Improvements in or relating to Internal Combustion Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1897-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1398
Improvements in or relating to Internal Combustion Engines.
A communication from MARTIN HENRY RUMPF, of 14, Rue des Croisades, Brussels,
in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 ;-
-
It has been previously endeavoured to attain a great expansion to avoid a strong
back-pressure and to decrease as much as possible the injurious influence of the
walls of the cylinder in a four-stroke motor.
The advantages which a two-stroke-motor presents have led my correspondent
to endeavour to provide this description of motor with the above mentioned advan-
tages, and the motor forming subject of the present application and hereinafter
fully described, has been devised.
The means for attaining the desired objects are as follows;-
1. A piston provided with a valve opening at the desired moment into the interior
of the cylinder, at the bottom side of it, under the action of a rod or extension on
the piston or connecting rod so that during a portion of the back-stroke, the rod
being inclined, presses against the valve and opens it thus allowing its contents to
escape freely. In continuing to move the rod arrives at the point corresponding
to the position where the extension had begun to open the valve, which then ceases
to act on the valve, which thereupon closes and the air which is at this moment
still in the cylinder is compressed. The greater or lesser compression of air in the
cylinder depends therefore on the moment when the rod begins to open the valve.
2. Devices enabling the combustion gases to be expelled through openings made
in the cylinder, a little in front of the dead point of the piston so that the latter can
pass over it.
3. Devices enabling the combustible material forming with air in the cylinder
an explosive mixture, to be introduced into the cylinder or explosion chamber.
4. Devices enabling the working of the motor to be regulated by regulating the
charge of the combustible material to be introduced into the cylinder or explosion
chamber.
These improvements will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings illustrating by way of example, constructions according to the present
invention. Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a cylinder A showing the piston B
with its valve a and a small rod or extension 6 on the connecting rod D, openings c
in the cylinder wall for the escape of a part of the combustion gases, explosion
chamber C and admission valve f for admitting the charge to the chamber C, and
valve d for admitting air to the explosion chamber.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the cylinder A of the motor and showing the
pump P with reservoir R and its accessories enabling the combustible material to
be introduced into the explosion-chamber and devices for regulating the working
of the motor.

page_text: Figure 3 is a vertical section of the pump with its accessories. Fig. 3 being
a section of the distributing pump & Fig. 3" a transverse section of same. The
pump works as follows; -
The connecting rod D1 of the pump l' as well as the regulating connecting rod
receive their movement from eccentrics keyed on the crank-shaft.
The connecting rod of the pump is constituted by two parts D and E pivoted
about a pin u sliding in a guide connected to the frame of the machine so that the
portion E is caused to move horizontally.
The compression pump P is provided with suction valves P¹ and discharge
valves P2 (Fig. 2). The compressed air accumulates in the reservoir R. and thence
passes, through the valve g into the chamber h (Figs. 2, 3 & 3) as soon as the valve g
of the reservoir opens, which takes place under the action of the small rod J¹ secured
to a vertical arm J of the rod E of the pump.
The air thus introduced presses against the rear k of the piston 7 which advances
and closes the inlet m for admitting the combustible material, Fig. 3), and places
the passage n containing the charge of combustible material in communication with
the opening o communicating with the tube p into which said charge enters.
?'
As soon as the part k advancing under the action of the compressed air has
passed beyond the opening also leading into the tube p which happens a little
after the discharge of the combustible material into the tube p the air from the
reservoir R. enters said tube and forces the charge through the valve f into the com-
pression chamber C where it is rendered explosive by mixing with the air contained
therein. If after the closing of the compressed-air inlet valve g there still remained
in the tube a small amount of air under pressure, this air could escape through
the opening (Fig. 3) by way of the annular space r¹, as soon as the piston
returned into its original position under the influence of the springs . The valve g
of the air reservoir is operated under the action of a rod as follows:-When
after the piston P has returned to a certain point, the end J2 of the rod J¹ presses
against the head h³ of the rod h¹ of the spring-valve g the latter opens and the com-
pressed air enters the space h of the small pump R₁, this opening of the valve last-
ing until the head of the valve engages with the recess of the rod J and
automatically closes under the influence of the spring h² with which it is provided.
In order to maintain the valve closed during the advance of the connecting rod
the head of the valve is arranged so as to pivot or rock on the valve rod hand is
held in its normal position only by means of a spring he and a stop 6, as shown in
the detail Figure 5. On the other hand the blade 2 is provided with a finger J+
which at the moment when it strikes the head h³, causes the latter to swing on the
valve rod h¹ and brings it into a position in which its projection is no longer under
the pressure of the rod J. The valve therefore remains closed, and after the passage
of the part J, the spring 5 returns the head ³ into its normal position thus
enabling the rod J¹ to open the valve on its return stroke.
Figure 4 is a front view of the regulating devices which are controlled by a
centrifugal governor. The connecting rod consists of a rod F and a part G having
a notch and oscillating upon the pin ul (Figs. 2 & 4). The pin u slides in a
guide of the framing and is provided with a projection v (Fig. 4) on which rests
the part G.
A bell crank lever w w¹ pivoted about a pin secured to the framing has at the
end of its upper arm wa pin y and is connected to the governor by means of a rod z.
The lower arm wel of said lever is connected by means of a link to the crank a²
of the rod B of the piston 7 of the small pump R¹ (Figure 3) effecting the dis-
tribution of the combustible material. The crank pin a¹ of the crank a² slides
freely during the reciprocating movement of the rod B¹ of the piston in the tubular
end of the rod ¹. If the pin y of the arm w is not in engagement with the recess t
of the part G, the spring S of the rod ¹ returns the rod 131 into the position which
leaves the opening m of the pump R¹ fully open. As long as the number of revolu-
tions of the driving shaft is smaller than or equal to that for which the motor is
adjusted, the part G partaking in the movements of the part F of the connecting

page_text: rod. remains, (see Fig. 4) owing to the finger v, in its horizontal position, sliding ou
the pin y. But as soon as the speed exceeds the normal, the governor acts by means
of its rod Z, raises the upper arm of the bell-crank lever, so that during the
return movement of the part G the pin y engages with the recess t and forces the
two arms of the bell-crank lever to describe an are shown in dotted lines in Figure 4.
The crank a² of the small pump R¹ is caused to follow this movement the rod B¹
which acts as a cock or plug closes the opening in the conduit for the combustible
material and only a portion of the combustible material remains available for the
explosive charge.
The devices are arranged in such a way that after the closing of the cock the
available combustible material is still sufficient for forming an explosive mixture.
When the speed becomes normal, the notch t no longer engages with the pin y
and the spring S returns the rod ¹ into the position allowing it to re-establish the
normal opening for the combustible material.
The operation of the motor according to the present invention will be described,
starting from the moment when the piston B having arrived at the dead point (at
the back of the cylinder) after having compressed a charge and the explosion takes
place and the piston commences its advance stroke. The gases expand during this
movement until at a certain point the pressure becomes smaller than the atmo-
spheric pressure before: the arrival of the piston at its dead point and the partial
vacuum which is formed-behind the piston during the last portion of the stroke
causes the air-inlet valve & Fig. 1 to be opened and the air is then free to enter the
cylinder A establishing at the same time an equilibrium of pressure.
The piston B uncovers the ports when approaching the dead point on its out-
stroke and the combustion gases escape through these openings until the piston B
has passed beyond them on its return stroke. As the atmospheric equilibrium is
established during the whole of the last fraction of the stroke, owing to the open-
ing of the air-inlet d opening inwards under the influence of the partial vacuum
in the interior of the explosion chamber C and cylinder A, the combustion gases
being during all this time in a state of movement towards the front of the cylinder
said movement being caused by the entrance of air through the valve d it follows
that the opening of the ports c at the other end of the cylinder A is sufficient to
allow a portion of the combustion gases to escape.
During the return stroke the piston B again closes the ports after having
travelled the first portion of the return stroke, the cylinder is therefore again closed
and from this moment the compression of its contents of gases and air recommences.
But as in order to obtain an efficient expansion the volume of the mixture must
be less than that of the cylinder, a portion of the air-that is to say a portion of its
contents of air and burnt gases forming the air to be compressed' must be withdrawn
from the cylinder, the quantity withdrawn being in proportion to the expansion
to be attained. This result is attained by means of the valve a of the piston B
which is opened under the pressure of its extension rod' b (Figs. 1 & 2) owing to
the inclination of the connecting rod D. In fact when in its return movement the
connecting rod D comes into such an inclined position that the extension
exercises a pressure on the valve a, the latter open, but as soon as the connecting
rod is in the opposite position to that in which the extension began to open the
valve, the valve closes and the air which is still in the cylinder is compressed.
During this time the valve f of the reservoir has opened and has admitted the
combustible material into the compression chamber C, where it mixes with the air,
which still remains behind the piston. As soon as the piston B advances, the
charge is fired, the explosion takes place and the piston is pushed forward, and the
cycle recommences.
As has already been seen, during the opening of the piston valve a, the excess
of air in the cylinder and the remaining combustion gases (if any) behind the
piston are ejected. The mixture is therefore pure, strongly compressed and as it
is formed in the explosion chamber C, its contact with the walls of the cylinder is

page_text: avoided. The combustible material may be introduced at the most suitable moment
in order to avoid its contact with the walls of the cylinder.
The motor is started as follows;The part J (Figure 3) is disengaged from the
connecting rod E and the pump is thrown out of gear and by working it by hand
the reservoir R is filled with strongly compressed air. The fly-wheel is then turned
to return the piston B to its dead-point, at the back of the cylinder. Then the
pump and the part J are replaced in their normal positions, the governor is caused
to rotate by hand in order to close the part B¹ of the pump R to enable only a
reduced charge of combustible material from the pipe m to be fed into the tube p,
through the passages n and o.
The head of the valve g is then pressed by hand so that the compressed air
passes into the space h, and enters through the opening 9 of the pipe & drives
the combustible material into the compression chamber C, and as the air enters
it under a very strong pressure it causes the piston to advance the charge is ignited,
the explosion takes place and the piston is driven out and imparts to the fly-wheel
sufficient impetus to bring the piston back to the starting point, in order to con-
tinue the cycle hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An internal combustion engine provided with a piston having a valve arranged
in it, so that during the return movement of the piston the valve opens for such a
time as is necessary for the expulsion of the excess of air behind the piston so as to
enable a desired expansion of the mixture to be obtained, substantially as described.
2. In an internal combustion engine means for introducing at the desired time
the combustible charge into the compression chamber of the motor comprising a
rod connected to the piston of a pump, as P and adapted to operate the valve of the
pump chamber, and a cylinder containing a piston, as 7 for the supply of com-
bustible material and compressed air to the explosion chamber of the motor sub-
stantially as described.
3. In an internal combustion engine means for regulating the speed of the motor
comprising a rotatable plug as B₁ bell crank lever i wl with its pin y and a con-
necting rod G having a notch t acting in such way that under the influence of a
governor connected to the bell crank lever the supply of combustible material which
is to form the explosive charge is regulated substantially as described.
4. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder provided with exhaust ports, as c,
a piston with a valve, as a, and a connecting rod having a rear extension to operate
said valve substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. In an internal combustion engine means for supplying combustible material
and compressed air to the explosion chamber and for regulating such supply com-
prising a cylinder provided with a valve for admitting compressed air and a
piston, as, with a passage, as n, adapted to receive and discharge the charge of
combustible material a tube as p for receiving the air and combustible charge and
a rotatable plug, as B¹, for regulating the supply of combustible material substan-
tially as described.
6. In an internal combustion engine, means for supplying compressed air to the
motor comprising a rod J on the piston rod of the compressed air pump, rod J
with recess J³, and pivoted head 3 of the compressed air supply valve
stantially as described.
sub-
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete internal
combustion engine, substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete apparatus
for supplying an explosive charge to an internal combustion engine, substantially
as described and illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 4, of the accompanying drawings.
9. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete apparatus

page_text: for supplying and introducing an explosive charge to an internal combustion
engine, substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 3 and 3 of the accom-
panying drawings.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.