Improvements in Explosion Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosion Engines.
We, JOHN GEORGE GLOVER, of Elberton, Finchley Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, and THOMAS MEACOCK, of 1, Constantine Road, Hamp-
stead, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
-;
This invention has for objects to provide a rotary explosion engine which
will be simple in construction, economical and comparatively free from vibration
in working and will occupy but little floor space.
An engine according to this invention comprises an annular compression
chamber or passage and an annular explosion chamber or passage, each provided
with a movable partition or abutment and each having fitted within it a sliding
rotary piston connected to the engine shaft, means being provided for admitting
an explosive charge to the compression chamber or passage between the back
of its piston and its movable partition or abutment for causing the charge,
after compression in the one chamber or passage, to pass to the other and to
be exploded therein; for permitting the escape of the products of combustion
from the latter chamber or passage; and for operating the said partitions or
abutments at the required times to permit of the passage of the pistons.
In one construction, the compression and explosion chambers or passages (here-
inafter called chambers), which are of circular cross section, are arranged side
by side and may conveniently be connected by an annular web cast in one with
them and with the base or bed-plate of the engine, the engine shaft being so
supported in a suitable bearing or bearings that its axis coincides with the axis
of the said annular chambers. Each chamber is formed at its outer side with
a continuous slot which is closed by a suitable packing ring carried by and
rotating with an adjacent fly wheel secured upon the engine shaft. Each slot
may be of approximately V shape in cross section with its greatest width out-
ward and be closed by a correspondingly shaped packing ring that is pressed
laterally against the sides of the slot by springs the pressure of which can be
adjusted by suitable means such as screws, when required. The rotary move-
ment of the packing ring relatively to the fly-wheel is prevented by said screws
or by other means such as pins or projections on the one entering holes in the
other. From the said packing ring of each fly wheel projects an arm which
extends into the adjacent chamber through its slot and carries a piston that fits
but is capable of sliding endways within the said chamber. The piston is prefer-
ably provided with a cup shaped packing formed of a suitable alloy.
The partitions or abutments are held in their inward position by springs and

page_text: are arranged to slide vertically across the lower portions of the annular chambers.
Each of them is provided with a radially projecting stem carrying one or more
antifriction rollers against which a cam or inclined surface on the respective
fly wheel acts at the required time so as to withdraw the partition or abutment
from its chamber and permit the corresponding piston to pass.
There are
conveniently three distributing valves which may be arranged with their axes
parallel with the engine shaft, these valves serving respectively to control (a)
the admission of the explosive charge to the compression chamber behind the
piston therein and in front of the partition or abutment thereof, (b) the passage
of the compressed charge from between the front of the said piston and the back
of the said partition or abutment into the explosion chamber, between the back
of the piston and the front of the partition or abutment therein, and (c) the
exhaust or sweeping out of the products of combustion from in front of the
piston of the explosion chamber. The valve admitting the supply to the com-
pression chamber and that controlling the exhaust from the explosion chamber
may be operated or controlled by cams carried by the fly wheels, the admission
valve of the explosion chamber being automatic. Or the latter valve might, ia
some cases, be operated by a cam or the like and the others be automatic in
their action. The piston of the explosion chamber is arranged at some little
distance ahead of that in the compression chamber.
In an engine constructed as described the piston of one chamber inhales a
charge and during the next revolution compresses such charge whilst, in the
other chamber, an explosive charge is received and exploded during one revolu-
tion thus giving an impulse to the engine shaft, whilst the exhaust of the pro-
ducts of combustion from that charge takes place during the next revolution.
Thus it will be understood that, during each revolution of the engine shaft,
the inhalation of one charge and the compression of another is taking place
simultaneously in the one chamber, and, in the other chamber, the explosion
of one charge and exhaustion of the previously exploded charge are occurring
simultaneously. When the piston of the compression chamber is on the forward
side of the afore-described partition or abutment its angular movement draws in
behind it and in front of the abutment a charge of gas and air through the
admission valve and compresses the previously inhaled charge, which will then
be on the other side of the piston, through an aperture communicating with the
two cylinders and in which is fitted a valve which may be automatically raised
by the compressed charge, the said valve again closing when the charge is
received into the other chamber ready for ignition, which may be effected at the
proper time by a heated tube or by an electric spark. The piston of the explo-
sion cylinder communicates the effect of the explosion to the engine shaft and,
in rotating, exhausts the charge previously ignited.
The engine shaft may be formed with concentric rings or collars fitting a
corresponding bearing, as in the thrust bearing or block of the screw shaft of a
steamer.
In other constructions two or more pistons and abutments in each of the
aforedescribed chambers may be provided so as to enable more than one explo-
sion to be effected during each revolution of the fly wheel. In some cases we
may employ two or more pairs of the said chambers in connection with one shaft.
Dated this 6th day of July 1898.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Explosion Engines.
We, JOHN GEORGE GLOVER, of Elberton, Finchley Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, and THOMAS MEACOCK, of 1, Constantine Road, Hamp-
stead, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention has for object to provide a rotary explosion engine which
will be simple in construction, economical and comparatively free from vibration
in working, and will occupy but little floor space.
An engine according to this invention comprises an annular compression
chamber or passage and an annular explosion chamber or passage, each provided
with a movable partition or abutment and each having fitted within it a sliding
rotary piston connected to the engine shaft, means being provided for admitting
an explosive charge to the compression chamber or passage between the back
of its piston and its movable partition or abutment; for causing the charge,
after compression in the one chamber or passage, to pass to the other and to
be exploded therein; for permitting the escape of the products of combustion
from the latter chamber or passage; and for operating the said partitions cr
abutments at the required times to permit of the passage of the pistons.
Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an engine constructed according to this invention;
Fig. 2 shows a vertical section thereof on the line a a, Fig. 1;
Figs. 3 and 4 vertical sections on the lines b and c c, Fig. 2 respectively;
Fig. 5 a horizontal section on the line d d Fig. 2.
Figs. 6 and 7 horizontal sections on the linese and f f. Fig. 4 respectively.
1 is the compression chamber or passage and 2 the explosion chamber or
passage each of which is hereinafter called a chamber and is annular and of
circular cross section; they are arranged side by side and may conveniently
be connected by one or more annular webs cast in one with them and with the
base or bed-plate of the engine, the engine shaft 4 being so supported in a
suitable bearing 5 that its axis coincides with the axis of the annular chambers 1
and 2. The chambers are formed at their outer sides with continuous slots 1"
and 2 respectively which are closed by packing rings 1, 2, respectively carried
by and rotating with adjacent fly wheels and secured upon the engine shaft.
Each slot 1, may be of approximately V shape in cross section with its
greatest width outward, the packing rings 1 and 2 being correspondingly
shaped. Springs 8 press the rings 1, 1" against the sides of their respective
slots, the pressure of the springs being capable of adjustment by suitable means,
such as screws 8, when required. The rotary movement of the packing rings
relatively to the fly-wheel may be prevented by the said screws, but in the con-
struction illustrated pins or projections 9 carried by the fly wheels enter holes
or recesses 10 in the rings for this purpose. The packing ring is formed
or provided with an arm or projection 1 which extends into the compression
chamber 1 through its slot and carries a piston 11 that fits but is capable of
sliding endways within the said chamber. The packing ring 2 is also formed
or provided with an arm 2" and a piston 12 adapted to fit and slide within the
explosion chamber 2.
The piston 12 of the explosion chamber is arranged at some little distance
ahead of the piston 11 in the compression chamber and the pistons 11 and 12

page_text: are each preferably provided with a cup shaped packing formed of a suitable
alloy Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the construction of the pistons and the
method of attachment to their respective rings. Each piston comprises a cup
shaped packing ring 13 which is formed with a short cylindrical extension 13
adapted to rest in a slightly larger circular recess 14 formed in the piston 11
The ring 13 is secured in place by a screw bolt 15 and is formed in
halves as shown so as to be capable of being expanded by means of an internal
split spring-ring 14, the expansion of the ring 18 being limited by the divided
portions of its extension 13" abutting against the wall of the recess 14.
or 12.
16 and 17 are partitions or abutments located in and arranged to slide verti-
cally across the lower portions of the respective annular chambers 1 and 2. They
are provided with radially projecting stems 16", 17° coupled by links 16, 17 to
levers 16, 17 carrying antifriction rollers 16, 17d against which cams or
inclined surfaces 18, 19 on the respective fly wheel act at the required times so
as to withdraw each partition or abutment from its chamber and permit the
corresponding piston to pass. The partitions or abutments are normally held
in the inward positions by springs 16°, 17º.
The partitions or abutments 16 and 17 are mounted to slide in a guide frame
20 secured to the bed plate and each is divided vertically and its stem 16 or 17*
is in the form of a fork with wedge-shaped arms (see Fig. 3) the narrow ends
of the arms terminating in a head or shoulder against the underside of which
the two parts of the partition or abutment are normally held by springs 21
arranged between the stem and inwardly extending shoulders on the two parts
of the partition or abutment; by this arrangement when the stem is operated
so as to move the partition or abutment there will be but little friction, whereas
when the upward movement of the parts of the partition or abutment is arrested
by the top portion of the frame 20, the wedge shaped arms will force the parts
into close contact with the end-faces of the compression and explosion chambers
1 and 2 and prevent leakage of the explosive mixture. A tight joint is made
between the faces of the guide frame 20, the packing rings 1 and 2 and the
two parts of each partition or abutment by means of blocks or plates 22 that fit
in recesses in the partitions or abutments and are pressed out by flat springs 23
(see Fig. 2). 24 is the gas supply pipe which supplies gas to a mixing chamber
25 into which air is drawn through a valve 26; 27 are perforated plates or wire
gauze through which the explosive mixture passes to a passage 28 communicating
with the compression chamber I through the port 29, see Figs. 4 and 6. 30 is
a governor which controls the supply of gas. 31 is a port or passage leading
from the compression chamber to a spring-pressed non-return valve 32 (Fig. 7)
arranged to be opened automatically by the pressure of the explosive mixture.
33 is a passage leading from the valve 32 to a valve 34 (Figs. 4 and 7) which
controls the admission to the explosion chamber 2 between the back of the
piston 2 and the front of the partition or abutment 17. The valve 34 is adapted
to be operated at the required times by a cam 35 carried by the fly wheel 6 and
acting upon a plunger 34 carried by the valve spindle 34. 36 is a passage
leading from the valve 34 to the explosion chamber 2 and 37 is the exhaust
passage therefrom. 38 is an igniter, the ignition tube of which is placed in
communication with the chamber 2 through a passage or pipe 39 at the required
times by means of a timing valve 39 operated by means of a cam 39 on the fly
wheel 7. It is convenient to arrange the valves 32 and 34 as shown, with their
axes parallel with the engine shaft and, although it is preferable to arrange valves
such as are shown in the manner indicated, it may sometimes be convenient to
provide three valves serving respectively to control (a) the admission of the explo-
sive charge to the compression chamber 1 behind the piston 11 and in front of
the partition or abutment 16 (b) the passage of the compressed charge from between
the front of the piston 11 and the back of the partition or abutment 16 into the
explosion chamber 2, between the back of the piston 12 and the front of the
partition or abutment 17 and (c) the exhaust or sweeping out of the products of

page_text: combustion from in front of the piston 12, the valve admitting the supply to
the compression chamber and that controlling the exhaust from the explosion
chamber being operated or controlled by cams carried by the fly wheels and the
admission valve of the explosion chamber being automatic, if desired. 40 is a
water jacket formed between the chambers 1 and 2 and their connecting webs;
the jacket is provided with an inlet 41 and an outlet 42.
In an engine constructed as described, the piston 11, after passing over the
partition 16, inhales through the port 29 a charge of gas and air and, during the
next revolution, compresses such charge between itself and the said partition or
abutment to such an extent that the valve 32 will be opened and the compressed
explosive charge allowed to pass from the passage 31 into the passage 33, which
serves as a reservoir, whence, as the valve 34 is opened by the cam 35, the charge
will pass through the passage 36, which will then be uncovered by the piston 12,
to the explosion chamber 2. The valve 32 will be again closed by its spring as
soon as the piston 11 has passed the port 31 and the pressure on the inlet side
of the valve thus reduced. On the ignition tube 39 being uncovered by the
piston 12, the charge will bu exploded, thus giving an impulse to the engine shaft
through the ring 2, pins 9 and fly wheel 7. The exhaust of the products of
combustion from the exploded charge just referred to will take place during the
next revolution, the piston 12 after passing over the partition or abutment 17
sweeping out the products of combustion through the exhaust port 37. Thus it
will be understood that, during each revolution of the engine shaft, the inhalation
of one charge and the compression of another in the chamber 1, the explosion
of one charge and exhaustion of the previously exploded charge in the chamber 2,
are occurring simultaneously.
In other constructions two or more pistons and abutments in each of the afore-
described chambers may be provided so as to enable more than one explosion to
be effected during each revolution of the fly wheel.
Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic section through the explosion chamber of an arrange-
ment in which two explosions are effected and two impulses given through one
piston 12 to the engine shaft during each revolution. The compression and explo-
sion chambers are each provided with a pair of partitions or abutments 16 and 17
respectively which are adapted to be operated as in the previously described
arrangement. The valves 32 and 34 and the inlet and outlet passages of each
of the chambers 1 and 2 are duplicated and each set is arranged relatively to the
respective abutments as in the previously described arrangement. The explosions
occur when the piston 12 is in the positions indicated by full and dotted lines
respectively. In some cases, this arrangement may be modified by providing each
of the chambers 1 and 2 with two pistons so that a double explosion and a double
impulse may be obtained twice in each revolution. In some cases, we may employ
two or more pairs of the said chambers in connection with one shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A rotary explosion engine comprising an annular chamber in which the
explosive mixture is compressed and an annular chamber in which the compressed
explosive mixture is exploded, each chamber being provided with a movable
partition or abutment and each having fitted within it a sliding rotary piston
connected to the engine shaft, substantially as described.
2. A rotary explosion engine in which annular compression and explosion
chambers are arranged side by side with their axes coinciding with that of the
engine shaft, each of said chambers being provided with a movable partition or
abutment and each being formed with a continuous slot closed by a packing ring
that has connected to it a sliding rotary piston arranged within the chamber and
connected, for instance, through a fly wheel, with the engine shaft, the arrange-
ment being such that during each revolution of the engine shaft, the inhalation

page_text: of one charge and the compression of another in the one chamber and the explosion
of one charge and the exhaustion of the previously exploded charge in the other
chamber are occurring simultaneously, substantially as described.
3. A rotary explosion engine constructed, arranged and operating substantially
as described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive or modified
as described with reference to Fig. 11 of the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Dated this 6th day of April 1899.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.
1899.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.