Improvements in Starting Arrangements of Gas and Oil Motors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 12th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Starting Arrangements of Gas and Oil Motors.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHESTER, of Ladywood Road, Birmingham, War-
wickshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in starters for gas and oil motor engines
and is of the class in which compressed air is used for the purpose of starting.
This invention has for its object to provide for the automatic starting of the
engine without any preparation no matter in what position the crank of the
engine may be.
In one mode of carrying this invention into effect I provide a small compressed
air motor fitted to a framework, a driving pulley is securely keyed to the crank
shaft of this motor and is arranged to gear alternatively to either the inside of
the rim of the fly wheel which is bored to form a suitable friction driving surface
or to a pulley of smaller diameter which may be either fixed to or formed as part
of the-fly wheel boss. The diameter of the air motor pulley is somewhat less than
half the difference of the diameter of the bore of the fly wheel rim and the pulley
carried by its boss, and the frame carrying the air motor is arranged to be
movable so that the air motor pulley may be thrown into gear either externally
or internally with the two elements of the fly wheel of the engine.
In
The compressed air reservoir by which the starting motor is driven is preferably
rigidly attached to the movable frame and the lever by which the frame is
operated is caused to open an air communication valve by the continuation of its
motion after the frame has reached its limits of movement allowed to it.
order to effect this a lever moves the frame through an intermediary of springs
of suitable stiffness and when the lever is operated the first effect is that the frame
is pushed over as far as it will go and the starting motor pulley brought to bear
with sufficient force in whichever direction is desired, then a further movement
of the lever compresses the spring and actuates on the communication valve.
In applying this invention to starting an oil motor attached to a motor carriage
a link is arranged to connect the actuating lever with an operating lever acces-
sible from the driver's seat.
It will be seen that mechanism constructed as hereinbefore described may be so
arranged that when the starting motor pulley is pushed over to make contact with
the internally bored fly wheel rim the said motor acts to start the engine.
When the engine is running if the pulley be compressed in the reverse direction
the starting motor will now act as a pump and replenish the air reservoir to the
extent required. In an intermediate position the communication valve will be
closed and the compressed air is contained in the reservoir to be used as occasion
requires.
In initially starting the motor or in the event of the air reservoir becoming dis-
charged charging may be effected by rotating the starting motor by hand until
the desired pressure is obtained or by filling the reservoir by a separate pump such
as ordinarily used for inflating pneumatic tyres.

page_text: The form of compressed air motor employed may be 3 or 4 cylinder engine of
the Brotherhood" type or one of the numerous forms of rotary engines may be
employed.
4.4. 1941 day of Lune 1899
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.
Improvements in Starting Arrangements of Gas and Oil Motors.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHESTER, of Ladywood Road, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, 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 starters for oil and gas motor engines
and is of the class in which compressed air is used for the purpose of starting.
The invention has for its object to provide for the automatic starting of the
engine without any preparation no matter in what position the crank of the
engine may be.
The method of carrying the invention into effect is illustrated in the accom-
panying sheet of drawings in which,
Figure is a side elevation of a gas or oil engine arranged in conjunction with
the improved starter, and,
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of part of the mechanism shewn in
Figure 1.
A A represent the cylinders of a small compressed air motor which may be of
any suitable type. To the shaft of this motor is keyed a friction pulley B,
which is adapted to gear alternatively with either the inside of the rim of the
gas engine flywheel C or with the pulley D upon the engine shaft. The flywheel
im is grooved or otherwise suitably constructed, so as to provide a gearing sur-
face for the pulley B. The air motor is arranged upon a frame E which is sup-
ported so as to be capable of longitudinal movement in either direction upon
guides F', attached at f,f to the structure which carries the gas engine.
The cylinders A, A, communicate with a reservoir H attached to the frame E
through passages O, P, controlled by a valve N. The valve stem passes up
through a stuffing box R, and is fitted with a strong spring M, which normally
holds the valve upon its seat. The top of the stem is securely fastened to a disc
which comes under the end of the lever J, pivoted upon the bracket L, fixed to
the frame E. The link K which is attached to suitable operating gear (not
shewn) is provided for moving the frame E along the guides F in either direction,
and for simultaneously actuating the valve N as hereinafter described.
The operation of the improved starting arrangement is as follows:-
Assuming the reservoir H to be initially charged with compressed air, and
that it is desired to start the gas engine, the frame E is moved to the left so as
to bring the pulley B and the flywheel C into gear. Sufficient force is applied to
the rod K to cause the lever J to tilt, when the frame E has reached the limit of
its travel, against the force of the spring M thereby opening the valve N. The air
motor is thus put in motion and starts the main engine.
In order to recharge the reservoir H the frame E is moved to the right bring-
ing the nuller B into gear with the wheel D, sufficient force being exerted to

page_text: tilt the lever J, and open the valve N.
The air motor then acts as a pump being
driven backwards by the main engine. It will be observed that the valve N does
not open till a sufficient pressure, determined by the strength of the spring M,
is brought to bear on the pulley B. The pressure on the pulley is thus completely
under control and skidding at its friction surface is rendered impossible.
When the framework E is in the intermediate position shewn, the valve N is
shut, and the compressed air charge stored in the reservoir H is retained for use
as occasion requires it. In the event of the reservoir becoming empty, with the
main engine stationary, the charge may he replenished by rotating the air motor
shaft by hand, or, by pumping air into the reservoir by means of an ordinary
hand compressing pump such as is employed for inflating pneumatic tyres.
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-In fluid pressure starting gear for gas and oil motor engines, the method
of utilizing an auxiliary engine, either for starting or storage, consisting in caus-
ing a wheel on its axle to be brought into gear with two suitable circumferences
on the main engine wheel and its valves operated substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described.
2: In fluid pressure starting gear for gas and oil motor engines, in which an
auxiliary engine is employed valve and actuating gear constructed and operating
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
3: Fluid pressure starting gear for gas and oil motor engines, comprising an
auxiliary motor engine, a fluid pressure storage chamber communicating there-
with and means for controlling the communication between the auxiliary motor
and the storage chamber, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4: Apparatus for starting gas and oil motor engines constructed and arranged
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
.. 1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.