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[Entered at the Post-OflBoe of New York, N.'X., as Second-Class Matter.] 



A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF ALL THE ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



Seventh Year. 

 Vol. XIV. No. 357. 



NEW YORK. December 6. \i 



Single Copies, Ten Cents. 

 (3.50 Per Year, in Advance. 



THE FORV^ARD GAS-ENGINE. 



The more thoughtful among us will welcome any improvement 

 in the arts which will modify the conditions under which motive 

 power is available, and render it more accessible to small estab- 

 lishments whose existence depends upon the closest economy in all 

 ■directions. One means of attaining this end is the introduction of 

 gas-motors into these small industries. The great care and atten- 

 tion which have been paid to economic conditions in Europe have 

 caused this subject to receive more consideration there than in this 

 country : hence many important improvements in this class of ma- 



It is now for the first time presented in the form of a business en- 

 terprise on this side of the Atlantic. 



The distinguishing feature of this engine is a rotating valve by 

 which the ignition of the combustible charge in the cylinder is ef- 

 fected. In the valve are eight ignition ports, which come into ac- 

 tion successively. Each port, having performed its duty, makes a 

 complete revolution before it comes into action again, and in the 

 mean time is exposed to the air, by which the greater part of the 

 heat which it has absorbed is carried away. This insures the cool 

 working of the valve, which runs scarcely any risk of cutting, while 

 the constant motion in one direction affords another element of 



FIG. I.— THE FORWARD GAS ENGINE. 



chinery have found their origin and their greatest field among our 

 transatlantic kindred. The sharp rivalry, however, engendered 

 among them by the great demand, has stimulated efforts to perfect 

 these motors, which have finally resulted in the group of inven- 

 tions, patented both in Europe and America, by the producers of 

 the Forward gas-engines. This motor has only been on the mar- 

 ket for about a year in Europe, but is rapidly coming to the front. 

 It was exhibited at the recent electrical and industrial exhibition at 

 Birmingham, where, we are informed, it received the only gold 

 medal for excellence of construction in gas-engines, as well as the 

 only medal awarded gas-engines for electric lighting, although 

 the other leading motors of the same class were well represented. 



safety. Every time the cylinder takes in a charge, the valve gives 

 a partial revolution ; but, when the gas is cut off completely, the 

 valve ceases to move, and the small firing charge, which would 

 otherwise be wasted, is saved. The number of missed explosions, 

 however, is not great in this engine, as the strength of the charge 

 is reduced as the work falls off, until it approaches the point at 

 which it would cease to explode ; the gas is then cut off entirely, 

 and the valve left stationary until the governor arms again fall. 



The mechanical devices by means of which these operations are 

 performed are shown by the accompanying illustrations. Figs, i 

 and 2 are perspective views of a 4-horse-power engine; Fig. 3 is 

 an outline of the working parts, looking from the crank- shaft; and 



