Patent GB-329310-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the starting and running of internal combustion engines
IPC: F01L13/00
Filed: 1929-02-14
Abstract: 329,310. Heywood, C. F. Feb. 14, 1929. Starting.-In a device for starting and running multi-cylinder engines, comprising a source of gaseous mixture under pressure and engine-driven valve means for distributing the mixture to the cylinders, the mixture is first supplied under pressure to a cylinder or cylinders in which the compression, or compression and suction, strokes are taking place, and is subsequently supplied by means of engine vacuum to the cylinder in which the suction stroke is taking place. As shown, the casing 6 of the distributor valve 10 is divided by a partition 7 into an air chamber 8 and a fuel chamber 9. The valve 10 is driven by means of a tongue and slot 13, 14 from a shaft 2, which may be the crankshaft of an engine-driven compressor for supplying the compressed air. The valve engages the face of a distributor member 3 adjacent to the crank case 1 and having passages leading to conduits 5 each connected to one of the engine cylinders. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the valve has a transverse port 15 and superficial ports 16, 17 connected by ducts 18, 19 to a central valve inlet 20. Projecting into the inlet 20 is a fuel nozzle 25 adjustably mounted in an abutment 21 and communicating with the fuel space 28, Figs. 2 and 5, to which fuel is admitted from the chamber 9 through conduits 39, 44 and past a non-return valve 42. Fuel is admitted to the chamber 9 by a pipe 45 fitted with a check valve 48 and terminating in a restricted aperture 51 for reducing the fuel pressure. The valve 48 is opened by the fuel pressure but closes when compressed air is admitted to the fuel chamber. The chamber 9 is also provided with an overflow passage 52 provided with a loose ball valve 61 retained by a pin 62 and closing on a seat 55 when there is sufficient pressure in the chamber. The seat 55 is formed in a screw plug 54 having passages 56, 57 leading to an outlet 59. At starting, compressed air is admitted to the chamber 8 through a pipe 32 and a conduit 30, and passes through the valve port 15 and conduits 5 to one or more engine cylinders in which the piston is on the power stroke, so that the engine is set in motion. The air also passes to the upper part of the fuel chamber 9 through a passage 34 in the abutment 21 provided with a non-return valve 35. A charge of fuel is thus forced through the passages 39, 44, space 28, nozzle 25, ducts 18, 19, ports 16, 17 and conduits 5 to the cylinders in which the compression and suction strokes are taking place, air being admitted to the fuel at the inlet 20. The mixture is fired in the cylinders as soon as the spark occurs. The supply of compressed air to the inlet 30 and chamber 8 mav then be turned off, and the compressed air in the upper part of the fuel chamber 9 is trapped by the closing of the check valve 35 and continues to force fuel to the nozzles and the distributor valve until the pressure is insufficient to lift the check valve 42. A vacuum is created in the air chamber 8 by its periodic communication with the engine cylinders. and air is admitted to the chamber through the passage 52, Fig. 4. When a given cylinder is on the suction stroke, the corresponding pipe 5 is closed by the valve 10 and is evacuated by the engine suction; on the compression stroke, the check valve in the pipe 5 at the cylinder head is closed and the inlet end of the pipe registers with the port 16 or 17 and the pipe fills with fuel mixture, which is drawn into the engine cylinder on the subsequent suction stroke. One of the ports 16, 17 may be omitted in some cases. Specifications 168,614 and 327,789 are referred to,