IMPROVEMENTS IN THE IGNITION APPARATUS OF GAS MOTOR ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Anderson and Francis William Crossley, both of
Great Marlborough Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for an
invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE IGNITION APPARATUS OF GAS MOTOR
ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Anderson and Francis
William Crossley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
13th April 1882.
FRANK ANDERSON and FRANCIS WILLIAM CROSSLEY, both of Great Marlborough
Street Manchester in the County of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE IGNITION
APPARATUS OF GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
Our invention relates to ignition apparatus for gas motor engines of the kind in
which a gaseous mixture is ignited in the cavity of a slide, and the slide is moved
so as to bring the cavity containing the flame in presence of the combustible
charge in the cylinder which is thereby ignited. The use of this ignition apparatus
is sometimes attended with difficulties particularly when certain kinds of gas are
employed, and in consequence of occasional failures in ignition that occur, power is
sometimes lost and gas is wasted. Now according to our invention we render
ignition certain by placing in the ignition cavity of the slide a coil or bunch of
wire, into or among which we introduco a jet of gas at the time when the cavity is
in communication with the external kindling flame. The gas thus introduced being
nixed more or less with the air already contained in the cavity, is ignited by the
external flame.
The flame thus produced in the cavity of the slide is by the action of the wire
maintained therein while the slide moves so that when the cavity is brought by
the movement of the slide into communication with the cylinder port, the cylinder
charge is ignited by the flame thus maintained in the cavity.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frank Anderson and Francis William Crossley in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 6th October 1882.
FRANK ANDERSON and FRANCIS WILLIAM CROSSLEY both of Great Marlborough
Street Manchester in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE IONITION
APPARATUS OF GAS MOTOR ENGINES."
Our invention relates to the ignition apparatus for gas motor engines of the kind
in which a gaseous mixture is ignited in the cavity of a slide, and the slide is
moved so as to bring the cavity containing the flame in presence of the combustible
charge in the cylinder which is thereby ignited. The use of this ignition apparatus
is attended with difficulties when certain kinds of gas are employed, and in con-
Bequence of occasional failures in ignition that then occur, power is lost and gas is
wasted. Now according to our invention we render ignition of these gases certain
by placing in the ignition cavity of the slide a coil or bunch of wire, into or
among which we introduce a jet of gas at the time when the cavity is in communi-
cation with the external kindling flame. The gas thus introduced being mixed
more or less with the air already contained in the cavity, is ignited by the external
Hame.
The Blaine thus produced in the cavity of the slide is by the action of the wire
maintained therein while the slide noves so that when the cavity is brought by
the movement of the slide into communication with the cylinder port, the cylindor
charge is ignited by the flame thus maintained in the cavity.
The accompanying drawing is a section through the slide and slide cover of a
gas motor engine shewing how our invention may be applied thereto. A is the
external flame which is maintained in a cavity of the slide cover, usually having
above it a chimney a to create a little draught through the passages. B is the
slide having formed in it the igniting cavity C which has a side aperture c' towards
the cylinder, and a side aperture c towards the fame cavity of the cover, and also
an aperture c³ towards an air inlet from the slide cover. We provide in the slide
another passage D leading to the ignition cavity C, this passago having a side
aperturo d towards a channel E. formed in the slide cover and supplied with gas
from the main supply. Within the ignition cavity C in the part of it next to
its communications with A and D wo fix a coil or bunch F of wire. The slide B by
its movement brings the apertures at c³ ³ as shewn for a moment into coincidence
with the corresponding apertures in the slide cover and at the same moment E
communicates through d with D so that a stream of gas entering by D and mixing
with the air in C is kindled by the exterior flame A producing a flame in or about
the wire F. The slide then moving onwards cuts off communication by c³ ³ and d
with the passages in the slide cover and opens communication by the aperture c
with the cylinder containing the combustible gaseous charge which is ignited by
the flame or heat retained in the ignition cavity C, the wire F maintaining sufficient
heat for this purpose or otherwise operating in such a manner as to ensure ignition
when the gas employed is such that ignition in the usual way is difficult and
uncertain.
Although we have shown in the drawing our invention applied to a slide of the
kind used in the well known " Otto" gas engine, it is to be understood that it may
be applied to ignition slides of other forms receiving gas direct from the supply pipe
and not from the cylinder charge,

page_text: Having thus described the nature of our invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, We claim :-
In the ignition cavity of the slide of a gas Motor Engine, the use of a coil or
bunch of wire in combination with a gas jet supplied from the main substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Frank Anderson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this the fifth day of October in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
FRANK ANDERSON (L.S.)