IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND HYDROCARBON ENGINES AND IN IGNITING THE GAS OR HYDROCARBON USED THEREIN, THE MEANS OF IGNITING BEING APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: !:
LETTERS PATENT to William Foulis, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
AND HYDROCARBON ENGINES AND IN IGNITING THE GAS OR HYDROCARBON
USED THEREIN, THE MEANS OF IGNITING BEING APPLICABLE FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 28th February 1879, and dated the 28th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Foulis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1878.
WILLIAM FOULIS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND HYDROCARBON ENGINES AND IN IGNITING
THE GAS OR HYDROCARBON USED THEREIN, THE MEANS, OF IGNITING BEING Appli-
CABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in that class of engines wherein
the motive force is developed by the combustion of gas or hydrocarbon vapours, has
for its objects, first, to operate such e: gines by pressure constantly applied through-
out or nearly throughout the acting stroke of the pistons thereof, thereby getting
rid of that "neg. tive action "by which certain kinds of gas engines have been
hitherto operated; secondly, to utilize to a further extent than hitherto the heat
developed by the combustion of the gas or hydrocarbon vapour; and, thirdly, to
ensure the proper igniting of the gas or hydrocarbon.
In an engine constructed according to this Invention, two, three, or more single
acting cylinders and pistons connected to a crank-shaft are employed. One side of
each piston is provided with a trunk or with a thick piston-rod in order to reduce
the capacity of the annular space situated between the trunks or piston rods and
the interior of the cylinder. The pistons and cranks are so arranged as to cause one
or more of them to approach the termination of its or their acting stroke, whilst one
or more of the other pistons is or are in or about the position to commence an acting
stroke. The engines are provided with valves, by preference of a cylindrical form,
as herein after more fully described, and wherein the ports are so arranged as to
admit of the charge of gas at the commencement of each piston's acting stroke, after

page_text: which the port therein by which such gas is admitted is closed, and another port
for admitting compressed and heated air or a mixture of gas and air is opened,
simultaneously with which the charge is ignited; and continues to burn gradually.
The air or mixture of gas and air so used is drawn into the cylinder during the
inactive stroke of the piston, and on that side of the piston on which the gas does
not operate, and is compressed on the return, that is to say, acting stroke; at the
same time it becomes heated by taking up a portion of the heat developed in the
cylinder by the combustion of the gas and air or mixture of gas and air during
the acting stroke of the piston.
The improved valves for admitting at the proper time the charge of gas and air
or mixed gas and air consist of a cylindrical body which is rotated from the engines
"ways" or passages
and contained inside a cylindrical casing, wherein are the
leading into the cylinder of the engines. Each valve has in it five ports, three of
which are so situated as to admit of the gas and air or mixed gas and air on the
acting side of the piston, and to discharge the products of their combustion, the
other two ports therein being so placed as to allow of air or mixed gas and air to be
drawn in and discharged from the other side of the piston.
The air or mixture of gas and air being, as berein-before mentioned, drawn in
during the inactive stroke, the port by which it entered is then closed, and towards
the termination of the acting stroke the rotation of the valve opens another port for
admitting the compressed air or mixture of gas and air into another cylinder.
This valve is or may be made tight by packing round the ports, so as to allow of
its expansion on becoming heated.
It is to be understood that the improved valve is not limited in its application to
the precise arrangement of engines herein-before described, but it may be used in
other kinds of gas or combustible vapour engines, and the number of ports therein
varied according to the arrangement of such engine.
Instead of diminishing the capacity of the space between the cylinders and piston-
rods by the use of thick piston rods or trunks, as herein-before described, separate
cylinders of less capacity fitted with pistons for compressing the air may be substi-
tuted, in which case the cylinders of the engine may be made double acting.
In the case of working the engine herein-before described by hydrocarbons, the
liquid is admitted into the cylinders in small quantities by that port of the valve
which corresponds to the gas admission port, and is by the heat of the cylinder
immediately converted into vapour, or such liquid may be injected thereinto.
Under a modification of the working of gas or hydrocarbon vapour engines, the
gas or hydrocarbon vapour is drawn or forced into the cylinder by the inducing
action of a current of compressed air escaping through one or more nozzles which
are in communication with the cylinders or with a chamber exterior to the cylinders,
The gas or
which chamber may be lined with fireclay or other refractory material.
hydrocarbon vapours are thus thoroughly mixed with air. The mixture is ignited
by the heat developed by the burning of one or more small jets of gas in a partially
closed chamber, into which the gas is induced by a jet or jets of compressed air, the
effect of which is to raise the temperature of that chamber to a degree sufficient to
After the
ignite the mixture of gas and air or hydrocarbon vapour surrounding it.
chamber has become sufficiently heated, so that its own temperature will insure the
ignition of the gas or hydrocarbon, the small jet or jets of gas and air for heating
the partially closed chamber may be shut off.
The method or means herein last described for igniting a mixture of gas and air
or hydrocarbon vapour and air may be applied to other purposes wherein the pro-
duction of heat or light is required.
To further utilize the heat developed in the engines herein-before described, a jet
or spray of water may be admitted into the cylinders during the latter portion of
the acting stroke of each piston of the single acting engines, or during each stroke
of the arrangement where the engines are double acting.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Foulis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th May
1879.
WILLIAM FOULIS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Civil
Engineer.: "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND HYDROCARBON ENGINES AND IN IGNITING
THE GAS OR HYDROCARBON USED THEREIN, THE MEANS OF IGNITING BEING APPLI-
CABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in that class of engines wherein
the motive force is developed by the combustion of gas or hydrocarbon vapours, has
for its objects, first, to operate such engines by pressure constantly applied through-
out or nearly throughout the acting stroke of the pistons thereof, thereby getting
rid of that "negative action" by which certain kinds of gas engines have been
hitherto operated; secondly, to utilize to a further extent than hitherto the heat
developed by the combustion of the gas or hydrocarbon vapour; and, thirdly, to
ensure the proper igniting of the gas or hydrocarbon.
In an engine, constructed according to. this Invention, three or more single
acting cylinders and pistons connected to a crank shaft are employed. "One side of
each piston is provided with a trunk or with a thick piston rod to reduce the
capacity of the annular space situated between the trunks or piston rods and the
interior of the cylinder. The pistons and cranks are so arranged as to cause one of
them to approach the termination of its acting stroke, whilst another of the pistons
is in or about the position to commence an acting stroke, that is to say, in the case
of a three cylinder engine, such as is hereinafter fully described, one of the pistons
would be at one third from the end of its acting stroke, whilst another of the pistons
is at or about to commence its acting stroke. In the case of a four cylinder engine
one of the pistojis would be at one fourth from the end of its acting stroke, whilst
another piston is at the commencement of an acting stroke. The engines are pro-
vided with valves, by preference of a cylindrical form, as hereinafter more fully
described, and wherein the ports are so arranged as to admit of the charge of gas
and compressed air or compressed mixture of gas and air at the commencement of
each piston's acting stroke, simultaneously with which the charge is ignited, and
continues to burn gradually. The air or mixture of gas and air so used is drawn
into the cylinder during the inactive stroke of the piston, and on that side of the
piston on which the gas does not operate, and is compressed on the return, that is to
say, acting stroke; at the same time it becomes heated by taking up a portion of
the heat developed in the cylinder by the combustion of the gas and air or mixture
gas and air during the acting stroke of the piston.
of
The compressed air and gas or compressed mixture of air and gas escapes to the
upper side of the piston into a chamber lined with fireclay or other refractory
material. The gas or hydrocarbor vapours are thus thoroughly mixed with air.
When the gas is not compressed with the air in the engine, in that case the gas and
air are mixed by the inducing action of the current of one on the other by passing
the air and gas through concentric nozzles.
The valve for admitting at the proper time the charge of gas and air or mixed
gas and air consists of a cylindrical or conical body, which is rotated from the
engines and contained inside à casing wherein are the "ways or passages leading
into the cylinders of the engine. Each valve has in it ports so situated as to admit
of the gas and air or mixed gas and air on the acting side of the piston, and to
discharge the products of their combustion, and also to allow air or mixed gas and
air to be drawn in and discharged from the other side of the piston.
The air or mixture of gas and air being, as herein before mentioned, drawn in
during the inactive stroke, the port by which it entered is closed, and towards the
termination of the acting stroke the rotation of the valve opens another port for
admitting the compressed air or mixture of gas and air into another cylinder.

page_text: The valve is or may be made tight by packing round the ports, so as to allow of
its expansion on becoming heated.
In the case of working the engine, hereinbefore described, by hydrocarbon, the
liquid is admitted into the cylinders in small quantities by that port of the valve
which corresponds to the gas admission port, and is by the heat of the cylinder
immediately converted into vapour, or such liquid may be injected thereinto.
The mixture is ignited by the heat developed by the burning of one or more small
jets of gas in a partially closed chamber, into which the gas is induced by a jet or.
jets of compressed air, the effect of which is to raise the temperature of that
chamber to a degree sufficient to ignite the mixture of gas and air or hydrocarbon
vapour surrounding it. After the combustion chamber has become sufficiently
heated, so that its own temperature will ensure the ignition of the gas or hydro-
carbon, the small jet or jets of gas and air for heating the partially closed chamber
may be shut off.
The method or means herein last described for igniting a mixture of gas and air
or hydrocarbon vapour and air may be applied to other purposes wherein the pro-
duction of heat is required, such as the heating of water or air.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say,
;
Figure 1 represents in front elevation, and Figure 2 in vertical section a three
cylinder engine constructed in accordance with my said Invention; Figure 3 is a
section of one of the cylinders of the same, the said section being taken at right.
angles to that at which Figure 2 is taken. It has mounted upon he framing A
three cylinders, A1, A2, A3, in which' work pistons B', B2, B3, one side of the said
pistons being provided with a trunk b. The connecting rods are marked b¹, and the
crank shaft which is driven by the engine is marked C and the fly-wheel is
marked c.
At the top of each cylinder is a small chamber (a1, a2, a³,) lined with fire clay or
other refractory non-conducting material. The trunk works through a stuffing
box, as shewn at at. In front of each cylinder are valve casings D and D', fitted
with conical rotating valves E. E¹, upon valve spindles e driven from the crank
shaft. c by the eccentrics c¹ driving the shaft c², upon which are the bevel pinions c³,
gearing into the corresponding pinions e³ upon the valve spindles. A pipe leads from
the underside of the piston in each one of the cylinders to the ignition chamber
above the piston of one of the other cylinders, that is to say, the pipe f¹ leads from
the space beneath the piston in the cylinder A¹ to the valve chamber D, and through
a port in the said valve and through the pipe and hollow plug communicates
with the small chamber a² of the cylinder A2. The pipe 2 in like manner commu-
nicates from below the piston of the cyclinder A2 to the small chamber a³ of the
cylinder A³, and the pipe f³ communicates from below the piston of the cylinder A³
to the small chamber a¹ of the cylinder A¹. g is the pipe, through branches g¹ from
which the gas is admitted through ports in the valves E and through the pipe and
nozzle g² into the hollow plug f³, where it is mixed with the compressed air
admitted by the pipe f previous to entering the small chambers a', a², a³, which it
does from a concentric chamber as through perforations in the fire clay or other
lining of the said chambers. The valves E open or close communication with the
outer air through the gauze covered pipes h to the interiors of the cylinders below
the pistons. For the purpose of igniting the gases for giving the acting stroke each
small chamber a¹, a², a³, has in it a gas jet burning at a nozzle in a small chamber
at i. One of these nozzles is shewn in Figure 3, and also drawn to a larger scale
in Figure 4. They are omitted from Figure 2, but it will be understood that each
of the chambers is furnished with one of the said jets. The said nozzles or burners
consist of an arrangement of concentric pipes like an injector. Gas enters by the

page_text: pipe at k and compressed air passes by the pipe at from a compressing apparatus
(which may be a small pump worked by the engine) to the surrounding pipe m, and
the gas and air pass together to the jet at n, which is surrounded by a chamber p of
platinum or other suitable material, and open at top. The gas jets heat this
chamber sufficiently to ignite the acting charges of gas and air, and when the tem-
perature of the combustion chamber is raised to an extent sufficient to ignite the
gas and air, then the jet of burning gas at n may be turned off. These burners or
jets n and chambers p may be employed for the purpose of heating air or water, or
for other heating purposes. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the adaptation
thereof to a tube R, which may be the flue of a boiler surrounded by water, or that
of a heater over which a current of air is passed. The parts of the jets and chambers
are marked with the same letters of reference as corresponding parts in Figures 3
and 4, from which their adaptation will be readily understood without further
description.
branches
In the Drawings the piston B1 is represented as having just completed its up or
inoperative stroke, the piston B³ as descending, and the piston B2 as ascending.
Again referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the exhaust pipe is marked J,
from each cylinder leading into it.
In the case of each of the cylinders A1, A2, A3, each of the valves E' is arranged
so that on the upward stroke of either of the pistons the port in the said valve E¹
opens communication between the pipe h and the cylinder at the underside of the
piston, and air is drawn into the said cylinder there-through; during the descent of
the piston this communication with the atmosphere is closed. The ports at es in
the valves E are arranged so that communication is opened from the underpart of
one cylinder to the upper chamber (al, a², a³,) of another cylinder through the pipes
ff, or f, and the ports in the said valve and pipes f, when the piston from the
underside of which the said pipe (f,, or f) leads is at one third from the end of
its acting or downward stroke; the piston of the cylinder (A¹, A2, or A³,) into which
it is led being at the commencement of its acting or downward stroke, communica-
tion from the upper part of each cylinder is established with the exhaust pipe J
through the ports at ein the said valves e and passages during the ascent of
the pistons. The ports et open communication with the gas pipe g for admitting
gas to the chambers a¹, a², or a³, at the same time that air is admitted through the
port es
The engine being at work, each down stroke of the pistons (B1, B2, or B³,) com-
presses air in the annular space beneath it, and this air is delivered (in the case of
a three cylinder engine) during the last third of the piston's downward stroke
through the pipe (f, f, or f³) into the small chambers (a1, a2, or a³,) together with
gas from the pipe g, and this mixture is ignited by the heat which has been attained
in the said small chambers, and in like manner the same action takes place with all
the cylinders.
In place of compressing only air at the underside of the piston, the air and gas
may be then mixed and compressed, the gas pipe leading into the air admittance
pipe h, so that the air and gas are drawn in together in any convenient manner.
Under this arrangement one of the ports e³ or et may be dispensed with.
Although I have in my Provisional Specification described the valves for operating
my improved gas engine as of cylindrical construction and as having five ports
therein, it is to be understood that I do not limit the working of my engine by such
cylindrical valves, or by valves with a definite number of ports therein, as such may
be varied by the use of valves of taper or conical construction, and with a number
of ports less or greater than five, according to the number of cylinders used in such
engines, so long as the requisite order of admission of air or mixture of air and gas
for compression, combustion, and discharge is provided for.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I

page_text: consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent.is,-
3. 1
First. A gas or hydrocarbon engine constructed with three or more single acting
cylinders, and wherein the air or mixture of gas and air is drawn into each cylinder
during the inactive stroke of the piston therein, the said air or mixture of gas and
air being compressed to one third, or one fourth, or other proportion of its normal
volume, as regulated by the number of cylinders used in the engine, and during such
last third, fourth, or other portion of the stroke released therefrom, so as to pass into
another cylinder and cause the next acting stroke, as herein before described, and'
wherein the capacity of the space for compressing the air or mixture of gas and air
is reduced by the use of a trunk or thick piston rod, or its equivalent, as shown
upon the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Second. The combustion chambers (u³, a², a³), that is to say, the combustion
chambers lined with a refractory and non-conducting material, essentially as and for
the purposes described.
_
Third. The igniting the gases in tlie said combustion chambers or in other parts
of gas engines by a jet of air and gas (n) enclosed in a chamber (p), essentially as
herein before described and illustrated.
:
Fourth. The application of the said jets (n) and chambers (p)" to heating pur-
poses, essentially as herein before described with reference to Figure 5 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The igniting of the mixture of air and gas by the heat of the chambers
a¹, a², a³, when a sufficient temperature therein has been reached.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Foulis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One 2
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM FOULIS. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Foulis, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
AND HYDROCARBON ENGINES AND IN IGNITING THE GAS OR HYDROCARBON
USED THEREIN, THE MEANS OF IGNITING BEING APPLICABLE FOR OTHER'
PURPOSES"
Sealed the 28th February 1879, and dated the 28th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Foulis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1878.
WILLIAM FOULIS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND HYDROCARBON ENGINES AND IN IGNITING
THE GAS OR HYDROCARBON USED THEREIN, THE MEANS OF IGNITING BEING APPLI-
CABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in that class of engines wherein
the motive force is developed by the combustion of gas or hydrocarbon vapours, has
for its objects, first, to operate such engines by pressure constantly applied through-
out or nearly throughout the acting stroke of the pistons thereof, thereby getting
rid of that "negative action" by which certain kinds of gas engines have been
hitherto operated; secondly, to utilize to a further extent than hitherto the heat
developed by the combustion of the gas or hydrocarbon vapour; and, thirdly, to
ensure the proper igniting of the gas or hydrocarbon.
In an engine constructed according to this Invention, two, three, or more single
acting cylinders and pistons connected to a crank-shaft are employed. One side of
each piston is provided with a trunk or with a thick piston-rod in order to reduce
the capacity of the annular space situated between the trunks or piston rods and
the interior of the cylinder. The pistons and cranks are so arranged as to cause one
or more of them to approach the termination of its or their acting stroke, whilst one
or more of the other pistons is or are in or about the position to commence an acting
stroke. The engines are provided with valves, by preference of a cylindrical form,
as herein-after more fully described, and wherein the ports are so arranged as to
admit of the charge of gas at the commencement of each piston's acting stroke, after

page_text: which the port therein by which such gas is admitted is closed, and another port
for admitting compressed and heated air or a mixture of gas and air is opened,
simultaneously with which the charge is ignited, and continues to burn gradually.
The air or mixture of gas and air so used is drawn into the cylinder during the
inactive stroke of the piston, and on that side of the piston on which the gas does
not operate, and is compressed on the return, that is to say, acting stroke; at the
same time it becomes heated by taking up a portion of the heat developed in the
cylinder by the combustion of the gas and air or mixture of gas and air during
the acting stroke of the piston.
"
The improved valves for admitting at the proper time the charge of gas and air
or mixed gas and air consist of a cylindrical body which is rotated from the engines
and contained inside a cylindrical casing, wherein are the " ways or passages
leading into the cylinder of the engines. Each valve has in it five ports, three of
which are so situated as to admit of the gas and air or mixed gas and air on the
acting side of the piston, and to discharge the products of their combustion, the
other two ports therein being so placed as to allow of air or mixed gas and air to be
drawn in and discharged from the other side of the piston.
The air or mixture of gas and air being, as herein-before mentioned, drawn in
during the inactive stroke, the port by which it entered is then closed, and towards
the termination of the acting stroke the rotation of the valve opens another port for
admitting the compressed air or mixture of gas and air into another cylinder.
This, valve is or may be made tight by packing round the ports, so as to allow of
its expansion on becoming heated.
It is to be understood that the improved valve is not limited in its application to
the precise arrangement of engines herein-before described, but it may be used in
other kinds of gas or cumbustible vapour engines, and the number of ports therein
varied according to the arrangement of such engine.
Instead of diminishing the capacity of the space between the cylinders and piston-
rods by the use of thick piston rods or trunks, as herein-before described, separate
cylinders of less capacity fitted with pistons for compressing the air may be substi-
tuted, in which case the cylinders of the engine may be made double acting.
In the case of working the engine herein-before described by hydrocarbons, the
liquid is, admitted into the cylinders. in small quantities by that port of the valve
which corresponds to the gas admission port, and is by the heat of the cylinder
immediately converted into vapour, or such liquid may be injected thereinto.
Under a modification of the working of gas or hydrocarbon vapour engines, the
gas or hydrocarbon vapour is drawn or forced into the cylinder by the inducing
action of a current of compressed air escaping through one or more nozzles which
are in communication with the cylinders or with a chamber exterior to the cylinders,
which chamber may be lined with fireclay or other refractory material. The gas or
hydrocarbon vapours are thus thoroughly mixed with air. The mixture is ignited
by the heat developed by the burning of one or more small jets of gas in a partially
closed chamber, into which the gas is induced by a jet or jets of compressed air, the
effect of which is to raise the temperature of that chamber to a degree sufficient to
ignite the mixture of gas and air or hydrocarbon vapour surrounding it. After the
chamber has become sufficiently heated, so that its own temperature will insure the
ignition of the gas or hydrocarbon, the small jet or jets of gas and air for heating
the partially closed chamber may be shut off.
The method or means herein last described for igniting a mixture of gas and air
or hydrocarbon vapour and air may be applied to other purposes wherein the pro-
duction of heat or light is required.
To further utilize the heat developed in the engines herein-before described, a jet
or spray of water may be admitted into the cylinders during the latter portion of
the acting stroke of each piston of the single acting engines, or during each stroke
of the arrangement where the engines are double acting.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Foulis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th May
1879.
WILLIAM FOULIS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND HYDROCARBON ENGINES AND IN IGNITING
THE GAS OR HYDROCARBON USED THEREIN, THE MEANS OF IGNITING BEING APPLI-
CABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in that class of engines wherein
the motive force is developed by the combustion of gas or hydrocarbon vapours, has
for its objects, first, to operate such engines by pressure constantly applied through-
out or nearly throughout the acting stroke of the pistons thereof, thereby getting
rid of that "negative action" by which certain kinds of gas engines have been
hitherto operated; secondly, to utilize to a further extent than hitherto the heat
developed by the combustion of the gas or hydrocarbon vapour; and, thirdly, to
ensure the proper igniting of the gas or hydrocarbon.
In an engine constructed according to this Invention, three or more single
acting cylinders and pistons connected to a crank shaft are employed. One side of
each piston is provided with a trunk or with a thick piston rod to reduce the
capacity of the annular space situated between the trunks or piston rods and the
interior of the cylinder. The pistons and cranks are so arranged as to cause one of
them to approach the termination of its acting stroke, whilst another of the pistons
is in or about the position to commence an acting stroke, that is to say, in the case
of a three cylinder engine, such as is hereinafter fully described, one of the pistons
would be at one third from the end of its acting stroke, whilst another of the pistons
is at or about to cominence its acting stroke. In the case of a four cylinder engine
one of the pistons would be at one fourth from the end of its acting stroke, whilst
another piston is at the commencement of an acting stroke. The engines are pro-
vided with valves, by preference of a cylindrical form, as hereinafter more fully
described, and wherein the ports are so arranged as to admit of the charge of gas
and compressed air or compressed mixture of gas and air at the commencement of
each piston's acting stroke, simultaneously with which the charge is ignited, and
continues to burn gradually. The air or mixture of gas and air so used is drawn
into the cylinder during the inactive stroke of the piston, and on that side of the
piston on which the gas does not operate, and is compressed on the return, that is to
say, acting stroke; at the same time it becomes heated by taking up a portion of
the heat developed in the cylinder by the combustion of the gas and air or mixture
of gas and air during the acting stroke of the piston.
The compressed air and gas or compressed mixture of air and gas escapes to the
upper side of the piston into a chamber lined with fireclay or other refractory.
material. The gas or hydrocarbon vapours are thus thoroughly. mixed with air.
When the gas is not compressed with the air in the engine, in that case the gas and
air are mixed by the inducing action of the current of one on the other by passing
the air and gas through concentric nozzles.
The valve for admitting at the proper time the charge of gas and air or mixed
gas and air consists of a cylindrical or conical body, which is rotated from the
engines and contained inside a casing wherein are the "ways" or passages leading
into the cylinders of the engine. Each valve has in it ports so situated as to admit
of the gas and air or mixed gas and air on the acting side of the piston, and to
discharge the products of their combustion, and also to allow air or mixed gas and
air to be drawn in and discharged from the other side of the piston.
The air or mixture of gas and air being, as hereinbefore mentioned, drawn in
during the inactive stroke, the port by which it entered is closed, and towards the
termination of the acting stroke the rotation of the valve opens another port for
admitting the compressed air or mixture of gas and air into another cylinder.

page_text: The valve is or may be made tight by packing round the ports, so as to allow of
its expansion on becoming heated.
In the case of working the engine, hereinbefore described, by hydrocarbon, the
liquid is admitted into the cylinders in small quantities by that port of the valve
which corresponds to the gas admission port, and is by the heat of the cylinder
immediately converted into vapour, or such liquid may be injected thereinto.
The mixture is ignited by the heat developed by the burning of one or more small
jets of gas in a partially closed chamber, into which the gas is induced by a jet or
jets of compressed air, the effect of which is to raise the temperature of that
chamber to a degree sufficient to ignite the mixture of gas and air or hydrocarbon
vapour surrounding it. After the combustion chamber has become sufficiently
heated, so that its own temperature will ensure the ignition of the gas or hydro-
carbon, the small jet or jets of gas and air for heating the partially closed chamber
may be shut off,
The method or means herein last described for igniting a mixture of gas and air
or hydrocarbon vapour and air may be applied to other purposes wherein the pro-
duction of heat is required, such as the heating of water or air.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
Bay,-
Figure 1 represents in front elevation, and Figure 2 in vertical section a three
cylinder engine constructed in accordance with my said Invention; Figure 3 is a
section of one of the cylinders of the same, the said section being taken at right
angles to that at which Figure 2 is taken. It has mounted upon the framing A
three cylinders A', A2, A³, in which work pistons B1, B2, B3, one side of the said
pistons being provided with a trunk b. The connecting rods are marked b¹, and the
crank shaft which is driven by the engine is marked C, and the fly-wheel is
marked c.
At the top of each cylinder is a small chamber (a1, a2, a³,) lined with fire clay or
other refractory non-conducting material. The trunk 6 works through a stuffing
box, as shewn at a. In front of each cylinder are valve casings D'and D', fitted
with conical rotating valves E, E¹, upon valve spindles e driven from the crank
shaft c by the eccentrics c¹ driving the shaft c2, upon which are the bevel pinions c³,
gearing into the corresponding pinions e³ upon the valve spindles. A pipe leads from
the underside of the piston in each one of the cylinders to the ignition chamber
above the piston of one of the other cylinders, that is to say, the pipe f' leads from
the space beneath the piston in the cylinder A' to the valve chamber D, and through
a port in the said valve and through the pipe f* and hollow plug f5 communicates
with the small chamber a² of the cylinder A. The pipe f2 in like manner commu-
nicates from below the piston of the cylinder A2 to the small chainber a³ of the
cylinder A³, and the pipe f³ communicates from below the piston of the cylinder A³
to the small chamber a¹ of the cylinder A'. g is the pipe, through brauches g¹ from
which the gas is admitted through ports in the valves E and through the pipe and
nozzle g into the hollow plug f, where it is mixed with the compressed air
admitted by the pipe f* previous to entering the small chambers a¹, a², a³, which it
does from a concentric chamber a³ through perforations in the fire clay or other
lining of the said chambers. The valves E¹ open or close communication with the
outer air through the gauze covered pipes to the interiors of the cylinders below
the pistons. For the purpose of igniting the gases for giving the acting stroke each
small chamber a, a, as, has in it a gas jet burning at a nozzle in a small chamber
at i. One of these nozzles is shewn in Figure 3, and also drawn to a larger scale
in Figure 4. They are omitted from Figure 2, but it will be understood that each
of the chambers is furnished with one of the said jets. The said nozzles or burners
consist of an arrangement of concentric pipes like an injector. Gas enters by the

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pipe at and compressed air passes by the pipe at ! from a compressing apparatus
(which may be a small pump worked by the engine) to the surrounding pipe m,
the gas and air pass together to the jet at n, which is surrounded by a chamber P of
platinum or other suitable material, and open at top. The gas jets heat this
chamber sufficiently to ignite the acting charges of gas and air, and when the tem-
perature of the combustion chamber is raised to an extent sufficient to ignite the
gas and air, then the jet of burning gas at n may be turned off. These burners or
jets n and chambers p may be employed for the purpose of heating air or water, or
for other heating purposes. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the. adaptation
thereof to a tube R, which may be the flue of a boiler surrounded by water, or that
of a heater over which a current of air is passed. The parts of the jets and chambers
are marked with the same letters of reference as corresponding parts in Figures
and 4, from which their adaptation will be readily understood without further
description.
Again referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the exhaust pipe is marked J, branches
from each cylinder leading into it.
In the Drawings the piston B₁ is represented as having just completed its up or
inoperative stroke, the piston B3 as descending, and the piston B2 as ascending.
In the case of each of the cylinders A1, A2, A3, each of the valves E' is arranged
so that on the upward stroke of either of the pistons the port in the said valve E¹
opens communication between the pipe h and the cylinder at the underside of the
piston, and air is drawn into the said cylinder there-through; during the descent of
the piston this communication with the atmosphere is closed. The ports at es in
the valves E are arranged so that communication is opened from the underpart of
one cylinder to the upper chamber (a', a², as) of another cylinder through the pipes
ff, or f³, and the ports in the said valve and pipes f, when the piston from the
underside of which the said pipe (f¹, f2, or f³) leads is at one third from the end of
its acting or downward stroke; the piston of the cylinder (A1, A2, or A³) into which
it is led being at the commencement of its acting or downward stroke, communica-
tion from the upper part of each cylinder is established with the exhaust pipe J
through the ports at et in the said valves e and passages e during the ascent of
the pistons. The ports et open communication with the gas pipe g for admitting
gas to the chambers a¹, a², or a³, at the same time that air is admitted through the
port es
The engine being at work, each down stroke of the pistons (B', B2, or B³) com-
presses air in the annular space beneath it, and this air is delivered (in the case of
à three cylinder engine) during the last third of the piston's downward stroke
through the pipe (f, f2, or f³) into the small chambers (a', a², or a³) together with
gas from the pipe g, and this mixture is ignited by the heat which has been attained
in the said small chambers, and in like manner the same action takes place with all
the cylinders.
In place of compressing only air at the underside of the piston, the air and gas
may be then mixed and compressed, the gas pipe leading into the air admittittance
pipe h, so that the air and gas are drawn in together in any convenient manner.
Under this arrangement one of the ports e³ or e¹ may be dispened with.
Although I have in my Provisional Specification described the valves for operating
my improved gas engine as of cylindrical construction and as having five ports
therein, it is to be understood that I do not limit the working of my engine by such
cylindrical valves, or by valves with a definite number of ports therein, as such may
be varied by the use of valves of taper or conical construction, and with a number
of ports less or greater than five, according to the number of cylinders used in such
engines, so long as the requisite order of admission of air or mixture of air and gas
for compression, combustion, and discharge is provided for.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I

page_text: consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-.
First. A gas or hydrocarbon engine constructed with three or more single acting
cylinders, and wherein the air or mixture of gas and air is drawn into each cylinder
during the inactive stroke of the piston therein, the said air or mixture of gas and
air being compressed to one third, or one fourth, or other proportion of its normal
volume, as regulated by the number of cylinders used in the engine, and during such
last third, fourth, or other portion of the stroke released therefrom, so as to pass into
another cylinder and cause the next acting stroke, as herein before described, and
wherein the capacity of the space for compressing the air or mixture of gas and air
is reduced by the use of a trunk or thick piston rod, or its equivalent, as shown
upon the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Second. The combustion chambers (a', a², a³), that is to say, the combustion
chambers lined with a refractory and non-conducting material, essentially as and for
the purposes. described.
Third. The igniting the gases in the said combustion chambers or in other parts
of gas engines by a jet of air and gas (n) enclosed in a chamber (p), essentially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Fourth. The application of the said jets (n) and chambers (p) to heating pur-
poses, essentially as herein before described with reference to Figure 5 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The igniting of the mixture of air and gas by the heat of the chambers
a¹, a², a³, when a sufficient temperature therein has been reached.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Foulis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM FOULIS
WILLIAM FOULIS. (L.S.)