IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES OPERATED BY THE COMBUSTION OF GAS OR VAPOUR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Robson, of North Shields, in the County of
Northumberland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES OPERATED
BY THE COMBUSTION OF GAS OR VAPOUR."
Denied the own September 1877, and dated the 14th. June. 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Robson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th June 1877.
" IMPROVE-
JAMES ROBSON, of North Shields, in the County of Northumberland.
MENTS IN ENGINES OPERATED BY THE COMBUSTION OF GAS OR VAPOUR."
My Invention relates to engines worked by the internal combustion of inflammable
gas or vapour and air.
One arrangement of my improved engine consists in a cylinder closed at both
ends. I use one stroke of the piston to draw in a charge of gas or vapour and air
on one side of the piston by means, preferably, of a flap valve, and on the return
stroke this charge is forced through passages and valves into a combustion reservoir,
and retained there by suitable valves until the piston returns to the back end of the
cylinder. A valve now opens a communication between the reservoir and the back
side of the piston, and also brings the inflammable gases in the reservoir into com-
munication with a flame, and ignites them; their expansion then drives the piston
forward, which by a connecting rod turns a crank shaft and fly wheel at the end of
this out stroke, and during its return a valve is opened for the escape of its contents
from the back of the piston, and the port to the reservoir is closed.
Two reservoirs can be used, these being alternately brought into communication
with each side of the piston at each successive stroke.
In some cases a slide for the supply of gas and air instead of the flap valve may
be used.
An ordinary engine governor is used in connection with a wedge and cock for
regulating the supply of gas or vapour,

page_text: Secondly. The second arrangement consists in drawing a mixture of gas or vapour
and air into a pump, in which works a piston (placed beside of) and communicating
at the bottom with the cylinder of the engine, in which cylinder works a piston
with a rack gearing into a pinion running free on the fly wheel shaft, when the
piston and rack ascends, but grips the shaft when the piston and rack descends.
The gases are lighted by a flame when the pump piston is near the top of its
stroke, said pump being in communication with the piston in the cylinder on its
under side; the pressure from the explosion then acts on the surface of the piston,
and same is driven up.
The pump piston is worked by a crank rod, to which is secured a cog wheel,
which gears into another wheel fixed on the fly wheel shaft of the engine. On each
side of the cylinder is placed another cylinder, each having an air-tight piston and
rod working therein.
The tops of their rods are attached to a cross head fixed to the rack. When an
explosion takes place in the pump, the rack, piston, cross head, and the two side
vacuum pistons are driven rapidly up to the top of their cylinders, the pressure of
the air on the top surfaces of the vacuum pistons forcing then and the rack down
again to the bottom; thus the energy of the explosion is absorbed in the up stroke
of the vacuum pistons, to be given back again in their descent.
Instead of vacuum cylinders and pistons india-rubber or metallic springs may be
attached to the rack to absorb the energy of the explosion in the up stroke, and
return it in the down stroke.
Third. The third arrangement is a modification of the second arrangement. The
pump draws in gas and air through a valve, then compresses them into a reservoir
communicating with the rack cylinder; a slide then closes .the communication
between the pump and the reservoir, and then the gases are fired in the reservoir,
the explosion produced propelling the piston and rack and vacuum pistons up, as in
the second arrangement. A valve is then opened for the escape.
Springs are also applicable to this modification, instead of vacuum cylinders.
The above arrangements are simply different forms of carrying out my Invention,
and the details thereof may be varied to suit practical requirements.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Robson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th December
1877.
" IMPROVE-
JAMES ROBSON, of North Shields, in the County of Northumberland.
MENTS IN ENGINES OPERATED BY THE COMBUSTION OF GAS OR VAPOUR."
My Invention relates to ongines operated by the internal combustion of gas or
vapour.
The first arrangement consists in employing a piston and rod working in a
cylinder closed at both ends. I use the in stroke of the piston to draw in on one
side of it a charge of gas or vapour and air. On the return stroke this charge is
forced through passages into a combustion reservoir, and there retained until the
piston returns to the back end of the cylinder. The reservoir is then made to
communicate with the back or opposite side of the piston; the gases in the reservoir
are then exploded by a flame; their expansion drives the piston forward, which by
its rod and connecting rod to the crank turns the shaft and fly wheel. On the
return of the piston the products of combustion are allowed to escape.
Two reservoirs can be used, each communicating with each alternate stroke of the
piston.
Another arrangement consists in drawing into a pump worked by the engine a
mixture of gas or vapour and air; then by the return stroke of its piston, forcing
the mixture into a reservoir, which is in communication with a cylinder, in which
works a piston with a rack gearing into a toothed pinion running free on the fly
wheel shaft when the piston and rack ascends, but grips and turns the shaft on the
piston's descent. On each side of the cylinder is fixed another cylinder, with a
piston and rod working therein; the tops of the rods are attached to a cross
head fixed to the rack. When an explosion takes place in the reservoir from the
gases being lighted the expansion thereby caused drives the rack, piston, cross
head, and side vacuum pistons rapidly to the tops of their cylinders, the pressure of
the atmosphere on the side pistons forcing them and the rack down again to the
bottom, at the same time turning the shaft and fly wheel; thus, the energy of the
explosion in the rack cylinder is absorbed in the up stroke of the vacuum pistons,
and given back again in descent of same.
Instead of vacuum cylinders, india-rubber, metallic, or other springs may be
attached to the rack for the purpose above described.
In another arrangement the pump piston has a rod passing through a packing
box on the cover; the bottom of this pump is constantly in communication with the
bottom of the rack cylinder; the pump's charge is fired when its piston is at the
top. The expansion drives the rack piston up, as in the last-described arrange-
ment.
To make my Invention better understood I now proceed to describe the same by
reference to the accompanying Drawings, that is to say,—
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
Figs. 1 to 10 show various sections of the crank engine arrangements.
A is the cylinder enclosed in a water jacket, with its piston B and rod passing
through a packing box in the cover, and connected to the crank and fly-wheel shaft

page_text: ports Qand R, as seen in Fig. 4; on the piston moving to the front end, it forces
the gas and air into one or other of the reservoirs through the front port, according
to the position of the slide K, the air and gas are there retained by the slide's
movement, and when the piston returns to the back end the slide Kopens its
passage ways from one end of the reservoir to the back side of the piston it also
brings either of the passages, T or U, into communication with either of the flames
burning in the niches S, S. This fires the gas mixture, causing it to expand in the
passages and combustion reservoirs, which, being in communication with the back
side of the piston, drives it forward, and during this forward movement another
charge is compressed into the other reservoir.
Tis the escape valve worked by the eccentric V¹ and lever V1.
In some instances, instead of admitting the gas and air by the flap valve P, I
admit them as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, which show another arrangement of
slide K, the reservoirs being bent tubes E and F fixed to the slide and moving with
it. They communicate with the cylinder ports J, I, and the flame niches S, S, by
their openings in the slide face e, e, f, f, according to the position of the slide, the
air is let in up through a port W in the slide, and the gas by the pipe g at the top,
and then into the cylinder by its port.J.
In Figs: 5 and 7 is an arrangement of small slide X for cutting off the niche
flame gas S; just before the niche is opened to one or other of the reservoirs it is
moved by a bent pin Y fixed on the slide K. Z, Z, are constant flames for re-lighting
the niche flaines.
The exhaust may take place through the port in slide K, similar to the air port W
(Fig. 8), but at the opposite end of slide K.
In Figs. 2 and 3 is shown the arrangement for keeping the slides up to the
cylinder face.
a is a strong cruciform spring held by bolts and nuts to the cylinder and pressing
on the slide case b. Between this case and the slide K are rollers C, C, which
reduce the friction from sliding to that of rolling on the back of the slide.
In Fig. 10 air alone may be drawn into the cylinder by the flap valve P or air
port W in the slide K, the gas pump's plunger 2, worked by an eccentric and rod
on the fly-wheel shaft draws in a charge of gas from the pipe q through the valve
3, and forces it through the valve 4, partly held down by a spring, into the
cylinder port J, when the piston is forcing the air through this port into one of the
reservoirs.
The supply of gas is regulated by the governor 3, Figs. 6 and 9, moving the
lever 4, rod 5, and wedges 6 either up or down. 7 is an eccentric rod moved by an
eccentric on the fly-wheel shaft; this rod moves a lover 8 hinged at bottom, and by
a spring 9 moves another hinged lever 10, which, on being moved forward, forces
the wedge 6 against the gas supply valve 11, and closes the gas inlet 12, partly or
entirely, according to the thickness of that part of the wedge interposed; a spring
-13, weaker than the spring.9, is used to open the valve. When the engine is
standing the governor collapses, thereby forcing the upper part of tlie wedge down,
thus closing the gas port valve.
On starting the engine, gas may be sent round to the pipe 9 by the by-pass
cock 14.
19 is a breathing valve and port, opened by a wedge 20 being inserted by the
governor between the valve and rocking lever V1; when the engine runs too quick,
the gas is cut off by the governor rising, it also raises the rod 21 attached to the
lever and wedge 20 and keeps this valve and port open; so that there is no necessity
to force the air through the reservoirs when the speed is too great.
Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are sections of another arrangement of engine.
A is a pump for drawing in a mixture of gas and air through the flap valve B;
the pump piston C is worked by a rod to a crank and shaft D, on which is fixed
the toothed wheel E gearing into a pinion about one-third its diameter fixed on the
fly-wheel shaft F; when the pump piston has arrived at the top of its stroke, the
slide valve G is moved up by its eccentric H on the shaft D; which opens a commu-

page_text: nication between the pump and a reservoir I by the port J; on the descent of the
pump piston it, forces the gas mixture by the port J, into the reservoir I, and partly
under the rack piston K in the cylinder L. The slide & moving down, brings a
flame N into contact with the gases in the reservoir port J, and fires them. The
expansion drives the rack piston K rapidly up with its cross head O, on each side
of which is suspended rods and pistons P working in cylinders q; when they arrive
at the top, the external pressure on the side vacuum cylinder pistons forces them
and the rack down again. The rack K in its ascent turns the toothed pinion R and
clutch S free of the fly-wheel shaft F, but on the rack's descent the clutch grips the
shaft and turns it round.
There is an escape valve T worked by an eccentric u on the pump shaft D, which
is, timed to open when the rack piston has descended a short way. 22 is a wedge
worked by the rod 23 attached to the governor arrangement already described.
When the engine's speed is too great the governor cuts off the gas, and inserts the
wedge block 22 between the escape valve and its eccentric rod V, thus keeping the
escape open during the descent of the compressing pump's piston, and allowing its
charge to escape.
Figs. 14 and 15 show the arrangement of clutch.
F, shaft on which the pinion Ⓡ turns; S, a casing fixed to the shaft when the
pinion turns one way. The grippers V, V, free the casing S, but when it turns the
other way, the grippers by their eccentric form hold the pinion and shaft together.
W is a rubber buffer for-striking against the partly-closed cylinder covers when the
pistons rise too high; X, a valve for forcing out any air which may leak into the
cylinder.
Figs. 16 shows an arrangement of pump in which the gases are not used in a
compressed state.
A is the pump, with its piston C and rod passing through a packing box in the
cover, and then worked by a connecting rod from the pump crank shaft, as in the
last-described arrangement; the pump shaft in this case is worked by a pinion on
the fly-wheel shaft, about half the diameter of that on the pump shaft; on the
ascent of the pump piston a charge of air is drawn in by a port D in the slide E,
and gas from the port q. When the piston is at the top it covers the escape port F
the slide valve moves down and fires the gases by the flame N. The expanded
gases pass through a port way M under the rack piston, and force it up, as in the
Last-described arrangement.
On the descent of the rack piston the products of combustion are forced into the
pump, then through the passage G, and, raising the valve H, escape by the port F;
the rack cylinder and side vacuum cylinders, clutch, and fly-wheel shaft are the
same as in the last-described engine, water jackets being used and a governor, as
before described.
In Fig. 8 a system of piston packing is shown.
B is the body of the piston with a metallic spring ring 15; 16 is a packing of
asbestos; 17, outer metallic rings; 18 is a hole made into the piston. When the
pressure takes place in the cylinder, it communicates through this hole with the
space in the piston behind packing ring 15, and forces it, the asbestos ring, and
outer rings tight against the cylinder side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performned or carried out in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements in Engines
Operated by the Combustion of Gas or Vapour," substantially as herein-before set
forth and described, wherein the following are important points or features:-
Firstly. Using one side of a piston working in a cylinder to compress a mixture
of combustible gas or vapour and air into a reservoir, to be there ignited, and the
resultant expansion and pressure to be utilized on the opposite side of the said
piston for giving out motive power, substantially as herein-before described, or any
mere modification thereof.
Secondly. The arrangement of slide valve, with tubular reservoirs attached, and

page_text: friction rollers on the back, substantially as herein-before described, or any mere
modification thereof.
Thirdly. Using one or more vacuum cylinders and pistons to absorb the energy
developed by the explosion of compressed or uncompressed gas or vapour and air
under another free piston, and transmitting such energy to the engine shaft, sub-
stantially as herein described, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourthly. For regulating the supply of gas or vapour and speed of gas engines
by a governor, in combination with the eccentric on the shaft and wedges operating
on the gas supply valve and breathing valve, substantially as herein described, or
any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Robson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.
Witness,
JAMES ROBSON, Junior,
83, Church Way,
North Shields.
JAMES ROBSON. (L.S.)