IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL IGNITING APPARATUS FOR GAS-ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co,
"
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL IGNITING APPARATUS FOR GAS-ENGINES
communicated to him from abroad by Nicolas de Kabath, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL IGNITING
APPARATUS FOR GAS-ENGINES [A communication to him from abroad by
Nicolas de Kabath, of Paris, France.]
"
This invention relates to apparatus for igniting instantaneously and with safety,
by means of an electric spark, explosive mixtures employed for the production of
motive power in gas-engines.
This apparatus is constructed upon the following principle vis;-a part of the
motor is arranged to act by means of suitable gearing upon the armature of a
permanent magnet or an electro-magnet, the pole or poles of the permanent magnet
if such is used, being surrounded by a coil or coils of conducting wire, The two
ends of the wire of the coils are connected with two metallic pieces or rods placed
in line with each other, a suitable interpolar space being left between the same.
At any desired time, the part of the motor above referred to suddenly separates the
armature from the magnet and causes the formation of an induced current in the
coils of the magnet, which current produces a spark in the interpolar space between
the two metallic pieces or rods. This spark effects the ignition and explosion of
the gaseous mixture which in its turn, acts by reason of its elastic force and
expansion upon the motor piston.
In order to illustrate this invention I have shewn an apparatus by way of
example in the accompanying drawing in which.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of part of a gas engine with the above described
apparatus applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a front elevation showing the electro-magnet and the rod for
operating the armature.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.

page_text: a is a permanent magnet for which may be substituted an iron bar rendered
magnetic by the passage of an electric current; in the latter case a second coil
or pair of coils is used, the same being supplied with a continuous current in
order to magnetize the core or cores thereof. b is an armature which is capable
of oscillating upon the axis c and which carries at one of its extremities the rod d
placed opposite another rod e. f. f are the coils placed upon the arms or limbs of
the core, the two extremities of the wire being connected one with any point of
the armature b and the other with the lower part of the rod e which is insulated
from the frame of the said apparatus by means of a ring g' of slate, ivory or
other suitable material. When the armature is suddenly separated from the
magnets an induced current is formed in the wire of the said magnets and an
electric spark is produced between the two rods d and e which spark ignites the
mixture of gas and air.
Any suitable mechanical device may be employed in order to cause the sudden
separation of the armature from the magnets; in the arrangement shewn on the
drawing the separation is effected by means of a vertical rod h the lower part
of which passes through an aperture formed in the tail of the armature band
rests upon the said armature by means of a nut i. A cam k raises, during n
portion of its stroke, the rod h by means of a connecting rod Z and bends the
spring m (Figure 2) the free end of which rests upon the top of the rod h. When
the gascous mixture is to be ignited the cam releases the rods hand and the
spring m which consequently descend and cause the nut i to strike the armature b
thus suddenly separating the same from the magnets; a spark is then produced and
ignites the explosive mixture.
The armature b may however be acted upon in any other manner without
departing from the nature of the said invention.
As shewn on the drawing the gas is admitted through the tube n the air being
introduced through the valve o which is opened automatically by reason of the
decrease of pressure in the cylinder.
The mixture of air and gas reaches the cylinder through the valve p which is
actuated by the engine or motor and a valve 9 serves for the introduction of
additional air. The arrangement of the said valves may vary, as this invention
is applicable to all gas-engines whatever may be their arrangement for the
distribution of gas and air, and consequently the form and dimensions of the
various parts may be varied as required without departing from the nature of
the said invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 23rd April
1884.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL IGNITING
A communication to me from abroad by Nicolas
APPARATUS FOR GAS-ENGINES."
de Kabath, of Paris, France
This invention relates to apparatus for igniting, instantaneously and with safety
by means of an electric spark, explosive mixtures employed for the production of
motive power in gas-engines
This apparatus is constructed upon the following principle vis: a part of the
motor is arranged to act by means of suitable gearing upon the armature of a
permanent magnet or an electro magnet the pole or poles, of the permanent magnet
if such is used being surrounded by a coil or coils of conducting wire. The two
ends of the wire of the coils are connected with two metallic pieces or rods placed
in a line with each other, a suitable interpolar space being left between the same.
At any desired time, the part of the motor above referred to suddenly separates the
arniature from the magnet and causes the generation of an induced current in the
coils of the said magnet which current produces a spark in the interpolar space
between the two metallic pieces or rods. The spark effects the ignition and
explosion of the gaseous mixture which in its turn, acts by reason of its elastic forco
and expansion upon the motor piston.
In order to illustrate this invention I have shewn an apparatus by way of
example in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a part of a gas engine with the above described
apparatus applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a front elevation shewing the electro-magnet and the rod for
operating the armature
J
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a indicates a magnetic bar for which may be substituted an iron bar rendered
magnetic by the passage of an electric current ; in the latter case a second coil or
pair of coils is used, the same being supplied with a continuous current causing the
core thereof to become magnetized
b indicates an armature which is capable of oscillating upon the axis o and which
carries at one of its extremities the rod d placed opposite another rod e.
ff indicate coils placed upon the arms or limbs of the core the two extremities of
the wire being connected one with any point of the armature b and the other with
the lower part of the rod e, which is insulated from the frame of the said apparatus
by means of a ring g', of slate ivory or other suitable material. When the
armature is suddenly separated from the magnets an induced current is developed
in the wire of the said magnets and an electric spark is produced between the two
rods d and e which spark ignites the mixture of gas and air
Any suitable mechanical device may be employed in order to cause the sudden
separation of the armature from the magnets. In the arrangement shewn on the
drawing this separation is effected by means of a vertical rod h, the lower part of
which passes through an aperture formed in the tail of the armature b and rests
upon the said armature by means of a nut i. A cam k raises during a portion of
its stroke, the rod h by means of a connecting rod and bends the spring m
(Figure 2) the free end of which rests upon the top of the rod h. When the
gaseous mixture is to be ignited the cam k releases the ruds hand
and the

page_text: spring m which consequently descend and cause the nut i to strike the armature b
thus suddenly separating the same from the magnets;, a spark is then produced
and ignites the explosive mixture. The armature b may however be acted upon in
any other manner without departing from the nature of the said invention
As shewn on the drawing the gas is admitted through the tube n, the air
being introduced through the valve o which is opened automatically by reason of
the decrease of pressure in the cylinder.
The mixture of air and gas passes to the cylinder through the valve p which is
actuated by the engine or motor and a valve 9 serves for the introduction of
additional air. The arrangement of the said valves may vary, as this invention
is applicable to all gas-engines whatever may be their arrangement for the
distribution of gas and air, and consequently the form of the various parts may be
varied as required without departing from the nature of the said invention
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I Claim ;-
First. In a motor in which any inflammable gas or gaseous mixture serves as the
motive agent, the employment, for igniting the said gas or mixture, of an apparatus
comprising a permanent or an electro magnet and an armature adapted to be
suddenly separated from the said magnet at the proper time by means of any
suitable mechanism connected with the motor, the movement of the said armature
causing an induced current in the coils of the magnet, which current produces a
spark between two conductors immersed in the explosive mixture to be ignited
substantially as described
Second. In a motor in which an inflammable gaseous mixture is employed, the
combination of a permanent or electro-magnet a, an armature b oscillating upon a
pivot c, two conductors d and e and the coils f.f mounted upon the magnet, with
the rods h, the nut i, the cam k and the spring m, substantially as described and
for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand 3
and seal this Twenty third day of April in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
117M PORT TAKE
l