Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Starting Hydrocarbon and like Motor Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., +1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Deo., 1895-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
}
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Starting Hydrocarbon
and like Motor Engines.
We, JOHN BROKENSHIRE FURNEAUX, of Victoria Works, Gateshead on Tyne,
in the County of Durham, Engineer, and EDWARD BUTLER, of Coatesworth Road,
Gateshead on Tyne, aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention in order to effectually start a motor engine of large
size adapted to be actuated by an explosive mixture of hydrocarbon vapour or gas
and air, we use a pump preferably adapted to be worked by hand, and an
inspirator of the kind described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 6990
of 1890, granted to one of us vis. the said Edward Butler, whereby an explosive
mixture of a definite-character can be formed and supplied to a pipe or elongated
chamber that is adapted to be placed in communication with the combustion
chamber or cylinder of the engine to be started through a valve which, when an
elongated chamber is employed, is so constructed and arranged that it can be
moved into the open position by hand and locked in that position preparatory to
starting the engine, but which will autotnatically close the communication between
the said combustion chamber or engine cylinder and the chamber (hereinafter
called the starting chamber) in the operation of starting the engine.
A construction of valve suitable for this purpose comprises a valve case
provided with a perforated liner or seat around which is a passage which serves as
a communication between the openings in the liner or seat and a port or passage
leading to the combustion chamber or cylinder of the engine. Within the liner.or
seat is fitted a hollow plug or piston having slots or other openings therein corre-
sponding to those in the liner or seat. This plug or piston is open at one end to
the starting chamber and is provided at its other or closed end with a stem which
projects through a cover fastened to the valve case. On this stem is secured ope
end of a spring, the other end of which is held by a stóp in a cap covering the
spring. On the stem is also secured a lever for the purpose of turning the plug
or piston against the resistance of the spring so as to cause the slots or openings in
the plug or piston and liner or seat to coincide. This lever is provided with a
catch adapted to engage a notch or projection on the valve case and hold the lever
and plug or piston in the open position. The arrangement is such that when a
charge of explosive mixture has been forced into the starting chamber and thence
into the motor cylinder and such charge has been ignited by suitable means such
aa by an electric spark in the starting chamber at the end remote from the starting
valve, part of the charge contained in the starting chamber will be forced through
the openings in the plug or piston and its liner or seat and thence into the motor
cylinder and the pressure due to the combustion of the charge in the starting
chamber will force the plug or piston and ways against the action of its spring and
thereby release the catch that serves to hold the lever in the open position,
whereupon the spring will act to quickly turn the plug or piston into a position to
close the opening therethrough and thus close the communication between the
starting chamber and engine cylinder.
The explosive mixture thus supplied to the engine cylinder will combine with
other combustible mixture therein, the combustion of the whole serving to generate

page_text: sufficient force to impel the engine piston outward with considerable velocity, for
which purpose the said piston is set at about frd of its working stroke to enable
this to be done.
In one arrangement of apparatus according to this invention, the starting
chamber is in the form of a long cylinder arranged within the base of the engine
and formed with conical ends one of which is provided with an igniting device and
is in communication with the pump and inspirator, and the other with a pipe
connected to the starting valve which is attached direct to the engine cylinder.
In a modified arrangement the starting valve is placed near the delivery end of
the starting chamber and is placed in communication with the combustion chambér
of the engine by a pipe, a stop valve that may be of ordinary kind being provided
to close the communication between the two when the engine is started.
For using heavy hydrocarbon the inspirator is provided with a combined heating
and volatilizing device of the kind shown in and described with reference to
Fig. 9 of the heroinbefore mentioned former Specification, such device being
arranged to be heated by a lamp and having its interior in communication by a
pipe with a reservoir containing the heavy hydrocarbon. When using a light
hydrocarbon such as benzoline, the reservoir is connected by a pipe directly
with the inspirator, the communication being controlled by a screw or other
regulator. When using ordinary gas, it is supplied to the inspirator past a
non-return valve.
"
A combined pump and inspirator, such as herein described, as well as the
starting valve, can be used in engine starting apparatus of various kinds.
Dated this 4th day of March 1895.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Starting Hydrocarbon
and like Motor Engines.
"
We, JOHN BROKENSHIRE FURNEAUX, of Victoria Works, Gateshead-on-Tyne,
in the County of Durham, Engineer, and EDWARD BUTLER, of Coatesworth
Road, Gateshead-on-Tyne aforesaid, 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:-
According to this invention, in order to effectually start a motor engine of large-
size adapted to be actuated by an explosive mixture of hydrocarbon vapour or gas
and air, we use a pump, preferably adapted to be worked by hand, and an inspirator
of the kind described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 6990 of 1890,
granted to one of us viz. the said Edward Butler, whereby an explosive mixture of
a definite character can be formed and supplied to an elongated chamber that is
adapted to be placed in communication with the combustion chamber or cylinder
of the engine to be started through a valve, which, when such a chamber is
employed, is so constructed and arranged that it can be moved into the open
position by hand and looked in that position preparatory to starting the engine,
but which will automatically close the communication between the said combustion
chamber or engine cylinder and the chamber (hereinafter called the starting-
chamber) in the operation of starting the engine.
"
·
Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the accompanying drawings, represent in its open and
locked position, a construction of valve suitable for this purpose;
Kia haine a side clin

page_text: Fig. 3 a section on the line of Fig. 2, and
Fig. 4 a plan.
The valve case 1 is provided with a perforated liner or seat 2 around which is
a passage 3 which serves as a communication between the openings 4 (Fig. 3) in
the liner or seat 2 and a port or passage 5 leading to the combustion chamber or
cylinder of the engine. Within the liner or seat 2 is fitted a hollow plug or
piston 6 baving slots 7, or it may be openings of other form, therein corresponding
to the openings 4 in the liner or seat. This plug or piston is open at its end 6ª
to the starting chamber and is provided at its other or closed end with a stem 8
which projects through a cover 9 fastened to the valve case 2. On this stem is
secured one end of a coiled spring 10, the other end of which is held by a stop 11
arranged in a cap 12 that covers the spring and is fixed to the cover of the valve.
On the stem 8 is also secured a lever 13 for the purpose of turning the plug or
piston 6 against the resistance of the spring 10 so as to cause the slots or openings 7
and 4 in the plug or piston 6 and liner or seat 2 respectively, to coincide. In the
example shown, the spring 10 is secured to the stem 8 by means of a stop 14
which is carried by the lever 13 and against which the spring 10 abuts. The
stop 11 projects from a stud 11 that passes through the cap 12 and is provided
with a squared end 11, so that the force of the spring 10 can be adjusted by
rotating the stud 11ª by means of a key placed on the said squared end 11, after
which the stud can be fixed in position by means of a nut 11°. The lever 13 is
provided with a catch 15 adapted to engage with a projection 16 on the valve-case
and to hold the lever 13 and plug or piston 6 in the open position. In the example
shown, the projection 16 forms part of a carved piece 17 that is adjustable
vertically on the valve case 1 by means of studs and nuts 18. The arrangement,
as will be seen, is such that when a charge of explosive mixture has been forced
into the starting-chamber and thence into the motor-cylinder and such charge has
been ignited by suitable means, such as by an electric spark in the starting
chamber at the end remote from the starting valve, part of the charge contained
in, the starting chamber will be forced through the openings 7 and 4 in the
plug or piston 6 and its liner or seat 2 and thence into the motor cylinder
and the pressure due to the combustion of the charge in the starting-chamber
will force the plug or piston 2 endways against the action of its spring 10
and thereby release the catch 15 that serves to hold the lever 13 in the
open position, whereupon the spring 10 will act to turn the plug 6 quickly into
a position in which it will close the opening 7 therethrough and thus automatically
close the communication between the starting-chamber and engine-cylinder.
The explosive mixture thus supplied to the engine-cylinder will combine with
other combustible mixture therein, the combustion of the whole serving to generato
sufficient force to impel the engine-piston outward with considerable velocity and
so start the engine to facilitate which the said piston is set at about £ of its
working stroke.
Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, representing an engine provided
with starting-apparatus according to this invention applied thereto.
The starting-chamber 19 is in the form of a long cylinder arranged within the
base of the engine and formed with conical ends 19, 19, one of which, 19, is
provided with au igniting-device 20 and is in communication through a pipe 21
with a combined hand pump 22-and inspirator 23, its other end, 19, being provided
with a pipe 24 connected to the case 1 of the starting-valve, which is attached
direct to the engine-cylinder 25. The communication between the pump and
inspirator is controlled by a non-return valve 23* so that the mixture of hydro-
carbon vapour and air drawn through the inspirator on the upstroke of the pump
piston, will on the downstroke of such piston, be forced into the starting chamber 19
and engine cylinder.
In a modified arrangen ent, which is represented in partial sectional elevation in
Fig. 6, the starting valve is arranged near the delivery-end of the starting

page_text: chamber 19 and is placed in communication with the combustion-chamber of the
engine by a pipe 26, a stop-valve 27, that may be of ordinary kind, being provided
to close the communication between the two when the engine is started. For this
purpose it is carried by a screw spindle 27* provided with a hand wheel 27" so that it
can be opened and closed by hand before and after starting the engine respectively.
For using heavy hydrocarbon the inspirator 23 is provided, as shown in vertical
section in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings, with a combined heating and
volatilizing device 28 of the kind shown in and described with reference to Fig. 9
of the bereiubefore mentioned former Specification, such device being arranged to
be heated by a lamp 29 and having its interior in communication by a pipe 30 with !
a reservoir 31 containing the heavy hydrocarbon. In the example shown, the air
by means of which the oil from the reservoir 31 is broken up into spray in tho
combined heater and volatilizer enters through holes 32 in an extension 33 of the
casing 28* of the device and passes down through the oil-regulator, which consists
of a hollow screwed spindle 34 having a handle 35 and ending in a conical valve
portion 36. The lamp 20 is supported by a bracket 29 attached to the casing 28*
of this device and the products of combustion thereof pass up within the casing 28ª
and out through holes 28 therein.
When using a light hydrocarbon such as benzoline, the reservoir 31 is connected,
as shown in Fig. 8, by a pipe 37 directly with the inspirator 23, the communication
being controlled by a screw or other regulator 38.
When using ordinary gas, it is supplied to the inspirator 23 past a pop-retura
valve 39, as shown in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings,
A combined pump and inspirator, such as heroin described, as well as the
starting-valve, can be used in engine-starting apparatus of various kinds, for
respectively supplying an explosive mixture of a definite character to the engine
cylinder at starting, and for automatically closing the communication between such
engine cylinder aud combined pump and inspirator after starting, as set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
ני
1. In apparatus for starting a hydrocarbon or like motor engine, the combination
of a pump and an inspirator of the kind herein referred. to, whereby an explosive
mixture of a practically definite character can be formed and supplied to the com-
bustion chamber or cylinder of the engine, substantially as herein described for the
purpose specified.
2. In apparatus for starting a hydrocarbon or, like motor engine wherein an
explosive mixture is supplied to the combustion chamber or eylinder of the engine from
a starting-chamber separate therefrom, the arrangement between the said combustion
chamber or cylinder and the said starting-chamber, of a valve which is adapted to
be moved into the open position by band and looked in that position preparatory
to starting the engine and to automatically close the communication between the
said combustion-chamber or cylinder and the said starting-chamber in the operation
of starting the engine, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In apparatus for starting a hydrocarbon or like motor engine, the combination
with the combustion chamber or cylinder of the engine, of a pump, an inspirator of
the kind hereinbefore referred to, a starting chamber, and a valve arranged between
the said starting chamber and the combustion-chainber or cylinder of the engine
and adapted to be moved into the open position by hand and locked in that position
preparatory to starting the engine and to automatically close the communication
between the said combustion-chamber or cylinder and the said starting-chamber in
the operation of starting the engine, substantially as heroinbefore described.
4. The improved starting-valve constructed, arranged and operating substantially
as bereinbefore described with reference to and shown, in, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of
the accompanying drawings,
5. The improved starting-apparatus constructed, arranged and operating s

page_text: herein before described with reference to and shown in Fig. 5, or modified according
to Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.
6. For producing explosive starting-mixtures for hydrocarbon and like motor
engines, the improved combined apparatus hereinbefore described with reference to
and shown in Fig. 7 and the modifications thereof herein before described with
reference respectively to and shown in Fig. 8 and in Fig. 9 of the accompanying-
Dated this 3rd day of December 1895.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.