Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 17th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 18th May, 1888
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that description of apparatus for igniting the charges of
gas motor engines in which a portion of the charge is brought in contact with the
interior of a tube, the exterior of which is heated by a gas flame.
According to the present invention the said tube is arranged centrally within an
annular Bunsen burner the flame of which consequently surrounds the tube and
effectually heats it so as to make the ignition of the charge within the same perfectly
reliable. At the same time, the flame is rendered of a reducing character and
consequently protects the tube from injury through oxidation.
The said apparatus is by preference arranged as follows.
To the engine cylinder is fixed an Injector-Bunsen burner having formed trans-
versely through it a passage that constitutes a continuation of the ignition passage
of the cylinder, the outer end of such passage being provided with a tubular
continuation closed by a removeable cap. At the centre of the burner, and at about
the middle of the passage, a branch passage extending vertically upwards is formed
thereon and on this branch passage is fixed the vertical igniting tube closed at its
upper end and communicating with the cylinder through the passage at its lower end.
The upper end of the chamber of the burner in which part of the horizontal passage
and the lower part of the igniting tube is situated, narrows towards the said tube so
as to leave only a narrow annular opening surrounding the same, through which
the mixture of gas and air entering at the lower end of the burner issues. Sur-
rounding the part of the tube above such annular orifice of the burner is a cylinder
or chimney by preference lined with fireclay and having a number of openings at
the level of the burner's orifice through which air can pass in to assist the combustion

page_text: of the mixture of gas and air issuing from the burner. This mixture being ignited,
burns as an annular flame surrounding the tube within the chimney, and the supply
of air to the gas jet of the burner being so regulated as to render the flame of a
reducing character, the tube will be protected against oxidation. The combustible
gas issues into the lower end of the burner through a small injector nozzle and induces
currents of air entering through side holes.
In operating with this apparatus, a portion of the compressed combustible charge
in the cylinder passes back through the igniting channel into the horizontal channel
of the burner and also partly up into the heated igniting tube in which it consequently
becomes ignited. The flame travels down the tube and thence in both directions in
the horizontal paszage, and finding no escape at the outer end thereof is projected
by the expansion due to the combustion through the igniting passage into the
cylinder, where it effects the ignition of the charge.
The tubular extension of the burner passage, besides assisting in the projection of
the flame as described, also serves, on the removal of its cap, for the withdrawal of
any solid deposits that may be carried backwards into the burner from the cylinder
by the entering compressed gaseous mixture.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1887.

page_text: I CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent 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:
This invention relates to that description of apparatus for igniting the charges of
gas motor engines in which a portion of the charge is brought in contact with the
interior of a tube, the exterior of which is heated by a gas flame.
According to the present invention the said tube is arranged centrally within an
annular Bunsen Burner the flame of which consequently surrounds the tube and
effectually heats it so as to make the ignition of the charge within the same perfectly
reliable. At the same time the flame is rendered of a reducing character and
consequently protects the tube from injury through oxidation.
The said apparatus is by preference arranged as follows:-
To the engine cylinder is fixed an injector-Bunsens burner having formed
transversely through it a passago that constitutes a continuation of the ignition
passage of the cylinder, the outer end of such passage being provided with a tubular
continuation closed by a removeable cap. At the centre of the burner and at about
the middle of the passage a branch passage extending vertically upwards is formed
thereon and on this branch passage is fixed the vertical igniting tube closed at its
upper end and communicating with the cylinder through the passage at its lower end.
The upper end of the chamber of the burner in which part of the horizontal passage
and the lower part of the igniting tube is situated, narrows towards the said tube
so as to leave only a narrow annular opening surrounding the same through which
the mixture of gas and air entering at the lower end of the burner issues. Sur-
rounding the part of the tube above such annular orifice of the burner is a cylinder
or chimney by preference lined with fireclay and having a number openings at the
level of the burner's orifice, through which air can pass in to assist the combustion
of the mixture of gas and air issuing from the burner. This mixture, being ignited,
burns as an annular flame surrounding the tube within the chimney, and the supply
of air to the gas jet of the burner being so regulated as to render the flame of a
reducing character, the tube will be protected against oxidation.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing shews a vertical section of the igniting
apparatus and Figs. 2 and 3 shew sectional plans taken respectively on lines y y
and xx
is the vertical ignition tube, connected on the one side by the passage
leading to the cylinder chamber B and on the other side to a tubular gas
chamber r
This gas chamber, situated behind the orifice of the ignition tube r, is of
considerable importance, as in the first place it takes up the residual products of
combustion and secondly it causes the igniting flame to be propelled into the cylinder
as will be described.
:

page_text: The compressed gas mixture to be ignited in passing back out of the cylinder first
forces back the residual combustion gases in and then enters and simul-
taneously.
In the mixture is ignited by the hot sides of the tube, and the flame will travel
down to the junction of with h from which point the ignition travels in both
directions towards h and 71, as combustible mixture will also have entered the latter.
On account of the limited space in the flame will travel with increased speed
towards the cylinder and will thus-insure the immediate ignition of its charge,
The igniting slide K, in addition to the passage & through which the communication
is established between the cylinder and the passage for effecting the ignition of
the charge has, as shewn at Fig. 2, a second oblique passage which is made to
establish the same communication at the time when the piston is drawing in tho
next combustible charge, the object being to allow the combustion gases under
pressure with which the passage and tubes are filled from the previous
explosion to escape, or be reduced to atmospheric pressure, so as to enable the
compressed combustible gases to enter them as above described.
The burner consists of the casing D, the injector A, the annular piece C, the
ignition pipe and the chimney E.
The casing D is fixed to the cylinder and has two passages of which one / is put
in communication with the interior of the cylinder B at the moment of ignition, by
means of a suitable valve or slide such as K.
The other passage has fixed to it the ignition pipe . The injector A is fixed to
the bottom of the casing D, and the chamber d thereof, after expanding from the
neck upwards is contracted to a narrow annular orifice at e round the tube ?
formed by the separate annular piece C, the mixture of gas and air being made to
issue through such orifice. The chimney E is lined with fire clay and has a number
of openings i for the entrance of air as shewn at Fig. 3.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
:-
The gas is admitted through the cock n and issues under pressure from the small
hole of the nozzle thereby inducing currents of air through the openings c c.
The gas and air mix intimately on passing through the conical neck and after
passing through the chamber d issue through the annular opening e where the mixture
is ignited.
The opening e is of such a small width that the flame cannot strike back into the
chamber d.
In consequence of the peculiar arrangement of the annular burner, the flame s is
made to immediately surround the ignition tube whereby a sufficient heating effect
is obtained with a comparatively small flame.
Only so much air is drawn in through the holes cc as is requisite for producing
intense combustion.
In consequence thereof the flames has at that part where it surrounds the tube r
a reducing action, whereby any oxidation of the outer highly heated surface of the
tube, and consequently the rapid destruction thereof, is prevented.
The openings Fig. 3 have for their object to admit sufficient air to produce
perfect combustion in the flame s. Any excess of air only passes to the outer
circumference of the flame and does not come in contact with the red hot part of
the tube, and therefore cannot injuriously affect it.
The tube is so fixed to the casing as to form a continuation of the passage h. its
object, as before stated, is to insure the certain ignition of the cylinder charge; it
also serves to receive any dirt or particles of lubricant when the compressed gas
mixture is allowed to enter the passage on the opening of the valve or slide.
The end of the tube is closed by a cap as shewn, on the removal of which it,
as also the passage h, can easily be cleansed."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus for heating an igniting tube for gas motor engines, the use of a

page_text: Bunsens burner arranged with a restricted annular orifice surrounding the tube,
which, together with the burner is surrounded by a casing having lateral holes at
the level of the said orifice of the burner for the admission of air to the flame which
surrounds the igniting tube substantially as herein described.
2. In combination with an externally heated igniting tube, projecting at an angle
from a passage leading from the engine cylinder to the said tube, the use of a
chamber forming an extension of the said passage beyond the igniting tube, and
serving to contain a portion of the compressed combustible charge, means being
provided for allowing the combustion gases under pressure to escape from the said
passage igniting tube and chamber after the ignition of each charge substantially
as and for the purposes herein described.
3. An apparatus for heating an igniting tube for gas motor engines consisting
of a gas injector A, casing D, ring C, igniting tuber, and chimney E with lateral
opening, substantially as described.
4. In igniting apparatus for gas motor engines, the combination with the gas
injector A, casing D, ring C, igniting tuber and passage / leading to the cylinder,
of the tubular gas chamber to the rear of the opening of the igniting tube
operating substantially as herein described for insuring the certain ignition of the
cylinder charge and for cleansing the inlet passage.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.