Year: 1897

page_text: Complete Saarif
Date of Application, 27th May, 1897
Loss
Ygזרנו
1000
4000
ROBERT OWEN ALLSOP, 37, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The object of this invention is to facilitate the starting of gas and petroleum
engines and motors.
In carrying out this invention I employ a suitable piston or plunger which I
cause, by action of a screw, lever, cam or other suitable means, suitably operated,
to slide at will to and fro in the compression or combustion chamber or the equiva-
lent of such compression or combustion chamber of gas or petroleum engines or
motors. I employ suitable gas-checks and piston-rings in conjunction with the
said piston or plunger.
In starting engines or motors by this my invention, I first turn round in a
suitable manner, or bar round by a lever or adjust by other suitable means, the
flywheel and crank-or the crank and the engine motion-until the crank is in a
suitable position; and having turned on in a suitable manner the gas or petroleum
or petroleum vapour supply, I, by the suitable means above referred to, withdraw
or slide the above-mentioned piston or plunger in a direction away from the motor-
piston. This action draws in gas or petroleum or petroleum vapour with or
without air, as may be suitable, in suitable quantity and proportion.
The combustion chamber being now, by the above action, more or less full of a
more or less powerful explosive mixture, I then, by reversing the action of the
screw, lever, cam or other suitable means of adjustment-quickly return the piston
or plunger in a direction towards the motor-piston. This action more or less
compresses the explosive mixture. At a suitable moment I then open the timing
valve communicating with the ignition tube, or make or break a contact that
causes an electrical sparking in the combustion chamber, or I otherwise suitably
ignite the charge. This action causes the explosion of the mixture of gas or
petroleum or petroleum vapour and air; and under the resultant pressure on the
motor-piston the engine starts.
If, owing to mismanagement of the above-described series of operations, the
engine does not at once start, I repeat the process until it is successful in starting
the engine.
If properly managed the engine will start at the completion of the first series
of operations as above described. By this, my invention, therefore, gas or
petroleum engines and motors may be started most expeditiously.
In motors for gas or petroleum-driven locomotives, road-vehicles or cycles, and
the like, by suitable means I arrange the screw, lever, cam, or other suitable method
of operating the piston or plunger, conveniently near to the driver of such gas or
petroleum driven locomotive, road-vehicle or cycle.

page_text: Starting Gas and Petroleum Engines and Motors.
ROBERT OWEN ALLSOP, 37, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-.
The object of this invention is to facilitate the starting of gas and petroleum
engines and motors.
In carrying out this invention I employ a suitable piston or plunger which I
cause by action of a screw, lever, cam or other suitable means, suitably operated,
to slide at will to and fro in the compression or combustion chamber or the
equivalent of such compression or combustion chamber of gas or petroleum
engines or motors.
I employ suitable gas-checks and piston rings in conjunction with the said
piston or plunger.
In starting engines or motors by this my invention I first turn round in a
suitable manner, or bar round by a lever or adjust by other suitable means, the
fiywheel, crank and engine motion, until the crank is in a suitable position; and
having turned on in a suitable manner the gas or petroleum or petroleum vapour
supply, I, by the suitable means above referred to, withdraw or slide the above
mentioned piston or plunger in a direction away from the motor piston. This
action draws in gas or petroleum or petroleum vapour with or without air, as may
be preferred in suitable quantity and proportion.
The combustion chamber being now, by the above action, more or less full of a
more or less powerful explosive mixture, I then, by reversing the action of the.
screw, lever, cam, or other suitable means of adjustment,-quickly return the piston
or plunger in a direction towards the motor piston. This action more or less com-
presses the explosive mixture. At a suitable moment I then open the timing valve
communicating with the ignition tube, or make or break a contact that causes an
electrical sparking in the combustion chamber, or I otherwise suitably ignite the
charge. This action causes the explosion of the mixture of gas and petroleum or
petroleum vapour and air; and under the resultant pressure on the motor piston the
engine starts.
If owing to the mismanagement of the above described series of operations, the
engine does not at once start, I repeat the process until it is successful in starting
the engine.
If properly managed the engine will start at the completion of the first series
of operations as above described. By this my invention, therefore, gas or
petroleum engines and motors may be started most expeditiously.
In motors for gas or petroleum driven locomotives, road vehicles or cycles, and
the like, by suitable means I arrange the screw, lever, cam or other suitable method
of operating the piston or plunger conveniently near to the driver of such gas or
petroleum driven locomotive, road vehicle or cycle.
Referring to the accompanying drawings Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 shew this inven-
tion applied to an ordinary "horizontal" gas or petroleum engine of the "Otto "
or four cycle type, viz.-with one motor stroke in every two revolutions of the
flywheel. Only a portion of such gas or petroleum engine is shewn in the drawings,
such portion comprising the cylinder and motor piston with a part of the bed and
a part of the connecting rod the combustion chamber and this invention adapted
thereto.
The drawings show the cylinder with a "liner" and water jacket, and water
flow and return inlets to the latter; the small-end and brasses of connecting rod,

page_text: and gudgeon-pin; the piston rings and the bolts and studs connecting the several
parts of the portion of the engine shown.
Fig. 1, is a sectional plan; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation, Fig. 3, a cross section
through combustion chamber and Fig. 4 an end elevation of engine.
In all the drawings A is the adjustable piston or plunger, B, the combustion
chamber, C, the cylinder and D, the motor piston.
For the sake of clearness and simplicity in the drawings, no water jacket is
shown to the combustion chamber; but this can be provided or not in connection
with my invention, as may be deemed expedient.
A water-jacket I find in most cases desirable, to prevent over heating of the
adjustable piston or plunger, and to prevent, by keeping the chamber cool, the
tendency to too early ignition of the explosive mixture.
The combustion chamber B, is of cast iron or other suitable material and is
accurately bored with a true and parallel bore throughout its length and is
accurately fitted with the turned piston or plunger head A, which I make of cast
iron or other suitable material and provide with suitable piston rings as shown or
with other suitable means of preserving the chamber as gas-tight as possible. Into
the piston or plunger head, A is inserted a rod E of mild steel or other suitable
material turned taper and fitting accurately into a taper bored in the piston or
plunger head, and secured with the lock nut, F.
The remaining length of the rod E, has a powerful screw-thread cut upon it of
suitable pitch and character and size, the pitch of the screw being preferable large
to ensure the quick traverse of the rod, when advanced or returned in the screwed
back plate, G, of the combustion chamber.
The end of rod at H, is turned down somewhat smaller in diameter, over which
is fitted the boss J, carrying arms K, and having heavy weights or balls L, The
lock nut M secures the boss & arms to the screwed rod.
At N, Fig. 1, are shown the openings in combustion chamber for the inlet and
exhaust valves of the engine.
At O, Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4 is shown a timing valve which opens.communication
with the hot ignition tube P.
A suitable electrical ignition plug is shown at Q. As shewn it consists of a
porcelain plug with a metal socket suitably secured in the wall of the combustion
chamber with two wires running through the plug and suitably brought together
at a suitable distance, with platinum sparking points at R.
In Fig. 1 the adjustable piston or plunger is shown in its position nearest to the
motor-piston, giving, in this position the maximum or working compression of the
explosive mixture, for the engine when running. In Fig. 2, the adjustable piston
or plunger is shown in position furthest away from the motor piston.
In both Figs. 1 and 2, the motor piston is shown in a position with the engine
crank slightly over the back dead-centre of the engine, so that an explosion in the
combustion chamber would exert pressure on the motor piston and cause the crank
and fly wheel to revolve.
Assuming that it is required to start an "Otto" four cycle engine by means of
this invention, the first thing necessary is to place the engine motion with the
motor piston in the position as described and as figured in Fig. 2 with the valve
gear in position for a working stroke.
This I accomplish by hand or other suitable means and in heavy engines by
suitable barring.
Having then arranged the engine motion in the position I revolve the arms K,
and so by action of the screw E working in the screwed back plate or cover G
place the adjustable piston or plunger in or near the position shown in Fig. 1.
To first consider the case of engines with hot ignition tubes, and timing valves:-
Having previously heated such ignition tube, I turn on a suitable amount of gas, or
petroleum vapour and immediately give a sharp reverse turn of the lever arms K,
and cause the adjustable piston or plunger to run back to the position shown in
Fig. 2. This action, tending to cause a vacuum draws in through the inlet valves,

page_text: an explosive mixture. I then quickly return the adjustable piston or plunger by
suitably operating the lever arms K, more or less according to the amount of com-
pression to which I desire to submit the explosive mixture which amount I deter-
mine by the nature and size and individual peculiarities of the engine. In an
engine of strong, heavy build, with much inertia of fly wheel to overcome, I prefer
to return the adjustable piston to its full traverse and so cause a powerful explosion.
In engines of lighter build I prefer to return the adjustable piston or plunger only
to a slight extent so that less shock and strain to the engine may result from the
milder form of explosion that results from a less initial compression. The ultimate
result and effectiveness as regards the required object-viz.:-the starting of the
engine is much the same whether the adjustable piston be returned or not, for
the reason that when. starting with the less compression there is less resistance to
the engine motion in the following compression stroke; while when started with a
full compression, the heavier explosion gives more momentum to the flywheel and
so enables the engine to more easily accomplish the following compression stroke.
When I start an engine by this invention, with small compression, as soon as the
engine has gained some speed and momentum I return the adjustable piston or
plunger to the position proper to the normal working of the engine.
The adjustable piston or plunger, then, being returned more or less I quickly
press and open by hand or other suitable means the timing valve shown at 0,
Figs. 23 and 4. This instantly opens communication with the hot ignition tube P
Figs. 3 and 4, and causes an explosion of the more or less compressed mixture in
the combustion chamber, and the engine starts under the resultant pressure on the
motor piston I then operate the valves regulating the proportion of the explosive
mixture, to suit the increased piston speed.
Should the engine not be effectively started I repeat the operations again as
may be necessary to success, using such compression as I may judge best for
these starting explosions.
In suitable cases I carefully watch the behaviour of the engine and assist and
ease it in starting by skilfully working the adjustable piston or plunger at the
several charging, compressing, firing and exhausting strokes, easing the compres
sion at the right moments, when such easing tends to humour the special
peculiarities of the engine.
Having successfully started the engine the timing valve may be set open or left
to be mechanically operated by the engine, as may be desired.
In employing electric ignition for starting engines with this invention I employ
preferably a battery or accumulator and induction coil or other suitable electrical
igniting means preferably with sparking platinum points in the combustion
chamber, suitably adapted or as particularly described above and shown at Q
Figs. 2, 3 and 4.
The general series of operations will be the same as above described for the
starting with tube ignition; but at the right moment instead of opening the timing
valve I suitably operate a switch or otherwise cause an electrical sparking at the
points R in the combustion chamber. This sparking fires the explosive charge.
Where desirable I provide to an engine by this invention, both hot ignition tube
for the working of the engine and an electrical arrangement as above described
for the starting. By this means the engine may be very quickly indeed set to work,
especially, if, when the engine last stopped, the crank and motion were placed and
left in the suitable position for starting as above described for it is obvious that a
few seconds will suffice for the turning on of the gas, operating, as above described
the adjustable piston or plunger, and causing an electrical sparking and consequent
explosion in the combustion chamber.
In an engine thus arranged with electric starting & hot tube ignition for working,
it is evidently not necessary to wait until the tube is hot, as the engine can be at
once started with the electrical means, and the hot tube heated at leisure. When
the tube has become sufficiently hot, to fire the explosive mixture the electric
sparking arrangement can be switched off, and the engine will then continue to

page_text: run with the charges fired by the hot tube. It is necessary however to provide the
engine with suitable mechanically operated make or break electrical contact for
firing the charges regularly and automatically until the hot tube is sufficiently
heated to take the place of the electric ignition.
An engine may be started with this invention with ordinary heated tube without'
timing valve, but the results are uncertain, as compared with the process described
above, and I prefer the timing valve or electric ignition as being far more satis-
factory expeditious and certain in its action, being dependent on certain definite
opérations that cannot fail if properly carried out.
"
In fitting engines with this invention it is necessary to have well fitting piston'
rings or other suitable piston packing or gas checks both on the adjustable piston
or plunger and in the motor piston, otherwise the compression is readily lost and
the indraught through inlet valves when operating the adjustable piston is not as
powerful as it should be. The more perfect the fitting of pistons and rings the
better will be the result in carrying out this invention.
The inlet and exhaust valves also should be in good order and should close'
accurately on to their seatings.
Every packing and joint between the cylinder and combustion chamber or
between the valves and combustion chamber should also be perfectly gas tight.
The adjustable piston or plunger should be periodically taken out and cleaned
and oiled & it together with the screwed rod E should be kept well lubricated
as it is important to secure the utmost efficiency in working that on sharply
revolving the lever arms (K) and weights (L) the adjustable piston or plunger and
rod should revolve and traverse so freely that the mere momentum of the weights (L)
drives the said adjustable piston or plunger easily, smooth and quickly.
The object of the weights (L) is to gain this said momentum.
In this invention I make the combustion chamber of any suitable shape size &
diameter and proportion.
The larger (within reason) the chamber the easier the process of starting from
the fact of the ease with which an increased volume of explosive mixture may be
obtained for starting purposes; the smaller the chamber the more compact the
engine. A maximum size of combustion chamber of say, the whole volume swept
by the piston and a minimum of one half or less, the said volume may be adopted.
In providing the starting supply of gas or gas and air it should be remembered
that the normal working compression space will contain atmospheric air and this
should be considered in adjusting at starting the valves controlling the proportions
of the starting explosive charge. In starting an engine immediately after a stop-
page it should also be remembered that the combustion chamber may in such cases
contain the incombustible products of combustion to a greater or less extent.
Several preliminary sharp forward and reverse turns of the lever arms of the
adjustable piston or plunger should in such cases be given so that the chamber
may be freed of such products before attempting the above described series of
starting operations.
In engines having well fitting piston rings and therefore well retaining the com-
pression the mere starting compression stroke will at times cause the motor piston
to begin to move outwards. This will be a suitable moment to cause the starting
explosion by the operation above described.
Having now particularly described & 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 gas and petroleum engines and motors the combination of such engine
or motor with an adjustable piston or plunger as herein described sliding in the
compression or combustion chamber, or the equivalent of such compression or
combustion chamber of such engine or motor and operated by suitable means as
herein before specified for the purpose and object hereinbefore specified and
described.

page_text: 2. In gas or petroleum engines and motors the use of an adjustable piston or
plunger, as herein before described sliding in the compression or combustion
chamber, or the equivalent of such compression or combustion chamber of such
engine or motor, & operated by suitable means as hereinbefore specified for the
purpose & object hereinbefore specified and described.
3. In gas or petroleum engines or motors the act of starting such engines or
motors by the operation of an adjustable piston or plunger sliding in the com-
pression or combustion chamber or the equivalent of such compression or combustion
chamber of such engine or motor by the suitable means & in the method herein
before specified.
4. The apparatus comprising a gas tight adjustable piston or plunger sliding
in a compression or combustion chamber-or the equivalent of such compression
or combustion chamber of a gas or petroleum engine or motor with suitable means
of operating such adjustable piston or plunger for the purpose and object herein-
before set forth and substantially as hereinbefore described.
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04L
1.
1000