IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Watson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th December 1882.
WILLIAM WATSON of Leeds in the County of York
ENGINES
"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
In my Improvements I employ a trunk or plunger which may be of the material
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, dated the 15th December
1881 N° 5487 or other suitable material instead of the ordinary piston used in gas
engines, and also dispensing with the ordinary piston rings and stuffing box.
In order to preserve the plunger piston tight, at the outer end of cylinder I
apply a split ring which may be of metal or other suitable material, this ring is
made to fit close to the plunger piston by external pressure either from an elastic
ring or other means applied round its circumference, the pressure of such springs
being regulated by set screws and in order to make the joint perfect at the opening
in the split ring I fit an adjustable piece in contact therewith but between it and
end of cylinder, this also is in close contact with the plunger piston and retained in
such position by springs and set screws.
Instead of the split metallic or other ring when preferred I apply metallic
segments, these are retained in contact with the plunger piston in the same manner
as the split ring, I also employ an adjustable piece at each opening between the
segments, these being applied and adjusted in similar manner to that for the
split ring.
By the above arrangement no gas can escape between the plunger piston and the
ring or segments the parts are also more readily got at, for adjustment or repairs
lubrication is also more readily effected.
Further in the construction of my improved gas engine I provide a reservoir
into which atmospheric air is compressed before it has passed to the cylinder
I also may provide a reservoir in which I compress the combustible gas.

page_text: The mode of admitting the air and the gas into the cylinder may be as follows:
I provide a tube connecting the air reservoir with the cylinder and within it I
also provide a smaller tube for the supply of gas. The current of air passing
through the outer or larger tube into the cylinder under pressure carries forward
with it the required amount of gas from the inner tube. Suitable mechanical
means are employed for regulating or controlling the supply of air and combustible
gas respectively. In order to prevent a back current of air or gas a valve is
placed between the reservoir and the cylinder which closes automatically should
any reverse of current take place.
The reservoir is supplied and the required pressure obtained by means of a force
pump of ordinary construction and the degree of compression may be varied so as
to increase or reduce the power of the engine as may be required. In the working
of the engine I cause the flow of air and gas into the cylinder to be shut off when
the piston has moved about one third of its outward stroke from the inner end of
the cylinder at which point the mixture of air and gas is exploded by one or other
of the means described in the Specifications of Letters Patents granted to me dated
20th April 1881 No 1723 and 4th July 1881 N° 2910. Also I allow the products of
combustion to escape after the explosion through an outlet valve when the piston
has arrived at or nearly at the outward end of the stroke in a similar manner to
that described in the Provisional Specification of my Invention for which
Provisional Protection has been granted dated 5 December 1882 N° 5782.
By the liberation of the products of combustion a partial vacuum follows:
which together with the momentum of the engine and after it has completed its
outward stroke causes the piston to return on the inward stroke whereby the
remaining products of combustion are expelled through a second valve in the
manner described in the herein before mentioned Provisional Specification.
The piston having in the above manner made an outward stroke and returned
to the end of its inward stroke moves outwards again by the momentum of the
engine another explosion taking place at the moment when the piston has arrived
at the first mentioned position (that is to say about one third of its outward stroke
from the inner end of the cylinder) the engine continues to work as above
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Watson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th June 1883.
WILLIAM WATSON of Leeds in the County of York,
ENGINES"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
In my improvements I employ a trunk or plunger which may be of the material
described in the Specification of Letters patent granted to me, dated 15th December
1881, No 5487, or other suitable material, instead of the ordinary piston used in
gas engines, and also dispensing with the ordinary piston rings and stuffing box.
In order to preserve the plunger piston tight, at the outer end of cylinder,
I apply a split ring which may be of metal or other suitable material, this ring is
made to fit close to the plunger piston by external pressure, either from an clastic
ring or other means applied round its circumference, the pressure of such springs
being regulated by set screws, and in order to make the joint perfect at the opening
in the split ring, I fit an adjustable piece in contact therewith but between it and
end of cylinder, this also is in close contact with the plunger piston, and retained
in such position by springs and set screws.
By the above arrangement no gas can escape between the plunger piston and the
ring or segments, the parts are also more readily got at for adjustment or repairs,
lubrication is also more readily effected.
Further in the construction of my improved gas engine I provide a reservoir
into which atmospheric air is compressed before it has passed to the cylinder.
I also may provide a reservoir in which I compress the combustible gas.
The mode of admitting the air and the gas into the cylinder may be as
follows: I provide a tube connecting the air reservoir with the cylinder and
within it I also provide a smaller tube for the supply of gas. The current of air
passing through the outer or larger tube into the cylinder under pressure carries
forward with it the required amount of gas from the inner tubes. Suitable
mechanical means are employed for regulating or controlling the supply of air
and combustible gas respectively. In order to prevent a back current of air or
gas a valve is placed between the reservoir and the cylinder which closes
automatically, should any reverse of current take place.
The reservoir is supplied and the required pressure obtained by means of a force
pump of ordinary construction and the degree of compression may be varied so as
to increase or reduce the power of the engine as may be required.
In the working of the engine I cause the flow of air and gas into the cylinder to
be shut off when the piston has moved about one third of its outward stroke from
the inner end of the cylinder at which point the mixture of air and gas is exploded
by one or other of the means described in the Specification of Letters patent
granted to me dated 20th April 1881 No 1723 and 4th July 18S1 No 2919. Also I
allow the products of combustion to escape after the explosion through an outlet
valve when the piston has arrived at or nearly at the outward end of the stroke in
a similar manner to that described in the provisional Specification of my Invention
for which provisional protection has been granted, dated 5th December 1882
No 5782.
By the liberation of the products of combustion a partial vacuum follows which
together with the momentum of the engine, and after it has completed its outward
stroke causes the piston to return on the inward stroke whereby the remaining
products of combustion are expelled through a second valve in the manner
described in the herein before mentioned provisional Specification.

page_text: another explosion taking place at the moment when the piston has arrived at the
first mentioned position, (that is to say, about one third of its outward stroke from
the inner end of the cylinder) the engine continues to work as above described.
And in order that my invention may be more completely understood reference is
given to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig 1 is a front elevation and part section. Fig 2 is a side elevation and part
section through A B Fig 1. Fig 3 is a plan of the cylinder and valve box.
Figs 4. 5 and 6 shew various modifications to be hereafter described. Fig 7 is a
transverse section of air and gas compression pumps. Fig 8 is a plan of gas and
air admission valve. Fig 9 is a plan of elliptical springs.
In my Improvements I employ a trunk or plunger piston a which may be of
the material described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me
15th December 1881 and Numbered 5487; that is to say, in the construction of the
plunger piston I may employ earthenware of a hard and durable nature, and of
such solidity and compactness, that a fine, even, and smooth surface may be made
on the periphery thereof, and possesing also the property of withstanding heat
without cracking or fracture.
But when preferred the piston may be constructed of metal.
In order to preserve the plunger piston a tight at the outer end of the cylinder b,
I apply a split ring or rings c which may be of metal or other suitable material.
Each ring is made to fit close to the plunger piston a by external pressure from
an elastic ring d, or other means applied round the circumference as shewn at
Fig 2. In Fig 6 the periphery of the ring d is made slightly tapered or conical
and over it is fitted the cap f which on being tightened down by bolts or screws g
and intervening springs g', the rings c are pressed against the plunger piston b to
any desired extent. At Figs 4 and 5 the rings are pressed up to the piston by
means of the set screws h acting against short compensating spiral springs i which
press directly on the ring c.
When preferred other convenient arrangements may be employed for pressing
the rings c against the piston b. By the above arrangements no gas can escape
between the plunger piston b and ring or rings c. The parts are also more readily
got at for lubrication, adjustment, or repairs.
Further in my Improvements in gas engines I provide a reservoir in which
atmospheric air is compressed before it is passed to the cylinder.
I also may
provide a reservoir in which I compress the gas before passing it into the
cylinder.
The mode of admitting the air and gas into the cylinder may be as follows:-
I provide a tube / connected to the air reservoir by the pipe l, and within it a
smaller tube m for the supply of gas. The current of air passing through the
outer or larger tube k carries forward with it the required amount of gas from the
inner tube m. Suitable mechanical means are employed for regulating the supply
of air and gas respectively.
In order to prevent a back current of air or gas a valve n is employed which
closes automatically should any reverse of current take place.
Fig 7 shews a transverse section of the air and gas compression pumps.
o is the
air compression cylinder, p the inlet valves, q the delivery valves to the air reservoir.
The lower cylinder r is for the compression of gas, s is the inlet valve and t is the
delivery valve to the gas reservoir. The air compression pump is double acting,
the gas compression pump single acting.
The degree of compression may be varied so as to increase or reduce the power
of the engine, by regulator or stop valves, or by the set screws over the inlet
valves.

page_text: In the working of the engine I cause the flow of air and gas into the cylinder to
be shut off when the piston has moved about one third of its upward or outward
stroke, from the inner or lower end of the cylinder, at which point the mixture is
exploded by one or other of the means described in Letters Patent granted to me
dated 20th April 1881 and numbered 1723 and 4th July 1881 No 2919.
In order to regulate the time for admitting the explosive mixture, also for
regulating or timing the explosion and that of the exhaust I employ a rotary disc
valve u as shewn at Figs 1, 3, and 8.
This valve u is fitted so as to work freely within the valve box or explosion
chamber attached to the cylinder, and against the under side of the cover w. The
disc valve u is retained in close contact with the under side of the cover w by
means of the elliptical springs shewn at Figs 1 and 9. These springs are
attached to bosses y and z fixed on the vertical shafts a' and b¹ respectively and
are hinged together at their extremities c¹ and d'; the whole being suspended on
the bracket cr stretcher e' which also serves as the bearing for the upper shaft bt.
The required rotary motion is imparted to the shaft a¹ and thence to the disc
valve u from the fly wheel shaft f¹ by means of the bevil gearing h¹ vertical
shaft and spur gearing k¹.. Other convenient arrangements may be employed for
imparting the required rotary motion to the disc valve u.
Z¹
The disc valve u is provided with a single port or slot which as the valve
revolves passes under successively the opening m¹ for admitting the explosive
mixture, and immediately after under the opening n' communicating with the
igniter; the compressed mixture is there exploded, the disc continuing to rotate
the port passes under the first exhaust o' at the time when the piston is at or
about the outer end of its stroke, through which the greater portion of the products
of combustion pass off from the cylinder. The port in the disc valve is then
carried round to a second exhaust p¹ at or near the time when the piston a has
completed the inward stroke thereby freeing the cylinder from the remaining
products of combustion. After this the port passes again under the opening m
for admitting a fresh supply of the explosive mixture to the cylinder..
Although I have shewn and described my Improvements as applied to vertical
engines I would have it understood that with slight modifications these may be
applied to horizontal or other types of gas engines.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and shewn by drawings
how the same may be carried into practice I would have it understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of the parts I have described
and shewn as the same may be varied or modified without departing from the
nature or principle of my invention; but what I do claim and desire to be secured
to me by Letters patent is :-
The arrangement and application of the ring or rings c at the outer end of the
cylinder and means employed for imparting the required pressure to the same in
combinations with plunger pistons of gas engines substantially as and for purposes
herein set forth.
In Witness whereof, I, the said William Watson have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fourth day of June in the year of Our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
WM WATSON (L.S.)