IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: .
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Blackett Haigh
and John Nuttall at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
21st May 1883.
.
WILLIAM BLACKETT HAIGH and JOHN NUTTALL both of Oldham in the County
of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS ENGINES
"
こ
This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of gas motor
engines in which a combustible charge of air and gas are admitted to the cylinder,
compressed, ignited, and an impulse received on the piston for every revolution of
the crank during the time that the gas is admitted to the cylinder.
Hitherto there has been considerable difficulty in constructing and working gas
engines on the before mentioned system, owing to the incoming charge of air and
gas having to expel the whole cylinder full of burning mixture and in some cases'
at considerable pressure above the atmosphere, during the termination of the out-
stroke and the beginning of the return stroke, thereby causing a loss of power and
endangering the incoming combustible mixture which is thus very liable to
take fire.
In order to overcome these difficulties the charge of air and gas are only
compressed in the motor cylinder during the latter part of the return stroke, thus
allowing a much longer time for the flame to die out, and allowing the motor
piston to force out to the atmosphere the bulk of the foul gases through the
exhaust valve, which is placed a short distance up the cylinder from where the
motor piston finishes its return stoke, for a purpose to be hereafter explained.
To accomplish the above named object we construct the engine with two
cylinders or one cylinder having two different diameters: in each cylinder are
pistons corresponding to the different diameters of the cylinders, the smaller piston
being connected to the larger piston by a hollow cylindrical boss both being
attached to the crank by the same connecting rod.
In connection with the larger cylinder is a passage' leading to the atmosphere

page_text: having an inlet valve of India rubber or other suitable form and in connection
with this passage is the gas supply controlled by a poppet or oscillating valve
under the action of the governor.
The governor is constructed in the following manner. The bobbin is made in a
peculiar form having slots so as to allow the arms or pendulums to go through and
be suspended from the governor spindle inside the governor bobbin: the bobbin
then rests on the balls and is raised by the action of the balls, and falls of its own
gravity. Attached to the bobbin is a fork with a long boss upon it, this boss
slides up and down with the bobbin, in a cylindrical guide: beneath this guide and
attached to the sliding boss, is a light rod or long spring that communicates with
the gas supply valve: this rod may be actuated by the ignition slide or in any
suitable manner so as to put gas on to the requirements of the engine.
On the outstroke of the engine the action of the larger piston causes air and gas,
and air alone to enter through the before mentioned air and gas valves, and to
enter the large cylinder encircling the hollow cylindrical boss before mentioned,
on the return stroke the large piston forces the air and mixture of air and gas,
through a poppet valve (or other suitable valve) placed in a passage (or passages)
leading from one cylinder to the other driving out the products of combustion in
the passage and from the lower or back end of the small cylinder through the
exhaust port or passage which is placed about one third the stroke of the engine
up the cylinder, from the point where the small piston terminates its return stroke.
During this time the smaller piston will have forced the products of combustion
from the opposite end of the cylinder to the exhaust port. The exhaust is now
closed and the contents of both cylinders are compressed by the united action of
both pistons, until the return stroke is completed, when ignition ensues and power
is developed on the smaller piston through the following out stroke of the engine
thus obtaining an impulse on the smaller piston for each revolution of the crank.
The ignition is accomplished by means of a slide valve, worked by an excentric
or by other similar means. In the slide valve is a port or slot, and across this port
a hole is drilled so as to form a tube or allow a piece of brass or other metal tube,
perforated by a few small holes to be inserted.
In connection with this tube is a small hole drilled in advance of the port in the
slide valve, and controlled by a screw or stud passing through the tube to the end
of the slide valve, so that it can be adjusted or regulated by hand so as to allow a
small portion of the compressed mixture in the cylinder to escape, from a port in
the cylinder to the port in the slide valve, and take fire at a gas flame placed in a
funnel or chimney in the slide valve cover, or at the cylinder end, and communi-
cating by means of a port or passage with the port or in the slide valve until the
return stroke of the engine is completed; the communication then ceases and the
port in the slide then communicates with the port in the cylinder and ignition
ensues.
We would here remark that by modifications of this tube used for ignition it
may be arranged to be employed with other varieties of valve, such as the
oscillating and poppet valves.
In making large gas engines we enclose the front end of the large cylinder with
a cover attaching the pistons to a piston rod in place of connecting direct on the
large piston with the connecting rod, the object being to cause the front end of the
large piston to become an air pump during a portion of its stroke in order to flush
or clean out the products of combustion from the before mentioned passage and the
motor cylinder at the time the engine has nearly completed its out stroke, thereby
blowing out all flame from the motor cylinder and preventing any possibility of
back firing.
The exhaust valve may either be of the poppet or the oscillating form. When
made of the latter form it is made hollow and conical having two ports or slots in
the valve or plug: these ports or slots are caused to communicate at the proper
time with similar ports or slots in the valve casing by the action of an excentric.
causing the valve to oscillate.
I.... 213
T

page_text: In connection with the constant gas flame where the pressure of gas is low, or
in connection with the gas reserve we employ an apparatus for accumulating gas
at any given pressure, thereby ensuring a constant and regular supply of gas.
It is constructed in the following manner.
A somewhat hollow conical vessel is formed having a disc of india rubber spread
over the mouth or larger diameter of the conical vessel, and is secured all round
the edge by being bolted between two flanges so as to be air or gas tight, the
centre of the india rubber is attached to a small connecting rod, and worked by a
crank or similar means, at the other end of the connecting rod; the crank shaft is
caused to revolve rapidly by a cord on a pulley outside the casting or vessel.
Thus when the india rubber disc is drawn out of the conical vessel or casting a
quantity of gas rushes through an inlet valve after the receding rubber disc and is
driven out through the outlet valve into the gas reserve; this continues until the
pressure on the delivery side equals the strength of the india rubber disc; it then
ceases to expel any more gas by becoming inflated similarly to the gas bag, and
therefore keeps the gas bag full and steady.

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3
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Blackett Haigh and John Nuttall in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 21st November 1883.
WILLIAM BLACKETT HAIGH and JOHN NUTTALL both of Oldham in the County
of Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS-ENGINES
This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of gas motor.
engines in which a combustible charge of air and gas is admitted to the cylinder,
compressed and ignited, and an impulse is received on the piston (for every
revolution of the crank) during the time that the gas is admitted to the cylinder.
Hitherto there has been considerable difficulty in constructing and working gas
engines on the before mentioned system, owing to the incoming charge of air and
gas having to expel the whole cylinder full of burning mixture, and in some cases
at considerable pressure above the atmosphere during the termination of the
outstroke, and the beginning of the return stroke, thereby causing a loss of
power, and endangering the incoming combustible mixture which is thus very
liable to take fire.
In order to overcome these difficulties the charge of air and gas is only
compressed in the motor cylinder during the latter part of the return stroke after
a considerable quantity of air has been introduced, thus allowing a much longer
time for the flame to die out and allowing the motor piston to force out to the
atmosphere the bulk of the foul gases through the exhaust valve, which is placed
a short distance up the cylinder from where the motor piston finishes its return
stroke for a purpose to be hereafter explained.
Such being the nature and object of our said invention we will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood
we have annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in
the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1. in the annexed drawing is a transverse section. Fig. 2 a side elevation
and Fig. 3. is a horizontal section or plan view of a gas engine constructed according
to our invention.
To accomplish the above named object we construct the engine with two
cylinders a, a and b, 6 placed end to end, or one cylinder having internally two
different diameters; in each cylinder are pistons c, c and d, d corresponding to
the different diameters of the cylinders, the smaller piston c, c being connected
to the larger piston d, d by a hollow cylindrical boss or trunk e, e and the piston
d, d being attached to the crank ff by a connecting rod g, g.
In connection with the larger cylinder b, b is a passage h, h leading to the
atmosphere having an inlet valve i, i of India rubber (or other suitable valve) and
in connection with this passage h, h is the gas supply controlled by a poppet or
oscillating valve k, k under the action of the governor.
The governor (see enlarged sectional view Fig. 5) is constructed in the following
manner.
The bobbin 7, is made in a peculiar form baving slots so as to allow the arms
or pendulums m, m to go through and be suspended from the governor spindle
n, n inside the governor bobbin; the bobbin 1, 1 then rests on the balls o, o and
is raised by the action of the balls, and falls of its own gravity. Attached to the
bobbin, is a fork p, p, with a long spindle or stud q, q upon it, this spindle q, q
slides up and down (with the bobbin) in a cylindrical guide r, r, beneath this

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guide r, r and attached to the spindle q, q is a light rod or long spring 8, a that
communicates with the gas supply valve, this rod 8, 8 may be actuated by the
ignition slide valve w, was seen at Fig. 2 or in any suitable manner so as to put
gas on to the requirements of the engine. As the engine is shown at rest the
projection on the spring or rod 8, 8 is shown out of gear with the slide valve
w, w. On the outstroke of the engine, the action of the larger piston d, d causes
air and gas, and during the latter portion of the stroke air alone to enter through
the before mentioned air and gas valves and to enter the large cylinder b, b
encircling the hollow cylindrical boss or trunk e, e through the passage h, h before
mentioned, on the return stroke the larger piston d, d forces the air and mixture
of air and gas through a poppet valve t, t (or other suitable valve) placed in a
passage u, u (or passages) leading from one cylinder to the other, driving out the
products of combustion in the passage u, u and from the lower or back end of the
smaller cylinder u, u through the exhaust port or passage v, v (see also cross
section Fig. 4) which is placed about one third the stroke of the engine up the
small cylinder a, a from the point where the small piston c, c terminates its return
stroke. During this time the smaller piston c, c will have forced the products of
combustion from the opposite end of the cylinder a, a to the exhaust port v. v.
The exhaust v, v is now closed and the contents of both cylinders a, a and b, b are,
compressed by the united action of both pistons c, c and d, d until the return
stroke is completed, when ignition ensues and power is developed on the sinaller
piston c, c throughout the following outstroke of the engine thus obtaining an
impulse on the smaller piston c, c for each revolution of the crank.
The ignition is accomplished by means of a slide valve w, w (see enlarged
detached views Fig. 6.) worked by an excentric or by other similar means. In
the slide valve wis a port or slot 1, 1, and across this port a hole 2 is drilled
so as to form a tube or allow a piece of brass or other metal tube 3. 3 perforated
by a few small holes to be inserted.
In connection with this tube 3. 3, is a small hole 4 drilled in advance of the
port in the slide valve and controlled by a screw or stud 5, 5 passing through the
tube 3. 3, of the end of the slide valve w, w so that it can be adjusted or regulated
by hand so as to allow a small portion of the compressed mixture in the cylinder
to escape from a port 8. 8 in the cylinder to the portion 4, 4 in the slide valve,
and take fire at a gas flame placed in a funnel or chimney 6. 6, in the slide valve,'
cover 7. 7. or at the cylinder end, and communicating by means of a port or
passage with the port 1. 1. in the slide valve until the return stroke of the
engine is completed: the communication then ceases and the port 1. 1. in the
slide w, w then communicates with the port 8. 8. in the cylinder and ignition
ensues.
We would here remark that by modifications of this tube 3. 3. used for ignition
it may be arranged to be employed with other varieties of valve such as the
oscillating valve as shown at Figs 7. and with poppet valves.
In making large gas engines we enclose the front end of the large cylinder with
a cover, attaching the pistons to a piston rod in place of connecting direct onto the
large piston with the connecting rod, the object being to cause the front end of
the large piston to become an air pump during a portion of its stroke in order to
flush or clean out the products of combustion from the before mentioned passage
and the motor cylinder at the time that the engine has nearly completed its out
stroke thereby blowing out all flame from the motor cylinder and preventing any
possibility of back firing.
The exhaust valve v, v may either be of the poppet form as shown. at Fig. 3.
or the oscillating form.
When made of the latter form it is made hollow and conical having two ports
or slots in the valve or plug: these ports or slots are caused to communicate at
the proper time with similar ports or slots in the valve casing by the action of an
excentric causing the valve to oscillate." In connection with the constant gas flame
where the pressure of gas is low or in connection with the gas reserve we employ

page_text: an apparatus for accumulating gas at any given pressure, thereby ensuring a
constant and regular supply of gas. It is constructed in the following manner
(see Fig. 8) A hollow vessel 9, 9 is formed with a conical recess 10, 10 at each
end having a disc of india rubber 11. 11. spread over the mouth or larger diameter
of the conical recess and is secured all round the edge by being bolted between
two flanges 12. 12, so as to be air or gas tight, the centre of the india rubber
11. 11, is attached to a small connecting rod 13. 13. and worked by a crank or
similar means.
At the other end of the connecting rod 13. 13. the crank shaft 14. 14, is caused
to revolve rapidly by a cord on a pulley 15 outside the casting or vessel 9. 9.
Thus when the india rubber disc 11. 11 is drawn out of the conical recess or
casting a quantity of gas rushes through an inlet valve 16 after the receding
rubber disc and is driven out through the outlet valve 17. and along the pipe 18
into the gas reserve, this continues until the pressure on the delivery side equals
the strength of the india rubber disc 11. 11. it then ceases to expel any more gas
by becoming inflated similarly to the gas bag and therefore keeps the gas bag full
and steady. One end of the pipe 18, 18 is prolonged and united to a conical
vessel 19. 19. which is provided with an india rubber disc 20, 20 and into the
other side of this vessel is fixed the end of the inlet pipe 21. 21. As soon as the
pressure increases beyond the desired point the india rubber disc 20. 20. becomes
distorted and closes the end of the inlet pipe 21. 21.
In applying this invention to the vertical form of engine we construct the
cylinders, passage, and poppet valve as shown in detached section at Fig. 9.
Having now-described-the-nature-and-object of our said Invention together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention.
First; So constructing gas engines as to allow of introducing a combustible
mixture of air and gas into a cylinder in front of the motor cylinder during the
outstroke of its piston, and expelling the combustible mixture on its return stroke
into a passage leading between the two pistons, such passage being utilized as a
compression chamber and the contents being ignited at every revolution of the
engine as herein before described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Secondly the arrangement of the poppet valve in the before mentioned passage
or space
Thirdly, the arrangement of governors and their appendages as herein before
described and illustrated.
Fourthly the use of a perforated metal tube in connection with a curtailing
screw in a slide or other valve substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein before set forth.
Fifthly the apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated by Fig. 8. of the
drawings for increasing the pressure of the gas consisting of a vibrating disc of
india rubber spread over a conical or other recess or cavity so that when the gas
has attained a certain pressure the rubber becomes distorted so as to cease pumping
or compressing the gas.
In witness whereof I the said John Nuttall (on behalf of myself and the said
William Blackett Haigh) have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventeenth
day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
eighty three.