IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Kinder and William Barns Kinsey, both of
92, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Engineers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES."
Sealed the 20th August 1867, and dated the 23rd February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Kinder and
William Barns Kinsey at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 23rd February 1867.
We, ARTHUR KINDER and WILLIAM BARNS KINSEY, both of 92, Cannon
Street, in the City of London, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES," to be as follows:
This Invention relates to improvements in the general arrangement of gas
engines whereby they are rendered more compact and portable, and the cylinders
and other working parts are maintained at a more uniform temperature, by which
means the inconveniences arising from unequal expansion and contraction are
obviated.
With regard to the general arrangement of the engine it is proposed to
place the crank shaft between the cylinder and the slide block, and to connect
the piston rod with the crank by bolting to the cross head two forked side
rods or piston rods which work freely above and below the crank shaft.

page_text: These side rods or piston rods are connected to the slide block, and a
connecting rod is brought back from the slide block to the crank which works
between the two side rods or piston rods. A uniform temperature of the
cylinder is maintained by enclosing it in an open tank of water through which
a constant or nearly constant flow of water is maintained. The piston and
piston rod or rods are both made hollow, and the latter is or are connected
by a flexible pipe or telescopic joint with a cistern or other supply of water
in order that a free circulation of water may take place through the body of
the piston and the piston rod or rods. When the cylinder is provided with
the usual water jacket it is proposed to bring in the water by a direct
attachment in lieu of bringing it through a passage alongside of and forming
part of the same casting as the eduction port as heretofore, whereby the
temperature of the water was considerably elevated before it could enter the
water jacket. In lieu of casting the usual S-shaped inlet and exit ports in
the cylinder it is proposed to make them straight and to carry them direct
into the cylinder at each end thereof, the slide valve and valve face being
extended for that purpose. By this means greater facility is afforded for
keeping down the temperature of the metal surrounding such ports by bringing
it in contact with the water in the tank or jacket. In lieu of the ordinary D
slide inlet valve it is proposed to substitute a closed or hollow valve with a
valve port on the face at each end thereof to correspond with the inlet
ports at the two ends of the cylinder. On the top edge of this hollow slide
valve there is fitted a plate which is perforated towards each end with a
number of holes of about th of an inch diameter, whilst its central portion is
formed after the manner of a grating with apertures of the same width as the
diameter of the perforations above referred to and disposed transversly to the
movement of the slide valve. The gas enters a chamber in the centre of
the slide valve, and ascends through the grating referred to into the mixer,
where it mixes with the atmospheric air therein, and this mixture is then
drawn down through the perforations before referred to into one or other of
the ends of the hollow valve as the case may be, and passes thence direct into
the cylinder. By employing a second perforated and grated plate precisely
similar to the one already referred to, and causing this to slide or be adjusted
longitudinally over such plate by the action of the governor or by a hand
wheel or otherwise, it is obvious that the supply of gas and air may be
throttled to any desired extent by a very slight movement of the regulating
plate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Arthur Kinder and William Barns Kinsey in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd August 1867. .
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ARTHUR
KINDER and WILLIAM BARNS KINSEY, both of 92, Cannon Street, in the City
of London, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seveu, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Arthur Kinder and William Barns Kinsey, Her special. license that
we, the said Arthur Kinder and William Barns Kinsey, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Arthur Kinder
and William Barns Kinsey, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Arthur
Kinder and William Barns Kinsey, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal
of one of them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Arthur Kinder and William Barns
Kinsey, do hereby declare the nature of our said 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:
Our said Invention relates to improvements in the general arrangement of
gas engines whereby they are rendered more compact and portable, and the
cylinders and other working parts are maintained at a more uniform tempera-
ture, by which means the inconveniences arising from unequal expansion and
contraction are obviated.
With regard to the general arrangement of the engine it is proposed to
place the crank shaft between the cylinder and the slide block, and to connect
the piston rod with the crank by bolting to the cross head two forked side rods

page_text: or piston rods, which work freely above and below the crank shaft; these side
rods or piston rods are connected to the slide block, and a connecting rod is
brought back from the slide block to the crank, which works between the two
side rods or piston rods. A uniform temperature of the cylinder is maintained
by inclosing it in an open tank of water, through which a constant or nearly
constant flow of water is maintained. The piston and piston rod or rods are
both made hollow, and the latter is or are connected by a telescopic joint with
a cistern or other supply of water, say the tank itself, in order that a free
circulation of water may take place through the body of the piston and the
piston rod or rods. When the cylinder is provided with the usual water jacket
it is proposed to bring in the water by a direct attachment in lieu of bringing
it through a passage alongside of and forming part of the same casting as the
eduction port as heretofore, whereby the temperature of the water was con-
siderably elevated before it could enter the water jacket. In lieu of casting
the usual S-shaped inlet and exit ports in the cylinder it is proposed to make
them straight, and to carry them direct into the cylinder at each end thereof,
the slide valve and valve face being extended for that purpose; by this means
greater facility is afforded for keeping down the temperature of the metal
surrounding such parts by bringing it in contact with the water in the tank or
jacket. In lieu of the ordinary D slide inlet valve it is proposed to substitute
a closed or hollow valve with a valve port on the face at each end thereof to
correspond with the inlet ports at the two ends of the cylinder. On the top
edge of this hollow slide valve there is fitted a plate, which is perforated
towards each end with a number of holes of about th of an inch diameter,
whilst its central portion is formed after the manner of a grating with aper-
tures of the same width as the diameter of the perforations above referred to
The gas
and disposed transversely to the movement of the slide valve.
enters a chamber in the centre of the slide valve, and ascends through the
grating referred to into the mixer, where it mixes with the atmospheric air
therein; and this mixture is then drawn down through the perforations before
referred to into the hollow valve, and passes thence direct into the cylinder.
By employing a second perforated and grated plate precisely similar to the one
already referred to, and causing this to slide or be adjusted longitudinally over
such plate by the action of the governor or by a hand wheel or otherwise, it is
obvious that the supply of gas and air may be throttled to any desired extent
by a very slight movement of the regulating plate.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same

page_text: letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
Figures.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of our improved gas engine; Figure 2 is
a corresponding plan of the same; Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section
of the cylinder and water tank taken through the centre thereof, showing one
mode of effecting a circulation of water through the piston and piston rod;
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken through the centre
of the gas inlet slide valve; Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the cylinder
detached, shewing the straight inlet and exit ports on opposite sides thereof
at each end of the cylinder; Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the
gas inlet valve; Figure 7 is a plan of the top of the same; Figure 8 is an
elevation of the outer face of the valve, showing the central gas inlet orifice ;
and Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical section of the cylinder and tank, shewing
a modified arrangement which we prefer to adopt for ensuring a constant
circulation of water through the piston and piston rod.
A is the bed plate of the engine, to which is bolted at one end the water
tank B, having the cylinder C cast therein, so as to allow of a free space for
the water all round the cylinder; this tank, although shown provided with a
loose lid or cover may be left perfectly open to the atmosphere, but we prefer
to cover the same in order to be enabled to carry off by a pipe for that purpose
the steam arising from the water in the tank. The crank shaft D is mounted
in pillow blocks E, E, bolted to the bed plate, and situate between the slide
block F and the cylinder; G is the connecting rod which connects the
crank H with the slide block F, the latter being connected to a short cross
head I on the end of the piston rod K by four side rods L, L, one pair of which
is disposed above and the other below the crank shaft; this shaft carries one
or a pair of fly wheels M, M, as shewn in the Drawing, and a pair of
eccentrics N, O, for actuating respectively the exhaust slide valve P and the
gas inlet slide valve Q. A valve face, with two ports a, a, and b, b, see
Figure 5, opening direct into each end of the cylinder, is provided on each
side of the casting forming the water tank. The respective slide valves are
held against the valve faces by pressing screws c, c, passing through the
cross bars d, d, screwed to the side of the tank. The cylinder covers R, R',
are made hollow, and have free communication, as shewn in Figure 3, with
the interior of the tank. The piston rod K and piston S are also made hollow,
and water is caused to circulate through them by connecting the piston rod
with a pipe e, which enters the tank and slides to and fro with the piston rod
through a stuffing box f of its own. Another pipe g is fitted on to the hollow
piston, and works with it to and fro inside the closed pipe or sheath h secured

page_text: to the cylinder cover above the lower circulating pipe. e, a stuffing box,
not shewn in the Drawing, being, of course, provided inside the cover to
prevent leakage of water into the cylinder. Perforations are made in the
closed pipe or sheath h with a view to establish a communication with the
hollow cylinder cover. Each time the lower pipe e makes its outward stroke
it will become filled with water from the tank, which water when the pipe
makes its inward stroke will be displaced and forced to circulate up the
branch connecting pipe e along the tubular piston rod K through the hollow
body of the piston S, and thence by the sliding pipe ginto the sheath h, whence
it issues by the perforations into the hollow cylinder cover R, and so back
into the tank ; i is the aperture for receiving the tube of any convenient
lubricator, which we have not shewn in our Drawings, but which will pass up
through the middle of the tank ; K, K, are orifices for connecting the body of
the tank with both the cylinder covers above and below, and thereby ensure a
constant circulation of water through them. The exhaust slide valve P should
be long enough to open and close alternately the straight exit ports b, b, at the
opposite ends of the cylinder, but in other respects may be constructed and
arranged after the manner of the ordinary Lenoir gas engine exhaust valve.
We propose, however, to make it hollow and to cause a circulation of water
through it, the water entering by a hollow bracket b¹ and tube 62 from the
cylinder cover R', and issuing from the upper part of the valve by a similar
bracket and tube 64; these tubes work in stuffing boxes in the end of the
valve, and the valve is divided longitudinally by a diaphragm into an upper
and lower circulating chamber. The gas inlet slide valve Qis also made
hollow, and is divided internally into the chambers 7 and m, m, the ports n, n,
opening from each end of the chamber m alternately with the ports a, a, leading
to the cylinder; o is the gas supply port made in the back of the slide, and
opening direct into the chamber or pocket l; p is a plate secured to and
forming the top of the slide; this plate (see Figure 7) has a grating formed
in the middle, where it corresponds with the gas chamber 1, and is provided
with a number of perforations on each side of the grating, such perforated
part corresponding with each end of the chamber m. The mixer q is
attached to the top of the slide, and consequently travels with it; its lower
portion is expanded sufficiently to embrace the whole of the perforations in the
top plate of the slide. To the top of this mixer is fitted a perforated cap r,
which is capable of adjustment for regulating the inlet of atmospheric air; s
is the gas supply pipe provided with a stop-cock t; u, u, are two other cocks
for regulating or proportioning the supply of gas to each end of the cylinder
separately; each of these cocks admits the gas to a separate chamber, one

page_text: and
of which (in the stationary part w) is shown in the Drawing (Figure 4),
and from either of these chambers, as the case may be, the gas issues through
an opening therein into the gas chamber in the slide valve, the port o being
brought alternately opposite to the ports in the chambers v. From the
chamber the gas is drawn up through the grating into the mixer q, where it
mixes with the requisite proportion of atmospheric air, and this mixture of air
gas drawn downwards through the perforations in the top of the slide
into the chamber-m, whence it passes direct into the cylinder at either end, as
the case may be, through the inlet ports n in the valve face and straight ports a
leading direct into the cylinder. The ignition of the mixture in the cylinder
may be accomplished in the same way as in the Lenoir engine or otherwise.
In order to render the engine self-regulating a second perforated plate, precisely
similar to the plate p (Figure 7), is placed thereon and adjusted to and fro by
the action of the governor, thereby throttling more or less the perforations in
the plate p through which the mixture of gas and air enters the cylinder.
The modified arrangement shown at Figure 9 for maintaining a constant
circulation of water through the piston and piston rod consists of two pipes e, e¹,
sliding through stuffing boxes f,f, in the hollow cylinder cover, and working
to and fro in the tank B above and below the cylinder respectively. The
pipes e, e', are respectively connected by the passages e¹, e, in the hollow cross
bead fast on the end of the piston rod K, with the two thoroughfares g, g',
formed along the piston rod by the central longitudinal diaphragm or parti-
tion h. The lower passage g¹ communicates by a hole at i with the body of
the hollow piston S, and the upper passage g communicates by a short tube i¹
or an opening in the casting with the upper part of the piston. A trumpet or.
bell-mouth is formed on the inner end of the pipe e, so that as it reciprocates
in the tank it will force a certain amount of water at each inward stroke to
flow along the pipe e, passage e¹, thoroughfare g', and aperture i into the
hollow piston, whence it returns to the tank down the pipe or passage i along
the thoroughfare g, passage e", and pipe e'; by this arrangement we obviate
all inconveniences arising from leakage in the cylinder which might occur in
the first-described arrangement shewn in Figure 3.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel
and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the general construction and arrangement of gas engines, substantially
as herein-before described.

page_text: Second, the placing of the working cylinder of a gas engine in an open water
tank, as herein-before described.
Third, the causing a free circulation of water to take place through the
piston and piston rod of a gas engine.
Fourth, the causing a free circulation of water to take place through the
slide valve of a gas engine, substantially as herein-before described.
Fifth, making the inlet and exit ports of gas engines straight into each end
of the cylinder, as shown in Figure 5.
Sixth, the application and use of a hollow or chambered slide inlet valve to
and in gas engines, substantially as herein-before described.
gas
Seventh, the system or mode of governing or regulating the speed of
engines by the aid of a sliding perforated plate on the top of the slide inlet
valve, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Arthur Kinder and William Barns
Kinsey, have to this our Specification set our bands and seals, the
Twenty-second day of August, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
seven.
ARTHUR KINDER.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM BARNS KINSEY. (L.S.)
ARTHUR KINDER.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM BARNS KINSEY. (L.S.)