Improvements in the Ignition Arrangements of Explosion Engines,
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Ignition Arrangements of Explosion Engines,
I, ANTHONY GEORGE NEW, of The Voltage, Woking, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
-
The subject of this invention is a combination of an internally heated ignition
tube with a surrounding & protecting closed tube or sheath so arranged as to be
capable of employment as a timing firing device for igniting the explosive mix-
ture at any point of the compression stroke of the engine or it may be even
during the working stroke that it may be found desirable.
In this respect my invention differs from & constitutes an improvement on the
existing timing valves which are generally exposed so as to ignite the charge
at one & the same position in the stroke no matter what the condition & speed
at which the engine may be working.
The appliance consists essentially of a closed ignition tube, preferably of
platinum, projecting into the interior of the working end of the cylinder &
heated internally either electrically or by other means.
This ignition tube proper is surrounded by a larger enclosed tube, also prefer-
ably of platinum, arranged concentrically with it the two together being mounted
& secured to a cylindrical or suitably shaped piece of metal which is capable of
movement backwards & forwards in a hole in the side of the cylinder. This
cylindrical piece of metal is provided externally with a bevelled ring which fits
into a valve-seating on the outside of the cylinder & internally a similar bevelled
annular expansion is fixed on the tube, which surrounds & encloses the ignition
tube, which fits a valve seating on the inside of the cylinder wall.
One or more holes are bored in the outer protecting tube between this annular
projection which it carries & the point at which it is attached to the moveable
metal cylinder.
When therefore the whole appliance is pressed into the cylinder until the
external ring fits tight in its seat communication between the working end of
the cylinder & the firing or ignition tube is established.
When on the other hand the appliance is in its other position namely that in
which the interior ring on the protecting tube is fitted into its seat no communica-
tion between the firing tube & the interior of the cylinder exists & no ignition
consequently can occur.
The movements of this appliance I prefer to effect by means of an adjustable
cam or equivalent action in such a manner that the metallic cylinder & with it
the firing tube & its surrounding tube are thrust forward into the cylinder causing
the exterior ring to fit into its seat at the moment-near the end of the compression
stroke or it may be the beginning of the working stroke at which it is desired
to ignite the charge.

page_text: The appliance & together with it the interior ring is brought back by the
action of the spring into its seat when permitted by the release of the cam or
equivalent gear above-mentioned.
By these means I am enabled to vary the moment of ignition to from some
time before the piston reaches the point in its stroke nearest the back end of
the cylinder to some time after that point has been passed according as the
manner in which the engine is being worked may require.
I have found for the prevention of back-fires when starting the engine this
device especially suitable.
Dated this 13th day of December 1997
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Ignition Arrangements of Explosion Engines.
I, ANTHONY GEORGE NEW, of The Voltage, Woking, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly ascertained in and by the following
statement:--
The subject of this invention is a combination of an internally heated ignition
tube with a surrounding and protecting closed tube or sheath so arranged as to
he capable of employment as a timing firing device for igniting the explosive
mixture at any point of the compression stroke of the engine or it may be even
during the working stroke that it may be found desirable.
In this respect my invention differs from and constitutes an improvement on
the existing timing valves which are generally exposed so as to ignite the charge
at one and the same position in the stroke no matter what the condition and
speed at which the engine may be working.
The appliance consists essentially of a closed ignition tube, preferable of
platinum, projecting into the interior of the working end of the cylinder and
heated internally either electrically or by other means.
This ignition tube proper is surrounded by a larger enclosed tube, also prefer-
ably of platinum, arranged concentrically with it the two together being mounted
and secured to a cylindrical or suitably shaped piece of metal which is capable
of movement backwards and forwards in a hole in the side of the cylinder. This
cylindrical piece of metal is provided externally with a bevelled ring which
fits into a valve seating on the outside of the cylinder and internally a similar
bevelled annular expansion is fixed on the tube, which surrounds and encloses
the ignition tube, which fits a valve seating on the inside of the cylinder wall.
One or more holes are bored in the outer protecting tube between this annular
projection which it carries and the point at which it is attached to the movable
metal cylinder.
When therefore the whole appliance is pressed into the cylinder until the
external ring fits tight in its seat communication between the working end of
the cylinder and the firing or ignition tube is established.
When on the other hand the appliance is in its other position namely that in
which the interior ring on the protecting tube is fitted into its seat no communica-
tion between the firing tube and the interior of the cylinder exists and no ignition
consequently can occur.

page_text: In order that my invention may be more thoroughly understood I refer to the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which:-
Fig. 1 shows a transverse section of the appliance secured in and projecting
through the wall of the cylinder, together with a side view of the variable cam
and lever for actuating the same.
Fig. 2 is partial section of the same.
Fig. 3 is a view of the movable chamber.
P, is the plug or tube of platinum or other suitable material internally
heated electrically in the ordinary manner by means of the insulated electric
conductor C.
C, is the chamber surrounding P, provided with the orifices or windows 00
closed by the metallic shutters ss screwed to the sleeve M, articulated with
and operated by the short lever L. This chamber (', as shewn in the drawing
is not provided with valve seats but relies for the prevention of leakage on a
piston sliding-fit.
Motion is communicated to the sleeve M, from the movable cam D, on the
cam shaft A, of the engine by the system of pivotted levers L, L', & E, and the
short axle or spindle A¹. The spring S, serves to restore the system of levers
and with them the chamber C, to the normal position.
The operation of the appliance is as follows:-
Before starting the engine the electric current or other source of heat is set
in action till the platinum tube or plug is rendered incandescent. The cam D,
is then brought into such a position by means of the handle H, as to actuate
the lever L, on or about the dead centre by pressing on the roller R. The
lever L, which is pivotted on the axle A', (Figs. 1 & 2) is thus moved in such
a manner as by the intermediary of the levers L, & E, & the spindle A¹. to move
the sleeve M. backwards ie away from the cylinder and consequently disclosing
the inner ends of the orifices or windows 00, by drawing back the shutters s s
The explosive mixture is thus enabled to come into contact with the incandescent
tube or plug P, which effects the ignition. As the cam D, is bevelled in the
manner shown adjustment of the handle H, enables the disclosure of the open-
ings and the consequent ignition and explosion of the charges to be effected
earlier or later in the cycle of the engine as desired. The cam D, is preferably
so proportioned that the orifices 00 are disclosed during the exhaust stroke of
the engine. When this is done I have discovered that the external source of
heat by means of which P, is in the first instance rendered incandescent may be
disconnected as the plug or tube P, will in that case retain sufficient heat from
the explosions to effect the ignition of the charges when exposed through the
orifices or windows 00 to the contents of the cylinder. When the cam D,
releases the roller R, the spring S. brings back the lever L, and in consequence
the chamber C, to its original position.
A varient of this arrangement consists in constructing the chamber C, mov-
able and causing the movements of the cam actuated lever L, to move C, in &
out in this case opening communication with the cylinder between the end of
M, & C.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said
invention I declare that what I claim is:
-
1. In oil or other explosion engines the employment of an electrically or other-
wise heated tube or plug within an enclosing chamber projecting into the
working end of the cylinder the said heated tube or plug being exposed to the
contents of the cylinder by movements of the enclosing chamber or of the windows
in the same when it is desired to ignite the charge substantially as shewn and
described.
.
2. In oil or other explosion engines the employment of an electrically or
otherwise heated tube or plug within an enclosing chamber projecting into the

page_text: working end of the cylinder in combination with mechanism for exposing the
said tube or plug to the contents of the cylinder and so igniting the charges
earlier or later in the cycle of the engine substantially as and for the purposes
shewn and described.
Dated this 13th day of September 1898.
RICHARD NORMAN LUCAS,
Agent for Applicant.