APPARATUS FOR IGNITING GAS ENGINE CHARGES AT STARTING to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: We, EUSTACE RUPERT PRENTICE of Woodfield, Stowmarket, in the county of
Suffolk, Engineer, and HERBERT NAPIER PRENTICE of The Firs, Westbury Park,
in the city and county of Bristol Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for "APPARATUS FOR IGNITING GAS ENGINE CHARGES AT STARTING to
be as follows:-
"
In many gas engines, the charges of which are compressed before ignition, it is
found difficult to ignite the charge at the starting of the engine. Our invention
relates to apparatus applicable to such engines for facilitating the ignition of the
first compressed charges. For this purpose, we provide a cylindrical vessel which,
about the middle of its length, communicates with the charge space of the gas
engine cylinder, and we fit this vessel with a deep piston that can be moved along
it by hand. In the piston and through the side of the vessel we provide passages
so that the apparatus operates in the following manner.
When there is a compressed combustible charge in the gas engine cylinder, we
move the piston of the igniting apparatus until a passage in it faces the passage to
the gas engine cylinder. A portion of the compressed charge, entering by this
passage the space under the piston, forces it onwards until it closes the port to the
gas engine cylinder, and, continuing to expand, causes the piston to advance until
it. opens a port to the external air, whereby such excess of pressure as may remain
under it is relieved. We then move the piston farther onwards, thus somewhat
rarefying the combustible mixture under it, so that, on the piston passing a third
port, an external flame, applied thereto, is drawn in, igniting the mixture under the
piston. The increase of pressure and expansion resulting from the combustion
propels the piston still farther onwards, until it uncovers the port leading to the
engine cylinder, and the flame, passing through this port, ignites the compressed
charge in the cylinder.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION. -
Apparatus for Igniting Gas Engine Charges at Starting.
We, EUSTACE RUPERT PRENTICE, of Woodfield, Stowmarket in the County of
Suffolk, Engineer, and HERBERT NAPIER PRENTICE, of The Firs, Westbury Park
in the city and county of Bristol, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for "APPARATUS FOR IGNITING GAS ENGINE CHARGES AT STARTING
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In many gas engines, the charges of which are compressed before ignition, it is
found difficult to ignite the charge at the starting of the engine. Our invention
relates to apparatus applicable to such engines for facilitating the ignition of the
first compressed charges. For this purpose we provide a cylindrical vessel arranged
as shewn in the accompanying drawing which is a longitudinal section. At B
about the middle of the length of the cylinder it communicates with the charge
space of the gas engine cylinder. The cylinder is fitted with a deep piston P
which can be moved to and fro by a handle H and which has through it ports S, T.
There are also ports A and C through the side of the cylinder, and a passage
through the piston rod closed by a spring valve X, that can be opened by the pressure
of the finger on a button at the end of the valve stem. Instead of this passage
through the piston rod and its spring valve X, there may be a passage through the
cylinder bottom closed by a cock or valve Z. The apparatus is operated in the
following manner.
When there is a compressed combustible charge in the gas engine cylinder, the
piston P is drawn forwards to the right, till the port S faces B, whereupon a
portion of the compressed charge entering the cylinder behind the piston forces
the piston onwards until it closes the port B, and, continuing to expand it causes
the piston to move still farther until the port T faces A which is open to the
external air. By the escape of a portion of the charge through A, the excess of
pressure in the cylinder is relieved. The piston P is then pulled farther onwards,
thus somewhat rarefying the combustible charge behind it, until the port T faces O
where an external flame is kept burning. This flame, being drawn in, ignites the
charge in the cylinder. The increase of pressure and expansion resulting from the
combustion propels the piston P still farther onwards, until the piston entirely passes
the port B, and thereupon the burning mixture communicates with the charge in the
engine cylinder and ignites it. The valve X or the cock or valve Z being then
opened to allow escape of products of combustion from the cylinder, the piston P
can be moved back to the left ready for another operation.
3

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
The construction of apparatus for igniting gas engine charges at starting,
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.