GB327789A - Improvements in or relating to the starting and running of internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Abstract

327,789. Heywood, C. F. Jan, 30, 1929. Starting.-For starting multicylinder engines by fluid under pressure supplied to the cylinders in turn through conduits provided with non- return valves, a distributor valve driven from the engine crank-shaft comprises a rotatable member 18 having a single port 13 registering successively with entrances to the conduits and arranged to supply a large quantity of fluid to one cylinder on the working stroke and. during a period commencing after the said supply has started, a smaller quantity of fluid to the cylinder next in firing order to complete the combustible charge. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the distributor valve ]8 for starting. a four-cylinder four-stroke engine is driven through gearing 21 from the engine cam-shaft 22 or other half-speed shaft. The valve casing 11 comprises a chamber 13 supplied with compressed air from a reservoir through a valve-controlled pipe 14, and outlet ports Ia - - IVa connected by pipes 7 - - 10 to check valves on the cylinder heads. The valve port 19 extends over an arc of 97‹ and includes a narrow portion 19a extending over an arc of 40‹. After the main portion of the port begins to admit air through an outlet port 1<a> to a cylinder on the working stroke, the narrow portion 19<a> comes into register with a port 11<a> leading to the cylinder next in firing order, so that a small quantity of compressed air is admitted to this cylinder during the compression stroke. This air serves to complete the air content of a combustible charge supplied from the carburettor or by a priming device, so that ignition takes place at once when the ignition current is switched on; or the compressed fluid mav itself be a combustible mixture. which is used expansively until the ignition current is switched on. The application of the invention to engines of six or more cylinders is described, and Specification 168,614 is referred to.