IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edouard Bénier, Civil Engineer, and Auguste Lamart,
Gentleman, both of Beaumetz, in the Republic of France, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edouard Bénier and
Auguste Lamart at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
12th March 1881.
EDOUARD BÉNIER, Civil Engineer, and AUGUSTE LAMART, Gentleman, both of
Beaumetz, in the Republic of France. IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES."
"
Our Invention relates to the construction of an improved gas engine.
In carrying out the Invention the movement of the piston is communicated to a
connecting rod, which acts on a lever arm, which latter, by means of a second
connecting rod, turns the driving shaft. The jacket of the cylinder encloses witer,
which is kept at a temperature below boiling point by means of pipes which pass
through the water and in which the air is circulated by means of the natral
draught produced by the heat of the water.
The explosion behind the piston may be produced by means of gas or combustible
vapours produced by any known means. The ignition is effected by means da
moveable intermittent burner drawn along with the distributing slide valvely
means of a cam on the driving shaft and of a spring lever. The burner abar
each explosion is relighted at a permanent burner placed at the end of the se
valve.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edouard Bénier and Auguste Lamart in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th August 1881.
EDOUARD BÉNIER, Civil Engineer, and AUGUSTE LAMART, Gentleman, both of
Beaumetz, in the Republic of France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES."
Our Invention relates to the construction of an improved gas engine.
In carrying out the Invention the movement of the piston is communicated to a
connecting rod which acts on a lever arm, which latter, by means of a second
connecting rod, turns the driving shaft. The jacket of the cylinder encloses water,
which is kept at a temperature below boiling point by means of pipes which pass
through the water and in which the air is circulated by means of the natural
draught produced by the heat of the water.
The explosion behind the piston may be produced by means of gas or combustible
vapours produced by any known means. The ignition is effected by means of a
moveable intermittent burner drawn along with the distributing slide valve by
means of a cam. on the driving shaft and of a spring lever. The burner after
each explosion is relighted at a permanent burner placed at the end of the slide
valve.
But to make our Invention better understood we will now proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a
longitudinal section (on line 3, 4, of Figure 3) of a gas engine constructed according
to our Invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the same; Figure 3 is a sectional
plan on line 1, 2, of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the slide
valve, including the intermittent and permanent burners. Similar letters in all the
Figures represent similar parts..
:
The machine or engine is constructed of an iron frame A cast with an explosion
cylinder B, on which moves a piston C, which operates a connecting rod D, acting
on the extremity of a lever E, which transmits the motive power to the fly wheel
shaft or crank axle G by means of a connecting rod F; a cam H, by means of the
lever K, moves a distributing and igniting slide valve, which is constantly drawn
backwards by means of a spiral spring R as soon as the cam ceases to push it
forward. An india rubber stopper T serves as a buffer to the lever K in order to
deaden the shock on the cam Hat the end of the stroke of the slide valve.
t
The cylinder B is surrounded with water in the closed jacket formed by the
interior of the frame and the iron plate I, which carries the tubes i closed at the
side next the water, but the interior being in communication with the open air at
the top and bottom. The combustion of the gas in. the cylinder heating the water
which surrounds the said cylinder, the air contained in the tubes i becomes heated
and ascends so as to escape through the openings Y of the frame; it is there replaced
by cold air coming through the base of the frame, which in its turn becomes
heated. A constant draught is thus produced. The air in becoming heated
absorbs a certain quantity of caloric from the water, and such quantity is sufficient
to prevent the water from boiling and evaporating. There is therefore no need to
renew it, and it is this special construction of apparatus which forms the basis of
our Invention.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The piston C in the first half of its
stroke from left to right, draws in a mixture of air and gas or combustible vapour
through the openings N of the frame and through the openings n and n¹ of the
slide valve L, which are in communication during this part of the stroke; the
one n is the air inlet port, the other n³ is the inlet port for the gas (or vapour)
drawn along by the tube o, such gas (or vapour) by means of several small holes

page_text: suitably mixing with the air before entering the cylinder. When the piston C has
reached the half of its stroke, the cam H moves the slide valve L, which carries a
small igniting burner M'. Communication between the opening N and the ports n
and n¹ is stopped, but the opening N is instantly put into cornmunication with the
burner M', which ignites the mixture and produces the explosion, so as to push the
motive piston during the other half of the stroke. In its return stroke the piston
drives the burnt gases through the openings S of the slide valve L, which is then
opposite the opening N. The small igniting burner M' after each explosion and
during the escape of the products of combustion, is re-ignited at the permanent
light M". The burner M' is fed during its stroke for igniting the explosive
mixture, firstly, during the first half of its stroke by the special pipe M; and
secondly, during the second half of its stroke by the pipe O, which also furnishes
the stroke to the cylinder. At the moment of the explosion the burner M' is in
communication with the pipe O, and the burnt gas which is forced by the explosion
in this burner comes into the tube O, whence it is drawn with pure gas by the
following stroke of the piston in such a manner that there is no inflammable
mixture immediately against the piston, a cushion of air being thus formed which
much lessens the violence of the shocks.
The alternate communication of the burner M' with the pipes M and O is effected
by means of a small channel in the slide valve L, arranged in such a manner that
in leaving the pipe M it comes opposite the pipe O. This arrangement allows of a
rapid and regular ignition with very small burners.
Having thus described our Invention, and the best means with which we are
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein laid down and
shewn in the Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the
peculiar character of our Invention, but what we do claim is,-
-
Firstly. The cooling the water surrounding the cylinder by the arrangement
herein before described and shewn, or any equivalent arrangement utilizing the
passage of the exterior air passing through water heated close to the cylinder.
Secondly. The method of igniting the explosive mixture by means of the
combination of a permanent burner M², an intermittent burner M', a slide
valve L provided with a channel a, and pipes M and O, substantially as shewn
and set forth.
Thirdly. The general arrangement of the engine hereinbefore described and
represented.
Fourthly. The employment in the engine of any gas or combustible vapours
produced from any source or mode of manufacture.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edouard Bénier and Auguste Lamart, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifteenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
EDOUARD DENIER (L.B.)
AUGUSTE LAMART. (L.S.)