US583495A - Gas-engine - Google Patents

Description

2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

H, B. MAXWELL.

GAS ENGINE.

Patented June 1, 1897.

JNvENT 01 jlz'To NEY d.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. B. MAXWELL.

GAS ENGINE.

Patented June 1,1897.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY B. MAXXVELL, OF ROME, NEV YORK.

GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,495, dated June 1, 1897.

Application filed July 13,1896- Serial No. 598,926. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. MAXWELL, of Rome, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GaS Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates particularly to a combined mechanism for operating the exhaustvalve of a gas-engine and making and breaking the circuit of the spark induction-coil.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a gas-engine including my improvements. Figs. 2 shows in enlarged detail from side elevation the mechanism constituting my improvements. Fig. 3 shows the same mechanism from the left-hand side as shown in Fig. 2. anism as seen from the right-hand side of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows details of a pair of electriccircuit springs on a plan view. Fig. 6 shows the same springs on side elevation in connection with the rotary circuit-closing device in one of its positions of operation. Fig. 7 shows the same as Fig. (3 in another position. Fig. 8 shows the same in another succeeding position. Fig. 9 shows the same in another succeedin g position. Fig. 10 is a partial diagram and partial sectional view showing the electric circuit employed.

Referring to the reference letters and numbers in a more particular description of the device, 1 indicates the base of the engine; 2, the main crank-shaft; 3 3, the fly-wheels; at, the cylinder and jacket; 5, the inlet-valve; G, the outlet exhaust-valve. The exhaustvalve 6 is provided with an externally-pro jecting stem '7, provided with a flange-like head 7 a and having a spring 7 for holding the valve closed. The valve is opened when the stem 7 is forced upward.

For opening the Valve 6 at every other revolution of the crank-shaft 2 the following mechanism is employed: On the crank-shaft is located the eccentric 8, provided with an eccentric-rod 9, operating through the hole or Fig. 4: shows the same mechway in the block 10, secured on the sides to the engine-frame and carrying at its upper end, by means of the fork 11, the shaft 12. On the shaft 12 are secured the ratchet-pinion 13, the valve wheel or drum 14, and the rotary circuit-maker 15. On the block 10 is also secured a spring-pawl 16, the upper end of which engages with the rod-pinion 1-3. The valve wheel or drum 1% is provided with a series of projections 1n, which are adapted to successively be brought into position under the lower end of the valve-stem 7. The rotary circuit-maker 15 is provided with a series of projections 15, which are adapted to suecessively take their positions between the ends of the circuit- springs 17 and 18. These springs are insulated from each other, as shown in Fig. 5, and are not adapted to engage each other at their free ends, the circuit being established between them only when one of the projections 15 occupies a position between the ends of the springs. These sprin 17 and 18 are secured on the frame or base of the engine 19 as a governor-arm operated by weights on the crank-shaft and adapted to secure the valve 6 in open position.

The circuit- springs 17 and 18 are in circuit with a battery B and a spark induction-coil C, the secondary circuit of which is connected to the insulated binding-posts 21 an( 22, extending through the head of the cylinder, and adapted to give the spark between their inner ends. The details of this constu-uction, however, are not of much importance, as several modifications or variations in the mechanism for producing the spark in the cylinder may be employed.

In this class of engines the explosive mixture is drawn into the cylinder by the first downward movement of the piston, the contents is compressed with the upward movement, and at the completion of the compression the explosion takes place, and the power is derived on the succeeding downward movement of the piston. Vith the next upward movement the dead gases are expelled, and with the next downward movement a new charge is taken in. The arrangement of my mechanism is such that in the upward move ment of the eccentric S and the connecting parts the projections 11 on the rotary valvedrum ll will not register or be in line with the valve stem 7. The valve will not be opened on this stroke. As the eccentric draws the fork 11 down, however, the spring 10, engaging with the ratchet-wheel 13, operates to give a partial rotation to the shaft 12 and brings one of the proj eetions 1 1 into line with the valve-stein 7. 011 the next upward stroke one or the other of the projections 14: strikes the lower end of the valve-stem 7 and opens the valve 6. This is the stroke at which the exhaust takes place. On the upward movement the spring-pawl 16, being stationary, is retracted over the face of the ratchet-wheel 13, and on the succeeding downward movement a partial rotation is given, which again throws the projections out of position.

Vith reference to the rotary circuit-maker 15, in one of its low positions one of the proj ections 15 is brought by a rotary movement of the wheel 15 and the downward movement of the fork 11 into a position between the free ends of the contact- springs 17 and 18, so as to establish an electric circuit through the battery 13 and spark-coil 0. During the time that this circuit is established the inductioncoil is sufficiently charged. On the upward movement of the eccentric or fork 11 the projection 15 is drawn out from between the ends of the springs 17 and 18 and the circuit broken. As the fork and the eccentric move down with the next stroke, the shaft 12 is given a partial rotation, which brings the projection into the position shown in Fig. 8, so that when the fork is in low position it does not establish an electric connection between the springs 17 and 18.

connection when the fork 11 is in its upper position, as shown in Fig. i); but with the succeeding downward movement the rotary circuit-maker is again brought into the position shown in Fig. 6, where the circuit is estab- Likewise there is no lished. hen the circuit is established between springs 17 and 1S and the current is on, the piston goes to the upper end of the cylinder and the spark is formed between the binding- posts 21 and 22.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas-engine a rotary circuit-maker having projections, an eccentric for operating the same, a ratchet-wheel connected with the circuit-maker, a stationary spring-pawl operating in connection therewith and springs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a gas-engine with the cylinder, shaft and eccentric, of the eccentricrod sliding in a fixed bearing at one end, a rotary shaft mounted on the end of the eccentric-rod and carrying a rotary valve-drum having projections and a rotary circuit-maker having projections both secured 011 the said shaft, an exhaust-valve having a stem on which the projections of the rotary valve drum are adapted to engage, circuit-springs with which the projections on the rotary circuit-maker are adapted to engage, a ratchetwheel secured on the shaft with the rotary circuit-maker and the valve-drum and a stationary pawl operating on the ratchet, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a gas-engine of an eccentric and rod, a rotary circuit-maker having projecting pins mounted thereon, a ratchet-wheel connected therewith, a stationary spring-pawl operating thereon and circuit-springs, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY l3. MAXWELL.

Witnesses:

HENRY O. llIAX\\"ELL, ELLA Wrnnn.

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