IMPROVE- MENTS IN GAS-MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Eglinton Anderson Gwynne and William Irlam
Ellis, both of Essex Street Works, Strand, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GAS-MOTOR ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Eglinton Anderson
Gwynne and William Irlam Ellis at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 31st March 1881.
JAMES EGLINTON ANDERSON GWYNNE and WILLIAM IRLAM ELLIS, both of
Essex Street Works, Strand. " IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
This Invention consists in improvements in the mode of action of coal or other
gas-motor engines.
Each piston is constructed with trunk on one side of it, or a larger trunk on
one side than the other; the contents of the end of the cylinder which has the
greater capacity are partially compressed into the other end, so that the mixture of
air and gas is then exploded under pressure, and does work by the greater force
exerted in the end of greater capacity than is exerted in the smaller end.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Eglinton Anderson Gwynne and William Irlam Ellis in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th September 1881.
JAMES EGLINTON ANDERSON GWYNNE and WILLIAM IRLAM ELLIS, both of
Essex Street Works, Strand. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
This Invention consists in improvements in the mode of action of coal or other
gas motor engines. Each piston is constructed with a trunk on one side of it, or a
larger trunk on one side than the other, the contents of the end of the cylinder
which has the greater capacity are partially compressed into the other end, so that
[Price 4d.]

page_text: the mixture of air and gas is then exploded under pressure, and does work by the
greater force exerted in the end of greater capacity than is exerted in the smaller
end.
Our Invention may be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation in section shewing the piston with one
trunk Figure 2 is a plan in section shewing the slide valve; Figure 3 is an end
view in section through the cylinder slide valve, &c.
Figure 4 is a plan in section of the cylinder showing the position of the slide
valve when the crank is on the centre nearest to the cylinder, and
Figure 5 is a similar plan with the crank on the opposite centre.
In all these Figures a represents the cylinder; b, the piston with trunk on it,
and c, the slide valve. The mode of operation is as follows:-A mixture of gas
and air is admitted through the inlet d and is drawn into the cylinder when the
piston recedes from the end of the cylinder nearest to the crank into the space
between the trunk and the cylinder.
During this time the slide valve is in such a position as to open a communication
between the middle or air and gas supply port and the port which communicates
with the space between the cylinder and the trunk, and it also opens the port at
the other end of the cylinder to the exhaust. The exhaust pipe on the valve chest
is marked i. There would be an exploding apparatus at J.
After the supply of air and gas has been drawn in the slide valve is moved, so
that there is a communication between the two ends of the cylinder by means of
the pass-over passage e through the slide valve, and during the remainder of the
motion of the piston to the end of the cylinder furthest from the shaft; the
contents of the end of the cylinder at fare passed over into and compressed
in the other end g of the cylinder.
The mixture in the end g is then exploded, and the resulting gases are then
passed over to the other end f of the cylinder, where during the return stroke of
the piston they impel it until the slide valve closes the communication between the
two ends of the cylinder, after which it opens the port h so that the exhaust takes
place through the valve chest and pipe i, and a new cycle of operations is com-
menced. More than one set of trunk pistons and cylinders may be used in the
same engine.
The explosion of the mixture may be effected by electricity, a gas flame, or by
any of the means in use, and we wish it to be understood that we do not confine
or limit oureelves to the construction of slide valve herein described, or to the
construction of any of the parts of the engine shewn; but what we claim as our
Invention is the mode herein described of admitting gas and air, of compressing
them before explosion, and of utilising the force resulting from the explosion by
transfer of the resulting gases from one end of the cylinder to the other, taken as a
whole conjointly in gas motor engines.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Irlam Ellis, on behalf of myself and
the said James Eglinton Anderson Gwynne, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM IKLAM ELLIS. (L.S.)