Improvements in Gas and similar Motor Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas and similar Motor Engines.
I, HUGH WILLIAMS, of Longacre, Edgeley, Stockport, in the County of
Chester, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of and arrangements of
mechanism for starting gas and similar motive power engines more particularly
those engines wherein the combustible charges are ignited by means of heated
tubes, and whereby such engines can be started readily and with certainty.
I effect this in different ways for example-
First. The igniting tube being at one end in communication with the combustion
chamber of the power cylinder, I attach to the other end of this tube an arrange-
ment of pressure and back pressure valves which when starting the engine are
kept open so that the interior of the heated tube is in communication with the
atmosphere.
I will assume that the engine in stopping is permitted to run on by its own
momentum without gas entering the cylinder, but admitting air only therein until
the products of previous combustion shall have been expelled from the cylinder and
combustion chamber and air only remains. When on re-starting the engine the
crank is brought over the dead centre and gas is induced to enter the cylinder
through a non-return valve, and diffuse with the air already contained therein until
an explosive mixture is formed. This induction of gas causes a circulation within
the cylinder to take place, and an escape of the combustible mixture is permitted
through the heated igniting tube and the pressure and back pressure valves afore-
said, until an explosive mixture reaches the heated part of the igniting tube when
an ignition takes place an impulse thereby given to the piston and the engine is
started. When the engine has got on the way and is running in its normal
condition, communication between the heated part of the igniting tube and the
pressure and back pressure valves is cut off by a suitable tap or valve.
The object of the pressure valves attached to the igniting tube is, that the
instant ignition takes place, the force of the explosion automatically closes it against
the escape of the ignited fluid into the atmosphere; and the object of the back
pressure valve is that when the engine from starting is gaining its normal speed, the
pressure valve being open when the engine is drawing its charge the back pressure
valve closes against the atmosphere and prevents cold air entering the heated
tube.
Second. Another method whereby I attain the object of this invention is
described below, the igniting tube as before mentioned being in communication with
the cylinder at one end, I attach to the other end of this tube a small pump to be
worked by hand or by the engine.
On re-starting the engine the combustible charge within the cylinder may be
formed in the manner described in the first method, or a charge may be formed. by
turning the fly-wheel round and so drawing a charge of combustible mixture into
the cylinder. The igniting tube being in a properly heated condition for igniting
the charge, and the crank set over the inward centre the pump is then worked until
a portion of the combustible charge is drawn from the cylinder into the heated tube
and there ignited, thereby communicating the ignition to the main charge within
the cylinder. When the engine shall have got on its way and is running at its

page_text: normal'speed communication between the heated part of the tube and the pump
cut off by a suitable valve or tap.
is
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas and similar Motor Engines.
I, HUGH WILLIAMS, of Longacre, Edgeley, Stockport, in the County of
Chester, Civil 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. :-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of and arrangements of
mechanism for starting gas and similar motive power engines more particularly
those engines wherein the combustible charges are ignited by means of heated
tubes, and whereby such engines can be started readily and with certainty.
I effect this in several ways for example-
First. The igniting tube being at one end in communication with the combustion
chamber of the power cylinder, I attach to the other end of this tube an arrange-
ment of pressure and back pressure valves which when starting the engine are
kept open so that the interior of the heated tube is in communication with the
atmosphere.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the accompanying sheet of drawings reference being had to
the figures and letters marked thereon.
3.
Figure 1 is an end view partly in section of a gas or similar motor engine to
which iny improvements are applied.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the arrangement of starting valves applied
to the ignition tube and
Fig. 4 is a view partly in section of an alternative form of the gas admission valve
shown in Fig. 1.
Figs. 5 and 6 are two views illustrating the second method wherein I attach a
small pump to the end of the igniting tube.
In the first arrangement, Figs. 1 and 2, a designates the combustion chamber of
the power cylinder b, c the chimney in which is placed the igniting tube d, e is the
ordinary ignition valve which is operated by the lever f from, the cam shaft h is
the exhaust valve, i the air inlet valve, j the gas admission valve, and k the gas
supply pipe
Tu Fig. 3 is shown on an enlarged scale the arrangement of valves which I apply
according to my invention to the igniting tubed. In this case is the back pressure
valve which is a simple flap valve, and m is the pressure valve which is, kept
normally open by the spring n, lut can be closed when required by turning the
milled head o fitted on the screwed portion of the valve spindle m³ and so screwing
up the valve m to its seating.
.
The object of the pressure valve m attached to the igniting tube is, that the
instant ignition takes place, the force of the explosion automatically closes it against
the escape of the ignited fluid into the atmosphere and the valve m can be then
screwed up tight upon its seating; and the object of the back pressure valve lis
that when the engine from starting is gaining its normal speed the pressure valve m
being open when the engine is drawing its charge the back pressure valve / closes
against the atmosphere and prevents cold air entering the heated tube d...
I will assume that the engine in-stopping is permitted to run on by its own
momentum without gas entering the cylinder, the valve being screwed down upon
its seating against the resistance of the spring; thus air only is admitted to the

page_text: cylinder b until the products of previous combustion shall have been expelled from
the cylinder and combustion chamber and air only remains. When on re-starting
the engine the crank is brought over the dead centre the spindle of the valvej is
unscrewed and gas is induced to enter the cylinder through the non-return valve j
und diffuse with the air already coutained therein until an explosive mixture is
formed. This induction of gas causes a circulation within the cylinder to take
place, and an escape of the combustible mixture is permitted through the heated
igniting tube d and the pressure and back pressure valves m and / aforesaid, until
an explosive mixture reaches the heated part of the igniting tube d when an
ignition takes place an impulse being thereby given to the piston and the engine is
started. When the engine has got on the way and is running in its normal
condition, communication between the heated part of the igniting tube and the
pressure and back pressure valves is cut off by screwing down the valve m.
In the alternative form of gas admission valve illustrated by Fig. 4, p is the non-
return valve through which the gas flows from the supply pipe to the combustion
chamber and a tap by which the gas can be cut off when required.
Second. Another method whereby I attain the object of this invention is
illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6 and described below, the igniting tube d as before
mentioned being in communication with the cylinder at one end, I attach to the
other end of this tube a small pump to be worked by hand or by the engine. The
pump consists of a barrels which is in communication with the igniting tube by
means of a pipe d¹. In the barrels is fitted the piston or plunger in which is
formed a passage t¹, and in the side of the barrel s is a port s closed by a flap or
non-return valve u. The plunger t is worked by a lever operated either by hand
or power.
On re-starting the engine the combustible charge within the cylinder may be
formed in the manner described in the first method, or a charge may be formed by
turning the fly wheel round and so drawing a charge of combustible mixture into
the cylinder. The igniting tube being in a properly heated condition for igniting
the charge, and the crank set over the inward centre the pump is then worked until
a portion of the combustible charge is drawn from the cylinder into the heated tube
and there ignited, thereby communicating the ignition to the main charge within
the cylinder. When the engine shall have got on its way and is running at its
normal speed communication between the heated part of the tube and the pump is
cut off by a suitable valve or tap w:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the igniting tube of a gas or similar motor engine, of an
arrangement of pressure and back pressure valves attached to said tube, whereby a
portion of the combustible charge from the cylinder is, prior to starting the engine,
allowed to flow into and through the igniting tube at or about atmospheric pressure
and to be ignited therein, and whereby cold air is prevented from entering the
heated tube whilst the combustible charge is being drawn into the cylinder, substan-
tially as herein. set forth.
2. The combination with the igniting tube of a gas or similar motor engine, of a
pump in communication with said tube and operated by hand or power substantially
as herein set forth.
3. The several combinations and arrangements of parts embodying my improve-
ments in gas and similar motor engines substantially as and for the purposes herein
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
T
1000
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.