Improvements in or relating to starting of free-piston internal combustion engine gas generators

摘要

605,009. Free - piston gas generators. VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS, Ltd., and DAVIS, D. E. Dec. 11, 1945, No. 33540. [Class 7 (i)] An opposed-piston free-piston internal-combustion engine gas generator is started by supplying compressed air to a cushion cylinder associated with each free-piston, either from a source or from a chamber which can communicate with the cushion cylinder by ports which chamber is connected to a source of compressed air and arranging that the air supplied to the cushion cylinders moves the pistons initially into a position in which the ports are uncovered so that the air in the chambers can effect the main starting stroke. As shown, chambers 6 can communicate with cushion cylinders 1 by ports 7, when cushion pistons 3 unmask the ports. A control valve 10 regulates the supply of compressed air from a source into the chambers 6 and cushion cylinders 1. The valve is first positioned to fill the chambers 6 and then turned so that it shuts off the air supply to these chambers and either connects the cushion cylinders direct to the source of compressed air or to the chambers 6. The air supplied to the cushion cylinders moves the pistons until the ports 7 are unmasked and the air from the chamber 6 then enters the cushion cylinders through ports 7 and effects the starting stroke. Non-return valves are provided in the air supply pipes to the cushion cylinders. As shown, compression takes place between the outer faces of the enlargements of the pistons and the ends of cylinders 2. The positions of the cushion cylinders and of the compression spaces may be interchanged or the cushion spaces may be at the outer side of a compressor cylinder in which compression takes place on an inward stroke.