Improvements in and relating to Gas, Oil, and like Power Motors.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 26th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 10th Mar.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Gas, Oil, and like Power Motors.
I, GEORGE WILKINSON, of Mansfield House, Talbot Street, Southport, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the production of a reliable and effective motor,
which is simple and relatively cheap in point of construction, economically main-
tained and regulated in its action in a novel and effective manner so that it may
safely be left to the care of unskilled persons.
I may construct such motor with any number of cylinders or working parts, but
for the purpose of clearly defining my said invention I herein describe a
compression engine embodying my improvements with two power cylinders, operated
on the "Otto" cycle.
The principle frame work of the motor consists of a hollow casting (which may,
like other parts of the motor be divided into portions when of large size) this
casting being hereinafter termed the crank chamber, and which carries on opposite
sides the power cylinders, which may or may not be water jacketted. The power
pistons are coupled by connecting rods to a crank common to both, the shuft of
which is supported by suitable bearings in the sides or other part of the crank
chamber, and being carried through by means of a stuffing box, gland, or equivalent,
is provided with a fly wheel or other means for transmission of power.
The gas and air valves are placed on the ends of the cylinders, and are preferably
opened by the suction on the inward stroke of the pistons, against the action of
springs or weights, these being arranged so as normally to keep the valves seated.
The ignition tubes are preferably fitted or connected to the ends of the cylinders,
and may be of any known type I, however, preferring earthenware or porcelain,
such tubes being sealed by means of a tapered end, enclosed by a closing nut, an
asbestos or other washer of like refractory material being interposed to prevent
fracture due to strains caused by expansion under heat. I, also, in order to
minimise the amount of gas consumed in the process of ignition use such tubes of
sufficient length, that while the upper part is heated to the point of ignition, the
lower part is comparatively cool, and may form upon, or attach to, said tubes,
radiators or deflectors to absorb the maximum of heat from the surrounding flame.
The exhaust valves are fixed in such a manner that the spindles thereof terininate
within the crank chamber, and these are operated by suitable cams or trippet lugs
carried by a small lay shaft supported by bearings within the crank chamber, and
worked by gearing from the main shaft, the ratio thereof being proportioned to
the required movement of the valves. A governor of novel construction is
preferably attached to the lay shaft aforesaid (but may be otherwise driven) and
operates within the crank chamber. I may in certain cases use more than one
governor, but the function thereof is to maintain the exhaust valves in an open
position when the motor is running at a rate above its normal speed, the valves
being released when such normal speed is again attained. The governor consists
of two or more discs, presenting inclined surfaces to each other between which
spheres or weights are placed and driven by suitable guides or the like attached to
the discs. The discs are mounted upon feathers or their equivalent upon the shaft,
so that lateral motion can be effected. Said discs are normally held together by
springs, when the spheres or weights are nearest the centre. When the discs are
rotated, the action of centrefugal force tends to force them away from the centre,
and thus, by pressing upon the opposing inclined surfaces, forces the discs apart

page_text: against the tension of the springs. In a single governor, a kind of air cushion may
be made to prevent a jerky or irregular action, by forming a projecting rein upon
one disc, and causing that opposite thereto to fit within it as a piston. The crank
chamber is charged with a suitable lubricant, which may be maintained at a normal
level by any automatic or other device, and is enclosed by said chamber, since the
latter is sealed by covers or lids. When the motor is in action, said lubricant is
thrown by the working parts upon the interior surface of the crank chamber, and
guiding troughs or webs are provided to cause it to be properly distributed to all
moving parts requiring lubrication.
The cylinder ends, and exhaust glands open into the sealed crank chamber and
all products of combustion or escaping gates enter therein, and may be conveyed
therefrom to the external atmosphere through a pipe or pipes, thus avoiding all
smell within a building where the motor may be working.
Dated this 25th day of April 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Gas, Oil, and like Power Motors.
1 GEORGE WILKINSON, of Stavely Villa, Tithebaru Road, late of Mansfield
House, Southport, in the County of Lancaster, 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 certain improvements in gas, oil, and like power motors,
and has for its object the production of a reliable and effective motor, which is
simple, and relatively cheap in point of construction, may be economically
maintained and regulated in its, action in a novel and effective manner, so that it
may safely be left to the care of unskilled persons.
In order that my said invention may be the better understood, I have appended
the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which
Figure 1, Sheet I represents a longitudinal section of a gas engine, Figure 2 a
plan partly in section, and Figure 3 Sheet II an end elevation thereof.
Figure 4 upon the same sheet shows an alternative method of working and
controlling the exhaust valves.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the governor, shewing the frictionless contacts
thereof.
Figure 6 is an elevation, partly in section of one form of governor and Figure 7
is a partly sectional elevation of a modification thereof.
In carrying my invention into effect I may construct a motor having any '
required number of power cylinders, and may place these oppositely in tandem as
shewn in the example, or side by side, the other details of valves and the like being
modified to meet the required conditions.
The principal framework of said motor consists a hollow casting A, Figures 1, 2
and 3, which may, like other parts of said motor, be divided into suitable sections
when the intended motor is of large size, said bollow casting being hereinafter
termed the "crank chamber." The power cylinders are coupled by separate
connecting rods to one or more cranks upon a common shaft, whether the disposition
of the cylinders be in tandem or side by side. In the example shewn, in which the
power cylinders B B' are oppositely placed, the pistons C are coupled by connecting
rods P and P¹ to the crank D, which in this case is cominon to both upon a
shaft E. Said shaft is carried through a stuffing box and gland or an equivalent
arrangement is provided to serve the same purpose, and the power is transmitted
externally from said shaft. The air and gas admission valves, G G¹g g¹ may be
constructed to open inwards by suction of the piston as shewn, where the ratio of
the opening areas are governed by a suitable spring or like regulating device, or I

page_text: may use a cam or cams, with levers to fulfil the same purpose, said mechanism being
operated from the shaft E or the lay shaft H, which arrangement may be absolutely
necessary in motors of high rates of power. In the example chosen for illustration,
said valves are arranged to open inwards by the suction of the pistons against the
restrictive power of springs, weights or the like, these being so arranged as to
normally keep the valves sealed. The igniter I consists preferably of an
incandescent or hot, or partly heated tube, but any known type may be used in
connection with the motor herein described. I prefer also to use such tubes of
sufficient length that while the upper portion is heated to the point of ignition under
compression the lower part is comparatively cool, and I may form upon, or attach
to, said ignition tubes, radiators or other devices to absorb and retain the heat of
the flame surrounding said igniter. I preferably arrange the cylinders in such a
manner that the exhaust valves J J upon spindles K K are held upon their seats
by springs or equivalents L L', and the heads of said rods are provided with a
niche, groove, or projection at so that the governor which may be of any
construction or type, preferably centrifugal, may act upon said valves in the
manner hereinafter stated. In the case shewn the action from the cams upon the
lay shaft H, is horizontal, but I may modify this by making it to act vertically
from the cam or cams M upon the shaft H, as shewn by Figure 4 Sheet 2, by
means of a lever or levers N pivotted at O, the valves being held open by stops
connected to the governor links or other connections I may use cams or tappet lugs
upon the shaft H to operate said exhaust valves. The lay shaft H is caused to
revolve by gearing from the main shaft E, the ratio of which is fixed by the
required movement of the valves. I wish it to be understood that I may use said lay
shaft H to operate by means of suitable cams or the like, the air and gas admission,
and also the ignition valves if necessary. The type of governor preferably used is
shewn by Figures 5, 6, and 7, and is of novel construction. Two covers R and R'
are held in place by the pressure of levers U, U' which are in turn maintained in
position by the action of spiral springs in tensions s'. A central diaphragm V,
is keyed or otherwise firmly attached to the shaft H, and two discs or covers R. R¹
are freely mounted upon said shaft so as to admit of longitudinal movement away
from the central diaphragm or disc V, against the tension of the springs s, st.
Between said covers R, R' and the central disc or diaphragm V, I may insert
spheres, cones, swung weights or the like S S' Figure 6, upon segmental and radial
divisions from the centre of H. Or I may, as shewn. by Figure 7, Sheet II, use
two or more solid tapered or coned carriers X, with frictionless balls or the like f
and in both cases the action is to cause the spheres or balls S, in Figure 6, and the
carriers X in Figure 7, to fly outwards from the driving centre by centrifugal force,
and at any predetermined speed, to force the covers R, R' apart by reason of
centrifugal pressure, and by thus pressing upon the levers U U', cause the catch d
Figure 2, to drop upon, or engage with a suitable stop in the exhaust valve
spindle, and so hold the valve open, and check the speed of the engine or motor by
destroying the suction, and consequently the admittance of the mixture of gas and
air. Each cover of said governor R, R' may control the valves of each cylinder,
and I may use a pair in tandem as shewn, or side by side, and I may use any
number of said cylinders arranged in tandem or side by side and controlled by one
or more governors as herein described. I may use an air chamber, chambers or dash
pot or pots containing a liquid to regulate the effect of said governor or governors
in controlling the speed of the motor or motors. I preferably charge the crank
chamber A with a special lubricant which may be maintained at a normal level by
any automatic or other device the nature of which allows of a perpetual film of
lubricating material in solution or liquid being forced by centrifugal force, or mere
displacement upon each bearing or surface subjected to friction. Suitable webs,
splash plates, or the like may be formed upon, or attached to the interior of A,
with grooves, channels and the like, for the dispersion of the lubricant after it has
been disturbed by the rotary movement of the crank shaft E. and the weigh
shaft H and the mechanism attached thereto.

page_text: The crank chamber A, with the cylinders B and B', or any number thereof, are
practically sealed by suitable covers as shewn, and the free ends of the cylinders
open therein, and all leakage of gases escaping through cylinder and valve openings
may be allowed to pass into the atmosphere, at any point away from the motor, so
that the odour thereof may not be noticeable in a building or confined space
wherein it is fixed.
I wish it to be understood that the essential features of my invention are in the
closed crank chamber, with means for facilitating lubrication, the general arrange-
ment of the engine or motor, and the novel governor used in combination therewith
and herein described, and I do not claim the cycle of action nor any part thereof
as regards the operation of any valve or the like in performing said cycle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is ;
First. In a gas, oil, or like power motor, the combination of two or more
cylinders, with a closed crank chamber enclosing the valves, regulating and other
mechanism, with means for distributing said lubricant over all working parts,
substantially as herein described, and shewn by the appended drawings.
Second. In a gas, oil, or like power motor, the combination of a governor or
governors consisting of diverging discs or covers, with spheres or weights
enclosed between them, upon each side of a fixed diaphragm, so that said
divergence is always proportionate to the rate of speed, substantially as, and for the
purposes, herein set forth and shewn.
Third. In a gas, oil, or like motor, the combination of cylinders and a closed
crank chamber A, with a governing device acting upon the exhaust valves,
substantially as herein described and shewn.
Fourth. In a gas, oil, or like motor, the method of and means for combining the
working cylinders, valves, governing devices, and lubrication, substantially as
herein described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1891
FREDK. WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, London, E.,
Agent for the Applicant.