IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I SAMUEL GRIFFIN of Kingston Iron Works Bath in the County of Somerset
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS MOTOR ENGINES" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the arrangement of apparatus for
igniting the charge in gas and other motor engines in which a combustible or
explosive compound is used so that the ignition may be rendered more simple
economical and reliable in its action.
In certain gas engines as hitherto constructed a portion of the explosive or com-
bustible compound is conveyed from the cylinder into a port or cavity in the
igniting valve where it is lit and by a subsequent movement of the said igniting
valve brought into contact with the charge in the cylinder thus igniting it.
This arrangement has been found in practice somewhat wasteful as the before
mentioned igniting flame has to be kept burning during a considerable portion of
the compressing stroke of the engine.
It is also found necessary to employ some means by which the said igniting
flame can be kept steadily burning (it being more or less explosive) such as fine
perforations, wire gauze or other like means and as the fine interstices in such
material are liable to become choked irregular ignition results therefrom.
In my improved arrangement of ignition I remedy the before mentioned defects
by forming a small hole or cavity in the valve face (against which the igniting
valve works) next the cylinder this small hole or cavity being in connection with
the interior of the cylinder or with a port leading thereto. Into this hole or
cavity is drawn (by the action of the piston) a combustible but non-explosive com-
pound which may be either pure gas or gas and air mixed; the said gas being
either conveyed into the before mentioned small hole or cavity by means of a
separate pipe and valve or advantageously through the igniting valve (by means
of suitably arranged passages) direct from the gas valve which supplies the
cylinder.
The igniting valve has formed in it a small port or cavity into which during a
portion of its travel atmospheric air is allowed to enter in sufficient quantity to

page_text: support the combustion of a small flame or flames during a short period, at a later
part of its travel when all communication with the atmosphere is closed. In
connection with this small port or cavity (i.e. leading into it) there are two small
holes through one of which is conveyed a small quantity of gas from any con-
venient source which gas burns in a small jet in the before mentioned port or
cavity in the igniting valve during a considerable portion of its travel. The
second hole is brought into communication with the before mentioned hole or
cavity in the face next the cylinder (which hole or cavity contains a combustible
non-explosive compound) when the before mentioned port or cavity in the igniting
valve is closed or closing to the atmosphere and before it opens communication with
the interior of the cylinder.
A portion of the combustible non-explosive compound (which is now in a state
of compression by the action of the piston) then flows through and is lit by the
before mentioned jet which is still burning.
A subsequent movement of the igniting valve opens communication between the
before mentioned port or cavity in which the jet of combustible non-explosive
compound is now burning and the explosive compound in the cylinder which latter
is immediately ignited.
The combustible non-explosive compound being in a state of compression
prevents the burning jet from being extinguished when the cavity or port in
which it is burning opens communication with the compressed charge in the
cylinder and as this jet is only burning during a short time a very small quantity
of compressed combustible non-explosive compound is needed.

page_text: I SAMUEL GRIFFIN of Kingston Iron Works Bath in the County of Somerset
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS MOTOR ENGINES and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement of apparatus for
igniting the charge in gas and other motor engines in which a combustible or
explosive compound is used so that the ignition may be rendered more simple
economical and reliable in its action.
In certain gas engines as hitherto constructed a portion of the explosive or com-
bustible compound is conveyed from the cylinder into a port or cavity in the
igniting valve where it is lit and by a subsequent movement of the said igniting
valve brought into contact with the charge in the cylinder thus igniting it.
This arrangement has been found in practice somewhat wasteful as the before
mentioned igniting flame has to be kept burning during a considerable portion of
the compressing stroke of the engine.
It is also found necessary to employ some means by which the said igniting
flame can be kept steadily burning (it being more or less explosive) such as fine
perforations, wire gauze or other like means and as the fine interstices in such
material are liable to become choked irregular ignition results therefrom.
In my improved arrangement of ignition I remedy the before mentioned defects
by forming a small hole or cavity in the valve face (against which the igniting
valve works) next the cylinder this small hole or cavity being in connection with
the interior of the cylinder or with a port leading thereto. Into this holo or
cavity is drawn (by the action of the piston) a combustible but non explosive
compound which may be either pure gas or gas and air mixed; the said gas
being either conveyed into the before mentioned small hole or cavity by means
of a separate pipe and valve or advantageously through the igniting valve (by
means of suitably arranged passages) direct from the gas valve which supplies the
cylinder.
The igniting valve has formed in it a small port or cavity into which during a
portion of its travel atmospheric air is allowed to enter in sufficient quantity to
support the combustion of a small flaine or flames during a short period, at a later
part of its travel when all communication with the atmosphere is closed. In
connection with this small port or cavity (i.e. leading into it) there are two small
holes through one of which is conveyed a small quantity of gas from any con-
venient source which gas burns in a small jet in the before mentioned port or
cavity in the igniting valve during a considerable portion of its travel. The
second hole is brought into communication with the before mentioned hole or
cavity in the face next the cylinder (which hole or cavity contains a combustible
non explosive compound) when the before mentioned port or cavity in the igniting

page_text: valve is closed or closing to the atmosphere and before it opens communication with
the interior of the cylinder.
A portion of the combustible non-explosive compound (which is now in a state
of compression by the action of the piston) then flows through and is lit by the
before mentioned jet which is still burning.
A subsequent movement of the igniting valve opens communication between the
before mentioned port or cavity in which the jet of combustible non explosive
compound is now burning and the explosive compound in the cylinder which latter
is immediately ignited.
The combustible non explosive compound being in a state of compression
prevents the burning jet from being extinguished when the cavity or port in
which it is burning opens communication with the compressed charge in the
cylinder and as this jet is only burning during a short time a very small quantity
of compressed combustible non-explosive compound is needed.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice I will proceed to describe the drawings hereto annexed.
Figure 5 is a plan of slide valve cover.
The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.
a slide valve-b cover. a portion of cylinder d small cavity to contain com-
bustible non-explosive gas, e port leading from slide valve face to interior of
cylinder. small passage connecting d with port e. g port in cover through
which air is drawn into cylinder.-h main passage through slide valve a, i small
passage through slide valve terminating in slots or chases on each side.
small passage through cover in connection with gas valve k. small gas holes.
m igniting port in slide valve. n amall passage connecting & with m.
o small
passage connecting p with m. p slot through which combustible gas passes into o.
g small slot or chase terminating in n. ↑ air passage for ventilating m. 8 passage
in cover for ventilating m. t water space round cylinder.
The mode of operation is as follows:-When the explosive charge is about to be
drawn into the cylinder the slide valve will be in the position shown in Figure 1.
Air will now pass through the port g in the cover 6 by the exhaustive action of
the piston; gas will also pass from the gas valve k (which is now open) through
the small holes into the port g where it will mix with the air and thence pass
through the ports or passages 7 and e into the cylinder c. Gas will also at the
same time pass through the small passages j and i into the small chamber & which
is in communication with the port e by means of the passage f. During the return
stroke of the piston which compresses the charge in the cylinder the slide valve a
will move into the position shown in Figure in which position it is ready to fire
the charge in the cylinder. Just before it reaches this position i.e. before the
port m is in communication with the port or passage e a small portion of the com-
bustible non explosive gas contained in d will flow through the small slot or
chase q in the slide valve a into the passage n by virtue of the pressure in the
cylinder and being lit from a small flame fed from o will continue burning until
the port m and the passage e are in communication when it will immediately fire
the charge contained in the cylinder which will now come into contact with it.

page_text: The flame which burns at o is fed with gas in any convenient manner from the
slot p in the cover b (Figure 5) and as it is extinguished at every explosion must
be re-lit by an outside flame not shown in the drawings.
By a modification of this arrangement the passage o may be dispensed with and
the gas burning from n lit direct from an outside flame.
The ignition port m may be charged with atmospheric air to support the com-
bustion of the flames at n and o through passages such as 7 and 8 Figures 4 and 5
or by any suitable means.
I do not limit myself to the exact details herein described as these may be
modified without departing from the nature of my invention.
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
1st The novel arrangement of a port or cavity such as d which is in communi-
cation with the interior of the cylinder of a gas motor engine such port or cavity
being charged with a combustible non-explosive compound which being ignited
and brought into contact with the explosive compound in the cylinder fires it.
2nd 1 claim the general arrangement of ports or passages in connection with the
port or cavity & for the purpose of charging it with combustible non-explosive gas
and afterwards compressing same by the action of the piston in the motor cylinder
substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings
annexed.