Improvements in or relating to Explosion Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1900
Communicated from abroad by ISAAC HENRY DAVIS, of No. 258, Westville Street,
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.]
Improvements in or relating to Explosion 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:
This invention relates to explosive gas-engines, and more particularly to elec-
tric igniting devices therefor.
The object of the invention is, first, to provide improved controlling means for
the primary and secondary circuits of an induction-coil, whereby the primary
circuit may be interrupted at suitable periods in the cycle of a multiple-cylinder
engine, so as to produce a spark between the ignition-points in the several cylin-
ders at the proper times, the secondary circuit being also controlled so as to direct
the secondary discharge to one or another of said cylinders in a predetermined
order, and at a proper time in the cycle of the engine. A second object of the
invention is to arrange the mechanism for accomplishing the aforesaid object,
in an advantageous manner with relation to the dimensions of the engine, and
with relation to the other mechanism of the engine. A third object of the inven-
tion is to provide an igniting device which can also be used as a switch, the said
switch being so arranged as to be thrown in and out at a point where the explo-
sion is the least effective, thereby avoiding breakage of power-transmitting mech-
anism or other parts, due to the sudden application of the full power of the engine.
To accomplish the above-named objects, I provide, in combination with a
multiple-cylinder explosive engine, an induction-coil, a suitable source of elec-
tricity connected with the primary of said coil, ignition-points within the several
cylinders of the engine, and primary and secondary controllers, each having an
engine-rotated part provided with conductive segments and rings, and a normally
stationary adjustable part carrying brushes to co-operate with said segments and
rings, the arrangement being such that the primary controller interrupts the
primary circuit in the above-described manner, while the secondary controller at
corresponding times directs the secondary discharge to the proper cylinder. The
engine-revolved parts of the two controllers are separately geared in lateral
arrangement to the engine-shaft, so as to economize space in a direction longi-
tudinal of said shaft, and the same pintles or shafts which carry said engine-
revolved parts of the controllers may be equipped with the
the several cylinders. The stationary
operate the exhaust-valves of
parts of the controllers are made adjustable so as to time the occurrence
of the spark with relation to the stroke of the engine-pistons, and are connected
to move in unison. At the extremity of the adjusting movement of said parts,
arrangement is made whereby one of the brushes of the primary controller is
thrown out of action, so as to make the igniting device inoperative, and this takes
place at the extreme of that movement of the said stationary adjustable part
which is in the same direction as the revolution of the engine-revolved part, the
cams to

page_text: said movement causing the spark to occur later in the stroke of the engine-piston,
whereby the effectiveness of the explosion is below its maximum.
The engine-revolved part may also, in accordance with my invention, be
equipped with a governor which upon the attainment of a predetermined engine-
speed is actuated by centrifugal force, so as to open the igniting circuit. Arrange-
ment may still further be made, whereby the same extreme of adjustment of the
stationary part of the controller which throws out one of the brushes also holds
open the exhaust-valve of the engine-cylinder and provides a relief for the
cylinder. In further carrying out my invention, the stationary adjustable part
of the controller may be provided with an operating device under spring or
equivalent tension, which normally throws it over to the aforesaid extreme of
movement wherein the igniting circuit and exhaust-valve are opened.
Dated this 8th day of December 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
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 my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to explosive gas-engines, and more narticularly to elec-
tric igniting devices therefor.
The object of the invention is, first, to provide improved controlling means for
the primary and secondary circuits of an induction-coil, whereby the primary
circuit may be interrupted at suitable periods in the cycle of a multiple-cylinder
engine, so as to produce a spark between the ignition-points in the several cylin-
ders at the proper times, the secondary circuit being also controlled so as to direct
the secondary discharge to one or another of said cylinders in a predetermined
order, and at a proper time in the cycle of the engine. A second object of the
invention is to arrange the mechanism for accomplishing the aforesaid object,
in an advantageous manner with relation to the dimensions of the engine, and
with relation to the other mechanism of the engine. A third object of the inven-
tion is to provide an igniting device which can also be used as a switch, the said-
switch being so arranged as to be thrown in and out at a point where the explo-
sion is the least effective, thereby avoiding breakage of power-transmitting mech-
anism or other parts due to the sudden application of the full power of the engine.
To accomplish the above-named objects, I provide, in combination with a
multiple-cylinder explosive engine, an induction-coil, a suitable source of elec-
tricity connected with the primary of said coil, ignition-points within the several
cylinders of the engine, and primary and secondary controllers, each having an
engine-rotated part provided with conductive segments and rings, and a normally
stationary adjustable part carrying brushes to co-operate with said segments and
rings, the arrangement being such that the primary controller interrupts the
primary circuit in the above-described manner, while the secondary controller at
corresponding times directs the secondary discharge to the proper cylinder. The
engine-revolved parts of the two controllers are separately geared in lateral
arrangement to the engine-shaft, so as to economize space in a direction longi-
fudinal of said shaft, and the same pintles or shafts which carry said engine-

page_text: 5
the Cams
The stationary
olved parts of the controllers may be equipped with
the several cylinders.
erate the exhaust-valves of
to time the occurrence
rts of the controllers are made adjustable so as
the spark with relation to the stroke of the engine-pistons, and are connected
At the extremity of the adjusting movement of said parts,
move in unison.
rangement is made whereby one of the brushes of the primary controller is
rown out of action, so as to make the igniting device inoperative, and this takes
ace at the extreme of that movement of the said stationary adjustable part
hich is in the same direction as the revolution of the engine-revolved part, the
id movement causing the spark to occur later in the stroke of the engine-piston,
hereby the effectiveness of the explosion is below its maximum.
The engine-revolved part may also, in accordance with my invention, be
quipped with a governor which upon the attainment of a predetermined engine-
peed is actuated by centrifugal force, so as to open the igniting circuit. Arrange-
hent may still further be made, whereby the same extreme of adjustment of the
tationary part of the controller which throws out one of the brushes also holds
pen the exhaust-valve of the engine-cylinder and provides a relief for the
ylinder. In further carrying out my invention, the stationary adjustable part
of the controller may be provided with an operating device under spring or
equivalent tension, which normally throws it over to the aforesaid extreme of
movement wherein the igniting circuit and exhaust-valve are opened.
Of the accompanying drawings,--
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of an engine embodying my
improvements.
Figure 2 represents a sectional view thereof, on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a partial side clevation, showing certain parts in a different
position from Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents an enlarged side elevation, with parts broken away, of the
igniting-circuit breaker and related parts.
Figure represents a similar view, showing parts in a different position.
Figure 6 represents a section on line 6-6 of Figure 4.
Figure 7 represents an edge view of said device, with the casing in section.
Figure 8 represents a front elevation of the governor in action.
Figure 9 represents a diagrammatic view of the igniting circuit.
Figures 10 and 11 represent diagrammatic views illustrating my invention
and showing the movable parts in two different positions.
Figure 12 represents an edge view of the circuit-controlling devices.
Figure 13 represents a front elevation thereof.
Figure 14 represents a sectional view thereof.
Figure 15 represents a detail sectional view of one of the controller spindles
or shafts.
Figure 16 represents diagrammatically the arrangement of cylinders, crank,
etc., in the engine.
The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.
I shall describe first those features of my invention which are applicable to
explosive engines in general, and which are particularly illustrated in Figures
to 9, inclusive; and secondly, those features which relate more particularly t
multiple-cylinder engines.
Referring to Figures 1 to 9, 1 is the engine-cylinder, 2 is the check-valv
is the main exhaust-opening, controlled by th
50 admitting fuel thereto, and
exhaust-valve 4, which is regularly operated by suitable cams (not shown) con
nected with the crank-shaft of the engine, so as to exhaust the exploded conten
of the cylinder. The stem 5 of exhaust-valve 4 is provided with a collar 6, upo
which a spring 7 exerts longitudinal tension, tending to close the valve. S is
55 dog pivoted at 9 to the frame of the engine and adapted to be swung into the pa
of the collar 6 so as to hold the exhaust-valve 4 open, as shown in Figures
and 2.
A spring 10 normally holds the dog 8 in an inactive position, as illu

page_text: irated in Figure 3, said dog being moved into an active position during the
cessation of the sparking action, as hereinafter explained.
Referring to Figure 9, 11 12 represent the ignition points inside the engine-
cylinder, between which the sparks which ignite the explosive mixture in the
cylinder are produced. Said ignition-points are included in the secondary circuit
of an induction-coil 13, whose primary circuit includes a battery 14 or other
suitable source of electrical energy. 15 is a condenser connected in shunt relation
with the primary circuit, and 16 17 are current-carrying contacts or brushes
included in said circuit. 18 is a shaft revolved by the engine mechanism a pre-
determined number of times for one revolution of the engine crank-shaft, the
shaft 18 being revolved once for every two revolutions of the crank-shaft in a
four-cycle engine. 19 is a disk or wheel of insulating material, secured to the
shaft 18 and having a conductive ring 20 with which the brush 16 is normally
in continuous contact. 21 is an isolated section of conductive material, embedde:
in the periphery of the disk 19 and adapted to make contact with the brush 17
once in each revolution of said disk. 22 is a block of conductive material, elec-
trically connected with the conductive ring 20, through a screw 23. The blocks 21
and 22 are normally connected electrically by means of a U-shaped conductive
piece 24 forming part of a speed-governor hereinafter described, the construction
and operation being such that the primary circuit is made and broken between
the brush 17 and the contact 21, once for every revolution of the shaft 18, and a
spark is thereby produced between the igniting points 11 and 12. The brushes 16
17 are mounted upon a normally stationary but adjustable disk 25 of insulating
material, which adapted to have a rotatory movement concentrically with the
shaft 18. Assuming the rotation of the shaft 18 to be clock-wise in the direction
of the arrow, it is evident that a movement of the brush-carrying disk 25 in the
direction of rotation of said shaft will time the explosion later in the receding
stroke of the engine-piston, while a contrary movement will time the explosion
earlier in said stroke. The speed of the engine is thereby varied, for the explosion
has less and less effect in rotating the crank-shaft as it occurs nearer to the end
of the receding stroke of the piston. As the disk 25 approaches the limit of its
clock-wise movement, the igniting circuit may be broken entirely by causing an
extension of the brush 16 to abut against a fixed cam-stud 26, as illustrated in
Figure 5, whereby the contact part of the brush is lifted away from the conductive
ring 20. An effective starting and stopping switch is thereby provided, and it is
to be noted that this switch is always opened or closed at a point where the
explosion is least effective. By the use of this device, there is therefore no danger
of accident by reason of the engine starting at its full power while it may be
running at a slow speed and connected to the mechanism which it drives.
To rotate the brush-carrying disk 25, I have illustrated a device comprising
a flexible cord 27, preferably attached to the periphery of the disk by a suitable
device, such as the staple 28 (Figure 7), and having one end connected to a
spring 29 and the other end passing to a suitable point within the reach of the
operator or attendant. The end of the spring is attached to a suitable fixed sup-
port, and the spring exerts a tension which constantly tends to rotate the disk 25
in a switch-opening direction. The operator's end of the cord 27 may be caught
upon a hook or otherwise suitably secured, and adapted to be released when the
brush-disk is to be operated.
30 is a projection upon the disc 25 adapted to engage the heel of the dog 8 at
the limit of the switch-opening movement of said disk, and to move said dog
against the tension of its spring 10 from the position illustrated in Figure 3 to
that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, whereby the exhaust-valve 4 when opened by
the mechanism of the engine is held open against the tension of its spring 7. The
described arrangement for operating the exhaust-valve enables me to dispense
with the relief-valve ordinarily employed in explosive engines and opened when
the engine is started up, so as to relieve the compression in the cylinder.
Should the valve controlling the fuel-supply be left open while the engine is

page_text: ning and the ignition is suspended, the fuel will not be wa
the check-valve 2 during the receding stroke of the piston, which occurs when
y the usual small relief-valve opening is provided. Said suction is disposed
through the large exhaust-opening.
The U-shaped metal part 24 which
The governor is constituted as follows:
rmally connects the metal blocks 21 and 22 is mounted upon the face of an
sulating-block 31, which is attached to the end of a spring-arm 32 carried by
the
pivot-stud 33. The latter is journalled in the face of the disk 19 eccentric to
radial socket in
into a
e shaft 18, and is formed with gear-teeth 34 engaged by a screw-thread 35
Said pin screws
rmed
transverse hole in the end of
on a pin 36.
sk 19, and is also passed through a
e shaft 18. so as to afford a means for attaching the disk 19 to the shaft 18. It
ill be observed that when the pin 36 is screwed up to give the desired tension
o the spring 32, said tension will be exerted through the pinion-stud 33 in a
lirection to hold the pin 36 inward to its seat. Centrifugal force being exerted
adially on the free end of the spring-arm 32 carrying the U-shaped piece 24,
will have a component which tends to rotate the end of the arm about the stud 33
as a center; and when a certain speed, determined by the tension of the spring-
arm 52, has been attained, the U-shaped piece 24 will be thrown away from the
contact-blocks 21 22, as shown in Figure 8, and the igniting circuit will accord-
ingly be broken and the explosion in the cylinder will cease until the speed has
been reduced. The circuit being broken simultaneously at two points between
the ends of the U-shaped piece 24 and the contact-blocks 21 and 22, no spark, or.
a very inconsiderable spark, will be produced by the break.
Referring now more particularly to Figures 10 to 16, inclusive, in which I
have represented the primary and secondary circuit-controlling features of my
invention, 13 designates an induction-coil, 14 is a battery included in the primary
circuit 103 104 of the induction-coil, and 105 106 represent the cylinders of a two-
cylinder explosive engine having a single crank-shaft 114 (Figures 14 and 16).
107 and 108 are two rotatable disks of insulating material, which as seen in
Figure 14 are secured to two short shafts or spindles 109 110, which have suitable
bearings and are provided with gears 111 112 of equal size, meshing with a
pinion 113 secured to the crank-shaft 114 of the engine, the pinion being illus-
trated as of half the diameter of the gears, so as to complete two rotations to one
5 of the gears. The rotatable members 107 and 108 constitute parts of two circuit-
controllers, the one including the member 107 being herein termed the primary
circuit-controller, while that which includes the member 108 is termed the sec-
ondary circuit-controller. 115 is a conductive ring, preferably of metal, mounted
on the member 107 and having two lateral projections 116 117 constituting con-
10 tacts, separated by a predetermined angular distance and having insulating
An insulating-plate 118, which is normally
material interposed between them.
stationary but is capable of rotation about a center, in this case the shaft 109.
carries two contact-brushes 119 120, which form the terminals of the circuit 108
104 containing the primary winding of the induction-coil 13 and the source o
45 electrical energy 2 with a condenser 15 in shunt. The brush 119 is in continuou
contact with the conductive ring 115, and therefore with each of the contacts 11
When the member 107 is rotated
117, and the brush 120 rests on the cylindrical surface which includes the insula
ting material and the two contacts 116 117.
the contacts 116 and 117 are successively brought into connection with th
50 brush 120, and the primary circuit is thereby successively made and broken twi
for each revolution of the member 107.
An insulating base 12
The member 108 is provided with a conductive ring 121, having two later
projections 122 123 constituting separated contacts.
normally stationary but rotatable about the shaft 110, carries three contac
55 brushes 125 126 127. The brush 125 is in continuous contact with conducti
ring 121, and therefore with the contacts 122 123, and forms one terminal of t
circuit 128 129 which includes the secondary winding of the induction-coil. T

page_text: other terminal of said secondary winding is carried, as herein shown, to the iron
of the engine, which conventionally represents one point of each of the two pairs
of ignition-points relating to the respective cylinders of the engine.
The other ignition-points of
said pairs are conventionally represented
by the plugs 130 and 131, which are connected in branch circuits 220 230
with the respective brushes 126 127. The angular relation of the two members 107
and 108 is such that one of the two contacts 116 117 will be in connection with
the brush 120 at the same time that one of the contacts 122 123 is in connection
with one of the brushes 126 127; and the other contact of the pair 116 117 will
be in connection with the brush 120 at the same time that the other contact of the
pair 122 123 is in connection with the other brushes of the pair 126 127, so that the
following action results: The terminals of the primary circuit of the induction-
coil are alternately connected and disconnected, so as to produce an igniting spark
between the terminals of the secondary coil, and the two pairs of ignition-points
are successively constituted as the said secondary terminals, simultaneously with
the completion of the primary circuit.
It is obvious that the rotation of the two insulating bases 118 and 124 carrying
the several brushes about the shafts 109 110 as centers, will change the points
at which the spark occurs, relatively to the stroke of the engine-piston, thereby
timing the explosion with relation to said stroke. I provide means for simul-
taneously and equally rotating said insulating bases about their centers and thus
changing the time of the spark, while maintaining the co-acting relation of the
primary and secondary circuit-controllers, said means as herein illustrated con-
sisting of arms 134 135 attached to the respective bases 118 and 124, said arms
being pivotally connected at their outer ends with a link 136 adapted to receive
motion from a suitable manually operated lever or handle.
The complete operativeness of the circuit-controllers would be retained if the
two members 107 and 108 were mounted upon a single shaft; but as this would
increase the space occupied by the structure in a direction longitudinally of the
said shaft, and since, moreover, this increase of space occupied would frequently
be undesirable in the situations in which engines are commonly employed, there
being, however, ample lateral space available on the side of the crank-case or
frame of the engine, I prefer to mount the said controllers separately in gear
connection with the crank-shaft 114, as illustrated. It is further to be observed
that the two shafts 109 and 110 in such gear connection with the crank-shaft 114
are then available for other uses in the engine, and are in fact employed in practice
in an engine of the type hereinbefore specified, to operate the exhaust-valves of
the two cylinders.
137 137 are two studs fixed to the frame of the engine and extended through
segmental slots 138 in the disk 118, to guide said disk, and also having springs 140
bearing against washers 141 which furnish a friction to retain the disks 118
and 124 in the positions to which they are moved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In an electric igniter for explosive engines, the combination of an engine-
revolved contact and a co-operating stationary contact, means to effect a relative
concentric adjustment of said contacts to vary the occurrence of ignition with
respect to the power stroke of the engine, and means operated by the adjusting
movement for throwing the contacts into and out of co-acting relation.
2. In an igniter for explosive engines, a circuit-breaker comprising an engine-
revolved contact or circuit terminal, a current-carrying brush co-operating there-
with, a normally stationary support carrying said brush and adjustable concen-
trically with the engine-revolved contact, and a fixed cam-abutment arranged to
engage said brush after a predetermined adjusting movement of said support in

page_text: direction of revolution of the contact, and to thereby
cting relation with the contact.
In an explosive engine the combination of an igniting device, adjusting
ans associated therewith and adapted to vary the point in the engine-cycle at
ich gnition occurs, an outlet from the engine-cylinder, a valve controlling
d outlet, and a device operated by movement of said adjusting means, for con-
lling said valve.
4. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with the engine,
a circuit-breaker comprising an engine-revolved part and a normally stationary
justable part, an outlet from the engine-cylinder, a valve controlling said outlet,
d mechanism operated by movement of said adjustable part for holding said
lve open.
5. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with the main
haust-valve of the engine, of a device for holding said valve open, a circuit-
reaker comprising an engine-revolved part and a normally stationary adjustable
art, and a member connected with said adjustable part and adapted to engage
aid device and place it in operative position during movement of said adjustable.
art.
6. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with the main
xhaust-valve of the engine and the spring holding said valve to its seat, of a
log adapted to hold the valve open when opened by other means, a circuit-breaker
comprising an engine revolved part and a normally stationary adjustable part,
and a member connected with said adjustable part and adapted to engage said
dog and place it in operative position during movement of said adjustable part.
7. In an apparatus of the character specified, an engine-revolved support, a
contact fixed thereto and forming a part of the igniting circuit, an arm con-
structed as a spring and having a contact forming a part of the igniting circuit,
said contacts being separable by centrifugal force to break the circuit, a stud sup-
porting said spring-arm and having gear-teeth, and a rotatable screw engaging
said teeth and adapted to adjust the tension of the spring-arm.
8. In an apparatus of the character specified, an engine-rotated shaft, a support
mounted thereon, contacts mounted on said support and forming part of an
igniting circuit, said contacts being separable by centrifugal force to break the
circuit, a spring to hold the contacts together, and a pin rotatable to adjust the
tension of said spring and also serving as a key to lock the support to the shaft,
the key being held to its seat by the tension of the spring.
9. In an apparatus of the character specified, an engine-rotated shaft, a support
mounted thereon, a speed-governor mounted on said support and including a
spring, and a member movable to adjust the tension of said spring and acting as
a key to secure the support to the shaft, which key is held to its seat by the ten-
sion of the spring.
10. In an apparatus of the character specified, an igniting-circuit breaker
including an engine-revolved support having a conductive ring and an isolated
segmental contact, and a spring-resisted connector mounted on said support and
5 adapted to connect said ring and said contact and to be separated from the two
simultaneously by centrifugal force to break the igniting circuit.
11. An igniting device comprised in an engine having a plurality of cylinders
and a single crank-shaft, a pinion attached to said shaft, two gears meshing with
said pinion on either side of it, a plurality of ignition-points relating to the
50 respective cylinders, a primary and a secondary controller attached respectively t
the shafts of the said two gears and controlling the action of the said ignition
points, combined with the induction-coil having a source of electrical energ
included in its primary circuit, and said circuit controlled by the primary circuit
controller, and the secondary circuit of said coil including the ignition-points an
55 controlled by the secondary circuit-controller.
12. An igniting device comprised in an engine having a plurality of cylinde

page_text: and a single crank-shaft, a pinion attached to said shaft, two gears meshing with
said pinion on either side of it, a plurality of ignition-points relating to the
respective cylinders, a primary and a secondary controller attached respectively
to the shafts of the said two gears and controlling the action of the said ignition-
points, two sets of contact-brushes relating to the respective controllers, bases
supporting said sets of brushes and movable about said shafts to vary the time of
ignition, and a link connecting said two bases and causing them to move together
in common, combined with the induction-coil having a source of electrical energy
included in its primary circuit, and said circuit controlled by the primary circuit-
controller, and the secondary circuit of said coil including the ignition-points and
controlled by the secondary circuit-controller.
Dated this 7th day of September 1900.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.