US991233A - Starting device for gas-engines. - Google Patents

Description

G. B. PBTSCHE. STARTING DEVICE FORGAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED P3125, 1907. i

Patented May 2, 1911;

2 SHEETSSHE'ET 1.

- D. v i

154 ATTORNEY.

Ill/$1? G. B. PETS CHE. STARTING DBVIGE FOB GAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1907, 99 1,233. Patented May 2, 1911.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

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GUSTAV BERNHARD PETSGHE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLV'ANIA, ASSIGNOR 1'0 SOUTHWARK FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COIKPANY, OF PHILADELPHIi, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORA'IIGN 0F PENNSYLVANEA.

STARTING- DEVICE FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2,1911.

Application filed. February 25, 1907. Serial No. 359,291.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, GUs'rAv B. Parsons, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing in the'city. and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Starting Devices for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a true and exact descrip tion, reference being hadto the accompany" ing drawings, which form a part thereof. My present invention relates to the starting of gas engines'by compressed air or gas and is primarilyflesigned. for use in starting gas engines having four explosive chambers, in each of which the operation is-on the four cycle plan, and as so designed, my present nvention comprises mechanism actuated by the valve gear controlling the valves of the engine in normal operation. The starting mechanism thus actuated by the regular valve gear in starting admits compressed air or gas to each explosive chamber or working cylinder end, during the portionof thev cycle carried out in said chamber or cylinder end correspondingto the stroke of the piston therein which in regular operation would be the working stroke.

Thus considered, my present invention diili'ers from that described and claimed by my prior application, Serial Number 238,918, filed December-30, 190%, in important features of construction and arrangement of the starting mechanism and the manner in which it is actuated by the regular valve gear, the object of my present invention be ing to simplify and improve upon the invert.

tion of my prior application.

While primarily dcsig ied for use with gas engine of the character referred to fllIlOVE, my invention comprises numerous novel features of construction and arrangement not necessarily limited to'use with any particular typeof engine.

The various features of novelty which.

characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity 111 the claims annexed to and formlng a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention,

however, and rife advantages obtained there by, reference may be had to the accompany ing drawings and descriptive matter in which 1 have illustrated somewhat diagra 'nmatically, one of the torms in which my invention may be carried out.

Inth drawings, Figure 1 .is a semi-diagrammatic figure, showing my improved starting mechanism applied to gas engines having two double acting cylinders arranged in tandem. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation through one of the working cylinders, showing the regular inlet and outlet valves and actuating mechanism therefor, and also the starting valve mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the pilot starting valve, and Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of the main starting valve taken on the line iit of Fig.2.

Referring to the drawings, A, A represent the working cylinders arranged in tandern, the pistons A in the cylinders (not shown in Fig. 1) being connected to each other by the piston rod C 0*, C and C represent the regular exhaust valve casings at the ends of the cylinders, each of the valve oasings'being connected by exhaust pipes D to the main ex haust pipe D the main outlet or exhaust valve E, one in each of the casings (3 G and C and inlet valve mechanism l? for each cylinder 7 end are operated in any suitable manner so that the operation in each cylinder is carried out on the four cycle plan. In the engine shown the regular valve actuating mechanism is arranged so that the stems E E E and connected to the exhaust valves in the casings C, C C and C respectively, open successively in regular order, and of course each one piston stroke before the opening of the corresponding inlet valve FL ln the form disclosed in Fig. 2 the four main inlet valves F, and the four main exhaust valves E are operated by two sets of cams G and G \hich reciprocate in paths parallel to the cylinders A, A and are operated by cranks set ninety degrees apart on a shaft, rotating at half the speed of the main driving shaft of the engine. I have inlet passage or chamber, H and an'outlet passage or chamber, H The inlet chamber H of each valve'is connected by a port H to the pipe H The pipes H are connected in turn to the supply pipe H which is the 5 source of compressed air, and by the term compressed air I mean to include any fluid under pressure of thegeneralcharacter of compressed air. Similarly, each exhaust chamber H9 is connected by a port H to the 10 corresponding exhaust pipe H, which may be open to the atmosphere or may be connected into the main exhaust pipe D Ports H and HF lead from the admission and exhaust chambers H and H respectively, to

15 the centrally located piston valve chamber H A passage H leads from oneend of the chamber H to the passage 0 connecting the corresponding cylinder end with the main exhaust port 0, controlled by the corresponding main exhaust valve E. It should be noted that the diameter of each valve E is less than the width of the corresponding ipassage C In consequence, the valves E, :which extend into the passages C do not fill the latter and do permit-air to pass to any combustion chainberifro'm the corresponding startingvalve port H when the corresponding valve E is on itsseat.

In ndrmal operation the'passages H and C areseparated by the valve 1, the stem'I of which carries the piston I working in the chamber H of the starting valve casing. Ont-he item Iis slidingly mounted-the large piston 'working in the chamber H. A spring J, surrounding the stem 1 extends between the pistons I and I and normally holds them in the positionshown in Fig. a in which they are fully separated and the valve I is on its seat. I The piston '1 has con- 40 nected to it a guiding extension I which works in the chamber H and also the hollow piston valve I", which moves from the position-shown in Fig. 4 in which it closes the ports H to the position in which it opens these ports and closes the ports H The inlet chambers L of the pilot valves L are supplied withcompressed' air when the starting mechanism is in operation, in any suitable manner as by connecting them through small pipes K to theports H leading from'the inlet chambers of the various starting valves. The outlet chamber L of each pilot valve is connected by'a pipe M to the port H leading to the inner end of the chamber H in which the piston I of the proper starting v lve works, The chambers L and L of each pilot valve, are normally separated bya piston valve L working in e a cylinder L open\ at itslower end to the valve chamber L and having its interior connected with the valve chamber L by a series of ports L". The stemgL of each pilot valve is adapted to engage an arm E carried by the stem of'the corresponding 55 main (exhaustQvalve, and to he held by said arm when the main exhaust valve is closed in the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the piston 1s below the ports L and the chambers L and L are separated. When the arm E is raised, however, as the main exhaust valve opens, the piston L is moved by the air pressure beneath it to a position above the ports L? and communication is thus established between the chambers L andL. (See left hand end of Fig. 1). The arrangement is such that the pipe M from each pilot valve runs to the starting valve of the cylinder end in which in normal operation a working stroke would be carried outwhile the exhaust valve controlling the pilot valve is open. The inlet chamber H of each starting valve is connected'by a passa e H and pipe H, to the outer outer end 0 the chamber H in which the piston I works.

Instarting the gas supply admitted to the cylinders by the valves F, in regular operation is cut ofi, and the pipes H are supplied I with compressed air or gas by the supply pipe H, The pressure of the compressed air thus admitted to the inlet chambers H and transmitted therefrom through the ports H and pipe H to the outer ends of the various chambers H is suiiicient to move the pistons I to the right against the action of the springs J, and thus move all the valves I oil their seats, whereby each cylinder end is in communication through the passage C with the passage H.

In any position in which the engine may have stopped one of the mam exhaust valves E is left open and the corresponding stem raised. (In Fig. 1 the extreme left end stem I E is raised.) In consequence the corresponding piston valve L is moved by the air pressure in the chamber L to connect the chambers L and L and pressure passes to the port H of the proper starting valve casing; via, the casing H when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1. This pressure acting on the inner side of the large piston I moves it to the left against the action of the spring J, and closes the ports H bf that starting valve and opens the ports H admitting compressed air to the corresponding cylinder end from the inlet chamber H of the starting valve casing which chamber is in communication with the compressed air supply pipe H through pipe H The spring J is not sufliciently strong to move the piston I outward against the action of the pressure acting on it, so that the valve I remains open. The pressure thus admitted to the cylinder end starts the engine in operation and at the end of a piston stroke the main exhaust valvevwhich was open, is closed by the regular valve gear, whereupon the corresponding pilot valve is of course closed and the starting valve controlled by it returns to its original condition, a leadage port orports L being provided to permit the escape of air from the pilot valve chamber L Wlien starting valve returns to its original osition the piston I closes ports H and opens ports H thus allowing the air in the corresponding end of the working cylindento escape through ports H into the starting valve outlet chamber H and from thence into the outlet pipe H As one main exhaust valve closes another opens thus allowing the pilot valve controlled by it to open and the operation thus described, is repeated to admit pressure to. another cylinder end and so 0 By the use of my invention the piping for supplying compressed air to the cylinder ends to move the engine is simple-and can be conveniently disposed, a matter of considerable importance, especially in large engines, where proper disposition of the ordinary starting devices is a troublesome matter. The pipes K and M connected to the pilot valves can be, of course, much smaller than the main pipes supplying the compressed air, and -a suitable disposition of these smaller pipes is easily obtained.

The starting mechanism can be applied in a very simple manner to the regular valve gear without necessitating any change in the operation or construction of the latter, e xcept theaddition of the arms E or equivagl'ent devices. While I prefer to operate the starting valves from the stems of the .ex-

haust valves as shown, it will. of course be understood that they may be operated from.

other portions of the valve gear, or indeed, under some circumstances, it may be desirable to operate them from some other moving parts of the engine. It will, of course, be understood that certain features of my invention may be employed without a corresponding use of others.

. Usually in two or three revolutions of the engine shaft sufficient momentum is acquired by the fiy-wheel to carry the engine along and the starting mechanism is then cut out of service by the simple expedient of cutting off the supply of compressed air, and at the same time the regular supply of explosive mixture is connected to the engine, which then operates in the regular manner. Having now described my invention, what desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a gas engine having one or more working chambers and a valve gear controlling the admission to and exhaust from each chamber in normal operation, starting'mechanism including a starting valve casing for each chamber having a passage leading to the corresponding working chamber and another passage. and means for supplying compressed air to the last mentioned passage, a valve in said casing controlling communica tion.between said passages, and fluid pressure actuating means for said valve, including a pilot controlling valve, means,actuated by the valve gear for controlling said pilot valve and a pipe controlled by said pilot valve and running from the pilot valve to the starting valve casing.

2. In a gas engine having a plurality of working chambers, starting valve casings,

ings, a starting valve in each starting valve casing and fluid pressure actuating mechanism for the starting valves including a pilot valve for each starting valve adjacent to-and operated by a moving part of the engine. p

3. In a gas engine having a plurality of working chambers, a main exhaust valve casing for each chamber, said main exhaust valve casings being arranged side by side, starting valve casings one attached to each main exhaust valve casing, pipes for supplying compressed air to the. starting valve casings, one connected to eachv starting valve casing, starting valves, one in each starting valve casing and fluid pressure actuating mechanism for the starting valves, including a pilot valve for each starting valve located adjacent to and operated by a moving part of the engine.

4. In a four-cycle gas engine having one or more Working chambers and a valve gear for controlling the admission to and exhaust from each chamber in normal operation, starting mechanism comprising a starting valve for each chamber operating in starting to admit compressed ,air to said chamher during the piston stroke which in normal operation would be the working stroke, and to connect the chamber to exhaust during the other piston. stroke, means for supplying each starting valve with compressed air and means for operating said valves including a pilot valve for. each starting valve and connections from the pilot valves to said valve gear.

5. In a' four-cycle gas engine having one or more working chambers and a valvegear for controlling the admission to and exhaust from each chamber in regular operation, starting mechanism including a starting valve casing for each, chamber having a supply passage or chamber and an exhaust chamber or passage connected to exhaust, means for supplying compressed air to said supply passage or chamber, a starting valve for each casing movable from a position in which it closes communication between the Working chamber and the exhaust passage to a position in which it .closes communication between the Working chamber and the supply passage, and means controlled by the valve gear for movingeach of said startingvalves so that each working chamber is connected to the supply passage during the period corresponding to the working stroke, carried out in the chamber in regular operation and to exhaust at other times.

6. In a four-cycle gas engine having one or more working. chambers, starting mechanism including a valve casing for each working chamber having a passage leading to said chamber, a supply chamber, and an exhaust chamber connected to exhaust, and having the supply and exhaust chambers connected to said passage by inlet and exhaust ports respectively, means for supplying said supply chamber with compressed air, a valve located in said'passage for controlling the inlet and exhaust ports, and

means for moving said valve in starting to open said lnlet port during the piston stroke which inlnormal operation would be the working stroke and to open the exhaust port during the strokes which in normal opera tion would be the exhaust, admission and compression strokes.

7. In a four-cycle gas engine having one or more working chambers, starting mecha nism lncluding starting valve casings, one for each combustion chamber, each of said casings having a passage leading to the working chamber, a supply chamber and an exhaust chamber connected to exhaust, and having said supply and exhaust chambers connected to said passage by ports, means for'supplying compressed air to said supply chamber, a valve controlling said ports and movable from a position in which it opens one port and closes the other to a position in which it closes the one and opens the other, yielding means tending to hold the valve at all times in one of said positions, and means actuated by the movement of the enginefor moving the valve at intervals into the other position.

8. In a gas engine having a plurality of working chambers, and a valve gear for controlling the admission to and exhaust from said chambers in regular operation, starting mechanism including a valve casing for each working chamber, said casing having a passage connected to the working chamber, a

supply chamber connected to said passage by an inlet port, an exhaust chamber connected to exhaust and to said passage by 'an exhaust port, and a piston chamber, means for supplying compressed air to said supply chamber, a valve controlling said ports and movable from a position in which it closes the inlet port and opens the exhaust port to a position in which it closes the exhaust port and opens the inlet port, yielding means tending to hold the valve in one position, and means for moving the valve against the action of said yielding means to the other position, said means including. a piston, a pilot valve controlling communication between ,said piston chamber and said source of compressed air and a connection from said valve gear for controlling said pilot valve.

In a gas engine having a plurality of working chambers, starting mechanism'ineluding starting valve casings one for each chamber, each starting valve casing having a valve chamber 11, inlet and exhaust chambers H and H" connected to the .valve chamber by the ports H and Il respectively, and also having the piston chambers II and H means supplying one end of ""tl1e latter chamber in starting with fluid under pressure, a starting valve mechanism for each starting. valve casing, including a valve I controlling communication between the valve. chamber and the corresponding working chamber, piston I connected to the valve I, working in chamber H and arranged to open the valve'I when'the pressure is admitted to said end of the chamber H piston I working in chamber H valve I connected to piston I and controlling ports H and H and a spring J, normally holding piston I in position in which valve I closes port H and uncovers port H and means actuated by the movements of the engine for intermittently admitting fluid under pressure to chamber H to move the valve I? through piston I? to uncover port H and close port H 10. In a gas engine having a plurality out working chambers, starting mechanism including starting valve casings one for each chamber, each starting valve casing having a valve chamber H ,inlet and exhaust chambers H and H connected to the valve chamber by the ports H and 1-1 respectively, and also having the piston chambers H and H means supplying one end of the latter chamber in startin with fluid under pressure, a starting valve mechanism for each starting valve casing, including a valve I controlling communication between the valve chamber andthe corresponding working chamb" r, piston I connected to the valve I and working in chamber H and arranged to open the valve I when pressure is admitted to said end of the chamber H piston I working in chamber H valve I connected to piston I and controlling ports H and H and a spring. J tending to hold pistons I and I in the positions in which the valve I is closed and the port H is covered and the-port H is uncovered,. and means actuated by the movements of the engine for intermittently admitting fluid under pressure to chamber H to move the valve I through piston I to uncover port H and close port H 11. In a gas engine having a plurality of working chambers, starting mechanism in cluding starting valve casings one for each chamber, each starting valve casing having under pressure, a starting valve mechanism for each starting valve casing, including a valve I cont-rolling communication between the valve chamber and the corresponding working chamber, piston I connected to the valve 1 and workingin chamber H and arranged to open'the valve I when pressure is admitted to said end of the chamber I piston I working in chamber H ,,valve I connected to piston I and controlling ports H and H and a spring J, normally holding piston I in position in which valve 1 closes port H and uncovers port H pilot valves L, one for each starting valve, each pilot valve having an inlet chamber supplied with fluid under pressure and an outlet chamber connected to the end of the chamber H, from which the piston 1 moves to uncover the port and cover the port H and means supplied by the movement of the engine for intermittently actuating saidpilot valves to connect their inlet and outlet sides.

12. Ina gas engine having a pluralityof Working chambers a valve gear controlling the admission to and exhaust from the working chambers in normal operation, a starting valve for each Working chamber, fluid pressure actuating mechanism therefor, including a pilot valve for each starting-valve, each pilot valve comprising a casing having an inlet chamber supplied with fluid under pressure, an outlet chamber connected to the starting valve and a valve member movable from a position in which communication between the inlet and outlet chambers is closed to a position in which communication between 'said chambers is established and a connection between said valve cham ber and-the valve gear whereby the latter moves said valve member from one of said positions to the other.

13. In a gas engine having a plurality of working chambers and a valve gear for controlling the admission to and exhaust from said chambers in regular operation, a starting valve for each chamber and fluid pressure actuating mechanism therefor, including a pilot valve for each starting valve, said pilot valve having a casing with an inlet chamber supplied with fluid under pressure, and an outlet chamber, said chambers being connected by a passage, and a valve member controlling said passage and normally urged from the position. in which communicationbetween the chambers is closed to the position in which it is open by the fluid pressure in the inlet chamber, and a connection from said valve gear which normally holds said valve member in the position in which the passage is closed but in termittently allows the valve member to move to open said passage.

14. In an internal combustion engine having inlet and outlet valves and means for operating them, a starting v'alve, a compressed air supply, mechanism operated by compressed air for opening the starting valve and keeping-it open, and independent means for regulating the admissionand exi haust of compressed air through the start ing valve. GUSTAV BERNHAED PETSCHE- Witnesses: I

ARNOLD KATZ, JOHN E. HUBBELL.

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