GB764941A - Improvements in or relating to methods of and arrangements for facilitating starting internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Abstract

764,941. Facilitating starting turning gear. CHRISTIANSEN, H. Feb. 15, 1955 [Feb. 16, 1954], No. 4485/55. Classes 7 (2), 7 (3) and 7 (5). In a method of facilitating the starting of a main engine 22 by means of an auxiliary internal-combustion engine 19 with pre-heating of the combustion air for the main engine 22, the heat derived from the auxiliary engine 19, other than or in addition to its waste heat, is supplied to the combustion air of the main engine 22. The auxiliary engine 19, which may be of the reciprocating or turbine type, drives an energy converter 20 which is connected by a conduit 23 to the intake manifold 21 of the main engine 22 whilst a branch 25 from conduit 23 leads to a casing 26 around the main engine; the branch 25 is controlled by a valve 24; another valve, not shown, may be used to connect to manifold 21 to and from atmosphere. The casing 26 normally guides cooling air from a blower 27 around the cylinder of the main engine but the preheating air may either exhaust from the casing to atmosphere or return to the intake of the converter 20 by a conduit 28 depending upon the positions of valves 29, 33 and 34. With the latter and the valve 24 in the positions shown in full lines the temperature of the air flowing around the main engine is increased by both the converter 20 and the waste heat from the auxiliary engine 19 whereupon the valve 24 is moved to admit heated air into the manifold 21 ; at the same time a flywheel 30 driven by the auxiliary engine is coupled by a clutch 31 to the crank-shaft 32 of the main engine and as soon as the latter starts the clutch is operated to disconnect the flywheel. The main engine may be supplied with heated combustion air during normal running to increase the engine output. The operation of all the valves may be automatic whilst the auxiliary engine exhaust gas may be used to heat the combustion air of the main engine and/or to heat the main engine itself by suitable arrangement of the exhaust pipes of the auxiliary engine. The combustion air of the main engine may be heated by locating in the intake conduit either an energy converter, which transforms the output of an auxiliary engine into heat, or both an engine and a converter ; the converter is driven from the auxiliary engine through a clutch and gear transmission.