Improvements in and relating to Means for Igniting the Explosive Mixture in Gas and Oil Engines and Cooling the Cylinders.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1900
VALV
Improvements in and relating to Means for Igniting the Explosive
Mixture in Gas and Oil Engines and Cooling the Cylinders.
I, AUGUSTE BOUDEVILLE, of Anet, in the Department of Eure et Loire, in the
French Republic, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows;
The ignition of the charge in explosion engines is the most important point
in the engine. Various methods have been employed.
Ignition by electrical means, with which I am now concerned, is itself divided
into several classes, according to the method of producing the spark, which is
obtained by means of batteries, accumulators, a dynamo etc., etc.
Each of these means presents certain inconveniences. Batteries are cumber-
some and necessitate constant maintenance. Accumulators quickly become dis-
charged and are uncertain in working.
Dynamos absorb power from the motor and can only work after the engine bas
commenced working, which fact necessitates a preliminary starting.
In presence of these inconveniences which leave the motor in constant uncer-
tainty as to ignition and consequently are liable to cause the motor-cyclist or
traveller on a motor-car to break down and be delayed on his journey, when
means of restarting are perhaps wanting; this may in some cases prove a serious
matter.
I have invented an arrangement which remedies these inconveniences and pro-
vides absolutely certain ignition.
The principle is that discovered by Faraday, consisting in the production of
an electric current, by causing the poles of a coil to pass within the magnetic
field of a permanent magnet and abruptly breaking the current; breaking the
circuit where it takes place gives rise to a spark, which I employ for the ignition
of the explosible gas or charge.
The invention, therefore, does not consist in the production of the current but
in the method of which the arrangement adopted, allows this result to be obtained
in the very midst of the gaseous charge in the motor cylinder.
So as not to deprive the engine of power, have located the magnets at the in-
ternal periphery of the fly-wheel in such a manner that the weight of these added
to that of the fly-wheel contributes to the proper working and to the regulation
of the speed. Under these conditions the coils are fixed.
The breaking of the current takes place within the cylinder between plates,
one of which is movable and passes alternately over each of the faces of the fixed
plate upon which it works frictionally, and cleans the parts in contact in such a
manner as to brighten the metal which the explosion has covered with fine soot
or carbon deposits.
For the purpose of maintaining these plates in proper condition and thus en-
suring the rigidity of the movable plate and the force or intimacy of the contact
which the heat of the explosions tends to diminish, I conduct the gases coming
....מ

page_text: from the carburettor before their entrance into the cylinder, into a chamber
wherein these plates work, tempers them down again, so to speak, and keeps them
in good order.
The annexed drawing will allow the arrangements to be clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a section of the cylinder on the explosion chamber.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal view of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the fly-wheel shewing interiorly the
arrangement of the magnets and of the coils.
Figure 4 is a front view of the fly-wheel connected with the cylinder by elec-
trical wires.
As will be seen, the fly-wheel A. is recessed, dished or hollow interiorly and con-
tains the magnets B in the shape of semi-circles arranged parallel to, or con-
centric with its rim.
The coils C occupy the centre portion; they are fixed in such a manner that
at each revolution, the poles of the magnets pass before those of the coils and
induce therein an induction-current conducted by the aforesaid wires to the
terminals D, D', one of which is insulated from the mass of the cylinder.
The insulated terminal D¹ communicates with the fixed plate E placed in the
explosion chamber G of the cylinder. The movable plate E which communicates
with the second terminal by way of the mass of the cylinder is subject to an
alternating back and forward motion, by means of the crank H connected with
the piston crank.
This movement serves a double purpose, first for producing breakage of the
circuit each time one of the plates leaves the other, which breakage gives rise to
the spark, and secondly, for effecting a rubbing-motion which brightens and cleans
the metal so as to facilitate its contact and ensure the passage of the current.
The movable plate E is flexible and in its oscillating movement passes alter-
nately before and behind the fixed plate which is in an inclined position, and
which causes the flexible plate to work frictionally on the fixed plate before and
behind.
This friction ensures contact between the two plates and produces the cleaning
or brightening action on each face. They are placed in the explosion chamber
and are subjected to a very high temperature which at the end of a very short
time destroys the elasticity of the movable plate; to remedy this I have placed
this plate in the passage or path of the gaseous current coming from the car-
burettor (as shewn on Fig. 1) since there follows at each explosion a fresh cylin-
der-charge of gas drawn in by the piston, these gases cooling and re-tempering
the flexible plate which thus maintains its elasticity.
This arrangement although exceedingly simple ensures the regular working
of the plates in such a manner as to produce a heated and well-sustained spark
at each breakage of the current produced by the magnets.
This regularity in the production of the spark gives to the motor an excellent
working; the explosions take place at each cylindrage or cylinder-charging at
the exact moment that they should do so, neither too soon nor too late.
The explosion chamber is afterwards furnished with a screw-closed door I,
Figure 4, which can easily be opened. This door which forms a self-locking
arrangement, allows the rapid changing of the movable-plate when the latter is
definitely worn-out or out of service, which removal occupies only a few minutes.
The cooling of the cylinder is a matter of exceedingly great importance, for
if it attains a very high temperature it may give rise to the explosion of the
charge at an inopportune moment, so as to produce a counterpressure before the
piston has finished its whole stroke and even whilst it is performing the return
stroke.
I have also remedied this cause of irregularity by cooling the walls by the
same operation of the piston. The cylinder is provided exteriorly with fins or
flanges L describing a helicoidal curve, afterwards covered with a sheet-metal
sleeve, which arrangement thus forms a canal encircling the cylinder from the

page_text: casing to the opposite end, where it delivers to the atmosphere, Fig. 2. In its
backwards and forwards movement the piston energetically causes a draught or
current of air which enters at opening 1, Figures 2 and 4, passes along the whole
helicoidal channel thus cooling the outer walls of the cylinder, and exits at the
opposite end into the outer air. When the piston is impelled by the explosion
it gives rise to a current of air in one direction; on its return stroke, it gives rise
to an air-current in the opposite direction, drawing in air from the outside; the
result is that the channel filled with a constantly renewed and cooling envelope
of air, does not attain a high temperature since the fins and the body even of the
cylinder, are continually being cooled.
Improvements in and relating to Means for Igniting the Explosive
Mixture in Gas and Oil Engines and Cooling the Cylinders.
I, AUGUSTE BOUDEVILLE, of Anet, in the Department of Eure et Loire, in the
French Republic, Builder, 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:-
The ignition of the charge in explosion engines is the most important point
in the motor. Various methods have been employed.
Ignition by electrical means, with which I am now concerned, is itself divided
into several classes, according to the method of producing the spark, which is
obtained by means of batteries, accumulators, a dynamo, etc., etc.
Each of these means presents certain inconveniences. Batteries are cumber-
some and necessitate constant maintenance. Accumulators quickly become dis-
charged and are uncertain or unreliable in working.
Dynamos absorb power from the engine and cannot be employed until the motor
has at least commenced working, which fact necessitates a preliminary starting.
In presence of these inconveniences which leave the motor in constant uncer-
tainty as to ignition and which, consequently, are liable to cause the motor-cyclist
or traveller on a motor-car to break down and be delayed on his journey, when
means of starting are perhaps wanting, a break down may in some cases prove a
serious matter.
I have invented an arrangement which remedies these inconveniences and pro-
vides absolutely certain ignition.
The principle is that discovered by Faraday, consisting in the production of
an electric current by causing the poles of a coil to pass within the magnetic
field of a permanent magnet and abruptly breaking the current; breaking the
circuit where it takes place gives rise to a spark, which I employ for the ignition
of the explosible gas or charge.
The invention, therefore, does not consist in the production of the current but
in the method of which the arrangement adopted, allows this result to be obtained
in the very midst of the gascous charge in the motor cylinder.
So as not to deprive the engine of power, I have located the magnets at the in-
ternal periphery of the fly-wheel in such a manner that the weight of these added

page_text: to that of the fly-wheel tends to the proper working and to the regulation
of the speed. Under these conditions the coils are fixed.
The breaking of the current takes place within the cylinder between plates,
or lamine, one of which is movable and passes alternately over each of the faces
of the fixed plate upon which it works frictionally, and cleans the parts in contact
in such a manner as to brighten the metal which the explosion has covered with
fine soot or carbon deposits.
For the purpose of maintaining these plates in proper condition and thus en-
suring the rigidity of the movable plate and the force or intimacy of the contact
which the heat of the explosions tends to diminish, I conduct the gases coming
from the carburettor before their entrance into the cylinder, into a chamber
wherein these plates work, tempers them down again, so to speak, and keeps them
in good order.
The drawings filed with my Provisional Specification will allow the arrange-
ments to be clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a section of the cylinder on the explosion chamber.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal view of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the fly-wheel shewing interiorly the
arrangement of the magnets and of the coils.
Figure 4 is a front view of the fly-wheel connected with the cylinder by elec-
trical wires.
As will be seen, the fly-wheel A. is recessed, dished or hollow interiorly and con-
tains the magnets B in the shape of semi-circles arranged parallel to, or con-
centric with, its rim.
The coils C occupy the centre portion and are fixed in such a manner that
at each revolution, the poles of the magnets pass before those of the coils and
induce therein an induction-current conducted by the aforesaid wires to the
terminals D, D', one of which is insulated from the mass of the cylinder.
The insulated terminal D¹ communicates with the fixed plate E¹ placed in the
explosion chamber G of the cylinder. The movable plate E which communicates
with the second terminal by way of the mass of the cylinder is subject to an
alternating back and forward motion, by means of the crank H connected with
the piston crank.
This movement serves a double purpose: first, for producing breakage of the
circuit each time one of the plates leaves the other, which breakage gives rise to
the spark, and secondly, for effecting a rubbing-motion which brightens and cleans
the metal so as to facilitate its contact and ensure the passage of the current.
The movable plate E is flexible and in its oscillating movement passes alter-
nately before and behind the fixed plate which is in an inclined position, and
which causes the flexible plate to work frictionally on the fixed plate before and
behind.
This friction ensures contact between the two plates and produces the cleaning
or brightening action on each face. Being placed in the explosion chamber they
have hitherto been subjected to a very high temperature which at the end of a very
short time destroys the elasticity of the movable plate; to remedy this I have placed
this plate in the passage or path of the gaseous current coming from the car-
burettor (as shown on Fig. 1) since each explosion is followed by a fresh cylin-
ler-charge of gas drawn in by the piston, these gases cooling and re-tempering
the flexible plate which thus maintains its elasticity.
This arrangement although exceedingly simple ensures the regular working
of the plates in such a manner as to produce a heated and thoroughly effective spark
at each breakage of the current produced by the magnets.
This regularity in the production of the spark gives to the motor an excellent
working the explosions take place at each cylindrage or cylinder-charging at
the exact moment that they should do so, neither too soon nor too late.
The explosion chamber is further furnished with a screw-closed door T.
Figure 4, which can be easily opened. This door which forms a self-locking

page_text: arrangement, allows the rapid changing of the movable-plate when the latter is
definitely worn-out or out of service, such removal occupying only a few minutes.
The cooling of the cylinder is a matter of exceedingly great importance, for
if it attains a very high temperature it may give rise to the explosion of the
charge at an inopportune moment, and thus produce a back pressure before the
piston has finished its whole stroke and even while it is performing the return
stroke.
I have remedied also this cause of irregularity by cooling the walls by means of
the same operation of the piston. The cylinder is provided exteriorly with fins or
flanges L describing a helicoidal curve, afterwards covered with a sheet-metal
sleeve or jacket, which arrangement thus forms a canal encircling the cylinder
from the casing to the opposite end, where it delivers to the atmosphere, Fig. 2.
In its backwards and forwards movement the piston energetically causes a draught
or current of air which enters at opening I', Figures 2 and 4, passes along the whole
belicoidal channel thus cooling the outer walls of the cylinder, and exits at the
opposite end into the outer air. When the piston is impelled by the explosion
it gives rise to a current of air in one direction; on its return stroke, it gives rise
to an air-current in the opposite direction, drawing in air from the outside; the
result is that the channel filled with a constantly renewed and cooling envelope
of air, does not attain a high temperature since the fins and even the body of the
cylinder are being continually cooled.
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 gas and oil engines, a method of electrically igniting the explosive mix-
ture by means of permanent magnets placed within the flywheel in such a manner
as to rotate with the latter and pass before the poles of a coil thereby generating
a current therein, the breaking of the circuit giving rise to sparks within the mass
of the explosive mixture, substantially as herein described.
2. In means for electrically igniting the charge in gas and oil engines, the
mechanical arrangement of plates in contact, working one against the other in
order to produce a break in the circuit and, at the same time, a cleaning of the
said plate to ensure the proper passage of the current, substantially as herein set
forth.
3. In means for electrically igniting the charge in gas and oil engines, the
arrangement of the contact plates in the passage of the cold gases so as to cool
them after each explosion by the influx of these gases coming from the carbu-
rettor to afford a charge for a fresh explosion, substantially as herein set forth.
4. A means for cooling the cylinders in gas and oil engines, comprising a
casing or jacket enveloping the cylinder and affording, by means of fins or ribs
which it covers and contains, a helicoidal passage or channel constantly traversed
by the current of air produced by the movement of the piston which at each for-
ward and backward stroke draws or drives therein the outer air, substantially as
herein described.
3000