IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A. M and
W. Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND
OTHER ENGINES communicated to him from abroad by Nicolas de Kabath of
Paris France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd February 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND OTHER ENGINES [communicated to him from
abroad by Nicolas de Kabath of Paris, France]
"
This Invention relates to an improved gas engine of inexpensive construction
capable of running at very high speeds, and of doing a considerable amount of
work in a small compass. The engine consists essentially of a cylinder of two
diameters fitted with a corresponding double piston, of which one part is the
working piston, and the other is for pumping the gases out of the working
cylinder.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated
an example thereof in the annexed drawings, and will proceed to describe it with
reference thereto.
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the engine in a plane parallel to the
crank shaft, and Figure 2 a vertical section at right angles thereto. Figure 3 is an
external elevation of the engine. Figure 4 shows details of the governor.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the ignition port and valve, and Figure 6
is an elevation of the ignition apparatus. Figure 7 is a horizontal section of the
working piston. Figure 8 is an underside plan of the guide for the main air inlet
valve. The remaining figures show modifications hereinafter referred to.
A is the working piston, and B the vacuum piston both in one casting or trunk,
the area of piston B being rather more than double that of piston A. O is the
crank shaft. E is the piston valve which carries the igniting flame into the
Povine Lo G71

page_text: explosion chamber. It is worked by an eccentric X on the crank shaft through
a strap W and the valve dips into an oil cup y formed in the base plate of the
engine. The valve E has a small by-pass or inlet d leading to its port or
chamber a controlled by a screw plug b and communicating with a small cavity c
by which gas escapes from T into a when the valve is raised and the pressure in T
is higher than in a. vw small recesses in valve E through which the gas may
pass from port T into space a, and a portion of the products of combustion may
escape to chimney F. F chimney having a contracted air inlet x at bottom to
protect the igniting flame fissuing at jet e and produce a draught for clearing out
the gases of combustion from the port or chamber a of valve E. h air inlet hole
to blow flame f towards the aperture g in the valve casing. At the opposite side
is the inlet D for gas and air, or gas only from pipe u, the admission being
controlled by a valve O closed by a spring i on its rod which is connected with
one arm of a bell crank lever G whose other arm is connected to a rod M
extending towards the crank shaft and guided at its upper end by a roller L.
N is a screw for regulating the lift of valve O from its seat, and t is a set screw
for binding screw N when adjusted. The head of rod M which embraces roller L
is bevelled in opposite directions and stands more or less in the path of the roller
tappet I of the centrifugal governor H by which the valve is opened at required
times as hereafter explained. This roller tappet is loose on a pin J carried by the
hub of the flywheel and is moved along it in and out of the plane of the bevelled
end of rod M by the long arm of a bell crank lever whose short arm carries the
weight H, said lever being pivoted to brackets k carried by the hub of the
flywheel. The centrifugal force of the weight H is opposed by a spring p whose
tension is regulated by a nut q. P main air inlet valve. Qhandle for turning
valve P on its seat to free it of any accumulation of dust. R spring holding
valve P upon its seat and determining by its stress (which is regulated by nuts m)
the degree of rarefaction in the explosion chamber before it will open. S water
jacket of cylinder for preventing the destruction of the parts by the heat, and
Y Y are the water inlet and outlet thereof. U circumferential port between the
guide K for the piston A and its cylinder at which the gases in the working
cylinder escape into the enlargement or chamber V when the piston A rises wholly
out of its cylinder, this chamber V forming the lower part of the vacuum cylinder.
The guide K also serves to prevent the piston packing expanding when it rises out
of the cylinder. Z safety valve closed by spring 1. At one side of this chamber V
is the exhaust valve j at which the gases escape into the exhaust pipe.
8 no lubricators for crank shaft and crank.
The following is the action of the engine:-Having established the gas supply
and a circulation of water in jacket S, the gas jet is lighted at e and the engine
started by turning crank shaft C. The piston A in rising draws in air at valve P,
the inflow being checked by spring R so that a partial vacuum is established. The
piston B at same time produces a partial vacuum in chamber V, and when piston A
uncovers the circumferential port U, the vacuum is equalised in chambers T and V.
When the piston A descends and has closed port Ù, the roller tappet I strikes
rod M and opens valve O which admits a sufficient quantity of gas or gaseous
mixture, raising the pressure in the explosion chamber to one atmosphere. By the
continued descent of piston A the gases are compressed to the desired degree when
it passes its lowest point. The piston E has now descended low enough to establish
communication between its cavity a and the explosion chamber, whereupon the
explosion takes place and the piston is driven upwards with great force. As the
piston in its up stroke uncovers the port U, the gases beneath it are drawn into
chamber V, and if insufficient to fill this chamber, air is drawn in through valve P.
When the piston again descends, the space below it will be partially filled with
pure air until the valve O again opens to form an explosive mixture at one
atmosphere below piston A. At each explosion, the flame producing it in cavity a
becomes extinguished but at the next upstroke of the valve, it is reignited by
the permanent flame f. On valve E again descending, a small flame appears at d
-

page_text: .
which continues to burn until another flame is produced at which continues
until cavity a and port T are in free communication. It will thus be seen that
the explosion is produced, the cylinder is entirely freed from burnt gases, a
sufficient quantity of air is admitted, and that this air is mixed with gas for
another explosion, at each stroke of the engine.
It is necessary for the economical working of this engine that when an explosion
takes place suddenly it should be powerful; a small quantity of gas and air mixed
would not produce a sudden explosion and would be a mere waste of gas. The
governor should therefore admit sufficient gas to produce a powerful rather than
a sudden explosion by regulating the number of charges of gas and the quantity
introduced at each charge.
When the engine is running at a high speed, the centrifugal force of the weight H
causes the roller tappet I to be drawn close to the boss of the flywheel as shown
in the drawing, so as not to strike rod M and open valve O. When however the
speed falls so low that the power of the spring p overcomes the centrifugal force
of the weight H, the path of the roller tappet is brought into the plane of the
rod M which is struck and the valve O opened. The periphery of the roller
tappet I and the head of rod M against which it strikes, may be made of such
form as to enable to some extent the charge of gas to be varied according to the
work to be performed by the engine. The quantity of gas admitted at each
stroke may be regulated by varying the stress of spring R. According as this is
weak or strong, valve P will open more or less freely, the degree of rarefaction in
the explosion cylinder will be less or more, and consequently less or more gas will
be admitted at valve O to balance the difference between the internal and external
pressures. This difference may be as much as one-third of an atmosphere, in
which case one-third of the capacity below piston A would be filled with gas
admitted at the valve O.
The piston B pumps the gases of combustion out of the working cylinder on its
upstroke, and expels them at valve j on its downstroke. The gas pipe u may
either be connected directly with the gas supply pipe by the indiarubber receiver
ordinarily employed, or it may be connected with the mixer represented in
Figure 9. If the gas employed be very poor such as carbonic oxide or air
carburetted by means of petroleum, the mixer will be unnecessary but if on the
contrary a gas of high illuminating power be used, the mixer may be fixed
between the engine and the gas holder and connected to the pipes in the usual
manner. The mixer consists of a mixing cylinder A in which rises a fixed
cylinder D open at bottom to the atmosphere and perforated with rows of holes q,
said cylinder being surmounted by another cylinder B separated from A by a
cover C from which rises the cylinder F perforated with a row of slits f and
enclosed by a loose sleeve E similarly perforated. A piston I fits the cylinder F
and another I¹ fits the cylinder D, the two pistons being coupled by rod H. G is
the gas inlet, and P the connection to the engine.
The
When the engine is working, the unbalanced atmospheric pressure below piston I'
raises it above more or less of the holes g and allows more or less air to enter
chamber A, the piston I also rising to admit gas through a corresponding number
of slits, the gas passing down into casing A and mixing with the air.
quantity of the gaseous mixture is thus self regulating according to the
consumption. If the gas becomes suddenly useless, the two pistons fall until the
piston I comes on the seat at bottom of cylinder F and cuts off the gas inlet.
The relative proportion of gas admitted may be regulated by adjusting the rotary
sleeve E by lever handle J until the slits in it coincide more or less with those in
cylinder F, the amount of opening being shown by a pointer upon an index.
Figures 11 to 14 show a modified arrangement of the engine and of the
governor, Figure 11 being a vertical section of the engine, and Figure 12 an
elevation of same at right Figure 11; Figure 13 shows the governor, and
Figure 14 a horizontal section of the engine taken through the explosion chamber.
A is the working piston, and B the vacuum piston of greater diameter than A,

page_text: both being on the same piston rod and working in their respective cylinders which
in this case are separated by the cover of the lower cylinder which is furnished
with a stuffing box for the piston rod and with an annular valve j opening
upwards for the passage of the gases of combustion from space R¹ to space
beneath the piston B.
The working cylinder has a water jacket S as before. D is the pump drawing
air or a gaseous mixture. E is the ignition or flame carrying valve worked through
rock lever G from the eccentric g on the crank shaft. F is the flame chimney.
H are the centrifugal governor weights of which there are in this case a pair
acting through elbow levers on a sliding collar N carrying an involute cam J to
bring it into the path of a friction roller on the frame K of the rod of pump D.
M guide roller of frame K. L strong spring to force the pump piston downwards.
The other parts will be best described in the following description of the working.
By the rotation of the crank shaft C in the direction of the arrow (Figure 12)
the piston of pump D is raised by cam I and draws air through valve and gas
through valve b, the quantity of gas admitted at each stroke being regulated by a
valve provided with an indicator. When the roller J escapes from the cam I,
the weight of the piston and the spring L forces the gaseous mixture into the
working cylinder through the valve V which is of cylindrical form and perforated,
this action taking place when the piston A has descended below the ports W in
its cylinder and the gases being rapidly drawn through the perforations and
mixed with the air in the cylinder. This valve V is closed by a spring c enclosed
by a cap d. By the further descent of the piston A to the position shown in the
drawing, the mixture is suitably compressed in chamber T, and at this moment
the flame is carried into the chamber by the valve E. When the explosion occurs
the pressure produced in T is about 12-2 atmospheres per square centimetre, but
the heat generated will not be utilised, and complete combustion will not
therefore be effected until the piston has nearly completed its upward stroke. A
high pressure is therefore maintained until the piston rising above the orifices W
allows the burnt gases to escape into chamber R₁ whence they are drawn into the
upper cylinder. As the gases which escape from the working cylinder are
insufficient to fill the vacuum therein, fresh air is drawn in at the main valve U
in quantity sufficient to clear out the whole of the burnt gases from the working
cylinder. The valve U being of very large diameter and opening freely, being
closed only by its own weight, allows the engine to work at a high speed.
In this modification the governor is mounted on the rigger instead of the
flywheel as before, and the parts are duplicated. The two weights H are mounted
on elbow lever h pivoted at ii both engage with the same sliding collar N.
Each weight is drawn inwards by a spring O, thereby bringing the cam I into
the plane of friction roller J so that when the engine is started it will operate
pump D, but when the centrifugal force of the weights overcomes the tension of
their springs, the cam is retracted so that the roller J is no longer in its path and
the pump D becomes inoperative-until the speed of the engine falls low enough to
enable the springs O to overcome the centrifugal force when the cam is again.
brought into working position and the operation of the pump is resumed.
The capacity of pump D is one-sixth that of the cylinder so that if the D
pump
draws gas only, the cylinder would be charged with 6 parts of air to 1 part of gas.
To do this the cap of the air valve a should be turned so as to close the air inlet
holes, the pump then drawing gas only, and being completely filled at each stroke
provided the indicator valve k be opened sufficiently. If less gas is required at each
stroke, the valve k is partially closed and air admitted at a, and if equal quantities
of air and gas be admitted, the working cylinder would contain at each explosion
a mixture of 12 parts of air to one of gas. By mixing 1 part of air with the gas
before admitting it to the working cylinder and passing it quickly through the
perforations in valve V, the mixture may be effected with sufficient rapidity to
enable a very high speed to be obtained. The valve E is in this case horizontal
and differs somewhat, but not materially, in construction from that before described.

page_text: Its cavity o is filled with gases on its outward stroke which are ignited by jet m
at a small opening n, and on its inward stroke the flame is carried into communica-
tion with the explosive mixture in the working cylinder. The burnt gases after
passing from R through valvej into R, are expelled at the discharge valve ✗
(Figure 12). The safety valve Ỷ is similar to that before described. The engine
may also be arranged horizontally instead of vertically.
Figures 15 to 19 show such an engine constructed to generate its own supply of
gas. Figure 15 is a central longitudinal section of the engine, and Figure 16 a
plan of the same with the ignition valve in section. Figure 17 is a cross section
on the line xx Figure 16. Figure 18 is a vertical section on line 2-z Figure 16
showing the lubricating devices. Figure 19 shows the governor. Figures 20
and 21 represent a vertical section and plan of a modification having a self starting
arrangement.
The pistons A and B and their cylinders resemble the first described arrange-
ment, the principal distinguishing feature in this engine being the gas generating
chamber m in which a jet of oil or spirit is introduced and vaporised by the aid of
suitable devices which I will describe. This vaporising chamber is surrounded with
a hot air jacket with inlet and outlet and heated by a spirit lamp Q, petroleum,
naphtha, or other combustible liquid being supplied through the pipe M under a
head of about 2 feet; lamp Q is then lighted unless naphtha be used, when no
lamp is required. When the temperature of chamber m is sufficiently high to
vaporise the liquid or keep it in suspension in the air, the lamp P may be lighted
at the two burners a b after which the crank shaft is turned in the direction of the
arrow, whereupon air will be drawn in at valve C until the explosion chamber n
is almost filled. On the return of piston A the valve E between the generating
chamber m and the explosion chamber n, is opened by roller tappet H striking
rod K and rocking lever L which admits air at D into chamber m and explosion
chamber n carrying with it the oil vapors and rendering the air confined in said
chamber explosive. When lever L is moved to the right, it carries weight o with
it as far as point y, it disengages the small catch dwhich liberates weight o-where-
upon the spring drives the weight back against the nut p, thereby momentarily
opening oil valve F and injecting a small jet of oil into the heated chamber m, the
valve being instantaneously closed by spring 8 and no more oil can escape until
the next stroke.
The opening of the oil valve is due solely to the momentum of the weight and
not to the motion of lever L so that no oil can escape and none can enter the
explosion chamber except when valve E is open. When chamber m is heated and
the engine started the lamp Q may be extinguished as the heat from the gases
burnt in chamber m will suffice to vaporize the oil injected. The ignition valve N
Carries a wick S which is ignited at each forward stroke by the permanent flame b
which when the valve is in this position is carried by the draught produced by
flame a in the direction of S as represented in Figure 17 The degree of rarefac-
tion in chamber n and consequently the amount of gas to be supplied to chamber m
is regulated by the tension of spring i.
This engine may be used as a gas motor generating its own gas, or as a liquid
fuel motor, or both may be used in combination or it may be used a gas engine
simply, in this case the oil feed would be dispensed with and the gas be supplied
by valve D and a gas flame established at a. Engines of this kind as ordinarily
constructed have never hitherto had means of supplying a regulated quantity of
oil at each stroke and those in which oil is supplied under pressure have had no
means of preventing leakage or escapes; both of which are entirely prevented by
the above improvements and the oil is supplied with mathematical precision.
Other oil engines have their oil supply valve placed at some distance from its
point of delivery so that several charges of oil are liable to pass out together from
the pipe leaving the engine unsupplied for several following strokes. Here how-
ever the valve is at the discharge orifice itself and the oil does not escape drop by
drop but in a quick jet which is projected with great force against the heated end

page_text: of the cylinder and moreover the governor regulates the oil feed which is the
only proper method.
Figures 20 and 21 represent another modification of the engine provided with
self starting gear consisting mainly of a drum b on the crank shaft a with a cord c
attached and wound several times around it said cord passing over a pulley d and
having a weight e attached. The drum has a ratchet g engaged by pawls n and a
worm wheel gearing with worm i upon a shaft k turning in bearings one of
which is capable of vertical adjustment to hold the endless screw in gear with
wheelf, by inserting a pin n in plummer block m as shown in Figure 21.
Before starting the engine the card is wound on the drum and the weight raised
by turning handle o. The pin n being now withdrawn, the worm is disengaged
from wheel and the drum can be rotated by the weight e thereby rotating the
crank shaft a moving the engine pistons. The fly wheel q is connected to shaft a
by a cone friction clutch put in or out of gear by a hand wheels and screw rod t.
The clutch is held between collars n on screw t and is connected with the shaft by
a sliding groove and feather connection.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on .
the 23rd August 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND OTHER ENGINES" A communication to me from
abroad by Nicolas de Kabath of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to an improved gas engine of inexpensive construction
capable of running at very high speeds, and of doing a considerable amount of
work in a small compass. The engine consists essentially of a cylinder of two
diameters fitted with a corresponding double piston, of which one part is the
working piston, and the other is for pumping the gases out of the working
cylinder.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated
an example thereof in the annexed drawings, and will proceed to describe it with
reference thereto.
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the engine in a plane parallel to the
crank shaft, and Figure 2 a vertical section at right angles thereto. Figure 3 is an
external elevation of the engine. Figure 4 shows details of the governor. Figure 5.
is a horizontal section through the ignition port and valve, and Figure 6 is an
elevation of the ignition apparatus. Figure 7 is a horizontal section of the working
piston. Figure 8 is an underside plan of the guide for the main air inlet valve.
The remaining figures show modifications hereinafter referred to.
A is the working piston, and B the vacuum piston both in one casting or trunk,
the area of piston B being rather more than double that of piston A. C is the
crank shaft. E is the piston valve which carries the igniting flame into the
explosion chamber. It is worked by an eccentric X on the crank shaft through.
a strap W and the valve dips into an oil cup y. formed in the base plate of the
engine. The valve E has a small by-pass or inlet d leading to its port or chamber a
controlled by a screw plug b and communicating with a small cavity c by which
gas escapes from T into a when the valve is raised and the pressure in T is higher
than in a. vw small recesses in valve E through which the gas may pass from
port T into space a, and a portion of the products of combustion may escape to
chimney F. F chimney having a contracted air inlet at bottom to protect the
igniting flame f. issuing at jet e and produce a draught for clearing out the gases
of combustion from the port or chamber a of valve E. hair inlet hole to blow
flame ftowards the aperture g in the valve casing. At the opposite side is the
inlet D for gas and air, or gas only from pipe u, the admission being controlled by
a valve O closed by a spring i on its rod which is connected with one arm of a
bell crank lever G whose other arm is connected to a rod M extending towards.
the crank shaft and guided at its upper end by a roller L. N is a screw for regu-
lating the lift of valve O from its seat, and t is a set screw for binding screw N
when adjusted. The head of rod M which embraces roller L is bevelled in opposite
directions and stands more or less in the path of the roller tappet I of the centri-
fugal governor H by which the valve is opened at required times as hereafter.
explained. This roller tappet is loose on a pin J carried by the hub of the fly-
wheel and is moved along it in-and-out of- the-plane-of-the-bevelled end of rod M
by the long arm of a bell crank lever r whose short arm carries the weight H, said
lever being pivoted to brackets k carried by the hub of the flywheel. The
•

page_text: →
centrifugal force of the weight H is opposed by a spring p whose tension is regu-
lated by a nut q. P main air inlet valve. Qhandle for turning valve P on its
seat to free it of any accumulation of dust. R spring holding valve P upon its
seat and determining by its stress (which is regulated by nuts m) the degree of
rarefaction in the explosion chamber before it will open. S water jacket of
cylinder for preventing the destruction of the parts by the heat, and Y Y¹ are the
water inlet and outlet thereof U circumferential port between the guide K for
the piston A and its cylinder at which the gases in the working cylinder escape
into the enlargement or chamber V when the piston A rises wholly out of its
cylinder, this chamber V forming the lower part of the vacuum cylinder. The
guide K also serves to prevent the piston packing expanding when it rises out of
the cylinder. safety valve closed by spring 1. At one side of this chamber V is
the exhaust valve at which the gases escape into the exhaust pipe. 8 no
lubricators for crank shaft and crank.
The following is the action of the engine: Having established the gas supply
and a circulation of water in jacket S, the gas jet is lighted at e and the engine
started by turning crank shaft C. The piston A in rising draws in air at valve P,
the inflow being checked by spring R so that a partial vacuum is established. The
piston B at same time produces a partial vacuum in chamber V, and when piston A
uncovers the circumferential port U, the vacuum is equalised in chambers T and V.
When the piston A descends and has closed port Ü, the roller tappet I strikes
rod M and opens valve O which admits a sufficient quantity of gas or gaseous
mixture, raising the pressure in the explosion chamber to one atmosphere. By
the continued descent of piston A the gases are compressed to the desired degree
when it passes its lowest point. The piston E has now descended low enough to
establish communication between its cavity a and the explosion chamber, where-
upon the explosion takes place and the piston is driven upwards with great force.
As the piston in its up stroke uncovers the port U, the gases beneath it are drawn
into chamber V, and if insufficient to fill this chamber, air is drawn in through
valve P. When the piston again descends, the space below it will be partially
filled with pure air until the valve again opens to form an explosive mixture at
one atmosphere below piston A. At each explosion, the flame producing it in
cavity a becomes extinguished but at the next upstroke of the valve, it is reignited
by the permanent flame f. On valve E again descending, a small flame appears
at d which continues to burn until another flame is produced at v which continues
until cavity a and port T are in free communication. It will thus be seen that
the explosion is produced, the cylinder is entirely freed from burnt gases, a sufficient
quantity of air is admitted, and that this air is mixed with gas for another
explosion, at each stroke of the engine.
It is necessary for the economical working of this engine that when an explosion
takes place suddenly it should be powerful; a small quantity of gas and air mixed
would not produce a sudden explosion and would be a mere waste of gas. The
governor should therefore admit sufficient gas to produce a powerful rather than a
sudden explosion by regulating the number of charges of gas and the quantity
introduced at each charge.
When the engine is running at a high speed, the centrifugal force of the
weight H causes the roller tappet I to be drawn close to the boss of the flywheel
as shown in the drawing, so as not to strike rod M and open valve O. When
however the speed falls so low that the power of the spring p overcomes the
centrifugal force of the weight H, the path of the roller tappet is brought into the
plane of the rod M which is struck and the valve O opened. The periphery of
the roller tappet I and the head of rod M against which it strikes, may be made
of such form as to enable to some extent the charge of gas to be varied according
to the work to be performed by the engine. The quantity of gas admitted at
each stroke may be regulated by varying the stress of spring R. According as
this is weak or strong, valve P will open more or less freely, the degree of
rarefaction in the explosion cylinder will be less or more, and consequently less or.

page_text: more gas will be admitted at valve O to balance the difference between the internal
and external pressures. This difference may be as much as one-third of an
atmosphere, in which case one-third of the capacity below piston A would be filled
with gas admitted at the valve O.
The piston B pumps the gases of combustion out of the working cylinder on its
upstroke, and expels them at valvej on its downstroke. The gas pipe u may
either be connected directly with the gas supply pipe by the indiarubber receiver
ordinarily employed, or it may be connected with the mixer represented in
Figure 9. If the gas employed be very poor such as carbonic oxide or air
carburetted by means of petroleum, the mixer will be unnecessary but if on the
contrary a gas of high illuminating power be used, the mixer may be fixed
between the engine and the gas holder and connected to the pipes in the usual
manner. The mixer consists of a mixing cylinder A in which rises a fixed
cylinder D open at bottom to the atmosphere and perforated with rows of holes q,
said cylinder being surmounted by another cylinder B separated from A by a
cover C from which rises the cylinder F perforated with a row of slits f and
enclosed by a loose sleeve E similarly perforated. A piston I fits the cylinder F
and another I fits the cylinder D, the two pistons being coupled by rod H.
G is the gas inlet, and P the connection to the engine.
When the engine is working, the unbalanced atmospheric pressure below
piston I¹ raises it above more or less of the holes q q and allows more or less air to
enter chamber A, the piston I also rising to admit gas through a corresponding
number of slits f, the gas passing down into casing A and mixing with the air.
The quantity of the gaseous mixture is thus self regulating according to the
consumption. If the gas becomes suddenly useless, the two pistons fall until the
piston I comes on the seat at bottom of cylinder F and cuts off the gas inlet. The
relative proportion of gas admitted may be regulated by adjusting the rotary
sleeve E by lever handle J until the slits in it coincide more or less with those in
cylinder F, the amount of opening being shown by a pointer upon an index.
Figures 11 to 14 show a modified arrangement of the engine and of the
governor, Figure 11 being a vertical section of the engine, and Figure 12 an
elevation of same at right angles to Figure 11. Figure 13 shows the governor,
and Figure 14 a horizontal section of the engine taken through the explosion
chamber.
A. is the working piston, and B the vacuum piston of greater diameter than A,
both being on the same piston rod and working in their respective cylinders which
in this case are separated by the cover of the lower cylinder which is furnished
with a stuffing box for the piston rod and with an annular valve j opening
upwards for the passage of the gases of combustion from space R¹ to space K
beneath the piston B.
The working cylinder has a water jacket S as before. D is the pump drawing
air or a gaseous mixture. E is the ignition or flame carrying valve worked
through rock lever G from the eccentric g on the crank shaft. F is the flame
chimney. Hare the centrifugal governor weights of which there are in this case
a pair acting through elbow levers h on a sliding collar N carrying an involute
cam J to bring it into the path of a friction roller j on the frame K of the rod of
pump D. M guide roller of frame K. L strong spring to force the pump piston
downwards. The other parts will be best described in the following description of
the working.
By the rotation of the crank shaft C in the direction of the arrow (Figure 12)
the piston of pump D is raised by cam I and draws air through valve a and gas
through valve b. the quantity of gas admitted at each stroke being regulated by a
valve k. provided with an indicator. When the roller J escapes from the cam I,
the weight of the piston and the spring L forces the gaseous mixture into the
working cylinder through the valve V which is of cylindrical form and perforated,
this action taking place when the piston A has descended below the ports W in its
cylinder and the gases being rapidly drawn through the perforators and mixed

page_text: .
with the air in the cylinder. This valve V is closed by a spring c. enclosed by a
cap d. By the further descent of the piston A to the position shown in the
drawing, the mixture is suitably compressed in chamber T, and at this moment the
flame is carried into the chamber by the valve E. When the explosion occurs the
pressure produced in T is about 12.2 atmospheres per square centimetre, but the
heat generated will not be utilised, and complete combustion will not therefore be
effected until the piston has nearly completed its upward stroke. A high pressure
is therefore maintained until the piston rising above the orifices W allows the
burnt gases to escape into chamber R¹ whence they are drawn into the upper
cylinder. As the gases which escape from the working cylinder are insufficient to
fill the vacuum therein, fresh air is drawn in at the main valve U in quantity
sufficient to clear out the whole of the burnt gases from the working cylinder.
The valve U being of very large diameter and opening freely, being closed only by
its own weight, allows the engine to work at a high speed.
In this modification the governor is mounted on the rigger instead of the
flywheel as before, and the parts are duplicated. The two weights H are mounted
on elbow levers h. pivoted at ii and both engaging with the same sliding collar N.
Each weight is drawn inwards by a spring O, thereby bringing the cam I into the
plane of friction roller J so that when the engine is started it will operate pump D,
but when the centrifugal force of the weights overcomes the tension of their
springs, the cam is retracted so that the roller J is no longer in its path and the
pump D becomes inoperative until the speed of the engine falls low enough to
enable the springs to overcome the centrifugal force when the cam is again
brought into working position and the operation of the pump is resumed.
The capacity of pump D is one-sixth that of the cylinder so that if the pump D
draws gas only, the cylinder would be charged with 6 parts of air to 1 part of gas.
To do this the cap of the air valve a should be turned so as to close the air inlet
holes, the pump then drawing gas only, and being completely filled at each stroke
provided the indicator valve k. be opened sufficiently. If less gas is required at
each stroke, the valve k. is partially closed and air admitted at a., and if equal
quantities of air and gas be admitted, the working cylinder would contain at each
explosion a mixture of 12 parts of air to 1 of gas. By mixing 1 part of 'air with
the gas before admitting it to the working cylinder and passing it quickly through
the perforations in valve V, the mixture may be effected with sufficient rapidity
to enable a very high speed to be obtained. The valve E is in this case horizontal
and differs somewhat, but not materially, in construction from that before
described. Its cavity o is filled with gases on its outward stroke which are
ignited by jet m. at a small opening n. and on its inward stroke the Hame is
carried into communication with the explosive mixture in the working cylinder.
The burnt gases after passing from R¹ through valve j into R, are expelled at the
discharge valve X (Figure 12). The safety valve Y is similar to that before
described.
The engine may also be arranged horizontally instead of vertically. Figures 15
to 19 show such an engine constructed to generate its own supply of gas.
Figure 15 is a central longitudinal section of the engine, and Figure 16 a plan of
the same with the ignition valve in section. Figure 17 is a cross section on the
line xx. Figure 16. Figure 18 is a vertical section on line 8-z Figure 16 showing
the lubricating devices. Figure 19 shows the governor. Figures 20 and 21
represent a vertical section and plan of a modification having a self starting
arrangement.
The pistons A and B and their cylinders resemble the first described arrange-
ment the principal distinguishing feature in this engine being the gas generating
chamber m in which a jet of oil or spirit is introduced and vaporised by the aid of
suitable devices which I will describe. This vaporising chamber is surrounded
with a hot air jacket with inlet and outlet and heated by a spirit lamp Q,
petroleum, naphtha, or other combustible liquid being supplied through the pipe M
under a heat of about 2 feet; lamp is then lighted unless naphtha be used,

page_text: when no lamp is required. When the temperature of chamber m is sufficiently
high to vaporise the liquid or keep it in suspension in the air, the lamp P may be
lighted at the two burners a b' after which the crank shaft is turned in the
direction of the arrow, whereupon air will be drawn in at valve C until the
explosion chamber n is almost filled. On the return of piston A the valve E
between the generating chamber m and the explosion chamber n, is opened by
roller tappet H striking rod K and rocking lever L which admits air at D into
chamber m and explosion chamber n carrying with it the oil vapors and rendering
the air confined in said chamber explosive. When lever L is moved to the right,
it carries weight o with it as far as point y, it disengages the small catch d which
liberates weight o. whereupon the spring drives the weight back against the
nut p, thereby momentarily opening oil-valve F and injecting a small jet of oil
into the heated chamber m, the valve being instantaneously closed by spring 8 and
no more oil can escape until the next stroke.
The opening of the oil valve is due solely to the momentum of the weight and
not to the motion of lever L so that no oil can escape and none can enter the
explosion chamber except when valve E is open. When chamber m is heated and
the engine started the lamp Qmay be extinguished as the heat from the gases
burnt in chamber m will suffice to vaporize the oil injected. The ignition valve N
carries a wick S which is ignited at each forward stroke by the permanent flame b,
which when the valve is in this position is carried by the draught produced
by flame a in the direction of S as represented in Figure 17. The degree of
rarefaction in chamber and consequently the amount of gas to be supplied to
chamber m is regulated by the tension of spring i.
This engine may be used as a gas motor generating its own gas, or as a liquid
fuel motor, or both may be used in combination or it may be used as a gas engine
simply in which case the oil feed would be dispensed with and the gas be supplied
by valve D and a gas flame established at a. Engines of this kind as ordinarily
constructed have never hitherto had means of supplying a regulated quantity of
oil at each stroke and those in which oil is supplied under pressure have had no
means of preventing leakage or escapes; both of which are entirely prevented by
the above improvements and the oil is supplied with mathematical precision.
Other oil engines have their oil supply valve placed at some distance from its
point of delivery so that several charges of oil are liable to pass out together from
the pipe leaving the engine unsupplied for several following strokes. Here
however the valve is at the discharge orifice itself and the oil does not escape drop
by drop but in a quick jet which is projected with great force against the heated
end of the cylinder and moreover the governor regulates the oil feed which is the
only proper method.
Figures 20 and 21 represent another modification of the engine provided with
self starting gear consisting mainly of a drum b on the crank shaft a with a cord c
attached and wound several times around it said cord passing over a pulley d and
having a weight e attached. The drum has a ratchet g engaged by pawls n and a
worm wheel gearing with worm i upon a shaft k turning in bearings one of
which is capable of vertical adjustment to hold the endless screw in gear with
wheel f., by inserting a pin n in plummer block m as shown in Figure 21.
Before starting the engine the cord is wound on the drum and the weight raised
by turning handle o. The pin n being now withdrawn, the worm is disengaged
from wheel f. and the drum can be rotated by the weight e thereby rotating the
crank shaft a moving the engine pistons. The fly wheel q is connected to shaft a
by a cone friction clutch put in or out of gear by a hand wheels and screw
rod. t. The clutch is held between collars u on screw t and is connected with the
shaft by a sliding groove and feather connection.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :
1st The employment in a gas engine, of a double piston of which one part is the

page_text: .
working piston while the other serves for pumping the gases out of the working
cylinder, and unprovided with either valve or stuffing box substantially as herein
specified.
2nd The.combination of a double piston as specified with the explosion chamber
3rd The combination of the double piston with chambers T and V, port U and
guide K substantially as specified and shown in figures 1 and 2.
4th The combination of valves O, P, piston A port U chamber V and valve J
substantially as specified
5th The hereindescribed method and arrangements for regulating the quantity
of gas admitted to the explosion chamber.
6th The combination of spring R with valves O and P substantially as specified
7th The hereindescribed method and arrangements for effecting the rapid
expulsion of the burnt gases from the working cylinder, in order to enable the
engine to attain the highest possible speed, by causing the working piston to pass
entirely out of its cylinder, leaving a clear space for the burnt gases to pass quickly
into the vacuum cylinder substantially as specified
8th The annular guide in line with the working cylinder to keep the piston in
position and prevent its packing expanding upon emerging from the cylinder
9th The combination of handle Q, spring R and valve P substantially as
specified
10th The combination of piston E, port or chamber a, and lubricator y sub-
stantially as specified
11th The combination of piston E, port or chamber a, screw b, cavity c and by
pass or inlet & substantially as specified.
12th the arrangement of chimney F with contracted air inlet x at bottom and
air inlet h for deflecting the flame substantially as specified.
13th The governor, mounted on the fly wheel and consisting in the combination
of a weight, spring roller tappet and pin arranged and operating substantially as
herein specified.
14th The combination of the governor with rod M, bellcrank lever G, binding
screw N and valve O substantially as specified.
15th The mixer of gas and air having two pistons of different diameters upon the
same rod and disposed in such manner that the air pressure upon the larger piston
imparts motion to the smaller one by which gas is supplied to the motor as
described and shown in figures 9 and 10.
16th In a mixer for gas engines, the arrangement of two pistons of unequal
diameter upon the same rod in such manner that the pressure of air upon the larger
piston imparts motion to the smaller piston which serves to admit gas to the motor
in the manner hereinbefore shown and described.
17th The combination of the perforated cylinder D and sleeve E and pistons I, I¹,
coupled to rod H as and for the purpose specified
18th The combination with the fixed perforated cylinder F of the rotary perforated
sleeve E for regulating the size of the slits in cylinder F as described for the purpose
specified.
19th In a mixer for gas engines, the combination of two pistons, two cylinders
and two chambers with their several connections as described, for the purpose
specified.
20th The method of instantly producing the mixture of gases in the explosion
chamber of a gas engine, by forcing the gas whether pure or mixed with air at a
bigh velocity through a number of small holes made in the valve which opens
directly into said chamber substantially as specified.
21 The combination of pump D perforated valve V air inlet valve a and
indicator valve k. substantially as specified
22nd The combination of weights H, springs O and cam I forming the governor
mechanism substantially as specified.
23rd The combination of pump D, spring L, rod K, cam I and pulley J as
described for the purpose specified.

page_text: 24th The combination of lever G eccentric g piston valve E, cavity o, jet m, and
openings n so disposed as to cause piston E to carry the flame directly into the
explosion chamber as described.
25th The combination of air inlet valve U, perforated valve V, intermediate
valve; and discharge valve X, substantially as described, and represented in the
drawings.
26th In a gas engine generating its own supply of gas the particular arrangement
of chamber m in which is introduced a jet of oil or combustible liquid in a manner
to render all loss or escape impossible, substantially as described and represented in
the drawings.
27 The herein described arrangement whereby the supply of oil or combustible
liquid is effected by the action of the governor.
28th The method of igniting the charge as described
29th The combination of valves CD and E as shown and described.
30th The combination of drum b, wheels f, g, cord c and weight e with worm i
whose shaft turns in an adjustable bearing and pin n, the whole forming a self
starting gear for the gas engine substantially as shown and described.
31st The fly wheel q with hollow boss in combination with cone friction clutch r.
screw t handwheel 8. and collars u, all substantially as described for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty third day of August A.D. 1883.