Improvements in Gas Motor and similar Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Motor and similar Engines.
I, HUGH WILLIAMS, of The Mount, Stockport, in the County of Chester, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in certain improvements in the structural arrangements
of gas motor and other similar engines for the more effective and economical
working of the same.
In gas motor engines of the compression type as at present constructed a con-
siderable proportion of power is lost owing to the high tension of the ignited gases
within the cylinder at the termination of the effective stroke of the piston.
The object of my invention is to avoid this loss and utilize as far as possible all
the expanded gases for useful work by furthering their expansion behind the pistons
to the utmost limit.
In one arrangement according to my present invention I bore the power cylinder
of two different diameters and fit therein a piston of two diameters to correspond.
I connect the combustion chamber of the smaller cylinder by a suitable passage
controlled by a valve to the inner end of the larger cylinder. I also control the
inlet passage for the explosive fluid mixture to the combustion chamber by a
suitable valve, both valves, i.e. the admission valve and the valve controlling the
passage between the two cylinders, being opened and closed by connections from
eccentrics on the crank shaft or in other convenient manner. I further provide
suitable means for igniting the charge of explosive fluid mixture and for exhausting
the products of combustion at the proper time.
For convenience of description I will suppose a charge of combustible mixture
has been admitted and compressed within the smaller or initial power cylinder
(No. 1) the charge in the larger or supplementary cylinder (No. 2) will also be in
a similar state of tension either through the presence of air or the products of a
previous combustion. At this stage the pistons of both cylinders are at about the
extent of their instroke a communication is made between the two cylinders and the
combustible charge within the initial cylinder is ignited and the gases which expand
simultaneously within the two cylinders propel their respective pistons on their
outward or effective stroke up to a point when expansion of the gases shall have
ceased and a tendency to a vacuum commenced, then the first passage of com-
munication between the two cylinders is closed and another passage of com-
munication is formed between them by the uncovering of a port in the initial
cylinder by its piston. Owing to the superior capacity of the supplementary
cylinder the products of combustion from the initial cylinder are drawn into it
through the last named passage of communication thus creating a partial vacuum
in the initial cylinder which is filled by a new charge of combustible mixture during
the remaining part of the outstroke of the pistons.
On the commencement of the instroke of the pistons the admission valve for the
combustible mixtures is closed and an exhaust valve communicating with the
supplementary cylinder is opened and its piston on the instroke is made to expel
the products of combustion up to a point where it is desirable to compress a portion
of the products to form an equilibrium of pressure between the two cylinders at the
same time the piston of the initial cylinder is compressing the charge of
combustible mixture which it contains and upon completion of the instroke of both
pistons the compression is complete the communication between the two cylinders
is also made and the charge within the initial cylinder is ignited the cycle of
operations being repeated as above described.
In an alternative arrangement for the same cycle I employ two separate cylinders

page_text: of different diameters with their pistons connected to the same or separate crank-
shafts. The passages and valvular arrangements are substantially the same as
those above specified.
This cycle is more particularly applicable to gas engines having an impulse to
each revolution of the crank.
As an alternative arrangement applicable to gas motor engines having an
impulse at every alternate revolution of the crank such as in the "Otto" type
arrange the cylinders in a similar manner as before described; but I alter the cycle
of operations.
In this case I will assume for convenience of description that the initial cylinder
is charged with combustible mixture compressed by the instroke of the piston the
supplementary cylinder will at the same stage have a charge of air or other inert
gas at similar tension. As before described a communication is made between the
two cylinders and the combustible charge within the initial cylinder is ignited; the
gases expanding simultaneously within the two cylinders propel the two pistons to
the full extent of their outward stroke.
The two pistons then return simultaneously on their inward stroke and expel the
products of combustion contained in their respective cylinders through one common
exhaust valve.
On the next outstroke of the two pistons the exhaust valve is closed and a valve
admitting a combustible mixture is opened to the initial cylinder and a valve
admitting either air or other inert gas is opened to the supplementary cylinder.
The pistons on their next outstroke will draw into their respective cylinders i.e. the
initial cylinder a combustible charge and the supplementary cylinder a charge of
air or inert gas.
On their next instroke the two pistons will compress the charges within their
respective cylinders up to the full extent of this stroke when the connection
between the two cylinders is again made and the combustible charge in the
initial cylinder is again ignited the cycle of operations being repeated as above
described.
Dated this 10th don of Lenu 1901
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Motor and similar Engines.
I, HUGH WILLIAMS, late of The Mount, Stockport, in the County of Chester,
but now of Longacre, Edgeley, near Stockport aforesaid, Civil Engineer, 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:—
My invention consists in certain improvements in the structural arrangements of
gas motor and other similar engines for the more effective and economical working
of the same.
In gas motor engines of the compression type as at present constructed a con-
siderable proportion of power is lost owing to the high tension of the ignited gases
within the cylinder at the termination of the effective stroke of the piston.
The object of my invention is to avoid this loss and utilize as far as possible all
the expanded gases for useful work by furthering their expansion behind the pistons
to the utmost limit.
In one arrangement according to my present invention I bore the power cylinder
of two different diameters and fit therein a piston of two diameters to correspond.
I connect the combustion chamber of the smaller cylinder by a suitable passage
controlled by a valve to the inner end of the larger cylinder. I also control the
inlet passage for the explosive fluid mixture to the combustion chamber by a
[189]

page_text: suitable valve, both valves, i.e. the admission valve and the valve controlling the
passage between the two cylinders being opened and closed by connections from
I further provide
eccentrics on the crankshaft or in other convenient manner.
suitable means for igniting the charge of explosive fluid mixture and for exhausting
the products of combustion at the proper time.
For convenience of description I will suppose a charge of combustible mixture
has been admitted and compressed within the smaller or initial power cylinder (No. 1)
the charge in the larger or supplementary cylinder (No. 2) will also be in a similar
state of tension either through the presence of air or the products of a previous
combustion. At this stage the pistons of both cylinders are at about the extent of
their instroke a communication is made between the two cylinders and the
combustible charge within the initial cylinder is ignited and the gases which
expand simultaneously within the two cylinders propel their respective pistons on
their outward or effective stroke up to a point when expansion of the gases shall
have ceased and a tendency to a vacuum commenced, then the first passage of
communication between the two cylinders is closed and another passage of com-
munication is formed between them by the uncovering of a port in the initial
cylinder by its piston. Owing to the superior capacity of the supplementary
cylinder the products of combustion from the initial cylinder are drawn into it
through the last named passage of communication thus creating a partial vacuum
in the initial cylinder which is filled by a new charge of combustible mixture
during the remaining part of the outstroke of the pistons.
On the commencement of the instroke of the pistons the admission valve for the
combustible mixtures is closed and an exhaust valve communicating with the
supplementary cylinder is opened and its piston on the instroke is made to expel
the products of combustion up to a point where it is desirable to compress a portion
of the products to form an equilibrium of pressure between the two cylinders at the
same time the piston of the initial cylinder is compressing the charge of combustible
mixture which it contains and upon completion of the instroke of both pistons the
compression is complete the communication between the two cylinders is also made
and the charge within the initial cylinder is ignited the cycle of operations being
repeated as above described.
In an alternative arrangement for the same cycle I employ two separate
cylinders of different diameters with their pistons connected to the same or separate
crankshafts. The passages and valvular arrangements are substantially the same
as those above specified.
This cycle is more particularly applicable to gas engines having an impulse to
each revolution of the crank.
As an alternative arrangement applicable to gas motor engines having an impulse
at every alternate revolution of the crank such as in the "Otto" type I arrange
the cylinders in a similar manner as before described; but I alter the cycle of
operations.
In this case I will assume for convenience of description that the initial cylinder
is charged with combustible mixture compressed by the instroke of the piston the
supplementary cylinder will at the same stage have a charge of air or other inert
gas at similar tension. As before described a communication is made between the
two cylinders and the combustible charge within the initial cylinder is ignited; the
gases expanding simultaneously within the two cylinders propel the two pistons to
the full extent of their outward stroke.
The two pistons then return simultaneously on their inward stroke and expel the
products of combustion contained in their respective cylinders through one common
exhaust valve.
On the next outstroke of the two pistons the exhaust valve is closed and a valve
admitting a combustible mixture is opened to the initial cylinder and a valve
admitting either air or other inert gas is opened to the supplementary cylinder.
The pistons on their next outstroke will draw into their respective cylinders i.e. the

page_text: initial cylinder a combustible charge and the supplementary cylinder a charge of
air or inert gas.
On their next instroke the two pistons will compress the charges within their
respective cylinders up to the full extent of this stroke when the connection
between the two cylinders is again made and the combustible charge in the
initial cylinder is again ignited the cycle of operations being repeated as above
described.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the accompanying two sheets of drawings reference being had
to the figures and letters marked thereon.
+
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional plan of the two cylinders referred to under the
first arrangement of my invention as applied to gas motor engines having an
impulse for every revolution of the crank and showing the pistons at the extreme
end of their instroke.
Fig. 2 shews a section of the valve arrangement.
Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the cycle of the engine operation under this
arrangement.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional plan of the two cylinders referred to under the
second arrangement and as applied to the "Otto" cycle. This also shews the two
pistons at the extremity of their instroke.
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the two cylinders under a modified plan and also as
applied to the "Otto" cycle.
Fig. 6 shows a section of the arrangement of the communication and exhaust valves.
Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the cycle of the engine operating under the
"Otto" cycle.
Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.-The cylinders A and B are shown arranged
tandem communication between the combustion chamber I of the power cylinder A
and the supplementary cylinder B is formed through the passage C which contains
the check valve F and the exhaust valve E. Within the combustion chamber I is
the check valve G for the admission of air or combustible mixture of gas and air.
Attached to the valve G is the gas admission valve H.
The operation of an engine under this arrangement will be understood by
reference to the diagram Fig. 3, supposing the cylinder A to contain a charge of
combustible mixture when the crank pin is at 4, the supplementary cylinder B will
at the same time contain a charge of air or inert gases, both cylinders being in a
state of equilibrium to the point when the crank pin shall have reached 5 on the
diagram, when communication between the two cylinders closes. From point 5 to
point 6 the piston within the power cylinder A is compressing the charge and the
piston within the cylinder B is expelling the inert gases through the exhaust
valve E. When the crank pin has reached point 6 the exhaust valve E is closed,
and the communication valve F is opened, and again equilibrium is formed between
the two cylinders A and B and the gases within the two cylinders are uniformly
compressed up to the end of the instroke at point 2. On the arrival of the crank
at this point 2 the ignition of the combustible charge takes place and there being
already a communication between the two cylinders A and B the gases will expand
simultaneously within the two cylinders and propel their respective pistons on their
outward and effective stroke up to the point 3 on the diagram when the expansion
of the gases will have closed, and a tendency to vacuum commences. Then the
passage C of communication is closed by the valve F and another communication
is formed between the two cylinders by the uncovering of the passage D by the
piston within the cylinder A owing to the superior capacity of the supplementary
cylinder B the products of the previous combustion is drawn from the cylinder A
through the passage D simultaneously with this displacement within the cylinder A
a new charge of combustible mixture is drawn into the cylinder A through the
valve G during the remainder of the outstroke at point 4 and the cycle of operation
is repeated as before described.

page_text: Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7,--A represents the initial or power cylinder
and B the supplementary cylinder; I is the combustion chamber of the cylinder A,
C is a passage of communication containing the check valve F between the
combustion chamber I and the supplementary cylinder B. E is the exhaust valve,
attached to the combustion chamber I is the air and the combustible mixture
valve G and H is the gas admission valve. A cam G¹ on the side shaft J
actuates the valve G cam H' the valve H, a cam F¹ the valve F and a cam E¹ the
valve E.
The operation of an engine under this arrangement as applied to the "Otto"
cycle will be understood by reference to the diagram Fig. 7. In this case I will
assume for convenience of description that the initial or power cylinder A is
charged with combustible mixture compressed by the instroke of the piston. The
supplementary cylinder will at the same time have a charge of air or other inert
gases communication having been formed between the two cylinders A. and Bat
the point 6 on the diagram Fig. 7 by the lifting of the check valve F. An
equilibrium then exists between the two cylinders and continues up to the point
when the crank pin reaches the point 2 on the diagram. The combustible charge
is at this point 2 ignited and the gases expanding simultaneously within the two
cylinders propel the two pistons to the full extent of their outstroke at point 5 on
the diagram. From point 5 the two pistons return simultaneously on their inward
stroke to point 2 and thereby expel through the exhaust valve E the products of
the previous combustion contained in their respective cylinders. From the point 2
to the point 3 on the outstroke of the pistons the communication valve F and the
valve G are opened and air only is drawn in to flush the passages and the combustion
chamber I and so expel the products of combustion. From point 3 to point 4 the
gas admission valve H is opened and a combustible mixture of gas and air is drawn
by the joint action of the two pistons through the valve. G into the combustion
chamber I and passages.
At point 4 the valve F is closed and combustible
mixture is drawn into the initial or power cylinder A only for the remainder of
the outstroke up to point 5 and between the same points 4 and 5 on the same
stroke air only is drawn into the supplementary cylinder B through the valve K.
From the point 5 on the next instroke the piston within the cylinder A will
compress the combustible charge up to the point 6 while the piston within the
supplementary cylinder B within the same traverse is expelling a portion of the
inert gases from the cylinder B. When the crank pin shall have reached
the point 6.the valve F is opened and communication is formed between the two
cylinders and their respective pistons unite in compressing the combustible mixture
during the remainder of the instroke at point 2 when again at this point the charge
is ignited and the cycle of operation being repeated as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A gas or similar motor engine wherein two cylinders and their respective
pistons and valves are so arranged and combined as to give an effective stroke for
every revolution of the crank and wherein also the combustible mixture is
compressed within the initial or power cylinder for a portion of the instroke of the
piston and a communication is formed between the initial or power cylinder and a
supplementary cylinder and an equilibrium is formed thereby previous to the
completion of the compressing instroke and the combustible mixture on ignition
expands equally within the two cylinders and thereby propels the two pistons on
their outstroke substantially in the manner herein described and as illustrated by
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the acccompanying drawings.
2. A gas or similar motor engine wherein two cylinders and their respective
pistons are so arranged and combined as to give the "Otto" cycle and wherein
further the combustible mixture is compressed within the initial or power cylinder
during a portion of the instroke of the piston and a communication is formed

page_text: between the initial or power cylinder and a supplementary cylinder and an
equilibrium is formed thereby previous to the completion of the compressing
instroke and the combustible mixture on ignition expands equally within the two
cylinders and thereby propels the two pistons on their outstroke substantially in
the manner herein described and as illustrated by Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the accom-
panying drawings.
3. The method of flushing out the products of previous combustion from the
combustion chamber and passages of gas or similar motor engines and the drawing
in of new charges of combustible mixture substantially in the manner herein
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. The several constructions and combined arrangements of parts of gas or
similar motor engines substantially as described and as illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings to operate in the manner herein before specified.
Dated this 19th day of October 1891.
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.