Year: 1899

page_text: I, ALEXANDER WINTON, of 37, Bolton Place, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and
State of Ohio, United States of America, Inventor and Mechanical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows: —
My invention relates to improvements in regulators for explosion engines.
My invention relates particularly to that class of engines using gasoline as
the means of generating an explosive compound, though it is adapted to be used
in connection with other forms of explosive engines.
My presnt invention also pertains to improvements in respect to the means
for regulating the amount of explosive mixture admitted to the explosion chamber,
wherein a pressure producing device is used for controlling the explosive inlet
valve.
One feature of this invention pertains to an adaptation of the parts for use
in connection with motor vehicles, and contains a pressure producing device
actuated by the engine, such as a pump which provides pressure against a dia-
phragm or piston for holding the explosive inlet port valve to its seat with more
or less pressure according to the speed of the engine, and to an escape for the
pressure whereby the pressure can be regulated and consequently the speed of
the engine regulated.
In order to enable the occupant of a vehicle to accurately and easily regulate
the speed of the engine by varying the pressure upon the explosive inlet port
valve, I provide a peculiar valve and casing for the said escape, which consists
in an elongated tapering valve seat in one end of which a longitudinally movable
valve is seated, whereby the valve has a long movement before the full opening
of the escape is accomplished. This valve is in the form of a push button for
the foot of the driver, and by depressing the button the valve is moved endwise
in the elongated tapering seat and the opening is very gradually increased or
diminished according to the depression of the valve. By having the elongated
seat, a slight movement of the valve does not suddenly affect the speed of the
engine, by suddenly varying the size of the escape as would be the case with
a valve seat of the ordinary construction.
Another feature of my present invention is to provide an adjustable governor
situated between this push button valve and the pressure diaphragm or piston
whereby a regulated pressure can be obtained upon the diaphragm or piston
and consequently a fixed regulated pressure upon the explosive inlet valve, and
in turn a fixed regulated speed given the engine. This enables me to have the
engine run at a governed fixed speed at all times and then to make the engine
run faster by varying the escape which is controlled by the push button valve
and this is done by the foot of the driver.
Another feature of this invention in combination with the pressure regulating
means and the escape valve is a pump constructed with a piston having a groove

page_text: which is preferably arranged angularly to the piston, and through this groove
the air is fed to the pump and the piston is also provided with a flexible plunger
in the usual way.
Another feature of this present invention in combination with the pressure
regulating mechanism before described is the connecting of the pump piston
which supplies the pressure directly with the engine piston, and to have the
pump arranged in a longitudinal line with the movement of the engine piston
whereby the mechanism is simplified and cheapened. One end of this pump is
supported by the drive shaft boxing, and its opposite end is supported by its own
piston which is connected with the engine piston.
The push button valve heretofore referred to is preferably spring actuated and
thereby normally held closed by the spring so that it is opened by the pressure
of the foot against the tension of the spring. This push button valve is also
considerably shorter than the elongated tapering seat therefor, which makes
it more effective for the purpose intended.
Dated this 18th day of May 1899
F. WISE HOWORTH,
40, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Regulators for Explosion Engines.
I, ALEXANDER WINTON, of 37, Bolton Place, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and
State of Ohio, United States of America, Inventor and Mechanical 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 relates to improvements in speed regulators for explosive engines,
and pertains particularly to that class of engines using gasoline as the means
of generating an explosive compound, though it is adapted to be used in con-
nection with other forms of explosive engines.
My present invention pertains to improvements in respect to the means for
regulating the amount of explosive mixture admitted to the explosion chamber,
wherein a pressure producing device is used for controlling the explosive inlet
valve.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1, is a top view, partly in section, of an engine embodying my inven-
tion.
Figure 2, is a detached enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the pressure
producing device.
Figure 3, is a detached side view of the piston of the pressure producing
device.
Figure 4, is an enlarged sectional view of the valve M. and its seat.
Referring now to the drawings, a is a cylinder provided with a piston f, to
which is connected the pitman 6, the opposite end of the pitman being connected
with the drive shaft crank of the drive shaft b¹. The cylinder is provided
with an explosive inlet port controlled by the valve K, which is provided with
a stem j, passing longitudinally through a cylinder h, the outer end of the stem
being provided with a piston H within the said cylinder, and communicating with
this cylinder to cause pressure upon the said piston is a pressure supply pipe i.
A pressure producing device is in communication with this supply pipe and is

page_text: here shown in the form of a pump. The cylinder L of the pump has at one
end a strap L', adapted to clamp the crank shaft journal, which is its only
support. The piston rod L³ is connected to the pump L and to the pitman
box of the piston f, and the pump piston consists of a metallic piston LA,
having groove or grooves, which extend at an angle, as shown in Figure 3,
and a rubber or leather cup L³ at a point inside of the metallic piston L. In
operation when the piston is drawn outward air passes through the grooves of
the piston L and the leather cup L5, which is moderately loose within the cylinder
when the piston is moving outward, fits the cylinder tight when moving inward,
owing to the pressure of air spreading the cup therein. This piston, while
provided with the grooves extending at an angle, has a perfectly smooth round
bearing surface, which does not cut or wear the cylinder, as a longitudinal groove
or grooves would do. Owing to this construction a very simple and yet exceed-
ingly efficient piston is provided for the pressure producing device. The supply
pipe m has one end connected with the inner end of the pump and its opposite
end connected with the pressure supply pipe i and is provided with a check
valve L³, preferably at the upper side of the cylinder L, the said check valve
consisting of the ordinary ball valve, which is well known and needs no particular
description here.
In operation the pressure supply device L supplies pressure against the
piston H of the explosive inlet valve, whereby the valve K is held to its seat
with more or less force, according to the pressure upon the piston H, and the
pressure upon the piston is of course according to the speed of the engine, and
therefore the speed of the pump or pressure producing device as will be readily
understood. A spring n is preferably provided for normally holding the explo-
sive inlet valve to its seat and the parts in their normal operative position.
A
The invention is especially intended and adapted for use in connection with
motor vehicles, and for the purpose of regulating the speed of the engine an
escape for this purpose is provided and means for regulating the escape.
pipe nextends from the supply pipe i to a convenient point in the vehicle,
preferably near the floor or bottom thereof just in front of the driver's seat.
This pipe is provided with an escape. opening P and a governing valve O, here
shown in the form of a thumb screw carrying a needle valve. By regulating the
amount of escape through this opening ' the engine can be governed to run at
one uniform speed, owing to the fact that the pressure upon the piston holds the
explosive inlet valve to its seat according to the pressure against the piston H,
and the pressure regulates the distance the valve shall open through the suction
of the engine piston f, and thereby the amount of explosive mixture admitted
to the cylinder is accordingly regulated. Therefore the adjustment of the
regulating valve O will cause the engine to run at a uniform speed. For the
purpose however, of increasing the speed of the engine above its regulated speed
I provide another and preferably larger pressure escape q, which is regulated by
a button N, held to its seat through the medium of a spring . This button is
preferably in the floor of the vehicle and, as before stated, just in front of the
driver's seat, where it can be regulated by the pressure of his foot. However,
it may be placed in any other position desired and operated by hand or by the
foot without departing from the spirit of my invention.
The valve M and its seat M¹ are of a peculiar construction, whereby a gradual
opening or escape is provided under downward pressure upon the button, which
is connected with the valve through the medium of a stem M2. Attention is
directed to the seat, which consists of an elongated tapered opening I, in which
the valve M moves longitudinally. The lower portion of this opening com-
municates with a chamber J, into which the valve moves when at its limit of
downward movement and is carried upward into the tapering opening through
the medium of the spring before mentioned. The escape opening is at a point
above the upper movement of the valve M, whereby a slight downward pressure
upon the button will open the valve very slightly, owing to the tapered elongated

page_text: opening in which it moves, and the opening gradually increases as the valve
moves downward until the valve reaches its lower end, when the opening is
entirely free for the escape of the pressure. This arrangement is found to be
exceedingly valuable in a motor vehicle when applied to the combination herein
shown and described for regulating the speed thereof in that it prevents a sudden
opening of the escape and permits a gradual opening thereof, so that the speed
of the engine is gradually increased or decreased as the valve is moved within
its elongated tapering seat. The upper end of this elongated tapering
seat or tube is provided with a laterally projecting flange K¹, pro-
vided with openings by means of which it is secured to the under side of
the bottom of the vehicle, an opening being provided in the bottom through
which the valve stem projects and carries at its upper end the button before
referred to.
When it is desired to increase the speed of the engine, pressure is placed upon
the valve stem or button, which permits a gradual increase of the escape of the
pressure therethrough to the escape opening q, thus releasing the pressure upon
the piston H and therefore permitting the inlet port valve to open farther, admitting
a larger charge of the explosive mixture, and consequently increasing the speed
of the engine.
To prevent the annoying clicking sound from the seating of the inlet port valve,
especially when the engine is running at high speed, I provide a dash pot or
air pressure at the end of the cylinder by extending the cylinder beyond the
piston H and providing it with a cap N'. This cap N¹ is provided with a passage
or passages P1, whereby when the valve is being seated a cushion is provided
therefor which prevents it from having that clicking sound and also prevents
wear upon the valve and its seat.
What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-
1st. An explosive engine comprising an explosion chamber, an explosive inlet
valve, a pressure actuated member connected with said valve, a pressure pro-
ducing device in communication with the pressure actuated member, a pressure
escape for said pressure communication, an endwise moving valve controlling
said escape, and a spring for holding the valve normally closed, whereby the
valve is adapted to be controlled by the downward pressure of the foot or hand,
substantially as described.
2nd. In an explosive engine an explosion chamber, an explosive inlet valve,
a pressure actuated member connected with said valve, a pressure producing
device in communication with said pressure actuated member, a pressure escape
comprising an elongated tapering valve seat having an escape opening, and a
valve situated within said seat and of a length less than the length of the
elongated seat, substantially as described.
3rd. In an explosive engine the combination of an explosive inlet port, an
explosive inlet valve therefor, a pressure actuated member connected with said
valve, a pressure producing device in communication with the said pressure
actuated member, an elongated valve seat having its enlarged end in communica-
tion with the pressure communication and an escape at its small end, and a valve
longitudinally movable within the clongated seat in a direction toward the
enlarged end of the seat, substantially as described
4th. An explosive engine comprising an explosive chamber having an explosive
inlet port, a valve therefor, a pressure actuated member connected with said
valve, a pressure producing device in communication with said pressure actuated
member, an escape for said pressure, a governing valve therefor to regulate the
engine to a given speed, a second escape, and a valve for controlling the said
second escape and thus varying the speed of the engine, substantially as described.
5th. In an explosive engine, an explosive chamber, an explosive inlet port, a
valve therefor having a pressure actuated member connected therewith, a pump
having one end surrounding the drive shaft of the engine, a piston for the pump

page_text: having its projecting end connected directly with the engine piston, and a com-
munication between the pump and the said pressure actuated member, sub-
stantially as described.
6th. In an explosive engine the cylinder, a piston therefor, the cylinder having
an explosive inlet port, a valve therefor, a pressure actuated member connected
with said valve, a pump situated in a line with the engine piston, a pump piston
having a rod connected directly with the engine piston, the pump piston having
a yielding cup at its inner end and provided with an angularly arranged groove
at a point outside of the yielding cup, and a communication between the pump
and said pressure actuated member, substantially as described.
7th. A speed regulator for explosive engines, substantially as herein shown and
described.
Dated this 12th day of September 1899
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.