IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, CHARLES WILDEN KING, Engineer of Southport in the county of Lancaster
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR
ENGINES" to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object an increased economy in the working of Gas
Engines by the employment of a higher piston speed, more rapid expansion and
obtaining an impulse every stroke or two impulses every revolution.
In carrying out my invention I employ a fixed cylinder in which moves another
cylinder, turned and fitted into the fixed cylinder as a piston.
The interior of the moving cylinder is bored and fitted with a piston which we
will call the trunk piston.
The moving cylinder has an end cast in and it is coupled to the crank shaft by a
connecting rod or rods. The trunk piston which works in the moving cylinder is
coupled to a crank set opposite to the crank to which is coupled the moving
cylinder so that during one half of the revolution of the crank shaft the two
pistons are advancing towards each other and the outer end of moving cylinder is
receeding from the end cover of the fixed cylinder, while during the remaining
half of the revolution the inner end of moving cylinder and the trunk piston are
receeding from each other at the same time that the outer end of moving cylinder
is moving towards the end cover of fixed cylinder the action being as follows:;
When the crank of the moving cylinder is making its outward stroke the crank of
the trunk piston is making its inward stroke and the capacity between the inner
end of the moving cylinder and the trunk piston is diminishing while the capacity
between the outer end of the moving cylinder and the end cover of the fixed
cylinder is increasing.
When the cranks pass the centre at moment of firing the charge contained.
between the trunk piston and inner end of moving cylinder the motion is reversed.
and the crank of the moving cylinder is then making its inward stroke while the
crank of the trunk piston is making its outward stroke and the capacity between
the end of the moving cylinder and the trunk piston is increasing while the
capacity between the outer end of moving cylinder and end cover of fixed cylinder.
is decreasing.
Connected to the moving cylinder and in the same line I employ a piston
of larger diameter than the trunk piston. This piston which is a continuation of
the moving cylinder works in a fixed cylinder which I use as the compressing,
pump.
When the moving cylinder is making its outward stroke air and gas are drawn
into the pump through suitable valves and during the first half of the instroke of
pump piston the mixture is delivered through a check valve and annular ports
between the outer end of the moving cylinder and the end cover of fixed cylinder.
The remaining half of charge contained in the pump is then forced between the
'

page_text: inner end of moving cylinder and the trunk piston. The moving cylinder then
covers the port and the mixture is compressed between the outer end of moving
cylinder and the end cover of fixed cylinder, during the remainder of instroke.
The charge is then fired and the moving cylinder moves outwards compressing the
charge previously delivered between the trunk piston and inner end of moving
cylinder.
In the moving cylinder, the fixed cylinder and the trunk piston are ports
arranged circumferentially and so situated that the relative movements of the
cylinder and piston perform the various functions of exhausting the products of
combustion, admitting the new charge from the compressing pump and firing
the compressed charge between the inner end of the moving cylinder and the
trunk piston, and also between the outer end of moving cylinder and the end cover
of fixed cylinder.
The cycle of operations in the engine is as follows: assuming the moving
cylinder end and the trunk piston to be at that part of their stroke at which they
approach nearest to each other and the outer end of moving cylinder and end cover
of fixed cylinder are furthest from each other and that a charge of combustible
mixture is compressed between the inner side of moving cylinder end and the
trunk piston the charge is fired by an opening in the moving cylinder coming
opposite to an incandescent tube and making communication with the charge.
This tube is fixed to the outside of the fixed cylinder and is beated by a Bunsen or
other powerful burner.
The moving cylinder and the trunk piston move from each other by the explosion
and at the same time the mixture drawn into the compressing pump on the
outstroke of the moving cylinder is discharged during half the instroke of com-
pressing pump between the outer end of moving cylinder and the end cover of
fixed cylinder. When half the stroke is made the moving cylinder covers the
annular port communicating with compressing pump when compression of the
mixture commences and is continued until the moving cylinder has completed its
instroke The charge is then fired and the moving cylinder commences its return
stroke. While the above operations are taking place the gases between the inner
end of moving cylinder and the trunk piston expand by combustion until the
moving cylinder before it completes its outstroke brings a port into communication
with the terminal pressure or exhaust port. The pressure between the moving
cylinder end and the trunk piston is thus reduced to that or nearly that of the
atmosphere and the further travel of the piston brings other ports leading from the
compressing pump into communication with the interior of the moving cylinder so
that for the remainder of the outstroke the mixture is delivered between the inner
end of moving cylinder and the trunk piston. The charge being fired between
the outer end of moving cylinder and the end cover of fixed cylinder the inner end
of moving cylinder and the trunk piston move towards each other compressing the
charge contained between them. The compressed charge is then fired when the
inner end of moving cylinder and the trunk piston approach nearest to each other
The engine thus makes two power strokes or impulses every revolution.
The effective stroke of the trunk piston and the moving cylinder is double that
of the crank, while the stroke of the moving cylinder alone is only equal to that
of the crank. The difference between the greater area of the outer end of moving
cylinder and the area of the trunk piston compensates for the lesser stroke of the
former its size being so proportioned that the effort on the crank shall be equal in
each case.
The fixed cylinder & moving cylinder are water jacketted, in some cases it may
be found requisite to employ a small force pump to ensure a thorough circulation.

page_text: •
"I CHARLES WILDEN KING, Engineer of Southport in the county of Lancaster
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
MOTOR ENGINES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object an increased economy in the working of Gas
Engines by the employment of a higher piston speed than that usually employed in.
this class of engine, more rapid expansion and obtaining two impulses every
revolution of the crank shaft.
In carrying out my invention I employ a fixed cylinder in which moves another
cylinder turned and fitted into the fixed cylinder as a piston.
The interior of the moving cylinder is bored and fitted with a piston which for
purposes of description I will call the trunk piston.
'
The moving cylinder has an end cast in and it is coupled to the crank shaft by
a connecting rod or rods. The trunk piston which works in the moving cylinder
is coupled to a crank set opposite to the crank to which is coupled the moving
cylinder so that during one half of the revolution of the crank shaft the two pistons
are advancing towards each other and the outer end of moving cylinder is receeding
from the end cover of the fixed cylinder, while during the remaining half of the
revolution the inner end of moving cylinder and the trunk piston are receeding
from each other at the same time that the outer end of moving cylinder is moving
towards the end cover of fixed cylinder.
In order that my invention and the manner of performing the same may be
better understood reference is hereafter made to the accompanying drawing and
to the letters thereon.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is an end elevation showing cylinders and trunk piston & having crank
shaft reinoved.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the engine taken through the centre line.
In Figs 1 & 3 A. A is the fixed cylinder hereinafter referred to.
B. B is the compressing pump set on the same centre line as the fixed cylinder A.
C is the moving cylinder which is bored on the inside and turned and fitted as a
piston on the outside.
D is the trunk piston which is fitted into the bored moving cylinder C.
F shewn in Figs 1 & 3 is the exhaust port for the escape of the products of
combustion from the fixed cylinder A.
G shewn in Figs 1 & 3 is the exhaust port & valve for the escape of the products
of combustion from between the moving cylinder end C & the trunk piston D.
H shewn in Fig 3 is a combined suction and delivery valve for the compressing
pump B B.
J shewn in Fig 3 is a check valve leading into the port K & opening inwards to
the cylinder.

page_text: L'is the port which communicating with the supply pipe M admits the
combustible charge to the moving cylinder C.
N&N shows the igniters for firing the combustible charges.
O & O¹ shewn in Fig 1 are the inlet & outlet pipes for the water jacket.
RR are the exhaust pipes communicating with the exhaust valve & ports.
Referring to Fig 3 we will assume that the moving cylinder is at that part of its
stroke at which it approaches nearest to cylinder cover of fixed cylinder A.
A charge of combustible mixture is compressed between the cover of cylinder A
& the end of moving cylinder C.
.
This charge is fired when piston is in the position shewn in drawing.
During this time the port L of the moving cylinder C is opposite to the port K
leading to check valve J & receiver M & a charge of compressed combustible
mixture is admitted between the end of the moving cylinder C & the trunk
piston D.
•
The products of combustion between the moving cylinder C & the trunk piston D
from the previous stroke are exhausted through the port and exhaust valve G.
The charge being fired in the cylinder A the moving cylinder C moves outwards
& at the same time the trunk piston moves inwards compressing the charge
contained between the end of moving.cylinder & the trunk piston D.
Expansion takes place in cylinder A until the moving cylinder C reaches the
outer end of its stroke & the exhaust port, F is uncovered & the products of
combustión escape into the atmosphere through the exhaust pipe R.
When the moving cylinder C is at the end of its outward stroke the charge is
compressed between the end of moving cylinder C and the trunk piston D & is
fired by, the igniter N'.
The compressing pump piston at this moment is at the outer end of its stroke
and contains a charge of gas & air drawn in through the suction valve H during
the outstroke of the piston X.
The charge being fired between the end of moving cylinder C & the trunk
piston D the trunk piston D moves outwards while the moving cylinder C moves
inwards compressing the charge of combustible mixture contained in the compressing
pump & delivering a portion through the check valve J & port K into the fixed
cylinder A. Expansion still takes place between the end of moving cylinder C &
the trunk piston D & the port K is covered by the moving cylinder C, the
compression being finished by the completion of the inward stroke of the moving
cylinder C & thus completing the cycle of operations.
The exbaust valve G is actuated by means of an eccentric or cam.
The passages to the igniters N¹ & N° are controlled by a small conical or other
suitable form of valve which is opened at the proper moment for ignition to the
incandescent tube This valve seals the tube & prevents premature ignition The
tube is preferably of platinum & is enclosed in a muffle & heated to a high
temperature by means of a Bunsen or other suitable burner.
The suction valve H of the compressing pump B is preferably of the form
described in my former specification No 4337/79 but it may be of other suitable
form such as a slide or eccentric valve similar to that described in my former
specification No 638/83..
The delivery valve from compressing pump to the receiving chamber M in the
case in which the mushroom valve is used is contained in the same valve box as the
suction valve & is placed concentric with and immediately above it.
Should a slide or eccentrically moved valve be used the same valve is used for a
suction and delivery the ports in it being arranged accordingly.
The check valve J leading from the receiving chamber M to the cylinders is either
of the mushroom form or it may be a slide or other valve similar to the compressing
pump valve or a combination of a check valve and a slide or eccentric valve.
The fixed cylinder A & the moving cylinder C are both shewn water jacketted
the water enters by the pipe O & circulating through both cylinders makes its exit
by the pipe 01 The communication between the jacket of cylinder A & the jacket

page_text: of moving cylinder C may be made by means of suitable ports so arranged that
they never are uncovered to the interior of the cylinder during the working of
the engine Water communication may also be made to the moving cylinder jacket
by means of a sliding tube gland or a flexible tube.
Lubrication is effected in the ordinary manner the oil passages being arranged so
as to ensure efficient lubrication.
. It is obvious that the cylinders may be arranged in positions other than that
shewn in the drawing. In one arrangement two sets of cylinders similar to those
shewn in the drawing are placed diagonally at an angle of 90° to each other & are
coupled to the same cranks viz the trunk piston of the one engine being coupled to
the same crank as the trunk piston of the other and the moving cylinder of the
one engine to the same cranks as the moving cylinder of the other The effect
obtained by this arrangement is similar to that obtained by a pair of double acting
steam engines coupled to cranks set at right angles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st In gas motor engines the arrangement & combination of fixed cylinder A,
moving cylinder C acting as a piston, the trunk piston D & compressing pump B,
whereby two impulses are obtained for each revolution of the crank shaft,
substantially as described and set forth in the drawings.
2nd In gas motor engines the arrangement & combination of fixed cylinder A,
the moving cylinder C & the trunk piston D coupled to opposite cranks in such a
manner that the effective stroke of one piston is double that of the other whereby
the effort on the crank shaft is made equal during each stroke or half revolution
although the diameter of the pistons are unequal substantially as described & set
forth in the.drawings.