Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1887
Complete Left, 6th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 11th May, 1888
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I HENRY LEA of the firm of Henry Lea and Thornbery of No. 38 Bennett's Hill
Birmingham in the County of Warwick Consulting Engineers do hereby declare the
nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
In the use of gas engines as ordinarily constructed there are usually two operations
necessary in starting the engine which operations involve risk of personal injury to
the attendant.
These operations are first giving several rotations of the principal shaft which is
commonly done by taking hold of the fly wheel and secondly the movement of the
roller of the exhaust cam from the " non-compression" position at starting to the
compression" position after the engine has attained a certain speed. Accidents
have happened from both of these operations. My invention consists of the devices
hereinafter described by the use of which risk of personal injury is entirely
eliminated from both the operations referred to.
The first part of my invention consists of a hollow circular casing fitting loosely
upon the projecting end of the crank shaft of the engine and containing within it
a ratchet wheel securely keyed upon the said shaft. The hollow casing also contains
one or more spring pawls engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel.
In the rim of the, casing, a series of holes preferably four is formed into any
one of, which a handspike or lever can be introduced. When it is required to
start the engine the gas is first turned on and the slide light is ignited in the
usual way. The lever having then been placed in one of the holes aforesaid is
worked up and down like a pump handle. In its motion in one direction the
pawls engage with the ratchet wheel and cause it to rotate together with the crank
shaft of the engine. In the motion of the lever in the other direction the pawls
slide freely over the ratchet teeth. The effect is that the attendant can turn the
crank shaft but the crank shaft when the engine begins to act cannot give motion to
the lever held by the attendant the ratchet wheel being free to nove past the pawls
After the engine
as soon as the shaft rotates faster than the attendant can turn it.
bas attained certainty of action the attendant can deliberately remove the lever. The

page_text: crank shaft then carries round the casing as well as the ratchet wheel and the action
and sound and wear and tear of the ratchet motion ceases. In the case of gas engines
of large size two levers may be employed on opposite sides of the apparatus and two
attendants or if need be two attendants at each lever may apply their strength in
starting the engine.
The arrangement of parts described may be modified by employing a disc having a
smooth periphery instead of the ratchet wheel described. In this case in place of
pawls I employ eccentrics pressed up to the periphery of the disc by springs which
eccentrics become jammed or wedged against the disc when force is applied to the
hand lever in the direction which causes the crank shaft to rotate but when the lever
is moved in the reverse direction the said eccentrics by turning through a small angle
cease to press upon the disc but slide along its periphery.
In this manner the ratchet movement is attained without any of the noise attending
the use of a pawl and ratchet.
Another modification which I sometimes employ consists of a loose socket pivoted
in the same manner as and in the place of the eccentric last described the said socket
being adapted to receive the end of the hand spike or lever hereinbefore described an
opening being made in the rim of the hollow casing to allow access to the outer end
of the pivoted socket. The inner end of the latter is so formed as to bear forcibly
against the periphery of the smooth disc when the handspike or lever is moved in a
direction to turn the crank shaft. The friction between the pivoted socket and the
smooth disc when under pressure is such as to enable the socket to propel the disc and
thereby to turn the crank shaft. When the handspike is moved in the contrary
direction the socket is slightly rotated the pressure is relieved and the casing is free
to revolve independently of the crank shaft.
For security and durability however I prefer the arrangement of parts first
described.
The second part of my invention consists of a bent arm which I attach to the
upper end of the exhaust valve lever preferably by means of the nut of the stud upon
which the exhaust roller revolves when acted upon by the cam as is well understood.
To the inner face of the said bent arm I pivot a short lever pointing upwards. The
said lever can be moved to and fro through a small are by means of a knob upon its
upper end. Its motion is limited by two stops fixed to the bent arm. From the
inner face of the movable lever project two pins at such a distance apart as to embrace
the exhaust roller. When the lever is moved to and fro which can be safely done by
hand while the engine is working at full speed the roller is moved to and fro upon its
stud in a direction parallel to the axis of the stud and can thus be immediately placed
into the position either for compression or non compression.
The aforesaid knob is made of sufficient weight to maintain the lever in either of
its two positions to which it may have been brought I thus dispense entirely with the
usual pin which has to be withdrawn from or placed in a hole in the roller stud and
by means of which as a loose implement the roller has to be moved to and fro.
The manipulation of the pin when the engine is at work is effected with difficulty
and is attended with danger to the hand of the operator.
Dated this Fourth day of October 1887.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I HENRY LEA of the firm of Henry Lea and Thornbery of No. 38 Bennett's Hill
Birmingham in the County of Warwick Consulting Engineers 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 the use of gas engines as ordinarily constructed there are usually two operations
necessary in starting the engine which operations involve risk of personal injury to
the attendant.
"
These operations are first giving several rotations of the principal shaft which is
commonly done by taking hold of the fly wheel and secondly the movement of the
roller of the exhaust cam from the "non compression" position at starting to the
compression" position after the engine has attained a certain speed. Accidents have
happened from both of these operations. My invention consists of the devices
hereinafter described by the use of which risk of personal injury is entirely
eliminated from both the operations referred to. The first part of my invention
consists of a hollow circular casing fitting loosely upon the projecting end of the crank
shaft of the engine and containing within it a ratchet wheel securely keyed upon the
said shaft. The hollow casing also contains one or more spring pawls engaging with
the teeth of the ratchet wheel.
In the rim of the casing a series of holes preferably four is formed into any one of
which a handspike or lever can be introduced. When it is required to start tho
engine the gas is first turned on and the slide light is ignited in the usual way. The
lever having then been placed in one of the holes aforesaid is worked up and down
like a pump handle. In its motion in one direction the pawls engage with the ratchet
wheel and cause it to rotate together with the crank shaft of the engine. In the
motion of the lever in the other direction the pawls slide freely over the ratchet teeth.
The effect is that the attendant can turn the crank shaft but the crank shaft when the
engine begins to act cannot give motion to the lever held by the attendant, the ratchet
wheel being free to move past the pawls as soon as the shaft rotates faster than the
attendant can turn it. After the engine has attained certainty of action the attendant
can deliberately remove the lever. The crank shaft then carries round the casing as
well as the ratchet wheel and the action and sound and wear and tear of the ratchet motion
In the case of gas engines of large size two levers may be employed on
opposite sides of the apparatus and two attendants or if need be two attendants at each
lever may apply their strength in starting the engine.
ceases.
The arrangement of parts described may be modified by employing a disc having
a smooth periphery instead of the ratchet wheel described. In this case in place of
pawls I employ an eccentric or eccentrics pressed up to the periphery of the disc by
springs which eccentric or eccentrics become jammed or wedged against the disc when
force is applied to the hand lever in the direction which causes the crank shaft to
rotate but when the lever is moved in the reverse direction the said eccentrics by

page_text: turning through a small angle cease to press upon the disc but slide along its periphery.
In this manner the ratchet movement is attained without any of the noise attending
the use of a pawl and ratchet. Another modification which I sometimes employ
consists of a loose socket pivoted in the same manner as and in the place of the
eccentric or excentrics last described, the said socket being adapted to receive the end
of the hand spike or lever herein before described, an opening being made in the rim
of the hollow casing to allow access to the outer end of the pivoted socket. The inner
end of the latter is so formed as to bear forcibly against the periphery of the smooth
disc when the handspike or lever is moved in a direction to turn the crank shaft.
The friction between the pivoted socket and the smooth disc when under pressure
is such as to enable the socket to propel the disc and thereby to turn the crank shaft.
When the handspike is moved in the contrary direction the socket is slightly rotated
the pressure is relieved and the casing is free to revolve independently of the crank
shaft. The second part of my invention consists of a bent arm which I attach to the
upper end of the exhaust valve lever preferably by means of the nut of the stud upon
which the exhaust roller revolves when acted upon by the cam as is well understood.
To the inner face of the said bent arm I pivot a short lever, pointing upwards. The
said lever can be moved to and fro through a small are by means of a knob upon its
upper end. Its motion is limited by two stops fixed to the bent arm. From the
inner face of the moveable lever project two pins at such a distance apart as to
embrace the exhaust roller. When the lever is moved to and fro which can be safely
done by hand while the engine is working at full speed the roller is moved to and fro
upon its stud in a direction parallel to the axis of the stud and can thus be immediately
placed into the position either for compression or non-compression.
The aforesaid knob is made of sufficient weight to maintain the lever in either of its
two positions to which it may have been brought. I thus dispense entirely with the
usual pin which has to be withdrawn from or placed in a hole in the roller stud and
by means of which as a loose implement the roller has to be moved to and fro. The
manipulation of the pin when the engine is at work is effected with difficulty and is
attended with danger to the hand of the operator.
In order that this my said invention may be more clearly understood I will now
proceed to describe it with the aid of the accompanying 4 sheets of drawings.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts in each and every figure in which
they occur. The first part of my invention, which consists of the gas engine starter
is illustrated in sheets 1, 2 and 3 of the Drawings, each sheet illustrating different
modifications of this part of my invention. The second part of my invention, which
consists of the exhaust cam roller shifter, is illustrated by sheet 4 of the Drawings.
Sheet 1 illustrates a gas engine starter constructed according to one of the arrange-
ments or combinations of parts constituting my invention : Figure 1 is a side
elevation partly in section of the starter in which Figure the part to the left hand of
the vertical centre line is shown in elevation and the part to the right hand is shown
in section Figure 2 is a cross section through Figure 1 not taken on a line passing
diametrically through it but on the line UV, the handle e being omitted: Figure
is a side elevation of the outer face of one of the circular discs forming the outer
casing Figure 4 shows an edge elevation of the ratchet wheel detached: Figure 5
is a side elevation of one of the pawls which actuate the ratchet wheel and Figure 6
is an end elevation of the pawl: Sheet 2 illustrates a gas engine starter constructed
according to another of the arrangements or combination of parts constituting my
invention Figure 7 is a side elevation partly in section of this arrangement. The
part to the left hand side of the vertical centre line is shown in elevation and the part
to the right hand side is shown in section, the handle bar being omitted: Figure S
is a cross section taken on the line W X Figure 7; Figure 9 is a side elevation of
one of the circular discs showing the outer face thereof Figure 10 is an edge elevation
of the central disc detached Figure 11 is a side elevation of the eccentric detached
and Figure 12 is an end elevation of the same.
:
:
Sheet 3 shows a Gas Engine starter constructed according to another of the arrange-
ments or combinations of parts constituting my invention.

page_text: Figure 13 is a side elevation partly in section of this arrangement the part to the
left hand of the vertical centre, line being in elevation and the part to the right hand
being in section Figure 14 is a cross section on the line YZ. (Figure 13); Figure 15
is a side elevation of one of the circular discs showing the outer face thereof;
Figure 16 is a side elevation of the pivotted loose socket; Figure 17 is an end
elevation of the same and Figure 18 is an elevation of the handle bar detached..
Sheet 4 shows the exhaust cam roller shifter: Figure 19 is a side elevation looking
from the outside of the gas engine; Figure 20 is an end elevation; Figure 21 is a
plan; Figure 22 is an end elevation of the plate detached: Figure 23 is a side
elevation of the rocker detached and Figure 24 is a plan of the same.
I will now proceed to describe the construction and action of the arrangement of
my Gas Engine starter shewn on Sheet 1.
a is a ratchet wheel keyed upon the projecting outer end of the crank shaft of the
gas engine; b, bare two circular discs forming when placed together face to face a
hollow casing enclosing in a recess 6' the aforesaid ratchet wheel a. The discs b, b
are held together by bolts 62. The casing so formed is capable of being rotated freely
upon the circular side bosses a¹ of the ratchet wheel a; c, c are two pawls of which
the gudgeons (Figures 5 and 6) turn in holes bored in the discs b, b while the
nose or tooth c³ engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel a Springs d, d are
introduced between the projections c³ of the pawls and the face 3 of the recess in
the circular discs so as to press the pawls against the ratchet wheel a. The ratchet
wheel has an uneven number of teeth so that the pawls being placed diametrically
opposite each other the nose e² of one pawl lies half way between two teeth while
the nose of the other pawl is engaged with a tooth as shown in Figure 1. Thus, a
strong form of ratchet tooth is obtained by virtue of the comparatively small number
of teeth employed while the number of clicks or engagements in one revolution is
twice as great as the number of ratchet teeth; e is a handle loosely entering a recess f
one half of which recess is formed in one disc band the other half in the opposite
disc b. A second recess is formed diametrically opposite to that marked f.
The handle e can be placed in either recess.
The engine is supposed to work in the direction shown by the curved arrow in
Figure 1. If the engine is so built as to run in the reverse direction the "Starter
has only to be keyed on in a reverse position so that what was the outer face becomes
the inner face when the starter will operate equally well in the reverse direction.
ラ
To start the engine the attendant after having lighted the slide light and turned on
the gas, places the socket end of the handle e in one of the recesses for f' and works
the said handle up and down through any convenient angle after the manner of.
working the handle of a pump. A reciprocating circular motion is thereby given to
the casing, and to the spring pawls c², c² carried by it. In the motion of the
casing b, b in one direction the pawls engage with the ratchet wheel a and carry it
round in the direction of the arrow together with the crank shaft of the engine on
which the said ratchet wheel is keyed. In the motion of the casing in the other
directions the pawls slide freely over the ratchet teeth and impart no motion to the
ratchet wheel and the crank shaft. The crank shaft is thus caused to rotate by means
of the handle e in the proper direction until by the explosion of the gaseous mixture
in the cylinder the engine becomes self driving. The attendant then ceases to work
the handle e and withdraws it from the recess in the casing, the ratchet wheel mean-
while rotating freely within the pawls and having no tendency to drag round with it
the casing.
As soon as the handle e has been removed the friction of the casing upon the ratchet
wheel causes the former to rotate with it when the clicking sound of the pawls
ceases.
The modification Sheet 2 consists of an outer casing b made in halves bolted
together and turning loosely upon bosses a¹ exactly as in the first described arrange-
ment but in this modification the ratchet teeth are omitted, the periphery of the
wheel or disc a being made cylindrical and smooth; c is an excentric of which the
gudgeons c¹ (Figures 11 and 12) turn in holes bored in the circular discs b
while

page_text: the excentric portion c bears against the periphery of the wheel or disc a being drawn
into contact with it by the flexible band and spring c³.
When a handle such as that represented at e in Figure 1 is placed in the recess for fl
and is moved in the direction of the arrow, the excentric c becomes jammed against.
the plain wheel or disc a and carries it round but while moving in the other direction
the said excentric slides freely over the wheel or disc a. The same effect is thus
produced as in the first described arrangement of my invention but the action is
frictional and noiseless.
The modification shown on sheet 3 consists of a hollow casing & made in halves and
bolted together and turning loosely upon the bosses of the plain wheel or disc a the
periphery of which is smooth as in the modification Sheet 2: c is a pivoted socket,
pressing block or friction pawl of which the gudgeons c¹ Figures 16 and 17 turn in
holes bored in the discs b. The tail c² has a socket c³ which receives the handle e:
is a projecting facet situated very near to the gudgeons e¹ and bearing loosely
against the periphery of the smooth wheel a c is a projecting facet which when the
handle e is raised bears against the inner face of the recess in the outer casing b.
These two facets limit the amount of angular movement of the pivoted socket or
friction pawl c upon the gudgeons c². The amount of movement need be but very
small, say, one thirty second of an inch. No spring is required. In this arrangement
of my invention the outer casing may be freely turned by hand in either direction but
when the handle e is inserted and is moved in the direction of the arrow the facet c' is
pressed with such force against the smooth wheel a as to carry the latter round by
frictional contact. When the handle is moved in the reverse direction the facet c' is
relieved of pressure and the wheel a is free to rotate in the direction of the arrow
within the casing or the casing may be turned in a contrary direction upon the
wheel a.
The arrangements Sheets 2 and 3 of my invention are used in the same manner and
for the same purpose as the arrangement Sheet 1. The exterior of the apparatus
being circular and smooth by its use a maximum of safety is attained the attendant
working it has not to pull round a dangerous fly wheel or belt as is usually the case
and may even stand outside a handrail surrounding the engine and safely put the latter
in motion.
1 will now proceed to describe the second part of my invention, namely, my
Exhaust-cam-roller shifter illustrated in Sheet 4.
S
g is the ordinary exhaust cam keyed upon the cam shaft g¹. Its function is to
depress the roller and lever ¹ the tail end of which (not shown) opens the exhaust
valve as is well understood; 92 is the ordinary small supplementary cam or rise
occupying only a portion of the width of the main cam g as shown in dotted
lines at g Figure 19. Its function is to open the exhaust valve for a very short
time during the compressive stroke of the piston so as to relieve the compression
and thus enable the engine to be rotated more easily by hand for starting it. The
cam roller revolves upon a pin Figure 21 which has a stem * entering a bole
in the boss 5 of the lever and secured by a nut ³. The length of the pin h²
is such that the roller can be moved endwise along the pin so as to be placed
either opposite to or to one side of the plane of motion of the supplementary cam g².
Usually this sliding action is performed by the fingers of the attendant or by a small
pin held in the hand, the said pin being afterwards inserted in a transverse hole
through the pin when the engine has acquired a considerable rate of speed.
The operation as ordinarily performed is difficult and somewhat dangerous and the
object of the second part of my invention is to render the operation both easy and
safe is a bent plate having a hole j¹ to admit the stem ht of the roller pin h². The
plate is secured to the lever by the nut 3 of the roller pin ². To the lower part
of the bent plate j is pivoted a lever k shown in detail in Figures 23 and 24: 1, are
two pegs or stops which limit the angular motion of the lever k as shown by the
dotted are k¹k in Figure 19. In the lever k are inserted two projecting pins ³ at
such a distance apart as to admit of a portion of the rim of the cam roller / entering
between them as shown in Figure 21: m is a knob which fulfils the double function.

page_text: of a handle and a weight to retain the lever in either of the two indicated positions k¹
or. By a light pressure upon the knob m the lever & can be thrown over to either
side carrying with it the cam roller h and presenting the latter either opposite to or to
one side of the plane of motion of the supplementary cam g². To whichever side the
lever is thrown it remains there by virtue of the weight of the knob m. The operation
can be easily and safely performed at the maximum speed of a gas engine.
aforesaid pin commonly used to move and secure the roller is thus dispensed with and
its attendant difficulty and danger are obviated.
The
I have described my invention as carried out in the best manner known to me
but I may vary it somewhat in detail if desirable while not departing from its essential
construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that I claim
as my invention of "Improvements in gas engines."
First Apparatus for starting gas engines consisting essentially of a ratchet wheel
or a plain wheel or disc fixed to or made on the crank shaft of the engine, the said
wheel or disc being enclosed in a loose casing carrying in its interior one or more
spring pawls for engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel or one or more excentrics
or one or more friction pawls, pivoted sockets or pressing blocks for bearing against
the plain wheel or disc and thereby temporarily locking the said casing when moved
in the direction proper for starting the engine to and carrying round the crank
shaft of the engine, the several parts being constructed and arranged or combined
and acting substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figures 1 to 18 both inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly Apparatus for shifting the exhaust cam rollers of gas engines consisting
essentially of a bent arm to which a weighted lever having a limited motion is pivoted,
pins on the said lever embracing the exhaust cam roller the angular motion on its
joint or centre of the said lever in one or other direction giving a sliding motion in
one or other direction to the exhaust cam roller so as to bring it into or take it out of
the path of the supplementary cam of the mechanism for opening the exhaust valve
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated in Figures 19
to 24 both inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this Third day of Auril 1888.