Improvements in Igniters for Gas and Oil Motor Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1898
ALFARARAT DI ECIFICATION.
Improvements in Igniters for Gas and Oil Motor Engines.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHESTER, Ladywood Road, Birmingham, Engineer,
do hereby declare, the, nature of this invention. to. be as follows:-
J
This invention relates to improvements in gas and oil motor engines and refers
more particularly to the ignition and valve arrangements for. use. in connection
with such engines. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide
means whereby the ignition mechanism and valves shall be easily and immediately
accessible for inspection.. A further object of my present invention is to arrange
the working parts of an electric igniter so that they may be easily replaced
when worn and also to provide that they shall suffer as little deterioration as
possible from the high temperature of the working cylinder.
In one mode of constructing an electric igniter in accordance with my present
invention I employ a modification of the double contact form of igniter described
in the Specification of Letters Patent 18829 1896 already grauted to the present
applicant. I preferably, employ a wire of considerable stiffness bent at right
angles to make the internal contact and having a collar formed or brazed close
to the bend carefully faced up to make a tight joint on an insulated metal sleeve
through which the wire passes, the outer extremity of the wire is sawn up a
sufficient distance to accommodate a spring made of strip metal wound spirally
attached or abutting at on end on the insulated bracket and terminating with a
flat blade passing through the slot in the wire at the other. A collar is fitted
over the slotted ends of the wire to hold the spring in place and is secured by
opening the ends of the wire like a split cotter. The flat blade termination of
the spring is acted on by the second motion shaft to make and break contact at
the moment required. In an igniter constructed as above described the spring
is entirely outside the combustion space and the wire being stiff and unyielding
there is but little liability. to permanent set. In order to render the igniter de-
tachable either for the purpose of facilitating inspection or to enable the ignition
wire to be replaced, I arrange to carry both the insulated sleeve and bracket on
a screwed plug, this plug is held up to a pressure tight seat by means of a ring
internally screwed to fit the plug the said ring being screwed back against. a
divided abutment on the main. casting and portions of the ring are cut away to
clear the abutment projections to permit of the plug being withdrawn when the
screwed ring is in the slack position. The screwed ring may conveniently
made from a piece of plate and a projecting portion may be left to act as a handle
to enable the ring to be turned as desired. The screwed plug requires to be
glutted to prevent it turning round when tightening up, this may be done in any
ordinary manner but I prefer to arrange a casting (also serving to carry the in-
sulated bracket) to screw on to the screwed plug and to fit between two portions
of the abutment so as to be incapable of rotation, a worm adjustment is arranged
between the casting and the plug.by which means not only is the plug prevented.

page_text: from rotating but the plug may be adjusted to take up any wear on the internal
contacts.
The hereinbefore described method of attachment may be employed for remove-
able valve seats and covers so that a few minutes will suffice for the inspection
of all the vital parts of an engine.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHESTER, of Ladywood Road, Birmingham, 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 certain improvements in electric igniting arrange
ments for gas or oil motor engines, and its object is to provide a form of electric
igniter which will be constant in action, durable, and so constructed that it can
be at once removed from its position on the explosion chamber and repaired or
replaced rapidly.
The invention relates to improvements in electrical igniters where a main
circuit is employed with two contacts, the main circuit being broken immediately
before the second contact which forms the spark within the cylinder and it
consists generally in so arranging the wire forming these contacts that the
spring portion is exterior to the explosion chamber and the inner portion of the
wire exposed, of such construction that its durability is ensured and further.in
arranging the whole igniter upon particular forms of instantaneous joints to
permit easy removal for repair or inspection.
Several modes of carrying the invention into effect are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings as follows;--
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the new form of igniter in position on
a combustion chamber A.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same arrangement.
Figure 3 is a part horizontal section on the line ab Figure 1.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are details of the igniting wire.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are respectively end elevation, horizontal section, and a
separate detail, of an alternate form of instantaneous joint used.
Figures 10 and 11 are end and side elevation of a modified design in which a
Hat spring is employed.
In carrying the invention into effect as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 and
Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings the construction and operation is as follows -
Upon a portion of the combustion chamber A a plug B is fitted and this plug B
carries upon it the principal portion of the igniting mechanism. Within the
plug B is fitted a sleeve C bedding against insulating material or packing
washers D. A stout wire E passes centrally through this sleeve and at its inner
end is bent over at right angles and immediately adjacent to the bend has a
collar formed or brazed thereon and machined on the surface next the sleeve C
so as to form a rotary joint. The outer end of the wire E has a saw draft or
slot G formed in it for a short distance and this slot G is of sufficient width to
grip tightly one end of a steel band H passed through it. The steel band H in
the modification shown in Figures 1 to 6 is wound so as to form a spiral spring
passing round the wire E and the upper end of this band has an insulated

page_text: attachment terminating on a bracket I; the said bracket being carried from the
plug B in any suitable manner but preferably as shown by screwing a collar
formed on the bracket to pass over the screwed portion J of the plug. In the
modification shown in Figures 10 and 11 the steel band H is flat.
The plug B is screwed at J and is fitted with a tightening ring or plate K
similarly screwed in such a manner that when the plug is placed in position by
hand and this ring screwed off a joint is instantaneously formed at L between
the plug and the casting M of the combustion chamber. The mode of forming
this joint consists in providing partial abutments N N containing partially turned
interior rings of sufficient diameter to catch the screwed plate K on
backward movement, this being clearly shown in the sectional
plan at Figure 3. It is evident that the screwed plate and the abutments N N
can be of such dimensions and so adjusted relatively one to the other that a por-
tion of a turn after the plug B is placed in position will lock the said plug against
the casting M and a portion of a turn in the reverse direction will free the plug
and permit it to be instantaneously withdrawn.
its
As it is desired to keep the plug itself stationary against rotation the bracket I
formed on it is made of such dimensions that it would just fit between the abut-
ments N N so that no rotation of the plug is permitted. However it is sometimes
necessary to cause a partial rotation of the plug for the purposes of adjustment
of its inner surface relatively to the bent over end of the wire E as this wire
after working some time will wear and fail make internal contact. To do this
a flange N is formed on the outer side of the plug and has a portion of its
periphery cut with worm teeth O. In to these worm teeth a small cross
worm carried on the bracket I gears and when it is desired to cause a short
adjustment in a rotary direction the rotation of the worm effects this by forcing
the plug B to rotate while the bracket I with its collar is held stationary owing
to the fact that it is gripped on either side by the abutments N N.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 inclusive illustrate a modification of the instantaneous joint
herein before described, similar letters indicating similar parts. The casting M
has a joint between the plug and itself formed at L and this is produced by a
ring internally screwed and fitting upon a similarly screwed portion of the
plug B. To secure the plug against rotation steel gluts are fitted to the cast-
ing Al and these gluts are of such width and placed diametrically a sufficient
distance apart so that they embed within slots RR formed in the side of the
plug B. The gluts are grooved at R and when in position allow the key
piece K to pass on by reason of the clearance key-ways S, a slight rotary move-
iment of the key piece then locks it against withdrawal within the grooves R
of the gluts. The key piece K' when screwed in an off direction acts in a similar
manner to the key piece K already described, that is to say, it forces the plug B
to bed and form a joint at L. This arrangement may be used as an instantaneous
joint and plug carrying the wire E and fittings, or as a cover for the fittings of
the igniter when they remain attached to the main casting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:-
1. In igniters for gas and oil motor engines in combination a wire making
contact within the motor combustion space in electrical connection with a spring
making contact externally with an operating part substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. In igniters for gas and oil motor engines in combination a wire making
contact within the motor combustion space and slotted externally, with a spring
arranged as a means of actuating the said wire substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. In igniters for gas and oil motor engines the improved instantaneous joint
constructed and operating as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1
to 6 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 4 In igniters for gas and oil motor engines the improved instantaneous
joint constructed and operating as herein before described with reference to
Figures 7 to 9 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
5. In igniters for gas and oil motor 'engines; in combination a plug making
a pressure tight joint a contact abutment within the combustion space forming
part of or solidly connected to the said plug an external bracket incapable of
rotation with means for rotational adjustment of the plug substantially as herein-
before described.
14
6. In igniters for gas and oil motor engines in combination," a wire passing
through an insulated plug, a plug mounted upon a joint so constructed that a
partial turn either drives the plug to its seat or renders it loose, and capable of
rapid removal, a spring with one end' adjacent to a bracket on the plug and the
other end passing through a slot in the wire to form a striking medium for cam
or suitable gearing, all substantially as hereinbefore:described.
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Dated this 24th dow of Wal
1000
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MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
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13, "Temple Street, Birmingham; and 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
LA
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