IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Max Sombart, of the Firm of Buss, Sombart, and
Company, Engineers and Patent Agents, of Magdeburg and Berlin, both in
the Empire of Germany, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
ENGINES." A communication by Edward Buss, of Magdeburg.
Sealed the 25th July 1879, and dated the 14th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Max Sombart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th May 1879.
CHARLES MAX SOMBART, of the Firm of Buss, Sombart, and Company, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of Magdeburg and Berlin, both in the Empire of Germany.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES." A communication by Edward Buss, of Mag-
deburg.
This Invention relates to an engine in which the force developed by the ignition
of explosive gaseous mixtures is employed as the motive power.
This engine is provided with a piston working in a cylinder, as in the case of
steam engines, the said piston being connected to the crank through the intervention
of a suitable crosshead and connecting rod. The engine is single acting, and is
provided with a corresponding valve motion which places the space on one side of
the piston only alternately in communication with the feed and with the exhaust.
The engine is supplied with a gas that is capable of burning in atmospheric air,
such for example as coal gas, evaporated gasoline, and the like, by means of an
india rubber or other suitable tube. A mixture of atmospheric air and inflam-
mable gas
is first drawn into the cylinder by the forward motion of the piston, and
this mixture is then suddenly ignited by apparatus provided for that purpose.
The gaseous mixture being suddenly and greatly expanded by its combustion,
then forces the piston to the end of its stroke, and the return of the piston expels
the products of combustion from the cylinder.
The engine is provided with a slide valve, and arranged as hereinafter described.
The valve seat is formed by a low rectangular raised surface on the lower end of
the cylinder, and is provided with a port for the admission of gas, two ports for the
admission of air, and a port for the escape of the products of combustion.
The slide valve consists of a rectangular plate, in which is formed an elongated

page_text: orifice divided by a transverse piece of metal. During the upward motion of the
piston, the valve assumes a position in which the elongated orifice coincides with
the ports for the admission of gas and air, and the port for the escape of the pro-
ducts of combustion is covered by the solid part of the valve. The passages com-
municating with the ports for the admission of gas and air are provided with india
rubber valves which allow gas and air to pass freely into the cylinder, but prevent
them from returning, as the pressure resulting from the ignition of the mixture of
gas and air in the cylinder causes these valves to close as soon as the ignition is
effected. During the downward motion of the piston, the slide valve assumes a
position in which the inlet ports for the admission of gas and air are covered by the
solid part of the valve, whilst the port for the escape of the products of combustion
is completely uncovered. The form of the piece of metal dividing the orifice in the
valve as hereinbefore described, has the effect of dividing the stream of gas as it
issues from. the port into two halves, which meet the streams of air entering the
cylinder through the two ports provided for that purpose, as hereinbefore described,
at right angles, and become intimately mixed therewith. The requisite reciprocating
motion is imparted to the valve by means of a rocking shaft passing through a
stuffing box at the bottom of the cylinder; this shaft is provided with a crank at
each end, one of which cranks, situate inside the cylinder, works in a recess formed
in the back of the slide valve, and the other outside the cylinder engages with two
wide flanges formed on a sleeve capable of sliding within certain limits upon the
lower end of a rod, to which a reciprocating motion is imparted by means of an
eccentric upon the main shaft of the engine. Two collars are fixed upon the rod
above and below the sleeve, and are provided with cushions of leather or other soft
material. When the eccentric has passed either of its dead points, the rod slides
through the sleeve, until one of the collars comes in contact with one end of the
said sleeve, and causes it to move with the rod. An intermittent motion is thus
imparted to the slide valve which remains stationary for a certain period between
each two strokes of the eccentric rod. The eccentric is fixed upon the shaft in such
a position relatively to the crank of the engine as to cause the slide valve to move
simultaneously with the passage of the crank over its dead points, and to remain
stationary during and for a certain period after the explosion.
In case it
When this arrangement of the slide valve is employed, the valve is pressed
against its seat by the pressure of the gas, and also by its own weight when in a
horizontal position, so that it is not liable to leak after continuous use.
appears advisable to increase the pressure upon the valve, a suitable spring may be
employed for this purpose.
The valve seat and corresponding surface of the valve may be formed by a
portion of a cylinder if required.
The igniting apparatus consists of an orifice fitted with a valve provided in the
side of the cylinder and a gas burner. The ignition is effected in consequence of
the jet of flame from the burner being drawn into the interior of the cylinder
through the orifice in the side, as soon as the piston has passed the said orifice in its
upward stroke.
When a simple burner with a cross shaped opening is employed for the jet, as in
the case of known gas engines, the ignition of the contents of the cylinder only
takes place under certain conditions, namely, when the gaseous mixture is capable
of being readily ignited, and at the same time, is raised to a very high temperature.
Even when both these conditions are complied with, the igniting apparatus with an
ordinary burner still has the disadvantage of being liable to fail to effect the
ignition precisely at the proper moment to obtain the best effect with the engine,
but frequently causes the ignition to take place at a considerably later period.
Moreover, as such igniting apparatus will only effect the ignition of a heated
gaseous mixture, they involve the necessity of heating the engine before it can be
started.
In order to remedy all these defects, a gas burner is employed, constructed and
arranged partly according to the principle of a Bunsen burner, and partly according

page_text: to the principle of the suction apparatus, consisting of a steam and mixing nozzle
which forms a portion of a Giffard injector.
The extremity of the pipe supplying the igniting apparatus with gas is provided
with a disc carrying a conical nozzle, and also supports a tube having a trumpet
shaped end, which is connected to the extremity of the said pipe by a ring in such
a manner as to hold the trumpet shaped end at a certain distance from the disc.
The nozzle enters the trumpet shaped end of the tube, and allows the gas to flow
into this tube. The atmospheric air also flows into this tube by passing between a
flange on its trumpet shaped end and the disc. The gas flows with great velocity
out of the nozzle, and draws the atmospheric air which has very little resistance to
overcome forcibly with it. In consequence of the deflection of the current of air on
entering the trumpet shaped end of the tube, it is directed towards the centre of
the tube, and caused to mingle intimately with the gas. An intimate mixture of
gas and air thus flows out of the small end of the tube with great velocity. For
regulating the supply of gas to the nozzle, a clip or stop cock on the india rubber
pipe supplying the pipe leading to the igniting apparatus is sufficient under
ordinary circumstances, but when the pressure of the gas is liable to great variation,
a regulating plug or cone provided with a screw may be employed in lieu of the
clip or stop cock, in which case the flow of gas is regulated by causing the said plug
or cone to enter the nozzle, and obstruct the passage of the gas to the required
extent.
In order to maintain the cylinder in a cool condition, it is provided with a sheet
metal jacket so arranged that sufficient space is left between the cylinder and the
jacket, as well as between the flanges of the cylinder and the ends of the jacket, to
allow of the passage of air.
The jacket is prevented from becoming displaced longitudinally or laterally by
ribs cast on the cylinder. The warm air consequently rises in the space between
the cylinder and the jacket, and escapes at the upper flange of the cylinder, at the
same time drawing in cold air at the bottom flange, thereby keeping up a rapid
circulation, and consequently cooling the cylinder as required.

page_text: . SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Max Sombart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
November 1879.
CHARLES MAX SOMBART, of the Firm of Buss, Sombart, and Company, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of Magdeburg and Berlin, both in the Empire of Germany.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES." A communication by Edward Buss, of Mag-
deburg.
The said Invention relates to an engine in which the force developed by the
ignition of explosive gaseous mixtures is employed as the motive power.
This engine is provided with a piston working in a cylinder, as in the case of
steam engines, the said piston being connected to the crank through the interven-
tion of a suitable cross-head and connecting rod. The engine is single acting, and
is provided with a corresponding valve motion which places the space on one side
of the piston only alternately in communication with the feed and with the
exhaust.
The engine is supplied with a gas that is capable or burning in atmospheric air,
such, for example, as coal gas, evaporated gaseline, and the like by means of an
india rubber or other suitable tube.
A mixture of atmospheric air and inflammable gas is first drawn into the cylinder
by the forward motion of the piston, and this mixture is then suddenly ignited by
apparatus provided for that purpose. The gaseous mixture, being suddenly and
greatly expanded by its combustion, then forces the piston to the end of its stroke,
and the return of the piston expels the products of combustion from the cylinder.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now pro-
ceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a vertical section, Figure 2 is a plan
of the bottom part, and Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section of an engine con-
structed according to the said Invention.
Figures 4 and 4b are details drawn to a larger scale, shewing the arrangement
of the igniting apparatus; Figure 5 is a similar detail, shewing a plan of the seat
of the slide valve hereinafter referred to; and Figures 6ª, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 7 are
details of the valve and valve gear.
The engine is provided with a slide valve, and arranged as hereinafter
described.
The valve seat shewn detached in Figure 5 is formed by a low rectangular
raised surface on the upper side of the bottom part, Figure 2, and is provided with
a port a for the admission of gas, two ports b and b¹ for the admission of air, and a
port c for the escape of the products of combustion.
The slide valve is shewn in detail, Figure 6a, b, c, d, and consists of a rectangular
iron or other metal plate, in which is formed an elongated orifice d, divided in the
middle by a transverse piece e, and interrupted at both sides of the back by the two
triangular shaped pieces f and f¹. During the upward motion of the piston the
valve assumes a position in which the elongated orifice & coincides with the ports a
and b and b¹ for the admission of gas and air, and the port for the escape of the
products of combustion is covered by the solid part of the valve. The passages
communicating with the ports for the admission of gas and air are provided with
india rubber valves g and h, which allow gas and air to pass freely into the cylinder,
but prevent such gas and air from returning, as the pressure resulting from the
ignition of the mixture of gas and air in the cylinder causes these valves to close
as soon as the ignition is effected. During the downward motion of the piston the
slide valve assumes a position in which the inlet ports for the admission of gas and
air are covered by the solid part of the valve, whilst the port c for the escape of
the products of combustion is completely uncovered. The form of the piece of

page_text: metal e dividing the orifice in the valve, as hereinbefore described, is such that it
has the effect of dividing the stream of gas as it issues from the port into two
halves, which meet the streams of air entering the cylinder at d through the two
ports and provided for that purpose, as hereinbefore described, and become
ultimately mixed therewith. The requisite reciprocating motion is imparted to
the valve by means of a rocking shaft i passing through a stuffing box k, Figure 3,
in the bottom part of the engine. This shaft is provided with a crank at each end,
and one of which, l, situate inside the cylinder works in a recess m forined in the
back of the slide valve, and the other, n, outside the cylinder engages with two
wide flanges formed on a sleeve o capable of sliding within certain limits upon the
lower end of a rod p, to which a reciprocating motion is imparted by means of an
eccentric upon the main shaft of the engine. Two collars q and q' are fixed upon
the rod above and below the sleeve, and are provided with cushions of leather or
other soft material. When the eccentric has passed either of its dead points the
rod slides through the sleeve o until one of the collars 7 and q' comes in contact
with one end of the said sleeve, and causes it to move with the rod. An inter-
mittent motion is thus imparted to the slide valve, which remains stationary for a
certain period between each two strokes of the eccentric rod. The eccentric is
fixed upon the shaft in such a position relatively to the crank of the engine as to
cause the slide valve to move simultaneously with the passage of the crank over
its dead points, and to remain stationary during and for a certain period after the
explosion.
When this arrangement of the slide valve is employed the valve is pressed
against its seat by the pressure of the gas, and also by its own weight when in a
horizontal position, so that it is not liable to allow of the escape past it of gas or air
after continuous use.
In case it appears advisable to increase the pressure upon the valve a suitable
spring may be employed for this purpose.
The valve seat and corresponding surface of the valve may be formed by a portion
of a cylinder if required.
The igniting apparatus consists of an orifice fitted with a valve r provided in the
side of the cylinder, and a gas burner s, Figure 4. The ignition is effected in con-
sequence of the jet of flame from the burner being drawn into the interior of the
cylinder through the orifice in the side as soon as the piston has passed the said
orifice in its upward stroke.
When a simple burner with a round or cross-shaped opening is employed for the
jet, as in the case of known gas engines, the ignition of the contents of the cylinder
only takes place under certain conditions, namely, when the gaseous mixture is
capable of being readily ignited, and at the same time is raised to a very high
temperature. Even when both these conditions are complied with the igniting
apparatus with an ordinary burner still has the disadvantage of being liable to fail
to effect the ignition precisely at the proper moment to obtain the best effect with
the engine, but frequently causes the ignition to take place at a considerably later
period. Moreover as such igniting apparatus will only effect the ignition of a
heated gaseous mixture they involve the necessity of heating the engine before it
can be started.
In order to remedy all these defects a gas burner is employed constructed as
represented in Figure 4 and 4b, and which is arranged in part according to the
principle of a Bunsen burner, and in part according to the principle of the suction
apparatus, consisting of a steam and mixing nozzle, which forms part of a Giffard
injector.
The extremity of the pipe A supplying the igniting apparatus with gas is pro-
vided with a disc B carrying a conical nozzle C, and also supports a tube D having
a trumpet shaped end, which is connected to the extremity of the said pipe by a
ring E in such a manner as to hold the trumpet shaped end a certain distance from
the disc. The nozzle C enters the trumpet shaped end of the tube D, and allows
the gas to flow into this tube.

page_text: The atmospheric air also flows into this tube D by passing between a flange F on
its trumpet shaped end and the disc B.
The gas flows with great velocity out of the nozzle, and draws the atmospheric
air, which has very little resistance to overcome, forcibly with it. In consequence
of the deflection of the current of air on entering the trumpet shaped end of the
tube it is directed towards the centre of the tube, and compelled to mingle
ultimately with the gas. An intimate mixture of gas and air thus flows out of the
small end of the tube with great velocity. For regulating the supply of gas to the
nozzle C a clip or stopcock on the india rubber pipe supplying the pipe A is suffi-
cient under ordinary circumstances, but when the pressure of the gas is liable to
great variation a regulating plug or cone G provided with a screw (Figure 4b) may
be employed in lieu of the clip or stopcock, in which case the flow of gas is regulated
by causing the said plug or cone to enter the nozzle and obstruct the passage of the
gas to the required extent.
In order to maintain the cylinder in a sufficiently cool condition it is provided
with a sheet metal or cast iron jacket H, Figures 1 and 3, so arranged that sufficient
space is left between the cylinder and the jacket to allow of the passage of air.
The jacket H being prevented from becoming displaced longitudinally or laterally
by ribs J cast on the cylinder, the warm air consequently rises in the spaces formed
by the cylinder ribs and jacket, and escapes at the upper part through holes K in
the jacket, or (if the cylinder, either with or without a jacket and the upper part or
chimney, are, as they may be, cast in one piece) the warm air escapes through
openings L, corresponding with the spaces formed by the cylinder ribs and jacket,
and constituting prolongations of such openings. The bottom part, Figure 2, of the
engine is provided with holes M, and the warm air ascending the cylinder and
escaping at its upper part draws in cold air through these holes M, thereby main-
taining a rapid circulation, and consequently cooling the cylinder as required.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what. I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to ine by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First. A gas burner as igniter for gas engines, consisting of a combined Bunsen
burner and air inducing nozzle, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Secondly. The peculiar construction and arrangement of slide valve and valve
gear for actuating the same, substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described.
Thirdly. A jacket arranged round the cylinder of a gas engine and enclosing an
annular space between it and the cylinder for the circulation of air, for the purpose
of maintaining the cylinder in a sufficiently cool condition, substantially as herein-
before described.
Fourthly. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting a
gas engine, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Max Sombart, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and scal, this First day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
CHARLES MAX SOMBART. (L.S.)