Patent GB-191219728-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to Compressed Air Self-starting and Braking Apparatus for Internal Combustion Engines.
Inventor: EDINGTON HARRY
Filed: 1912-08-29
Granted: 1913-08-28
Abstract: 19,728. Edington, H. Aug. 29. Fixed-abutment type; adjusting parts for wear; valve-gear. - A rotary air-compressor is used as a motor for starting the engine of a motor-vehicle and as a brake. The compressor comprises three radial spring-pressed blades 4 carried by a drum 1, Fig. 1, which is mounted eccentrically in a cylinder 2 having ribbed walls. On the ends of the drums are two grooved flanges 6, 8 which close the ends of the cylinder; packing-rings 11, 28 prevent leakage. The drum is carried in ball bearings 15, the outer races 19 of which rest on eccentric parts 23 of a bolt 22 carried by the cylinder; the sides of the outer races are flat, so that by turning the bolt 22 the clearance between the drum and cylinder can be adjusted, setscrews 26 holding the races in position. The flange 8 is separate from the drum and carries an extension 18 for a starting-handle. When the compressor is to act as a motor, a lever 62, Fig. 8, is depressed and moves a spring- pressed ball valve 52 off its seat, closes communication between the pipe 57 connected to the atmosphere and the pipe 61, and then moves the piston valve 59 to allow compressed air from the reservoir to pass from the pipe 54 to the pipe 61 and thence to an inlet port 31, Fig. 2, in the cylinder. The exhausted air escapes by the port 32. When the lever is released, the ball valve closes, and the port 31 is connected to the atmosphere; the two ports 31, 32 act as air inlets when compressing. The compressed air passes by the port 33 and chamber 66, Figs. 6 and 7, past a non-return valve 35 to the reservoir. When the pressure reaches a predetermined maximum, compression is stopped by a piston 40, always subject to the reservoir pressure through the pipe 43, acting on a lever 42 and lifting a spring-pressed balanced valve 37 off its seat; the chamber 66 is then placed in communication with the atmosphere through the chamber 119, passage 109 in the valve 37, and holes 111 in the valve casing. At starting, a second piston 48 subjected to the reservoir pressure only when the lever 62 is depressed also acts on the lever 42 to move the valve 37 and relieve the pressure in the chamber 66. The pistons 40, 48 are formed with coned parts which act as valves to prevent leakage of compressed air. The piston 40 and valve 37 are arranged to give a rapid opening and closing movement. To use the apparatus as a brake, a valve 65 is moved on to its seat to disconnect the chamber 66 from the passage around the valve 37. Air is compressed by the continued rotation of the drum and is either supplied to the reservoir or passes into the closed chamber 66 and reacts on the rotor blades. The valve 65 may be worked from the engine throttle control lever. If it is only desired to compress air when the apparatus acts as a brake, a screw 115 is used to act on the piston 40 and hold the valve 37 open. To lubricate the rotor, a number of spring-pressed pistons 85, Fig. 1, are placed in holes in the flanges 6, 8, the hollow piston-rods sliding over pegs when the air pressure in the cylinder rises. The inward movement of the pistons places the oil-holding chamber 92 in communication with the cylinder through the chamber 84, holes in the piston-rods, and ports 93. Each chamber 92 is formed by a dished plate 94 and a disk 95 formed with a groove 99 and holes 100. The plate and disk rotate with the drum and are pressed apart by a spring 96. Oil is supplied to one of the chambers 92 by a pipe 113 communicating with the groove 99; the two chambers 92 are in communication through holes 105, Fig. 2, in the drum.