IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND PETROLEUM ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex for
an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND PETROLEUM ENGINES com-
municated to him from abroad by Dr. M. V. Schiltz, of Cologne, in the German
Empire
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1883.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex, IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
AND PETROLEUM ENGINES communicated to me from abroad by Dr M. V. Schiltz,
of Cologne, in the German Empire
This invention relates to gas and petroleum engines of the kind described in the
specification of Patent N° 3330 AD 1881 for an invention communicated from
abroad by the said Dr. M. V. Schiltz of Cologne.
The improvements are as follows:
1. The vertical construction of the engine shown in Figs 1 to 3 of the accompanying
drawings admits of the valves v being self-acting and attached without hinges or
other fastenings. These valves consist of metallic discs or plates working in guides
and faced with a thin packing material. They close by their own weight and act
without appreciable wear and tear, (see figs. 5 and 6). These valves cover
openings between the combustion chambers and the single acting cylinder.
2. The lower part of the machine; comprising the combustion chambers A, B, C,
surrounded by the water-jacket H, is attached to the working cylinder, Figs. 1
and 2, by bolts or other suitable means, and is separated from it by a packing of
some material which is a non-conductor of heat and not shown in the drawings.
The combustion chambers are easily accessible by the doors or man-holes u. Fig. 3,
which are applied to the inner face of the chambers and held in place by bridles
and bolts or other suitable means, the joints being made tight by suitable packing
material.
The combustion chambers A B C have on their side the openings a, b c used for
filling and iguiting and regulated by the same slide valve U which travels up and
down on its face T and is held in place by the cover V.

page_text: 3. In the case of the petroleum engine, the high degree of heat of the chambers,
which is necessary for the rapid vaporization of the petroleum, injected as a liquid,
is made more effective in the following manner:
In each combustion chamber is placed a suitable metal-piece, plate or plates E
Fig 3 insulated by non-conducting material and shaped so as to retain and utilize
the heat developed by successive combustions, for vaporizing petroleum, and
forming the succeeding combustible mixture, thus giving rise to the next stroke of
the piston.
To attain this end, the vaporizing plates are made as a series of thin superposed
plates or as a continuous plate in the form of a screw-thread round a central rod,
so as to vaporize rapidly the petroleum injected on their side, as shown in Fig. 7,
8, 9 and 14.
The large surface of the plates which are inclined in every direction and
insulated on pointed feet absorbs and stores up a great portion of the heat derived
from repeated combustions, and the plates are thus brought to a higher temperature
than the walls of the chambers.
The rapid evaporation of the petroleum is much assisted by its being previously
warmed and spread as a spray by the vertical slits q, fig 14, into which each of the
three branches of the injection pipes terminates (see fig 3). There is one of these
fine jets for each combustion chamber, Fig 2 and 14-By this means the petroleum,
converted into a spray by the atmospheric air simultaneously introduced, is thrown
on to the vaporizing plates and produces with the air a highly inflammable mixture
which is immediately ignited to effect the succeeding stroke of the piston.
Instead of the heating flame or lamp for starting the petroleum engine, placed
outside the combustion chambers, as described in the said previous specification, I
find it preferable to place a kind of lamp or small furnace F inside the first
combustion chamber A, fig 3, that is in the chamber in which the first of several
successive combustions takes place.
The said lamp or furnace F is completely shut off from the combustion chamber
and is ignited from the outside by means of an inner wick fed through the cock 2*
on the petroleum pipe p, and is kept burning as long as required.
L
This inner lamp or furnace is arranged for heating the sides or walls of the
combustion chambers, when the engine is started, and is surrounded by the
vaporizing plates above described and shown in Fig 9, in order to lead the spray of
petroleum over the heated surface of the plates and thus produce a rapid
vaporization as above described.
This method of previously heating the first combustion chamber has also the
advantage of adapting the engine to be stopped, and started again without delay;
in which case the lamp would be kept burning.
·
As soon as the engine is working regularly the lamp may be extinguished by
closing the cock 2*, fig 9.
It will be seen from the above that a highly inflammable mixture of air and
petroleum vapour is obtained, 1tly by the heat evolved from the sides of combustion
chambers, 2ndly by injecting heated petroleum, 3rdly by converting it into a spray
inside the combustion chambers, and 4thly by the heated vaporizing plates and
starting lamp F.
5. Instead of regulating the speed of the engine in the manner described in the
specification of the patent above referred to, that is instead of controlling the flow
of gas or petroleum by a cock z which is subject to wear, I now prefer to employ a
conical valve K or similar mode of regulation, as shown in Fig 1 and 2, and
inserted into the gas or petroleum supply pipe.
This cone K, as may be seen in Fig 1, is depressed into its seat by the action of
the ball governor R and cam L, when the engine is running at too great a speed,
and thus nearly closes the passage of gas or petroleum.
The rod k by which the conical valve K is actuated is made tight on d without
the usual inconveniences of a stuffing box by screwing it into several pairs of spring
plates of thin metal.

page_text: The direct action of the ball governor R upon the rod k and the cone valve K
may be replaced by the arrangement shown in Fig 1. The ball governor R
displaces by its varying speed in a well known way the cam L which, although
revolving with the crank-shaft, is capable of moving horizontally.
According to the position of this cam L which is made with three steps the
conical valve is pushed more or less into its seat and the flow of combustible fluid
regulated or even completely shut off during excessive speed.
6. The injection of water over the valves v, to prevent their overheating is provided
for by the three small pipes win Fig 1 which play upon the valves, and the moment
of its admission is regulated, together with the filling and igniting of the combustion
by the same slide valve V Fig 1 moved up and down by the eccentric N on the
crank-shaft.
This eccentric N is set in advance of the crank by 90° or half a stroke, so that
the slide V is moved up and down by the rod f during the return stroke of the
main piston from its middle position down and back to this position, and during
the upstroke of the piston the slide moves from its middle position upwards and
back to its middle position.
During the return stroke of the piston the filling of the combustion chambers
A B and C is operated through the open ports a, b, c and then the inflammable
mixture is ignited at the beginning of the upstroke of the main piston through the
said ports a b c and the injection of the water by the pipe w immediately follows
into the space under the piston.
The whole of these operations is regulated by the one slide valve V. The water
in the tank W is constantly held under pressure in the manner as will be explained
below, and owing to that pressure, flows through the pipe y into the cylinder
jacket G, Fig 2, and from there passes through the pipe into the jacket F which
surrounds the combustion chambers as shown in Fig 1 and 2 and from there the
water passes through the short-channel e and small pipe e¹ Fig 3 shown by dotted
lines, to the other side of the slide box where it prevents the overheating of the
slide valve.
At the proper time as determined by the position of the slide valve, the water
flows through the passage x of the slide valve Figs 10 to 15 and through the pipe w
and is dispersed over the self-acting valves v underneath the main piston.
The position of the crank and main piston of engine at which the water is
admitted depends entirely upon the exact position of the port of the slide
valve.
The pressure in the tank W necessary for injecting water into the cylinder, is
obtained from that resulting from the explosions underneath the main piston and
for this purpose the lower part of the cylinder is connected with the upper part of
the water tank W by a pipe I Fig 2 provided with a valve to prevent any return
flow of gas
The upper part of this water-tank is also connected with the petroleum tank P
by a small pipe 8, so that the available pressure of several atmospheres acts on the
petroleum so as to cause the same to flow rapidly into the combustion chambers
when the slide valve is in a suitable position, and also on the water which is injected
at each stroke into the cylinder.
The quantity of water supplied at each stroke is regulated by the cocks Zo
and Z.
As during its whole course the water is kept under a pressure of several
atmospheres, its temperature may rise to as much as 130° celsius, this heat being
derived from its passage round the jacket H of the combustion chambers which is
separated from the jacket G of the cylinder by suitable non-conducting material:
The temperature of the water is indicated by a thermometer t, fixed on the side of
the water jacket H, Fig. 2 and 3. By closing the cocks Z³ and Z the engine can be
started without any injection of water till the temperature in jacket H is sufficiently
high.

page_text: The heat required for evaporating the water injected at each stroke into the
cylinder, is very small on account of the high temperature the water already has;
and the heat absorbed by the water in the cooling jacket G is quite sufficient to
prevent the overheating of the cylinder and undue waste of lubricants.
7. The ignition of the explosive mixture in the first combustion chamber A, and its
conveyance into the second chamber B and from this into the third chamber C is
effected and regulated by the slide valve V as follows (Fig. 11, 12, 14 and 15).
This slide valve has an igniting box or port m formed in three steps with a touch
hole o, and on moving the slide from its middle position upwards, the flame Z³ in
front of the touch hole o is brought into communication with the explosive mixture;
by the continued upward motion of the alide this outer communication o is closed,
and the slide connects at the same the chamber A with the chamber B through the
passages a, b, and box m, thereby igniting the compound in B; and in the same
way the chamber C is connected by means of its passage cand the box m with the
other two chambers.
All the combustion chambers being successively ignited, discharge their heated
products and resulting pressure through the self-acting valves V into the space in
the cylinder and under the main piston.
The three different positions of the igniting box m, for giving rise to successive
explosions are represented in Figs 16, 17 and 18.
This box mis lined with a non-conducting material made of clay, asbestos, coal
powder and borax to prevent its overheating, and to avoid the cooling of the igniting
flame.
The order of the successive explosions depends upon the shape of the igniting
cavity m and the contents of all the chambers, may be ignited before the crank is
at a right angle with the connecting rod.
It is found preferable to make the third or last of the combustion chambers C
larger than the others, and of course a larger or smaller number of these combustion
chambers may be employed.
In order to diminish the violent discharge of the compressed combustible, mixture
contained in the first combustion chamber through the igniting box m and
passage a the upper edge of the box m has a small shaped section, this gradually
uncovering the passage a, and the instant that the upper edge of this box has
passed the lower edge of the passage a, the touch-hole o of the cover is completely
shut off.
i
8. In order to prevent the mixing of the coal-gas and air, which are drawn in by the
pump S Fig 4, that is to say to keep them separated and to carry them successively
through the pipe D into the combustion chambers, a balloon X (fig 4) of india-rubber
or leather or other suitable elastic material, a bladder of an animal or such of
varnished linen or its equivalent is placed inside the pump S and provided with
separate flap or check valves suitably disposed. The coal gas is admitted from the
pipe g by the flap valve n into the balloon X, the air by the flap valve n¹ into the
cylinder S separated from the gas. By the return stroke of the pump piston both
gases are compressed and successively forced into the pipe D, first the air through
the flap valve and then the coal-gas at an increased pressure through the valver,
which is charged by its own weight or a suitable spring; the same may be effected
by a spring placed inside the elastic bag resisting to its compression.
By this means the chambers may-be blown out by air instead of by a mixture,
if a weak mixture is required the coal gas being admitted afterwards so as to
produce an easily inflammable mixture in the passages a b and c.
The mode of working the gas engine with the improvements above described is
as follows:
A. For starting the engine, the outer flame is lighted, the gas cock z opened and
the fly wheel turned round.
Coal gas is taken into the pump S on the upstroke of its plunger through the
valve n, Fig 1 and 4, cone valve K and pipe g, and air is also taken in through
the valve n. During the down stroke of both pistons which move in the same

page_text: direction, and at the same time the air and gas are forced as described above
through the pipe D and slide valve U into the combustion chambers A, B, C where
the mixtures at the beginning of the upstroket are ignited successively in the
three chambers, so that the products of combustion pass through the self acting
valves V which open in succession and thus cause the next upstroke of the main
piston.
Before the upstroke of the piston is completed, the exhaust valve i is opened by
means of the rod h and roller worked by the cam M on the crank-shaft, and this
valve is kept open for some time during the return stroke of the piston, Fig* 1
and 2, so as to allow the products of combustion to escape through a pipe and the
chambers to be emptied and refilled for the next stroke.
The cam M keeps the exhaust valve i completely open during the first half of
the return stroke of the piston, after which the exhaust is partially closed and
only completely so on the piston reaching its dead-point at the end of the stroke.
Thus the products of combustion are somewhat throttled and compressed in the
cylinder, so that they exercise a sufficient pressure upon the valves v, which assisted
by their own weight, compress the combustible mixtures discharged at the same
time into the combustion chambers by the pump S.
Water is injected behind the piston immediately after the ignition in the chambers
as above described.
B. The petroleum engine is represented by the horizontal section Fig 3 and differs
from the gas engine only in the following points.
1. In all the combustion chambers are placed vaporizing plates Fig. 7 and 8 and
in combination with them a heating lamp F (Fig 9) is provided in the first
chamber A.
2. The petroleum flowing from the tank P through the pipe p and regulating
valve K passes directly through the three branch pipes into the combustion
chambers A, B, C, without the aid of the pump S and, the petroleum is admitte·l
in the form of spray and rapidly vaporized to form the combustible mixture as
above described.
The mode of working the petroleum engine is as follows.
To start the engine it is essential to begin by heating the combustion chambers
inside only, and to heat these quickly the water in the jacket H surrounding them
must be let off through cock 2.
It may be sufficient to heat highly the first chamber only, by igniting the inner
lamp or furnace F fig 9 fixed in the chamber A as described above.
As soon as the vaporizing plates in the chambers are sufficiently heated and the
sides of the chamber warmed, the petroleum engine may be started by turning
the fly-wheel in the same way as described for the gas engine, the petroleum cock
being opened and the outer flame z³ burning.
By the pump S air only is pumped into the chambers through the pipe D, the
petroleum also flowing in directly from the tank P through the pipe p and the
three jets or branches.
The petroleum vaporizing rapidly, forms with the air a combustible mixture,
which is immediately ignited and drives the piston forward in the same way as
in the gas engine. When the engine is working regularly and the combustion
chambers begin to get over-heated, the water in the jacket I may be replaced
gradually.
If it is preferred not to use the pressure arising from products of combustion,
and transmitted to the tank through pipe I, then the petroleum may be pumped
from the tank P through pipe p by the same pump S into the combustion chambers
through a special delivery pipe. In this case the petroleum and the air do not mix
in the pump and the elastic bag in the barrel of the pump is not needed, but the
valves must be arranged in a similar way as they were for coal gas.
As long as the sides of the combustion chambers and vaporizing plates are not
yet sufficiently heated, and supposing that no great amount of work is demanded
of the engine; the engine may be driven by explosions in the first chamber.A.only

page_text: The use in gas and petroleum engines, of combustion chambers made easily
accessible by means of doors or manholes opening inwards and attached by
bridles or other suitable means, made perfectly tight by appropriate cement
or packing, substantially as herein-before described and shown in Fig" 1, 3,
and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
The method of utilizing the heat derived from the combustion of a combustible
mixture in a petroleum engine, for the rapid vaporization of the petroleum
required produce the charge of combustible mixture for the next stroke,
which method consists in establishing in each combustion chamber one or
more suitably formed metallic vaporizing surfaces, as shown in Fige 7, 8
and 9 of the accompanying drawings, standing on detached supports of non-
conducting material, so as to vaporize the petroleum injected on these heated
surfaces and thus form a fresh charge when mixed with air pumped in, and
which charge will in its turn be ignited and exploded for producing the next
stroke of the piston.
Starting and working a petroleum engine by the aid of an internal furnace or
lamp established in the first combustion chamber, which lamp is not connected
with the chamber but is lighted from the outside and kept burning by a supply
of suitable fuel and surrounded by the vaporizing plates above described for
the purpose of warming these plates and thus rapidly vaporizing the petroleum
to be afterwards used for combustible mixtures, substantially as described and
shown in Fig 3 and Fig 9 and 14 of the accompanying drawing.
Utilizing the pressure, produced by the explosions under the piston of a gas or
petroleum engine, for causing the flow of liquids from suitably disposed tanks;
the said pressure of the products of combustion being conveyed to these tanks
containing the liquids by a pipe I and suitable back valve, thus enabling the
liquids to flow rapidly from the tanks without the aid of a pump, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig 2 of the accompanying drawings.
The above described method of regulating the speed of a gas or petroleum
engine by automatically controlling the quantity of gas or petroleum admitted
by a valve the position of which is made dependent on the varying speed of
the engine, substantially as herein before described and shown in Fig 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
The above described method of preventing the mixing of two different gases,
such as coal-gas and air, in the supply pump of a gas or petroleum engine,
which method consists in the use of a separate elastic bag of india-rubber
or other suitable material placed in the barrel of the pump underneath the
piston, and drawing in and expelling at each stroke each of the two gases
through suitable valves quite separated from the other gas contained in the
same barrel of the pump thus keeping the two gases apart until discharged
into the combustion chamber or chambers, substantially as herein before
described and shown in Fig 4 of the accompanying drawings.
n witness whereof I the said Herbert John Haddan have hereunto set my
d and seal this 18th day of September A.D. 1883.
TE T ITANDAN