Year: 1897

page_text: I, HENRY MARIE LEON CROUAN, of 21, Boulevard National, Clichy, Department of
Seine, France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The present invention concerns an apparatus for producing the lighting of the
exploding gases, by an electric spark, in gas and petroleum motors.
The advantage offered by this apparatus is that it cannot get dirty with soot and
consequently avoids the missing and ensures the constant lighting of the exploding
gases.
The lighter is composed of a cylinder in porcelain having a swelling on its outside
middle part; a metallic rod passes through the cylinder, having its two ends threaded,
to one of which we screw a metallic head connected with one of the poles of an
electrical current supply, while to the other end we screw a metallic collar fixed in
the interior of the combustion chamber and forming the second insulated pole of
the lighter the first pole of which is formed by a socket or metallic collar screwed in
the interior of another threaded socket forming the metallic setting of the lighter,
and screwing upon the cylinder of the motor which is also electrically connected
with the remaining pole of the source of electricity.
Collars made of asbestos or any other suitable matter are intercalated between
the metallic head and the porcelain tube and between this latter and the inside
metallic collar, in order to secure a proper tightening; moreover other collars of the
same matter are intercalated between the bottom of the metallic setting and the
outside shoulder of the swelling of the porcelain tube and between the interior
shoulder of this same swelling and the extremity of the joint-tightener; the
tightening of these parts and of the collars being obtained by completely screwing
the joint-tightener into the inetallic setting so as to obtain a complete tightness.
The joint-tightener is connected to the porcelain tube only by a shoulder with
which it is provided on the inside at its upper extremity threaded outside and which
screws into the setting. This shoulder is of small width and along the remainder of
its length, the joint tightener presents, on the inside, a diameter slightly greater
than the outside diameter of the porcelain tube so as to form with this latter an
annular chamber of great depth and small section.
The lighter being fixed upon the cylinder of the motor and the metallic head
being electrically connected with one of the poles of any source of electricity the
other pole of which is connected with the body of the motor and consequently with
the metallic setting and the joint-tightener, the spark burst out between the
interior collar and any metallic part electrically connected with the motor, for
instance the joint tightener and the lighting of the exploding gas is produced.
At the moment of this lighting the flame cooled by the metal setting of the
joint-tightener which closely surrounds the porcelain, cannot penetrate into the
annular space, nor consequently produce the combustion of the gases contained in
this space; besides the renewing of these gases is very difficult on account of the

page_text: small section of the chamber and it is consequently impossible for the burnt gases to
penetrate into this latter and deposit soot in it which would make the lighting dirty
and cause missings.
In case the spark must gush out at a determinate point the apparatus remains the
same and works in the same way, but the interior collar is provided with a metallic
rod corresponding with another rod connected with the motor and the spark bursts
out between these two rods which are pointed.
Electric Lighter for Gas and Petroleum Motors.
.I, HENRY MARIE LEON CROUAN, of 21, Boulevard National, Clichy, Department of
Seine, France, Manufacturer, 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 annexed drawings show a section of the ignition device.
The jointing nut A screws into the mounting B at the foot of the igniter in such
a manner that the tightening up thereof is effected in the same direction as the
pressure due to the explosion.
The insulated central stem or rod C which passes through the piece of porcelain D
carries a metallic disk E of a diameter corresponding to that of this piece of
porcelain.
.
Between this disc and the porcelain piece is placed a washer or packing piece of
amianthus or asbestos F which serves to form the joint without any sealing by the
mere pressure of the washer or packing piece F, and the tightening up of the top or
cap G screwed externally upon the stem or rod C.
The spark is produced between this washer or packing ring E and a metallic piece
of any suitable description electrically connected with the motor, that is to say in
metallic connection therewith.
In special cases moreover, the washer or packing ring and the metallic piece may
be armed or magnetised which latter are then intended to act as the second pole of
the metal stems intended to produce the spark at any particular point.
In any case the part of the piece of porcelain at the motor side starting from the
amianthus or asbestos joint F made in the mounting externally to this piece of
porcelain, is surrounded up to a short distance from the metallic washer E by a
sheathing formed either by the jointing nut A, or by the mounting B, or by a lodgment
provided for it in the motor itself, or by a special piece of any suitable description
not in contact with the central rod or stem C of the igniter.
The sheathing surrounds the porcelain piece for a length of several millimetres
(the longest length possible) without coming in contact therewith, but leaving
between it and the said porcelain piece a slight clearance H.
In the drawing, this sheathing forms part of the jointing nut or gland of which it
is merely a prolongation, and it will be seen that, with the exception of the part at
the bottom which presses against the amianthus or asbestos J to form the joint, the
whole of the rest of the jointing nut, gland, or sheath is bored or hollowed out in
such a manner as to allow a perceptible clearance all round the piece of porcelain,
whilst at the same time surrounding this latter in a complete manner, and pro-
tecting it.

page_text: This arrangement has the effect of preventing the flame from spreading or diffusing
itself in the annular space which exists round the piece of porcelain, the said flame
being cooled by the metal mounting B which closely surrounds the said porcelain
piece D. The combustion being suppressed and on the other hand the renewal of
gas being very difficult in so narrow a space, no smoke black is ever deposited therein
no matter how bad the mixture may be, so as to prevent ignition, which latter is
absolutely certain without any missing fire and under all circumstances.
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 I
claim is :-
1. The protection of the part of the porcelain piece D at the engine side, starting
from the amianthus or asbestos joint J of the mounting B, by the employment of
a sheathing A completely surrounding that part of the porcelain piece for all, or
nearly all, its length, but without touching it, that is to say with a very slight.
clearance all round. This arrangement preventing the injurious deposits of soot upon
the porcelain piece, and ensuring ignition taking place in all cases.
2. And as a secondary point of construction: the tightening of the joint round
the porcelain piece obtained by a nut A screwed at the foot of the said porcelain
piece, that is to say in a direction corresponding to the pressure produced by the
explosion.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1898.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.