A NEW OR IMPROVED GAS MOTOR OR ENGINE AND NEW ARRANGEMENTS OF MECHANISM EMPLOYED WITH THE SAME
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edgar Edmonds, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for the
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED GAS MOTOR OR ENGINE AND NEW
ARRANGEMENTS OF MECHANISM EMPLOYED WITH THE SAME." A. communication
from abroad by Sebastien François, of 17, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris,
Timnas
Sealed the 21st May 1880, and dated the 25th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edgar Edmonds at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th November 1879.
EDGAR EDMONDS, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of
166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
GAS MOTOR OR ENGINE AND NEW ARRANGEMENTS OF MECHANISM EMPLOYED WITH
THE SAME." (A communication from abroad by Sebastien François, of 17, Boulevard
Saint Martin, Paris, France.)
The object of this Invention is the application of new mechanical means and
arrangements for obtaining a motive power by means of the explosion of gas.
The distinctive means and arrangements of the Invention are as follows:-
First. The inclination of a connecting rod which plays a special part by
allowing a piston to make a longer stroke in a cylinder than the stroke or course
made by the crank, the stroke of the piston being also more rapid because it
ascends during the of the revolution, and a remarkable thing is that at the moment
of the explosion the ascending motion of the piston is greatest. It further happens
that the vacuum produced allows the atmospheric air to act on the piston during
3/ths of the revolution, that is to say, during the time the piston descends from top
to bottom, less the time necessary for the expulsion of the burnt gases.
Secondly. A new method of emission of the explosive compound by the com-
bination of two slide valves placed one in the other, the small one actuated by a
cam at times acting alone, and at times drawing with it the larger slide valve.
Thirdly. A new vertical arrangement of the igniting jet and of its transmission
under the cylinder, where at a given moment the explosive compound is found.
According to one arrangement of gas motor constructed according to this Inven-
tion, the cylinder has a bottom maintained by four nuts, and pierced with two

page_text: ports communicating with the inside of the cylinder. The cylinder is surmounted by a
frame having two arms, which support a crank shaft, a fly wheel, and a circular
plate or disc with eccentrical groove for working the slide valves.
The cylinder is surrounded by a jacket communicating at its upper part with the
cylinder for the purpose of effecting the constant cooling of the cylinder by means
of the air sucked or pumped in by the piston.
At the base of the jacket are two valves for the admission of air, and at the
upper part of the cylinder is a valve for the expulsion of the hot air.
The segmental piston in the cylinder has a rod, the upper part of which is con-
nected to a sliding piece by means of a key. The sliding piece works in grooves
formed in the frame, and serves as a guide to the rod of the piston.
In the middle of this sliding piece is a kind of mortice or slot in which the
lower end of the connecting rod is placed, the latter being fixed in the slot by
means of a gudgeon passing through them forming an articulated joint, or by
other means.
Another practical and advantageous mechanical arrangement consists in the
employment of a cylindrical sliding piece acting as a guide to the piston rod, this
sliding piece would slide in bored or drilled bearings.
Two counter plates fixed by screws to the sliding piece slide on the lateral sides
of the column, and prevent any displacement of the sliding piece in that direction.
The head or upper end of the connecting rod is joined to the crank of the shaft by
a head piece in two parts, one part fixed to the connecting rod, and the other
jointed to the crank by means of gudgeons and nuts, or by bolts.
The circular plate or disc actuates the slide valves by means of a rod in con-
nection by a lever with a shaft working in two bearings acting as supports, and on
the middle of which is placed a lever, which works the slide valve by a connecting
rod.
The rod which is supported by the shaft carries a roller running in and con-
trolled by the groove in the circular plate or disc.
Underneath the cylinder are placed two slide valves. The larger slide valve is
supported at the sides by cheeks forming part of the bottom of the cylinder, and
beneath it rests on a circular plate or counter slide of bronze or gun metal.
The counter slide is kept in place by means of a cross-piece, and fixed to the
middle of this by two rods and nuts is a screw which presses on a small steel bar
placed longitudinally and forming a spring.
The air and gas forming the explosive compound enters by orifices in the
counter-slide.
In the large slide valve is a chamber with an opening or orifice above it, and
under it are two apertures for the admission of the air necessary for the combustion
of the igniting jet in the chamber. The gas communicates with this jet through a
longitudinal groove in the counter slide. In this same slide valve is a second
orifice, which opens into the horizontal aperture communicating with the valve
serving for the discharge of the burnt or spent gases.
The small slide valve is enclosed in the larger slide valve in a reserved space, and
in which it works backwards and forwards.
This valve is a solid piece into which a rod is screwed, the other end of the rod
being jointed to a hinge by a bolt.
This rod passes through the igniting chamber. The small slide valve is also
supported underneath by the counter slide.
A cock gives passage to the gas forming part of the explosive compound, and it
communicates with the slide valves by a passage or conduit.
The cock gives passage to the gas which feeds the igniting jet:
On the counter slide is placed vertically a burner serving as a permanent jet,
this burner being pierced at the side and directing the flame above the igniter
when it presents itself. The gas comes to it through an india rubber tube from
any gas cock and serving to regulate the flame.

page_text: If the permanent jet and the igniting jet are both lighted and the fly wheel is
turned there is immediately produced a movement of the slide valve rod, and of
the slide valves actuated by the cam, at the same time the piston rises, the gas and
air are then introduced under the piston by the passages, and when the piston has
ascended a certain height another movement of the rod is produced, the two slide
valves move under the cylinder, one orifice or entry is closed, whilst the other
entry or orifice is placed in communication with the flame, and the explosion
follows. Directly after the explosion a further movement of the rod replaces the
slide valves in the first position where the igniter is relighted. At the same time
a vacuum is formed beneath the piston, and the atmospheric pressure acting on its
upper side forces it to redescend, and on arriving near the bottom of its stroke the
piston drives out the spent gases by the orifice or port which communicates by the
conduit of the slide valve with the exit or expulsion valve.
It is to be observed that the cam is so arranged that the movements of the
slide valves are exact and rapid, this being of great value in a gas exploding
motor.
It should be remarked that by the arrangement of the mechanism the stroke of
the piston is 336, whilst that of the crank is only 260; the motion of the crank is
regular, whilst that of the piston is irregular.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edgar Edmonds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th May
1880.
EDGAR EDMONDS, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of
166, Fleet Street, in the City of London; Patent Agents. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
GAS MOTOR OR ENGINE, AND NEW ARRANGEMENTS OF MECHANISM EMPLOYED WITH
THE SAME." (A communication from abroad by Sebastien François, of 17, Boulevard
Saint Martin, Paris, France.)
The object of this Invention is the application of new mechanical means and
arrangements for obtaining a motive power by means of the explosion of gas. The
distinctive means and arrangements of the Invention are as follows:-
tha
First. The inclination of the connecting rod, which plays a special part by allowing
the piston to make a longer stroke in the cylinder than the stroke or course made
by the crank, the stroke of the piston being also more rapid because it ascends
during of the revolution, and a remarkable thing is that at the moment of the
explosion the ascending motion of the piston is greatest. It further happens that
the vacuum produced allows the atmospheric air to act on the piston during 3/the of
the revolution, that is to say, during the time the piston descends from top to bottom,
less the time necessary for the expulsion of the burnt gases.
Secondly. A new method of emission of the explosive compound by the combina-
tion of two slide valves placed one in the other, the small one actuated by a cam, at
times acting alone and at times drawing with it the larger slide valve.
Thirdly. A new vertical arrangement of the igniting jet and of its transmission
under the cylinder, where at a given moment the explosive compound is found.
The annexed Drawings show, as an example, one arrangement of gas motor
constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, Figure 2 a lateral elevation, and
Figure 3 a plan from the top of this arrangement. Figure 3 shows separately the
bottom of the cylinder with its accessories.
The cylinder A has a bottom B attached to four nuts and pierced with two ports
c, d, communicating with the inside of the cylinder A.
The cylinder A is surmounted by a frame C having two arms D, which support a
crank shaft E, a fy wheel F, and a circular plate or disc G with eccentrical groove
for working the slide valves.
The cylinder is surrounded by a jacket a, communicating at its upper part with
the cylinder for the purpose of effecting the constant cooling of the cylinder by
means of the air sucked or pumped in by the piston H. At the base of the jacket
a are two valves i for the admission of air, and at the upper part of the cylinder is
a valvej for the expulsion of the hot air.
The segmental piston H in the cylinder A has a rod L, the upper part of which
is connected to a sliding piece M by means of a key.
The sliding piece M works in grooves formed in the frame C, and serves as a
guide to the rod L of the piston H. In the middle of this sliding piece M is a kind
of mortice or slot in which the lower end of the connecting rod N is placed, the
latter being fixed in the slot by means, for example, of a gudgeon passing through
them forming an articulated joint.
Two counter plates fixed by screws to the sliding piece M slide on the lateral
sides of the column, and prevent any displacement of the sliding piece in that
direction.
The head or upper end of the connecting rod N is joined to the crank of the shaft
E by a head piece in two parts, one part fixed to the connecting rod and the other
jointed to the crank by means of gudgeons and nuts, or by bolts,

page_text: The circular plate or disc G actuates the slide valve by means of a rod o in con-
nection, through a lever l, with a shaft p working in two bearings acting as supports,
and on the centre of which is placed a lever m which works the slide valve t by a
connecting rod r.
The rod o, which is supported by the shaft E, carries a roller s running in and
controlled by the groove in the circular plate or disc G.
Underneath the cylinder A are placed two slide valves t and v.
The larger slide valve v is supported at the sides by cheeks forming part of the
bottom of the cylinder, and beneath it rests on a circular plate or counter slide x of
bronze or gun metal.
Another advantageous mechanical arrangement, intended to prevent as much as
possible the friction of the piston rod conductor, also the transmission of the sudden
or sharp motions caused by the explosion, consists in guiding the piston rod by
means of a cylindrical slide arranged in the following manner with reference to
Figures 12 and 13, Sheet 2 :-
Figure 12 is a front elevation, and Figure 13 a side elevation (partly in section)
of this arrangement. A is a column serving as the frame, with two arms a, a, the
column being bored out interiorly; B, B', are two gearing wheels or discs, each fixed
to a shaft C, C', working in a socket D. To each of the discs B, B', is fixed a trunnion
or stud E, E¹, acting as cranks.
G is a cylindrical sliding box fixed to the upper end of the piston rod H and
sliding in the column A; J, J, are two connecting rods connected at one end to the
studs E, E', respectively, and at the other to the guide G by means of either a single
gudgeon g for the two connecting rods (as shown in the Drawing), or of one gudgeon
for each.
The gearings B, B², serve to combine and regulate the movement imparted to each
of the discs by the two connecting rods J, J¹.
Figure 14, Sheet 2, represents an arrangement intended to prevent as much as
possible the sudden or sharp movements of the piston rod resulting from the explo-
sion of the explosive compound. As may be seen in Figure 14, a strong spiral
spring is placed above the piston, which is free to move on the rod.
spring is placed in the piston itself, and rests against the piston rod nut.
A second
It will be understood that when the explosion takes place it acts on the piston
only, and not on the piston rod, thereby preventing a sudden stroke or jerk.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 show in plan view, section, and transverse section the details
of the large slide valve v on a larger scale.
Figures 7 and 8 also show on a larger scale a plan and side view of the counter-
slide x, with the burner y and the igniter z.
The counterslide x is kept in place by means of a cross piece g, and fixed to the
middle of this by two rods and nuts is a screw e, which presses on a small steel bar
T placed longitudinally and forming a spring. The air and gas forming the
explosive compound enters by orifices 1 and 2 (Figure 7) in the counter slide .
In the large slide valve v is a chamber 3 with an opening or orifice above it, and
under it are two apertures 4 (Figures 4, 5, and 6) for the admission of the air
Decessary for the combustion of the igniting jet 5 in the chamber.
The gas communicates with this jet through a longitudinal groove 6 in the counter
slide x.
In this same slide valve v is a second orifice w which opens into the hori-
zontal aperture communicating with the valve S (Figure 2) serving for the discharge
of the burnt or spent gases. The small slide valve t is enclosed in the larger slide
valve v in a reserved space, and in which it works backwards and forwards. This
valve is a solid piece into which a rod h is screwed, the other end of the rod being
jointed to the hinge by a bolt; this rod h passes through the igniting chamber. The
small slide valve t is also supported underneath by the counter slide .
The cock R (Figure 2) gives passage to the gas forming part of the explosive
compound, and it communicates with the slide valves by the passage or conduit 6.
The cock R' gives passage to the gas which feeds the igniting jet. On the counter

page_text: .
slide x is placed vertically a burner y serving as a permanent jet, this burner being
pierced at the side and directing the flame above the igniter when it presents
itself. The gas comes to it through an india rubber tube from any gas cock and
which serves to regulate the flame. If the permanent jet and the igniting jet are
both lighted and the By wheel is turned in the direction of the arrow, there is
immediately produced a movement of the slide valve rod o and of the slide valves
actuated by the cam, at the same time the piston rises, and they take the position
indicated by Figure 9; the gas and air are then introduced under the piston H by
the passages c, c, and when the piston has ascended a certain height another move-
ment of the rod o is produced, the two slide valves move under the cylinder as
shown in Figure 10, the orifice or entry d is closed, whilst the entry or orifice c is
placed in communication with the flame and the explosion follows.
Directly after the explosion a further movement of the rod o replaces the slide
valves in the first position in Figure 1 where the igniter is relighted.
At the same time a vacuum is formed beneath the piston H, and the atmospheric
pressure acting on its upper side forces it to redescend, and on arriving near the
bottom of its stroke the piston drives out the spent gases by the orifice or port d
which communicates by the conduit W of the slide valve with the exit or
expulsion valve S.
It is to be observed that the cam G is so arranged that the movements of the
slide valves are exact and rapid, this being of great value in a gas exploding
motor.
Figure 11 is a diagram of the relative movements of the crank and the piston H
arising from the obliquity of the connecting rod N connected to the piston rod L.
It should be remarked that by the arrangement of the mechanism the stroke of
the piston is 336, whilst that of the crank is only 260; the motion of the crank is
regular whilst that of the piston is irregular.
1 and 5 represent the two extremes of the pistons stroke; if the piston rises
from 1 to 2 it has traversed 60 millimetres whilst the crank has traversed 100
millimetres, there has therefore been a stopping or retardation in the stroke of the
. piston; this retardation is useful, inasmuch as it allows more time for the entrance
of the air and gas forming the explosive compound. If the piston rises from 2 to 3
at which moment the explosion occurs it has traversed 60 millimetres and the crank
only 44. If the piston rises from 3 to 4 it traverses 164 millimetres and the crank
only 104, and if the line travelled by the piston from 2 to 4 is taken it will be
found that the distance traversed is 224, whilst that of the crank is only 148.
The piston has therefore made a longer line of stroke at the moment of the
explosion, and has consequently acted with a greater speed and a greater force on
the crank.
Whilst the piston rises from 4 to 5 the stroke changes, that is to say, the piston
traverses 44 millimetres and the crank traverses 76. This retardation of the pistou's
stroke at the end of its course is again necessary, because it is at this moment that
the vacuum is effected, and thus more time is allowed for the vacuum to be formed
for the descent of the piston.
Finally the crank continues its revolution from A to C passing by B, and con-
sequently traverses /ths of the circumference whilst the piston descends from top to
bottom, during which time the pressure of the atmosphere has acted on it.
Having now set forth the object of this Invention and described, as an example,
one arrangement of a motor by which it may be practically effected or realized, I
declare that I claim on behalf of my foreign correspondent,―
First. The arrangement in a gas engine of an inclined connecting rod in com-
bination with the piston rod and the crank in such conditions as to permit the
piston of the engine to travel a longer distance in the cylinder than that of the
diameter of the circumference described by the crank, in such manner that
the rising or outward stroke of the piston is effected during two fifths approxi-
mately of the revolution, whereas the descending or in-stroke takes place during

page_text: the three remaining fifths approximately, as hereinbefore described and shown in
Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. The special and novel arrangement in a gas engine of two slide valves
placed one in the other, the interior slide valve receiving from a cam or other
inechanical means the movements which effect either its independent action or its
action in conjunction with that of the larger slide valve, which it can draw along
with it, as hereinbefore described and shown in Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of the igniting jet placed vertically, as herein before
described and shown in Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination of the whole of the arrangements constituting the
new or improved gas engine, herein before described and shown in the annexed
Drawings, with the option of modifying the shapes, sizes, proportions, and materials
employed, as also the accessory arrangements.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edgar Edmonds, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty.
EDGAR EDMONDS. (L.s.)