IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Horace Robinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1880.
HORACE ROBINSON, of the City of Manchester, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
This Invention relates more particularly to improvements in the means of
igniting the charge of gas or gases and atmospheric air in gas motor engines, and
is especially applicable to iny gas motor engines as described in the Specification of
my Patent, No. 117, dated January 10, 1880.
I use an ignition valve or plug, preferably of a cylindrical form, which has
motion imparted to it by suitable means. This valve or plug has a passage formed
in it; this passage allows a small quantity of the mixture of gas or gases and
atmospheric air which is to be ignited to flow or escape into a recess formed in the
said valve or plug, while the said recess is in communication with the open air. A
second passage may be formed in the said valve or plug, which passage also allows
a small quantity of the mixture to be ignited to flow or escape into the said
recess while the said recess is in communication with the open air, this recess
in the valve or plug being at certain points of the stroke, or position, or travel of
the valve or plug in free communication with the open air in the vicinity of a
flame which is kept burning in the open air, the mixture of gas or gases and
atinospheric air being able at such time to escape into the recess, and open air is
ignited or lighted by the aforesaid flame; motion which is now imparted to the
valve or plug brings the said recess containing a small quantity of burning mixture
into contact with the main body of gas or gases and atmospheric air to be ignited
and ignites it.
Another form of ignition valve or plug, preferably of a cylindrical form, which
also has motion imparted to it by suitable means, is a valve or plug formed with a
suitable recess of a conical shape at the one end. The other end of the recess may
be hemispherical; this is to effect a more efficient burning of the mixture of gas or

page_text: gases and atmospheric air. At the apex of the said conical shaped end of the recess
is a small aperture or passage which allows a small quantity of the mixture of gas
or gases or atmospheric air which is to be ignited to flow or escape into the said
recess while the said recess is in communication with the open air. A second
passage may also be formed in the said valve or plug, which passage also allows a
small quantity of the mixture to be ignited to flow or escape into the said recess
while the said recess is in communication with the open air. This said recess
having an opening, which at certain points of the stroke or travel of the valve or
plug is in communication with the open air in the vicinity of a flame which is kept
burning in the open air, the mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air escaping
through the said passage or passages into the recess and open air is ignited or lighted
by the aforesaid flame; motion which is now imparted to the valve or plug brings
the recess containing a small quantity of burning mixture into contact with the
main body of the mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air to be ignited and
ignites it. Another improvement is to insert or suspend or attach within the
recess of the said valve or plug a piece of material of high specific heat, such as
porcelain. When the engine is first started, the recess is brought at certain points
of the stroke into free communication with the open air in the vicinity of a flame
burning in the open air, the mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air escaping
through the small passage or passages in the valve or plug is ignited by the
aforesaid flame, and these gases burning in the recess impart heat to the said
material. Motion which is now imparted to the valve or plug brings the recess
containing a small quantity of the burning mixture into contact with the main
body of the mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air to be ignited and ignites
it. After the engine has run for a time, the said material of high specific heat
attains a temperature high enough to ignite the gases. The flame burning in the
open air may then be extinguished. A small valve or door may be provided in the
valve casing between the recess and the open air, and the said door or valve may
now be closed. The said material contained in the recess will by its acquired and
renewed heat continue to ignite the main body of the mixture of gas or gases and
atmospheric air to be ignited when brought into contact with the said mixture
by the motion of the said valve. Another improvement is to line the recess or
part of the recoss of the valve or plug with fire clay or other suitable material
which is a good nonconductor of heat. This lessens the transmission of heat to the
valve. The increased heat of the internal surface or part of the internal surface
may, after the engine has been working for a time, assist in the ignition of the
mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air to be ignited at certain points of the
stroke of the valve or plug, or may effect this ignition at certain points of the stroke
of the valve or plug by its acquired heat.
It is preferable that the end of the valve or plug in which is the recess shall bo
forced into the main body of the mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air at or
about the time for the ignition of the said mixture.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Horace Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
April 1881.
HORACE ROBINSON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
This Invention relates more particularly to improvements in the means of
igniting the charge of gas or gases and atmospheric air in gas motor engines, and
is especially applicable to my gas motor engines as described in the Specification of
my Patent, No. 117, dated January 10th, 1880.
I use an ignition valve or plug, preferably of a cylindrical form, which has
motion imparted to it by suitable means; this valve or plug has a passage formed
in it; this passage allows a small quantity of the mixture of gas or gases and
atmospheric air which is to be ignited to flow or escape into a recess formed in the
said valve or plug while the said recess is in communication with the open air.
A second passage may be formed in the said valve or plug, which passage also
allows a small quantity of the mixture to be ignited to flow or escape into the said
recess while the said recess is in communication with the open air, this recess in
the valve or plug being at certain points of the stroke or position or travel of the
valve or plug in free communication with the open air in the vicinity of a flame
which is kept burning in the open air, the mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric
air being able at such time to escape into the recess and open air is ignited or
lighted by the aforesaid flaine. Motion, which is now imparted to the valve or
plug, brings the said recess containing a small quantity of burning mixture into
contact with the main body of gas or gases and atmospheric air to be ignited and
ignites it.
Another form of ignition valve or plug, preferably of a cylindrical form, which
also has motion imparted to it by suitable means, is a valve or plug formed with a
suitable recess of a conical shape at the one end, the other end of the recess may be
hemispherical; this is to effect a more efficient burning of the mixture of gas or
gases and atmospheric air. At the apex of the said conical shaped end of the recess
is a small aperture or passage, which allows a small quantity of the mixture of gas
or gases and atmospheric air which is to be ignited to flow or escape into the said
recess while the said recess is in communication with the open air. A second
passage may also be formed in the said valve or plug, which passage also allows a
small quantity of the mixture to be ignited to flow or escape into the said recess
while the said recess is in communication with the open air, this said recess having
an opening which at certain points of the stroke or travel of the valve or plug is in
communication with the open air in the vicinity of a flame which is kept burning
in the open air, the mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air escaping through
the said passage or passages into the rocess and open air is ignited or lighted by the
aforesaid flame.
Motion, which is now imparted to the valve or plug, brings the recess containing
small quantity of burning mixture into contact with the main body of the mixture
of gas or gases and atmospheric air to be ignited and ignites it. Another improve-
ment is to insert or suspend or attach within the recess of the said valve or plug a
piece of material of high specific heat, such as porcelain. When the engine is first
tarted the recess is brought at certain points of the stroke into free communication
with the open air in the vicinity of a flame burning in the open air, and the mixture
of gas or gases and atmospheric air escaping through the small passage or passages
n the valve or plug is ignited by the aforesaid flame, and these gases burning in the
ccess impart heat to the said material.
Motion, which is now imparted to the valve or plug, brings the recess containing

page_text: the small quantity of the burning mixture into contact with the main body of the
mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air to be ignited and ignites it. After the
engine has run for a time the said material of high specific heat attains a temperature
high enough to ignite the gases. The flame burning in the open air may then be
extinguished. A small valve or door may be provided in the valve casing between
the recess and the open air, and the said door or valve may now be closed. The
said materials contained in the recess will by its acquired and renewed heat continue
to ignite the main body of the mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air to be
ignited when brought into contact with the said mixture by the motion of the said
valve.
Another improvement is to line the recess or part of the recess of the valve or
plug with fire clay or other suitable material which is a good non-conductor of
heat; this lessens the transmission of heat to the valve. The increased heat of the
internal surface or part of the internal surface may, after the engine has been
working for a time, assist in the ignition of the mixture of gas or gases and
atmospheric air to be ignited at certain points of the stroke of the valve or plug, or
may effect this ignition at certain points of the stroke of the valve or plug by its
acquired heat. It is preferable that the end of the valve or plug in which is the
recess shall be forced into the main body of the mixture of gas or gases and atmo-
spheric air at or about the time for the ignition of the said mixture.
On the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a sectional plan of one arrangement of
my ignition valve and casing, and Figure 2 is a vertical section of Figure 1 taken
through the line x-x.
A is the ignition valve or plug, preferably of cylindrical form, which is caused to
work longitudinally in the valve casing B by means of an eccentric or other suitable
connection with the gas motor engine.
The valve casing B is attached to or formed with the ignition chamber or
cylinder E of a gas engine, such as described in the Specification of Patent, No. 117,
grunted to me January 10th, 1880, or the said valve and casing may be applied or
attached to other forms of gas motor engines where the charge to be ignited is under
pressure.
The valve A has a recess a formed in it; one end a¹ of this recess is formed of a
conical shape, the other end of this recess may be hemispherical. The conical
shaped end of the recess is preferably formed as shown in the Drawing in a separate
piece screwed into the valve. At the apex of the said conical shaped end a¹ of the
recess is a small aperture or passage b, which allows a small quantity of the
mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air which is to be ignited to escapo from
the ignition chamber or cylinder E' of the gas engine into the recess a of the
valve A at that part of the stroke of the valve when the said recess is in commu-
nication with the open air through the opening as in the recess, and opening B¹ in 4
the valve casing B. A second passage 6' may also be formed, which passage at
certain times also allows a small quantity of the mixture which is to be ignited to
flow or escape into tho recess u, while the said recoss is in communication with the
open air,
A flame C is kept burning in the open air, and the mixture of gas or gases and 4
atmosphere air escaping from the ignition chamber or cylinder E¹ through the said
passage or passages into the recess a and open air is ignited or lighted in the
recess a by the flame C.
Motion which is now imparted to the valve A in the direction of the arrow,
brings the said valve A into the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. The 5
small quantity of burning mixture contained in the recess a is thus brought into
contact with the main body of the mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air to
be ignited in the cylinder or ignition chamber E of the gas engine and ignites it.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of another arrangement of my ignition valve, and
Figure 4 is a vertical section of Figure 3 taken through the line y-y.
A is the ignition valve or plug of cylindrical form which is caused to work
longitudinally in the valve casing B by means of an eccentric or other suitable
5

page_text: connection with the gas motor engine. In the recess a of the said valvo I suspend
or attach a piece of material c of high specific heat, and capable of withstanding
great heat, such as platinum or porcelain. When the engine is first started, the
recess is brought at certain points of the stroke of the valve A into communi-
cation with the open air in the vicinity of the flame C which is burning in the
open air. The mixture of gas or gases and atmospheric air escaping from the
cylinder or ignition chamber E¹ of the gas engine into the recess a in the valve A
(as described in reference to Figure 1) is ignited by the flame C, and these gases
burning in the recess impart heat to the said material c. Motion which is imparted
to the valve A in the direction of the arrow, brings the valve A into the position
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the recess a and the burning mixture contained
therein are thus brought into contact with the main body of the mixture to be
ignited in the ignition chamber or cylinder E¹ and ignites it.
After the engine has run for a time, the said material c attains a temperature
high enough to ignite the gases. The flame C burning in the open air may then bo
extinguished. A small valve or door d may be provided to close or partially close
the opening B¹ in the valve casing B, and the said valve or door d may now be
closed, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 3. The said material e contained in the
recess a will now, by its acquired and renewed heat, continue to effect ignitions
without the assistance of the external flame C.
Another improvement is to line the recess a or part of the recess of the valve or
plug A with fire clay or other suitable material which is a good nonconductor of
Teat; this lining is shewn at e, Fig. 3. This lessons the transmission of heat from
the burning gases in the recess a to the valve A. The lining e may be used in
connection with the material c, as shewn at Fig. 3, and the increased heat of the
internal surface or part of the internal surface of the lining e will, after the engine
has been working for a time, assist in the ignition of the mixture of gas or gases
and atmospheric air to be ignited at certain points of the stroke of the valve A
The lining e may also be used without the material of high specific heat
C₁ and
will, after the engine has been running for a time effect ignitions or assist in
effecting ignitions.
Metallic rings ff, f, as shewn in Figures 1 and 3, may be fitted upon the valve A
to prevent leakage.
A water jacket may also be constructed around the valve casing B when found
desirable.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effects, I wish it to be understood that I claim,
1st. In a valve for effecting ignition in a gas motor engine, the peculiar form of
recess, having one end of a conical shape, in combination with a passage forming a
constant communication between the ignition chamber or cylinder of a gas motor
engine and the said recess in the ignition valve, in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
2nd. The employment within the recess of a cylindrical ignition valve of a gas
motor engine, of a piece of material, such as porcelain or platinum, in combination
with the passage forming a constant communication between such recess and the
ignition chamber or cylinder of a gas motor engine, in the manner and for the
purpose substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
3rd. Lining the recess of a cylindrical ignition valve of a gas motor engine with
a material being a good non-conductor of heat, in combination with the passage
forming a constant communication between such recess and the ignition chamber or
cylinder of a gas motor engine, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
bereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
4th. The door or valve d for closing the opening in the casing of a cylindrical
gnition valve when used in combination with a cylindrical ignition valve provided

page_text: with a recess a and passage b, and having a material c employed within the said
recess, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated
in Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Horace Robinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.