Improvements in and relating to Explosion-engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: TRUVIDIONAL DIVITICATION,
Improvements in and relating to Explosion-engines.
I, CORNELIS STEFFELAAR, of Velzen Provinz Noord-Holland, in the Kingdom
of the Netherlands, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The explosion-engine or gas-engine which forms the subject of the present
invention, comprises a double-acting working cylinder and a similarly double-
acting second cylinder separated from the first and serving as a pump for exhaust-
ing the products of combustion from and drawing the charge into the working
or motor-cylinder, as well as for driving out the products of combustion.
The motor-cylinder as well as the pump, are closed at both ends and are con-
nected together by pipes for exhausting the products of combustion from, and for
drawing the explosive mixture into the motor-cylinder.
The pistons of the motor and pump-cylinders are connected, in a known
manner, to a two-throw crank-shaft by means of piston-rods and connecting-rods
and the two cranks are arranged at an angle of 180° to each other. By reason.
of the double-action of the motor-cylinder, there is an explosion at each stroke
which drives the piston forward, thus there are four times the number of explo-
sions that there are in the so-called single-acting four-stroke-cycle motors with
cylinders open at one end, and double the number that there are in the two-
stroke-cycle motors with which experiments were made before the general intro-
duction of the four-stroke-cycle motor. These consisted, as is known, of a motor-
cylinder and a pump-cylinder, which however were open at one end and of which
the pump was only employed for drawing-in and compressing the explosive
mixture.
The new motor can therefore be termed a one-stroke-cycle motor and can be
driven, not only by lighting-gas, but also by easily-volatile fluid hydro carbons,
benzine, lamp-petroleum and the like. By the double-action, the ineffective revolu-
tion or half-revolution of the four-stroke and two-stroke-cycle motor are obviated,
so that a much smaller fly-wheel is sufficient for moving the working piston over
the dead points. Also the direction of rotation can be altered in the simplest
manner, which is not the case with those motors. The development of power in
the new one-stroke-cycle motor is correspondingly greater.
As above mentioned, the pump serves only for exhausting the products of com-
bustion and for drawing in the mixture and not for the compression thereof as
in the single-acting pumps of the above mentioned two-stroke-cycle motors.
The compression of the mixture takes place in the motor-cylinder and, after the
explosion, the products of combustion are drawn out or exhausted from the motor-
cylinder into the pump and then driven out from the latter.
The construction of a vertical motor driven by lamp-petroleum will now be
indicated. This motor is designed as the propelling engine for a vessel; it is

page_text: provided with the various arrangements required for driving the motor in the
manner above mentioned and can therefore serve as an example of the motor
forming the subject of my invention..
Petroleum vapours and air, in the proper proportion, enter into the space in
the motor-cylinder above the piston through a petroleum-valve and an air-valve,
and into the space beneath the piston through similar valves at the other end of
this cylinder.
The petroleum-valves are arranged at the side of the cylinder and they are of
the known construction usual for petroleum motors.
The upper air-valve is preferably arranged in the upper cylinder-cover, the
lower valve being arranged on the side of the cylinder.
The ignition of the explosive mixture is preferably effected by means of an
incandescent tube-igniter. This, like the construction of the petroleum and air-
valves, can be assumed to be known, and these valves therefore, do not require to
be more fully described.
On the pump side of the cylinder are arranged valve-casings in which are
arranged valves operated from the motor shaft by valve-spindles in such a manner
that, during the explosions in the motor-cylinder, the said valves are pressed onto
their seats and must be opened by the valve-spindles against spring-pressure.
The opening of the said valves is effected in the following manner:-In the
motor frame, are arranged on both sides above the shaft, bell-crank levers the
upper ends of which are each pivotally connected by means of links with the
lower ends of the valve-spindles above mentioned.
The lower ends of these bell-crank levers, on the other hand, each engage,
by means of a roller, with a disc arranged on the motor-shaft, these discs being
vach provided with a cam or tappet whereby the lifting or opening of the said
valves is effected by means of the links above mentioned.
The said cam-discs are so arranged on the motor-shaft that the cams or tappets
lie diametrically-opposite each other. Their correct position must however be
determined during the working of the motor so that the said valves will be
opened at the proper time and again closed.
The valve-chests containing these valves are connected by pipes with the pump-
cylinder in such a manner that one pipe connects the upper chest or the space
in the motor-cylinder above the piston therein with the space beneath the piston
in the pump-cylinder and conversely, the other pipe connects the lower valve-
chest or the space in the motor cylinder beneath the piston with the space in the
pump-cylinder above the piston.
The pump-cylinder is provided at its upper and lower ends with exhaust valves
for the driving out of the products of combustion above and beneath the piston
of the pump-cylinder. These valves are alternately opened by an eccentric on
the motor-shaft, by the aid of a link and an oscillating double-armed lever coupled
to the valve-spindles.
The cranks are arranged at an angle of 180 degrees to each other so that when
the piston of the motor-cylinder is at its upper dead point, the piston of the pump
cylinder is at its lower dead point, and conversely, and when the former moves
downwards, the latter moves upwards.
The diameter of the pump-cylinder is greater than that of the motor-cylinder.
Each of the aforesaid cams or tappets is so arranged that the opening of the
corresponding valve will first take place after the explosion, and the said valve
will be again closed as soon as the space in the motor-cylinder above or beneath
the piston is full of the mixture, so that none of the mixture can enter the connect-
ing tube or into the pump-cylinder.
In order to reduce to a harmless degree, the strong heating of the motor-cylinder
which takes place by reason of the double-action, a thorough and very powerful
cooling is provided for the said cylinder, including the two cylinder-covers; and
preferably the pump-cylinder is also cooled either with the water flowing away
from the working cylinder, or with fresh water.

page_text: The reversal of the direction of rotation is effected in a simple manner by open-
ing the air-valves by hand.
Dated the 30th day of April 1898.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, CORNELIS STEFFELAAR, of Velzen Provinz Noord-Holland, in the Kingdom
of the Netherlands, 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;-
The explosion-engine or gas-engine which forms the subject of the present
invention, comprises a double-acting working cylinder and a similarly double-
acting second cylinder separated from the first and serving as a pump for exhaust-
ing the products of combustion from and drawing the charge into the working
or motor-cylinder, as well as for driving out the products of combustion.
The motor-cylinder as well as the pump-cylinder, is closed at both ends and these
two cylinders are connected together by pipes for exhausting the products of com-
bustion from, and for drawing the explosive mixture into the motor-cylinder.
The pistons of the motor and pump-cylinders are connected, in a known
manner, to a two-throw crank-shaft by means of piston-rods and connecting-rods
and the two cranks are arranged at an angle of 180° to each other. By reason
of the double-action of the motor-cylinder, there is an explosion, at each stroke,
which drives the piston, thus there are four times the number of, explo-
sions that there are in the so-called single-acting four-stroke-cycle motors with
cylinders open at one end, and double the number that there are in the two-
stroke-cycle motors with which experiments were made before the general intro-
duction of the four-stroke-cycle motor. These consisted, as is known, of a motor-
cylinder and a pump-cylinder, which however were open at one end and of which
the pump was only employed for drawing-in and compressing the explosive
mixture.
The new motor can therefore be termed a one-stroke-cycle motor and can be
driven, not only by lighting-gas, but also by easily-volatile fluid hydro-carbons,
benzine. lamp-petroleum and the like. By the double-action, the ineffective
revolution of the four-stroke and half-revolution of two-stroke-cycle motors are
obviated, so that a much smaller fly-wheel is sufficient for moving the working
piston over the dead points. Also the direction of rotation can be altered in the
simplest manner, which is not the case with those motors. The development of
power in the new one-stroke-cycle motor is correspondingly greater.
As above mentioned, the pump serves only for exhausting the products of com-
bustion and for drawing in the mixture and not for the compression thereof as
in the single-acting pumps of the above mentioned two-stroke-cycle meters.
The compression of the mixture takes place in the motor-cylinder and, after the
explosion, the products of combustion are drawn out or exhausted from the motor-
cylinder into the pump and then driven out from the latter.
A vertical motor driven by lamp petroleum is shown in the accompanying
drawing wherein
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the motor, and

page_text: Figure 2 a partial side elevation thereof seen from the left between the two
cylinders.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the working cylinder or through the
valve mounted thereon, and
Figure 4 a horizontal section, through the pump cylinder.
This motor is designed as the propelling engine for a vessel; it is provided
with the various arrangements required for driving the motor in the manner
above mentioned and can therefore serve as an example of the motor forming the
subject of my invention.
Petroleum vapours and air, in the proper proportion, enter into the space in
the motor-cylinder A above the piston K through a petroleum-valve P and an air-
valve L, and into the space beneath the piston through similar valves 1" and L¹
at the other end of this cylinder.
The petroleum-valves and P¹ are arranged at the side of the cylinder A and
they are of the known construction usual for petroleum-motors.
The upper air-valve L is arranged in the upper cylinder-cover, the lower
valve being arranged on the side of the cylinder.
The ignition of the explosive mixture is preferably effected by means of an
incandescent tube igniter. This, like the construction of the petroleum and air-
valves, can be assumed to be known, and these valves are therefore only shown
diagrammatically in the drawing.
On the pump side of the cylinder A are arranged valve-casings B and C in
which are arranged valves b and c operated from the motor shaft by valve-spindles b
and c¹, in such a manner that, during the explosions in the motor-cylinder A,
the said valves b and c are pressed onto their seats and must be opened by the
valve-spindles against spring-pressure.
The opening of the valves b and c is effected in the following manner:- -In the
motor frame, are arranged on both sides above the shaft, bell-crank levers H H¹,
Figure 2, the upper ends of which are each pivotally connected by means of links
with the lower ends of the valve-spindles bf and c¹.
The lower ends of these bell-crank levers, on the other hand, each engage, by
means of a roller, with a disc R R respectively arranged on the motor-shaft, these
discs being each provided with a cam or tappet r, whereby the lifting or open-
ing of the valves b and c is effected by means of the links above mentioned.
The said cam-discs are so arranged on the motor-shaft that the cams or tappels r
and le diametrically-opposite each other. Their correct position must however
be determined during the working of the motor so that the valves b and c will
be opened and again closed at the proper times.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the upper valve-chest B is arranged at the side
of the vertical middle line so that the valve-spindle can move by the side of the
lower valve-chest C.
The valve-chests B and C are connected by pipes D and E with the pump-
cylinder S in such a manner that one pipe 1 connects the upper chest B or the
space in the motor-cylinder A above the piston K, with the space beneath the
piston N in the pump-cylinder S and conversely, the other pipe E connects the
lower valve-chest C or the space in the motor cylinder beneath the piston K with
the space in the pump-cylinder above the piston N.
The pump-cylinder S is provided at its upper and lower ends with exhaust
valves F and G for the driving out of the products of combustion above and
beneath the piston N of the pump-cylinder. The valves and G are alternately
opened by an eccentric d on the motor shaft, by the aid of a link f and an
oscillating double-armed lever g coupled to the valve-spindles.
The cranks are arranged at an angle of 180 degrees to each other so that when
the piston K of the motor-cylinder is at its upper dead point, the piston N of the
pump cylinder is at its lower dead point, and conversely, and when the former
moves downwards, the latter moves upwards.

page_text: The diameter of the pump-cylinder is greater than that of the motor-cylinder.
The action of the motor is as follows:-
In the position of the pistons K and N, shown in Figure 1, the descending
pump-piston N (after the explosion has taken place in the space beneath the
piston in the motor-cylinder at the beginning of the upward stroke of the said
piston K,) has drawn the products of combustion due to this explosion through
the pipe E out of this space into the pump above the piston N, and then draws
in the mixture of petroleum vapour and air through the valves " and L' beneath
the piston K. During the above operations, the valve c is kept open by means
of the cam of the disc R¹.
Each of the aforesaid cams or tappets is so arranged that the opening of the
corresponding valve will first take place after the explosion, and the said valve
will be again closed as soon as the space in the motor-cylinder A above or beneath
the piston is full of the mixture, so that none of the mixture can enter the con-
necting tube E or into the pump-cylinder S. In the next downward stroke of
the piston the mixture in the lower space of the motor-cylinder A is com-
pressed by this piston, whilst the products of combustion are driven out of the
pump above its piston N through the valve F by means of the said piston N
which is simultaneously moving upward. The valve is opened for this purpose
by means of the eccentric d and again closes as soon as the piston N has reached
Its mghest position, as soon consequently as all the products of combustion are
forced out of the pump.
After this the explosion of the compressed mixture takes place beneath the
piston and the operations just described are repeated.
In the same manner as the space beneath the piston K in the working cylinder
is put into communication, at the proper moment, with the space in the pump
above the piston N by opening the valve e, the space above the piston K is also
put into communication with that in the pump beneath the piston N by opening
the valve b in the pipe D which connects these two cylinder-spaces.
In the upward motion of the pump-piston N, the products of combustion from
the explosion which has just taken place, are first drawn out of the cylinder A
and then the mixture of petroleum vapour and air is drawn-in through the valves l'
and L, wherein the valve 6 operated by the cam r is opened at the proper moment
and again closed.
In the next succeeding upward motion of the piston K, the mixture above this
piston is compressed and the products of combustion in the pump are driven out
of the pump by means of the descending piston N, beneath the pump-piston since
the valve G is opened by means of the eccentric d.
It will be seen that the working piston K is driven forward by an explosion in
each stroke and that the motor works almost without expansion of the exploded
mixture. Its action is consequently that of a one-stroke-cycle motor.
The time of opening of the valves b c is controlled as follows:-
The valve bore is opened as soon as the motor-piston K has moved through
approximately half of its downward or upward stroke. The pump-piston N has
then likewise reached the middle of its stroke and has in the mean time pumped
out the piping D or E so as to form a vacuum therein. If now the valve b or c
be opened, the products of combustion are immediately drawn out of the cylinder A
since the pump-cylinder S has a greater volume than the motor-cylinder A. This
exhausting action is further promoted by the vacuum or rarefaction of gas in the
pipe D or E produced in the first half of the stroke of N.
The valve will not close again until all the products of combustion are drawn
out of the cylinder A. In the mean time, by reason of the exhaustive action,
the air and petroleum valves open and fresh explosive mixture is drawn into the
cylinder A. This mixture will not, however, pass into the tube D (or E) but, by
reason of its density, will flow towards the larger space in the cylinder A and
remain therein.
The valves b and c still remain open for approximately one fifth of the travel

page_text: from the above mentioned half of the further downward or upward stroke of the
piston and, in this further downward or upward stroke of the piston K, still more
mixture is drawn into the cylinder A, which is compressed in the upward or down-
ward stroke of the piston.
From this it will be seen that the compressed gases act, by their explosion, upon
both sides, of the working piston K only.
In order to reduce to a harmless degree, the strong heating of the motor-
cylinder A, which takes place by reason of the double action, a thorough
and very powerful cooling is provided for the said cylinder including the two
cylinder-covers; and preferably the pump-cylinder is also cooled, either with the
water flowing away from the working cylinder, or with fresh water.
The reversal of the direction of rotation is effected in a simple manner by open-
ing the air-valves by hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A double-acting explosion engine or motor receiving an impulse at every
stroke, wherein the products of combustion are drawn out of, and the fresh charge
drawn into the motor-cylinder, and wherein the spaces on both sides of the piston
in the motor-cylinder are connected by means of pipes controlled by valves, with
the spaces on both sides of the piston in a pump-cylinder, so that the compression
of the mixture takes place in the motor-cylinder and at the same time the pro-
ducts of combustion which have been passed into the pump-cylinder are driven out
therefrom, substantially as herein before described.
2. The mechanism for actuating the valves b and c, comprising cams on the
crank-shaft, which, through the medium of a double lever and the valve-spindles,
open the said valves after the explosion and close them again as soon as the space
in the motor-cylinder is full of the explosive mixture, substantially as herein-
before described.
3. The combination, with the pump-cylinder, of valves which are opened alter-
nately by an eccentric on the motor-shaft through the medium of an eccentric
rod and an oscillating double-lever, to permit the driving out of the products of
combustion from the said cylinder, substantially as described.
4. The improved explosion-engine or motor constructed substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawing and operating as, and for the pur-
poses, above specified.
Tut the 2011. 1
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.