US1363637A - Process and apparatus for starting internal-combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

.I. BRIZON. PBOCESS'AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZO, I919- Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

II v J. BRIZON.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, I9l9.

1,363,637. Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'fdTrhTlig ra tan JEAN BRIZON, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

Application filed May 20, 1919.

To all LU/L07IL it may concern:

e it known that I, JEAN BnIzoN, a citizen oi the Republic oi France, residing at No. Ql Boulevard de Gourcelles, Paris, Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for Starting Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process of starting internal combustion engines or the like, which is simple, forcible, reliable and with cut danger. The process consists in introducing into the cylinders at the moment when the starting is desired a suitable mixture of acetylene and air, introduction being caused by the suction in the cylinders during the slight rotation impressed on the engine.

it has already been proposed to start internal combustion engines by introducing acetylene into the cylinders. No such process, however, has so far provided certainty oi starting and the processes are all associated with the risk of accident. These drawbacks to the use or acetylene have been due chiefly to the fact that the acetylene has been introduced directly in a pure condition and under pressure from the container into the cylinders, and to the fact that the introduction has been either through the carbureter at the moment of stopping the engine or through special ducts fitted to he cylinders.

When the acetylene is di 'ectly introduced into the cylinders the greater part of it dissolves in the carbonaceous deposits and residues in the cylinder. When the introduction is not direct the arrangements for introducing the acetylene complicate the construction of the cylinders which become dirty, thereby injuring the operation.

Finally, in the known processes a homogeneous mixture is not attained because since the acetylene enters while the pistons are stationary it becomes superposed on the gases already in the cylinder, so that the composition of the mixture is always uncertain and unsuitable.

The present invention avoids these several objections, and provides certain starting without danger and with the minimum ap paratus and weight. These results are attained by using a mixture specially pre pared beforehand in strictly determined proportions, such that the mixture is thor- Specification of Letters Patent.

ENGINES.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Serial No. 298,572.

oughly efficient for its purpose, and by introducing this mixture, as already indicated, by the normal suction of the engine at the moment when starting is desired.

The best mixture consists of 1 part of acetylene to 20 parts of air by volume measured at the same pressure. In this proportion the acetylene is in tact highly explosive at atmospheric pressure and consequently it need not be compressed and there is not the danger of its being detonated, which danger has been a drawback common to all the processes hitherto used. Finally, in this mixture the combustion of the acetylene does not leave any harmful residue in the engine, such as has been a dilliculty in the use of the gas with a Smaller proportion of air.

The same proportion, however, is not essential and may be varied in practice within certain limits provided that the proportion of air present is sutficiently in excess of that requisite for the complete combustion of acetylene to provide an inert gas having a damping effect. Practically the proportions should be between 15 and 25 parts of air to 1 part of acetylene; 15 parts being twice the proportion necessary for producing the most violent explosion.

In order that the desired mixture may be obtained with safety, a simple device acting with certainty is interposed between the acetylene bottle and the intake pipe of the engine, into which the mixture formed passes.

This device consists in principle of causing the acetylene to issue under pressure through a converging nozzle opening into a pipe of much larger diameter and perforated for passage of air drawn in by the suction produced by the issue of the acetylene from the nozzle.

The invention also comprises details of constr ction whereby the Weight and number of parts of the installation are reduced to a minimum, while the simultaneity of the control 07: the different operations necessary for starting is insured. Thus the invention allows of the filling of a variable number of cylinders at the precise moment of starting without any modification of or addition to the cylinders, such as the addition of a supplementary pipe which might affect or disturb the running of theengine. It also allows starting by means of acetylene without danger and with certainty, this being due to (1) the constant composition of the cases.

mixture introduced and the certainty that this mixture would explode'in the cylinders, and (2) introduction without fail at the very moment of starting under the normal suction of the cylinders throughtheir admission pipe while the speed is low.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, particularly as applied to an aircraft engine or to the engine of a motor road vehicle.

Figure 1 shows in section the apparatus for mixing the air and acetylene.

Fig. 2 is a plan of a starting installation on an aircraft.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the starting installation for a motor road vehicle.

Figs. 4 and 5 show details of the modification shown in Fig. 3.

In both cases the method of mixing is the same, there being interposed between the acetylene container and the suction pipe of the engine a mixer of the kind represented in Fig. 1.

The acetylene issuing from the container 9 passes through a needle valve and a pressure reducer i into the mixing apparatus after having passed a valve 0. When this valve is open the acetylene is suitablyexpanded and issues through the nozzle is designed to produce the suitable mixture by the injector action which it produces in the pipe Z.

Pipe Z has orifices m open to the atmosphere and through these the air enters to mix with the acetylene to form the mixture which is to be used for the cylinders. Although the apparatus may be adjusted once and for all, means are provided to render the apparatus suitable in different For this purpose the nozzle can easily be dismounted and exchanged for one of a larger'or smaller caliber and there is a nut n which can be screwed on the pipe Z so as more or less to cover the orifices m. These adjusting devices are for varying the mixture to make it suitable for different types of engine, to the speed impressed on the engine for charging it with the mixture and like conditions, but it must be understood that when the proportions are once established there is nothing further to be done by way of adjustment during the use of the installation.

When the mixer 'hasbeen constructed with a view to its application to a known type of engine, installed in a well known manner, the proportions can be fixed by the needle valve of the pressure reducer g and by the orifices m, the proportion being suitably calculated to give the best mixture under the conditions which prevail.

In this simplified arrangement the mixer may be connected directly with the valve fixed on the bottle of dissolved acetylene and this valveris of such a caliber that it when the desired pressure of expansion has been attained there is produced a characteristic whistling. Thus the operation of the apparatus is very simple; the operator turns the needle valve 9 slowly until he hears the whistle. At this moment the suitable proportion is obtained, the valve is left in the position which has been given to it and the engine is charged in the manner presently to be indicated. It will be noted that in the system just described the proportioning is entirely automatic so that all causes of error are avoided, notably the accidental introduction of acetylene under too strong a pressure which might occur with a pressure reducer i in consequence of erroneous observation of the latter. Moreover, the system allows the placing of the valve 0 before the air admission orifices m and in consequence the suppression of the admission of supplementary air by these orifices during running.

The valve 0 may be operated in any manner by a device combined with the parts for impressing the turningmovement on the engine so as to simplify operation.

In Fig. 2 the crank 0 is geared by wheels p and g with the shaft of the motor a which is mounted at the front of the aeroplane. This crank and its shaft may have either of two positions, namely that shown in full lines wherein the wheel .29 is engaged with the wheel g, and that shown in dotted lines 110 wherein the wheel 79 is disengaged so that the crank is no longer geared to the engine.

The latter is'the normal position.

In starting the engine the shaft of the crank c is brought into gear with the wheel g. This movement is produced 'by means of the 'lever 1' and produces operation .of the valve 0 the lever arm 't of which is connected by a fork s, or any other device, with the lever 1". V V

The valve 9 of the acetylene container 9 is then opened and the mixture containing gases in proper proportion passes from the mixer placed at y and through the tube (Z to the connections e of the latter with the intake pipe f of the engine. To charge the cylinders the engine must be turned through a suitable fraction of a revolution by the crank c. This operation requires little effort whatever may be the power of the engine, since the cylinders are empty and the turning movement is slow, so that there is no strong compression; moreover, the suction is aided by the slight plus pressure of the mixture. The force required, therefore, to operate the crank is very limited and cannot be compared with that which would be necessary to start the engine directly. It follows that in many cases the starting crank may be altogether eliminated and the cylinders charged by turning the propeller.

When the cylinders are charged it is only necessary to complete the ignition circuit to start the engine. For this purpose there may be a contact 0 on the crank c which insures the production of a spark only after the threecylinder or four-cylinder engine has been charged.

For this purpose the ignition circuit ought to be specially arranged. There may be used an ordinary starting magneto having a starting contact or an accumulator connected with the secondary winding of the usual magneto. When an auxiliary magneto is used in conjunction with a starting crank this magneto, placed for instance at m, may be driven by the crank 0 through suitable gearing.

In this case the contact 0) of the crank is so arranged that it connects the magneto with ground so long as the several. cylinders have not been charged, in order that the gas admitted may not burn as it is admitted.

For this purpose a brush .2 may keep the circuit of the magneto connected with ground so long as the insulated piece e, which completes the auxiliary ignition circuit, is not pressed. Pressure is not applied to the piece '0 until the desired number of cylinders nas been charged. The spark then passes but only at the desired moment owing to the distributor of the magneto or any other ignition device.

When the engine has started under action of the acetylene, the crank shaft d es not continue to turn owing to a known device generally adopted in the starting cranlrs of motor vehicles, and the crank shaft is withdrawn into the position in which the gear wheels 39 and g are no longer engaged. The various operations necessary for starting may be performed conveniently by the ch auiieur from his seat 2'. They demand but little effort and the engine may be started in about five seconds.

The modification shown in Figs. 3, a and 5 is adapted more particularly for engines of low and medium powers. it may advantageously be applied to motor road vehicles.

The principle or" the apparatus is that already described. A mixer y, similar to that described with reference to Fig. 2, is placed between the acetylene container and the intake pipe 7 of the engine. Its valve is controlled by means of a flexible transmission t" at 4 a same time that the engine is turned for charging. For this purpose the lever r controlling the starting of the engine carries a. hand lever 6' connected with the trans mission t. The lever r is preferably at the side of the vehicle. The chaufieur moves it through a certain angle, at the end of which movement the lever completes the ignition circuit at a contact 7/.

The movement 01". lever 1 is transmitted to the engine by a wheel a and a pinion 17 carrying a bevel gear engaged in a corresponding gear g. The latter drives a chain wheel 0 adapted to be automatically disconnected and driving a pinion (Z on the ongilgp shaft.

r or automatically uncoupling the lever r as soon as the engine is running there may be used a device such as that shown, in Fig. 5, whereby the shaft can be driven only at the desired moment. In this figure the bevel wheel f is fixed to the shaft g on which can slide easily a sleeve it having clutch teeth. Like teeth are carried by a wheel 0 having peripheral teeth a" and mounted tree on the shaft 9 on a ball bearing is.

A light spring Z normally keeps the clutch teeth of the sleeve 71 engaged with those of the wheel 71'] 1 V hen the lever 7* is turned in the direction of rotation of the engine, the force impressed is transmitted through the clutch teeth but when the engine has been started it at once acquires a speed far higher than that of the teeth of the wheel 0', and, the latter tending to drive the sleeve it, the clutch teeth ride over each other and there is no driving engagement. A simple device may be provided for holding up the sleeve 71." during running in order that the clutch teeth may not be constantly rubbing against each other.

It will be seen that the invention insures in all cases of its application, rapid starting without efi ort on the part of the engine- It may be noted that the certainty of startingand the safety, which have never been realized with use of acetylene, are due to the special mixer and to the normal suction used for introducing the mixture into the cylinders. The use of this suction makes it no longer necessary to use the mixture under high pressure, thus eliminating a known danger, and moreover the normal suction allows the mixture to occupy completely the available space in the cylinder without being superposed on residual gases contained therein, as has been the case when known injection devices have been used. The said devices had, moreover, the very grave inconvenience of necessitating auxiliary parts on the cylinder and consequently making the construction of the latter difficult and depreciating its operation.

The invention is not limited to the devices described; both the proportions and the accessory parts in the system may be changed while retaining the same mode oi operating based on the same principle.

tion and the best means I know for carrylng the same into practical effect, I claim 1. A process for starting internal combustion engines, which process consists in effecting a mixture of acetylene and air containing a proportion of air at least double that which would produce a mixture giving the maximum explosion, injecting said mixture into the engine cylinder, while imparting a slight movement to the piston, whereby the introduction of the injected mixture is assisted by suction, and then igniting the mixture to produce an explosion. V

2. A process for starting internal combustion engines, which process consists in effecting a mixture of acetylene and air containing a proportion of air greatly exceeding that which yields a mixture giving maximum explosion, but well within the practical limit of the inflannnability of the mixture, injecting said mixture into the engine cylinder, while imparting a slight movement to the piston, whereby the introduction of the injected mixture is assisted by suction, and then igniting the mixture to produce an explosion.

3. A starting device for an internal combustion engine, comprising a reservoir of acetylene under pressure, a mixing device for gas fed from said reservoir, comprising a discharge nozzle and a surrounding cylinder, having inlets through which air may be drawn by the discharged gas to forma mixture, means located between said reservoir and said nozzle for reducing and controlling the pressure of the gas fed to said mixing device, and means for conducting the gas mixture to the engine cylinders.

4. A starting device for an internal combustion engine, comprising a reservoir oi acetylene under pressure, a mixing device for gas fed from said reservoir, comprising a discharge nozzle and a surrounding cylinder having inlets through which air may be drawn by the discharged gas to form a mixture, means located between said reservoir and said nozzle for reducing and controlling the pressure of the gas fed to said mixing device, and means for conducting the gas mixture to the engine cylinders.

55. Apparatus for starting internal combustion engines, comprising a manual starting device normally disconnected from the engine shaft, a magneto device, normally disconnected from said manual starting de vice, means for introducing a starting mixture to the engine cylinder, comprising a mixing device having a valve, a starting controller for opening said valve and con comitantly efiecting driving connections from said starting device to said engine shaft and said magneto device, and means cooperating with said starting device, at a predetermined point in, its movement, to render said magneto device efi'ective to ignite a charge of gas in said cylinder.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

JEAN BRIZON.

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