Improvements in and relating to Igniting Arrangements of Explosion Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Igniting Arrangements of
Explosion Engines.
I, WILLIAM BAINES, JNR., of 166, Amesbury Avenue, Streatham Hill, S.W.,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to igniting
arrangements of explosion engines and my invention consists in certain im-
provements hereinafter described, whereby the regular action of said engines will be
ensured.
One part of my invention relates to an improved electric ignitor and in carrying
this part of my invention into practice I dispense with one, or if desired both, of the
stationary "sparking points" or terminals hitherto usually employed and I substitute
for such stationary terminal or terminals, one or two rollers or equivalents. Although
I may use two rollers in close proximity to each other each of which rollers would
act as a terminal, I prefer to employ only one roller and one stationary terminal of
the ordinary construction.
One advantage appertaining to the employment of a rotary terminal as described is
that, inasmuch as contact would be made while said terminal is rotating, the spark
produced will be drawn so as to be longer than it would be between two stationary
terminals.
The said rotary terminal may, if desired be roughened on its periphery and the
sectional shape may be any which may be found most suitable.
Another part of my invention consists in the employment of a reciprocating piston
of special construction so as to be adapted to revolve said rotary terminal at each
stroke substantially in the manner hereinafter described.
In carrying this part of my invention into practice I form or provide the working
side of the piston with an extending part which extending part may form an integral
part of said piston, but I prefer to attach a rod or equivalent to the working side of
the piston in any suitable manner. The position of said rod is such that at each
stroke of the piston said rod will come into frictional contact with the periphery of
the rotary terminal and will not only revolve said terminal but will keep it clean and
free from the products of combustion. I prefer to bend the free end of said rod to be
bent in a direction away from said rotary terminal by which means violent contact of
said rod with said terminal is avoided.
The main advantage appertaining to the employment of my improved piston, is
that by its reciprocation the rotary terminal or terminals is or are kept clean and
further when the piston is on its "compression" stroke the roller will stop revolving
the moment the piston reaches the end of its stroke but on the return stroke of the
piston the momentum acquired by the roller will be such as to cause it to revolve to
some extent even when the rod or extending part of the piston has left it. By this
means a fresh point of said rotating terminal is presented at each double stroke of
the piston.
A further part of my invention consists in the improved means hereinafter
described to prevent short-circuiting-especially in oil engines-by reason of oil
or moisture entering the ignition chamber and coming in contact both. with the

page_text: electrically connected parts and with, say, the inside of the cylinder. To this end I
provide a shield within the ignition chamber which shield or protector is preferably
in the form of a tube which tube encloses the ignitor, allowing if my improved
ignitor be employed-only a small portion of the rotary terminal to project so
that the friction rod referred to may come in contact therewith.
For the purpose of automatically making the necessary electrical connection or
contact so as to cause the spark within the ignition chamber of explosive engines-
and this part of my invention is especially useful where two cylinders are employed-I
attach two pins or equivalents to the valve rod or other suitable reciprocating part
of the engine. Each of said pins is insulated from the said valve rod but is
connected in any suitable manner with the battery. In close proximity to and
situated between said two pins I provide a suitably supported rod which rod is also
connected to the battery the arrangement being such that when the valve rod moves
in one direction one of the pins will make contact with one end of the rod referred
to-and thereby. produce a spark within the ignition chamber of one cylinder-and
when the valve rod is moved in the opposite direction the other pin will make
contact with the opposite end of said rod-and thereby produce the spark in the
ignition chamber of the other cylinder. The rod referred to is preferably supported
by means of a spring or equivalent so as to prevent violent shock between the pins
and said rod. And the necessary electrical connection between the rod and pins and
the ignitors may be any usually employed.
I prefer to attach the pins to the valve rod in such a manner that the positions
of said pins may be adjusted as desired so that the time of the spark produced in the
ignition chamber and consequently the ignition may be regulated.
1
1
1000
Improvements in and relating to Igniting Arrangements of
Explosion Engines.
WILLIAM BAINES, Junior, of 166, Amesbury Avenue, Streatham Hill, S.W., 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 following
statement -
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to igniting arrange-
ments of explosion engines and my invention consists in certain improvements
hereinafter described, whereby the regular action of said engines will be ensured.
One part of my invention which is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying
drawing relates to an improved electric ignitor and in carrying this part of my
invention into practice I dispense with one, or if desired both, of the stationary
"sparking points" or terminals hitherto usually employed and I substitute for
such stationary terminal or terminals, one or two rollers A or equivalents.
Although may use two rollers in close proximity to each other each of which
rollers would act as a terminal, I prefer to employ only one roller and one stationary
terminal B of the ordinary construction.
One advantage appertaining to the employment of a rotary terminal as described
is that, inasmuch as contact would be made while said terminal is rotating, the spark
produced will be drawn so as to be longer than it would be between two stationary
terminals.

page_text: The said rotary terminal may, if desired be roughened on its periphery and the
sectional shape may be any which may be found most suitable.
Another part of my invention also illustrated in Fig. 1 consists in the employment
of a reciprocating piston P of special construction so as to be adapted to revolve said
rotary terminal A at each stroke substantially in the manner hereinafter described.
.
In carrying this part of my invention into practice I form or provide the working
side of the piston P with an extending part p which extending part may form an
integral part of said piston, but I prefer to attach a rod or equivalent to the working
side of the piston in any suitable manner. The position of said rod is such that at
each stroke of the piston said rod will come into frictional contact with the periphery
of the rotary terminal A and will not only revolve said terminal but will keep it
clean and free from the products of combustion. I prefer to bend the free end of said
rod in a direction away from said rotary terminal about as shown by which means
violent contact of said rod p with said terminal A is avoided.
The main advantage appertaining to the employment of my improved piston is that
by its reciprocation the rotary terminal A or terminals is or are kept clean and further
when the piston is on its "compression" stroke the roller will stop revolving the
moment the piston reaches the end of its stroke, but on the return stroke of
the piston the momentum acquired by the roller will be such as to cause it to revolve
to some extent even when the rod or extending part p of the piston has left it. By
this means a fresh point of said rotating terminal is presented at each double
stroke of the piston.
A further part of my invention consists in the improved means hereinafter described
to prevent short-circuiting-especially in oil engines-by reason of oil or moisture
entering the ignition chamber and coming in contact both with the electrically
connected parts and with, say, the inside of the cylinder. To this end I provide a
shield S also shown in Fig. 1 within the ignition chamber or cylinder which shield or
protector is preferably in the form of a tube which tube encloses the ignitor, allowing,
if my improved ignitor be employed-only a small portion of the rotary terminal A
to project so that the friction rod p referred to may come in contact therewith, sub-
stantially as shown.
For the purpose of automatically making the necessary electrical connection or
contact so as to 'cause the spark within the ignition chamber of explosive engines-
and this part of my invention which is illustrated in plan view in Fig. 2 is especially
useful where two cylinders are employed-I attach two pins or equivalents C to the
valve rod D or other suitable reciprocating part of the engine. Each of said pins is
insulated from the said valve rod but it is connected in any suitable manner with the
battery. In close proximity to and situated between said two pins I provide a
suitably supported rod E having upright & adjustable pins F which rod is also
connected to the battery the arrangement being such that when the valve rod moves
in one direction one of the pins C will make contact with one end of the rod E or
pin F referred to-and thereby produce a spark within the ignition chamber of one
cylinder-and when the valve rod is moved in the opposite direction the other pin C
will make contact with the opposite end of said rod E or pin F-and thereby produce
the spark in the ignition chamber of the other cylinder. The rod referred to is
preferably supported by means of a spring or springs G or equivalent so as to prevent
violent shock between the pins and said rod. And the necessary electrical connection
between the rod and pins and the ignitors may be any usually employed.
I prefer to attach the pins to the valve rod in such a manner that the positions of
said pins may be adjusted as desired so that the time of the spark produced in the
ignition chamber and consequently the ignition may be regulated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is
1. In an explosion engine an ignitor having one rotary and one stationary terminal
operated in the manner substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. In an explosion engine an ignitor having a rotary terminal which is rotated at
each stroke of the piston by a finger or equivalent fixed to or formed on the said
piston for the purposes and substantially as set forth.
3. In an explosion engine an ignitor having a rotary terminal which is rotated a
greater distance during one stroke of the piston than during the reverse stroke of
said piston for the purpose and substantially as set forth.
4. In an explosion engine a finger or equivalent attached or formed on the piston
and adapted to rotate a rotary terminal said finger or equivalent being formed or
arranged so as to avoid violent contact with said rotary terminal substantially as set
.forth.
5. In an explosion engine a rotary terminal which is operated so as to present a
fresh contact surface after each double stroke of the piston for the purposes and
. substantially as set forth.
6. In an explosion engine the improved means for automatically making the
necessary connection said means consisting of a rod which is adapted to be
alternately electrically connected with one or the other of the cylinders by means of
pins or equivalents all arranged and operating substantially as set forth.
7. In an explosion engine means substantially as described for making electrical
connection so as to produce a spark within the cylinder.
8. In an explosion engine a shield or protection which more or less encloses the
ignitor for the purpose and substantially as set forth.
9. In an explosion engine the combination of an ignitor, a shield or protector
more or less enclosing said ignitor and means for producing the spark within the
cylinder all adapted arranged and operating for the purposes and substantially as set
forth.
Dated this on day of May 1898.
WILLIAM BAINES.
By his Agents,
Horn, Son & Co.,
151, Strand (next Somerset House), London.