Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
I, HENRY NIELD BICKERTON, of 6 Richmond Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Gas
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to gas engines of the "Otto" cycle type, and have for
object more efficient means for ensuring the correct explosive mixture of gas and
air within the cylinder, and also the more effective clearance or isolation of the
residuum of foul gases or products of explosion therefrom.
To accomplish this and to effect my improvements, I form the cylinder with an
elongated or tubular recess, preferably of less diameter than the cylinder proper,
and at the back end thereof; and I arrange the piston in such wise that it travels
right up to or very near the entrance to such recess, when at that end of the
cylinder.
I place the opening for air and gas also near such entrance or front end of the
recess referred to, and arrange a small air chamber in connection with such opening.
The gas supply I pass through the air chamber, and arrange suitable valves and
gear for the regulation of the air and gas supply.
The exhaust I place at the rear end of the tubular recess already described, and
fit the same with the requisite valve and gear as will be well understood.
In practice, the air and gas are drawn into the cylinder, one after the other,.or
as a mixture, in front of the tubular recess by the valve gear being set to open the
valves in order. In addition to the ordinary exhaust at the usual time, and on the
compression stroke taking affect, I may arrange the gear to open the exhaust valve
for a very short period, just sufficient to exhaust the dead gases resulting from
previous explosions from the tubular recess, where they for the most part are
accumulated.
By these means a better or purer admixture of explosive gases is obtained, and
the non operative gases are to a large extent got rid of prior to compression.
Variations in detail may be made, such as in the particular length, diameter, and
shape of the recess described; the precise position of the opening for gas and air;
the size and form of the air chamber and gas supply, and also the precise position
of the exhaust valve and the time it is kept open during the compression stroke ;
and in the design and arrangement of the various working parts of the engine,
without departing from the peculiar character of the invention.
Dated this 1st day of November 1895.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64 Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.

page_text: 3223
BEGIROS.
I HENRY NIELD BICKERTON, of 6 Richmond Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Gas
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 improvements relate to gas engines of the "Otto" cycle type, and have for
object more efficient means for ensuring the correct explosive mixture of gas and
air within the cylinder, and also the more effective clearance or isolation of the
residuum of foul gases or products of explosion therefrom.
To accomplish this and to effect my improvements, I form the cylinder with an
elongated or tubular recess, preferably of smaller diameter than the cylinder proper,
and at the back end thereof; and I arrange the piston in such wise that it travels
right up to or very near the entrance to such recess, when at that end of the
cylinder.
I place the opening for air and gas also near such entrance or front end of the.
recess referred to, and arrange a small air chamber in connection with such opening.
The gas supply I pass through the air chamber, and arrange suitable valves and
gear for the regulation of the air and gas supply.
The exhaust I place at the rear end of the tubular recess already described, and
fit the same with the requisite valve and gear, as will be well understood.
In practice, the air and gas are drawn into the cylinder, one after the other, or
as a mixture, in front of the tubular recess, by the valve gear being set to open the
valves in order.
=
In addition to the ordinary exhaust at the usual time, and on the compression
stroke taking effect, I may arrange the gear to open the exhaust valve for a very
short period, just sufficient to exhaust the dead gases resulting from previous
explosions from the tubular recess, where they for the most part are accumulated.
By these means a better or purer admixture of explosive gases is obtained, and
the non operative gases are, to a large extent got rid of prior to compression.
But that the improvements may be better understood, I will, with the aid of the
accompanying drawings, proceed more fully to describe means employed by me.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
The figure represents a longitudinal section of the back end of a gas engine
cylinder, provided with apparatus arranged according to my improvements.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur.
a is the cylinder, and b. the piston, which is shown at or about the extreme of
its back stroke, while c. is the elongated or tubular recess.
d. and e. are the gas and air valves respectively, whose spaces d¹ and
communicate by means of the passages f; through which valves gas and air are
drawn into the chamber g. near the front end of the recess c; the outlet g of which
chamber g. is by preference directed towards the interior of the cylinder a. as
shown. But the gas and air valve may, if desired, have separate openings into the
cylinder, at or about the point shown.
The piston makes its forward stroke, to admit the charge into the cylinder, and
on the return stroke compresses the mixture of gas and air, and the residuum or
dead gases are driven thereby into the recess c.
At the same time, the exhaust valve k. is opened for a short period, as described,
and, in consequence, the residue of spent gas not ordinarily exhausted, is driven
out of the chamber c. and through the exhaust passage c¹, leaving a nearly pure
mixture of combustible gas behind the piston.

page_text: As a modification, however, this special opening of the exhaust valve may be
dispensed with, exhaust merely taking place as in ordinary.
The firing is next accomplished at the proper moment, and in the usual or any
convenient manner, but I prefer to form the firing inlet m near the front end of
the recess c. as shown.
The explosion having taken place, at the next outward stroke, and the gas and
air valves remaining closed, the exhaust valve opens on the return stroke, and the
cycle of operations is completed, as will be well understood.
Variations in detail may be made, such as in the particular length, diameter and
shape of the recess described; the precise position of the opening for gas and air,
the size and form of the air chamber and gas supply, and also the precise position
of the exhaust valve and the time it is kept open during the compression stroke;
and in the design and arrangement of the various working parts of the engine,
without departing from the peculiar character of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In gas engines, the combination of a tubular recess c. at the rear end of the
cylinder, having an opening or openings g¹ near its front end for the admission of
air and gas to such cylinder, with communicating gas and air valves d. e. and with
or without the special subsidiary exhaust, all for the purpose and operating in
manner substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 28th day of July 1896.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64 Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.