Improvements in Gas Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in Gas Engines.
I ALEXANDER Gass of 17 College Street South in the City of Belfast
Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
My invention has reference to gas or oil engines of the improved Crossley type
and consists in the use of a water jacketed chamber or box into which the exhaust
passes and of a drop valve placed in a suitable position to alloy of the free exit of
the exhaust from the chamber or box and so arranged as to close when the pressure
within balances the atmospheric pressure without. The rarified gas or air is
condensed in the chamber or box and the exhaust valve of the engine is kept open
during the entire inward stroke so as to communicate with the chamber or box and
allow the atmospheric pressure to act on the piston. The water in the jacket of
the chamber or box is circulated similarly to that in the jacket of the engine.
Instead of or in addition to the water jacket I have mentioned I may condense
the rarified gas or air by the circulation of water through a worm or coil within
the chamber or box.
I provide at the bottom of the chamber or box a chambered valve or piston
worked alternately by the pressure within and without so as to discharge any
water that may accumulate in the condensation.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1895.
HUGH HYNDMAN,
6 Chichester Street, Belfast, Agent for Applicant.
1, ALEXANDER GASS of 17 College Street South in the City of Belfast
Machinist 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 has reference to gas or oil engines of the improved Crossley type
(as described in the Patent Specifications of Charles Denton Abel A.D. 1876,
No. 2081) and consists in the use of a waterjacketed chamber or box into which
the exhaust from the engine passes and of a drop valve placed in a suitable position
to allow of the free exit of the exhaust from the chamber or box and so arranged
as to close when the pressure within balances the atmospheric pressure without.
The rarified gas or air is condensed in the chamber or box and the exhaust
valve of the engine is kept open during the entire inward stroke so as to com-
municate with the chamber or box and to allow the atmospheric pressure to act on
the piston. The water in the jacket of the chamber or box is circulated similarly
to that in the cylinder jacket of the engine.
Instead of or in addition to the water jacket I have mentioned I may condense
the rarified gas or air by the circulation of water through a worm or coil of pipe
within the chamber or box.
Above the waterjacketed chamber or box I arrange a secondary chamber or box
31

page_text: which encloses the drop valve and carries a pipe to conduct the surplus exhaust
from the chamber or box to the open atmosphere.
The waterjacketed chamber or box may be placed at the side or in the base or
bed of the engine.
I may provide at the bottom of the chamber a box or chambered valve or piston
worked alternately by the pressure within and without so as to discharge any
water that might accumulate in the process of condensation but this would only be
essential if the condensation were very rapid and at very low temperature.
The exhaust valve of the engine is timed to open early on the outward stroke
and to remain open during the entire inward stroke thereby allowing the exhaust
to escape from the cylinder of the engine by free expansion whereupon the drop
valve is lifted by internal pressure for an instant allowing the surplus to escape
while the volume of exhaust that remains in the chamber or box is partially
condensed, making a fairly complete vacuum to act on the piston head bringing the
pressure of the atmosphere into action and driving the engine by explosion and
atmospheric pressure alternately.
By the use of the apparatus I have described the report of the exhaust will also
be softened, if not silenced, and the danger of unfired charges exploding is
removed.
And in order that my said invention may be more fully understood I shall now
refer to the sheets of drawings hereunto annexed the same letters of reference
being used throughout all the figures to indicate the same or corresponding parts
of my improved apparatus.
Fig. I is an elevation, partly in section, of my waterjacketed chamber or box as
placed at the side of a gas or oil engine showing the principal and secondary
chambers or boxes, the water space, the lead of the exhaust from the engine, the
drop valve, the worm or coil of pipe, the pipe through which the surplus exhaust
escapes, an opening and cover for access through the secondary chamber or box to
the drop valve, with screw for adjusting the lift of the valve, circulating pipes to
connect the waterjacketed chamber or box with the water tank, and a pipe
to drain each chamber or box.
Fig. II is an elevation of the water tank in connection with the waterjacketed
chamber or box.
Fig. III is a top view of the secondary chamber or box, the flanges of the access
cover and of the surplus exhaust escape pipe, the exhaust pipe from the engine,
the top circulating pipe in connection with the water tank, and the drain pipes and
taps; also, in dotted lines, the openings in the top of the secondary chamber or
box and the walls of the waterjacketed chamber or box, and
Fig. IV is a top view of the water tank a is the waterjacketed chamber of box,
and a¹ al are the walls enclosing the water space b; c is the secondary chamber or
box; d is the exhaust pipe from the engine; e is the drop valve; fis the worm or
coil of pipe; g is the surplus exhaust escape; h and are the opening and cover
respectively for access to the drop valve e; i is the screw for adjusting the lift of
the valve; kk are the circulating pipes; land are the drain pipes of the principal
and secondary chambers respectively, and m is the water tank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it to be
understood that I do not claim as of my invention or the exclusive use of water-
jacketed chambers, exhaust pipes and escapes, drop valves, and worms or coils of
pipe except when the same are employed in the manner and for the purposes
herein before described, nor do I claim the use of openings and covers, adjusting
screws, circulating and drain pipes, or any of the separate mechanical parts which
form the condensing apparatus used by me but I declare that I claim
1. The use in gas and oil engines of a waterjacketed chamber or box and drop
valve constructed and employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: 2. The use in gas and oil engines of a valve between the exhaust valve of the
engine and the external atmosphere constructed and employed substantially in the
manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the drawings
hereunto annexed.
3. The use in gas and oil engines of a worm or coil of pipe constructed and
employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described
and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed and
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved
apparatus for condensing exhaust products in gas and oil engines constructed and
employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the drawings on the sheets hereunto annexed.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1896.
HUGH HYNDMAN,
6 Chichester Street, Belfast, Agent for Applicant.