Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 5th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 10th Feb., 1888
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns In Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been communicated
to me from abroad by La Societe des Tissages et Ateliers de Construction Diederichs
of Paris in the Republic of France to be as follows:-
According to this Invention relating to Gas Engines the residual heat resulting
from each explosion and the compression of the gas is made available for igniting the
next charge of gas or explosive gaseous mixture admitted to the Cylinder or its
equivalent. With this object a metallic cap or capsule is placed in the working
Cylinder or in a combination or valve chamber communicating with this Cylinder and
is supported by a flange embedded in mineral or fire proof material in a suitable gland
fixed in the side of the chamber. This capsule projects into the interior of the
chamber and is partially enclosed or surrounded by a guard or screen of metal
perforated with holes protected by wire gauze in order to prevent the passage of flame.
The space enclosed by this screen is placed in free communication at the moment of
the explosion by the momentary removal of a cap or cover operating by any suitable
moving part of the Engine. This cap or cover is also perforated with holes protected
by wire gauze.
In order to start the Engine the capsule is heated by means of a jet or blow pipe
applied from the exterior after which the waste heat resulting from the combustion
and compression of the gases maintains the capsule at a sufficiently elevated tempera-
ture to enable it to ignite the succeeding charges when brought in contact therewith
by the action of the Engine in intermittently removing the Cap or cover hereinbefore
described. The capsule is made of any metal or material capable of absorbing and
retaining the requisite amount of heat under the conditions herein set forth and which
may if desired assume other forms than that of a cap or capsule. The igniting
apparatus may be conveniently arranged in a combustion chamber containing the inlet
and discharge or exhaust valves and communicating with the working Cylinder.
Dated this 5th day of Annil 1987
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Engines.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been communi-
cated to me from abroad by La Société des Tissages et Ateliers de Construction
Diederichs of Paris in the Republic of France and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
The improvements in gas Engines forming the object of this Invention consist in
arrangements whereby the explosive mixture is ignited by means of an incandescing
body maintained at the required temperature as hereinafter explained.
According to this Invention the ignition of the explosive mixture in a gas engine
or apparatus operated by the explosion of gas carburetted air or other explosive
mixture is produced by a capsule of platinum iron or copper which being heated to
incandescence by means of a blow pipe jet for the purpose of producing the first
explosion for starting the Engine is afterwards maintained at the requisite tempera-
ture for producing the succeeding explosions by the action of the gases circulating
freely around the capsule and by the high temperature of the residual products of
combustion.
This automatic igniting capsule is so arranged that all communication between the
gas and the external atmosphere is obviated and that this method of ignition is directly
applicable to all motors or apparatus working by explosions. The great advantage of
this method of igniting in addition to that of enabling the external mechanism
heretofore employed to be entirely dispensed with consist in the reduction of the
expenditure of gas to a minimum owing to the way in which the waste heat is
utilized.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure of the accompanying drawings represents in section an igniting device
according to this Invention.
Figures 2 and 3 represent vertical sections taken at right angles to one another
through the combustion chamber of a gas engine shewing the improved igniting
device in position.
Figures 4 and 5 represent respectively a side and end elevation of a gas Engine
arranged according to this Invention.
The platinum Capsule whose incandescence produces the explosion of the inflammable
mixture in the Engine is represented in section at B figure 1 and in elevation in
Figure 3. This Capsule is retained in position by a flange which is embedded in
insulating noncombustible material or packing e compressed between a shoulder a and
a screw Ďin a box E fitted into a hole in the side of the combustion chamber N of the
C

page_text: Engine Cylinder as indicated in figure 3. This box projects into the interior. of the
combustion chamber and forms a guard or screen enclosing the Capsule being
perforated with holes a figure 1 protected by wire gauze F figures 1 and 3 in order to
prevent the passage of flame but at the same time to provide for a free circulation of
gas around the Capsule but at the same time to prevent the ignition of the gas outside
the box E.
The inner end of the guard or screen formed around the capsule B by the inner
part of the box E is closed by an iron cap G the circular edge of which enters a
groove formed for its reception in the box E as indicated in Figure 1. This cap is
perforated with holes Z protected by wire gauze H and allowing the gases to circulate
around the capsule B without igniting the gas outside the box E in the same way as
the holes x.
The box E with the parts attached is fixed in a hole in the side of the combustion
chamber N (Figure 3) by screws not shewn in the drawing. The cap G is attached
to or formed on the end of a rod T sliding longitudinally in a tubular socket
sleeve L.
The lower part of the chamber N is provided with valves I and K figures 2 and 3
through which the gases are admitted and exhausted. The chamber N communicates
with the working Cylinder O through an opening M. (Figs. 2 and 3).
In working this apparatus a reciprocating motion is imparted to the cap G by means
of the rod T in such a manner as to uncover the capsule B (figure 3) at the moment
when the explosion is to be produced.
When the improved igniting apparatus is applied to a horizontal gas Engine as
indicated in figures 4 and 5 the chamber N is bolted to the end of the working
Cylinder and communicates with the latter through the opening M. The cap G and
the admission and exhaust valves I and K are operated as follows:-
A cam J imparts motion to the cap G through a bar m working on a radius rod
and connected to the rod T. The valves I and K are operated by cams C acting on
bell crank levers n. The cam J and the cams C are fixed upon a shaft P driven by
the crank or Engine shaft by means of bevel gear or otherwise. The shape of the
cams and their position on the shaft is so regulated as to cause the valves and the cap
to he lifted or opened at the requisite intervals for producing the admission and
exhaust of the gases and their ignition at the proper times.
To start the Engine when the capsule is cold a blow pipe A is introduced into the
capsule from without as indicated in figures 1 and 3 and the capsule B is thus rapidly
heated to incandescence.
The gases circulating around the capsule in the box E become ignited and when the
cap G is removed from its seat the flame and heat are communicated to the gases in
the chamber N and the first explosion takes place. When the Engine has been
started the blow pipe is removed and the ignition of the succeeding charges of explosive
gases under pressure or otherwise is produced automatically by the waste heat of the
preceding explosion aided by the heat resulting from the mechanical action and the
compression of the gases and also by the property possessed by the capsule B of
becoming spontaneously heated under certain conditions.
The capsule is made of platinum or iron or copper as these metals possess to a
greater extent than others the property of condensing the gases whence it results that
the capsule acquires a very elevated temperature, and its incandescent state is main-
tained during the period comprised between two successive explosions. The products
of combustion escaping at an elevated temperature also assist in keeping up the
temperature of the capsule B until the fresh charge comes in.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
I declare that what I claim is
11
First. The improvements in motive power Engines or apparatus operated by the
explosion of gaseous mixtures consisting in arrangements for causing the successive
charges of explosive gases to be ignited by an incandescent body which after the
engine or apparatus has been started is maintained at the required temperature

page_text: exclusively by waste heat generated in working the Engine or apparatus as hereinbefore
set forth.
Second. An igniting Capsule B of platinum iron or copper intercepting all
communication between the gases and the external atmosphere into which a blow
pipe A can be introduced for heating the said Capsule in order to start the engine the
incandescence thus produced being maintained by the succeeding explosions in the
Engine or apparatus in which the capsule is employed substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Third. The arrangement of the Capsule B in box E provided with a cap or cover G
in combination with the holes and Z covered with wire gauge F and H with the
object of allowing of a free circulation of the gases around the capsule B without
allowing the flame to escape otherwise than when the cap G is lifted or removed
from its seat as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. The arrangement of the igniting apparatus in the interior of a chamber N
communicating through an opening M with the working Cylinder O and provided
with admission and exhaust valves I and K the moving parts of the said apparatus
being operated as hereinbefore explained with reference to figures 5 and 6 for the
purpose of obtaining an automatic ignition of the explosive mixture as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The combinations and arrangements of parts constituting the improvements
in gas Engines substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.