMBUSTIBLE VAPOUR AND AIR
"
"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Clayton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th May 1882.
SAMUEL CLAYTON of Bradford in the county of York, Engineer. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MOTOR ENGINES WORKED BY GAS OR COMBUSTIBLE VAPOUR AND AIR
My invention relates more particularly to constructing engines which are
actuated by gas or combustible vapour and air and which are double acting, that
is to say, with an explosion of compressed gas or compressed combustible vapour
and air at both ends of the working cylinder actuating the in and out stroke of
the piston; also in constructing Gas motor Engines single acting and fitted with
my present improvements.
I construct my double acting Gas motor Engines by preference of the horizontal
Class and also by preference with a pump having a stroke shorter than the stroke
of the working cylinder, and the stroke of the pump piston is in advance of the
stroke of the cylinder piston and the diameter or area of the pump is regulated by
the diameter or area of the working cylinder. The pump is secured to the
foundation plate of the engine and also to the sides of two projecting boxes or
firing chambers cast or fitted on the side of the cylinder; the pump is also fitted
with valve boxes and valves or with a valve box having two valves for the
admission of Gas and air into the pump.
The boxes or firing Chambers cast or fitted on the side of the cylinder are so
constructed that they receive loose cast iron firing boxes which are lined on the
side of the inner box with nonconducting heat material, such as silicate of cotton
or any other suitable nonconductor to prevent radiation of beat. Between the two
firing chambers is an open space in which is placed the igniting tube or tubes or
any other firing apparatus and in connexion with the two sliding valves fitted to
the firing chambers but the two sliding valves may be dispensed with, by placing
Prins 1

page_text: separate tubes to each chamber and having an adjustable light to heat the tubes at
any distance.
The sliding valves are actuated by gear and in turn and at the required time
to allow the firing of the compressed mixture to actuate the piston of the working
cylinder at the in and out stroke of the piston; in the space between the firing
chambers is fitted a tube by preference of metal having a hollow ball in or near the
centre and a Gas jet is kept burning under the hollow ball heating it to a red
heat which heat being conveyed into the interior of the tube and ball causes the
mixture admitted into the tube and ball by the opening of one of the sliding
valves of either firing chamber to explode and fire the compressed mixture in the
firing chamber which passes through a port into the cylinder actuating the piston;
or I can fit in the space in which burns the Gas jet an ordinary firing valve and
I would have it understood that I lay no claim to the heated tube with the hollow
ball, The double action of the working cylinder is as follows; on the outward
stroke of the pump piston I draw in the pump a charge of air and Gas and air,
and on the return of the pump piston I force through a valve fitted in the firing
chamber the mixture and compress the same in the firing chamber. At the same
time that I force in the mixture and compress it I draw in on the opposite side of
the pump piston a fresh charge of air, Gas and air through similar valves which
on the return stroke of the pump piston I force in and compress into the other
firing chamber; these chambers are formed or fitted at the side of the working
cylinder and the cylinder is fitted with covers at both ends, the front cover being
made with a stuffing box and Gland.
The mixture forced and compressed in the first firing chamber which may be
for either the in or out stroke of the piston is then fired by the action of the
sliding valve opening which admits the compressed mixture into the tube or ball
or to the ordinary firing valve which ignites the mixture and forces the same
through a port into the cylinder actuating the piston. At the same time the other
side of the piston forces out the burnt incombustible mixture through the exhaust
port and valve at the opposite end of the cylinder and when the piston arrives
near the end of its stroke, the exhaust valve closes and the remaining residue of
the burnt Gas or incombustible mixture passes through the cylinder port, causing
a valve fitted in the end of the firing chamber to lift and force the said residue
into the firing chamber giving an additional compression to the mixture already
forced and compressed therein and at which point the firing of the mixture takes
place and the piston is propelled the other way and the burnt Gas or incombustible
mixture of the previous explosion is forced by the action of the piston through the
exhaust port and valve fitted on the other end of the cylinder in a similar manner
to that herein before described; it is obvious that when the burnt Gas or incom
bustible mixture is forced into the firing chamber of either the in or out stroke,
the sliding valves open and the mixture is fired and passed through the port of
either the in or out stroke, actuating the piston, giving an in and out stroke of the
piston or a double acting action to the Engine. The valve for admitting the
explosive mixture is actuated by suitable gear to lift or close the valve at a proper
time, also when the engine is running in excess of its speed the valve is held open
by the governor and gear when no gas is required so that the air instead of being
compressed in the firing chamber, passes out of the firing chamber, through the
cylinder and exhaust valve.
I also employ for Gas motor Engines peculiarly constructed metallic packing for
the stuffing boxes of the piston rods which are made with metallic rings cut with
angular sliding or bevelled edges and having between each ring a layer of
asbestos.
I also construct single acting gas motor engines with similarly constructed
pumps, firing chambers aud igniting apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Clayton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th November
1882.
SAMUEL CLAYTON of Bradford, in the county of York, Engineer "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MOTOR ENGINES WORKED BY GAS OR COMBUSTIBLE VAPOUR AND AIR
"
The said invention relates more particularly to constructing engines which are
actuated by air, gas and air or combustible vapour and air and which are double
acting, that is to say, with an explosion of compressed air, gas and air or compressed
combustible vapour and air at both ends of the working cylinder actuating the in
and out stroke of the piston. The cylinder is not made in the working part of the
cylinder longer than the stroke of the engine, the thickness of the piston and the
width of the ports; it is in fact constructed similarly to a steam engine, no
additional length for working purposes being given to the cylinder; the invention
also relates to constructing gas motor engines single acting fitted with my present
improvements.
1 construct my double acting gas motor engine by preference of the horizontal
class but I may construct them vertical and also by preference with a pump having
a stroke shorter than the stroke of the working cylinder but the stroke of the
cylinder and pump can be the same and the stroke of the pump piston is in advance
of the stroke of the cylinder piston and the diameter or area of the pump is
regulated by the diameter or area of the working cylinder, or if the stroke of the
pump is the same as the stroke of the piston of the cylinder I reverse the valves
for inlet and outlet of the firing chambers and place the igniters on the outside
ends of the firing chambers so as to charge the firing chambers with a quantity of
air to act as a sweeping charge in front of the mixture of air gas and air; the
before mentioned air will enter the port and cylinder when the piston has passed
the exhaust port and will compress the air back into the port and firing chamber.
The pump and cylinder are secured to the foundation plate of the engine and also
to the sides of the two projecting boxes or firing chambers cast or fitted on the
side of the cylinder; the pump is also fitted with valve boxes and valves for the
admission of air, gas and air into the pump.
The boxes or firing chambers cast or fitted on the side of the cylinder are fitted
with plates leaving a space between the plates and the inside of the chambers in
which is placed non conducting heat material such as silicate of cotton or any
other suitable non-conductor to prevent radiation of heat and I can employ firing
chambers without any lining or non-conducting heat material. Between the two
firing chambers is an open space in which is placed the igniting tube or tubes or
any other firing apparatus and in connection with two sliding valves which are
fitted to the firing chambers but the valves may be dispensed with by placing
separate tubes to each chamber and having an adjustable light to heat the tubes at
a regulated distance. The two sliding valves are actuated by gear and in turn and
at the required time to allow the firing of the compressed mixture to actuate the
piston of the working cylinder at the in and out stroke of the piston-In the space
between the firing chambers is fitted a tube by preference of metal and having a
hollow ball in or near the centre and a gas jet is kept burning under the hollow
ball heating it to a red heat which heat being conveyed into the interior of the
tube and ball causes the mixture admitted into the tube and ball by the opening
of one of the sliding valves of either firing chamber to fire and explode and fire
the compressed mixture in the firing chamber, which passes through a port or

page_text: opening into the cylinder actuating the piston; or I can fit in the space in which
burns the gas jet an ordinary firing valve and I would have it understood that I
lay no claim to the heated tube and hollow ball.
The double action of the working cylinder is as follows; on the outward stroke
of the pump piston I draw in the pump a charge of air and gas and air or of
combustible vapour and air and on the return of the pump piston I force through
a valve fitted in the firing chamber the mixture and compress the same by the
pump in the firing chamber; at the same time that I force in the mixture and
compress it, I draw in on the opposite side of the pump piston a fresh charge of
air, gas and air through valves which on the return stroke of the pump piston I
force in and compress into the other firing chamber; the cylinder is fitted with
covers at both ends, the front cover being made with a stuffing box and gland.
The mixture forced and compressed in the first firing chamber (which may be
either the in or out stroke of the cylinder piston) is then fired by the action of the
sliding valve and opening which admits the compressed mixture into the tube or
ball or to the ordinary firing valve, which ignites the mixture and forces the same
through a port or opening into the cylinder actuating the piston; at the same time
the other side of the piston forces out the burnt incombustible mixture through
the exhaust port and valve at the opposite end of the cylinder and when the piston
arrives near the end of its stroke, the exhaust valve closes and the remaining air
passes through the cylinder port causing a valve fitted in the end of the firing
chamber to lift and force the said air into the firing chamber giving an additional
compression to the mixture already forced and compressed therein and at which
point the firing of the mixture takes place and the piston is propelled the other
way and the burnt gas or incombustible mixture of the previous explosion is forced
by the action of the piston through the exhaust port and valve fitted on the other
end of the cylinder in a similar manner to that herein before described and it is
obvious that when the air is forced into the firing chamber of either the in or out
stroke by the cylinder piston, the sliding valves open and the mixture is fired and
passed through the port of either the in or out stroke actuating the piston, giving
an in and out stroke of the piston or a double acting action to the engine.
The valve for admitting the explosive mixture to the cylinder is actuated by
suitable gear to lift or close the valve at a proper time also when the engine is
running in excess of its speed, the valve in the firing chamber is held open by the
governor and gear when no gas is required in the pump the air instead of being
compressed in the firing chamber passes out of the firing chamber through the
cylinder and exhaust valve by being held open.
I also employ for gas motor engines peculiarly constructed metallic packing for
the stuffing boxes of the piston rods which are made with metallic rings cut
with angular sliding or beveled edges and having between each ring a layer of
asbestos.
I also construct single acting gas motor engines with similarly constructed pump,
firing chambers and igniting apparatus herein before described.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood I will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1,
represents a plan of the engine with section of cylinder, firing chambers, igniting
space and pump; figure 2, is a side elevation of the engine, figure 3, represents a
section of the cylinder and pump shewing section of pump and valve to firing
chamber; figure 4, represents a section of the firing chamber and valve and outlet
from the firing chamber to the cylinder; figure 5, represents a side sectional view
of the firing chambers and valves and also of the igniters; figure 6, represents a
section of the pump and air and gas valve; figure 7, represents an elevation of the
sliding valves and figure 8, plan of the same.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the figures to represent similar parts.
A, is the cylinder having a jacket B, for the circulation of water; the cylinder

page_text: is fitted with covers C, and D, and the front cover D, is made with a stuffing
box E, and gland F, through which works the piston rod G; on the side of the
cylinder A, are secured the firing chambers H, which are connected to the cylinder
by the ports I; the firing chambers are fitted with plates J; in the spaces K, is
placed non-conducting material such as silicate of cotton or any other suitable non-
conductor to prevent radiation of heat. Between the firing chambers H, is a
space L, in which is placed the igniting tube or tubes or other firing apparatus
in connection with two sliding valves M, ɓgures 7, and 8, which work in guides N
fitted to the firing chambers H,; the valves M, are actuated in turn by gear and
allow at the required time the firing of the compressed mixture to actuate the
piston O, of the cylinder A, at the in and out strokes of the piston O,. To the side
of the firing chambers H, is secured a pump P, having a stroke shorter than the
stroke of the cylinder A; the stroke of the pump piston Q, is in advance of the
stroke of the cylinder piston O, the pump may however be secured to the foundation
plate of the engine; the pump P, is fitted with valve boxes R, and valves S, for the
admission of air and with valves St, for the admission of gas into the pump. The
double action of the cylinder is as follows:-on the outward stroke of the piston Q
I draw into the pump through the valves S and S¹, a charge of air and gas and air
or of combustible vapour and air, the gas passing in through the valve S¹, and
through a port T, formed on each end of the pump; on the return of the pump
piston Q, the mixture is forced through a valve U, and compressed in the firing
chamber H,; at the same time a fresh charge of air, gas and air is drawn into the
pump at the other side of the piston Q, through the valves S, and S¹, which on the
return stroke of the piston Q, forces and compresses the mixture into the other
firing chamber H. The mixture so forced or compressed either at the in or the
out stroke of the piston O, is then fired by the action of the sliding valve M,
through the tubes or pipes V, which admit the compressed mixture into the tube
or ball or to any ordinary firing valve which ignites the mixture and forces the
same through the port I, into the cylinder A, thus actuating the piston O; at the
same time the other side of the piston forces out the burnt incombustible mixture
through the exhaust port W, and through the valves X; when the piston O, arrives
near the end of its stroke that is to say past the exhaust port W, the exhaust
valve X, closes and the remaining air passes through the cylinder port I, causing
the valve Y, to lift and force the said air into the firing chamber H, giving an
additional compression to the mixture already forced and compressed therein at
which point the firing of the mixture takes place and the piston is propelled the
other way, the burnt gas or incombustible mixture of the previous explosion is
forced by the action of the piston through the exhaust port W, and valve X, on
the other end of the cylinder and when the air is forced into the firing chamber
either at the in or the out stroke, the sliding valves M, open and the mixture is
fired and passed through the port I, either of the in or the out stroke actuating the
piston O, producing an in and out stroke of the piston or giving a double action to
the engine.
Having thus described my invention and a suitable manner of carrying the same
into effect I wish it to be understood that what I claim is :-
Firstly. The construction and employment of engines actuated by air, gas and
air, or combustible vapour and air, such engines being double acting, an explosion
of compressed air, gas and air or compressed combustible vapour and air being
effected at both ends of the working cylinder thereby actuating the in and out
stroke of the cylinder piston, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Secondly. The combination of the firing chambers with the working cylinder
and pump and also the construction and employment of the same, substantially in
the manner herein before described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
Thirdly, Constructing gas motor engines with the pump stroke in advance of the

page_text: cylinder stroke, the pump piston and cylinder piston having at the same time an
in and out stroke substantially for the purpose herein described
In Witness whereof I the said Samuel Clayton have hereto set my hand
and seal this eighth day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER C,E
Patent Agent
Bradford
SAMUEL CLAYTON
(L.S.)