IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, CHARLES WILDEN KING, Engineer, of Southport in the county of Lancaster
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR
ENGINES to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object an increased economy in the working of Gas
Motor Engines by the employment of a higher piston speed and more rapid
expansion of the combustible charge.
In carrying out my invention I employ a fixed cylinder in which moves another
cylinder turned and fitted into the fixed cylinder as a piston The interior of the
moving cylinder is bored and fitted with a piston which for purposes of description
I will call the trunk piston.
The moving cylinder has an end cast in and it is coupled to the crank shaft by
a connecting rod or rods The trunk piston which works in the moving cylinder
is coupled to a crank set opposite to the crank to which is coupled the moving
cylinder so that during one half of the revolution of the crank shaft the two
pistons are advancing towards each other and the outer end of moving cylinder is-
receeding from the end cover of the fixed cylinder while during the remaining half
of the revolution the inner end of moving cylinder and the trunk piston are receeding
from each other at the same time that the outer end of moving cylinder is moving
towards the end cover of fixed cylinder the cycle of operations of the engine is as
follows. When the crank of the moving cylinder is making its outward stroke the
crank of the trunk piston is making its inward stroke and the capacity between
the inner end of the moving cylinder and the trunk piston is diminishing while the
capacity between the outer end of the moving cylinder and the end cover of the
fixed cylinder is increasing.
When the cranks pass the centre at the moment of firing the charge contained
between the trunk piston and inner end of moving cylinder the motion is reversed
and the crank of the moving cylinder is then making its inward stroke while the
crank of the trunk piston is making its outward stroke and the capacity between
the end of the moving cylinder and the trunk piston is increasing and the capacity
between the outer end of moving cylinder and the end cover of fixed cylinder is
decreasing The space between the end cover of fixed cylinder and the outer end
of moving cylinder I use as a compressing pump and when the moving cylinder is
making its outward stroke air and gas are drawn into this space through suitable

page_text: valves and during the inward stroke it is compressed to a low pressure into a
receiver and delivered through a port in the moving cylinder between the inner
end of moving cylinder and the trunk piston at the moment they are at their
greatest distance from each other The moving cylinder and trunk piston in
approaching each other compress the charge of combustible mixture contained
between them until they reach the point at which they approach nearest to each
other when the charge is fired the trunk piston moving outwards and the moving
cylinder moving inwards towards the end of fixed cylinder compressing the charge
of combustible mixture drawn in by the previous outstroke of moving cylinder.
The port through which the combustible charge enters the working cylinder is
opened at or about the end of instroke of the moving cylinder and is closed when
the moving cylinder commences its outward stroke and compression takes place
between the two pistons When the pistons are at the point furthest from each
other an exhaust port is uncovered by the trunk piston and the products of
combustion escape into the atmosphere this port is covered by the return of the
trunk piston when compression commences between the two pistons. One impulse
is thus obtained for each revolution of the crank shaft.
The combustible charge is fired through a port which opens from the interior of
the working cylinder to an incandescent tube, this passage is controlled by a small
conical or other form of valve which is opened at the proper moment for ignition
In one arrangement of ignition apparatus I use with the conical controlling valve
a diaphragm to which the valve is attached & to the exterior of which motion is
given by the engine at the proper time for ignition this diaphragm dispenses with
the necessity of carrying the spindle of the valve through a stuffing box and gland
In another arrangement for effecting the ignition instead of mechanically opening
the valve by the engine I arrange the valve so that the pressure of compression
acts upon it or upon a piston attached to it & opens against the resistance of a
spring or combination of diaphragm & spring This spring can be adjusted while
the engine is working by means of a screw arrangement The opening of the valve
admits a small portion of the combustible charge to the hot tube & thus effects
ignition. The tube if of platinum may be plated with gold as I find in practice
that the platinum is injuriously acted upon by impurities in the Gas & which
would not have chemical action upon the gold.
The admission valve for the air and gas may be of the usual kind employed for
the purpose of either the mushroom or sliding type or a combination of both.
Lubrication is effected by suitable passages leading to the interior of the working
cylinder & connected with a lubricator upon the fixed cylinder.
I may use a water jacket for the fixed & moving cylinders the water being
admitted through suitable ports communicating between the two jackets.
Dated this cirth day of Fahnuo 1905

page_text: Improvements in Gas Motor Engines.
I, CHARLES WILDEN KING Engineer of Southport in the county of Lancaster,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR,
ENGINES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
My invention has for its object an increased economy in the working of Gas
Motor Engines by the employment of a higher piston speed & more rapid expansion'
of the combustible charge.
In carrying out my invention I employ a fixed cylinder in which moves another
cylinder turned & fitted into the fixed cylinder as a piston The interior of the
moving cylinder is bored & fitted with a piston which for purposes of description
I will call the trunk piston.
The moving cylinder has an end cast in and it is coupled to the crank shaft
by a connecting rod or rods The trunk piston which works in the moving
cylinder is coupled to a crank set opposite to the crank to which is coupled the
moving cylinder so that during one half of the revolution of the crank shaft the
two pistons are advancing towards each other and the outer end of moving cylinder
is receeding from the end cover of the fixed cylinder while during the remaining
half of the revolution the inner end of moving cylinder and the trunk piston are
receeding from each other at the same time that the outer end of moving cylinder
is moving towards the end cover of fixed cylinder the cycle of operations of the
engine is as follows. When the crank of the moving cylinder is making its
outward stroke the crank of the trunk piston is making its inward stroke and the
capacity between the inner end of the moving cylinder and the trunk piston is
diminishing while the capacity between the outer end of the moving cylinder and
the end cover of the fixed cylinder is increasing.
When the cranks pass the centre at the moment of firing the charge contained
between the trunk piston and inner end of moving cylinder the motion is
reversed and the crank of the moving cylinder is then making its inward stroke
while the crank of the trunk piston is making its outward stroke and the capacity
between the end of the moving cylinder and the trunk piston is increasing and the
capacity between the outer end of moving cylinder and the end cover of fixed
cylinder is decreasing. The space between the end cover of fixed cylinder and the
outer end of moving cylinder I use as a compressing pump and when the moving
cylinder is making its outward stroke air and gas are drawn into the space through
suitable valves and during the inward stroke it is compressed to a low pressure
into a receiver and delivered through a port in the moving cylinder and the trunk
piston at the moment they are at their greatest distance from each other. The
moving eylinder and trunk piston in approaching each other compress the charge
of combustible mixture contained between them until they reach the point at
which they approach nearest to each other when the charge is fired the trunk
piston moving outwards and the moving cylinder moving inwards towards the end
of fixed cylinder compressing the charge of combustible mixture drawn in by the
previous outstroke of moving cylinder.

page_text: The port through which the combustible charge enters the working cylinder is
opened at or about the end of the instroke of the moving cylinder and is closed
when the moving cylinder commences its outward stroke and compression takes
place between the two pistons.
When the pistons are at the point furthest from each other an exhaust port is
uncovered by the trunk piston and the products of combustion escape into the
atmosphere this port is covered by the return of the trunk piston when com-
pression commences between the two pistons. One impulse is thus obtained for
each revolution of the crank shaft.
The combustible charge is fired through a port which opens from the interior of
the working cylinder to an incandescent tube, this passage is controlled by a small
conical or other form of valve which is opened at the proper moment for ignition.
In one arrangement of ignition apparatus I use with the conical controlling valve a
diaphragm to which the valve is attached and to the spindle of which motion is
given by the engine at the proper time for ignition. This diaphragm dispenses
with the necessity of carrying the spindle of the valve through a stuffing box and
gland In another arrangement for effecting the ignition instead of mechanically
opening the valve by the engine I arrange the valve so that the pressure of com-
pression acts upon it or upon a piston attached to it & opens against the resistance
of a spring or combination of diaphragm and spring this spring can be adjusted
while the engine is working by means of a screw arrangement.. The opening of
the valve admits a small portion of the combustible charge to the hot tube and thus
effects ignition. The tube if of platinum may be plated with gold as I found in
practice that the platinum is injuriously acted upon by impurities in the gas and
which would not have chemical action upon the gold.
The admission valve for the air and gas may be of the usual kind employed for
the purpose of either the mushroom or sliding type or a combination of both.
Lubrication is effected by suitable passages leading to the interior of the working
cylinder and connected with a lubricator upon the fixed cylinder.
I may use a water jacket for the fixed and moving cylinders the water being
admitted through suitable ports communicating between the two jackets.
In order that my invention and the manner of performing the same may be
better understood reference is made hereafter to the accompanying drawings and to
the letters thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an engine constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the engine taken through the centre line.
Fig. 3 shews a form of igniting valve by which the pressure of compression lifts
the valve and ignites automatically.
Fig. 4 shews another form of igniting valve which may be operated either
mechanically or automatically.
In Figs. 1 & 2 A is the fixed cylinder hereinafter referred to.
B is the moving cylinder & fitted as a piston on the outside.
C is the trunk piston which is fitted into the bored moving cylinder B and
coupled to a crank set opposite to the crank to which is coupled the moving
cylinder B.
F shewn in Figs. 1 & 2 is the exhaust port for the escape of the products of
combustion from between the inner end of moving cylinder B and the trunk
piston C.
H shewn in Fig. 2 is the suction valve for air and gas.
J shewn in Fig. 2 is a check valve opening outwards from compressing pump
leading into charge chamber K.
L is a check valve opening outwards from charge chamber to the port M. leading
to space between the two pistons where the charge is ignited.
N is the igniter for firing the combustible charge.
O & O¹ are the inlet and outlet pipes for the circulating water.
R is the exhaust pipe leading from port F into the atmosphere.

page_text: Referring to Fig. 2 we will assume that the moving cylinder B is at that part of
its stroke at which it approaches nearest to the cover of the fixed cylinder A
a charge of combustible mixture slightly compressed has been forced by the back
stroke of the moving cylinder B through the check valve J into the chamber K.
The ports M in the fixed cylinder A and the ports M¹ in the moving cylinder B
at this moment coincide and the combustible charge flows through the check
valve L between the inner end of moving cylinder B and the trunk piston C-
This charge is then compressed by the approach of the trunk piston towards
the inner end of moving cylinder B & when they approach nearest to each other
the charge is fully compressed and fired by the port X coinciding with the port X¹
leading to the igniter-the two pistons moving from each other & performing the
power stroke while the compression is taking place between the two pistons a new
combustible charge is being drawn in through admission valve H by the outward
movement of the moving cylinder and while the inner stroke is being performed
this new combustible charge is driven through the check valve Jinto charge
chamber K.
When the power stroke is nearly finished the exhaust port F is uncovered by the
outward movement of the trunk piston and the products of combustion are
exhausted through the pipe R into the atmosphere.
This completes the cycle of operations.
The passages to the igniter may be controlled by a small conical valve to be
operated by one of the methods hereinafter described or the charge may be ignited
by the coincidence of suitable ports making communication between the igniter
and combustible charge at the proper moment.
The suction and delivery valves may be of any suitable form either of the
mushroom, conical or piston type & may be actuated mechanically or automatically.
The fixed cylinder A and the moving cylinder B are both shewn water jacketed
the water entering by. the pipe O, and circulating through both cylinders makes its
exit by the pipe O¹.
Communication between the jacket of cylinder A and B may be made by means
of suitable ports so arranged that they are never uncovered to the interior of
cylinder.
Water communication may also be made to the moving cylinder jacket by means
of a sliding Tube Gland or a Flexible Tube.
Referring to Fig. 3 which is a sectional view of Igniting Valve.
Qis the port leading to interior of cylinder.
S is the small conical valve sealing the incandescent tube V from the interior of
cylinder T is an enlargement of this valve and acts as a piston being fitted into
cylinder U.
W is a spring which can be regulated by the small hand wheel Y The action is
as follows
The spring W is so adjusted that the pressure of compression when at its
maximum acting upon the piston T just lifts the valve S admitting a portion of
the compressed combustible charge into the tube thus firing it and igniting the
remainder of the combustible charge contained in the cylinder.
The tube V is heated by means of a Bunsen or other Burner Z.
The muffle is lined with fireclay or other suitable non-conducting material.
Fig. 4 shews another form of igniting valve S¹, is the conical tube Q¹ is the
port leading to interior of cylinder.
T is the spindle to which the valve S¹ is attached W is a flexible diaphragm of
suitable metal.
The spindle T is operated at the proper moment for ignition by means of an
eccentric or cam thus lifting the valve S₁ and allowing a portion of the compressed
combustible charge to pass into the hot tube thus effecting ignition. I may cause
the pressure of compression to act upon the diaphragm W₁ thus opening the valve S¹
against a spring so set as to yield when the maximum compression is reached.

page_text: Instead of the diaphragm I may use a gland for packing the spindle T¹ in a
similar manner to that described in Patent No 1478/85 granted to myself and
others.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed-I declare that what
I claim is
1st In gas motor engines the arrangement and combination of fixed cylinder A,
moving cylinder B acting as a pump on the outer end, in such a manner that
one impulse is obtained for every revolution of the crank shaft substantially as
described and shewn in the drawings.
2. In gas motor engines the arrangement & combination of fixed cylinder A, the
moving cylinder B & the trunk piston C, the two latter being coupled to opposite
cranks in such a manner that the effective stroke of the engine is double that due
to the throw of the crank substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
3. The igniting arrangement shewn by Fig. 3 whereby the pressure of com-
pression acting upon the piston T automatically opens the igniter valve S substan-
tially as described & shewn in the drawings.
4. The igniting arrangement. shewn in Fig. 4 & the method of actuating the
valve St, by means of an eccentric, cam or other device substantially as described
& shewn in the drawings.
5. The igniting arrangement similar to that shewn in Fig. but with the
pressure of compression acting upon the diaphragm & opening the valve S¹ at the
proper moment substantially as described.
6. The application to gas motor engines (excepting those having a seperate
vacuum or extraction cylinder) of the incandescent tube V combined with the
controlling valve S¹ having its spindle fitted with a packing gland and opened
mechanically at the proper moment substantially as described.
Dated this sixth day of November 1885