IMPROVE- MENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wilden King, Engineer, of 33, Bury New Road,
Manchester, in the County of Lancashiro, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wilden King at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th September 1881.
CHARLES WILDEN KING, Engineer, of 33, Bury New Road, Manchester, in the
County of Lancashire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
My Invention relates to that class of motive power engines in which the power
is derived from the combustion of a mixture of combustible gases and air, and in
which the products of such combustion are used to develope the power in the
cylinder.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a compressing pump to compress the
mixture of combustible gas and air. After compression the mixture passes through
a burner composed of a bundle of wires, or a number of layers of wire gauze, or
a combination of these, and is burnt in a chamber lined with fireclay or other
refractory material, the flame at this burner being continuous or nearly so, and
the products of combustion are received in a hot state into the chamber lined with
fireclay or refractory material. From this chamber or receiver the hot products
of combustion are admitted through a peculiarly constructed valve, which is
hereinafter described, into the working cylinder, where they expand. doing work
upon the piston.
In a more simple modification of my Invention I make the working cylinder
perform the part of the compressing pump alternately with its action as the
working cylinder, as shall be hereinafter more particularly described. In con-
nection with the delivery valve of the pump I provide a receiver for the mixed
compressed gases, which receiver is connected to the burner by a pipe or connection
provided with a safety appliance, consisting of a number of layers of wire gauze
to prevent any chance of the flame striking back and exploding the mixture in the
receiver. There is also in this pipe or connection a regulating cock or valve, which
De

page_text: is adjusted so that when the engine attains its normal speed there shall be a nearly
regular flow of combustible mixture through the burner to secure a continuance
of the combustion, but when the engine has been working for a little time this
regulating cock may be more fully opened to afford a more free passage, as the
fireclay chamber will then be hot enough to secure the relighting of the flame
during the delivery from the pump.
I prefer to line the combustion chamber or receiver, which may be called the
hot receiver (in contradistinction to the receiver between the pump and the burner),
with a mixture of gannister or fireclay and sawdust, which, when the sawdust is
burnt out, forms a very refractory porous lining, which has great non-conducting
properties, and is very suitable for the purpose. I may also line the hot end of
the cylinder with a similar lining, or with one containing less sawdust, for the
purpose of rendering it harder. In order to prevent small pieces of fireclay or
dust from the fireclay from injuring the working cylinder or the valves, I may
plate or coat the interior surface of the hot receiver and the hot end of the cylinder
with nickel or other suitable refractory metal, or I may make linings to fit these
surfaces or parts of them in nickel or other suitable refractory inetal for the same
purpose.
The forward part of the cylinder in which the fitted part of the piston works is
surrounded with a jacket, through which water circulates to keep it cool, and I
provide a projection on the piston on its working side which as nearly as possible
fits the cylinder for the purpose of keeping the fitted part as far as practicable
from being injured by the heat of the hot end of the cylinder, and this projection
is joined to the fitted part of the piston by a joint formed of asbestos, millboard,
A❤
A dustine substan
fan tha
RISRANA
of_baoning-the-fitted..nistan.
The valve hereinbefore mentioned for admitting and regulating the passage of
the hot products of combustion from the hot receiver to the cylinder is formed of
a plate of iron or other suitable metal with a recess turned into it to receive a
packing of asbestos fibre, which may or may not be mixed with black lead tightly
packed into it on the part that bears against the scating. This valve may be
protected from the heat by water circulating through it, and by a collar or plate
of fireclay on its upper surface. The seating on which the valve works is formed
of an annular tube of thin nickel or other suitable metal, through which water
circulates to keep it cool.
The delivery valve of the compressing pump and the exhaust valve from the
cylinder are mushroom valves of the ordinary construction. The suction valve of
the compressing pump is formed on the plan fully described in the Specification
of a former Patent for gas motor engines, granted to me and to Alfred Cliff, and
numbered 4337, in the year 1879.
The admission and exhaust valves to the working cylinder are actuated by cams
and levers, so arranged as to open and close them at the proper times, as will be
easily understood by any person acquainted with the working of engines of this
class, and I prefer to actuate the shaft carrying these cams from the crank shaft
by chain wheels connected by a pitch chain.
The governor is connected to the suction valve of the pump in such a way that
when the engine runs too fast this valve is prevented from opening, thus keeping
the engine from drawing in its charge, or only allowing it to draw in a partial one.
In the simpler modification of this engine herein before referred to the cylinder
has four valves, two for suction and delivery, corresponding to and exactly similar
to those used in the compressing pump of the before described engine, and two for
admission and exhaust, moved by cams, and similar to those on the working
cylinder of the before described engine, but each of the latter loaded with springs
or weights to a pressure of two or three pounds per square inch to prevent them
lifting when the cylinder is acting as a pump. The action is as follows:-The
piston moves through the forward stroke towards the crank shaft, drawing in a
charge of air and gas through a suction valve similar to that described in thọ

page_text: Specification of Patent, numbered 4337, in the year 1879. When it has moved to
its full stroke it comes back and compresses the mixture through the delivery
valve partly into the receiver for compressed mixture, and partly through the
burner, as herein before described in reference to the other modification of this
engine; then the admission valve from the lot receiver is opened, and allows a
portion of hot products of combustion to pass from the hot receiver into the
cylinder. After the piston has made a portion of its working stroke forward tho
valve is shut, and during the remainder of the stroke the gases contained in
the cylinder expand behind the piston, forcing it to the end of its stroke; during
the return of the piston the exhaust valve is opened by its cam, and the piston
pushes out the waste and now comparatively cool products of combustion through
the exhaust into the open air.
This completes a cycle of operations, which thus require two revolutions of the
crank shaft, and since the valves are only required to act at every alternate
revolution, the pulleys for the pitch chain, by which the cain shaft is driven, are
therefore made so that tho cam shaft only inakes one revolution for two of the
crank shaft.
The governor acts either on the suction valve, as before described, or is inado to
act on the cam, lifting the exhaust valve in such a way as that if the engine runs
too fast this valve is kept lifted, and no fresh charge will be drawn in or delivered
to the burner until the governor permits the exhaust valve to close again.
I especially take care in this engine that the clearance at the inner end of the
cylinder is as small as possible, and thus the waste products being entirely
expelled, carbonic oxide or the combustible gases from a gas furnace, which will
not burn if mixed with the products of combustion, can be used.
If oil be found to be predjudicial as a lubricant for the piston in consequence of
the high temperature, I may use finely powdered blacklead or plumbago delivered
into the cylinder by a suitable bellows or pump, or drawn in through the suction
along with the air.
› SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Wilden King in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th March 1882.
•
CHARLES WILDEN KING, Engineer, of 33, Bury New Road, Manchester, in the
County of Lancashire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS-MOTOR ENGINES."
My Invention relates to that class of motive-power engines, in which the power
is derived from the combustion of a mixture of combustible gases and air, and in
which the products of such combustion are used to develope the power in the
cylinder.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a compressing pump to compress the
mixture of combustible gas and air. After compression the mixture passes through

page_text: a burner composed of a bundle of wires, or a number of layers of wire gauze, or a
combination of these, and is burnt in a chamber lined with fireclay or other
refractory material, the flame at this burner being continuous or nearly so, and the
products of combustion are received in a hot state into the chamber lined with
fireclay or refractory material. From this chamber or receiver the hot products of
combustion are admitted through a peculiarly constructed valve, which is herein-
after described, into the working cylinder, where they expand, doing work upon
the piston.
In a more simple modification of my Invention 1 make the working cylinder
perform the part of the compressing pump alternately with its action as the
working cylinder, as shall be hereinafter more particularly described.
In connection with the delivery valve of the pump I provide a receiver for the
mixed compressed gases, which receiver is connected to the burner by a pipe or
connection provided with a safety appliance consisting of a number of layers of
wire gauze, to prevent any chance of the flame striking back and exploding the
mixture in the receiver. There is also in this pipe or connection a regulating cock
or valve, which is adjusted so that when the engine attains its normal speed there
shall be a nearly regular flow of combustible mixture through the burner to secure
a continuance of the combustion; but when the engine has been working for a
little time this regulating cock may be more fully opened to afford a more free
passage, as the fireclay chamber will then be hot enough to secure the relighting
of the Bame during the delivery from the pump.
I prefer to line the combustion chamber or receiver, which may be called the hot
receiver, with a mixture of gannister or fire-clay and sawdust, which when the
sawdust is burnt out forms a very refractory porous lining which has great non-
conducting properties,-and-is-very-suitable-for-the-purpose-1-may-also-line-the-
hot end of the cylinder_with_a_similar_lining, or with one containing loss sawdust,
for the purpose of making it harder. In order to prevent small pieces of fireclay
or dust from the fireclay from injuring the working cylinder or the valves, I may
plate or coat the interior of the hot receiver and the hot end of the cylinder with
nickel or other suitable refractory metal; or I may make linings to fit these
surfaces or parts of them in nickel or other suitable refractory metal for the same
purpose.
The forward part of the cylinder in which the fitted part of the piston works is
surrounded by a jacket, through which water circulates to keep it cool, and I
provide a projection on the piston on its working side, which as nearly as possible
fits the cylinder, for the purpose of keeping the fitted part as far as possible from
being injured by the heat of the hot end of the cylinder, and this projection is joined
to the fitted part of the piston by a joint formed of asbestos, inillboard, or other
non-conducting substance for the purpose of keeping the fitted piston cool.
The valve hereinbefore mentioned for admitting and regulating the passage of
the hot products of combustion from the hot receiver to the cylinder is formed of a
plate of iron or other suitable metal, with a recess turned into it to receive a packing
of asbestos fibre, which may or may not be mixed with blacklead, tightly packed
into it on the part that bears against the scating. This valve may be protected
from the heat by water circulating through it, and by a collar or plate of fireclay
on its upper surface. The seating on which the valve works is formed of an
annular tube of thin nickel or other suitable metal, through which water circulates
to keep it cool.
The delivery valve from the compressing pump, and the exhaust valve from the
cylinder, are mushroom valves of the ordinary construction; the suction valve of
the compressing pump is formed on the plan fully described in the Specification
of a former Patent for gas-motor engines granted to me and to Alfred Cliff
No. 4337.
The admission and exhaust valves to the working cylinder are actuated by cams
and levers, so arranged as to open and close them at the proper times, as will be
easily understood by any person acquainted with the working of engines of this

page_text: class, and I may actuate the shaft carrying these cams from the crank-shaft by
chain-wheels connected by a pitch chain.
The governor is connected to the suction valve of the pump in such a way that
when the engine runs too fast this valve is prevented from opening, thus keeping
the engine from drawing in its charge, or only allowing it to draw in a partial one.
In the simpler modification of this engine herein before referred to the cylinder
has four valves, two for suction and delivery, corresponding to and exactly similar
to those used in the compressing pump of the before described engine, and two for
admission and exhaust, moved by cams, and similar to those on the working
cylinder of the before described engine, but each of the latter loaded with springs
or weights to a pressure of two or three pounds per square inch to prevent them
lifting when the cylinder is acting as a pump.
The action is as follows:-The piston moves through a forward stroke towards
the crank shaft, drawing in a charge of air & gas through a suction valve similar
to that described in the Specification of Patent, No. 4337. When it has moved
to its full stroke it comes back and compresses the mixture through the delivery
valve, partly into the receiver for compressed mixture and partly through the
burner, as hereinbefore described in reference to the other modification of this
engine; then the admission valve from the hot receiver is opened, and allows &
portion of hot products of combustion to pass from the hot receiver into the
cylinder; after the piston has made a portion of its working stroke forward the
valve is shut, and during the remainder of the stroke the gases contained in the
cylinder expand behind the piston, forcing it to the end of its stroke; during the
return of the piston the exhaust valve opened by its cam, and the piston pushes
out the waste and now comparatively cool products of combustion through the
exhaust into the open air.
This completes a cycle of operations which thus require two revolutions of the
crank shaft, and since the valves are only required to act at every alternate
revolution the pulleys for the pitch chain by which the cam shaft may be driven
are made so that the cam shaft only makes one revolution for two of the crank
shaft. The governor acts on the suction valve to regulate the engine, as before
described.
I especially take care in this engine that the clearance at the inner end of the
cylinder is as small as possible, and thus the waste products being entirely expelled
carbonic oxide or the combustible gases from a gas furnace which will not burn if
mixed with products of combustion can be used.
If oil be found to be prejudicial as a lubricant for the piston in consequence of
the high temperature I may use finely powdered blacklead or plumbago delivered
into the cylinder by a suitable bellows or pump, or drawn in through the suction
along with the air.
In the Drawings, Fig. 1 shews an engine with compressing pump A separate
from the working cylinder N; Fig. 2 shews an engine in which compression is
effected on the front side of the piston instead of using a separate compressing
pump; Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are separate views of an engine in which compression is
effected by every alternate stroke of the piston or by every third stroke, as herein-
after described; Fig. 7 is a detail view of the hot valve and seating. The details
of the hot receiver, linings, burner, water jacket, and piston are best shown in
Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, these details being the same in all forms of my engine. The
same letters are made to refer to the same parts in all the Figures.
In Fig. 1, A is the compressing pump, with suction valve W and delivery valve B;
C is a receiver for the mixed compressed gases; E is a pipe into which the gases
pass through a cock or valve shewn at D, Figs. 4 and 5. The pipe E conducts the
gases to a burner F shown in Fig. 1, but in more detail in Figs. 4 and 6. The
burner F contains a bundle of wires h, through which the gases pass in order to
prevent the flame striking back along the pipe E. As a further precaution the
cock D contains a number of layers of wire gauze k, (in Fig. 5) to prevent the
flame exploding the receiver C in case it happened to pass the wires h. The flame

page_text: is lighted at the wires through the lighting hole a, shewn in Figs. 3, 4, and 6,
which is then secured by a plug. The Hame passes along the passage G, Figs. 3, 4,
and 6, into the hot receiver H, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. The passage G and the
receiver H are lined with a thick coating n, m, n, of fire clay or gannister mixed
with sawdust or other suitable refractory material. A good way to secure these
linings is to make them separately and burn them in the same way in which
ordinary crucibles are made, taking care that when finished they will be somewhat
smaller than the castings into which they fit, being then put in place. Plaster of
Paris in a liquid state is run into the space between the casting and the lining,
which is thereby securely held.
The valve through which the hot gases or products of combustion pass from the
hot receiver H to the cylinder I call the hot valve; it is shewn in Figs. 1 and 3,
and in enlarged detail in Fig. 7. The cylinder consists of two parts N, in which
the fitted part of the piston works, and which is surrounded by a jacket O, through
which water circulates to keep it cool, and a cylinder hot end L, which is cast in
a piece with the hot receiver, and connected to the cylinder N by a joint composed
of a thick layer of asbestos g, which assists in keeping the cylinder N cool by its
non-conducting properties. The piston M works in the cylinder, and consists of a
fitted part with packing ring & springs, and of a projection n, connected to
the fitted part by a joint g, composed of thick asbestos sheet. This projection n,
in the working of the engine passes into the hot end L and helps to protect the
fitted part of the piston from the high temperature. The hot end L may be lined
with fire-clay to prevent the metal becoming too hot, but I find it better in practice
to form a water jacket P round it. And in order that the heat unavoidably passing
into the water may not be entirely lost I enclose this water jacket and force the
_ water-into-it-by-a-pump-X-driven by an eccentric; the water jacket is continued
up one side of the hot receiver H,.as_shewn-in-Figs.-5-and-0,-and-a-hole-is-drilled-
into its upper part from the hot receiver (shewn at m₁, Fig. 6), so that the steam
thus unavoidably generated in keeping the metal of L from getting too hot may
pass into the receiver H and help to drive the engine. In the upper part of the
jacket P there is a spherical ball float b, which is connected by a chain or rod to
the delivery valve of the pump X, thus preventing the level of the water in P
being raised too high so as to overflow through m, into the hot receiver.
In the passage G from the burner to the hot receiver there are fixed ribs k, k, of
fireclay, Figs. 3 and 6; these help by their incandescence to consume the combustiblo
gases passing in contact with them, and reignite the flame at the burner in case it
goes out.
The hot valve J, Fig. 7, is composed of a disc or plate of iron, in which a dove-
tail shaped circular recess is turned, and packed tightly with asbestos fibre mixed
with powdered blacklead; this is rammed tightly into the recess p, and the valve
is then rubbed on the seating K till it finds a bearing. The seating K is composed
of an annular tube of oblong section mado of thin metal, preferably nickel, but
platinum or copper inay be used. The seating is carefully fitted into a bored hole
in the bottom of the hot receiver, and two holes are drilled to make communication
between it and the water jacket P; one of these holes is shewn at v, in Fig. 3, and
the other in dotted lines at vin Fig. 6. The hole vin Fig. 6 has a circulating
pipe fitted into it and bent up in the jacket P sufficiently to cause a brisk
circulation by convection through the holes v and the annular space u in the
seating. The seating is thus kept cool, and at the same time it keeps the valve J
sufficiently cool by contact with it. I may however cause water to circulate
through the valve J as well as the seating if necessary. An alternative method of
packing the valve J to that shewn in Fig. 7 is shewn in Figs. 1 and 3. This is
by simply having a disc of asbestos millboard well black-leaded fixed to its under
surface, and supported in the centre by a disc of metal underneath it, instead of
the space packed with asbestos fibre. The valve J is actuated by a rod S,
protected where it passes through the hot receiver by a lining n, n, of refractory
material. The upper part of the rod S passes through a stuffing-box, and is

page_text: actuated by a lever T and rod U from the cam shaft V.
There is a spring shewn
at U to keep the valve on to its seat. The cam shaft V may be driven by bevel
gearing, or by a pitch chan f, and chain wheels d, and e, from the crank shaft Y.
After the gases have expanded in the cylinder they pass through the exhaust
valve Q into the exhaust pipe R.
The suction valve W has been fully described in my formor Patent, No. 43377.
The seating has an annular space a for gas, with holes drilled into it through the
valve seat, so that when the valve rises gas mixes with the air passing through it
into the pump or cylinder. A. valve D, Fig. 2, may be used instead of the cock D,
Figs. 4 and 5, to control the passage of the mixture from the receiver C to the
burner.
In the simpler modification of my engine, shewn at Figs. 3, 4, 5, & 6, where the
cylinder is used as a compressing pump alternately with its action as a working
cylinder, the four valves, suction valve W, and delivery valve B, with the hot
valve J, and the exhaust valve Q, are all placed on the cylinder hot end L. The
valves J & Q require to be loaded by springs to prevent them lifting when the
cylinder is acting as a pump. Valves J & Q are actuated from the cam shaft V
by the levers T and rods U. The cam shaft has the chain pulleys or bevel wheels
arranged to drive it at half the number of revolutions of the engine.
I find that in some cases the quantity of hot gas or products of combustion
produced by burning a cylinder full of air & gas is sufficient to supply two working
strokes of the piston. The engine will thus work more economically. If it is
desired to make the engine work thus the alteration required is to make the chain
wheels d, and e, in the proportion of 3 to 1 instead of 2 to 1, the cams actuating
the hot valve, and exhaust valve being altered so as to act during two revolutions
out of the 3, and to allow the pump valves to act during the remaining revolution.
In all the modifications of my Invention the economy is measured by the
temperature to which the mixture is raised by compression, and theoretically is
equal to that of a perfect engine working between the lower limit of temperature of
the atmosphere and the higher limit of the temperature of compression. This only
occurs when the expansion takes place down to the pressure of the atinosphere.
When expansion is not carried so far the economy is not so great. And in order
to carry out the expansion efficiently in the engine shewn in Fig. 1 the pump A
should be made less in capacity than the cylinder N, in a proportion depending
upon the mixture of combustible and air or upon the heating power of the
combustible used.
The proportions may be calculated from a consideration of these points.
Again in the engine shewn in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, economy is proinoted, because
expansion is carried farther by making the compression take place every 3rd stroke
as herein before described.
In the engine shewn in Fig. 2 I have contrived a simple means which may be
used if desired to make the pumping action (in this engine done by the front of
the piston) take place every second stroke; it consists of a spur wheel e driven
from the shaft so that it makes one half the revolutions of the engine, a cam shewn
in dotted lines actuates by the rod f a lever c which shuts off the gas cock and at
the same time lifts up the suction valve W during one half the revolution of the
spur wheel e, and therefore during every other revolution of the crank-shaft. The
action is timed so that the gas-cock is shut and the valve lifted during one
complete in and out stroke of the piston, which will therefore during this in and
out stroke merely draw in a charge of pure air and (as the valve is kept lifted)
will deliver it back again into the atmosphere; during the next complete in and
out strokes of the piston the can opens the gas cock and allows the valve W to
drop into its seat, thus allowing the piston to act as a pump and to force a
complete cylinder full of combustible mixture through the delivery valve B. Thus
one cylinder full of air & combustible is used after combustion in effecting two
strokes of the piston (as was the case in the modification before described of

page_text: the engine shewn in Figs. 3, 4, 5, & 6) and expansion is carried further with
increased economy.
In cases in which it is found that the exhaust is discharged at a higher
temperature than that to which the gases are compressed, a regenerator may be
used with advantage. A simple one is shewn at W in Fig. 2, but may be applied
to any type of this engine if required. In this regenerator the exhaust is carried
by the pipe R and passes along the narrow channels t, t, t, the ribs 7, 1, 7, picking
up the heat and conducting it to the sides of the other narrow channels in the
interior part, where the compressed gases pass along, thus heating them before
combustion,
In governing the engine I may simply control the passage of gas, or I may
provent the action of the pump; an arrangement for the latter purpose is shewn in
Fig. 1. bis the gas valve and c a lever, which when actuated by an ordinary
governor closes the gas valve b, and lifts the suction valve W; as long as this is
done the pump does not act, as it simply draws pure air in and delivers it out
again to the atmosphere. I may also prevent or regulate the action of the pump
by making the governor retain the valve W in its seat.
Having thus described some of the modifications of which my Invention is
capable, I wish to say that I am aware that so called caloric engines have been
used with solid fuel in which the action of the fluid was similar to the action in
my engine; and I am aware that it has been proposed to obtain the products of
explosion or combustion of gas and air, and to use these to give power in an engine
similar to a steam-engine; and therefore I do not intend to claim the action of the
fluid in my engine. Neither do I intend to claim any particular method_of_
-compression,-as-I-believe all the inethods I have described have been used before.
By making combustion take-place-in-a-hot-receiver-before-reaching the cylinder
instead of in the cylinder, as is the usual practice, I obtain great advantages in
simple ignition and more perfect combustion, and therefore greater economy.
What I consider to be novel and claim as my Invention is,-
1. Combining a compressing pump with a burner and hot receiver lined with
refractory non-conducting material, for producing hot products of combustion,
to be used in obtaining power by expansion in a cylinder, substantially as
bereinbefore described.
2. Combining a compressing arrangement, whether the working cylinder or
a separate pump, with a burner and hot receiver lined with refractory non-
conducting material, for producing hot products of combustion, to be used in
obtaining power by expansion in a cylinder, substantially as herein before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wilden King, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 28th day of March. in the year of our Lord 1882.