Improvements relating to Distributing and Igniting Devices for Gas, Petroleum, and like Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 25th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVIDIUNAL OF MUIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by DIE FIRMA FRIED. KRUPP, Grusenwerk, of
Magdeburg-Buckau, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturers.]
Improvements relating to Distributing and Igniting Devices for Gas,
Petroleum, and like Engines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :--
The present invention relates to distributing and igniting devices of gas, petroleum
and like engines, and has for its object to provide in a simple manner for causing
the ignition to vary with the cut-off, that is to say, to take place sooner or later
according as the cut-off is early or late, for the purpose of obtaining a very economical
consumption of the explosive charge, and great uniformity. The proportion of the
residues of combustion to the new charge is greater when the cut-off is early than
when the cut-off is late, and the ignitability is diminished, consequently the ignition
should take place proportionately earlier when the cut-off is early in order that the
combustion or the utilization of the charge may be complete.
This object is secured according to the present invention by providing that the
distributing or admission valve shall be operated by an eccentric or equivalent device
which has a variable lead under the control of the governor, and by arranging
that the said valve shall operate the igniting valve in accordance with the
requirements.
According to one mode of carrying this invention into practice a tap or cock
is provided in the passage for the explosive mixture, but separated from the cylinder
by a non-return valve adapted to open towards the cylinder. The said cock is
operated through a crank on its spindle by an eccentric on the fly wheel_shalt
of the engine in such a manner that it is opened and closed once
of the latter.
in
every
revolution
When the motor is working at its full capacity, and therefore taking in its
maximum charge the commencement of the opening of the cock occurs simul-
taneously with the commencement of the suction and of the working strokes, and
the complete closing of the cock terminates with these two strokes. Since during
the working stroke the pressure of the exploding charge maintains the before-
mentioned non-return valve closed, the fact of the distributing cock being open
during this period has no effect upon the working of the engine; neither also has
the earlier opening of the cock any effect on the working, if with less work done
by the engine and the consequent increase in the number of revolutions the
governor so increases the lead of the distributing eccentric as to effect the earlier
closing of the distributing cock. Such earlier closing operates to cut off the supply
of explosive mixture before the termination of the suction stroke, consequently the
engine ceases to work with a complete charge and works with a charge which is
the less the greater the lead. During that part of the opening of the cock, which
takes place at the end of the compression stroke and of the discharging stroke, the
non-return valve before mentioned is closed, so that the suction of fresh mixture
can only take place after the commencement of the suction stroke notwithstanding
the early opening of the distributing cock.
With a complete charge, the ignition should take place at the end of the com-
pression stroke and must therefore be started shortly before. If however the
engine does not work with a complete charge the ignition must be effected a little
earlier, because then the mixture contained in the cylinder ignites with somewhat

page_text: greater difficulty and burns more slowly. Its combustion would therefore be
incomplete if the moment of ignition remained unchanged.
Now as the moment at which the ignition is caused by opening the ignition valve
must approximately coincide with the moment at which the distributing cock opens
towards the end of the compression stroke it is possible to obtain a correct and
simple control of the ignition valve by suitably connecting it with the distributing
cock or so arranging that it shall be controlled by the movements of said cock.
A simple mode of operation is as follows, that is to say, upon the spindle of the
distributing cock is fixed an arm which at the moment when the said cock begins
to open strikes upon a pin on a spring-controlled casing connected with the rod of
the ignition valve and thus moves said casing opens said valve.
When the engine has a lighter load, the distributing cock cuts-off before the
termination of the suction stroke in consequence of the lead being increased by the
governor, and as a consequence it begins also to open before the termination of
the compression stroke. Accordingly the ignition valve opens also before the
termination of the compression stroke, and the ignitible mixture has access to the
ignition chamber and the ignition is caused earlier than when the charge is complete.
It is immaterial that the ignition valve like the distributing cock is also opened
shortly before the termination of the discharge stroke because the cylinder then
contains only gas already burnt. It is likewise of no consequence that during part
of the suction stroke the ignition valve is open, because at the most a portion of
the products of combustion at a higher pressure in the ignition chamber can be
sucked into the cylinder by it, a premature ignition however cannot take place.
In lieu of the arm before mentioned for operating the ignition valve a cam fixed
on the spindle of the distributing cock may be used, said cam acting through a
lever connected with the aforesaid spring-controlled casing which operates the rod
of the igniting valve.
In lieu of an ignition valve use may be made of an ignition cock which is
actuated synchronously with the distributing cock, by a crank fixed on its plug
and connected by a link with a similar parallel crank upon the journal of the
distributing cock.
Dated this 12th day of January 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Distributing and Igniting Devices for Gas,
Petroleum, and like Engines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The present invention relates to the distributing and igniting devices of gas,
petroleum and like engines, and has for its object to provide simple means for
causing the ignition to vary with the cut-off, that is to say, to take place sooner or
later according as the cut-off is early or late, for the purpose of ensuring a very
economical consumption of the explosive charge, and a uniform speed of the engine.
The proportion of the residues of combustion of one charge to a new charge is
greater when the cut-off is early than when the cut-off is late, and the ignitibility
of the charge is thereby diminished, consequently the ignition should take place
proportionately earlier when the cut-off is early in order that the combustion or
the utilization of the charge may be complete.

page_text: This object is secured according to the present invention by providing for the
operation of the distributing or admission valve or cock by an eccentric or
equivalent device which has a variable lead under the control of the governor,
and, by arranging the said valve or cock to operate the igniting valve in accordance
with the requirements, that is to say, sooner or later in proportion to the varying
angular advance of the eccentric.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a section through the distributing cock and admission ports of an
engine provided with the present improvements.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation partly in section of the same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the parts which control the ignition valve.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation partly in section of the parts shewn in Figure 3.
Figures 5 and 6 show slight modifications of the mechanism for controlling the
igniting valve.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
According to one mode of carrying this invention into practice, a tap or cock D,
Figures 1 and 2, is provided in the passage k for the explosive mixture, but is
separated from the cylinder by a non-return valve E adapted to open towards the
cylinder. The said cock D is operated through a crank on its spindle by an
eccentric on the fly-wheel shaft of the engine or motor in such a manner that it is
opened and closed once in every revolution of the latter. When the motor is
working at its full capacity, and therefore taking in its maximum charge, the
commencement of the opening of the cock occurs simultaneously with the
commencement of the suction and of the working strokes, and the complete closing
of the cock is simultaneous with the completion of these two strokes. As the
pressure of the exploding charge keeps the non-return valve Ę closed during the
working stroke, the fact of the distributing cock D being open during this period
has no effect upon the working of the engine; neither has the earlier opening of
the cock any effect on the working, if with less work done by the engine and the
consequent increase in the speed the governor so increases the lead of the distributing
eccentric as to effect the earlier closing of the said cock. Such earlier closing
operates to cut off the supply of explosive mixture before the termination of the
suction stroke; consequently the engine ceases to work with a complete charge and
works with a charge which is smaller in proportion as the lead is greater. During
that part of the opening of the cock D which takes place at the end of the
compression stroke and of the discharging stroke, the non-return valve E is closed,
so that notwithstanding the early opening of the distributing cock the suction of
fresh explosive mixture can only take place after the commencement of the suction
stroke.
With a complete charge, the ignition should take place at the end of the
compression stroke and must therefore be started shortly before the end of such
stroke. If however the engine is working with an incomplete charge the ignition
must be effected a little earlier, because then the mixture contained in the cylinder
ignites with somewhat greater difficulty and burns more slowly. Its combustion
would therefore be incomplete if the moment of ignition remained unchanged.
Now as the ignition must approximately coincide with the moment at which the
distributing cock opens near the end of the compression stroke it is possible to
obtain a correct and simple control of the ignition valve by suitably connecting it
with the distributing cock D or by so arranging it that it shall be controlled by
the movements of the said cock.
A simple mode of operating the igniting valve is as follows, that is to say, upon
the spindle d of the distributing cock D is fixed an arm a, Figures 3 and 4; at the
moment when the said cock begins to open, this arm strikes a pin b fixed on a
spring-controlled piece c, connected with the rod of the ignition valve k, and
depresses said piece c and rod, and thus opens the valve k. The closing of the
valve k is effected by the spring e when the arm a is raised.
When the engine is working with a light load, the distributing cock D cuts off

page_text: before the termination of the suction stroke in consequence of the lead being
increased by the governor, and it begins to open before the termination of the
compression stroke. The ignition valve k, being controlled by the distributing
cock, also opens before the termination of the compression stroke, and therefore
the ignitible mixture has access to the ignition chamber, and the ignition is caused
earlier than when the charge is complete. It is immaterial that the ignition valve
is opened shortly before the termination of the discharging stroke, because the
cylinder then contains only gas already burnt. And it is of no consequence that
the ignition valve is open during part of the suction stroke, because although a
portion of the products of combustion in the ignition chamber may be drawn into
the cylinder, a premature ignition cannot take place.
In lieu of the arm a for operating the ignition valve, a cam g fixed on the spindle
of the distributing cock may be used, as in Figure 5. Said cam acts through a
roller i mounted on a lever / connected with the spring-controlled piece c which
operates the rod of the igniting valve.
Sometimes, according to this invention, in lieu of an ignition valve, use is made
of an ignition cock k, Figure 6, which is actuated synchronously with the
distributing cock D, by a crank fixed on its spindle and connected by a link n with
a similar parallel crank m upon the journal d of the distributing cock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a gas, petroleum or like engine, having a variable cut-off, the connection
of the admission cock with the igniting valve or cock, so that the moment of
ignition is made variable, the ignition being caused to take place sooner or later
according as the cut-off is early or late, for the purpose specified.
2. A gas, petroleum or like engine provided with the parts constructed
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings
for the purposes specified.
3. The modification of the invention wherein the igniting valve is operated as
described with reference to Figure 5, or wherein an igniting cock is used, the same
being controlled as described with reference to Figure 6 of the drawings.
Dated this 25th day of September 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.