Improvements in or appea
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1896
Improvements in or appea
4444
I, WILLIAM JAMES of 166 Borough Road, Birkenhead in the County of
Chester, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has for its object (inter alia) the easier starting and more reliable
ignition of gas and oil engines.
In carrying my invention into effect, the plan I prefer is to place in the interior
of the ignition tube, a small extractor tube fitted with a valve on the outside. The
method of operating this is as follows:-
The cylinder is filled with a suitable explosive mixture of gas and air admitted
through the valve, a proper proportion being let in, and the piston is in the mean-
time started from the usual firing or ignition point and the engine turned to about
half stroke. A slight pressure backwards on the piston is then sufficient to cause
the explosive mixture to pass into the ignition tube, and on opening the small valve
connected with the extractor tube, the foul gases are extracted from the top or
end of the ignition tube and pass away through the extractor, allowing the rich
explosive mixture to get up to the beated portion of the tube, when an explosion
takes place.
When used as a control ignition the small valve connected with the extractor
tube is actuated by a cam in the usual manner, and a small quantity of the foul
gas extracted each time from the extremity of the ignition tube ensures the
explosion.
To ensure a proper explosive mixture entering the cylinder whilst it is being
turned into position, a valve of the following description is used attached to the
ordinary inlet or firing chamber of the gas engine. This valve consists of a strong
well made cock, in continuation with which is a double or annular valve consisting
of a centre gas valve and an outer air valve, the one valve closing the two orifices,
and can be weighted, or a small spring attached so as to require a slight suction to
lift the valve. Connected with the gas and air entrances to this are two regulating
screws so as to regulate the proportions of air and gas which remain a fixture.
Dated this 5th day of February 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or appertaining to Gas and Oil Engines.
I, WILLIAM JAMES, Cycle Manufacturer, of 166 Borough Road, in the
Borough of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, 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 has for its object an arrangement whereby gas & oil engines that
are fitted with tube ignition, can be controlled better than at present, the same
arrangement, with the addition of a suitable blending valve, can be used as a
self-starter.

page_text: This invention will be understood by the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, which
Fig. 1. is a section of the ignition tube & arrangement for controlling the ignition,
also for starting.
Fig. 2. is a view of the blending valve, for filling the cylinder of engine with an
explosive mixture before starting.
In carrying out my improvements I employ a small extractor tube A, inside the
ignition tube B, this tube A, is connected with a small valve C, the valve C, being
actuated by suitable gearing that opens it when the crank of the engine is in the
proper position ready for the explosion, & by allowing the non-explosive gas to
escape from the ignition tube, by the orifice D the explosive mixture from the
cylinder, enters the ignition tube, & fires the charge in the cylinder, this will occur
with a very small amount of compression.
In applying this invention to a gas or oil engine fitted with a horizontal ignition
tube, viz., one that passes at right angles through the burner, a portion only being
heated. It will be obvious that the extractor tube A, can be dispensed with, the
valve C, being screwed on the end of the ignition tube, will extract the gases in a
like manner to the method already described, & I here wish it to be known that
I am fully aware of Pinkneys arrangement whereby a small cock is placed on the
end of the ignition tube, to extract the non-explosive gases & ensure easy starting,
but I believe this arrangement was only intended to save a few extra revolutions in
getting it started, as it is well known that with a badly timed non-controlled
ignition tube, that when a charge has missed fire, the next charge will fire before
the proper time, causing a loss of power in the engine, as the non-exploded charge
has partly cleaned out the ignition tube.
When using my invention as a self-starter, I place the crank of the engine, in
the proper position for firing, all the valves being closed, & the ignition tube B,
having been heated to the proper temperature, the blending valve Fig. 2, is then
opened to the cylinder, the crank is then turned slowly until it is past half stroke,
the suction causing the valve E, to lift & allow the gas from F, & the air
from G. G. to enter the cylinder & blend in proper proportion, the gas being
regulated by a suitable cock or valve, & the air by the regulating ring H. The
blending valve is then shut off from the cylinder, the gas cock opened, a slight
pressure on the piston will cause the mixture in the cylinder to be above the
atmospheric pressure. The small valve C, connected with the extractor tube A,
is then opened & allows the non-explosive gas in the tube B, to escape, & the
charge in the cylinder to enter the ignition tube, when it is fired, the impulse
causing the engine to take in charges of air & gas from the ordinary valves &
continue working.
My method of controlling the ignition, ensuring the charge being fired, even
when the engine is going slowly.
Having now particularly described, & ascertained the nature of my said invention,
& in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is.
No. 1. In a gas or oil engine, the use of an arrangement whereby the non-
explosive gases are extracted from the ignition tube, by an internal tube, or tubes,
substantially as described.
No. 2. In a gas or oil engine, an arrangement whereby the non-explosive gases
are extracted from the ignition tube by a suitable valve, actuated by gearing from
the engine itself, substantially & for the purpose described.
No. 3. In a gas or oil engine, an arrangement whereby the gas & air are blended
by the lifting of one valve, & for the purpose, substantially as described.
Dated this day the 5th November 1895
WILLIAM JAMES,
166 Borough Road, Birkenhead, Cycle Manufacturer.