Improvements in Motive Power Engines Driven by Gas or Inflammable Vapour.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
•
Improvements in Motive Power Engines Driven by Gas or
Inflammable Vapour.
.
I, HENRI MARIE LÉON CROUAN, of 31 Boulevard Henri IV., Paris, in the
Republic of France, Engineer, 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, and accompanying drawing, that is
to say:
.
My present invention relates to improvements in motive power engines actuated
by an inflammable mixture of gas or vapour and air. The accompanying drawing
is in illustration of the invention, Figure 1 being a front view, and Figure 2 a
plan.
Two main cylinders are fixed opposite to one another upon a central drum
through the ends of which the crank shaft passes having two cranks adjoining but
opposite to each other. They are not, however, in the same line in plan, each of
them being directed towards one of the cranks, as shewn in Figure 2.
The outer ends of the cylinders are provided with inlet valves and also with
exhaust or outlet valves, the latter being arranged exactly opposite to one another
so that the valve spindles are precisely in the same line.
These valves are operated as follows. Upon the crank shaft is fixed a pinion P
driving a wheel R of twice the diameter. The latter is provided with a crank-
pin pactuating a connecting rod b the end of which adjoining the crank-pin is
jointed so that the connecting rod can bend at right angles to the wheel R. The
other end of the connecting rod has a universal joint fitting upon the outer end of
a horizontal lever L, which turns in a support O and drives by its other forked
end F a cross-head M having at each end a steel tube t', t, of the required length,
which slides freely upon the rod Q which connects together the two opposite
exhaust valves already described, and opens each of these valves alternately at the
ends of its stroke by coming in contact with nuts E', E', which retain springs by
which the valves are closed.
The wheel R in revolving causes the lever L to oscillate, which, a short distance
before reaching the end of its stroke, (to the right for example), strikes, by means
of the tube t' which it carries, the nut E' of the valve S¹, and opens the latter.
On the return stroke, the valve S' first closes, and the stroke continues without
any further action until the end of the tube t' on the left, which slides in a guide
upon the upper part of the drum or case of the engine, strikes in its turn, a little
before reaching the end of its stroke to the left, against the nut which retains the
spring of the valve S, and opens the latter.
An alternate opening of the two valves is therefore effected at each revolution
of the wheel R; or if desired the gear may be arranged so that the valve of each
cylinder is opened at each two revolutions.
The valve for the admission of the inflammable mixture of gas or vapour and
air is automatic, the mixture being drawn in by the movement of the pistons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The arrangement of the two cylinders upon the same central drum, so that an
almost norfout cauilibrium is obtained the disturbing action of each niston being

page_text: neutralized by that of the other, but the two cylinders not being exactly in the
same straight line, but arranged so that each is directed exactly towards one of the
cranks upon the crank shaft, all objectionable oblique or lateral strains upon
the connecting rods and pistons being thus avoided, substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. The method of driving the two exhaust valves, by arranging them exactly
opposite to each other, and connecting them by a single spindle, which opens them
alternately by means of a connecting rod actuated by a crank-pin upon a toothed
wheel driven by a corresponding toothed pinion upon the main shaft, substantially
as described and illustrated.
Dated this 10th day of June 1896
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.