Improvements in the Method of and Means employed for Starting Internal Combustion Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification 1 oft 7th Mov 1808Accented 16th July 1898
Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th May 1808 Accented, 16th July, 1898
Improvements in the Method of and Means employed for Starting
Internal Combustion Engines.
We, JOSEPH EDMONDSON, of Albert Electrical Works, Hey Street, Longside
Lane, Bradford, in the County of York, Electrical Engineer, and JOHN WILLIAM
DAWSON, of 32, Rugby Place, Legrams Lane, Bradford aforesaid, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and means employed
for starting internal combustion engines by the firing of an initial explosive charge
when under compression.
The method at present in use of firing the charge (when the engine is running)
by means of an ignition tube depends on the principle that at atmospheric pressure
the said tube is filled with air or other non-combustible gas, and as the compres
sion of the explosive charge in the cylinder proceeds, a portion of the combustible
mixture enters the tube, compressing before it the non-combustible gas already
in the tube until a compression is attained at which the combustible mixture
reaches the incandescent part of the tube when it ignites and explodes the charge.
In starting the engine, it is sometimes requisite and at all times desirable that
the charge should be ignited at less than the normal running pressure. One
part of our invention secures this object and consists in attaching to the ignition
tube, a cock communicating with a small chamber. When the said cock is
opened the enlarged space into which the incombustible gases between the
cylinder and the incandescent part of the ignition tube have then to be com-
pressed, causes ignition at a proportionally lower pressure. Thus when
initial explosive charge is being pumped into the cylinder with the said cock open,
it will explode and propel the piston as soon as the compression has reached the
point to which the capacity of the small chamber has been adjusted.
an
In order to automatically allow the charge to be exploded, if owing to the com-
pression of the charge while pumping, the engine makes a partial start or move-
ment, the cock is by lever and link connected to a lever, one end of which is
mounted on a fulcrum stud, and such lever is held in contact with a cam on the
cam shaft of the engine by means of a spring. Should the engine make a partial
start and the cam shaft revolve, the cam acting on the lever will cause the cock
to be opened and the charge to expand as hereinbefore described.
Where a slide is used instead of the ordinary ignition tube, an ignition cock
is attached to and communicates with the cylinder. When set ready for starting,
gas from a supply pipe flows through a small nozzle into a chamber or port in the
plug and is lighted. The plug is held in this position by a catch or trigger and
has attached to it a spring which will operate as soon as the catch releases it:
said catch is attached to a piston in a small cylinder communicating with the
main cylinder, preferably by a second port through the plug of the cock. A
spring attached to the said piston regulates the pressure at which it will operate

page_text: to release the cock, explode the charge, shut off the gas supply, and close the com-
munication of the small cylinder with the main cylinder.
Instead of using a small cylinder and piston to operate the ignition cock by
releasing the catch, we may use a cam acting on a lever as before described to
release the same when the engine makes a partial start owing to the compression
of the charge when pumping.
ן.
1003
Improvements in the Method of and Means employed for Starting
Internal Combustion Engines.
We, JOSEPH EDMONDSON, of Albert Electrical Works, Hey Street, Longside
Lane, Bradford, in the County of York, Electrical Engineer, and JOHN WILLIAM
DAWSON, of 32, Rugby Place, Legrams Lane, Bradford aforesaid, Engineer, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
This invention relates to improved apparatus employed for starting internal
combustion engines by the firing of an initial explosive charge when under com-
pression, or by the firing of successive explosive charges.
The method at present in use of firing discharge (when the engine is running)
by means of an ignition tube depends on the principle that at atmospheric pressure
the said tube is filled with air or other noncombustible gas, and as the compres
sion of the explosive charge in the cylinder proceeds, a portion of the combustible
mixture enters the tube compressing before it the non-combustible gas already
in the tube until a compression is attained at which the combustible mixture
reaches the incandescent part of the tube, when it ignites and explodes the charge.
In starting the engine it is sometimes requisite and at all times desirable that
the charge should be ignited at less than the normal running pressure. One
part of our invention secures this object and consists in attaching to the ignition
tube, a cock communicating with a small chamber. When the said cock is
opened the enlarged space into which the incombustible gases between the
cylinder and the incandescent part of the ignition tube have thus to be com-
pressed, causes ignition at a proportionately lower pressure. Thus when
initial explosive charge is being pumped into the cylinder with the said cock open,
it will explode and propel the piston as soon as the compression has reached the
point to which the capacity of the small chamber has been adjusted.
an
In order to automatically allow the charge to be exploded, if owing to the com-
pression of the charge while pumping, the engine makes a partial start or move-
ment, the cock is moved by lever and link connected to a lever one end of which is
mounted on a fulcrum stud and such lever is held in contact with a cam on the
cam shaft of the engine by means of a spring. Should the engine make a partial
start, and the cam shaft revolve, the cam acting on the lever will cause the cock
to be opened and the charge to expand as before described.
Where a slide is used instead of the ordinary ignition tube, or when for any
reason a supplementary ignition apparatus is desirable an ignition cock is attached
to and communicates with the cylinder. When set ready for starting, gas from
a supply pipe flows through a small nozzle into a chamber or port in the plug
and so lighted. The plug is held in this position by a catch or trigger, and has

page_text: attached to it a spring which will operate as soon as the catch slides off. Said
catch is attached to a piston of a small cylinder communicating with the main
cylinder preferably by a second port through the plug of the cock.
A spring
attached to the said piston regulates the position at which it will operate and
release the cock, explode the charge, shut off the gas supply, and close the com-
munication of the small cylinder with the main cylinder.
Similar apparatus may be used to actuate the plug 5 (Figs. 1 to 5).
Instead of using a small cylinder and piston to operate the ignition cock by
releasing the catch, we may use a cam working on a lever as above described to
release the same when the engine makes a partial start owing to the ignition of
the charge when pumping.
Such being the nature and object of our said invention the following is a com-
plete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in
which:-
Fig. 1 shews in sectional elevation the end of a cylinder and connected parts
for igniting a mixed charge of air and gas.
Fig. 2 is an end view of same, the pump being omitted.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 shew in sectional elevation the different positions of the cock
or valves, also the ignition tube.
Fig. 6 shews in sectional elevation the apparatus when applied to an engine
having a slide, or in which a supplementary ignition apparatus is desirable.
Fig. 7 is a like view shewing the ignition port open to the cylinder.
Fig. 8 shews a method of actuating the valve by a cam.
(In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 the pump and check valve are not shewn.)
Fig. 9 is an elevation of the arrangement when a series of charges are to be fired.
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 shew, in section and plan, the ignition valves detached.
At 1 (see Fig. 1) is the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, and 2 is the
compression chamber, 3 is a small chamber fitted to the top of the ignition tube 4,
and said chamber 3 has a cock 5. The air and fuel is pumped into the cylinder 1
by means of the pump 6 to which is connected an inlet 7 for air and an inlet 8
for fuel, the latter inlet pipe being provided with a cock 9 to regulate the supply.
The fuel and air is pumped along the pipe 10 through the gauze or sieve 11,
check valve 12, and nozzle 13 into the cylinder 1.
The action is as follows:--The cock 5 being set open by hand as shewn in
Fig. 4. fuel and air are pumped by the pump 6 into the cylinder 1, these issuing
as a blast through the nozzle 13 become effectually mixed both together and with
the previous contents of the cylinder 1. At the same time the charge is com-
pressed. When the compression has driven the explosive mixture so far up the
ignition tube so as to reach the incandescent part, the charge is fired and the
piston is propelled. Immediately the explosion takes place, the cock 5 should be
closed or the following charges will be fired too soon.
If a slide is used instead of an ignition tube, there is employed a small chamber 14
(see Fig. 6) in which is a piston 15 held near the bottom of such chamber 14 by
means of a spiral spring 16 and on the rod or spindle 17 of said piston is an arm 18
the end of which engages with one end of the handle or lever 19 of the valve 20
in which is a port for the flame 21. At 10 is the pipe connecting the valve with
the cylinder 1. Fuel and air is forced into the cylinder 1 and around the valve 20
as indicated in Fig. 1, into chamber 14, and as the piston 15 is gradually forced
upwards until the arm 18 moves clear of the end of the lever 19, whereon the
spring 22 moves the valve 20 part of a revolution and the flame 21 is carried to
the tube 10 as shewn in Fig. 7, and the charge is ignited and exploded.
The cock or plug 5 and lever 19 may be automatically operated in the event
of the engine making a partial start or movement by the employment of a cam,
as hereinafter more fully described.
In Figs. 1 and 2, the arm 23 of the cock 5 is by link 24 connected to an arm 25
free to rock on a stud 26, and held by means of a spiral spring 27 against a cam 28
on the cam shaft 29 of the engine. If the engine makes a partial start, cam

page_text: shaft 29 causes cam 28 to press on the arm 25 and the latter will through the
link 24 throw the cock 5 to the position indicated in Fig. 3 after first momentarily
opening it, and the charge will be exploded, and when the cam 28 has passed the
arm 25 the spring 27 returns it to the normal position.
When
Where a supplementary ignition valve is desirable, there is upon the arm 19
a projection 49 engaging with the arm 25 (see Fig. 8) pivotted on a stud 26.
the cam 28 depresses the arm 25, the end of the latter clears the projection 49 on
the arm 19 and the latter is drawn partly round by the spring 22 which gives
a partial turn to the valve 20, and the flame 21 passes to the cylinder and ignites
and explodes the charge.
Referring now to Fig. 9 which illustrates apparatus for firing successive charges.
At 6 is the pump by which an explosive charge is pumped through the check
valve 12 and the ignition valve 20 into the cylinder.
At 30 (see Figs. 10, 11, and 12) is the inlet of the ignition valve communicating
through the check valve 12 with the pump. The exit 31 from the said valve com-
municating with the compression chamber of the cylinder (preferably placed at
or near its summit), 20 is the plug of the valve having a chamber 32 communicat-
ing with the gas supply by the opening 33 and with the internal burner 34 placed
in a second chamber 35 having apertures 36 and 37 communicating with the open
air, as in Fig. 10, or with the passages 31 and 38 as in Fig. 11 according to the
position of the valve. A gap 39 forms a communication between the passages 30
and 38 as in Fig. 10, or between the passage 30 and the open air as in Fig. 11.
A pilot burner 40 is coupled up to the gas supply. On the valve spindle is the
arm 19 carrying a stud to which is attached the connecting rod 24 having its
other end working on a stud fixed in the lever 25 which is pivotted at 41 on the
bracket 42 and carries a sleeve 43 on which is clamped the lower part of lever 25
having on its end a squared piece 44 and also a roller 45. The cam 28 is placed
on the cam shaft 29 of the engine in any convenient position, the operation of the
parts being hereinafter described.
In the ignition valve a channel 46 is cut, opening into the chamber 32 and 47.
This opens communication between the said chamber and the passage 31 for a
short interval while the valve is passing from the position shewn in Fig. 10 to
that shewn in Fig. 11.
To the end of the arm 19 of the ignition valve is attached one end of a spring 22
the other end of which is fixed to the bracket 42. A catch 48 is adapted to drop
and catch the squared end of the connecting rod 24 when the top lever 25 is moved
to the left. The roller 45 is thus held clear of the cam 29 and the apparatus is
at rest notwithstanding the running of the engine.
The action is as follows:-The engine is placed a little before the middle of
the explosion stroke with the cam 28 in the position shewn on Fig. 9 with the
square piece 44 resting on it as shewn. The levers 25, connecting rod 24, and
arm 19 are then in the position shewn by the full lines, and the ignition valve in
the position shewn in Fig. 10. The pilot jet at 40 being lighted, it ignites the
internal jet coming from burner 34. The gas valves of the engine being open as
usual for starting the exhaust valve of the engine (or a special orifice for this
purpose) being also open, explosive mixture is pumped into the cylinder by the
pump until it is filled with an explosive charge. The exhaust valve is then closed
and pumping being continued the piston is slowly propelled by the increasing
internal pressure, and carries the cam 28 in the direction of the arrow until the
square piece 44 drops off the cam, and the levers 25 fly into the position indicated
by the dotted lines in Fig. 9 and the ignition valve takes the position shewn in
Fig. 11 and igniting the explosive mixture in the channel 38 and exit 31, the
flame travels to the cylinder, the charge is fired, and the piston is propelled. The
pumping being still continued, the cam 28 operates the ignition valve as required,
the passage 38, exit 31 and the tube connecting with the cylinder are kept filled
with explosive mixture, and a succession of impulses are given to the piston. This
is continued until the firing of the charge is taken up by the ordinary ignition

page_text: apparatus of the engine; the operator then ceases pumping, moves the top lever 25
to the left, the catch 45 drops, and the starting apparatus rests till again required.
It will be seen that any efficient form of ignition valve may be used in place of
the one herein described."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
(1) In starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, the combination of
an auxiliary chamber on the ignition tube with an automatically operated inlet
valve, and a pump, substantially as and for the purposes described.
(2) In starting apparatus of internal combustion engines, the combination with
the ignition tube of a supplementary chamber and automatically operated cock
for the purpose of lessening the compression at which an explosion will take place,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
(3) In starting apparatus of internal combustion engines and in combination, a
pump, a check valve, an ignition tube, and a supplementary chamber and cock,
arranged and operating substantially as set forth.
(4) In starting apparatus of internal combustion engines and in combination,
a pump, a check valve, an ignition tube, and a supplimentary chamber and cock,
and means for automatically operating said cock from the cam shaft, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
(5) In starting apparatus of internal combustion engines and in combination,
a cylinder 14, a piston 15, spring 16, arm 18, lever 19, ignition valve 20, and
spring 22, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
(6) In starting apparatus of internal combustion engines and in combination,
a pump, a check valve, an ignition valve, and means for operating said
ignition valve from the cam shaft substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
(7) In starting apparatus of internal combustion engines, an ignition valve
having an inner flame chamber, a passage partially surrounding said chamber,
ports opening from said chamber and said passage and so arranged that during
charging the explosive mixture passes through said passage and that when firing
said charge the Hame chamber is open to such passage which is closed towards the
passage leading to the charge supply pipe, substantially as set forth.
(8) In starting apparatus of internal combustion engines the combination with
the usual ignition apparatus of mechanically controlled supplementary apparatus
giving successive ignition to the charges in the cylinder for starting the engine
substantially as set forth.