Improvements in Igniting Apparatus for Gas or Oil Motor Engines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Igniting Apparatus for Gas or Oil Motor Engines.
We, FRANCIS WILLIAM CROSSLEY and FRANK HERBERT ANDERSON both of Open-
shaw near Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Engineers do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
When the ignition of the compressed charge of a gas or oil motor engine is effected
by admitting a portion of the charge into a heated tube or bulb or into contact with
some other slow igniter, it is necessary to time the valve by which this admission is
effected according to the speed of the engine, otherwise premature ignition may take
place when the engine is moving slowly or vice versa. Also when the engine is being
started by applying hand labour or other power to produce several revolutions it is
necessary to provide that admission of combustible to the igniter shall be later than
when the engine is normally at work.
This provision has been made and its use insured in practice-by connecting the
ignition valve gear with that for the exhaust valve and governor, this former gear
being so arranged that, during and to facilitate the starting of the engine the exhaust
valve can be opened during part of the compressing stroke, and when this is done
the ignition valve is necessarily opened at a later period. Our invention relates to a
construction and operation of a slide ignition valve so as to fulfil these conditions in
a simple manner. For this purpose we employ a slide valve moved to and fro by a
crank, cam or eccentric within a casing at one side of which there is a port leading to
the interior of the cylinder, and at the other side of the casing there is a port leading
to the heated tube or bulb. Through the slide there is a hole which in one position
of the slide makes communication between the two opposite ports so that a portion of
the compressed charge can pass from the cylinder to the heated tube or bulb to become
ignited and to communicate ignition to the cylinder charge. There is also in the
slide a passage communicating with the outer air, this passage having a mouth near
the communicating hole of the slide so that, as this mouth passes the port leading to
the heated tube or bulb, there is free communication with the atmosphere preventing
premature ignition in case of accidental grooving of the slide and leakage past it of
some of the combustible charge.
When it is desired to render the ignition later the side of the slide casing which
has the port leading to the heated tube is moved a little in the direction in which the
slide moves to effect ignition, and consequently the communication between the
cylinder and the heated tube or bulb is somewhat delayed. This moveable side of
the slide casing is connected by a bell crank or otherwise with the lever or handle
that temporarily sets the exhaust valve gear in the condition suitable for starting the
engine, and delay of ignition under these circumstances necessarily accompanies the
temporary adjustment of the exhaust valve gear.
But further to insure that the later timing shall be used at starting, we also couple
up the cover of the ignition valve slide to the gas admission gear so that gas cannot be
supplied to the engine at starting except the later timing be used. This may be
effected in various ways, thus according to one arrangement the gas and exhaust valve
cams are mounted on a sleeve capable of sliding on the valve gear shaft, and its
position is controlled by a lever that is connected by a bell crank and links with the
slide cover so that when the one part is moved by the attendant the movement of the
other part is simultaneously effected, and the lead and release of compression and the
giving of gas are simultaneously controlled. Or the same handle which shifts the slide
cover may be made either to shift the roller of the gas valve cam so as to bring it into
the range of this cam, or to shift the sleeve carrying the gas cam so as to bring an
additional step on it into the range of the roller during the starting operation. When

page_text: the engine is started the exhaust and gas cams or their rollers are shifted back to their
normal positions and thus also the gas cam or its roller resumes its normal position
subject to the action of the governor. Obviously it is possible to obtain similar
results by similarly arranging to move a sliding plate placed between the slide and
cylinder of the engine and connected in an equivalent manner with the exhaust valve
and gas valve gear. When it is desired that the timing of the ignition while the
engine is at work may be automatically adjusted to the speed we adopt the following
arrangement:
Instead of connecting the rod which works the ignition slide directly to the slide
itself we connect it to a block capable of sliding a little to and fro in a slot in the
body of the slide, and on this block we pivot a bell crank one arm of which may, by
preference, stand vertically above the pivot and has some weight, the other horizontal
arm stands forwards towards the end of the slot next the main portion of the slide.
This end is made with a step in its upper part projecting a little beyond the lower
part.
When the engine is moving slowly, the bell crank retains such an attitude that its
horizontal arm faces the lower or recessed part at the end of the slot, and the slide
is not moved until the arm reaches the bottom of the recess, the ignition being thus
somewhat delayed. But when the engine is moving more rapidly the inertia of the
upright arm of the bell crank causes it to take such an attitude that the horizontal
arm meets the projecting step above the recess; consequently the slide is sooner
moved and the ignition takes place sooner.
Dated this 29th day of November 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Igniting Apparatus for Gas or Oil Motor Engines.
We, FRANCIS WILLIAM CROSSLEY and FRANK HERBERT ANDERSON both of Open-
shaw near Manchester in the County of Lancaster 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 :-
When the ignition of the compressed charge of a gas or oil motor engine is effected
by admitting a portion of the charge into a heated tube or bulb or into contact with
some other slow igniter it is necessary to time the valve by which this admission is
effected according to the speed of the engine, otherwise premature ignition may take
place when the engine is moving slowly or vice versa. Also when the engine is being
started by applying hand labour or other power to produce several revolutions it is
necessary to provide that admission of combustible to the igniter shall be later than
when the engine is normally at work.
This provision has been made and its use insured in practice by connecting the
ignition valve gear with that for the exhaust valve and governor, this former gear
being so arranged that, during and to facilitate the starting of the engine the exhaust
valve can be opened during part of the compressing stroke, and when this is done the
ignition valve is necessarily opened at a later period. Our invention relates to a con-
struction and operation of a slide ignition valve so as to fulfil these conditions in a
simple manner. For this purpose we employ a slide valve moved to and fro by a
crank cam or eccentric within a casing at one side of which there is a port leading to
the interior of the cylinder, and at the other side of the casing there is a port leading
to the heated tube or bulb. Through the slide there is a hole which in one position
of the slide makes communication between the two opposite ports, so that a portion of
the compressed charge can pass from the cylinder to the heated tube or bulb to
become ignited and to communicate ignition to the cylinder charge. There is also in
the slide a passage communicating with the outer air, this passage having a mouth
near the commuuicating hole of the slide so that, as this mouth passes the port leading

page_text: to the heated tube or bulb, there is free communication with the atmosphere pre-
venting premature ignition in case of accidental grooving of the slide and leakage
past it of some of the combustible charge.
When it is desired to render the ignition later the side of the slide casing which
has the port leading to the heated tube is moved a little in the direction in which the
slide moves to effect ignition, and consequently the communication between the
cylinder and the heated tube or bulb is somewhat delayed. This moveable side of
the slide casing is connected by a bell crank or otherwise with the lever or handle
that temporarily sets the exhaust valve gear in the condition suitable for starting the
engine, and delay of ignition under these circumstances necessarily accompanies the
temporary adjustment of the exhaust valve gear.
But further to insure that the later timing shall be used at starting we also couple
up the cover of the ignition valve slide to the gas admission gear so that gas cannot
be supplied to the engine at starting except the later timing be used. This may be
effected in various ways thus according to one arrangement the gas and exhaust
valve cams are mounted on a sleeve capable of sliding on the valve gear shaft, and
its position is controlled by a lever that is connected by a bell crank and links with
the slide cover so that when the one part is moved by the attendant the movement of
the other part is simultaneously effected, and the lead and release of compression and
the giving of gas are simultaneously controlled. Or the same handle which shifts the
slide cover may be made either to shift the roller of the gas valve cam so as to bring
it into the range of this cam or to shift the sleeve carrying the gas cam so as to bring
an additional step on it into the range of the roller during the starting operation.
When the engine is started the exhaust and gas cams or their rollers are shifted back
to their normal positions and thus also the gas cam or its roller resumes its normal
position subject to the action of the governor. Obviously it is possible to obtain
similar results by similarly arranging to move a sliding plate placed between the slide
and cylinder of the engine and connected in an equivalent manner with the exhaust
valve and gas valve gear. When it is desired that the timing of the ignition while
the engine is at work may be automatically adjusted to the speed we adopt the
following arrangement :-
Instead of connecting the rod which works the ignition slide directly to the slide
itself we connect it to a block capable of sliding a little to and fro in a slot in the
body of the slide, and on this block we pivot a bell crank one arm of which may by
preference stand vertically above the pivot and has some weight, the other horizontal
arm stands forwards towards the end of the slot next the main portion of the slide.
This end is made with a step in its upper part projecting a little beyond the lower
part.
When the engine is moving slowly the bell crank retains such an attitude that its
horizontal arm faces the lower or recessed part at the end of the slot and the slide is
not moved until the arm reaches the bottom of the recess the ignition being thus
somewhat delayed.
But when the engine is moving more rapidly the inertia of the upright arm of the
bell crank causes it to take such an attitude that the horizontal arm meets the pro-
jecting step above the recess consequently the slide is sooner moved and the ignition
takes place sooner.
Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings shew one arrangement of our before
described invention for timing the ignition of the cylinder charges. Fig. 1 shews an
end elevation of the engine, Fig. 2 a part plan and Fig. 3 a longitudinal section
through the gas slide and parts connected therewith.
The igniting slide A, which is worked by a crank B on the valve-gear shaft C of
the engine, has a passage A¹ through it, which, at one position of the slide, com-
municates on the one side with a passage D' in the casing D leading into the working
cylinder, and on the other side with a passage D' leading to the heated igniting
tube E so that when in this position the slide effects the ignition of the cylinder
charge in the well known manner.
The slide also has a passage A' communicating with the outer air through a

page_text: corresponding passage D³ in the bottom of the casing D, and having a mouth near
the passage A¹ so that as this mouth passes the passage D2 the heated tube E is made
to communicate freely with the atmosphere so as to prevent premature ignition as
above described.
The outer side F or cover of the casing D is not fixed to the latter but can slide
laterally to a slight extent between the upper and lower sides thereof (being held in
by cross bars and springs as shewn) such motion being limited by lugs F1 F at its
ends.
It has a pin F2 projecting down from its bottom to which is pivotted a rod G con-
nected to one arm of a bell crank H, the other arm of which is connected by a rod I
to the lever J that operates the sleeve K carrying the exhaust and gas valve cams.
Thus it will be seen that on moving the lever so as to set the exhaust valve gear in
position suitable for starting the engine, it at the same time moves the side or cover F
of the slide casing to the left hand, and in thereby moving the igniting passage D²
farther away from the passage A¹ of the slide, delays the communication between D'
and D2 and consequently also the ignition of the charge. By the shifting of the
sleeve K the working gas-valve cam L is shifted out of gear with the roller M of the
gas-valve lever and a second cam L' is brought in gear therewith. This cam is then
in such a position that the roller M will run close up against its upper edge (on plan
Fig. 2), but when, after starting, the speed of the engine increases and the governor
consequently shifts the roller more or less, the width of the cam is such that the roller
will continue to gear therewith until by the increase of speed it passes beyond the
lower edge, thereby cutting off the gas supply.
Figure 4 shews an elevation and Figure 5 a sectional plan of the above described
second arrangement for automatically timing the ignition of the cylinder charge
according to the speed of the engine.
The outer end of the slide A is looped to receive a sliding block N to which the
forked end of the connecting rod of the crank B is pivotted, the block having a
certain amount of play in the loop.
The inner end face A³ of this loop is stepped, as shewn, and the block N has pivotted
to it a piece O, having a correspondingly stepped face presented to A3 this piece has
also a weighted arm O', by preference situated in a more or less vertical position.
When the engine is running at a comparatively slow speed, the piece O is maintained
in the position shewn by the weighted arm, in which on the forward motion of the
block N, the projecting step of O passes under the projecting step of A³ and con-
sequently the slide is not moved for effecting the ignition of the charge until the
block has arrived with its piece O at the end of the recess at A³.
If on the other hand the engine is running at a quicker speed, the inertia of the
weighted arm O' causes it to raise up the piece so that in moving forward, its pro-
jecting part comes in contact with the projecting part or step of A3 and consequently
the slide being actuated earlier, effects an earlier ignition of the charge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. In igniting apparatus for gas or oil motor engines of the kind herein referred to,
making the port in the valve casing or cover by which the ignition slide passage is
put in communication with the heated igniting tube, or equivalent appliance, move-
able so that for starting the engine it can be shifted farther away from the slide
passage and thereby cause the ignition of the evlinder charge to he delayed,
substantially as herein described.
2. In the arrangement of moveable igniting port referred to in the preceeding
claim, connecting the moveable part carrying such port to the lever actuating the
exhaust valve cam so that on shifting such cam by the lever for starting the engine,
the said port is automatically shifted away from the slide passage, substantially as
herein described.
3. In igniting apparatus for gas or oil motor engines, the combination with the

page_text: igniting slide A. of the moveable part or cover F of the valve casing with igniting
port D², connected to lever J actuating the sleeve K carrying the exhaust and gas
valve cams, substantially as and for the purposes herein described with reference to
Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.
4. The combination with an igniting slide A. of a passage A³ communicating with
the atmosphere and having a mouth situated near the slide passage A¹ so that the
igniting port D2 is thereby put in communication with the atmosphere just before
communicating with the engine cylinder through the slide passage, substantially as
herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.
5. In igniting apparatus for gas or oil motor engines, connecting the igniting
slide to the crank, cam, or excentric actuating the same, through a moveable con-
nection so arranged that when the engine runs at a quick speed, the crank, cam, or
excentric is automatically made to commence moving the slide and thereby to effect.
the ignition of the cylinder charge earlier than when the engine is running at a slow.
speed, substantially as herein described.
6. In igniting apparatus for gas or oil motor engines, the combination of the looped
ignition slide A with stepped surface A³ sliding block N. connected to crank B, and
stepped piece O with weighted arm 01 pivotted to the block N. arranged and
operating substantially as and for the purpose herein described with reference to
Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of August 1889.