Year: 1888

page_text: 1 ERNEST. HENRY GAZE of No. 80 Kilravock Street London W.,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
Mechanical
This invention relates to gas engines and consists in certain improvements whereby
air or air and gas being each compressed separatoly by an apparatus which need not
form an integral part of the engine to be actuated may be utilized for the initial pro-
pulsion at every stroke of the motor piston of the engine, and to cause, by its pressure
and expansion, whether part of the stroke is assisted by an explosion which can be
caused at every stroke if the load on the engine requires the maximum power of the
stroke to be evolved or only by the heat of preceeding explosions to give and to main-
tain the energy and motive force of the engine and for causing the engine to start
from a state of rest and to revolve or run even against a load upon the pressure from
the compression reservoirs being turned on (without the addition of further apparatus
or any extraneous assistance or force than is contained and used by the engine at
every ordinary stroke in its usual work) the same as high or low pressure steam
engines do when pressure of steam is turned on from their boilers when under proper
running conditions thus enabling larger and more powerful gas engines to be con-
structed than hitherto and also by admitting the charges colder and under pressure
obtaining increased expansive energy at lower temperatures and effecting great.
economy of gas or gasified fuel and for enabling the construction of double acting
compression gas engines taking power at every stroke similarly to ordinary steain
engines and for causing a greater proportion than hitherto of the power evolved by
the heating of the charges to be expended in pressure and expansion against the load,
and in favour of the engine instead of against the power of and adversely to the
engine.
To this end I arrange the ports of the motor cylinder in communication with a
special form of small chest, one at each end of the cylinder, these chests having three
chambers each of which, one communicates with a compressed air and another with a
compressed gas reservoir and the lifting of the valves of these chambers admit air or
air and gas at considerable pressure to the third chamber which has an open portway

page_text: to the interior of cylinder where the weight and pressure of the air and gas being
about equal to the pressure in the reservoirs is used to propel the piston to the point of
its, cut off about of its stroke and then if air only is used it is allowed to expand but
if air and gas it is caused to explode thus securing both initial propulsion and an ex-
pansion similar to steam, or the force of an explosion additionally as may be required.
The reservoirs are fed by compressors and both are maintained at same pressure of
which 45 lbs. to the square inch is convenient. The reservoirs are constructed large
enough to contain a sufficient quantity of compressed air or gas to maintain the
pressure steady during withdrawals.
Reservoirs to contain about 320 charges are convenient for the purposes specified.
For the purpose of adjusting the proportions of air and gas one to the other I use
an extra screw down valve on each air or gas way and close to the admission
chests.
For the purpose of keeping the piston rods of double acting compression gas engines
explosion tight and the packing from being burnt and destroyed, I carry to the lower
central part of the cylinder stuffing box a water pipe and place a similar pipe opposite
to it on the other side of the stuffing box. Then I place a small metal dise at the
cylinder end of chamber of stuffing box and on this, place some rope or other engine
packing then a metal boss (or two halves) just fitting the inside of the stuffing box
but which does not touch the piston rod.
This boss is made with slots or holes through which the water freely circulates (from
a tank) on to and round the piston rod cooling and lubricating the same as it travels
through the water and packing. After the water boss another ring of packing is
placed upon which the usual gland is screwed down holding all tight.
The explosions are caused by methods usual in gas engines.
The charges enter the cylinder cold and the cylinders when heated by preceding
explosions will heat the charges and consequently increase the pressure thereof
whether the charge is caused to explode or not.
The compressors may be worked from the engine fed by them or by a separate
engine. The valves are preferably puppet or spindle valves so arranged that they
receive the pressure of the explosion resting upon their seatings.
For the other parts of the engine I use ordinary contrivances similar to those used
in engines of corresponding classes according to the nature of the work required from
them.
D
34

page_text: Improvements in Gas Engines.
I ERNEST HENRY GAZE of 56 Walterton Road London in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical 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 relates to gas engines particularly those using explosive charges of
air and gas in a compressed state and has for its objects the construction of gas engines
capable of starting by the energy supplied at and during admission of their ordinary
working charges causing initial propulsion aided by greater frequency and continuity
of impulse than has been possessed by Gas Engines heretofore thus giving them
greater power over loads and so removing their present limitations as to size and
power also effecting economy by the reduction of the axial length of charges used and
using a greater ratio of expansion of the same before exhaust than is possible where
compression takes place in the motor cylinder; Obtaining a second impulse in the
same stroke by the explosion of the charges after initial propulsion so as to use the
greatest heat of the explosion while the piston is moving at its greatest velocity to
diminish the loss of heat to the cylinder by diminishing time of contact to the ratio of
work done; Also the abolition of negative work in Motor Cylinder, and causing all
heat received by charges after admission to the motor cylinder to he expended in favor
of the Engine, and obtaining greater power without increasing the size of Motor by
reason of more frequent impulses.
In carrying my invention into practical effect I in order to obtain the necessary
charges of compressed air and compressed gas connect the supply pipes of the
apparatus described-in my improvements in the mode of working gas engines
Patent No. 396488 to the inlets of the small valve chests at the ends of the Motor
Cylinders. These chests have three chambers one of which is connected with the
compressed air and one with the compressed gas reservoir of the apparatus these two
chambers have valves so arranged as to be capable of restraining and timing the
separate admission of the compressed air and gas to the third chamber which has an
open port to the interior of the cylinder where the charges mix. The valves are also
constructed capable of resisting the explosion the force of which occurs on the reverse
side of the valves to the pressure of the compressed air and gas reservoirs.
I abolish the clearance space now used in motor cylinders of compression gas
engines for compressing the charges and cause the piston to travel the whole length
of the cylinder. In order that the axial length of the charges necessary may be
reduced and that the kinetic energy of the charges may cause initial propulsion of
the engine by propelling the piston at and during their admittance to the point of
cutt off and so enable the explosion of the compressed charges to be caused when the
piston has travelled one sixth or so of its stroke and is moving at its greatest velocities
so as to reduce loss of heat to the walls of the cylinder and obtain a greater ratio of
work during a shorter time of contact also that a double impulse may be obtained in

page_text: every stroke and consequently greater continuity of power over loads so as to maintain
the starting of the engine caused by the initial propulsion. It will be evident that a
gas engine made and worked according to my invention has power to start as a
steam engine viz. :-by the energy of its working charges causing initial propulsion at
and during their admittance to the motor cylinder which energy is afterwards increased
by the heat of the explosion in the manner of a Gas Engine the charges are delivered
cold so that any heat received by the charges after admission to the cylinder must
produce expansion in favour of the work of the engine there being no compressing
effected in the motor cylinder.
Explosions can be caused by making a hole at any point in the cylinder side the
piston reaches at the time the explosion is required (properly the point of cut off)
and screwing in an iron tube the projecting end of which is enclosed in another tube
and heated by an atmospheric gas burner the passage of the piston will uncover the
holes admitting part of the charges to the hot tube and explosion will result, or any
of the other well known means of igniting charges may be used.
The reservoirs of the apparatus connected to this engine for actuating the same
are fed by compressors and are both maintained at the same pressure whilst working
say from 30 to 60 lbs. to the square inch. The reservoirs are constructed large enough
to contain a sufficient quantity of compressed air or gas to maintain the pressure
steady during withdrawals by the Engine say about 320 charges. For adjusting the
proportions of air and gas an extra screw down valve is employed on each air or gas
way and close to the admission chests of the engine."
For the purpose of keeping the piston rods of double acting compression gas
engines explosion tight and the packing from being burnt and destroyed water pipes
communicate with the central part of the cylinder stuffing box and a metal bush is
placed at the cylinder end of the stuffing box and is packed by means of rope or other
engine packing and on this is placed a metal boss which may be in two halves just
fitting the inside of the stuffing box but not touching the piston rod.
This boss is made with holes through which the water freely circulates on to and
round the piston rod cooling and lubricating the same as it travels through the water
and packing. After the water circulating boss other rings of packing are placed
upon which the gland is screwed down holding all tight.
The charges enter the cylinder cold and compressed and the cylinder when heated
by preceding explosions heat the said charges and consequently increase the pressure
'thereof whether the charge is caused to explode or not.
The compressing apparatus may be worked from the engine fed by it or by a
separate engine. The valves are arranged to be held against the force of the com-
pression when at rest and to resist the pressure of the explosion from the opposite
direction.
In all other particulars engines constructed according to my invention are practically
similar to corresponding classes of engines already in use according to the nature of
the work required from them.
In the accompanying four sheets of illustrative drawings Fig. 1 represents a side
elevation of a single cylinder_double acting compression gas engine constructed
according to my invention and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the valve
chests on the outside end of the cylinder.
The motor cylinder 1 in which all the compressing spaces usually reserved are
abolished surrounded by the water jacket 2 is closed at its ends by covers 34. In
each cover are ports 5 and 6 communicating with the interior of the cylinder and
with admission and exhaust chests 7 and 8 respectively in the former of which are
the two puppet valves 9 and 10 communicating respectively with the air and gas
reservoirs through the outer chests 11 and 12.
The spindles 13 and 14 of the said valves pass through the stuffing boxes 15 and 16
and are connected by the links 17 18 to the levers 19 20 hinged at 21 the other
end 22 of the lever 19 working on the cam 23 on the caui shaft 24 driven from the
crank shaft 25 of the engine through the bevel wheels 26 27.

page_text: The levers 19, 20 and the valves 9 10 are held down when the lever 19 is not
raised by the cain 23 by means of springs 28 29 or weights may be used if preferred.
By these means the air and gas under pressure from the reservoirs are prevented
from forcing the valves 9 10% off their seats when the pressure in the cylinder is
reduced.
On the end of the lover 20 is a bracket 30 carrying a bell crank or trigger
lever 31 32 free to oscilate to a limited extent about its axis 33 so that in its normal
position its arm 31 hangs over the lever 19 in such a manner that on the lever 19 being
elevated the lever 20 is elevated also and thus both valves 9 and 10 are opened
simultaneously.
When however the speed of the engine exceeds the predetermined rate the sliding
bolt 34 is caused by the governor 35 to slide forward into the path of motion of the
arm 32 of the trigger lever and arrests its downward motion thereby causing it to
turn on its axis and carry its arm 31 clear of the lever 19. It will be clearly seen
that by these means the next elevation of the lever 19 actuates the air valve only the
lever 20 remaining quiescient so that air only is admitted to the cylinder and
expanded by the heat from the walls of the cylinder remaining from previous
explosions.
The exhaust valve 36 is actuated by the cam 37 acting through the lever 38
fulcrumed at 39 as clearly shewn.
The piston rod stuffing box is constructed as follows:-Pipes 40 and 41 convey
water to and from the stuffing box; a conical metal disc 42 being placed at the
cylinder end and then some rope or other engine packing 43 then a metal boss or
chamber 44 which may be constructed in halves just fitting the inside of the stuffing
box but not touching the piston rod and having slots or holes 45 to permit of the free
circulation of the water on to and around the piston rod 46 and also to the packing
and then another ring of packing 47 and lastly the gland 48 is screwed down holding
all tight.
The foregoing description refers particularly to a double acting compression gas
engine taking an impulse or two impulses in every stroke on one side of the piston
and exhausting on the other side simultaneously but it is obvious that with my im-
provements in gas engines and mode of working a single acting compression gas
engine without a compressing space to motor cylinder taking an impulse or two
impulses at cach out stroke of the piston and exhausting on the return stroke can be
made.
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 I
claim is :-
:-
1. The arrangement of a gas engine supplied with charges of cold air and gas
compressed separately by means of an apparatus substantially as described.
2. The construction of a gas engine obtaining initial propulsion from its working
charges at and during their admittance for the purposes specified and substantially in
the manner described.
3. The explosion of the charges in compression gas engines after initial propulsion
at every stroke when the piston is at the point of cut off and at its greatest velocity
for the purposes specified.
4. Obtaining two impulses in one stroke for the purposes specified substantially in
the manner described.
5. Obtaining increased continuity of power in compression gas engines by an
impulse or by two impulses in every stroke for the purposes specified and substantially
in the manner described.
6. The construction of a gas engine using compressed charges of air and gas
without having the compressing spaces usually reserved in the motor cylinders of
compression gas engines for the purposes specified and substantially in the manner
described.

page_text: 7. The construction of a gas engines starting by the kinetic energy imparted by its
working charges at and during adimittance which energy is afterwards increased by
explosions for the purposes specified and substantially in the manner described.
8. Reducing the ratio of the axial length of the compressed charges for the purposes
specified and substantially in the manner described.
9. Causing all heat given to compressed charges after admission to be expended in
favour of the engine substantially in the manner described.
10. In gas engines in which the charges are exploded in a compressed condition.
The arrangement for admitting compressed air and gas separately to the working
cylinders by valves arranged to hold back the compression when at rest and also to
resist explosions and actuated by the cam and lever substantially as described and for
the purposes set forth.
11. In gas engines to which the charges are delivered in a coniprossed condition.
Automatically engaging and disengaging the lever actuating the gas admission valve
with or from the air valve lever by means of a trigger lever attached to the gas valve
lever the said lever in its normal position engaging with the air valve lever but being
automatically disengaged therefrom when the speed of the engine exceeds a pre-
determined rate by means of the governor substantially as described and for the
purposes specified.
12. The construction of piston rod stuffing box comprising a conical bush 42 a
metal boss or chamber 44 through which water is caused to circulate freely and
engine packing 43 47 arranged substantially as described.
13. The arrangement and construction of gas engines substantially as described
with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1888.