IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hallewell, of the Firm of Messieurs Hallowell,
Bentley, and Company, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
Sealed the 22nd June 1877, and dated the 23rd December 1876.
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Hallewell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1876.
RICHARD HALLEWELL, of the Firm of Messieurs Hallowell, Bentley, and Com-
pany, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
MOTOR ENGINES."
The Invention relates,-
Firstly. To the class of engine where the expansion of gas and air on being fired
act upon the piston as the motive power, and transmit by connections the motion
direct to the engine shaft. For the purpose of ensuring a more gradual combustion
of the gas with consequent gradual accumulation of force I provide for the cylinder
a perforated false bottom through or by way of which the inflainable gas passes to
the cylinder. The valves are so timed as to permit the piston drawing into the
cylinder a quantity of atmospheric air, whereon the gas is injected under the per-
forated plate by means of a pump (or it may be drawn in by the continued move-
ment of the piston), and passes through the perforations in a divided state, and its
consumption is gradual, a rapid firing or explosion being avoided.
I have above described a single-acting engine; a double-acting engine may be
operated in the like manner.
Secondly. To the construction of engines having three cylinders. In a vertical
engine of this class above the main or explosion cylinder is a sinaller and inverted
cylinder or air pump; the latter communicates by means of a pipe with the third
cylinder, which in its construction and fittings is after the manner of an ordinary
double or single acting high-pressure engine. Between the top of the explosion
cylinder, which is open, and the inverted cylinder or air pump there is space and a
stuffing box through which a piston rod works, and which rod connects the pistons
in these two cylinders. The bottom of the inverted cylinder or air pump is closed,
except by way of an inwards working flap, or other valve. When the piston of
the inverted cylinder or air pump ascends the air above the piston is discharged
Paina 2271

page_text: by way of a pipe or opening near the top of the 'said cylinder, there being space
between the discharge pipe and the lid or top of the cylinder for a cushion of
air, so as to prevent the piston at any time coming in contact with the top of the
cylinder.
The action or working in as follows:-On a charge of gas or air being fired in
the explosion chamber under the piston of the explosion cylinder the piston in the
latter and the piston in the inverted cylinder or air pump are forced upwards; this
movement discharges the air from the open top of the explosion cylinder, whilst the
inverted cylinder or air pump becomes charged with air entering by way of the flap
or other valve referred to. The atmospheric pressure upon the piston of the explosion
cylinder now forces down the piston, its rod being connected to the piston of the
inverted cylinder or air pump; the latter piston compresses and forces the air
thereout, and by way of the connecting pipe through one or other of the ports of
the third cylinder, the piston and rod of which by ordinary connections transmit
the power to the main shaft of the engine.
The pistons of the explosion and inverted cylinder or air pump may be
connected by means of guide or connecting rods, and a cross head instead of a
central piston rod.
•
'
The air from the inverted cylinder or air pump may be used for blast purposes, a
sufficient quantity being directed by way of the connecting pipes to the ports to
keep the valves and firing parts in motion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Richard Hallewell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
June 1877.
"
RICHARD HALLEWELL, of the Firm of Messieurs Hallewell, Bentley, and Com-
pany, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
The Invention relates,―
Firstly. To the class of engine where the expansion of gas and air on being fired
act upon the piston as the motive power, and transmit by connections the motion
direct to the engine shaft. For the purpose of ensuring a more gradual combustion
of the gas with consequent gradual accumulation of force I provide for the cylinder
a perforated false bottom through or by way of which the inflamable gas passes to
the cylinder. The valves are so timed as to permit the piston drawing into the
cylinder a quantity of atmospheric air, whereon the gas is injected under the per-
forated plate by means of a pump (or it may be drawn in by the continued move-
ment of the piston), and passes through the perforatious in a divided state, and its
consumption is gradual, a rapid firing or explosion being avoided.
I have above described a single-acting engine; a double-acting engine may be
operated in the like manner.
Secondly. To the construction of engines having three cylinders. In a vertical
engine of this class above the main or explosion cylinder is a smaller and inverted
cylinder or air pump; the latter communicates by means of a pipe with the third
cylinder, which in its construction and fittings is after the manner of an ordinary
double or single acting high-pressure engine. Between the top of the explosion
cylinder, which is open, and the inverted cylinder or air pump there is space and a
stuffing box through which a piston rod works, and which rod connects the pistons
in these two cylinders. The bottom of the inverted cylinder or air pump is closed,
except by way of an inwards working flap or other valve. When the piston of the
inverted cylinder or air pump ascends the air above the piston is discharged by
• way of a pipe or opening near the top of the said cylinder, there being space
between the discharge pipe and the lid or top of the cylinder for a cushion of

page_text: air, so as to prevent the piston at any time coming in contact with the top of the
cylinder.
The action or working is as follows :—On n charge of gas and air being fired in
the explosion chamber under the piston of the explosion cylinder the piston in the
latter and the piston in the inverted cylinder or air pump are forced upwards; this
novement discharges the air from the open top of the explosion cylinder, whilst the
inverted cylinder or air pump becomes charged with air entering by way of the flap
or valve referred to. The atmospheric pressure upon the piston of the explosion
cylinders now forces down the piston, its rod being connected to the piston of the
inverted cylinder or air pump; the latter piston compresses and forces the air
thereout, and by way of the connecting pipe through one or other of the ports of
the cylinder, the piston and rod of which by ordinary connections transmit the
power to the main shaft of the engine.
The pistons of the explosion and inverted cylinders or air pump may be connected
by means of guide or connecting rods and a cross head instead of a central piston
rod.
The air from the inverted cylinder or air pump may be used for blast purposes, a
sufficient quantity being diverted by way of the connecting pipes to the parts to keep
the valves and going parts in motion.
The construction and action of the engines and the parts thereof will be fully
understood on reference to the Drawings, aided by the following description
thereof.
'
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is an elevation partly in section of an engine constructed
according to the first part of my Invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are sections of the valve (for supplying gas and air) shewn in
the various positions for bringing the parts or entrance and exit ways linable.
The Invention relates, firstly, to the class of engine where the expansion of gas
and air on being fired in the cylinder 1 act upon the piston 2 as the motive power,
and transmit by connections 3, 4, the motion direct to the engine shaft 5. For the
purpose of ensuring a more gradual combustian of the gas with consequent gradual
accumulation of force, I provide for the cylinder 1 a perforated false bottom 6
through or by way of which the inflamable gas passes to the cylinder 1. The valves
7 are so timed as to permit the piston 2 drawing into the cylindor 1 a quantity of
atmospheric air by way of the port 8 when the aperture 9 and 10 are linable,
whereon the gas is injected under the perforated plate 11 by the pump 12 by way
of the ports 9 and 10.
At Figs. 6 and 7 the valves are shewn having entrance ways for gas and for air
to the pump 15 to be forced into the cylinder; or the gas may be drawn in by the
continued movement of the piston, and passes through the perforations in a divided
state, and its consumption is gradual, a rapid firing or explosion being avoided.
The valve 7 is operated or moved by ineans of the tappet 11 acting upon the
runner 12, the spring 13 serving to return the valve when the tappet is past
the runners. The piston rod and piston 15 are worked by the conical tappet 16
on the engine shaft. The governors 17 operate the bell-crank lever 18; the upper
arm of the latter moves the conical tappet 10 upon its shaft, and so brings a smaller
diameter of the said tappet to act upon the runner 19, moving the rod and piston
15 a smaller distance, and so giving a less quantity of gas as the speed of the engine
increases.
The construction of engine referred to under the second heading is shewn on
Sheet 2, the view being an elevation partly in section. In a vertical engine of this
class above the main or explosion cylinder 1 is a smaller and inverted cylinder or
air pump 2; the latter communicates by means of a pipe 3 with the third cylinder
4, which in its construction and fittings is after the manner of an ordinary double
or single acting high-pressure engine. Between the top of the explosion cylinder 1,
which is open, and the inverted cylinder or air puinp 2 there is space 5 and a stuffing
box 6 through which a piston rod 7 works, and which rod connects the pistons 8
and 9 in these two cylinders. The bottom of the inverted cylinder or air pump 2

page_text: is closed, except by way of an inwards working flap or other valve 10. When the
piston 9 of the inverted cylinder or air pump 2 ascends the air above the piston is
discharged by way of a pipe or opening 11 near the top of the said cylinder, there
being space between the discharge openings 11 and the lid or top of the cylinder
for a cushion of air, so as to prevent the piston at any time coming in contact
with the top of the cylinder.
The action or working is as follows:-On a charge of gas and air being fired in
the explosion chamber under the piston of the explosion cylinder the pistons 8 and 9
in the latter and the piston in the inverted cylinder or air pump are forced
upwards; this movement discharges the air from the open top of the explosion
cylinder (as shewn by arrow), whilst the inverted cylinder or air pump becomes
charged with air entering by way of the flap or valve 10 referred to. The atinospheric
pressure upon the piston of the explosion clyinder 8 now forces down the piston, its
rod being connected to the piston 9 of the inverted cylinder or air pump; the
latter piston compresses and forces the air thereout, and by way of the con-
necting pipe through one or other of the ports of the cylinder 4, the piston' and
rod of which by ordinary connections transmit the power to the main shaft of the
engine.
The pistons of the explosion and inverted cylinders or air pump may be connected
by means of guide or connecting rods and a cross head instead of a central piston rod.
The air from the inverted cylinder or air pump may be used for blast purposes,
a sufficient quantity being diverted by way of the connecting pipes to the parts to
keep the valves and going parts in motion.
The valves 12 of the cylinder 4 are arranged to cut off the air that the latter
may work on the expansion principle; as in a steam engine 'the air exhausts at about
atmospheric pressure. When from any cause a vacuum occurs in the cylinder 4
the valve or valves 13 are opened by pressure of atmosphere, and air is admitted
to the cylinder 4.
The valve for admitting air and gas to the "explosion chamber" and apparatus
for raising the piston 8 form no portion of the present Invention, being similar to
the appliances for a like purpose, as described in a Specification of Letters Patent,
No. 2826, A.D. 1875.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my said Invention,
I would have it understood that in reference to the engine and apparatus shewn on
Sheet 1 that what I claim is,―
Firstly. The combination of the valves 7 and the pump 15, as and for the purpose
described.
Secondly. I claim the perforated plate 6.
Thirdly. I claim the lever 8 and conical cam 16 for regulating the action of the
pump 15.
Fourthly. (Referring now to engine shewn on Sheet 2) I claim the combination
of the cylinders 1 and 2, the pistons 8 and 9 acting in conjunction with the cylinder
4, or its equivalent, and the valves 13, in the manner and for the purpose herein
fully described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Hallewell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Blackburn.
RICHARD HALLEWELL. (LS.)