Improvements in Gas and like Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas and like Engines.
I, THOMAS BENTON ROYSE, of San Miguel, in the County of San Luis Obispo,
State of California, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to motive engines, to be impelled by combustible gas,
or like fuel, and to improvements in the method of constructing and operating
such engines; such 'improvements consisting in the employment of multiple
cylinders and pistons, the former mounted and supported within a revolving
ring or form, and the latter connected to a stationary centre bearing, in effect a
crank, set eccentric to the axis of the revolving ring or form that supports the
cylinders.
The invention also consists in a method of introducing the operating fluid at
one end through the axis on which the cylinders revolve, and thence by suitable
drawers, side pipes, valves and ports, to the outer ends of the cylinder and then
by similar ducts and valves expelling the waste gases of combustion through the
axis of the other end of the stationary shaft or axle, with the valves for induction
and eduction, the latter operating by suitable gearing coincidently with alternate
strokes and revolutions of the cylinders.
The invention further consists in centrifugal weights revolving with the
cylinders that by an excess of the speed of the engine's revolution move out-
ward, radially, and by such movement hold the waste valve open permitting the
pistons on their back stroke to draw in charges of air, but not gas or fuel, until
by idle strokes the speed of the engine is diminished to the desired or a pre-
determined rate.
The invention further consists in electrical contacts that engage intermittently
by the engine's revolution, closing an electric circuit which after passing through
suitable conducting wires is broken by electrodes within the cylinders or the
combustion chambers thereof, operating by means of pawl wheels turned by the
engine pistons and a star wheel that engages the electrodes, thus emitting at
alternate revolutions of the engine, a spark to ignite the charges of gas or fuel.
My said invention further includes in a greater or less degree various construc-
tive devices necessary to carry out and apply the above described improvements
in an operative manner, not requiring description in this portion of my
specification.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1898.

page_text: Improvements in Gas and like Engines.
I, THOMAS BENTON ROYSE, of San Miguel, in the County of San Luis Obispo,
State of California, United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in motive engines impelled by
gas or other fuel adapted for internal combustion, and to constructing such
engines with multiple cylinders, for objects hereinafter explained.
My improvements consist in the employment of several or multiple cylinders,
the pistons of which are connected to a stationary crank shaft and to revolve
about the same, the crank being eccentric to the axis of rotation, and the
cylinders attached to and revolving with an outer wheel or drum, having its
bearings upon the crank shaft. Also consists in various devices of a constructive
and operative nature accessory to and forming parts of the complete engine.
The objects of my invention are to secure, by multiple cylinders, a more
uniform turning strain upon the crank than is possible when one or two cylinders
are employed. To render such engines more compact and at high speed and free
from vibration, caused by the reciprocating weights. To dispense with a fly
wheel, and for other objects that will be more fully pointed out in connection
with the drawings herewith, and forming a part of this specification.
Referring to the drawing:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a gas or internal combustion engine, having four
motive cylinders, and constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the same engine.
Fig. 3 is a partial central section of the same engine parallel to the axis of
rotation.
Fig. 4 is a broken view in elevation, of the gearing to operate the eduction
valves.
Fig. 5 is a section through the crank pin, showing, in side view, the manner
of attaching the connecting links thereto. Fig. 6 is a transverse section through
the top of one of the engine cylinders, showing the igniting devices.
Fig. 7 is a partial vertical section through the top of one of the cylinders,
showing the igniting apparatus in a plane, at a right angle to Fig. 6.
The framing of the engine consists of a circular base plate 1, annular in form,
having the tripod standards 2 and 3 fastened thereto, the crank shaft 4, which
is stationary, being held in these standards and fastened by the screws 5, as seen
in Fig. 3.
Surrounding the crank shaft 4 and loosely mounted thereon, is a wheel or
drum 6 constituting the main member of the operating parts, and forming a
support for the cylinders 7, also serving as a pulley from which the power of the
engine can be transmitted by a band.
The cylinders 7, here shown, four in number, can he bolted to the drum 6, or
cast integral therewith, as shown in Fig. 3. These cylinders 7 are set radial
with respect to the axis of revolution and are provided with pistons 8 and con-
necting links 9 in the usual manner. The links 9 are attached to the cross-
pin 10 in the pistons S, and at the other end are provided with segmental bear-
ings 11 held against the crank pin 12 by the collars 13 which embrace the bear-
ings 11 of all the links 9 as seen in Fig. 5.
The operating fluid or fuel, mingled with air, is admitted through the pipe 27
and passage 14 in the centre of the crank shaft 4, then enters the annular
chamber 15 formed in the crank plate 16, then passes through apertures 17
in the nave of the drum 6. up through the side pipes 18 and is drawn through

page_text: the automatic induction valves 19 into the combustion chambers 20. After com-
bustion, and acting on the piston 8, the residual gases are expelled through
the eduction valves 21, passages 22 and apertures 23 into the chamber 24 and
from thence through the passage 25 in the centre of the crank shaft 4, and escapes
by the waste pipe 26, as seen in Fig. 3.
The side pipes 18 are made removable so the crank 16 can be inserted
and the various parts of the engine put together.
The eduction or outlet valve 21 is operated by an oscillating lever 28, pivotted
at 29, moved by a curved helical cam 30, on the gear wheel 31, which cam engages
the oblique face 32 on the lever 28 and presses it outward so the upper end 33
will bear upon and move the stem 34, opening the valve 21 accordingly.
The wheel 31 meshes into the pinion 35, fastened on the crank shaft 4, and
the number of teeth in these wheels 31 and 35 are so proportioned that while
the wheel 31 makes one revolution, bodily, around the crank shaft 4, it will
make one complete revolution on its own axis 36, and thus operate the valve 21 in
conformance with the four-cycle system.
Regulation of the engine's speed is performed by a centrifugal weight 37
that slides on the rod 38, a spring 39 opposing the outward movement of this
weight 37 and a second spring 40 connecting it to the stem 41 of the lever 28,
so that when the speed of the engine exceeds its predetermined rate, the weight 37
moves outward on the rod 38, compressing the spring 39 and by extending the
spring 40 raises the stem 41 and presses the end 33 of the lever 28 inward against
the stem 34, holding the valve 21 open, permitting free circulation through this
valve and preventing a vacuum in the combustion chamber 20, so that no gas or
fuel is drawn in through the valve 19 and the stroke is cut out, or is made
without combustion or impulse. When the speed is sufficiently reduced, the
weight 37 moves inward and the lever 28 resumes its regular function.
The various devices and parts explained in connection with the induction and
eduction of fuel, or gases and air, are quadruple, and the same for each of the
cylinders 7.
On the interior of the projecting rim 41 of the drum I provide oblique air
vanes 42 that act in the manner of a propeller or rotary ventilator that drives
a current of cool air through the drum parallel to its axis, and thus protects
the cylinders and other operating parts from the effects of high temperature.
I employ for igniting the charges of gas or fuel an electric spark caused by
the electrode 43, a star wheel 44 forming the other electrode, making and
breaking contact by intermittent revolution of the star wheel 44, caused by
the ratchet wheel 45 attached thereto but insulated therefrom, both turning
loosely on the stem. or electrode 46.
The ratchet wheel 45 which with the star wheel 44 revolves loosely on the
stem 46 is turned by a hinged pawl 47 attached to the piston 8, which at each
upper stroke of the piston turns the ratchet wheel 45 one tooth, and as there are
twice as many teeth in the wheel 45 as there are in the star wheel 44 the latter
moves one tooth at each alternate upward stroke of the piston 8 and by contact
with the electrode 43 causes a spark igniting the charge at alternate revolutions
of the engine which operates on what is called the four-cycle system.
The electrode 43 passing through the side of the cylinder 7 and the stem 40
form electrodes, both insulated from the cylinder 7 as shown in Fig. 6 so the
current conducted by the wires 48, 49, will not pass through the metal portions
of the engine.
As the electrical igniting devices form part of the rotating portions of the
engine, current is introduced by the contact plates 50 and 51 preferably made of
non-conducting material, the one 50 attached to and revolving with the engine
cylinders, and the other plate 51 being attached to the crank shaft 4 or other
stationary part as shown in Fig. 3.
The plate 50 is provided with contact points 52 that by their revolution touch
the contact plates 53, 54, on the plate 51, remaining long enough engaged to

page_text: cover the period of ignition, closing the circuit between the wires 48, 49, and
the wires 55, 56, leading from the battery or other source of current. Other
forms of igniting apparatus can be employed. I have explained such as have
succeeded in practice.
The crank pin 12 and the upper bearings of the connecting links 9 are lubri-
cated by the oil ways 57.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a gas engine, a revoluble drum, mounted loosely on a fixed shaft, a series
of motive cylinders set radially therein and connected to a fixed crank in the
cheeks or sides of which are annular chambers 15 communicating with a central
passage in the crank shaft and by other passages or side pipes to the outer ends
of the motive cylinders, the latter provided with removable covers set flush with
the outer face of the revoluble drum and passages through the latter so the
motive pistons can be inserted from the outside, substantially as specified.
2. In a gas engine, the revoluble drum 6 and a series of motive cylinders set
radially therein, bearings for the drum moving loosely on the fixed crank shaft 4,
passages through the hubs or naves of the drum at each side thereof leading to
and from the combustion chamber 20 in the motive cylinders, forming induction
ways for the gas and eduction ways for the spent gases of combustion, substan-
tially as specified.
3. In a gas engine, the motive cylinders 7 made integral with or mounted
within the drum 6, revolving concentrically around the shaft 4 and eccentrically
about the crank 16, inlet valves 19 for gas or fuel, and outlet valves 21 for the
waste gases of combustion, the pivotted levers 28 to operate the latter actuated
by the cams 30, and gear wheels 31 meshing into the stationary pinion 35,
operating substantially as specified.
4. In a gas engine, the stationary pinion 35 on the crank shaft 4, the gear
wheels 31 revolving about this pinion and provided with the curved cams 30,
whereby the lever 28 is actuated and the exhaust valve 21 is opened at alternate
revolutions of the drum 6, substantially as specified.
5. In a gas engine, the revoluble drum 6, multiple motive cylinders 7
mounted therein, outlet or exhaust valves 21 for each cylinder, and the oscillating
levers 28 to open the same, a centrifugal weight 37 attached to and adapted to
move the lever 28 and hold the exhaust valves 21 open at some predetermined.
speed of the drum 6, whereby the charges of fuel are cut out or not drawn in,
substantially as specified.
6. In a gas engine, the rotating cylinders 7, automatic inlet valves 19 and outlet
or exhaust valves 21, the sliding centrifugal weights 37, stems 38 and springs 39
and 40, combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes specified.
7. In a gas engine, the multiple motive cylinders 7, revoluble drum 6 to which
the cylinders are attached, means to introduce charges of gas or fuel in the
combustion chambers 20, and the electrodes 43 and 46 to ignite the same, the
ratchet wheel 45, pawl 47, and the star wheel 44, all combined and operating
substantially as specified.
8. In a gas engine, the revoluble drum 6, adapted to receive a driving band,
motive cylinders 7 set within and adapted to revolve therewith, the fixed shaft 4
and crank 16 to which the pistons 8 are connected, a circular base plate 1 and
supports 3 on which the central supporting shaft is mounted, all combined and
operating substantially as specified.
1000