Improvements in Electric Igniters for Gas Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Igniters for Gas Engines.
I, WALTER HENRY COTTON, of Ashland Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.,
Draughtsman, 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:-
In this invention of electric igniters the energy is provided by means of electro
magnets mounted on the cylinder head or other part of the gas engine, having
convenient means of communication with the firing chamber. In the device one
or more magnets can be used in combination with an armature but I prefer to
use but one, thus simplifying and reducing the cost, and at the same time
increasing its efficiency, and by mounting the device upon the head of a screw cap
which may
be screwed into any cylinder, said device is adapted for use upon any
gas engine with little expense or delay.
The device is shewn in the accompanying drawing in which:-
Fig. 1 is a cross section in the lower portion on line a-b, and in the upper
portion, through the magnet, on line e-f (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device.
Fig. 3 is an underneath view thereof.
Fig. 4 is a cross section of the core of the magnet on line cd (Fig. 2).
In the construction of the device I employ a compound wound magnet 22 com-
posed of a spool or magnet core 4 and two coils of wire. For the first winding
or coil 6 a coarser wire is used than in the second 5. The first coil 6, provides a
primary current, the other coil 5, the secondary current. The upper terminal 31
of the primary coil 6 is connected with the post 8 which is erected on the plate 7
on the head of the magnet. A perforation in the plate 7 provides a seat for the
post 8 and the underside of the plate at this point is countersunk to provide for
the connection of the terminal 31 with the post 8. The upper terminal 30 of the
secondary coil is grounded in the plate 7.
The lower terminals of the two coils meet at 13 and are connected with the lower
post 18 which passes through the screw cap 1, is insulated from it and projects
through the lower extremity of the screw cap, providing a point of contact 15 for
the lever 16. The armature 3 is flat and attached to a post 10 which is also set in
the screw cap 1 passing through it and adapted to turn slightly when acted upon
by the armature. The post 10 carries rigidly on its lower end inside the cylinder
the contact lever 16 which reaches to the contact point 29, its normal position.
The armature is provided at one end with an extension 12 which carries a button
or weight 11 to give it momentum. The armature thus swings with the post 10
as a pivotal connection and support.
The armature 3 engages a spring 20 which rests against a set screw 19 mounted
in a post set on the surface of the head of screw cap 1 by means of which the
tension or force of the spring may be adjusted. The spring breaks the force of
contact of the armature with the magnet and keeps the point of lever 16 in its
normal position.
Head plate and foot plate 2 are set on the upper and lower ends of magnet

page_text: core and all are held in position by a screw holt 9 which passes through hole 21
bored their entire length and inserted into the head of screw cap 1.
The post 8 is connected with the battery 26 by the wire 25 and the battery
with the brush 27 stationary on and insulated from the engine. A cam 28 is
placed in a position to engage with the brush and as the cam trips on the brush 27
which being insulated from the engine the circuit is closed by the ground con-
nection.
In the operation of the igniter the tripping of the cam upon the brush closes the
circuit and excites the electro magnet which, exerting its energy upon the
armature, causes it to swing upon its pivotal post which, slightly turning with
it, causes the contact lever to break away from the point of contact 29 in the
cylinder, causing the spark to be emitted. The current passing first through the
primary coil of the magnet to the contact lever, the breaking of the circuit causes
the energy to be transmitted to the secondary coil which intensifies or enlarges the
spark, obviating the use of a spark coil in the circuit.
The advantages in the adaption of magnetic energy for operating the contact
points of electric igniters will be clearly seen, as the igniter is not dependent
upon the mechanical parts of the engine and on starting after the charge is pumped
into the combustion cylinder it can be ignited by a push button or switch 24 (as
shewn in Fig. 1) electrically connected to the circuit so as to shunt the current
around the cam and brush; this advantage is more noticeable in its use on gas
engines used for the propulsion of carriages, as said push button can be placed
any convenient distance from the motor.
Another important feature of the invention is that the duration of the spark can
be regulated by increasing or diminishing the length of contact of the cam and
brush, as a continuous spark is produced as long as the circuit is closed and inferior
mixtures and low grades of gases may be used and therefore cost of power
diminished.
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. In an electric igniter for gas engines, a screw cap adapted to be inserted in a
cylinder and carrying on its head an electro magnet, armature, and electrical
connections, and on its opposite end a point of contact, contact lever, and means
for connecting the same with the electro magnet, substantially as described and
shewn.
2. In an electric igniter for gas engines, a cap adapted to be inserted in a
cylinder, a compound wound electro magnet erected on the cap, having a primary
and secondary coil, a head plate on said electro magnet, a post erected on said head
plate, the upper terminal of the primary coil connected with said post on the head
plate of the electro magnet, the upper terminal of the secondary coil grounded in
said head plate, the lower terminals of the two coils to meet and connect with a
post inserted in said cap, the lower end of said post providing a point of contact,
substantially as described and shewn.
3. In an electric igniter for gas engines, a compound wound electro magnet, a
plate on the head of the electro magnet, a post on said head plate connected by
wire with a battery and with the upper terminal of the primary coil on the electro
magnet, the upper terminal of the secondary coil grounded on said head plate, an
armature within the field of the electro magnet, pivotted on a post inserted in
the screw cap and provided on its lower extremity with a contact lever in the
firing chamber, and adapted to move with the armature, a point of contact in the
firing chamber for the contact lever connected with the terminals of the coils of
the electro magnet, substantially as described and shewn.
4. In an electric igniter for gas engines, the combination of a screw cap adapted
to be inserted in a cylinder of a gas engine, with an electro magnet erected thereon,
a head plate on the electro magnet, a post erected on said head plate, the upper

page_text: terminal of the primary coil on said magnet connected with said post on the
head plate, the upper terminal of the secondary coil grounded in said head plate, a
wire connecting said post with a battery, a brush stationary on the engine, also
connected with a battery, a cam placed in a position adapted to trip on the brush,
an armature pivotted on a post in said screw cap having an extension weighted at
one end, a contact lever within the firing chamber attached to the lower end of the
pivotted post of the armature, a spring to engage with said armature, substantially
as described and shewn.
5. In an electric igniter for gas engines having an armature operatively
connected with a contact lever, a point of contact for said lever, magnetic energy
for operating said lever, substantially as described and shewn.
6. In an electric igniter for gas engines having contact points adapted to be
inserted into the firing chamber, electro magnetic energy for operating said contact
points, substantially as described and shewn.
7. In an electric igniter, having contact points adapted to be inserted into the
firing chamber of a gas engine, and operatively connected with an armature within
the field of an electro magnet, said electro magnet connected by wire with a battery,
a brush stationary on the engine also connected with the battery, a cam placed
in a position adapted to trip on the brush and also grounded on said engine, a
push button or switch disposed in a shunt adapted to close the circuit independent
of said brush and cam, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 7th day of January 1899
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
15, Took's Court, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.