Improvements in or relating to Fluid-pressure Motors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Fluid-pressure Motors.
We WILLIAM GOWLLAND, Optician, and CHARLES SEPTIMUS GOWLLAND,
Optician, both of 192 Highbury Hill, in the County of London do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention, we make a suitable engine, either rotary or recipro-
cating, so constructed that the shaft of same is stationary and the cylinder or
cylinders or the framework of the engine shall revolve on or round the said shaft.
By this means we are enabled, if desired, to use the engine or framework
containing the same as the hub of a wheel, and in the case of a vehicle as the hub
or hubs of one or more of the driving wheels, the spokes radiating preferably from
the cylinder or framework of the engine.
This invention is particularly applicable to auto-cars and like vehicles, as gearing
may be dispensed with.
According to one way of carrying out our invention as applied to a rotary engine,
we have a hollow shaft, through which the gas or other motive power is admitted
to the cylinder or cylinders by suitable valves, and the exhaust also discharges
through the hollow shaft. The vanes may be fitted or fixed round the inside of
the cylinder, or round the shaft, suitable packing being provided.
In the case of this form of motor being employed as an explosion engine, we
propose to effect the ignition by any of the known methods, such as by a lighted
jet of gas, by electricity or by means of an incandescent tube, but preferably by
electricity. The following method is one that we have found suitable for igniting
the gas electrically. A metal stud or spring projects from the piston and engages
with a corresponding stud or spring, sunk on the surface of the circular valve,
bcth studs or springs being connected with a source of electrical energy, thus
causing a spark, when contact is broken.
For reversing the engine, the central shaft that contains the ports or valves may
be moved round a certain distance, so as to admit the charge on the opposite side
of the cylinder, suitable electrical igniting mechanism being also provided at this
side.
The cylinder or framework of the motor forms the hub of the wheel.
The form of motor just described, we consider particularly suitable for use with
acetylene gas, and we propose to place the carbide of calcium and water for
generating the gas in suitable reservoirs round the cylinder or framework of the
engine, so as to make the engine very compact. We propose to use the gas
expansively to start the engine, and then explosively, or alternately expansively
and explosively, as may be found most desirable.
According to one way of carrying out this invention, as applied to a reciprocating
engine, we have a framework upon or in which we mount one or more cylinders,
the piston or pistons of which are connected to the crank or cranks of the stationary
shaft the wheel being built on or connected with the framework.
In the case of stationary engines or machines, the.engine.might form the hub of

page_text: the fly wheel, or of the driving wheel, as the case might be, or of a wheel which
could be used for both purposes.
"
Dated this Thirtieth day of June One thousand eight hundred and ninety-six.
BROWNE & Co.,
9 Warwick Court, Gray's Inn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
improvemen
rerating
Fluid-pressure
We WILLIAM GOWLLAND, Optician, and CHARLES SEPTIMUS GOWLLAND,
Optician, both of 192 Highbury Hill, in the County of London, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manuer the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
According to this invention we make a suitable rotary engine, so constructed
that the shaft of the same is stationary and the cylinder or cylinders or the frame-
work of the engine shall revolve on or round the said shaft.
By this means we are enabled, if desired, to use the engine or framework
containing the same as the hub of a wheel, and in the case of a vehicle as the hub
or hubs of one or more of the driving wheels, the spokes radiating preferably from
the cylinder or framework of the engine.
This invention is particularly applicable to auto-cars and like vehicles, as gearing
may be dispensed with.
According to one way of carrying out our invention, we have a hollow shaft,
through which the gas or other motive power is admitted to the cylinder or
cylinders by suitable valves, and the exhaust also discharges through the hollow
shaft. The vanes may be fitted round the inside of the cylinder, or round the
shaft, suitable packing being provided.
In the case of this form of motor being employed as an explosion engine, we
propose to effect the ignition by any of the known methods, such as by a lighted
jet of gas, by electricity or by means of an incandescent tube, but preferably by
electricity. The following method is one that we have found suitable for igniting
by electricity. A metal stud or spring projects from the piston and engages with
a corresponding stud or spring, sunk on the surface of the circular valve, both
studs or springs being connected with a source of electrical energy, thus causing a
spark, when contact is broken.
For reversing the engine, the central shaft that contains the ports or valves may
be moved round a certain distance, so as to admit the charge on the opposite side
of the cylinder, suitable electrical igniting mechanism being also provided at this
side.
The cylinder or framework of the motor forms the hub of the wheel.
The form of motor just described we consider particularly applicable for use
with acetylene gas, and we propose to place the carbide of calcium and water for
generating the gas in suitable reservoirs formed round the cylinder. or framework:
of the engine, so as to make the engine very compact. We propose to use the gas
expansively to start the engine, and then explosively, or alternately expansively
and explosively, as may be found most desirable.
And in order that our said invention may be better understood we will now:
proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings accompanying this
specification in which
Fig. 1 shews a transverse sectional elevation of a rotary engine constructed
according to our said invention.

page_text: Fig. 3 is an end elevation of said rotary engine.
Fig. 4 is a plan of an auto-car to be driven by means of a rotary engine such as
that shewn at Figs. 1 to 3.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the views.
a shews hollow shaft, 6 cylinder, c valves for admitting gas to cylinder. These
valves consist of orifices & drilled in a central sleeve or shaft e and spindle k. This
sleeve is actuated by a lever handle f. g shews passages serving both for exhaust
and air inlet, hh shew vanes. 1 are the three revolving partitions, mounted
on axles n, which divide the cylinder b and are actuated by a cog-wheel m,
connected to the outer casing b and spindle k, this cog-wheel engaging with pinions
on the axles n (see Fig. 3).
The action of the engine is as follows:-
the arrow.
The hollow shaft a is stationary and the cylinder or outer casing revolves
about it, and may form the hub of a wheel. The motive fluid (which we prefer to
be acetylene gas) enters through the hollow shaft a at i, and passes through one
orifice d and one passage ; to behind a vane ¹. It is then ignited by any suitable
means, and the vane is consequently forced round in the direction indicated by
When the vane has travelled through about 60°, the opposite vane /
will have reached the position at which the next explosion is to take place
(i.e. behind this latter vane), and at the same time has drawn or taken in sufficient
air through the openings g¹ g¹ to form the charge. The gas for this charge will
have been let in, in consequence of the innermost hollow spindle k presenting a new
orifice to the channel j, at the same time cutting off the supply of gas from the
first-mentioned channel 1, the cylinder and spindle k revolving together.
The exhaust gases are forced before the vane and leave the engine by means of
the ports 9.
To reverse the engine, the lever handle is turned, and consequently the sleeve e
presents the orifices d to the ports g shewn dotted at Fig. 1, at the same time
cutting off the ports previously in use. The explosions then occur on the opposite
side of the vanes..
Although we have shewn two vanes h and I, and three revolving partitions l, we
may have any number of such vanes and partitions.
With reference to Fig. 4, o shews a rotary engine such as that described, and
PPP P, acetylene genêrators for supplying the gas to the same. 9 shews frame
work of vehicle. shew the service pipes from generators to engine.
By the use of this invention, the gas employed, being under pressure, may be
used in one motor expansively to start the engine, and expansively and explosively
when running.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1.) The improvements in or relating to fluid pressure motors substantially as
set forth.
(2.) A rotary engine so constructed that the engine revolves on a stationary
shaft.
(3.) The combination of an acetylene motor and gas generator with vehicles, for
propelling the latter.
(4.) In fluid pressure motors, using the gas expansively and explosively in one
motor for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Thirtieth day of April 1897.
BROWNE & Co.,
9 Warwick Court, Gray's Inn, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.