Improvements in Gas Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
Improvements in Gas Engines.
I, PIERRE ASTRESSE, Civil Engineer, of 10, Avenue de Madrid, Neuilly sur
Seine, France, 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:-
The present invention relates to improvements which are more particularly
applicable to horizontal petroleum and gas engines.
The improvements consist substantially in the arrangement of the cylinders,
which are out of alignment, instead of being arranged in a line with each other
as is the case in some existing two-cylinder motors; but I still retain the principle
of an explosion chamber common to both cylinders, the pistons of which transmit
their motion to the crank of the power shaft supported by a rigid bridge-piece,
enabling the free circulation of air around the parts for facilitating the cooling
The said motion is transmitted by means of two connecting rods and
by means of two beams supported in bearings forming part of the framing of
the motor.
of the same.
In order that the improvements and the method of carrying the same into
practice may be readily understood, I have heroto appended two sheets of ex-
planatory drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved motor, the two cylinders of which are
out of alignment, the left half of the figure being in section on the line 1, 1 of
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a plan, the left half of which is in section on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a detail showing the rigid bridge-piece, and
Fig. 4, on a larger scale, is a section on the line 4, 4 of Fig. 2.
In this improved motor, the inlet, the ignition and the escape of the power gases
take place through an auxiliary chamber which is common to both cylinders, the
explosion having for its effect to drive the two pistons at the same time and in
opposite directions.
A is the frame of the motor, and B, 131 are the cylinders having ribs b, as
usual. The two cylinders B, B' are out of alignment, and are connected by a
casing C, in which is formed a connecting passage c for the power gases; to the
said casing are bolted the rear ends of the said cylinders.
By this arrangement, the crank can be operated in the vertical axis or plane
of each cylinder: I thereby obviate the necessity of deviating the connecting
rods, which is detrimental to the power produced and to the resistance of the
metals employed in the manufacture of the motor.
On to the frame A is secured crosswise a rigid bridge-piece D, in bearings d, d
of which is supported the crank shaft E, carrying fly wheels F, F¹ at each end.
The said bridge-piece D, upon which are formed ribs, allows air to circulate freely
around the cylinders B, Bi, around the auxiliary chamber K hereinafter referred
to and also around the crank E and casing C, and thus effects the cooling of
these parts.
The pistons G transmit motion to the crank E by means of piston rods g, gl
which actuate two connecting rods H, H through the agency of beams I, I¹
fitted in bearings J. J¹ forming part of the frame A of the motor.

page_text: It will be readily understood that the sudden shock resulting from the simul-
taneous movement imparted to the two pistons will thus be considerably lessened
and that, by the herein before described arrangement, motion is rendered very
steady, without any trepidations, while still retaining its primary power.
The casing C communicates with the auxiliary chamber K arranged sidewise
and crosswise of the motor. The said chamber K, shown in detail in Fig. 4,
contains the inlet valve L, and the outlet valve M, as well as the electric firing-
plug N which is placed within the connecting passage c formed between the two
valves L, M. The firing device may be completed by an additional firing
plug OP, placed opposite the firing plug N in the said passage c, thereby ensuring
a duplicate ignition in the two cylinders, if desired.
The inlet valve L is automatic in its action, whilst the outlet valve M is
actuated once for every alternate revolution of the motor through a lever q, by
means of a cam Q fast upon a shaft R, to which the crank shaft E transmits
motion at the required speed by means of tooth wheels S, T respectively keyed
upon the shaft R and the shaft E, and the ratio of which is as one to two. The
shaft R also carries the firing cam U which co-operates with the contact piece V
in the usual manner.
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. In a motive-power engine, the combination, with a common explosion
chamber and an auxiliary chamber K communicating with the said explosion
chamber and containing a suitable firing device, of two cylinders B, B arranged
on either side of the said chamber K and out of alignment horizontally, and of
pistons G in the said cylinders for transmitting motion to the crank shaft E by
means of connecting rods H, H' and by means of beams I, I' fitted in standards J Ji
forming part of the framing A of the motor, substantially as herein before des-
cribed and shown in the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a motive-power engine, the combination, with two cylinders 13, 131 out of
alignment horizontally, an explosion chamber common to both cylinders and an
auxiliary chamber K communicating with the said explosion chamber, of a bridge-
piece D supporting the crank shaft E and allowing air to circulate freely around
the cylinders B B₁ and auxiliary chamber K for cooling the same, substantially
as herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a motive-power engine, the combination of the following instrumen-
talities two cylinders B, B1, out of alignment horizontally, an explosion or power
chamber commion to the said cylinders, an auxiliary chamber K communicating
with the power chamber, an inlet valve L and an outlet valve M placed in the
said auxiliary chamber, a suitable firing device also placed therein, a piston G in
each cylinder B, B1, piston rods g, g¹, standards J, J, beams I, I¹ fitted therein
and jointed at one end to the piston rods respectively, connecting rods H, H' con-
nected at one end with the other end of the said beams, a crank shaft E operated
from the said rods H, H¹ so as to receive the simultaneous motion of the two pistons
and a bridge-piece D enabling the free circulation of air around the cylinders B, B¹,
substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, and for the
purposes set forth.
4. The improved engine constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
D1 1. 041 1
37
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.