Improvements in Explosive Gas Motors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1856
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1337-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosive Gas Motors.
We JOIN ALEXANDER ROMER, of 31 Ethnard Road, Peckham, in the County,
of Surrey, Engineer, and HENRY HYDE PERKES, of 173 Strand, London, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention relates to engines operated by the explosion or combustion of an
inflammable gas, and has for its object, the arrangement, in conjunction with the
ordinary single acting trunk piston, of an auxiliary piston, and its means of reci-
procation so that what is termed the Otto cycle, that is, the exhaust of burnt
products, the suction of a new charge of explosive gas, the compression of the
same and the final explosion and expansive working of the same may be
effected in one complete revolution of the main crank shaft, and this with a
simple and strong form of construction.
To carry this invention into effect we provide two open trunk pistons in ono
open cylinder, one piston being of the usual single acting type and operating upon
a main crank shaft by the usual simple connecting rod. The other or auxiliary
piston is also of the usual single acting type placed in the open rear mouth of
the cylinder and reversely to the main piston.
The said auxiliary piston is reciprocated by a rocking lever connecting links and
a rocking kite piece embracing two right and left handed cams upon the crank
shaft giving it positive backward and forward motion.
The periphery of the said cams are so set out that the auxiliary piston may be
given such periods of rest in the double stroke of the said auxiliary piston as may
be required and intermittent periods of reciprocating travel between those periods
of rest.
One period of rest of the auxiliary piston is at the time of compression and
explosion of the gaseous charge and at the latter moment or period it is arranged
that the said auxiliary piston rests at its extreme outward travel against an abut-
ment or cushion to take the shock of the said explosion.
When the explosive and expansive stroke of the main operative piston has been
completed, the auxiliary piston having commenced its inward travel towards the
operative piston is then caused to rapidly completo its travel towards the operative
pistou when the latter is almost upon its dead centre, and thus to eject, as completely
as may be desired, the exhaust products, through an exhaust port towards the
forward end of the cylinder, which is covered and uncovered by the main piston
itself or may if desired he further controlled by an exhaust valve.
The auxiliary piston after discharge of the products of combustion reverses its
movement and recedes rapidly from the main piston thus inducing a suction between
the two pistons to admit a fresh charge of explosive gas. When the auxiliary.
piston has completed its aforesaid suction travel it comes to rest upon the outer

page_text: abutment or oushion and receives there the pressure of compression of the explosive
gas caused by the inward travel of the main piston towards the said auxiliary
piston, and finally the said auxiliary piston having been driven home by the said
compression upon the said outer abutment or cushion receives there the recoil
shock of the explosion, caused by any known and convenient ignition device.
Thus by reason of the intermittent or differential action of the said auxiliary,
piston relatively to the main piston the whole of the aforesaid cyclo
of exhaust, suction and compression, may be effected during the inward
stroke of the main piston leaving always every outward stroke of the
main piston available for the explosion and expansive working of a fresh explosive
charge, with great advantage to the amount of work to be obtained from an
explosive gas engine of a given size, as compared with those explosive motors that
give an operative stroke only in every alternate outward stroke, and this is effected
as hereinabove described by very simple and direct means.
Dated this 21st day of December 1896
FELL & JAMES,
1 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.
provements in MAPIOD
We, JOHN ALEXANDER ROMER of 31 Ethnard Road, Peckham, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, and HENRY HYDE PERKES, of 173 Strand, London, Gentleman,
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 ;-
'This invention relates to engines operated by the explosion or combustion of an
inflammable gas, and has for its object, the arrangement, in conjunction with the
ordinary single acting trunk piston, of an auxiliary piston, and its means of reci-
procation so that what is termed the "Otto cycle," that is, the exhaust of burnt
products, the suction of a new charge of explosive gas, the compression of the
same, and the final explosion and expansive working of the same may be
effected in one complete revolution of the main crank shaft, and this with a
simple and strong form of construction.
And in order that this Invention may be the better understood we now proceed
to describe the same with reference to the drawings hereto annexed and to the
figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of our improved gas engine
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same,
Fig. 3 is an end view of the engine, with section through cam race-plates,
Fig. 4 is a section through gas-chamber with details of gas, and air valve motion.
To carry this Invention into effect we provide two open trunk pistons, A and B,
in one open cylinder C; one piston A being of the usual single acting type, and
operating upon a main crank shaft, D, by the usual simple connecting rod E.
The other or auxiliary piston B, is also of the usual single-acting type, placed
in the open rear mouth of the cylinder C, reversely to the main operative piston A.
The said auxiliary piston B is reciprocated by a rocking lever F, pivotally
mounted upon the bed plate G, and by a push connecting rod H, sliding in
guides K on the bed-plate, and terminating in a roller L, engaged in grooves of
one or duplicate cam race-plates M M giving the said piston B positive backward

page_text: and forward motion with a long rest at its outward extremity of position, by
reason of the circular character of the cam race at that point, and a minute period
of rest at its innermost position, just before it reverses its reciprocation.
The latter part of the cylinder bore is shouldered at N, at its outer extremity
to afford an abutment, upon which the auxiliary piston B rests during the time of
explosion, and during the major part of the compression and expansive working
strokes.
The auxiliary piston is therefore, during these periods, equivalent to a fixed
cylinder cover, and receives a rapid inwards and outwards reciprocation, first to
meet the main piston, to effect exhaust through the exhaust port P with spring-
pressed valve opening outwards, and which port is thus situated towards the
frout of the cylinder and is covered and uncovered by the main piston A, or may
be controlled by an independant exhaust valve. Afterwards by its rapid retire-
ment, the piston B induces or draws into the cylinder the fresh mixed charge of
explosive gas and air, through the entry ports Q, Q, situated about the middle
of the cylinder.
The ignition of the explosive charge is effected by a usual ignition device R,
through the port R¹.
The gas admission valve S, and the air admission valve T are operated, in a
convenient manner, by rocking levers S and T, reciprocated by cams U and U
upon a shaft V rotated by any suitable gearing W, from the main crank shaft D.
The gas valve gear may be thrown in and out by the known means of an "inertia "
governor ball Y, or in any other convenient and known manner.
Thus by reason of the intermittent and differential action of the said auxiliary
piston B relatively to the main piston A the whole of the said cycle of exhaust,
suction, and compression, may be effected during the inward stroke of the main
piston, leaving always every outward stroke of the main piston available for the
explosion and expansive working of a fresh explosive charge, with great advantago
to the amount of work to be obtained from an explosive gas engine of a given size,
as compared with such explosive motors as are given an operative stroke only in
every alternate outward stroke. And this is effected as hereinbefore described
by very simple and direct means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In an explosive gas engine, the combination in the same cylinder bore with
an ordinary, reciprocating, and single-acting main trunk piston, of an auxiliary
piston closing the open rear of the cylinder and adapted by suitable means to make
a rapid reciprocation towards and away from the main piston, during a or a
fractional part of a, single stroke of the main piston, substantially as desired.
2nd. In an explosive gas engine, means for producing firstly, a rapid reciprocation
of an auxiliary piston, towards and away from a main piston in the same cylinder,
within a or a fractional part of a, single stroke of the said main piston, and secondly
a period of rest of the said auxiliary piston during the remainder of the double
stroke of the said main piston; in combination with an abutment in the said
cylinder, or upon the framing of the said engine, upon which the said auxiliary
piston may bear, during its said period of rest, substantially as described.
3rd: In an explosive gas engine, a cam race plate upon the main crank shaft,
a roller bearing therein, supported on a guided push rod; a rocking lever on
a fixed bearing, and a pivotted connecting rod to a rearward auxiliary pistou, to
give a rapid reciprocation to said auxiliary piston in a or a fractional part of the,
single stroke of the main piston substantially as described.
4th. In an explosive gas engine the combination of parts, main and auxiliary
pistons, means for receiving therefrom, and transmitting reciprocating motion
thereto; gas, air and exhaust admission and exit ports, and valves therein

page_text: substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the
drawings annexed hereto.
Dated this 30th day of 'September 1897.
FELL & JAMES,
1 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.