IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Worssam of King's Road Chelsea, in the County
of Middlesex Engineer for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR
ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Worssam at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th May 1882.
SAMUEL WORSSAM of King's Road Chelsea in the County of Middlesex Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES "
In a gas motor engine according to this invention there is connected to the
motive power piston a pump piston situated on the same rod and working in a
separate cylinder in the same axial line as the motive power cylinder. The pump
cylinder is provided with a port communicating with a passage whose other
extremity is commanded by three valves, one opening to the atmosphere or air
supply, one to the gas or combustible vapour supply and one to the motive power
cylinder. The air valve may be an ordinary conical valve raised by the external
atmospheric pressure when a vacuum or partial vacuum is formed above it. It
admits air from a box or reservoir provided with a grating covered with a light
india rubber valve opening in wards. The gas valve is a conical ring the upper or
inner surface of which acts as a seat for the air valve, and the outer or lower
surface of which fits into a conical seat perforated with holes in communication
with the gas or vapour supply. It is actuated by a spindle connected to one arm
of a bell crank the other arm of which is subject to movement by a cam on a
countershaft running lengthwise of the engine and driven by mitre wheels from
the crank shaft This cam moves the bell crank in one direction the return move-
ment being effected by a spring or springs which keeps or keep the arm in contact
with the cam.
From the position of the gas valve with relation to the air valve it follows that
the former can never be raised without raising the latter. The valve, which
commands communication between the pump cylinder and the motive power
cylinder is an annular slide situated between the two cylinders and having imparted
to it reciprocating movement in a rotary sense by the abovementioned counter-
shaft, at every revolution of the engine. It is operated by a connecting rod

page_text: pivotted at one end to a crank pin on the countershaft and at the other end to a
stud or projection on the periphery of the valve and is held by a spring or springs
against a valve face on the end of the motive power cylinder. In this valve one or more
cavities are formed which at a certain part of its revolution or oscillation connects
or connect the passage from the pump cylinder to a port or ports in the end of the
motive power cylinder The valve is likewise provided with an igniting cell supplied
with gas by a flexible pipe, and carried alternately to a permanently burning light
and to the cylinder port. The exhaust pipe or port is formed in the wall of the
cylinder in such a position that it is uncovered by the piston when it approaches
the end of its outer or acting stroke. The governors, which may be of any ordinary
type, act upon the cam which opens the gas supply valve, moving it along the
shaft as the speed increases. When the speed has attained a greater velocity than
that for which the governors are set the cam is so far moved that it ceases to
engage with the bell crank and the supply of gas or combustible vapour is suspended
until the normal speed is again established. The regulation or adjustment of the
governors is effected by removeable weights which are opposed to its centrifugal
force.
The operation of the engine is as follows;-Supposing the pump and motive
power pistons to be at the ends of their respective instrokes and an explosion or
combustion of the combustible mixture to have just taken place, they both move
outwards together, the motive power piston communicating motion through the
connecting rod to the crank shaft. The pump piston at the same time draws in
gas or combustible vapour and air, the gas valve having been opened by its cam,
and continues to do so for one half of its stroke or thereabouts, at which point the
gas valve is closed. During the remainder of the pump's stroke air only is drawn
in. When the motive power piston passes the exhaust port the gases escape and
immediately the crank has passed the centre their exhaustion is assisted by a
stream of air delivered from the pump, which is now put in communication with
the motive power cylinder by the rotary annular valve. As soon as the motive
power piston has passed and closed the exhaust port in its in or backward stroke,
compression commences the contents of the pump being forced into the passages
and the space behind the motive power piston and exploded or ignited at the
commencement of the succeeding out or acting stroke.
The explosion or ignition is effected by a jet in the annular valve constantly fed
with gas and relighted from a permanent jet after each explosion or ignition.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Samuel Worssam in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th November 1882.
SAMUEL WORSSAM, of Kings Road, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
"
In a gas motor engine according to this invention there is connected to the
motive power piston a pump piston situated on the same rod and working in a
separate cylinder in the same axial line as the motive power cylinder.
The pump cylinder is provided with a port communicating with a passage whose
other extremity is commanded by three valves, one opening to the atmosphere or
air supply, one to the gas or combustible vapour supply and one to the motive
power cylinder. The air valve may be an ordinary conical valve raised by the
external atmospheric pressure when a vacuum or partial vacuum is formed
above it.
It admits air from a box or reservoir provided with a grating covered with a
light india rubber valve opening inwards
The gas valve is a conical ring the upper or inner surface of which acts as a seat
for the air valve, and the outer or lower surface of which fits into a conical seat
perforated with holes in communication with the gas or vapour supply. It is
actuated by a spindle connected to one arm of a bell crank the other arm of which
is subject to movement by a cam on a countershaft running lengthwise of the
engine and driven by mitre wheels from the crank shaft.
This cam moves the bell crank in one direction the return movement being
effected by a spring or springs which keeps or keep the arm in contact with
the cam.
From the position of the gas valve with relation to the air valve it follows that
the former can never be raised without raising the latter.
The valve which commands communication between the pump cylinder and the
motive power cylinder is an annular slide situated between the two cylinders and
having imparted to it a reciprocating movement in a rotary sense by the above-
mentioned countershaft at every revolution of the engine.
It is operated by a connecting rod pivotted at oue end to a crank pin on the
countershaft and at the other end to a stud or projection on the periphery of the
valve and is held by a spring or springs against a valve face on the end of the motive
power cylinder.
In this valve one or more cavities is or are formed which at a certain part of its
revolution or oscillation connects or connect the passage from the pump cylinder to
a port or ports in the end of the motive power cylinder.
The valve is likewise provided with an igniting cell supplied with gas by a
flexible pipe and carried alternately to a permanently burning light and to the
cylinder port.
The exhaust pipe or port is formed in the wall of the cylinder in such a position
that it is uncovered by the piston when it approaches the end of its outer or acting
stroke.
The governors, which may be of any ordinary type act upon the cam which
opens the gas supply valve, moving it along the shaft as the speed increases.
When the speed has attained a greater velocity than that for which the governors
are set the cam is so far moved that it ceases to engage with the bellcrank and the
supply of gas or combustible vapour is suspended until the normal speed is again
established

page_text: The regulation or adjustment of the governors is effected by removable weights
which are opposed to its centrifugal force.
The operation of the engine is as follows:-
Supposing the pump and motive-power pistons to be at the ends of their
respective instrokes and an explosion or combustion of the combustible mixture to
have just taken place, they both move outwards together, the motive power piston
communicating motion through the connecting rod to the crank shaft.
The pump piston at the same time draws in gas or combustible vapour and air,
the gas valve having been opened by its cam, and continues to do so for one half
of its stroke or thereabouts, at which point the gas valve is closed.
During the remainder of the pump's stroke air only is drawn in.
When the motive power piston passes the exhaust port the gases in that cylinder
escape and immediately the crank has passed the centre their exhaustion is assisted
by a stream of air delivered from the pump, which is now put in communication
with the motive power cylinder by the rotary annular valve."
As soon as the motive power piston has passed and closed the exhaust port in its
in or backward stroke, compression commences the contents of the pump being
forced into the passages and the space between the motive power piston and
exploded or ignited at the commencement of the succeeding out or acting stroke.
The explosion or ignition is effected by a jet in the annular valve constantly
fed with gas and relighted from a permanent jet after each explosion or ignition.
Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings which illustrate so much
of a gas motor constructed in accordance with this invention as is necessary to
make the same readily understood;—
Figure 1 is a side elevation,
Figure 2 a longitudinal vertical section.
Figure 3 a sectional plan.
Figures 4 and 5 are end views partly in section.
Figure 6 is a section shewing the igniting arrangement.
A is the motive power cylinder in which the explosion of the mixed gas and air
is effected. B is the pump cylinder. Ca port in the same one extremity of which
is commanded by the valves D E respectively for admission of air and gas to the
engine. The air valve D is opened by air pressure when a partial vacuum is
formed above it by the action of the pump piston F, thus it is caused to rise
against the resistance offered by a helical spring x (Fig. 4) and the gas valve E is
actuated by the cam G through the bell crank lever H and vertical rod I. The
cam G may slide on and off a feather fixed in its driving shaft so as to be either
fast or loose thereon, and is in turn controlled by the governor acting through a
bell crank lever as shewn in Fig. 1
The cam shaft is driven from the crank shaft through suitable gear.
J is the slide valve which partially rotates around the piston rod on the fixed
bush K and controls the admission to the motive power cylinder A of the mixture
of air and gas previously drawn in past the valves D and E
This slide J is held against its seating by the spring L and cover plate M.
In the drawings the engine is shewn at about half stroke the piston N being
impelled outwards by the expansive force of the air and gas mixture previously
exploded on the termination of the instroke. During the course of the outward stroke
the piston F draws air and gas into the pump cylinder B through the passage C, the
air previously passing through an air valve O, chamber P, pipe Q, and valve D and
the gas through pipe R annular passage S, perforations T and past the valve E
(Fig. 4) at which point the air and gas commence to mix together.
On the return instroke the piston F forces the air and gas mixture then in the
pump cylinder back through the passage C thence through the ports of the partially
rotating slide J and seating U into the motive power cylinder A where it is com-
pressed by the action of the piston N into the space V left between the end of the
motive power cylinder A and the piston N when at the end of its instroke.
When the engine is in this position the explosive mixture of air and gas in the

page_text: motive power cylinder A is ignited by a travelling gas burner W (Fig. 5 supplied
from a metallic pipe fixed to or embedded within the slide and having a flexible
connexion X with any convenient gas supply pipe.
This travelling burner W is carried by the slide J to and ignited at the stationary
light Y once for every revolution of the crank.
In Fig. 5 the travelling gas burner W is shewn in the position for ignition by
the stationary light Y.
The gas at the travelling gas burner W having been ignited the burner is then
carried by the slide to the port Z in its seating and ignition of the compressed
mixture of air and gas in the motive power cylinder takes place, the force resulting
therefrom driving the two pistons F and N outwards as before explained.
The products of combustion escape through the exhaust passage V' when this is
uncovered by the piston N.
After the explosion has been effected and the light of the travelling burner W
thereby extinguished, the burner is carried back again by the slide in its next
oscillation aud relighted at the stationary light Y and so on continuously.
Should the governor run too fast the cam G is thrown out of gear with the bell
crank lever H, by the arrangement shewn in Fig. 1 consequently the valve E is not
then actuated consequently for the time being no gas is admitted until the cam G
is once more thrown into gear by the governor balls falling.
The governor sleeve is provided with movable weights a for the purpose already
mentioned.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
carrying the same into practical effect I would have it understood that what I
consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the invention secured to
me by the Letters Patent hereinbefore in part recited is :-
1. In a gas motor engine wherein a motive power cylinder and a pump for the
compression of the explosive mixture are arranged end to end in one and the same
axial line the respective pistons being both fixed on one piston rod the use of a
slide valve arranged to oscillate or partially rotate around the piston rod
substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In a gas motor engine such as referred to in the preceding claiming clause the
use of an air inlet valve such as D in conjunction with an annular gas valve E the
arrangement and operation being substantially such as described and illustrated in
the drawings
3. The improved gas motor engine constructed arranged and operating as herein-
above described and shewn.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Worssam have hereunto set my hand
and seal this tenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty two
SAMUEL WORSSAM (L.S.)