An Improved Gas Engine Convertible into an Oil Engine; or vice versa
Year: 1896

page_text: VISIONAL SP.
TION.
An Improved Gas Engine Convertible into an Oil Engine;
or vice versa.
ARTHUR EDWIN LONES High Street Princes End Staffordshire, Draughtsman do
hereby declare the nature of this, invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an engine the various parts of which are so arranged and
combined together that either a mixture of coal gas and air, or other explosive
gaseous mixture, or a mixture of petroleum or other hydro-carbon oil vapour and
air may be used to give the motive-power to the engine piston. A gear similar in
principle to that described in a prior Specification No. 1046 for 1895 A.D.
is used to operate the valves of the engine.
Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal section of the vapourizer.
Fig. 2 is a section shewing exhaust valve.
Fig. 3 is a section shewing manner of connecting air-valve and gas or vapour
inlet valve together, so that they can be operated simultaneously.
Fig. 4 is a section shewing electric-ignition arrangement.
Metal or other tubes A (Fig. 1) are suitably fixed to two circular plates B, B¹,
which are turned to fit tightly in bored recesses of a cylindrical casting C. An
asbestos or other packing-ring D is interposed between the plate B and a cover E,
which screws to or is fixed by pins or bolts to the casting C. A circular plate F,
having perforations which come opposite to the ends of the tubes A, is fixed over a
recess leading to an inlet G in the cover E. A screw tube or nipple I serves to
connect the casting C to the exhaust passage N (Fig. 2); or it has an opening
leading into the exhaust passage N and is fixed to the cover E by pins or bolts.
The exhaust passage N, gas inlet, and oil vapor inlet passage are formed
independently of each other in the cylinder cover I of the engine.
When using petroleum or other hydro-carbon oil, the latter is forced, by a suitable
pump driven from the engine, through the inlet G and perforated plate F into the
tubes A. Here it is vaporized and passes on through a passage H in a screw-plug K
which screws into a passage leading to the inlet valve R (Fig. 3).
A check valve fitted in the inlet G may act as a delivery valve to the forcing-
pump. Instead of using a forcing-pump the oil may gravitate from a tank through
a tuhe connected to the inlet G and fitted with a regulating cock or valve. The
screw-plug K serves further to connect the casting C to the engine cylinder-cover I
and can be used as a cock or valve to regulate or entirely shut off communication
with the inlet valve R and the vaporizer.
In starting the engine the tubes A are heated by a suitable blast lamp the nozzle
of which is inserted through an opening in the casting C. On removing the lamp
the opening is closed by a screw-plug, or a cover, and the exhaust gases, which pass
through the exhaust valve 0 (Fig. 2) and passage N into the interior of the
casting C (Fig. 1), afterwards heat the tubes. An opening M in the casting C
permits the exhaust gases to escape to the atmosphere

page_text: When working the engine with coal gas, or other explosive gas, the latter is
admitted through a passage P (Fig. 3), fitted with a stop-cock or valve, to the inlet
valve R which has a spindle or rod T. passing through a stuffing-box S and acted
upon by a spring to close the valve R. A slot bar fixed to the air-valve V engages
with a pin on the back of inlet valve R to open the latter. The air-valve V is a
operated by a lever fitted with a hardened steel sliding-block or sleeve, which is
connected to suitable governors and acted upon by a cam on a shaft driven by a chain
and chain-wheels from the engine crank-shaft. An anti-friction roller or rollers may
be fitted on the sliding-block or upon the cam. Or a friction-roller fitted to the free
end of an arm keyed on the chain-wheel shaft may be used, a somewhat longer
sliding-block being required, in this case. A spring inserted between the head of the
spindle W and a metal bridge, or bar, above the air-valve closes the latter. The
chain may be adjusted for tension by passing under a groove roller or a chain wheel
fitted to a screw-rod, attached to some fixed part of the engine and adjusted by a
screw-nut; or a chain-wheel larger than the smaller chain-wheel may be inserted
between the chain.
The exhaust valve O is closed by a spring, and opened by a cam or arm fitted with
a friction-roller and acting upon a block Z adjustably fixed by a screw to a lever Y
connected to the valve-spindle. A piston, fitted with spring rings to work air-tight
within a cylinder fixed to the engine cylinder cover I, is connected by a short rod to
the back of the exhaust valve to facilitate the opening of the latter in large sized
engines. The exhaust valve spindle and the short rod are made in one piece and
have a passage through them.to keep communication open between the atmosphere
and the closed end of this cylinder.. Ports or passages in the circumference and near
the other end of the cylinder permits the exhaust gases from the engine cylinder to
escape to the exhaust valve. The valve-seats may be formed of tubular pieces
screwing into the cover; or they may be turned tubular pieces having a flange at
one end and a screw-nut at the other end for securing them in bored holes in the
engine cylinder cover.
The explosive mixture in the engine cylinder is, preferably, ignited by an electric
spark which passes between two metal rods A, B, (Fig. 4), as they separate from
each other shortly after the engine piston has commenced to move on its forward
stroke. The rod A passes through an insulating packing held in a cavity in the
engine cover C by a stuffing-nut 1). A tubular part screws to the nut. D and
encloses insulating washers and a spring which acts upon a collar of the rod A, to
allow the latter to yield slightly when struck by the rod B. The rod B is fixed in
any suitable manner, and insulated or not, to the engine piston G and its end which
comes in contact with the rod A may be made of a wedge, coned, or other suitable
shape to give a slight rubbing action. A rod extending from the rod B moves in
contact with a metal strip insulated and fixed to some fixed part of the engine.
A small dynamo, driven from the engine and fitted with a clutch for use when
driving it by hand in starting the engine, or a battery connected or not, with wire
coiled on one or more iron or steel bobbins and with the rod A and metal strip,
stipplies the current required. Or. an accumulator connected with a suitable switch
arrangement may be charged during the running of the dynamo and afterwards be
used to give the current required. A porcelain or other tube may be heated by a
Bunsen flame enclosed in a fire-clay lined casing to ignite the charge instead of using
the electric method.
In vertical engines the engine cylinder is fixed to a bed-plate, by means of four
steel or iron turned pillars, provided with abutment collars and securing nuts at each
end. Where a very regular motion is required, as in driving dynamos, etc., two or
more cylinders or tubular liners, within which the engine pistons work, are fitted in
an outer shell provided with a single inlet and outlet for cooling water. The cranks
are arranged at suitable angles to each other and the chain-wheel shaft is driven by
a single chain and two chain-wheels from the crank-shaft. In vertical engines of
this type, the outer shell is fixed to a bed plate by six or more iron or steel pillars
baving abutment collars and securing-nuts at each end.

page_text: The engine cylinder cover is water jacketted, or not. A chamber may be cast or
formed in the bed-plate to contain the petroleumn, or other oil, which is pump
therefrom by a small force-pump driven by suitable mechanism from the
crank-shaft.
Dated this 17th day of October 1896
An Improved Gas Engine Convertible into an Oil Engine;
or vice versa.
I, ARTHUR EDWIN LONES, High Street, Princes End, Staffordshire Draughtsman,
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:-
This invention relates to an engine the various parts of which are so arranged and
combined together, that either a mixture of coal gas and air, or other explosive
gaseous mixture, or a mixture of petroleum or other hydro-carbon oil vapour and air
may be used to give the motive power to the engine piston. A gear similar in
principle to that described in a prior Specification No. 1046 for 1895 A.D. is used to
operate the valves of the engine.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification.
Figure 1. shews a longitudinal section of the vaporiser.
Fig. 2. is a section shewing exhaust valve.
Figure 3. is a section shewing manner of connecting air-valve and gas or vapour
inlet valve together so that they can be operated simultaneously.
Figure 4. is a section shewing electric-ignition arrangements.
Metal or other tubes A (Fig. 1.) are suitably fixed to two circular plates B, B¹ which
are turned to fit tightly in bored recesses of a cylindrical casting C. An asbestos or
other packing ring D is interposed between the plate B and a cover E which screws to
or is fixed by pins or bolts to the casting C. A circular plate F, having perforations
which come opposite to the ends of the tube A is fixed over a recess leading to an
inlet G in the cover E. A screw tube or nipple L serves to connect the casting C to
the exhaust passage N (Fig. 2.) or it has an opening leading into the exhaust passage N
and is fixed to the cover E by pins or bolts. The exhaust passage N, gas inlet
and oil vapour inlet passage are formed independently of each other in the cylinder
cover I of the engine.
When using petroleum or other hydro-carbon oil, the latter is forced by a suitable
pump driven from the engine, through the inlet G and perforated plate F into the
tubes A. Here it is vaporised and passes on through a passage H in a screw plug K
which screws into a passage leading to the inlet valve R (Fig. 3). A check valve
fitted in the inlet G may act as a delivery valve to the forcing pump. Instead of
using a forcing pump the oil may gravitate from a tank through a tube connected
to the inlet G and fitted with a regulating cock or valve. The screw plug K serves
further to connect the casting C to the engine cylinder-cover I and can be used as a
cock or valve to regulate or entirely shut off communication with the inlet valve R
and the vaporiser.
In starting the engine the tubes A are heated by a suitable blast lamp the nozzle
of which is inserted through an opening in the casting C. On removing the lamp
the opening is closed by a screw plug on a cover and the exhaust gases, which pass
through the exhaust valve O (Fig. 2) and passages N into the interior of the casting C

page_text: (Fig. 1.) afterwards heating the tubes. An opening M in the casting C permits the
exhaust gases to escape to the atmosphere.
When working the engine with coal gas, or other explosive gas, the latter is
admitted through a passage P (Fig. 3), fitted with a stop-cock or valve, to the inlet
valve R which has a spindle or rod T passing through a stuffing-box S and acted
upon by a spring to close the valve R. A slot-bar fixed to the air valve V engages
with a pin on the back of inlet valve R to open the latter. The air valve V is
operated by a lever fitted with a hardened steel sliding block or sleeve, which is
connected to suitable governors and acted upon by a cam on a shaft driven by a
chain and chain wheels from the engine crank shaft. An anti-friction roller or
rollers may be fitted on the sliding block or upon the cam. Or a friction roller fitted
to the free end of an arm keyed on the chain wheel shaft may be used, a somewhat
longer sliding block being required in this case. A spring inserted between the head
of the spindle W and a metal bridge, or bar, above the air valve closes the latter.
The chain may be adjusted for tension by passing under a groove roller, or a chain
wheel fitted to a screw rod, attached to some fixed part of the engine and adjusted
by a screw nut; or a chain wheel larger than the smaller chain wheel may be inserted
between the chain.
The exhaust valve O is closed by a spring and opened by a cam or arm fitted with
a friction roller and acting upon a block Z adjustably fixed by a screw to a lever Y
connected to the valve-spindle. A piston, fitted with spring rings to work airtight
within a cylinder fixed to the engine cylinder cover I, is connected by a short rod to
the back of the exhaust valve O to facilitate the opening of the latter in large-sized
engines. The exhaust valve spindle and the short rod are made in one piece and
have a passage through them to keep communication open between the atinosphere
and the closed end of this cylinder. Ports or passages in the circumference and near
the other end of the cylinder permits the exhaust gases from the engine cylinder to
escape to the exhaust valve. The valve seats may be formed of tubular pieces
screwing into the cover; or they may be turned tubular pieces having a flange at
one and a screw nut at the other end for securing them in bored holes in the engine
cylinder cover.
The explosive mixture in the engine cylinder is preferably ignited by an electric
spark which passes between two metal rods A, B (Fig. 4.) as they separate from each.
other shortly after the engine piston has commenced to move on its forward stroke.
The rod A passes through an insulating packing held in a cavity in the engine cover C
by a stuffing nut D. A tubular part F screws to the nut D and enclosed insulating
washers and a spring which acts upon a collar of the rod A to allow the latter to yield
slightly when struck by the rod B. The rod B is fixed in any suitable manner, and
insulated or not, to the engine piston G and its end which comes in contact with
the rod A may be made of a wedge coned, or other suitable shape to give a slight
rubbing action. A rod extending from the rod B moves in contact with a meta!
strip insulated and fixed to some fixed part of the engine. A small dynamo, driven
from the engine and fitted with a clutch for use when driving it by hand in starting
the engine, or a battery connected, or not, with wire coiled on one or more iron or
steel bobbins and with the rod A and metal strip supplies the current required. Or
an accumulator connected with a suitable switchi arrangement may be charged during
the running of the dynamo and afterwards be used to give the current required. Ä
porcelain or other tube may be heated by a Bunsen flame enclosed in a fire-clay lined
casting to ignite the charge instead of using the electric method.
In vertical engines the engine cylinder is fixed to a bed-plate by means of four
steel or iron turned pillars provided with abutment collars and securing nuts at each
end. Where a very regular motion is required, as in driving dynamos, etc., two or
more cylinders or tubular liners within which the engine pistons work are fitted, in
an outer shell provided with a single inlet and outlet for cooling water. The cranks
are arranged at suitable angles to each other and the chain wheel shaft is driven by
a single chain and two chain wheels from the crank shaft. In vertical engines of
this type, the outer shell is fixed to a bed plate by six or more iron or steel pillars

page_text: having abutment collars and securing nuts at each end. The cylinder cover is
water-jacketted or not. A chamber may be cast or formed in the bed-plate to
contain the petroleum or other oil, which is pumped therefrom by a small force pump
driven by suitable mechanism from the crank shaft.
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
claim is :-
1. The combined construction and arrangement of the various parts as herein
described and shown and for the purpose set forth.
2. In convertible engines for use with gas or oil, a vaporiser consisting of a series
of tubes carried in a casing or holder. suitable apertures or openings being provided
for the entrance of the oil to the vaporising tubes, exhaust inlets and outlets and
entrance inlets to the cylinder or cylinders for the explosive mixture or vapour, a
perforated plate or disc through which the oil passes to the vaporiser from a suitable
inlet or supply upon which a convenient form of regulator may be placed.
3. In engines of the class herein described a lever or connecting bar or piece so
arranged as to operate the gas inlet and air inlet valves simultaneously for the
purpose described.
4. In electric ignition apparatus for engines of the class herein described a contact
piece carried by the piston and which makes contact with another contact piece
adjustably carried and acted upon by a spring or the like so as to reduce the shock
or concussion when the two contact pieces meet, the meeting parts of which may
be so shaped as to give a rubbing or scraping contact for the purpose of ensuring
the production of a spark for the ignition of the charge, said contact pieces forming
the terminals of an electric circuit.
Dated this 4th day of June 1897