CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES."
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pierre Hugon, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pierre Hugon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th April
1865.
I, PIERRE HUGON, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to gas engines in which motive power is obtained by
the explosion or combustion of gas or gaseous matters acting upon a piston in
a cylinder, and thereby producing motive power. Hitherto such explosion or
combustion has been effected by an electric spark, but this mode I believe to
be uncertain and irregular; and the object of the present improvements is to
produce the éxplosion or combustion with certainty and at regular intervals.
For this purpose, according to my Invention. I employ slide valves or other
valves carrying gas burners or nozzles supplied with gas under pressure, which
is lighted by outer gas burners kept constantly kindled, and either attached or

page_text: not to the valves. These valves work against. orifices in the cylinder, and open
and close them, bringing the burners to and from these orifices at certain
intervals; they also admit, intercept, and regulate the supply of working gas
to the cylinder, and permit and shut off the escape of the gas after the
explosion; or other valves may be used for these purposes. Gas is admitted
through the induction port, and at the required moment the valve brings the
Hame of the burner in contact with it, so that it ignites and explodes, and
thereby moves the piston, and at the proper time the valve opens the eduction
port and allows the residuary gas to escape. The burner is extinguished by
the explosion, but re-lighted by the outer burner. I inject water or other
vaporising liquid in showers or otherwise into the cylinder to cool it through a
passage, opened and closed by the same valve as the one which carries the
burners, or by a separate valve.
1 construct an improved slide valve or set of valves for the purposes of my
Invention with burners at the ends or at the centre, and channels for the inlet
and outlet of the gases. In order to distribute the gases equally, I sometimes
use a supplementary slide valve, which works outside the other valves on a
seat which is recessed to form a chamber for air. I usually feed the cylinder
from a mixing chamber, into which gas is forced and air is drawn.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Pierre Hugon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
October 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
HUGON, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Pierre Hugon, Her special licence that I, the said Pierre Hugon,
my executors, administrators. and assigns, or such others as 1, the said
Pierre Hugon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN
CERTAIN IMPROVE

page_text: MENTS IN GAS ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Pierre Hugon, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed. and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent,
NOW KNOW YE. that I. the said Pierre Hugon. do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed.
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof. reference being had to the accompanying Drawings. that is to say:
This Invention relates to gas engines in which motive power is obtained h
the explosion or combustion of gas or gaseous matiers acting on a piston in
a evlinder, and thereby producing motive power. Hitherto such explosion or
combustion has been effected by an electric snark. but this mode I believe to be
uncertain and irregular. The object of the present improvements is to produce
the explosion or combustion with certainty and at regular intervals. For this pur-
pose, according to my Invention. I employ slide valves or other valves carrying
gas burners or nozzles supplied with gas under pressure, which is lighted by outer
gas burners kent constantly kindled, and either attached or noi to the valves.
These valves, which work against orifices in the cylinder so as to open and close
them, bring the burners to and from these orifices at certain intervals, and they
thus admit. intercent. and regulate the supply of working gas to the cylinder.
and also permit and shut off the escape of gas therefrom after the explosion:
or separate valves may be used for these purposes. Gas or an explosive
gaseous compound is admitted into the cylinder through an induction port, and
at the required moment the valve brings the flame of the burner in contact with
this gas or gaseous compound, so that it ignites and explodes, and thereby moves
the piston, and at the proper time the valve opens the eduction port and allows
the residuary gases to escape. The burner is extinguished by the explosion
and is re-lighted by the outer burner. I inject water or other vaporizing
liquid in showers or otherwise into the cylinder to cool it through a passage
opened and closed by the same valve as the one which carries the burners, or
by a separate valve.
I construct an improved slide valve or set of valves for the purposes of my
Invention with burners at the ends or at the centre, and with channels for the
inler and outlet of the gases. In order to distribute the gases equally.
I sometimes use a supplementary slide valve. which works outside the
other valves on a seat which is recessed to form a chamber for air. I usually

page_text: feed the cylinder from a mixing chamber, into which gas is forced and air is
drawn.
The accompanying Drawings exemplify in what manner the Invention
may be carried into effect. I first proceed to describe the Figures on
Sheet 1.
On Sheet 1, Figure is an elevation of a vertical engine constructed
according to my improvements: Figure 2 is a section of the same. and
Figure 3 a plan. Figures 4. 5, 6, and 7 show two arrangements of valves for
a horizontal engine and Figure 8 a valve with a single igniting burner. In
these Figures A is the working cylinder: B. piston: C. piston rod: D. con-
necting rod E. crank: F. shaft: G, fly wheel: H. H. main framing:
I. I. stays or cross frame bars: J. base plate; K. inlet. igniting, and outlet
valve: L. valve for regulating the injection of the motive gaseous compound
and of a shower of water; M, gas pump or blower for producing the explosive
compound; N. blower or pump for raising the gas to a required pressure at
the burners 0. gas reservoir for feeding the burners: P. Q. R. cams for
working the valves K. L. S: S. injection valve for admitting water;
T, governor connected with a throttle valve for regulating the admission of gas
to form the compound: 1. tubular mixing chamber in which the air and gas
are mixed in the ordinary manner for obtaining an explosive gaseous com-
pound.. burners supplied with gas and air through pipes h, h': 1. 1', burners
for re-lighting the burners J. . when extinguished: m. m', orifices or pipes
for drawing or admitting gas into the mixing chamber: m. pipe through which
gas is drawn in and forced: q, q'. pipes for the flow of the gas to and from
the burners. The valve K admiis and intercepts the flow of gas to and from
the cylinder, and also carries the burners which ignite the working gas
therein.
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views of a horizontal cylinder, having valves
similar to those in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Figures 6 and 7 are views in which
a single slide valve L' regulates the flow of the explosive gas, and of the jet of
water into the cylinder: V, VI, passages for water: V. V. V. V passages
for gas; . ', studs for working the slide valve 1. In Figure 8 a slide
valve K is shewn. which carries a single igniting burner and a single re-
lighting burner a. The gas escapes at the ends r. z. and enters through the
passages y, y'.
In Figure 8. a is a recess for the circulation of the air which maintains
combustion in the burner 12. The slide valve (or valves) which regulates
the entry of the explosive gaseous compound into the cylinder brings the
burner to it at the proper time for igniting it, and also regulates the escape

page_text: of the residuary products after the explosion. When I use several valves I
sometimes place outside the valve K an outer valve L, which regulates the
inlet of the gas into the mixing tube U. and the flow of the explosive com-
pound into the passages controlled by the valve K. The valve L is worked
by studs on the valve K: Figure 6. or by a rod P. Figure 1. When actuated
by studs the cam Q. Figures 1, 2, and 3. is not required.
In Figures 6 and 7 the valve S is not used. The engine is worked as
follows: The burners f. f, and the burners 1. 1. are first lighted, and the
pision B being at one end of its stroke is started by the fly wheel. The
valves K and I are moved into such position as to bring the cylinder pori a
into communication with the passages . . . a. in the valve, and also to
bring the outlet c of the valve into communication with the cylinder ports b
and d. As the piston B descends it thraws the explosive compound into the
cylinder. the compound being fed to it by the pump M from the tube U. into
which the air flows by the natural suction of the gas. At the same stroke
the piston expels the air and residuary gases of combustion from the cylinder
through the orifices b, c, d. When the piston B has arrived at, say. ths of its
stroke the valve K descends. shuts the orifices a'. . . ', and brings the
burner into such position that it comes in contact with and ignites the
explosive compound in the upper part of the cylinder. When the piston
reaches the end of its stroke a like action takes place on the other side of it by
means of the orifices b', 62, 6, b, and the burner f, and so on. As soon as
the burner has ignited the compound the said burner is extinguished, the
residuary gases ceasing to maintain combustion. but it is immediately re-
lighted by the burner placed outside the engine, the jet of gas issuing from it
being always maintained under pressure. To prevent the engine from being.
overheated, and to reduce the expenditure of oil, minute and regulated showers.
of water are injected on the face of the piston by opening the slide valve S
just as the explosive compound is ignited: they are injected at the upper and
lower ends through rose spreaders at the extremities of pipes. This water
immediately vaporizes, and the working heat in the engine is thus increased
and more regular action is obtained. Instead of the slide valves K, L, S,
Figures 1.2, and 3, the valves K. L. and K. L. Figures 6, 7, and 8, may
be used. The slide K' is like the slide K, but the slide L' differs from it in
respect of the arrangement of its orifices V, V, V, V, V, V. Of these, two.
namely V, V. are for injecting water directly into the cylinder. the slide S
being dispensed with, and orifices being perforated for the water and opened
and closed by the action of the valves. The orifices V. V. V. V. serve for
drawing in and letting out gas for being mixed with the air. The valve L is

page_text: worked by studs t. f. on the valve K. The valve K, Figure 8. differs from
K. K', in respect of having only a single igniting burner and a single re-
lighting burner. The explosive compound is ignited by a burner at the centre
of the slide valve instead of at the ends, the gas escaping through the ends.
The slide L is the same as and acts like the slide L'. A block Z is fitted
between the two slide valves, and in it is a recess a. in which circulaies the air
necessary for keeping up the combustion of the gas in the burners. In order
that they may be readily re-kindled these burners are supplied with gas under
pressure, regulated by a blower or air vessel 0. and by a valve on the blower
or air vessel N.
I now proceed to describe the arrangements shown in Sheet 2.
On Sheet 2. Figure 1 is a section and Figure 2 a plan. shewing an im-
proved rotary valve B which I sometimes so in carrying ont my Invention.
A is the working evlinder: B is the rotary valve, which opens and closes the
orifices through which the working gas enters and the residuary gas escapes.
The valve is divided by a partition B' in two parts: the lower E for
admitting the gaseous compound, and the upper F' for the escape of the gases.
C. cylindrical chamber, in which the valve B works: it communicates with
the cylinder A through an upper and a lower orifice: through these orifices
the gas is admitted to each side of the piston alternately. D. fixed piece
through which the gas passes to the valve B: E. E. E. orifices for the entry
of the gas F. F1, F2, orifices for the escape of the gases after explosion:
G. G. G orifices communicating with the outlet poris F. Fl. F: H. H¹.
channels through which gas is conveved to the burners: I. burner for lighting
the working or explosive gas on each side of the piston: J. burner for re-
kindling the burner I; K. pipe for conveying gas to the pumps: L. pipe
leading to the blower: M. pipe through which the gas is forced into the
valve through the orifice E: N. N1, N2, orifices in the valve communicating
with the passages K. L. M. for drawing in and forcing on the gas:
0, 0, 0, 0¹ orifices for the inlet and escape of the working gas: P, valve
rod worked by bevel gear, so as to cause the valve to revolve. Figure 3 shows
a similar valve, except that it has two igniting burners and two re-kindling
burners.
Figures 4 and 5 show a round valve for injecting water into the cylinder.
A, valve box; B. hollow valve through which the water to be injected enters
through orifices C. C. into the upper pari of the cylinder, and through orifices
D, D'. into the lower part: it is conveyed into the cylinder through pipes E. E'.
F, bar for working the valve B: G. stud on the rod H for actuating the bar F.
and hence the valve B: 1. pipe for admining water to the valve.

page_text: Figure 6 shews a governor rod and nut, which with the blower regulates
the supply of gas to the explosive or working compound. In Figure 6, A, A¹,
is the rod which connects the governor to the throttle valve; B, nut for ad-
justing the length of the rod so as to regulate the amount of gas in the
compound.
In Sheet 2, Figures 4 and 5, the valve B is round and hollow internally,
and it is kept in continuous communication at bottom with water forced
through the pipe 1; in it are two orifices C, D, through which water is
injected through the orifices C, D, alternately, that is, according as to
whether the valve B is raised or depressed by the stud G. The water is
regulated by cocks, one on the cylinder cover and another on the foundation
plate, as in Figure 1. The valve shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 2,
receives a continuous supply of the explosive compound through the opening E,
and according to the direction in which it is turned it introduces gas into the
upper part of the cylinder by the orifices O, or into the lower part by the
orifices O'. In the position shewn in the Drawing the valve admits the gas
through the openings E', E, into the opening O', which communicates with
the lower side of the piston. As the valve continues to turn the orifice E
comes away from the orifice O', and the burner comes in front of the
orifice O and ignites the detonating compound, at the same time the orifice F
is brought opposite the orifice 0, which communicates with the opposite side
of the piston, ond the residuary gases escape through the inner part F¹ of the
slide valve by the orifice F, and through the orifices G, G', and G. As the
valve continues to turn the reverse action takes place, that is to say, the gas is
introduced at 0, 0, by the orifices E, E, E, and the residuary gas escapes
through the orifices O', O', and F, F, F, into an annular space G in con-
tinuous communication with G', G; the igniting burner I (being re-lighted
by the burner J as fast as extinguished) ignites the explosive compound
through the orifice O.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First, the employment in gas engines of one or more valves carrying
burners, nozzles, or jets, whereby the ignition of the explosive gaseous com-
pound is effected.
Second, the employment in gas engines of arrangements for injecting water
or other fluid capable of vaporizing in the manner and for the purposes described.
Third, the improved valves herein-before described and represented in the
accompanying Drawings, each in the arrangement and combination of parts of
which the same consists.

page_text: Fourth, the improved gas engine herein-before described in so far as
regards the general arrangement and combination of parts of which the same
consists.
Fifth, fitting or forming one or more burners (for igniting the working gas)
on the valve which opens and closes the cylinder ports.
Sixth, the appliances for injecting water into the cylinder, each in the
arrangement of parts of which it consists.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Hugon, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
EMILE BARRAULT,
33, B. St. Martin.