US1064055A - Gas-engine starter. - Google Patents

Description

C. H. (JUNO.

GAS ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1912.

1,064,055. Patented June 10, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

CHARLES H. CUNO, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

GAS-ENGINE STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 19.13.

Application filed April 5, 1912. Serial No. 688,586.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that- I, CHARLES H. OuNo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Meriden, New Haven county, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improveinentsin Gas- Engine Starters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved socalled gas engine starter in which a suitable fuel gas is measured off and distributed to engine cylinders whereby said gas may be ignited for the purpose of starting the engine.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and render very reliable and durable the various parts of the mechanism, the arrangement also being such that gas supply .under very low pressure may be availed of so that in the event of using acetylene, for example,'which is vended in storage tanks, it is possible to use the acetylene found in the storage tank even though said tank has been nearly exhausted. These and other advantages will be apparent to the mechanic skilled in this art from a reading of the following description and an examination of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an irregular sectional view taken substantially on the line ww of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line y7 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings I have shown my invention of a form adapted to a six-cylinder engine, although it is apparent that said apparatus may be adapted to an engine having any number of cylinders.

1 represents a main support upon which respective piston, and at the other end, to a movable head 6 located at the outer end of the apparatus.

7 is a valve, in this instance located in a relatively heavy central casting 2 preferably integral or rigid with the frame 2. This valve is held to its seat in any suitable manner and is provided with a telescopic stem comprising a central sect-ion 8 and an outside section 9. The outside section 9 projects out through the head 6 and is connected with a handle 10. The sections 89 of the valve stem are suitably held against independent rotation so that when the bandle 10 is turned, a corresponding movement will be imparted to the valve 7. By this arrangement, when the head 6 moves out with the pistons 4 and the rods 5,'the handle 10 will move out with said head (3, the telescopic valve stem permitting this movement.

11 is a gas inlet controlled by the valve 7, said inlet 11 being connected with any suitable source of gas supply, said gas supply being forced into the aforesaid apparatus through the passage 11 when the valve 7 stands in the proper posit-ion. Between the valve 7 and the distributing cylinders 3 I provide a suitable measuring apparatus whereby predetermined quantities of gas may be admitted to said distributing cylinders. In the preferred form of construction, this measuring mechanism comprises a piston 12 slidable in a cylinder 13, said piston 12 being moved in one direction by a spring 14 which may be varied in tension in any suitable manner, as by an adjustable base 15. The piston 12 normally stands in the position shown in Fig. l and carries-a valve 16 which controls a passage leading into the cylinder 13 at the end of the piston 12 opposite the spring 14. lVhen the piston 12 and. valve 16 stand as shown in Fig. 1, the last mentioned passage is open. Said passage is shown by the clearance around the stem of the valve 16. The valve 16 moves freely in a space provided in the block 2.

17 is a passage, one end of which communicates with the valve 7, the other end communicating with the'space in the block 2' in which the valve 16 moves.

18 is a passage which connects the side cf the cylinder 13 with the lower end of a distributing cylinder 3. Each distributing cylinder 3 should be provided with a passage 18.

1!)-1.9 are distributing outlets which lead to the several gas engine cylinders, these distributing outlets tapping into the side walls of the cylinder 13. The piston 12 is provided with passages 202O which connect the passages 18 with the distributing outlets 19 when the piston 12 stands in the position shown in Fig. 1.

21 is a partition between the valve seat for the valve 7 and the space in which .the valve 16 moves, said partition being preferably removable in this instance to facilitate manufacture and to also facilitate assembling of the parts and thereto for. the purposes of repair. By having this partition, it is obvious that no gas pressure can ever get under the valve 7 tending to unseat the same.

\Vith the foregoing description of the construct-ion, the following operation will be readily understood: To operate the mechanism, and starting from the position shown in Fig. 1, the handle 10 is grasped and the valve 7 isturned in a' direction to put the gas inlet 11 into communication with the cylinder 13; hence, gas forced through the passage 11 passes directly into the cylinder 13, forcing back the piston 12 against the pressure of the spring 14. As soon as the iston has been forced back so that its end will clear the passages 18, the inrushing will then flow through the passages 18 into the distributing cylinders 3, forcing back the pistons 4, whereupon the head 6 will move out until the pistons reach the .limit of their outward movement. Gas will con tinue to flow in until the desired pressure of gas (and hence the desired volume) has been forced into the distributing cylinders. This is determined by the tension of the spring 1 1.- When the pressure of the gas in the distributing cylinders 3 has reached the intended limit, any additional pressure will force the piston 12 farther in and will thereby-close the entrance passage into said cylinder through the medium of valve 16. In ordinary practice when this condition has obtained, the valve 7 would be closed by the handle 10, whereupon the gas supply would be cut off and the space above piston 12 vented whereupon, of course, the piston 12 would then return to its normal position shown in Fig. 1, putting the interior of the then charged distributing cylinders in communication with the distributing outlets 19 leading to the several cylinders of the engine. The operator will then press in on the projected parts by pressing against the hub of the handle 10. This will cause the pistons 4 to advance, thereby forcing the gas in the to afford access distributing cylinders into the gas engine cylinders, charging the same ready. for starting. By eliminating springs in the dis-. tributing cylinders, but very little pressure of gas-is required to charge or store the same. By preference the passages in the valve 7 should be such as shown in Fig. 2 wherein branches 22*23 are employed to put the inlet 11 in communication with the passage 17. There is also by preference a branch These branches are arranged at suitable an.- gles for the intended'work. 25 is an outlet which may lead to the ordinary gas'inlet pipe of a gas engine. By the arrangement of the branches in the valve 7 shown in the drawings. these branches may cooperate as follows: As shown in Fig. 2. the inlet 11 is in direct communication with the passage 17 to permit gas to be introduced into the distributing cylinders through the measuring cylinder. If the valve 7 is gii'en a par- .ial turn in a counterclocl-zwise direction, thegas suppl- Qs cut off. If it is given a further turn in the same direction, the branch 24- may be put in communication with the inlet 11 and the branch 22 may be put in communication with the outlet 2:") so that the gas simply may be passed directly from the source of supply to the ordinary gas inlet pipe of the'engine for the purpose ofrun-- ning the engine as long desired a'fter initial starting upon the stored supply, thus enabling the engine to be warmed up preparatory to being run normallv It should, of course, be understood'that I have desm'ibed my'invcntioirin its preferred form, but that I realize vari'o'iis modifications in structure and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departure from the pirit or scope of the invention.

The foregoing construction has the following conspicuous lrantage: If it should be found. that the gas stored in the engine cylinders is too rich. the operator may draw bacl; the head (3 and piston so as to till the distributing cylinders with air, which may be pumped into -the engine cylinders by simply pushing the said parts forwardagain.

Enough air will leak by the piston packmgs in the distributing cylinders to permit the filling of the same in this manner.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a gas engine starter, a distributing cylinder, a movable piston therein arranged for manual operation in one direction, a valved gas inlet passage leading to the distributing cylinder, and an automatic pressure-controlled means in said raissage arranged to close said pas age when the pressure of gas in said passage exceeds the resistance of said means. said distributing cylinder having a distributing passage for delivering the gas contained therein to a gas engine cylinder, and a manually-controllable valve for the gas inlet arranged in the passage between the automatic pressure-controlled means and the source of gas supply.

2. In a gas engine starter, a distributing cylinder, a movable piston therein arranged for manual operation in one direction, a valved gas inlet passage leading to the distributing cylinder, and an automatic pressure-controlled means in said passage arranged to close said passage when the pres sure of gas in said passage exceeds the resistance of said means, said distributing cylinder having a distributing-passage for delivering the gas contained therein .to a gas engine cylinder, said distributing passage being also controlled by said automatic pressure-controlled means. H

3. In a gas engine starter, a distributing cylinder,a movable piston therein arranged for manual operation in one direction, a valved gas inlet passage leading to the distributing cylinder, an automatic pressurecontrolled means in said passage arranged to close said passage when the pressure of gas in said passage exceeds the resistance of said means, said distributing cylinder having a distributing passage for delivering the gas contained therein to a gas engine cylinder, and means for varying the effective pressure of said automatic pressure-com trolled valve, and a manually-controllable valve for the gas inlet arranged in the passage between the automatic pressure-controlled means and the source of gas supply.

at. In a gas engine starter, a distributing cylinder having a gas inlet passage leading into one end of the same, a manually movable piston in said distributing cylinder, a manually controllable valve in said passage, an automatic valve for said passage in addition to said manually controllable valve, means for normally moving the automatic valve in a direction to open said passage comprising a piston, a cylinder containing said piston, and means operating against said piston to press it into the valve opening position, the pressure of gas moving the piston and its valve in a direction to close said valve and closing said valve when said pro-sure exceeds the pressure on the piston tending to open the same, said distributing cylinder having a distributing passage for delivering the gas to a gas engine, said distributing passage being controlled by the last mentioned piston, whereby said passage will be open when said piston is in one position and closed when said piston is in another position.

5. In a gas engine starter, at distributing cylinder, a movable piston arranged for manual operation in one direction, a valved inlet passage leading to said distribut ing cylinder, a normally open automatic pressure-controlled means for said passage arranged to close said passage when the pressure of gas therein exceeds the resistance of said means, said distributing cylinder having a distributing passage for delivering gas contained therein to a gas engine cylinder, and a manually controllable valve for the gas inlet arranged in the passage between the automatic pressure-controlled means and the source of gas supply.

6. In a gas engine starter, a distributing cylinder, a valved gas inlet passage leading into said distributing cylinder, a valve for said passage, a piston in the distributing cylinder, an outwardly projecting piston rod, a valve stem connected to said valve, the outer end of said stem being movable outwardly, a movable head for the other ends of said piston rod and valve stem, and an operating handle at the outer extremity of the valve stem and outside of said head, whereby said valve may be operated at all positions of said head.

7 In a gas engine starter, a plurality of distributing cylinders, a valved gas inlet leading to one end of each of said cylinders, a manually movable piston in each of said cylinders, a manually controllable valve for said gas inlet passage, a normally open antomatic valve for said passage, and pressurecontrolled means coacting with said valve and normally operating to hold the same open, said pressure-controlled means being in communication with the inlet passage whereby the pressure of gas entering op erates to move said means in a direction t close said automatic valve.

8. In a gas engine starter, a plurality of distributing cylinders, a valved gas inlet leadingto one end of each of said cylinders, a manually movable piston in each of said cylinders, a manually controllable valve for said gas inlet passage, a normally open automatic valve for said passage, pressurecontrolled means coacting with said valve and normally operating to hold the same open, said pressure-controlled means being in communication with the inlet passage whereby the pressure of gas entering operates to move said means in a direction to close said automatic valve, and a gas distributing passage leading from each of said distributing cylinders for delivering gas to a gas engine cylinder.

I 9. In a gas engine starter, a plurality of distributing cylinders, a valved gas inlet leading to one end of each of said cylinders, a manually movable piston in each of said cylinders, a manually controllable valve for said inlet passage, a normally open automatic valve for said passage, pressurecontrolled means coacting with said valve and normally operating to hold the same open, said pressure-controlled means being in communication with the inlet passage whereby the pressure of gas entering op-l crates to move said means in a direction to close said automatic valve, and a gas distributing passage leading from each of said distributing cylinders for delivering gas to a gas engine cylinder, each of said distributing passages being also controlled by said pressurecontrolled means.

CHARLES H. CUNO. \Vitnesses:

L. T. FULLER, vGr. H. DUTTON.

Images