IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITH ATMOS- PHERIC GAS ENGINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Simon, of the Firm Louis Simon and Son, of the
Wilford Road Works, in the Town and County of Nottingham, Gas Engine
Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITH ATMOS-
PHERIC GAS ENGINES."
Sealed the 18th January 1878, and dated the 18th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Louis Simon at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 18th July 1877.
LOUIS SIMON, of the Firm Louis Simon and Son, of the Wilford Road Works, in
the Town and County of Nottingham, Gas Engine Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS
CONNECTED WITH ATMOSPHERIC GAS ENGINES."
In this Invention atmospheric air is compressed by a pump, and stored in a
reservoir, from which it is withdrawn and utilized in fixed quantities by suitable
valves under control of the moving mechanism after the engine is first started.
In connection with the inlet valve chamber, which is of a given dimension, is
another valve by which coal gas, under ordinary pressure of towns or by other
pressure, is caused to enter the chamber of the air pump, that the two agents
may become thoroughly mixed, and in certain proportions for obtaining the best
results from explosion and consequent expansion within a cylinder in which a piston
is fitted as in ordinary gas engines. A separate compression pump for gas may also
be applied, so that the gas and air may be compressed separately and allowed
to mix under pressure at any convenient point before entering the explosion
cylinder,
The coal gas, or it may be other gas such as that known as benzoline gas, can be
injected into the air vessel or reservoir of the air pump at the same time as the air,
or alternately with it, so that the two, i.e., the air and the gas, not only become
thoroughly mixed but put under pressure. The air gas thus compressed is con-
veyed to the working cylinder of an engine by pipes, a distinct pipe taking either
ordinary coal gas or benzoline gas into the cylinder after each charge has exploded,
by the remains or refuse of which atmospheric air being admitted by a separate
pipe to sustain this flame, a light is produced for exploding the fresh main charge
Price G71

page_text: which is directly after the exhaust admitted to the cylinder. By this means the
explosion of one charge takes place by a light left burning after the previous charge,
and so on alternately.
In lieu of the coal or benzoline gas being of the ordinary kind, it may be had by
a distinct pipe from the contents of the reservoir, in which case a constant light for
firing the charge can be maintained.
I purpose using a carefully balanced fly or power wheel with this class of engine
to ensure the return of the piston by its momentum and thereby an exhaust, the
explosions always happening while the crank is effecting the forward or upward
thrust, and the exhaust of each expended charge on the return. The piston rods of
two such engines being coupled to one crank and working alternately with force
will effect a great saving.
One of the great objections to gas engines hitherto made, and a cause of their
great reiative cost has been the great dimensions necessary to obtain adequate power.
By admitting the air and gas under a pressure varying, say, from 20 to 80 lbs., I
obtain sufficient power from explosions in a small cylinder, and the other parts of
the engine are small in proportion.
The engine can also be made double acting by the use of two cylinders, the
explosions in which take place alternately.
...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Louis Simon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th January
1878.
"
LOUIS SIMON, of the Firm Louis Simon and Son, of the Wilford Road Works, in
IMPROVEMENTS
the Town and County of Nottingham, Gas Engine Manufacturers.
CONNECTED WITH ATMOSPHERIC GAS ENGINES."
In this Invention atmospheric air is compressed by a pump and stored in a
reservoir, from which it is withdrawn and utilised in fixed quantities by suitable
valves under control of the moving mechanism after the engine is first started.
In connection with the inlet valve chamber, which is of a given dimension, is
another valve, by which coal gas, under ordinary pressure of towns or by other
pressure, is caused to enter the chamber of the air pump that the two agents may
"become thoroughly mixed, and in certain proportions for obtaining the best results
from explosion and consequent expansion within a cylinder in which a piston is
fitted, as in ordinary gas engines. Or a separate compression pump for gas may be
applied, so that the gas and air may be compressed separately and allowed
to mix under pressure at any convenient point before entering the working
cylinder.
The coal gas, or it may be other gas such as that known as benzolinė gas, is
injected into the air vessel or reservoir of the air pump at the same time as the air,
or alternately with it, so that the two, i.e., the air and the gas, not only become
thoroughly mixed, but put under pressure. The air gas thus compressed is conveyed
to the working cylinder of an engine by pipes, a distinct pipe taking either ordinary
coal gas or benzoline gas into the cylinder after each charge has exploded, atmos-
pheric air and gas being admitted by a separate pipe to sustain the flame. In this
way a light is produced for exploding the fresh main charge, which is directly after

page_text: the exhaust admitted to the cylinder. By this means the explosion of each charge
takes place by a light left burning after the previous charge, and so on alternately.
My Invention will be clearly understood by the annexed Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a partial sectional view, and Figure 2 an end view of an atmospheric
gas engine as before explained.
a is the main cylinder, in the upper part of which, above the piston b, a sufficient
and determined quantity of air and gas (coal or other) is admitted by the valve c
from the chamber d, when the valve c is opened by the tappet e on the main shaft f
striking the roller g on the top of the valve rod h at each revolution, the rod
being kept up against the shaft f by the spring i, the pressure of which is overcome
temporarily by the action of the tappet. The chamber d is furnished with air and
gas mixed and under pressure by the pipe j leading from the reservoir k, in which
they in mixed form are stored at a suitable pressure by the pump cylinder and
piston m which takes in the charge of air by the opening n provided with an
adjustable valve p, and a charge of gas from the chamber r and valve 8, which is
supplied by the pipe t under the ordinary pressure of gas to towns, or as desired.
The apertures or openings of the two valves p and s are shown in about the
proportions to admit of an equal quantity of air and gas to be drawn, in which, on
the return stroke of the piston m, forces them in mixed form through the valve u
and pipe w into the reservoir k, from which the main or working cylinder a is
supplied.
The outlet valve x of the main cylinder opens in the same direction as the feed
valve, and its opening is governed by a tappet or cam y on the main shaft f striking
the roller z of the rod 1, which is also kept up to keep the valve x closed by the
encircling spring 2.
The outlet valve leads to the exhaust chamber 3, and the spent gas and refuse
leave by the pipe 4 to the atmosphere or to a condenser, as desired; 5 is the band
wheel, and 6 the fly wheel, the momentum of which will carry the cranks 7 and 8
over the dead points and regulate the suction and expulsion of the motive agency
to the reservoir, and from the reservoir to the working cylinder a, within which the
charge of gas and air is taken by the valve c, and instantaneously ignited by a flame
from the pipe 9, which flame is supplied under pressure to establish an explosion
or combustion within the cylinder, and a consequent expansion of the heated gases
to act upon the piston in regular order and move the crank 7 round; 10 is the
governor or regulator appliance for opening and closing the throttle or other valve 11
fitted in the supply pipe j.
The quantity of coal or other gas can be regulated to that of air, so that they
may be in due proportion to the desired force of the explosion or combustion.
In lieu of the coal or benzoline gas being of the ordinary kind, it may be had
by a distinct pipe from the contents of the reservoir, in which case a constant light
for firing the charge can be maintained. In this engine, as the mixture of air and
gas passes by the constantly burning interior light, it is ignited gradually as it
enters the cylinder, so that a gradual expansion rather than a sudden explosion
results.
In all other gas engines the gas and air are first admitted into the cylinder, and
then ignited by a light burning in a slide valve.
I purpose using a carefully balanced fly or power wheel with this class of engine
to ensure the return of the piston by its momentum, and thereby an exhaust, the
explosions or combustions happening while the crank is effecting the forward or
upward thrust, and the exhaust of each expended charge on the return, or vice versa.
The piston rods of two of such engines being coupled to one crank and working
alternately with force will effect a great saving.
One of the great objections to gas engines hitherto made, and cause of their great
relative cost, has been the great dimensions necessary to obtain adequate power. By
admitting the air and gas under a pressure varying, say, from 20 to 80 lbs. or more,
I obtain sufficient power for explosions or combustions in a small cylinder, and the
other parts of the engine are small in proportion.

page_text: The engine can also be made double acting by the use of two cylinders, the
explosions or combustions in which take place alternately.
The engine shown in the Drawings only represents one construction, and is given
as a type only, in order that my Invention may be understood.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
The arrangement of the parts forming an engine, substantially as shown in the
annexed Drawings, for establishing a gradual expansion by direct flame within the
cylinder or cylinders, as set forth.
Secondly. I claim the employment of a constant flame within a cylinder which
is supplied with air-gas for ignition thereof for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Simon, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourteenth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight.
LOUIS SIMON. (L.S.)