Improvements in Electric Ignition Devices for Gas Engines and other Gaseous Explosive Mixture Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1897
Complete Specification Lett, 7th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
Improvements in Electric Ignition Devices for Gas Engines and other
Gaseous Explosive Mixture Engines.
I, JOHN VAUGHAN-SHERRIN, of 28, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Projecting out through the back cylinder I provide a contact bolt with pointed
inner end and capable of sliding in an insulating brass lined bush in the cover.
The point of this bolt makes contact with the piston in its back stroke and will
then compress an adjustable spring; an adjustable stop is also provided. This bolt
is at its outside end connected to one pole of an electric battery or other source of
electricity, and the cylinder is connected to the other pole; across the two con-
ductors is inserted a condenser. The piston towards the end of its backstroke
pushes back the ignition bolt thus completing the circuit which in the next or
return stroke will be broken, so that a spark is formed at the point of the bolt,
whereby the gaseous charge is ignited.
1002
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
Improvements in Electric Ignition Devices for Gas Engines and other
Gaseous Explosive Mixture Engines.
I, JOHN VAUGHAN SHERRIN, of 28, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Electrical
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:-
Projecting out through the back cylinder cover of the explosive mixture engine
I provide a contact bolt with pointed inner end and capable of sliding in while
insulated from the cover. The piston in its back strokes makes contact with the
point of the bolt and pushes it slightly back against the pressure of a spring. By
so doing it closes an electrical circuit between the cylinder, the bolt and the battery
or other source of power. Across the two conductors of the circuit is inserted a
condenser. As the piston moves out again the circuit is broken, so that a spark
is formed at the point of the bolt whereby the gaseous charge is ignited.
The drawing is a sectional view of the end of a cylinder provided with such an
ignition device.
A is a contact bolt capable of sliding in a brass lining B of the insulating bush C
which is fixed in the cylinder cover E by the nuts D fixed to the lining B. The

page_text: point of the bolt A makes contact with the piston F in the back stroke of the latter
and will then compress the helical spring G arranged within the socket H. The
spring is between the shoulder A¹ on the bolt A and the end of a sleeve I which is
screwed into the socket H and the tension of the spring can be adjusted by screwing
the sleeve I more or less into the socket H. The sleeve I and hence also the bolt A
are electrically connected to one pole of an electric battery or other source of
electricity, and the cylinder cover E is connected to the other pole; across the two
conductors K and L is inserted a condenser M. The piston F towards the end of its
back stroke comes in contact with and pushes back the ignition bolt A thus com-
pleting the circuit, which in the next or return stroke will be broken, so that a
spark is formed at the point of the bolt whereby the gaseous charge is ignited.
Instead of a sleeve I with hexagon head for turning it by means of a spanner
I may use a sleeve with a small handwheel.
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. An electrical igniter for a gaseous explosive mixture engine comprising a
bolt capable of sliding in while insulated from the back cylinder cover, the pointed
end of the bolt adapted to make contact with the piston in its back stroke and
thereby slightly compress a spring and close a circuit between the bolt, a source
of electricity and the cylinder, said circuit having a condenser inserted across the
positive and negative conductors, all so arranged that when the circuit is again
broken in the return stroke of the piston, an igniting spark is produced at the
point of the bolt, substantially as set forth.
2. The construction of electrical igniter shown on the drawing.
Did the a
17
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.