Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1887
Complete Left, 31st Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
I, HENRY THOMAS DAWSON of Salcombe in the County of Devon, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In gas engines besides varying the quantity of gas admitted to the cylinder I cause
the governor to regulate the degree to which the gas and air are intermixed so
that as the speed of the engine diminishes a less intimate mixture is obtained and
vice versa.
In order to do this I sometimes employ a cylindrical mixing chamber
whose length is varied by the governor or I employ baffle plates in the mixing
chamber which are turned by the governor thus making the course to be traversed
by the gas and air more or less circuitous. A certain minimum amount of mixture
is secured by fixed interference rings or plates and partly by a gauze at the entrance
to the cylinder, another purpose of which is to prevent the charge firing back into the
passages.
I keep the cylinders of explosion engines at an approximately constant temperature
by forming water spaces in the sides and covers of the cylinder which spaces
communicate with cisterns so that the surplus heat is dispersed by radiation and
evaporation.
I also use an interrupted jacket of different proportions according to circumstances
the object being to keep a higher temperature than usual in the cylinders, and the
water in the jackets may be allowed to boil by throttling the inflow circulating pipe
by a cock or valve.
I employ an improved ignition apparatus for firing the explosive mixture in the
cylinder I cause a jet or jets of air to play between the flame (which is preferably
flat) and the ignition port. The jet may be continuous or intermittent. At the other
side of the flame I place a platinum coil for lighting.
I use an automatic gas cut off valve consisting of a ball or other valve on a seat
enclosed in a chamber in the gas supply passage. The valve normally keeps the
passage closed, and there is a striking pin (normally out of contact with the ball)
which is actuated by a lever which engages each revolution of the engine with a pin
on the crank-shaft or other convenient moving part. Thus as long as the engine is

page_text: not moving the valve remains on its seat and the gas is shut off but every revolution
the valve is opened and practically while the engine. is running the gas is kept
fully on.
I lubricate the pistons and cylinders with blacklead, metaline or other dry lubricant
formed into plugs or pellets or compressed into capsules, these are contained in short
tubes fixed to suitable parts of the cylinder or piston and the lubricant is pressed
upon the surface to be lubricated by springs. The compound movement of translation
and rotation of the pistons spreads the lubricant over the surfaces depressions or
grooves may be formed in the pistons or cylinders to assist in abrading and spreading
the lubricant. In some cases I lubricate with powder automatically injected into the
cylinder. The powder is contained in a cup communicating with the cylinder the
opening being closed by a ball or other valve upon each explosion taking place.
I use
baffles to control the disposition of gaseous or combustible and non-
combustible elements in the charges. These are fixed either on the piston or cylinder
cover. In particular I use a baffle opposite the ignition port inside, to cause a slight
delay in ignition and a deflector in the air aperture in the cylinder which is found
also to soften ignition.
I prefer to cover with asbestos the head of the piston and other parts to be protected
from heat. I modify the arrangement for turning the piston shewn at figures 6 and 7
of the drawings of the Specification of a former patent granted to me No. 7920 in the
the year 1885 in such a way as to remove the moving parts from the hot piston. I
fix a bracket or projection to the piston at some distance from its centre and the end
of this bracket remote from the piston is connected by a universal joint to a bent arm
fixed to the connecting rod. As the connecting rod swings to and fro it carries with
it the end of the bracket and thereby turns the piston.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Engines Worked by Explosive Mixtures.
I, HENRY THOMAS DAWSON of Salcombe in the County of Devon, Gentleman, do.
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in fand by the following,
statement:-
In gas engines besides varying the quantity of gas admitted to the cylinder I cause
the governor to regulate the degree to which the gas and air are intermixed so that
as the speed of the engine diminishes a less intimate mixture is obtained and vice versa.
In order to do this I sometimes employ a cylindrical mixing chamber whose length
is varied by the governor or I employ baffle plates in the mixing chamber which are
turned by the governor thus making the course to be traversed by the gas and air
more or less circuitous. A certain minimum amount of mixture is secured by fixed
interference rings or plates and partly by a gauze at the entrance to the cylinder,
another purpose of which is to prevent the charge firing back into the passages.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a mixing chamber whose length is varied by the
governor. Figure 1 is a vertical section, figure 2 is a vertical section on the line xx
figure 1, and figure 3 is a transverse section on the line y y, figure 1. a is the casing
of the chamber, 6 is the air admission tube having upon it a rack 61 gearing with the
pinion c which is driven by the governor. The gas enters by the pipe d and annular
space e. ff are baffle plates and g is a diaphragm of wire gauze.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the mixing chamber. Figure 4 is a
vertical section and Figure 5 is an elevation. a a are the baffle plates these are
pivoted on the inside of the chamber. One of the plates is shewn separately at
figure 6. The axes of the plates project through the sides of the chamber and have
levers c fixed to them. These levers carry pins d working in slots in the plate e which
is moved to and fro by the governor. f is the air inlet and 9 the gas inlet. his a
sheet of wire gauze which is placed at the entrance to the cylinder.
I use an automatic gas cut off valve consisting of a ball or other valve on a seat
enclosed in a chamber in the gas supply passage. The valve normally keeps the
passage closed, and there is a striking pin (normally out of contact with the ball)
which is actuated by a lever which engages each revolution of the engine with a pin
on the crank-shaft or other convenient moving part. Thus, as long as the engine is
not moving the valve remains on its seat and the gas is shut off but every revolution
the valve is opened and practically while the engine is running the gas is kept fully
on. This arrangement is shewn at figures 1, 2 and 3 where the gas supply pipe dis
separated from the pipe j by the ball h. When the engine is at rest the ball lies on
its seat and cuts off the supply of gas but when the engine is running the crank or
other moving part at each revolution comes against the pin and lifts the ball. m. is
a spring by which the pin is brought back again.
1

page_text: I keep the cylinders of explosion engines at an approximately constant temperature
by forming water spaces in the sides and covers of the cylinder which spaces
communicate with cisterns so that the surplus heat is dispersed by radiation and
evaporation.
I also use an interrupted jacket of different proportions according to circumstances
the object being to keep a higher temperature than usual in the cylinders, and the
water in the jackets may be allowed to boil by throttling the inflow circulating pipe by
a cock or valve.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate these arrangements. Figure 7 is a longitudinal section,
figure 8 is an end view and figure 9 is a transverse section of a double acting cylinder
and covers.
a is the cylinder, b b are the covers, c c are the water spaces which are
connected with each other and with the cistern. As shown the water jacket to the
cylinder is divided into four. e is a tube through which the piston rod passes. fand g
are pipes leading to and from the cistern. For single acting engines I sometimes
omit the jacket to the cylinder and increase the size of the water space in the cover,
this arrangement is shown in figure 10 which is a longitudinal section of the cover.
I employ an improved ignition apparatus for firing the explosive mixture in the cylinder.
I cause a jet or jets of air to play between the flame (which is preferably flat) and the
ignition port. The jet may be continuous or intermittent. At the other side of the
flame I place a platinum coil for lighting.
Figures 11 and 12 are front and side views of the burner. a is the gas supply pipe,
b is the air pipe and c is the platinum coil.
I lubricate the pistons and cylinders with blacklead, metaline or other dry lubricant
formed into plugs or pellets or compressed into capsules, those are contained in short
tubes fixed to suitable parts of the cylinder or piston and the lubricant is pressed upon
the surface to be lubricated by springs. The compound movement of translation and
rotation of the pistons spreads the lubricant over the surfaces depressions or grooves
may be formed in the pistons or cylinders to assist in abrading and spreading the
lubricant.
Figure 13 illustrates this arrangement. a a are blocks of blacklead or other lubricant
placed in recesses in the piston and are forced outwards by the springs b. In some
cases I lubricate with powder automatically injected into the cylinder. The powder
is contained in a cup communicating with the cylinder the opening being closed by a
ball or other valve upon each explosion taking place.
In
I use baffles to control the disposition of gaseous or combustible and non-combustible
elements in the charges. These are fixed either on the piston or cylinder cover.
particular I use a baffle opposite the ignition port inside, to cause a slight delay in
ignition and a deflector in the air aperture in the cylinder which is found also to
soften ignition.
I prefer to cover with asbestos the head of the piston and other parts to be protected
from heat.
Figures 14 and 15 illustrate these arrangements. Figure 14 is a longitudina!
section of a single acting piston a being the ignition port and 6 the baffle plate. c is
a lining of asbestos. Figure 15 is a longitudinal section of a single acting cylinder,
d being the air aperture and e the baffle plate. I modify the arrangement for turning
the piston shewn at Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings of the Specification of a former
patent granted to me No. 7920 in the year 1885 in such a way as to remove the
moving parts from the hot piston. I fix a bracket or projection to the piston at
some distance from its centre and the end of this bracket remote from the piston is
connected by a universal joint to a bent arm fixed to the connecting rod. As the
connecting rod swings to and fro it carries with it the end of the bracket and thereby
turns the piston. Figures 16 and 17 illustrate this arrangement. Figure 16 is a side
elevation and figure 17 an end elevation of the piston and connecting rod the crosshead
being removed in the latter figure. a is the piston, b is the connecting rod and c is a
bent arm fixed to it. e is a bracket fixed to the piston. The arm c carries a pin f
with a ball fat its end. This ball works in a hole at the end of the bracket e a
spring g being provided to keep the bracket e up to the end of the pin f.
с
:

page_text: 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 Iclaim is :-
1. Regulating by the governor the degree to which the gas and air are intermixed
substantially as described.
2. An automatic gas cut off valve consisting of a ball or other valve lifted from its
seat at each revolution of the engine substantially as described.
3. The apparatus substantially as described and shown in figures 1, 2 and 3.
4. The apparatus substantially as described and shown in figures 4, 5 and 6.
5. Providing water spaces in the sides and covers of the cylinder which spaces
communicate with cisterns so that the surplus heat is dispersed by radiation and
evaporation substantially as described.
6. The apparatus substantially as described and shown in figures 7, 8 and 9.
7. The apparatus substantially as described and shown in figure 10.
8. An ignition apparatus in which there is a jet or jets of air playing between the
flame and the ignition port substantially as described.
9. The apparatus substantially as described and shown in figures 11 and 12.
10. Providing tubes on the cylinder or piston to contain solid lubricant substantially
as described.
11. The methods of lubricating substantially as described.
12. The apparatus substantially as described and shown in figure 13.
13. The baffle opposite the ignition port substantially as described and shown in
figure 14.
14. The deflector in the air aperture in the cylinder substantially as described and
shown in figure 15.
15. Turning the piston by means of moving parts remote from the hot piston
substantially as described.
.
16. The apparatus substantially as described and shown in figures 16 and 17.
17. My improvements in engines worked by explosive mixtures substantially as
described.
Dated this 31st day of January 1888.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.