Improvements in or connected with Ignition Gear for Explosion Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Ignition Gear for Explosion
Engines.
I, FREDERICK RICHARD SIMMS, of Amberley House, 12, Norfolk Street, Strand,
in the County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with electric ignition
gear for explosion engines.
According to my invention I employ a magneto-electric machine for generating
the current for producing the spark to ignite the explosive charge, the said machine
being preferably of the kind described in Bosch's Patent No. 15411 of 1897, in
combination with a sparking device preferably comprising a hollow plug adapted
to be fixed to the ignition chamber of the motor and carrying a contact insulated
from it and electrically connected to one terminal of the magneto-electric machine,
the other terminal of which is connected to any suitable part of the engine. A
lever is pivoted to the plug and normally rests upon the contact held in the said
plug. This contact lever is actuated in such a manner that it is caused to
momentarily break contact and produce a spark as hereinafter described.
In carrying out the invention I operate and control the magneto-electric machine
and the sparking device from the crank-shaft of the engine by suitable intermediate
gear, the construction of which can be varied to suit requirements.
In a suitable arrangement of gear the magneto-electric machine is actuated by
means of a cam keyed upon a countershaft rotated by the main shaft of the engine
and which in revolving strikes a roller on a rod connected to a lever which effects
the rocking motion of the armature spindle of the magneto-electric machine. The
rod is advantageously provided with a guide which maintains the roller in position
and carries a trip cam lug or the like which actuates the sparking device through
the medium of a pivoted bell-crank lever preferably balanced by means of springs.
With this arrangement, when the countershaft rotates, the rod is operated as
above mentioned and the lug or the like strikes the bell-crank lever so as to raise
the free end thereof and suddenly releases it, thereby causing it to suddenly strike
the contact lever of the sparking device and produce a spark.
In another arrangement the sparking device can be operated by a separate cam
and I may also actuate the armature of the magneto-electric machine by means
of a connecting rod and cranks, the former being jointed in such a manner that
although the crank upon the counter-shaft is of longer throw than that on the
armature spindle, the latter is not moved more than through the necessary angle to
obtain the current required, the connecting rod folding at the joint as soon as it
meets with a certain resistance.
Or the sparking device can be operated by means of a cam and the armature
of the magneto-electric machine by an eccentric on the crank shaft.
I wish it to be understood, however, that I do not confine myself to any one of the
above arrangements for actuating the current generating and sparking devices
as the said devices can be operated by other mechanism producing the same
results

page_text: When my improvements are applied to large engines the mechanism may be
designed to form what are known as self starters and to this end a certain
amount of back lash may be allowed to the cams which can be actuated by hand
when the piston of the engine is in the position for starting. It will also be obvious
that my improvements can be applied to large or small explosion engines having
one or more cylinders.
The Ond... of Tune 1000
Improvements in or connected with Ignition Gear for Explosion
Engines.
I, FREDERICK RICHARD SIMMS, of Amberley House, 12, Norfolk Street, Strand,
in the County of London, 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 improvements in or connected with electric ignition
gear for explosion engines of the kind wherein a magneto-electric machine or other
suitable current generating device and a sparking device are operated from the
crank-shaft of the engine.
a
According to the present invention I preferably employ as the current generating
device a magneto-electric machine of the kind described in Bosch's British
Patent No. 15411 of 1897, that is to say, a magneto-electric machine having a
stationary armature and stationary magnets and rocking envelope or
the like arranged between the armature and the magnet poles.
sparking device which I employ may be of any suitable kind adapted to be
operated by a reciprocating rod, the said sparking device being preferably of the
kind described in the Specification of my former Patent No. 7195 of 1898.
The
In carrying out the invention I operate and control the magneto-electric machine
and the sparking device from the crank-shaft of the engine by suitable inter-
mediate gear, the construction of which can be varied to suit requirements.
In a suitable arrangement of gear the magneto-electric machine is actuated by
means of a cam keyed upon a countershaft rotated by the main shaft of the engine
and which in revolving strikes a roller on a rod connected to a lever which effects
the rocking motion of the armature spindle of the magneto-electric machine.
The rod is advantageously provided with a guide which maintains the roller in
position and carries a trip cam, lug or the like which actuates the sparking
device through the medium of a pivoted hell-crank lever preferably balanced by
means of springs. With this arrangement, when the countershaft rotates the
rod is operated as above mentioned and the lug or the like strikes the bell-crank
lever so as to raise the free end thereof and suddenly releases it, thereby causing
it to suddenly strike the contact lever of the sparking device and produce a
spark.
In another arrangement the sparking device can be operated by a separate cam
and I may also actuate the armature of the magneto-electric machine by means
of a connecting rod and cranks, the former being jointed in such a manner that
although the crank upon the counter-shaft is of longer throw than that on the
not moved more
armature spindle, the latter is
than through the
necessary angle obtain the current required, the connecting rod folding at the
joint as soon as it meets with a certain resistance, thereby causing the magnet to

page_text: move momentarily at a much greater speed than if driven direct by means of a crank
or eccentric.
Or the sparking device can be operated by means of a cam and the armature of
the magneto-electric machine by an eccentric or a crank on the crank-shaft when
the speed of the said shaft permits.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an end elevation of an explosion engine having electric ignition
gear, constructed according to the invention, applied thereto :
Figure 2 is a similar view but shewing the arrangement wherein the magneto-
electric machine is operated by links and the sparking device by a cam; and
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a sectional side elevation and a partial end
elevation shewing the arrangement wherein the magneto-electric machine is
operated by an eccentric on the crank-shaft and the sparking device by a cam on a
counter-shaft.
Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of a portion of a Daimler motor provided
with ignition gear constructed according to the invention :
Figure 6 is an elevation of the said gear:
Figure 7 is an elevation of a Werner motor having my ignition gear fitted
thereto :
Figure 8 is a part plan thereof; and
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of a portion of a Werner motor having a
modified construction of my ignition gear;
Figures 10 and 11 are details of the same.
Like reference letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figure 1 is the counter-shaft which, as above mentioned, is
rotated from the main shaft of the engine and 6 is the cam which is keyed thereon.
c is the roller against which the cam strikes in revolving and d is the rod upon
the end of which the said roller is mounted and which imparts the necessary
reciprocating motion to the magneto-electric machine A. is the guide with
which the rod d is provided, the said guide being in the form of a slotted end to
the rod d working over the counter-shaft a so as thereby to hold the roller c in
position, and do is a spring for maintaining the roller c in contact with the cam b.
e is the trip lug or the like, the said lug being furnished with an antifriction
roller e and f is the bell-crank lever which actuates the sparking device B;
the said bell-crank lever f is pivoted at f' and is provided at one end with an
inclined face 2 against which the above mentioned roller c¹ strikes so as to
move the lever upon its pivot f¹ until the said roller slides off the outer end of the
said inclined face and suddenly releases the said lever. On its other end the
lever is provided with an adjustable tappet f. which is normally in contact
with the movable contact arm of the sparking device, and also with two
springs 9, which return the said lever f to its normal position.
With this arrangement, when the counter-shaft a rotates in the direction shewn
by the arrow the rod is operated and the roller e' strikes the inclined face f2 of the
hell-crank lever f so as to raise the tappet f on the other end of the said lever
and suddenly release it, thereby causing the said tappet f to suddenly strike the
contact arm of the sparking device and produce a spark in the usual manner.
The ignition gear may be so constructed that it can form a self-starter and it is
so shewn in Figure 1. To this end the rod d is provided with a handle d² so
that the engine can be started by adjusting the piston just beyond the dead point
(the cylinder being filled with explosive gas) and then rapidly working the
guide by means of the handle 2 so as to actuate both the magneto-electric
machine A and the sparking device B.
In the construction illustrated in Figure 2 the magneto-electric machine A is
operated by a link arrangement comprising the crank h keyed to the counter-
shaft a, the connecting link h¹ and the link h² connected to the part of the magneto-
electric machine A to be reciprocated. The sparking device B is actuated by a
spring rod i one end of which is provided with a tappet i designed to be suddenly
21

page_text: brought into contact with the contact arm of the said device B and the other end
of which is held in contact with a cam j keyed upon the counter-shaft a, the
said cam being so constructed that when it is rotated in the direction indicated
by the arrow it gradually raises the rod i and suddenly releases it, thereby
suddenly jerking the contact arm of the device and producing a spark in the
usual manner.
In Figures 3 and 4, which illustrate a double cylinder engine, the magneto-
electric machine A is operated by an eccentric & upon the crank-shaft of the
engine, the rod of the said eccentric reciprocating the crank upon the
spindle of the magneto-electric machine A. The sparking devices (which are
here not shewn) are actuated from the counter-shaft a by means of cams j
which rotate in the direction shewn by the arrow, Figure 3, the said
cams reciprocating spring rods m one end of each of which is held in
contact with its cam by a spring m¹ and the other end of which is connected to a
crank m³ upon a rod m³ designed, by its partial rotation, to operate the sparking
device. As the counter-shaft rotates, the cams gradually push the rods m
outwards so as to thereby turn the rods m³ through a portion of a revolution and
then suddenly release them thereby allowing the said rods m³ to be brought back
suddenly by the springs m and to suddenly operate the contact device in the
manner above described. mo are buffer springs for controlling the sudden backward
movement of the rods m when released by the cams.
Figures 5 and 6 shew the application of my invention to a Daimler motor. In
this case the sparking devices B are controlled by the rods m which are guided
in brackets or supports m' and m secured to the sparking device and to the engine
frame respectively. The operation is similar to that described with reference to
Figure 2, that is to say, the rotation of the counter-shaft a causes the cams to
gradually raise the rods m and suddenly release them so as to effect sparking in
the manner described in my said former specification. The rods m are held in
engagement with the cams by springs m³, m³ coiled upon them and bearing at one
end against the supports m³ and at the lower end against collars me upon the
said rods. The lower part of the support m³ is formed with slots m7 through which
the lower ends of the rods m work, the said rods being held against the front end
of the slots m by pressure pieces me which work in the said lower part and are
pressed against the rods by springs m³.
In Figures 7 and 8 I have illustrated the application of my ignition gear to a
Werner motor, of the kind described in the Specification of Patent No. 685 of 1898.
In this arrangement the magneto-electric machine A is driven by a connecting
rod n and crank-pin n' and crank ² secured respectively to the fly wheel n³ of
the engine and the spindle of the magneto-electric machine. The sparking
device B is operated by the rod o having an arm of at its upper end and an arm o²
at its lower end, the latter being held in engagement by the spring o³ coiled around
the said rod o, with a camp on the shaft of the engine. With this arrangement
the rotation of the said shaft gradually turns the rod o and then suddenly releases
it so as to produce a spark in the usual manner.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 illustrate a modified construction of my ignition gear
fitted to a Werner motor. In this arrangement both the magneto-electric
machine A and the ignition device B are operated by a single rod q. The said
rod is supported in a bracket q² fixed to the engine and is provided at its lower
end with a sleeve which is loosely mounted thereon and is held in position
by a sleeve ³, fixed to the rod q by a set screw ', the contact faces of the
two sleeves being toothed, as shewn, so that the loose sleeve can turn in one
direction upon the rod q from its initial position but not in the other. The loose
sleeve is provided with an arm 5 (Figure 11) the outer end of which is furnished
with a roller 6 which is adapted to bear against an inclined or cam surface r
(Figure 10) upon the face of the fly wheel n³ of the engine. With this arrangement
it will be obvious that when the fly wheel ³ rotates in the proper direction it
gradually turns the sleeve g³ and thereby the rod 9 through the medium of the

page_text: sleeve and suddenly releases it, the spring q7, which is coiled around the rod q,
suddenly returning the rod to its initial position on its release. This movement
of the rod is communicated to the magneto-electric machine A by the following
arrangement, that is to say, the upper part of the rod q is connected directly to the
reciprocating part of the magneto-electric machine so that its movements are
directly communicated to the said machine. To operate the sparking device the
rod q has fixed to its upper part a sleeve t which rests upon the upper face of the
bracket q', the faces in contact being toothed so that the sleeve t can move in the
direction in which the rod q is turned by the fly wheel but is prevented from turning
in the other direction from its initial position. This sleeve t is arranged to
operate the sparking device by its reciprocation in the usual manner.
The operation of the rod q by the loose sleeve 2 enables the engine shaft to be
turned backwards when necessary without disconnecting the ignition gear.
Having now particularly described and 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. Electric ignition gear for explosion engines comprising a magneto-electric
or other current generating machine and a sparking device both operated from a
counter-shaft through the medium of a cam keyed to the said counter-shaft and
which operates a roller upon one end of a rod the other end of which actuates the
magneto-electric machine, the said rod being provided with a guide for the roller
and with a trip lug or the like which operates one arm of a pivoted spring bell-
crank lever the other arm of which actuates the sparking device; substantially as
herein before described.
2. Electric ignition gear for explosion engines comprising a magneto-electric
or other current generating machine and a sparking device both operated from a
counter-shaft, the magneto-electric machine by means of link mechanism and the
sparking device by a cam keyed to the said counter-shaft and adapted to operate a
spring rod arranged to actuate the sparking device, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. Electric ignition gear for explosion engines comprising a magneto-electric or
other current generating machine operated by an eccentric mounted upon the
crank-shaft of the engine and the rod of which operates the reciprocating part
of the magneto-electric or other machine, and a sparking device which is controlled
by a cam keyed upon a counter-shaft rotated from the crank-shaft of the engine,
the said cam operating a spring rod which turns a second rod adapted to operate
the contact device, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. Electric ignition gear for explosion engines comprising a magneto-electric
machine, a sparking device, and means for operating the magneto-electric machine
and the sparking device, such means comprising a rod rotatably mounted in a
bracket or support and having at one end a loose sleeve which can turn idly in
one direction but is keyed to the rod when turning in the other direction and is
provided with an arm adapted to be turned by an inclined face upon the fly wheel of
the engine, the said rod being directly connected to the reciprocating part of the
magneto-electric machine and being provided at its upper part with a fixed sleeve
the reciprocation of which with the rod operates the sparking device, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
5. The improved electric ignition gears for explosion engines, hereinbefore
described and illustrated respectively in Figures 1 and 2; 3 and 4; 5 and 6;
7 and 8; and 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
teu
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.