Improvements in Gas and Oil Engines or Motors.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1395
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1896-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas and Oil Engines or Motors.
I, FRANK HERBERT BRIGGS of 6 Park Crescent, Torquay in the County of
Devon, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of engines or motors worked by combustible
gases or oil vapour or spray, and has for its object to provide an engine or motor
in which a charge of combustible mixture is compressed in a separate chamber or
chambers during one stroke of the piston or pistons, and being then ignited
propel the piston or pistons during their next outstroke the products of
combustion being expelled by the next instroke. The invention however is
capable of providing an explosion at each stroke of the piston, the explosion not
taking place in the cylinder itself, but in an explosion chamber communicating
with the working cylinders by valves. The engine is also self starting.
In carrying my invention into effect, I will describe first my model apparatus it
being distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to the exact arrangements
described. In this I provide two working cylinders and pistons, and a third
cylinder and piston or pump for supplying the air and compressing the charge.
Each of the working cylinders are provided with an explosion chamber in which
the ignition and explosion of the charge takes place. These communicate by
means of valves operated in any suitable manner with the working cylinders and
are provided with inlet valves for the combustible charge, it being arranged that
during the instroke of the working pistons, the aforesaid valve will close, and the
air compressing piston will first force a supply of fresh air only into the explosion;
chamber to drive out the residual products of the previous explosion, and when
this has been effected also force into said chamber a compressed charge of
combustible mixture of gas and air. In proximity to the explosion chambers.
I provide a chamber in which the charge of gas and air is mixed and compressed
before being admitted into the explosion chamber. It is provided with valves
for receiving the charge of gas and air and valves for admitting the mixture into
one or other of the explosion chambers. The firing device may consist of a heated
tube or passage by preference a tubular extension of the explosion chamber heated
externally by flames. In order to secure that the ignition of the charge shall take
place at the proper moment, namely, when the working piston reaches the end of
its instroke, this tubular extension is cut off from the explosion chamber by a
valve. A convenient way is to form an opening in the spindle of the valve which
opens or closes the communication between the explosion chamber and the working
cylinders, thus when the said valves are closed the ignition device is alse cut off
from the explosion chamber, but when the said valves are wide open the tube,
leading to the admission device is opened also thus immediately igniting the
charge. The valves for admitting the charge from the mixing cylinder to the
explosion chamber are operated preferably by means of cams on a revolving
shaft whereby each valve is operated at given intervals of time. These cams are
capable of being adjusted longitudinally on the shaft so that by moving the cams:
longitudinally they can be made to cease to operate the valves when it is desired !
to stop the engine and leave the charge already compressed for starting the engine,
again when required. This longitudinal adjustment of the cams also facilitates

page_text: the governing of the speed of the engine when its normal speed is exceeded,
thus by connecting the cam with a governor, the governor will automatically
regulate the longitudinal position of the cams on the shaft and thus prevent the
opening or regulate the amount of opening of the valves. Moreover by the
alteration of the cam on the cam shaft, which works the ignition valve, with a
lever or other mechanical contrivance so that it (the ignition valve) is opened just
before instead of just after the piston has reached the dead centre on its inward
stroke, the engine is reversed so that it will run backwards or forwards at
pleasure, and avoids the use of cumbersome reversing gear employed in other
engines.
The mode of action is as follows:-
Assuming that one of the working pistons is on its instroke discharging the
exhaust through the exhaust valve, the third piston bas meantime a charge of
air in the air cylinder, a portion of which it forces into the explosion chamber to
drive out the residual products of the previous explosion, the valve between the
said chamber and the cylinder being closel. The remainder of the compressed
charge of air is forced into the mixing chamber where it mixes with the gas an!
is compressed. The valve between the mixing and explosion chambers opens,
admitting the charge to the latter ready for ignition. Immediately the working
piston reaches the end of its instroke, the valve between the cylin ler and explosion
chamber opens, the igniting valve acts, the charge at once fired and the piston
caused to perform its working stroke during which the operation above described
will be repeated in connection with the other working cylinder, namely, the
driving out of the residual products of combustion and the forming of a charge
ready for firing when the piston reaches the end of its stroke. It will be seen
that there is always a compressed charge stored up ready for firing, and thus
the engine can be automatically started without having to rotate the shaft by hand
as in other arrangements. By the above arrangement two explosions are obtained
at every revolution.
I have described the above way in which my invention may be carried into effect,
but it is obvious that having given the general idea alterations may be made
without departing from the principle. Thus by arranging an explosion chamber
at each end of the cylinder, two explosions per revolution can be obtained with one
working cylinder instead of with two cylinders as above set forth, or if preferred
the cylinder may be closed at both ends instead of one end being left open, and the
end so closed used for the purposes of compression. I may also if desired form
the piston with a passage right through it and controlled by a valve for discharging
the exhaust.
Dated this 26th day of August 1805
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
I, FRANK HERBERT BRIGGS of 6 Park Crescent, Torquay in the County of
Devon, 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of engine or motors worked by combustible
gases or oil vapour or spray, and has for its object to provide an engine or motor
in which a compressed charge of combustible mixture is obtained in a separate
chamber or chambers by the time the piston or pistons arrive at the end of one

page_text: stroke and being then ignited it propels the piston or pistons during their next
outstroke, the products of combustion being expelled from the cylinders by the
next instroke. The invention however is capable of providing an explosion at
each single stroke of the piston. The engine is also self starting.
The invention will be best understood by aid of the accompanying drawings, in
which,
Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of the engine through the cylinders and a
sectional view at right angles to the above through the vaporising part which is
shown broken off from the other portion at the bottom.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of a vaporiser and parts connected therewith.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the valve actuating gear governor and other
parts.
Figure 4 a sectional view showing a modification of my invention and taken in
a plane similar to Figure 1.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 3.
A and A are two working cylinders, B and B pistons of same with piston
rods oscillating therein as shown. The piston rods are not necessarily oscillating
and when used for compression as afterwards described in Figure 4 they are
reciprocating. C is a third cylinder carrying a piston C' and forming the pump.
This is connected by a piston rod C2 and connecting rod C³ with the crank shaft D
of Figure 3. This cylinder C can be made single acting or double acting, but
I prefer it double acting, each end charging one cylinder. It is used for supplying
air and compressing the charge. Care automatic air supply valves.
e
In Figure 4 as hereafter described this part is dispensed with and the main
pistons are themselves used for charging purposes. E and E are chambers
immediately below, behind or at the end of the cylinders A and A¹. In these
chambers the ignition and explosion of the charge takes place. These
communicate with the working cylinders A and A by means of orifices
capable of being closed by the mushroom valves F and F¹. Instead of one
mushroom valve however there can be a large number of these valves each of
them operated independently the same way as this one is worked. There is little
or no advantage however in such a modification, while it adds complications.
G and G are the exhaust valves. Hand Hare annular cylindrical conical
vaporising chambers in which the oil, when oil is used, and air circulate through
pipes and, the air being forced in through a pipe by the pump C and under
some circumstances hereafter set forth the compressed air is supplied by tank I
(Figure 2). The chambers H and H' are heated by the flames of lamps i and ♬ª¹
fed by the tank I with oil. Oil from the tank ¹ passes through the pipes J
and J to the little nozzles ; and j in bend in pipes h and ', the air from the
pump C passing through the pipes inducing the oil to issue in a spray form
from the nozzles j and j'. The oil is carried to the vaporising chamber H where
it is vaporised by means of an oil lamp as shown, and from thence enters the
bottom of chamber E or E¹, as the case may be. Ball or other valves prevent
action in the contrary direction as shown in the drawings. Pins or skeleton
seats prevent the ball valves from leaving their seats too far. These pins should
not be confounded with the valve seats, otherwise the drawings will be understood
with difficulty. K and K' are projecting pins and tappets on the pistons B
and B¹.
The mode of action of the above mentioned parts as set forth specially in
Figure 1 is as follows: -
Assuming that the working piston B₁ has just reached the end of its forward
stroke, the exhaust valve G₁ opens and allows the exhaust gases to escape. The
pressure of the air from the pump C at once forces the valve F¹ onto its seat e.
The gas still exhausting, the piston B¹ continues its inward or return stroke until
it comes near the end. "In the meantime the chamber E¹ has been filled by the
compressed air and gas vapour from the vaporising chamber H' and has been shut
off from cylinder A by the valve F'. The tappet Know strikes the valve F¹

page_text: and pushes it down to the position shown in the right hand side of the drawing
in cylinder A' and at the same moment connection is made with the ignition
tube L by means of the notch in the stem of valve F¹ connecting the ignition
chamber with the small ignition duct 1. (The notch is shown plainly in the
left hand side where the valve is shown closing the chamber E from the vaporising
chamber H.) Ignition being caused, and at the same time or just previously to it
the exhaust valve G' being closed, an explosion takes place and the piston B¹ is
caused to perform its working stroke, during which the operation above described
will be repeated in connection with the other working cylinder A, viz., the driving
out of the residual products of combustion and the forming of a charge ready for
firing when the piston reaches the end of its instroke. It will thus he seen there
is always a compressed charge stored up ready for firing, and thus the engine can
be automatically started without having to rotate the shaft by hand as in other
arrangements. By the above arrangement two explosions are obtained at every
revolution. When either of the pistons B or B₁ alternately reach the end of their
respective cylinders after performing their working stroke, the exhaust valves are
again open, the valves For F¹ are closed on their seats by the pressure of the air
from the pump and the air enters freely through the hollow part M of the stem of
the valves For F¹. The various valves set forth in the drawings in pipes h
etcetera, allow the air and gas to go forward but prevent their return.
The firing
device may, instead of the heated tube L already described, be any other suitable
device, such as the ordinary electric sparking apparatus. In some instances I may
do without a vaporiser altogether spraying the oil direct into the explosion
chamber. The exhaust valves G and G' are operated by the cam motion set forth
in Figure 3. In this, M is the valve lever, m a knife edge or thin part of the
connecting rod connecting the valve rod m³ with shaft N, nn are conical partially
or graduated cams on the main shaft D. By pressing the shaft N longitudinally in
its bearings, the connecting rods m' and knife edges m are brought onto a smaller
portion of the cams, until when they get to their smallest diameter, there is no
motion in the knife edges, consequently the valve is not actuated. Instead of the
shaft N moving longitudinally, the connecting rods m³ can be made to shift on the
shaft. n is a spring for bringing the shaft N back to normal position. For
the purpose of stopping or starting the motor, a handle may be coupled to the
shaft N, so that by pulling this handle and sliding the shaft N longitudinally, the
knife edges m are brought to the smaller portion of the cone cams n, thus stopping
the engine. A tank I is shown in the drawings. When the engine is used for
motor gas and the charge is not required, such as when going down hill or the
engine is worked while the car is stopped a charge is pumped into this tank until it
stands at high pressure. This charge is used for starting the engine and for
assisting it temporarily in going up hill. This tank I and its concomitant parts
however are not claimed in the present specification as they will be set forth fully
and claimed in my motor car Specification, No. 6067 and I only mention them here
in order to explain the drawings. The shaft N is moved to and fro by the cone O,
which in its turn is raised and lowered by the governor balls P.
In a Provisional Application now pending, No. 6067 for a motor car, I have
shown a different form of governor, which for motor car purposes I prefer to the
one above shown. The one set forth in Figure 3 however is very simple and well
adapted for most purposes, but the end nearest cone of the shaft N should
slide in bearings and should be arranged not to turn on its axis and be supplied
with an anti-friction pulley at the end against cone O. By weighting the cone
or pressing it down with a regulated spring any amount of resistance can be given
to the action of the governor P. Figure 4 shows a slight variation of my
invention in which both ends of the cylinder are closed and one end is used in place
of the air compressing pump C of the other views, and in some cases I may be able
by this arrangement to do without vaporisers, the oil being passed direct into the
explosion chamber. The remaining letters in this drawing correspond with the
letters in the other drawings, and describe similar parts.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be perforined, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a gas or oil engine working by explosive force a piston or pistons having
one working stroke for each revolution, the cylinder of which exhausts for almost
the entire distance of the half revolution of the crank and in which the work of
compression is accomplished contemporaneously with the entire working stroke
substantially as described.
2. In a gas or oil engine the combination of a cylinder with a partition formed
mainly of a valve or valves and dividing it into two parts in one of which the
piston reciprocates and in the other the gases are first compressed and then (after
the valve or valves have been opened thus throwing it into one chamber) ignited,
substantially as described.
3. The firing device and arrangement of valve device formed in the spindle of
the main valve substantially as described.
4. The combined governor and valve mechanism arranged and constructed.
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this Ofth dox of Lune 1906
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.