IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS ENGINES" a communication to ine from abroad by Messrs Edouard
Delamare-Deboutteville and Léon Paul Charles Malandin of Fontaine-le-Bourg,
Seine Inférieure in the Republic of France to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention has for its object to provide a simple and light gas engine or
motor occupying but little space and relates principally to the construction and
arrangement of the parts for supplying and igniting the explosive mixture.
The working Cylinder of a gas Engine or motor constructed according to this
Invention contains a long piston connected to the driving or crank shaft by a
suitable connecting rod and when the Invention is applied to a single acting
Engine one end of the Cylinder is open and the other end is closed by a plate
or cover to which are attached the devices for introducing and igniting the
explosive mixture and discharging the products of combustion hereinafter
described.
The admission of air and gas to the Cylinder is controlled by a slide provided
with a series of passages for the admission of air and with another series of
passages preferably at right angles to the former for the admission of gas. The
air passages open into the gas passages in such a manner as to cause the gas
and air to be thoroughly mixed in the latter passages which conduct the mixture
to an opening or port in the face of the slide and when this opening coincides with
a corresponding port in the seat of the slide the mixture is drawn into a port in
the Cylinder by the direct action of the piston.
In order to ignite the explosive mixture an electric current is employed to
produce either incandescence or sparking the latter when employed being con-
tinuously produced between platinum points or terminals connected to conductors
passing through but insulated from the slide. The sparking or incandescence occurs
D.

page_text: in a cavity provided in the face of the slide and placed in communication with
the interior of the Cylinder at the proper time by the movement of the slide.
The electric current is preferably produced by means of a dynamo- or other
generator of electricity combined with an induction coil and an accumulator but it
may be obtained from accumulators or Secondary Batteries.
In place of continuous sparking or incandescence a contact maker may be
employed which re establishes the current at the proper times.
When a dynamo electric machine and an induction coil are employed an electric
accumulator is provided for producing the current required for starting the Engine.
The slide is operated by a rod connected to a crank on a shaft driven from the
main shaft. The shaft operating the slide also carries a Cam or Tappet which by
the intervention of a lever 'opens a valve for the discharge of the products of com-
bustion at the proper time. The rubbing surfaces of the tappet and lever, are
preferably of hardened steel and the discharge valve opens inwards and is
preferably closed by a spring. The admission of gas is controlled by a valve also
closed by a spring and opened at the proper time by the slide striking the valve
stem.
Ordinary lighting gas and air or a mixture of hydrogen Carbonic Oxide and
lighting gas or other explosive gases and air may be employed in this Engine or
the Engine may be worked with gas obtained by Carburetting air.
The piston having been driven to the front end of the Cylinder by an explosion
of the gaseous mixture admitted as hereinafter described returns owing to the
momentum acquired by the fly wheel and expels the products of combustion
through the discharge valve which is at the time held open for the purpose by the
cam or tappet and lever herein before described. At the next outstroke the piston
draws in gas and air through the respective passages in the slide whose movements
are so timed as to cause the port in the slide to coincide with the admission port
in the seat at every alternate out stroke.
When the piston has completed this outward stroke it again returns under the
action of the fly wheel and (both the supply and discharge orifices being at this
time closed) compresses the gaseous mixture which it had previously drawn in as
herein before described. This compression is preferably carried to the extent of
about one atmosphere but it may if desired be raised to two atmospheres or more.
The compression chamber or space behind the piston when the latter is at the
limit of its inward stroke being of a capacity in accordance with the degree of
compression desired The explosive mixture, is then ignited by the electric spark
or incandescence which is at this time exposed by the movement of the slide and
the piston is driven by the force of the explosion to the other end of the Cylinder
after which it returns owing to the momentum of the fly wheel and the series of
processes herein before described is repeated.
1
"
The products, of combustion are discharged by the next instroke of the piston
either directly into the atmosphere or are caused to pass through a case containing
Silica or flints or inverted cones for the purpose of producing, asilent discharge
Any products of combustion remaining in the igniting cavity are expelled.during
the compression through small passages provided in the slide and its case the said
passages being caused to coincide for a short period during compression.
The Cylinder is lubricated with oil from a lubricator connected by a tube with
the passage which conducts the gas or carburetted air to the slide so that when
the piston is drawing the explosive Charge into the Cylinder an exhaustion takes
place in this tube and a sufficient quantity of oil is drawn in with the charge
to lubricate the Cylinder. The casting containing the passage leading to the slide
is provided with a guide for the rod or stem of the gas inlet valve worked by
the movement of the slide. The supply of gas may be controlled by means of a
regulating valve operated by hand or by a governor.
The Cylinder is preferably enclosed in a copper case in which cold water
circulates or the Cylinder may be provided with a number of wings or webs of
F

page_text: such size and number as to present a large radiating surface. The simplicity of
the working parts of the engine constructed as hereinbefore described enables it to
be made extremely light and consequently renders it particularly suitable to be
employed for the propulsion of Vehicles or light boats and for other similar purposes
where it is important to economise space and reduce weight.
When two Cylinders are used in the Engine the slide and valves of each
Cylinder may be operated by a shaft common to both and driven by suitable gear
from the crank shaft.
Dated this oca, dove
t100A
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS ENGINES" which Invention has been communicated to me from Abroad
by Messrs Edouard Delamare-Deboutteville and Léon Paul Charles Malandin of
Fontaine-le-Bourg, Seine Inférieure in the Republic of France and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This Invention has for its object to provide a simple and light gas engine or
motor occupying but little space and relates principally to the construction and
arrangement of the parts for supplying and igniting the explosive mixture.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood' I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical and longitudinal section of
a gas engine or motor constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section viewed from the end at which the
driving shaft is placed.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the opposite end of the engine.
Figure 4 is a plan partly in section.
"
A is the working cylinder containing a piston B which is preferably provided
with not less than six rings and imparts motion to a driving or crank shaft a
carrying a flywheel W. The cylinder A is open at one end and is closed at the
other by a cover C which carries the devices for introducing igniting and
discharging the gas. D is a slide valve shown separately in vertical and horizontal
section in Figure 5 and provided with a cover E shown detached in Figure 6. This
slide which is an important feature of the engine is hereinafter more fully described
with reference to figures 7, 8 and 9.

page_text: · Figure 7 represents a vertical section taken through the centre. of the cylinder
cover, figure 8 shews the cover in elevation and figure 9 is a detail of the slide
valve D. This slide valve is provided with a series of air inlet passages Q supplied
with gas by a series of gas, inlet passages P. arranged at right angles to the
passages Q. The mixture of gas and air formed in the passages enters a port R
in the valve and is delivered into the cylinder A through a port S' (figure 7) formed
in the cylinder cover C. The engine is supplied with gas by a pipe I from any
suitable source or as in the arrangement illustrated in figure 1 from an apparatus
for carburetting air. For this purpose the carburetting apparatus described in the
Specification accompanying my application for Letters Patent dated the 26th day
of February. 1884 N° 6652 may be advantageously combined with the gas engine
forming the object of the present Invention. In figure 1 a carburetter of this
description provided with a series of chambers J. J. J¹¹ is represented as being
arranged underneath the engine. If preferred the engine may be worked with
common lighting gas, or a mixture of hydrogen and carbonic oxide or any other
suitable gas. The gas pipe I is provided with a regulating valve I¹ figure 4 and
with a valve S operated at the proper time by the act of the slide D striking
stem u provided on the valve S and guided in a projection u¹ formed on the
casting containing the said valve The gas supplied by the pipe I enters a chamber
or port Z in the slide valve cover E and is drawn into the cylinder A by the direct
action of the piston when the gas inlet passages P in the slide D are brought into
communication with the port St. Air is similarly and simultaneously drawn through
the passages Q and is mixed with the gas in the proper proportions as herein-before
•
described.
a
This engine may be worked with common lighting gas or with any other suitable
gas such as pure hydrogen or with gas obtained by carburetting air in the
carburetter illustrated in figure 1 in which the series of carburetters J. J¹. Ju are
arranged in a hot water case supplied by a pipe Y with water which has been
employed to cool the cylinder A. This water circulates in a casing X enclosing the
said cylinder and provided with a water supply pipe Y. In some cases it will be
more convenient to provide for the cooling of the cylinder by employing a number
of wings or webs as indicated at x¹ figures 7 11 & 12 so arranged as to present a
large extent of radiating surface preferably equal to about 5 or 6 times the surface
of the cylinder.
The gas supply pipe I is connected with a lubricator and the speed and power of
the motor may be controlled by a governor of suitable construction connected with
a valve placed in the gas supply pipe but a sufficient control over the engine may
generally be obtained by simply operating the valve I¹ by hand.
The cylinder is lubricated with oil from a lubricator V figure 3 connected by a
tube with the gas inlet passage I so that when the piston is drawing the explosive
charge into the cylinder an exhaustion takes place in this tube and a sufficient
quantity of oil is drawn in with the charge to lubricate the cylinder.
The explosive mixture is ignited by means of an electric spark produced in a
cavity e formed in the slide D which cavity is at the proper moment brought
opposite the part S₁ formed in the cylinder cover. The spark is produced in a
continuous manner between a pair of terminals c (preferably of platinum) arranged
in the cavity e and connected with a suitable source of electricity, by conductors
fixed to but properly insulated by tubes p from the slide D. In place of the
terminals producing a continuous spark an incandescent wire or piece of spongy
platinum may be arranged in the cavity e or an intermittent spark may be produced
by employing suitable contact makers or devices for opening and closing the circuit
at the proper intervals.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a modified arrangement of the slide. In figure 11
the slide is indicated in the position which it occupies when the piston is drawing
gas and air into the cylinder and in figure 12 the slide is shewn in the position
which it occupies at the time of the explosion. According to this arrangement the
gas is supplied through a pipe El and the explosive mixture is delivered through
لا

page_text: a passage F¹ to a, port R in the slide which part at the proper moment coincides
with the port S in the cylinder cover C as in the arrangement herein before
described. The explosive mixture, is then ignited by an electric spark passing
continuously in a chamber e in the cover of the valve case which chamber is placed
in communication with the cylinder at the proper time by the movement of the
valve causing a passage e¹ formed in the latter to coincide simultaneously with the
chamber e and with the port S¹.
་
In the case of stationary engines it is preferable to employ a battery as the
source of electricity in combination with an accumulator and an induction coil.
This arrangement is indicated in dotted lines in figure 1 the battery being shown
at H. H, the accumulator at H¹ and the induction coil at h. In certain cases it will
be more convenient to generate the electricity by means of a dynamo combined
with an accumulator or to simply provide the engine with an accumulator or
storage battery which is charged when required in the usual manner.
The slide D is operated by bevel gear'w figures 2 and 4 driven by the crank
shaft a and imparting motion to a shaft n provided with a crank ping connected
to the slide D by a rod O. The shaft n also carries a cam or wiper (formed in
the example illustrated by the end of the crank pin g) which operates a lever k
pivotted at and causes the said lever 'to open an exhaust or discharge valve F
for the escape of the burnt gases. This valve is provided with a rod or stem g'
with which the lever / comes in contact. The lever opens this valve by pressing
against a rod or stem gl attached to the valve and provided with a spring g² which
maintains the valve closed when the pressure of the lever is removed. The valve F
opens and closes with a quick motion and remains closed during the introduction
compression and ignition of the gas. Figure 10 is a detail drawn to a larger scale
showing a modified form of the end of the lever k at the part where it is acted
upon by the cam or its equivalent on the shaft n. The surfaces of the lever and
.
of the cam at the part. where they come in contact are preferably of hard steel.
Supposing a charge of gas has been exploded behind the piston B and that the
latter has thereby been driven to the front end of the cylinder A the momentumi
acquired by the fly wheel W causes the piston to return and expel the products of
combustion through the discharge valve F which is at the time held open for the
purpose by the cam or tappet g and lever k herein before described. At the next
outstroke the piston B draws in gas and air respectively through the passages P
and Q in the slide D whose movements are so timed as to cause the passage in the
slide to coincide with the admission port in the seat at every alternate out-stroke
of the piston.
When the piston has completed this outward stroke it again returns under the
action of the flywheel and (both the supply and discharge orifices being at this
time closed) compresses the gaseous mixture which it had previously drawn in as
herein before described. This compression is preferably carried to the extent of
about one atmosphere but it may if desired be raised to two atmospheres or more
the compression chamber or space behind the piston when the latter is at the limit
of its inward stroke being of a capacity in accordance with the degree of com-
pression desired and which is in proportion to the force to be exerted on the
piston. The explosive mixture is then ignited by the electric spark or incan-
descent wire in the cavity e which is at this time exposed by the movement of the
slide bringing the said cavity opposite the port S¹ and the piston is driven by the
force of the explosion to the other end of the cylinder after which it returns owing
to the momentum of the fly wheel and the series of processes herein before described
is repeated.
The products of. combustion are discharged by the next instroke of the piston
either directly into the atmosphere or are caused to pass through a case containing
silica or flints or inverted cones for the purpose of producing a silent discharge.
Any products of combustion remaining in the igniting cavity e are expelled
during the compression through a small passage M figure 7 provided in the slide

page_text: and in its cover the said passage being caused to open for a short period: during
compression.
ม
...
. J.
The simplicity of the working parts of the engine constructed as herein before
described enables it to be made extremely light and consequently renders it.
particularly suitable" to be employed for the propulsion of veliicles or light boats
and for other similar purposes where it is important to economize space and reduce
weight.
C
When two cylinders are used in the Engine the slide and other valves of each
cylinder may be operated by a shaft common to both and driven by suitable gear
from the crank shaft.
..
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1
1.
1st. In a gas engine the general arrangement and construction of the parts
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
JU
.
2nd" In a gas engine causing a gaseous mixture obtained as herein set forth to be
drawn into the cylinder by the direct action of the working piston substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3rd In a gas engine the employment for igniting the gaseous mixture of an
electrical generator such as a dynamo electric machine or a battery in combination
with an accumulator and an induction coil substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4th In a gas engine the employment of a slide valve arranged and operating as
hereinbefore set forth and means for expelling the burned gases from the igniting
chamber in the said valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
5th In a gas engine the employment of an automatic lubricator for lubricating
the working cylinder, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 96th day of Nawambox 1001.