Year: 1899

page_text: I, JOSEPH WILLIAMS, Jr., of Maeder Building, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.,
Mechanic, 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 and
by the following statement:-
Reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of the
specification, in which
Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved gas engine.
Fig. 2 is a plan view.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line III III of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal horizontal section taken on the line IV. IV. of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view of the telescoping water cooling construction.
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line VI. VI. of Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is a cross section on an enlarged scale taken on the line VII. VII.
of Fig. 1.
Fig. 8, is a sectional detail view of the valve mechanism taken on the
line VIII. VIII. of Fig. 2.
Fig. 9, is a vertical section through the mixing valve taken on the line IX. IX.
of Fig. 2.
Fig. 10, is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line X. X. of Fig. 9.
Fig. 11, is a detail view in horizontal cross section of the valve 25 and its
ring 28, in the position for admitting air.
Fig. 12, is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 9 illustrating a modified
construction.
Fig. 13, is a detail view showing the cam actuating device for the igniter.
Figs. 14 to 17 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrative of the successive
operations performed by the engine and the positions of the rotary valves.
My invention relates to the class of explosive engines and is designed for
the purpose of obtaining an engine capable of receiving an impulse at each
stroke and for the purpose of applying the resultant force to a common main
shaft through the medium of a plurality of pistons centrally arranged in tandem,
mounted in a series of similarly arranged cylinder chambers, wherein is pro-
duced a cycle of explosions; the operations of explosion, discharge, suction and
compression being performed successively. It also consists in certain details
of construction as shall be hereinafter described.
The engine is designed to transmit the power generated in the explosion
chambers in a constant succession of strokes, thereby obviating the usual delays
incident to the performance of the functions when performed in engines of
single or double cylinder construction, and the transmission of the forces is
maintained in a common central line, thus avoiding unequal strain on the
working parts of the engine and main shaft.
Referring to the drawings-2 is the base of the engine, upon which and

page_text: secured to or made integral therewith are the oppositely disposed single acting
cylinders b, c.
Between the cylinders is a crank chamber 3 the bottom of which constitutes
an oil or water reservoir 4 adapted to contain, if desired, a lubricant for oiling
the working parts.
To the ends of the cylinders b, c, are secured the supplemental cylinders a, d,
the inner heads 5 of such cylinders constituting outer heads for cylinders b, c,
while the outer cylinders a, d, are closed by heads 6.
Mounted in each cylinder respectively are the pistons 7, 7b, 7", and 74, the
inner of which 7b, and 7º, are rigidly connected by a suitable intervoning struc-
ture as the framework 8. As shown in the drawing this framework is provided
with openings at top and bottom to provide clearance for the crank and connect-
ing rod and longitudinal openings at the side for passage of the main shaft.
Supplemental piston rods 9 connect the outer pistons 7 and 7d with the inner
ones 7 and 7° whereby the four pistons are thus rigidly connected in one struc-
ture, and are designated to operate as one within the various cylinder chambers.
As shown these rods 9 are hollow, and have a telescope connection with inner
tubes 9¹ connected with a source of water supply outside of the engine, and
deliver a stream of water through the piston rods into the interior of the space
and against the working bearings, whereby the rods and other working parts
are kept cool.
3
Mounted in suitable bearings 10 in the frame of the engine is the main shaft 11
provided with cranks 12 arranged in line with the cylinder.
or
Connected to one of the inner piston heads 7° and to the crank by wrist pin 13
is the connecting rod 14 by which motion is transmitted to the shaft due to
the explosions in either direction, either directly on the forward stroke
through the intervening framework 8 on the backward stroke. It is designed
that an explosion shall occur in each of the cylinder chambers in succession at
each stroke, or within two revolutions of the crank, thereby producing a con-
tinuous action, by which time the first cylinder chamber will be again ready
to operate, and for this purpose each cylinder is provided with a valve adapted
to deliver to it a charge of the explosive mixture or to permit escape there-
from of the exploded mixture. These valves consist of cylindrical shells 14².
opening into the interior of each cylinder at its outer end, rotatably mounted
in a valve casing made integral with the cylinder, provided with an inlet port 15
and outlet port 16, with which a port 17 through the shell of the valve is
adapted to register to admit of charging by suction or of discharging the pro-
ducts of combustion.
The outlet port 16 is in communication with downwardly directed exhaust
pipes 42 leading to exhaust conduits 43, incorporated with the frame of the
engine and opening into the interior of the hollow base 2 from which an exhaust
discharge pipe 44 leads outwardly to the atmosphere or any point of discharge.
By this means the discharge is muffled and the report of the exhaust is obviated.
The valves 14 are rotated by means of bevel gearing 18, 19, from shaft 20,
operated through miter gearing 21 from the main shaft 11. The valves are set
to open and close the ports in conformity with the successive steps of suction,
compression, explosion and discharge, as clearly shown by the diagrams com-
prised in Figs. 14 to 17, each valve making a complete rotation during two
entire revolutions (four strokes) of the engine, as controlled by the bevel gear-
ing.
For the purpose of accurately controlling and regulating the explosive mix-
ture, I employ the mixing valve 22, set midway between each pair of valves 14',
opening into a conduit 23 leading to each valve and terminating in the inlet
ports 15. This mixer valve comprises an outer shell 24 in which are concen-
trically mounted an inner partially rotating hollow valve 25 opening down-
wardly toward the conduit 23 and provided with a series of lower ports 26
adapted to register with similar ports 27 of an adjustable air inlet ring 28.

page_text: These ports when in register communicate with the surrounding interior space 29
of the valve casing into which opens the air supply pipe 30. The valve 25 is
provided with one or more ports 31 adapted to register with one or more similar
porta 32 of an adjustable gas inlet ring 33, which ports when in register com-
municate with a gas supply pipe 34. Each of the rings 28 and 83 is capable
of being accurately adjusted to control the amount of admission of gas and air
relatively to each other by means of the worm wheels 344 engaging worm teeth 35
on the face of the valve and operated from the exterior by stems 36. This
arrangement permits of the setting of the valve to admit the proper mixture of
air and gas to the engine at all times, independent in variations in quality or
pressure of the gas.
It will be understood also that the air ring 28 may be stationary and the gas
ring 38 only made adjustable, or the air ring may be dispensed with and the
ports 27 made through the inner shell of the casing. For the purpose of ensur-
ing a more thorough admixture of the air and gas the gas inlet may be provided
with a number of ports and located below the air inlet as in Fig. 12, and I
desire to include as within the scope of the invention such reversal of their
respective positions. Also, an annular chamber may be provided for the gas
in a similar manner as the air space 29 and a plurality of ports provided, their
areas being respectively reduced to conform to the desired proportions.
The internal cylinder valve 25 is adapted to govern the supply of gas to the
valves in proportion to the work of the engine and its speed, and to this end the
valves are connected by means of levers 37, connecting rods 38 and crank 39
to the operative part 40 of a regulating governor 41.
Ignition of the gas is produced by electrical contact of a stationary arm 45
and movable arm 46 mounted in a plug 47 and insulated from each other, and
in electrical communication with the terminals y of an electrical generator z.
The movable arm 46 is operated through a pivoted lever 48 connected at 49 to
a vertically reciprocating arm 50, mounted in suitable bearings, provided with
a depressing spring 51 and having on its lower end a roller 52 bearing on a
cam 53, mounted on the hub of the valve 14¹ or upon the bevel wheel shaft, so
as to revolve with it. This cam is so located in relation to each valve 14' as
to make contact and produce a spark at the time when the mixture is com-
pressed and ready to explode, in the manner usual with this class of engines.
Referring to Figs. 14 to 17 inclusive, the operation through two revolutions
of the crank is illustrated, each cylinder performing its functions as indicated.
Thus in Fig. 14 when an explosion takes place in cylinder d, succeeding an
explosion in cylinder a, the explosion will produce a discharge of the products
of combustion in cylinder a, while the operations of compression and suction
are going on in cylinders b, and c, during the stroke of the piston. The return
stroke is caused by an explosion in cylinder b, accompanied by a discharge in
cylinder d, while suction and compression are being produced in cylinders_a,
and c.
In a similar manner on the next stroke, explosion in cylinder c, dis-
charge in b, suction in d, and compression in a, while on the fourth stroke the
5 explosion will occur in a, discharge in c, suction in b, and compression in d,
thus completing the cycle, when the cylinder d, will be again ready to explode
at the fifth stroke, the operation continuing in regular order and producing
a steady, continuous and powerful action of the engine.
Each cylinder and its contained piston constitutes a single acting engine and
by reason of the construction of the assembled pistons, each piston head is acted
upon independently in succession, the motion being transmitted through the
connecting rod to the crank.
Between the inner and outer cylinders are the stuffing box glands 54 for pack-
ing the piston rods, openings 55 being left in the sides of the cylinders for
adjustment.
The sides of the main frame are preferably left open for convenience of con-
struction, and for access to the inferior.

page_text: The advantage of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art of gas engines, and while changes and modifications may be made in the
design or proportions, I desire to include all such changes as within the scope
of my invention.
"
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 consider novel and desire to claim is:-
What I claim is:
1. A four cycle explosion engine comprising four cylinders in line provided
with pistons rigidly connected, and also provided with valves and igniting
devices so operated and timed that the four separate steps of suction, compres
sion, explosion, and exhaust take place successively in each cylinder whereby
the engine receives an impulse with every stroke, substantially as set forth.
2. A four cycle explosion engine consisting of a main frame provided with
oppositely disposed inner cylinders and an intervening crank chamber, supple-
mental outer cylinders beyond the inner cylinders, such cylinders being pro-
vided with valves and igniting devices and means whereby such valves are
operated so that these four separate steps of suction, compression, explosion
and exhaust take place successively and a series of rigidly connected pistons
mounted in the cylinders with a connecting rod secured to the crank and to
such piston structure, substantially as set forth.
3. A four cycle explosion engine consisting of a main frame provided with
oppositely disposed inner cylinders, an intervening crank chamber, supple-
montal outer cylinders beyond the inner cylinders, pistons mounted in the
inner cylinders having intervening rigid connections with clearance spaces for
the shaft, crank, and connecting rod, a connecting rod secured to one of the
inner pistons and to the crank of the engine, pistons mounted in the outer
cylinders on rods secured to the inner pistons, and valves and igniting devices
so operated and timed that the four separate steps of suction, compression, ex-
plosion and exhaust take place auccessively in each cylinder whereby the engine
receives an impulse with every stroke, substantially as set forth.
4. A four cycle explosion engine comprising four cylinders in line, a rigidly
connected piston structure provided with piston heads adapted to operate in the
cylinders, internal telescoping water supply pipes for cooling the piston rods,
governor controlled gas and air mixing valves with conduits leading to the
cylinder valves and cylinder valves provided with ports adapted to communi-
cate with the interior of the cylinders and with inlet and outlet ports respec-
tively.
5. A four cycle explosion engine comprising four cylinders in line, a rigidly
connected piston structure provided with piston heads adapted to operate in
the cylinders, internal telescoping water supply pipes for cooling the piston
rods, governor controlled gas and air mixing valves with conduits leading to
the cylinder valves, cylinder valves provided with ports adapted to communi-
cate with the interior of the cylinders and with inlet and outlet ports respec-
tively, and exhaust conduits communicating with the cylinder valves and with
a muffler chamber in the base of the engine provided with an exhaust outlet.
6. In a gas engine, a gas and air mixing valve consisting of an outer shell,
gas and air supply openings therein, a rotating valve provided with gas and air
ports, and a common opening leading into the mixture conduit; and inter-
véning rings provided with gas and air ports respectively adapted to communi-
cate with the gas and air openings of the valve shell and with the ports of the
rotating valve.
7. In a gas engine, a gas and air mixing valve consisting of an outer shell,
gas and air supply openings therein, a rotating valve provided with gas and air
ports and a common opening leading into the mixture conduit and intervening

page_text: rings provided with gas and air ports respectively adapted to communicate with
the gas and air openings of the valve shell and with the ports of the rotating
valve, and provided with means for adjusting them independently to control the
flow of the gas and air to the rotating valve.
8. In a gas engine, the combination of a speed controlled governor, a gas and
air mixing valve consisting of an outer shell, gas and air supply openings
therein, a rotating valve connected with and adapted to be operated by the
governor provided with gas and air ports and a common opening leading into
a mixture conduit, intervening adjustable rings provided with ports adapted to
register with the gas and air openings of the valve shell and with the ports of
the rotating valve, and cylinder valves in communication with the mixture con-
duit, the cylinders and exhaust conduits.
9. In a gas engine provided with a plurality of cylinders in line and valves
adapted to control the admission of the explosive mixture to the cylinders and
the exhaust therefrom, and having a closed chamber in the base of the engine
with a conduit leading therefrom, and exhaust conduits leading from the cylinder
valves to the closed chamber.
10. In a gas engine, a multiple piston structure comprising two inner piston
heads rigidly connected, and two supplemental piston heads, one beyond each
of the inner piston heads, mounted on extended hollow piston rods secured to
and projecting outwardly from the inner piston heads, and inner pipes telescop-
ing within the hollow piston rods adapted to furnish water therethrough and
to the interior from a stationary source of supply.
Toted this fith dow of Namba 1900
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.