IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS-ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Thomas Wordsworth of Leeds in the
County of York and Herbert Lindley of the Firm of Messrs. Deakin
Parker & Co. Engineers of Salford in the County of Lancaster, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS-ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christophor Thomas
Wordsworth and Herbert Lindley at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 14th February 1882.
CHRISTOPHER THOMAS WORDSWORTH of Leeds in the County of York and
HERBERT LINDLEY of the Firm of Messrs. Deakin Parker & Co. Engineers
of Salford in the County of Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES."
"
Our Invention relates to that class of engines in which a combustible charge is
compressed in a compression cylinder to be afterwards ignited and used for the
production of power in another or working cylinder Our improvements relate in the
first place to the methods of transferring the compressed charge from the compression
cylinder to the working cylinder. In one form of our improved motor the gaseous
charge is received from the compression pump into a close space or combustion
chamber. separated by a valve from the working cylinder as set forth in Patent
No. 2181. A.D. 1880 granted to Christopher Thomas Wordsworth and our
improvements consist firstly in the method of actuating the valve that separates
the explosion chamber from the working cylinder. This valvo which may be of
the conical or flat form has preferably two seats, one to close the aperture leading
to the working cylinder during compression of the charge, and the other on the
opposite side of the valve to prevent the ignited gases from passing by the spindle
or other support. Means are also provided for withdrawing the valve into a
recess out of the way of the rush of the ignited gases into the working cylinder
and also for lifting the valve gently on its sent. The valve may be actuated by
gaseous pressure only or by levers or links working in or partly in a closed
receptacle. The valve may be operated partly by mechanical means and partly
by the gaseous pressure so that in the event of a premature explosion the valve

page_text: will be automatically raised from its seat and the ignited charge will press into the
cylinder notion being transmitted to the valve through a metallic gland of the
conical or cylindrical type. Our improvements relate in the second place to the
valves that govern the admittance of the compressed gases into the combustion
chamber and to methods of working same, a slide being preferably employed in
conjunction with a back pressure valve so as to minimise the chances of a back
explosion and also in the event of an explosion to the combustion chamber. The
slide may also be used for lighting the compressed gases. In another form of our
improved motor our improvements consist in methods whereby the gaseous charge
after being partially compressed in the compressing cylinder is transfered directly
to the working cylinder the piston of such cylinder having already completed a
portion of its return stroke and expelled a portion of its incombustible contents in
this case we fit an extension to the working piston so that whilst the fresh charge
is entering the cylinder the end of this extension may be near the exhaust valve
and the remainder of the contents are thus completely expelled by the entering
charge and yet the exhaust valve is kept out of the working range of the piston
rings which we consider an important point. After the charge is thus transferred
into the working cylinders the two pistons both working the compression, complete
their instrokes and further compress the charge, the compressing piston being in
advance completes its instroke first and is drawing in a fresh charge before ignition
finally takes place in the working cylinder In both the above described forms of
our improved motor the incombustible contents of the working cylinder are expelled
partly by the next instroke of the working piston and partly by the entrance of
the fresh compressed charge from the compression cylinder. In the arrangement
first described the entrance of the new charge is delayed by reason of being stored
up in the explosion chamber until the working piston has very nearly completed
its instroke, the incombustible contents in the cylinder are therefore almost
entirely expelled by the working piston. In the latter described arrangement the
fresh charge is admitted earlier and a less proportion of the cylinder contents are
expelled by the working piston to a greater portion are expelled by the fresh entry
charge In this arrangement however the entrance of the fresh charge may be
delayed by the interposition between the compression and working cylinder
of a reservoir fitted with a spring piston or other similar device whereby a
space is provided for storing the compressed charge until near the instroke
of the working piston. The object of delaying the entrance of the fresh
charge into the working cylinder is in order partly that the exhaust valve
may be kept out of the working range of the piston rings or other packing
without an undue extension of the end of the piston, and partly to allow
time for the entrance and exit of a body of air which acts as a flusher and cooler
and which forms the second part of our improvements described below.-Our
Invention relates in the second place to means whereby the working cylinder and
the combustion chamber in the case where we use such a chamber, are flushed and
cooled by the injection of a body of pure air and consist in the utilising the
compression cylinder for the double purpose of such flushing and compression of
the gaseous charge and in the valves and mechanism connected therewith. In the
ordinary case therefore when we use the back end of the compression cylinder for
the compression of the combustible charge we use the front end (which is closed
for the purpose) for the compression of the flushing charge of air, the piston being
worked by a rod passing through a gland or the gland may be omitted and a plain
parallel bush used instead the bush being of considerable length and provided
preferably with internal grooves to contain oil and to arrest leakage. The air
charge being thus slightly compressed during the stroke of the working piston is
confined in a chamber by a retaining valve which is exposed to the pressure of the
gases in the working cylinder and as soon therefore as the main exhaust valve is
opened and the pressure is releived in the working cylinder this pent up air
pressure opens the retaining valve and expands throughout the whole of the
internal parts exposed to the action of the heated gases and thus considerably

page_text: cools them. Our improvements relate in the third place to the methods of
igniting the combustible charge as described in the Patent No. 4340 in the year
last ended of Christopher Thomas Wordsworth, Thomas Browitt, and Herbert
Lindley and consists in forming a cavity for the reception of a portion of the
compressed combustible charge in the cylinder face or loose face attached to the
cylinder or in the cover which keeps the slide the cylinder face, such cavity
being put in communication with the firing cavity in the slide so as to invigorate
the flame contained therein as described and set forth in the aforesaid Patent
Our improvements relate in the fourth place to improved methods of lubricating
by mechanical means, a drop of oil being raised from the oil reservoir at fixed
intervals by means of bent wire or other suitable device being actuated by a
rack and pinion or ratchet wheel driven from some moving part of the engine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Christopher Thomas Wordsworth and Herbert Lindley in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th August 1882.
CHRISTOPHER THOMAS WORDSWORTH of Leeds in the County of York and
HERBERT LINDLEY of the Firm of Messrs Deakin Parker and Co Engineers of
Salford in the County of Lanacster IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS-ENGINES.
Our Invention relates to that class of ongines in which a combustible charge is
compressed in a compression cylinder to be afterwards ignited and used for the
production of power in another or working cylinder. Our improvements relate in
the first place to the methods of transferring the compressed charge from the
compression cylinder to the working cylinder. In one form of improved motor the
gaseous charge is received from the compression pump into a closed space or
combustion chainber separated from the working cylinder by means of a valve as
described in Letters Patent No. 2181 A.D. 1880. granted to Christopher Thomas
Wordsworth and our improvements consist, in the first place, in the method of
actuating the valve that separates the explosion chambers from the working
cylinder. This valve which may be of a conical or flat form has preferably two
seats, one to close the aperture leading to the working cylinder during compression
of the charge and the other on the opposite side of the valve to prevent the
ignited gases from passing by the spindle or other support. Means are always
provided for withdrawing the valve within a recess out of the rush of the
ignited gases into the working cylinder and also for letting the valve gently
onto its seat. The valve may be actuated by gaseous pressure only, or may be
actuated by means of levers or links working in, or partly in a closed receptacle or
may be actunted partly by mechanical means and partly by the gaseous pressure
•

page_text: so that in the event of a premature explosion the valve will be automatically
raised from its seat, and the ignited charge will pass into the cylinder motion
being transmitted to the valve through a metallic gland of a conical or cylindrical
type.
Our improvements relate in the second place to the valves that govern the
admittance of the compressed gases into the combustion chamber and in means for
actuating the said valve, a slide being preferably employed in conjunction with a
back pressure-valve so as to minimise the chances of a back explosion and also in
the event of an explosion taking place, in the conducting pipe, to confine such
explosion to the combustion chamber. The slide may also be used for lighting the
compressed gases.
In another form of our improved motor the gaseous charge after being partially
compressed in the compressing cylinder is partially transferred directly to the
working cylinder. the piston of such cylinder having already completed a portion
of its return stroke and expelled a portion of its incombustible contents. In this
case we fit a plunger to the working piston so that whilst the fresh charge is
entering the cylinder the end of this plunger may be near the exhaust valve and
the remainder of the contents are thus completely expelled by the entering charge
and yet the exhaust valve is kept out of the working range of the piston rings
which we consider an important point. After the charge is thus partially
transferred into the working cylinder the two pistons complete their instrokes and
further compress the charge, the compressing piston being in advance completes its
instroke first and is drawing in a fresh charge before ignition finally takes place in
the working cylinder. In both the above described forms of our improved motor
the incombustible contents of the working cylinder are expelled partly by the next
instroke of the working piston and partly by the entrance of the fresh compressed
charge from the compression cylinder.
In the arrangement first described the entrance of the new charge is delayed by
reason of being stored up in the explosion chambor until the working piston has
very nearly completed its instroke the incombustible contents in the cylinder are
therefore almost entirely expelled by the working piston.
In the latter described arrangement the fresh charge is admitted earlier and a
less proportion of the cylinder contents is expelled by the working piston and a
greater proportion is expelled by the fresh-entering charge. The object of delaying
the entrance of the fresh charge into the working cylinder is in order partly that
the exhaust valve may be kept out of the working range of the piston rings or
other packing without an undue extension of the end of the piston, and partly to
allow time for the entrance and exit of a body of air which acts as a flusher and
cooler and which forms the second part of our improvements described below;--Our
Invention relates in the third place to means whereby the working cylinder and
also the combustion chamber (in the case where we use such a chamber) are flushed
and cooled by the injection of a body of pure air and consists in utilising the
compression cylinder for the double purpose of such flushing and compression
of the gaseous charge, and in the valves and mechanism connected therewith.
In the ordinary case therefore when we us the back end of the compressing
cylinder for the compression of the combustible charge we use the front; end which
is closed for the purpose for the compression of the flushing charge of air, the
piston being worked by a rod passing through a gland, or the gland may be omitted
and a plain parallel bush used instead, the bush being of considerable length and
provided preferably with internal grooves to contain oil and arrest leakage, The
air charge being thus slightly compressed during the stroke of the working piston
is confined in a chamber (which may be a tube) by a retaining valve which is
exposed to the pressure of the gases in the working cylinder and as soon therefore
as the main exhaust valve is opened and the pressure is relieved in the working
cylinder this pent up air pressure opens the retaining valve and expands throughout
the whole of the internal parts exposed to the action of the heated gases and thus
considerably cools them.

page_text: Our improvements relate in the third place to improved methods of lubricating
by mechanical means. A drop of oil being raised from the oil reservoir at fixed
intervals by means of a bent wire or other suitable device, such wire or device
being actuated by a rack and pinion or ratchet wheel driven from some moving
part of the engine.
And in order that the Invention may be fully understood we have caused to be
appended hereunto three Sheets of Drawings marked with letters of reference to
which we will now refer and indicate the manner in which our Invention may be
carried into effect, though we wish it to be understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the exact arrangements of detail shown as the same may be modified
without departing from the principle of our Invention.
Figs. 1 to 9 represent the first form of our improved motor in which a represents
the working or power cylinder and a¹ its piston. b, 6¹ being respectively the com-
pressing cylinder and its piston. These are connected by connecting rods 11 to
cranks 13 set as shewn in the Figures and in the accompanying diagram Fig. 9
On the compressing piston 6' making an outward stroke, gas and air are drawn
in through a mixing valve of any ordinary construction such as is represented in
Figs. 6. 7 and 8 and the cylinder thus becomes filled with a combustible charge.
On the return of the piston b¹ the back pressure valve 1 closes and the charge is
compressed. The end of the compression cylinder b is placed into communication
with the explosion chamber c by means of the passage 2 and back pressure valve 3.
In addition to the valve 3 the charge entering the explosion chamber c is admitted
and cut off by the edge 4 of the cavity 5 shown in the slide e. The motion of the
said slide e is such that when the compressing piston a¹ has just completed its
instroke, the edge 4 of the cavity 5 is just on the point of closing communication
by the down stroke of the slide e with the chamber c The valve d is used in lieu
of the double beat valve referred to in the Specification of C. T. Wordsworth
No. 2181 A.D. 1880 and is closed slightly after the admission of the charge from
the compressing cylinder a to the explosion chamber c so as to allow the products
of combustion to be expelled by the entering charge and the form given to
chamber c is such as to prevent any serious intermingling of the fresh charge with
the residual gases contained therein. The action of the slide e is such that the
edge 4 admits the charge to the explosion chamber c after the opening of the main
exhaust valve as shewn in the diagram Fig. 9 and at a point slightly on the
instroke of the compressing piston b-During the period above referred to, in
which the charge is being compressed by the compressing piston in the chamber c
the piston a¹ has been also making its instroke (though slightly in arrear of the
compressing piston) and has been expelling the products of combustion from the
previous charge through the valve f which valve is operated by means of the
eccentric 6 on the shaft 7 this shaft being caused to rotate at the same speed as
the engine shaft by gearing as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When the working
piston d' arrives very near the end of its instroke tho valve d is opened and almost
at the same instant of time the exhaust valve f is closed-The closing of this
valve may be slightly after the opening of the valve d so as to enable any
products of combustion to be expelled and leave nothing but a homogeneous com-
bustible charge behind. The compressed gases at this stage, that is to say, (just
before the working crank bas arrived at its dead centre and after the compressing
crank has passed its dead centre) are contained in the combustion chamber c which
is already in communication with the working cylinder a. It only remains now
for the charge to be fired and this is done by means of the slide e which slide has
formed within it a cavity 8 which contains a small internal flame and the motion
of the slide is such as to bring this cavity 8 containing the said flame into commnu-
nication with the port 9 leading to the explosion chamber c just before the
working crank arrives at its dead centre. The small internal flame carried by the
slide e is extinguished at each explosion and is afterwards re-lit by the outside
light 10 which is constantly burning-The special provisions which we adopt to
ensure the firing of the charge by means of the flame in the slide e are set forth

page_text: in the Specification of Patent No. 4340 A.D. 1881 granted to C. T. Wordsworth
T. Browett and H. Lindley-The compressed charge being thus lit the piston is
propelled forwards and a working stroke made during which stroke the piston b¹
in the compressing cylinder b is drawing in a charge of gas and air ready for the
next stroke-We thus get an explosion at each revolution of the engine―The
slide e is operated by the connecting rod 11 and slide levers 12 motion being
obtained from the shaft 7 by means of a crank 13.
The operation of the valve d is as follows:-Attached to the valve by means of
webs or wings is a small piston which works in the cylinder 15 this cylinder
being provided at its upper end with a flange for the purpose of attaching to the
face of the water chamber 16. The seat for the valve is formed on a tube leading
to the working cylinder a the upper side of the valve being in communication with
the explosion chamber c which together with the tube or seat for the valve d are
surrounded with water and enclosed in the box 16. The small piston 14 has a
rod 17 passing through a long bearing (in place of a gland) in the flange of the
cylinder 15 and on this rod is a collar 18 by means of which and the levers 19 and
cam 20 on the shaft 7 the valve may be raised from its seat. It will be noticed
that while the valve d is on its seat the gaseous pressure acts both on the underside
of piston 14, and on the upper side of valve 15 and if these are of the same area
ono pressure balances the other, the upper side of the piston 14 having only
atmospheric pressure on it or even less. A spring 21 above the collar 18 acts to
keep the valve on its seat until lifted mechanically by the levers 19 and cam 20.
As soon however as the valve is raised from its seat pressure being admitted on
the underside of valve d the balance of pressure is destroyed and the valve lifts
automatically in obedience to the pressure on the piston 14. On the ignition of
the charge in the chamber c the valve d is still further forced up clear of the lifting
levers by reason of the sudden increase of pressure and is thus taken clear away
from the inrush of gases into the cylinder a. The air contained in the cylinder 15
above piston 14 acts as an elastic cushion and whilst preventing shock or metallic
impact serves to bring the piston down again into the lifting levers 19.
In another form of our improved motor we dispense with the valve d and form
the explosion chamber as an extension of the working cylinder. In this type of
engine therefore the entrance of the charge from the compression cylinder b into
the working cylinder a cannot be delayed until the working piston al has
completed or very nearly so its instroke, but has to be admitted earlier in order to
obviate useless compression in the compression cylinder itself and consequent loss
of power.
We therefore make the working piston a' expel by its instroke about
half of the contents of its cylinder during which time the fresh charge is also
entering and expelling the other half from the compression cylinder b. When the
whole of the products are thus expelled, that is when the remaining volumes of
the compression and working cylinders have become reduced to an amount about
equal to, or even less than that of the compression cylinder when wholly full of
gas and air in the uncompressed state, the exhaust valve f is closed and both
pistons complete their instrokes and further compress the charge. The compressing
piston being then in advance of the working piston completes its instroke first and
is on another outward stroke and drawing in a fresh charge before the working
piston arrives at the end of its instroke at which time or slightly before the charge
is ignited and the working piston makes its outstroke performing work. A feature
in this engine is that we fit a plunger 1 on the working piston a¹ made slightly
smaller say one thirty second of an inch, and of such a length that when the time
comes for closing the exhaust valve f the end of this plunger has arrived at the
opening leading to the said exhaust valve and thus the fresh entering charge is
enabled to completely expel the whole of the products remaining in the cylinder at
the same time that part of the piston which contains the rings or packing and
which requires to be kept lubricated and gas tight does not ride over the exhaust
opening and thus it is in a better position to withstand the constant wear that it is
subject to.

page_text: Figs. 10 to 13 refer to an engine constructed on these principles a and a¹ are
respectively the working cylinder and its piston; b and the compression
cylinder and its piston; c the explosion chamber; e the lighting slide and ƒ the
exhaust valve; 1 is the plunger attached to the working piston and which is made
so as to just clear the cylinder walls. Motion is imparted to the slide e by means
of the levers 2. 2' keyed on the rocking shaft 3. The lever 2 has a pin at its
outward end on which is a slide block 4 which works in a groove at the lower
end of the slide. The lever 2' is actuated by means of an eccentric and rod 5
from the crank shaft of the engine. The levers 2 and 2' are so set that the
motion of the slide e is much more rapid when nearing its lowest position that
when at its highest point, the object of this being to secure a considerable move-
ment of the slide between the time when the edge of the cavity in the slide e
through which the charge passes on its way to the port in the explosion chamber
has cut-off connection with the said port 16 and the arrival of the firing chamber
of the slide at the said port 10 in the explosion chamber which occurs just before
the working crank arrives on its dead centre. The time between these two points
being equal to the lead of the compressing crank over the working crank less the
amount by which the slide has opened at the dead centre of the working crank.
The working cycle of the engine is as follows and as shown by the diagram
Fig. 13. On the compression piston b' making an outward stroke gas and air are
drawn in through a valve shown on a larger scale in Figs. 18. 19 and 20 the
cylinder b then becomes filled with a homogeneous mixture of gas and air, the
return or instroke of the piston then cominences and the charge is slightly
compressed into the pipe 7 which is provided with a back pressure valve 8 close
up to the cylinder band which also has another valve 9 close to the explosion
chamber and placed within the cover of the slide e and shewn on a larger scale in
Figs. 14. 15. 16 and 17. The pressure of the gases in the working cylinder a and
explosion chamber c are by this time acting on the upper surface of the valve 9
and thus provent the fresh charge from entering the explosion chamber until by
the opening of the exhaust valve this pressure is reduced to an amount less than
that of the charge in the compression cylinder b When this occurs the fresh
charge enters the explosion chamber c from the compression cylinder 6 and
commences to push before it the products of combustion resulting from the
previous explosion at the same time the working piston a¹ is also returning and
helping to expel these products. When wholly expelled the exhaust valve closes
and both pistons return and compress the charge which is fired as before described
and the working piston a¹ makes an outward stroke. The exhaust valve fis
operated by means of a lever 10 which engages with a pin on the lever 11 which
is connected to the spindle of the valve and is clearly shewn in the Drawings.
The explosion chamber and working cylinder are surrounded with water contained
in a space 12. In Figs. 14. 15 and 17 is shewn the firing slide drawn to
an enlarged scale e is the slide which works between the face 13 and cover 14
the cover being held against the slide by a plate with screws as shewn and
as described in Specification of Patent No. 4340 A.D. 1881 granted to
C. T. Wordsworth. T. Browett and Herbert Lindley The cover 14 has forined
therein and at its lower extremity a chamber 39 in which is inserted a conical
valve 9 with its seat; 7 is the pipe which conveys the compressed mixture of
gas and air from the compressing cylinder and which has therefore to pass
the valve 9 and then through the slide e by means of the port or passage 15
on its way to the port 16 leading into the explosion chamber c; 2 is the lever on
the rocking shaft 3 by means of which and the block 4 the slide is moved up and
down. In the Drawing the slide e is shewn with the firing cavity 17 in the slide
just open to the port 16, which is its position or nearly so by the time the working
crank has arrived at its dead centre inwards. The cavity 17 contains a small
flame fed by a special supply of pure gas by means of which flame the gases in
explosion chamber c are fired or exploded as described in Letters Patent No. 4340
A.D. 1881 granted to C. T. Wordsworth T. Browett and H. Lindley; 18 is the

page_text: master or outside light which serves to relight the flame in the cavity 17 after
each explosion; 19 is the chimney to carry away the heated gases arising from
the flame 18 and to create a current of fresh air to re-oxyginate the cavity 17 and
render possible the relighting of the gas which forms the small flame therein. On
the suction valve 21 by means of which valve the compression cylinder is supplied
with its charge of mixed gas and air is shewn an arrangement by means of which the
engine may be governed.
•
Figs. 18. 19 and 20 show the same drawn to a larger scale. On the end of the
compressing cylinder b is attached the valve box 20 which contains the main
suction valve 21 resting on a sent 22. A groove 241 is turned in the metal of the
box 20 round the small bush 22 which forins the seat of valve 21 to which gas is
admitted by means of the ports 23 and 24, small holes 40 are drilled in an inclined
direction upwards in the bush 22 so that when the compressing piston b' performs
an outward stroke and draws in air raising the valve 21, gas is also drawn in there-
with, if present in groove 241 through the holes 40 and thus thoroughly mixed
with the entering air. Communication between the ports 23 and 24 is interrupted
by means of the small valve 26 if this valve is on its seat gas cannot pass to the
port 24 and the holes 40 and thus only air can be drawn into the compressing
cylinder, if this valve 26 is raised gas passes and the contents of the compressing
cylinder will be gas and air. One method by which the valve 26 may be operated
is as follows:-The valvo 21 has a spindle 29 provided at its lower end with a
small trunnion piece 28, against which also works a spring 41 to the valve 21 on
its seat. A pair of bell crank levers 29¹ pivotted at 30 engage at one end with
the small trunnions of 28 so that when the valve 21 raises, the upper end of the
levers 29 move outwards and away from the box 20. The upper end of the
levers 29 have attached thereto a piece of steel 31 in which is cut a vee shaped
horizontal groove. In the position shewn in the Drawing a piece of flat steel 32
is opposite to the vec groove in the piece 31 and is moved outwards thereby. The
piece of flat steel is attached to a dependent lever or levers 33 which rest against
a pin 34 fixed to the stem of the gas valve 20 so that when the levers 29 and
piece 31 move outwards the valve 26 is also moved and gas is admitted to the
port 24 and thence by means of the groove 24' to the cylinder b. Wo may
here remark that a regularly timed mechanical motion obtained from any moving
part of the engine may be substituted for the motion of the valve 21 to operate the
gas valve 26 or both these valves may be mechanically moved for instanco by
means of an eccentric and levers similar to those used horciu for opening the main
exhaust valve. In order to ensure the valve 26 being opened as soon as or even
sooner than the valve 21 we form a short parallel cylindrical portion immedintely
under the conical seat of the valve 21 drawn to a larger scale in Figs. 18 and 19.
The valve 21 has therefore to be lifted to an extent equal to the depth of this
cylindrical portion before air can be admitted through the air inlet and space 43
to the cylinder b and during the time thus occupied the gas valve 26 may have
been already raised from its seat and gas be already present in the groove 24¹ to
be drawn in and mixed with the entering air. The levers 33 are hung on a pin 35
attached to a small slide-block 36 which is raised or lowered by the governor 44.
When the engine races this block 36 and the lever 33 with its piece 32 are raised
out of the way of the piece 31 and thereby the gas valve is not opened and the
engine misses an explosion. The governor 44 is of a typo described in the before
mentioned Patent of C. T. Wordsworth T. Browett and H. Lindley and is such
that if from any cause such as breaking of the driving strap the governor is
brought to rest, or from the stoppage of the engine itself, the spindle 37 which
actuates the block 36 by means of a swivel-joint 39 is still further depressed and
moves the pieces 32 out of line with 31 but this time on the underside and so the
gas valve 26 remains shut and the gas is not able to leak or cause accidents. It
will be seen that when the governor disengages the gas supply valve, air only, as
before stated, is drawn into the compression cylinder b. On the return stroke of
the compressing piston this air would be compressed and work would be needlessly

page_text: wasted. To obviate this defect we may arrange a valve opening outwards to allow
the air to be expelled from the compression cylinder freely, and this valve will be
so connected to the governor as to be open to the atmosphere on every occasion
when the governor has caused the gas valve to remain closed. Instead of
providing a separate valve the air supply valve may be used for this purpose being
held off its seat by mechanisin interposed by the governor. For the same reason
it is desirable to have a free inlet and outlet to the working cylinder and this may
be conveniently done by the exhaust valve being held off its seat by means of
any suitable trip or wedge or similar device caused to become operative by the
action of the governor. The diagrams Fig 9. and Fig 13. refer respectively to the
two above described forms of motor, and show clearly when the various functions
take place. The lead given to the compressing crank over the working crank
may in each case be slightly varied without departing from the principle of action
of the engine.
The front end of the cylinder b in Figs 1 and 2 is shewn closed by a cover and
the piston b¹ is worked by a rod 45 passing through a gland or long bush in this
cover, the rod 45 being attached to a crosshead working in a slide on the bed as
shewn, by means of a connecting rod 11 from the compressing crank. The object
of this is to enable a body of air to be compressed into a pipe 22 which com-
municates by means of a retaining valve of the ordinary conical type with the
explosion chamber c. This valve is kept closed until the main exhaust valve opens
when the pent up air in the pipe opens the valve and the air expands throughout
the parts of this chamber and thus cools them, and also prevents the products of
combustion left from a previous charge from contaminating the next charge. The
engine however may be operated without this arrangement in which case the
piston b would be worked direct from its crank by means of a connecting rod
thus doing away with the piston rod crosshead and slide. In the second form of
engine shown in Figs 10 to 13 the piston rod and crosshead of the compressin
cylinder are dispensed with and a trunk is used on the piston which does away
with the necessity for a slide as the piston rod from the compressing crank can be
attached directly to a pin on this trunk. A simular arrangement for the supply
and delivery of the flushing air into the explosion chamber c by the inlet
valve 22 in Fig 2 and pipe 22 may be used in Fig 11. as the flushing is not
essential to the working of the engine but is however preferable especially in the
larger sizes.
In Figs 21 and 22 is shown an improved form of lubricator a rack 46 is fixed
in the oil chamber 47 and a pinion 48 gearing into the rack is moved up and
down by means of levers 49 worked from any moving part of the engine. A bent
piece of wire 50 fixed in the pinion 48 serves to pick up a certain quantity of oil
from the chamber 47 and deposit it in the tube 52 to be afterwards led away to
any part of the engine that may require lubricating.
Having now described and indicated the nature of our Invention and means for
carrying the same into practical effect we would have it to be understood that we
do not confine ourselves to the exact arrangement of parts as shown in the Drawings,
but what we claim is:-
First, the use of a valve having either a flat conical or spherical seat combined
with a balancing piston between the explosion chamber and working cylinder of a
gas engine substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and as
illustrated in the Drawings being referred to as the first part of our Invention.
Secondly, the use in the first described form of motor of a flushing charge of air
obtained by compressing air in the front end of the compression cylinder
Thirdly, the construction of a gas engine described and referred to as the second
form of motor wherein a piston preferably provided with a plunger of smaller
diameter than the cylinder is employed for the purpose described and shewn in
the Drawings is caused to expel a considerable portion of the exploded or burnt
contents of the working cylinder at the same time that the fresh entering charge
or flushing charge when used is expelling the remainder of such contents, such

page_text: charge when all the burnt contents have been expelled being afterwards compressed
by the joint action of both compressing and working pistons and subsequently
ignited to produce work; the operations taking place substantially as described and
as illustrated by the Drawings inore particularly by the diagram
Fourthly, the use in a gas motor engine of the type described and alluded to as
our second form of motor, of a flushing charge of air obtained from the front end of
the compressing cylinder, injected into the explosion chamber of the engine in
advance of each fresh charge of gas and air.
Fifthly, The utilisation in gas motor engines generally of the motion or lift of a
lifting valve to operate or not operate (through the medium of a trip or disengaging
gear under the control of the governor) the main gas supply valve substantially as
described and as illustrated in the Drawings.
Sixthly the construction of a suction valve with levers operating or not operating
(by means of a trip or disengaging gear under the control of the governor) on the
main gas supply valve for the purpose of governing a gas motor engine substantially
as and for the purpose described and shewn in the Drawings.
And lastly the use of the means described and illustrated for lubricating.
In witness whereof I the said Christopher Thomas Wordsworth for myself
and on behalf of the said Herbert Lindley have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twelfth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
CHRISTOPHER THOMAS WORDSWORTH. (L.S.)
Signed and sealed by the said
Christopher Thomas Wordsworth
in the presence of
HUGH GEARING GRANT
Of the firm of Messrs. Bosshardt & Grant
Patent Solicitors
Manchester.