Improved Starting Device for Gas and Hydrocarbon Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Ahr., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1805
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Starting Device for Gas and Hydrocarbon Engines.
EDMUND JAMES DAVIS Engineer 100 Murdoch Road Handsworth Birmingham,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
2
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This invention relates to an improved self starter for gas & hydro-carbon
engines. It may be applied to the "Otto cycle" or any other type of compression
engine. By the arrangement here claimed, the charge may be compressed just
before starting the engine, so that storage of compressed air is unnecessary, &
except getting engine into position for a start, no manual labour is required.
The arrangement is as follows:-
A tank filled with water, is fixed at a suitable height, & a reservoir containing
air, & connected to said tank by piping & valve or valves is placed as low as possible,
or it may be placed in engine bed this reservoir is again connected to combustion
chamber or clearance space of engine cylinder by a suitable valve or valves ;
another connection between said air reservoir & combustion chamber is made to pass
through a smaller vessel which can be shut off by suitable valves from both air reservoir
& cylinder. This smaller vessel is connected to the gas main & a piece of piping
ending in a cock leading from said small vessel, may be placed in a suitable position
for lighting, when gas is turned on.
The action is as follows:-
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Supposing water tank to be filled with water, & air reservoir filled with air, & all
cocks & valves closed, gas is turned on from main into small vessel & the little
cock before mentioned opened, a flame is held near this cock or it is otherwise
determined when the vessel is full of pure gas, then having turned off gas from main
& closed small cock, the valve connecting the water tank & air reservoir is opened,
& the water, due to gravity, rushes into air reservoir, compressing the air
contained therein.
Having placed the engine in a position to start, that is, with crank just over inner
dead centre, in the working stroke, all connections between air reservoir & cylinder
are opened, in such a way, that a part of the compressed air or in cases all of it, has
to pass through the smaller vessel filled with gas, so that an explosive mixture is
obtained within the cylinder. Ignition may be obtained by any of the usual
methods, such as electric spark, gas flame or ignition tube preferably with the latter.
Ignition may be delayed by keeping timing valve of ignition tube closed, until
compressed charge moves the piston if possible, so that shock to some extent may
be obviated.
In the case of an oil engine, instead of the smaller vessel which was filled
with gas, an injector may be fixed between air reservoir & cylinder, through which
oil may be drawn & forced in a spray into cylinder.
Gas may also be taken in by an injector, or may be let flow into cylinder, until a
rich mixture is obtained, then air under pressure is let in from air reservoir.
In case water under pressure is obtainable, from main of town, or other supply,
the water tank before mentioned may be dispensed with, & a connection from main
connected up to reservoir.
All water connections would be made at bottom of air reservoir, & air would
be taken off at top, so that if a water tank be used, after engine is "under way," air
may be compressed into air reservoir, by motor piston & so force water back into
tank, close the valve or cock & it will be ready for next start. Connection between

page_text: air reservoir & cylinder, & also gas vessel & cylinder, may be fitted with non-return
valves which close automatically when the charge in cylinder is fired.
In case sufficient pressure can be obtained, the engine may be started with air
alone, & in special cases an accumulator may be added, to obtain the necessary
pressure.
Any required pressure may be obtained, by fixing tank high enough, or making
accumulator sufficiently weighty, & any volume of air may be compressed by making
air reservoir & water tank of sufficient capacity.
•
Another method of raising water into tank, or of raising accumulator, in case the
pressure of compressed air in reservoir is above ordinary compression of charge in
cylinder, when engine is running; a small pump may be connected to the engine
for that purpose.
Dated this 5th day of June 1894.
EDMUND JAMES DAVIS 100 Murdock Road Handsworth Birmingham 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 relates to an improved "self starter" for gas & hydrocarbon
engines. It may be applied to the "Otto" cycle, or any other type of compression
engine.
ote
So that the invention may be clearly understood, I will describe
arrangement of it with the aid of a drawing; referring to Fig. 1, T is a tank for
holding water, A & G are chambers for air & gas respectively, the air & gas
being separated by a water seal, X & Y are check valves connected to the air
& gas chambers respectively, B is a cock between said check valves, & cylin ler
of engine to be started, is a cock between chainbers A, G & the lower
chamber R, D is a cock between the water tank T & the chambers A & G, E is a
check valve opening upwards; F, is a second connection to the cylinder, having a
cock & check valve (not shown), near the cylinder of engine to be started. The
tank T being filled with water, the chambers A & G being filled with air & gas
respectively, & sealed from each other by water at a level L; all cocks being closed,
the action is as follows:-Cock D is opened, the water from tank T rushes into the
chambers A & G until the head of water is balanced by the compressed gases in
A & G; the engine being in a position for starting, the ignition tube or other
igniting arrangement being ready, cock B is opened, & air & gas flow through
the check valves X & Y respectively, mixing in valve box X & passing into
cylinder, where an explosive mixture is formed, which, upon ignition, starts the
engine with sufficient force for it to compress the following charges as in an
ordinary start by hand; the cocks B & D are then closed & C is opened, the water
in chambers A & G flows into chamber R, the gas cock (not shown), connecting gas
main to chamber G is opened, & gas follows the retreating water in that chamber,
& air flowing in through a check valve or cock (not shown), follows the retreating
water in R; when the water has reached the level L in chambers A & G, it
ceases to flow into chamber R, & the chambers A & G are filled with air & gas
respectively, the cock C is then closed, & the water in chamber R, is forced back
into tank T, through check valve E, by opening communication between R & the
cylinder through F, on which pipe a check valve (not shown) as before stated is
connected;. to force the water from R to T, the gas may be shut off from engine &

page_text: merely air forced into R, or the products after ignition may be used by adjusting
the pressure at which the check valve on pipe F will open.
In case fresh water can be run into tank T, the chamber R may be dispensed
with, the water from A & G being run to waste after each start.
The circulating tank may be used in some cases instead of a special tank.
Accumulators may be used for obtaining the water pressure instead of, or together
with the raised tank.
The tank T may be made air tight, so that water when forced into T from R may
compress the enclosed air in T; in some cases the raised tank may be dispensed
with, & it may be placed on a level or below chamber R, the tank being air
tight & filled with air is connected to the chambers as in Fig. 1, the water is forced
from R into T, compressing the air in the latter, then for a start the cock D is
opened, the air in tank T expands & forces the water into chambers A & G, till
equilibrium is established.
:
The tank T may be so made that the compressed air is not in contact with any
joint, so that providing the metal is sound, the pressure will hold good for any
required time. In cases where water under pressure is obtainable from the town
main or other supply, a pipe from said main may be connected to chambers A & G
through cock D, the lower part R & tank T may be dispensed with, the water
being run to waste after each start.
Means for telling the height of water in chambers A & G, may be attached, such
as a gauge glass, or pet cocks, also a pressure gauge. The chambers may be
made of sufficient capacity to start the engine any number of times, or to supply
consecutive charges at starting until the engine has attained a fair speed.
For starting an oil engine, the chamber or bell G may be dispensed with, & oil in
the form of a spray be taken in by an injector, or some volatile spirit may be
dropped into a receptacle, over or through which the air must pass.
To adjust the air & gas supply at starting the lift of check valves may be varied.
The ignition of charge at starting may be delayed till the piston has moved a
short distance, & so lessen shock.
The gas chamber G in Fig. 1 may be placed outside the air chamber, &
connected to pipe H so that the air passes through said chamber to the cylinder.
I would have it known that I claim the arrangements herein stated only for the
purpose herein stated, & do not claim as novel the mere compression of air by water;
that which I claim is that which I am about to state :-
1. The combination of a raised tank, & chambers into which water from said
tank flows, compressing gases to an equal pressure for the purpose herein stated
together with a means for raising water, used for compressing gases, back into
said raised tank.
2. The compression of gases by water under pressure for the purpose herein
stated.
3. The compression of gases by the expansion of air, which has previously been
compressed, by forcing water into a closed vessel, for the purpose herein stated.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1895.
EDMUND JAMES DAVIS.