Improvements in Carburetors.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1890
CODE LEIE MULTATION.
Improvements in Carburetors.
I, JAMES JOSEPH COOPER, residing at 1426 Wharton Street, in the City of
Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Insurance Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :--
My invention relates to certain new and useful Improvements in Carburetors and is
designed to furnish novel means for maintaining the incoming air or gas current to be
carbureted at a temperature somewhat higher than the temperature of the hydro-
carbons employed in the carburetor whilst at the same time maintaining automatically
the temperature of the latter at a point higher than that of the external air.
My invention further relates to certain details of construction and certain novel
arrangements of parts as are hereinafter described, and more specifically set forth in
the claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification,
Fig. 1 represents a vertical sectional view of the carburetor and its adjuncts;
Fig. 1 represents an enlarged end view of one of the frames upon which the
absorbent material of the carbureting chambers is wound, and illustrates the method
of winding the same ;
Fig. 2 represents a plan view taken upon a plane indicated by the line 2-2 of
Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of my improved construction of feed receptacle
for the carburetor, and
Fig. 4 represents in section my preferred construction of a thermostatic air
regulator.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.
Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a vessel or receptacle for the reception of the
liquid hydrocarbon to be used as the carbureting fluid. The liquid hydrocarbon is
fed into the receptacle 1 from time to time through the entrance pipe 2, and finds its
exit through the pipe 3, provided with a stop cock 4, and a delivery valve 5, said
delivery valve being located within a feed chamber 6 adapted to be operated by a
float 7, and its connections as shown more fully in Fig. 3. Beneath the receptacle 1
are located the chambers 8, 9, communicating with each other by means of the pipe 10,
and communicating with the feed chamber 6 by means of the pipes 11 and 12, said
pipes being provided with stop cocks 13 and 14 respectively. The chambers 8 and 9
are provided with cross partitions extending from opposite sides of the chamber, and
alternating with each other, so as to form a sinuous or zigzag passage indicated
more clearly by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. Between the partitions are located the
frames upon which the absorbent material to be employed in said carburetors is wound
or stretched. The absorbent material employed is preferably wool, and is wound
about and across the framework in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, so as to present
a large extent of surface to the incoming air or gas. The chamber 9 is provided with
a central depression 15 for the collection of the heavier portious of the hydrocarbons,
which heavier portions being unsuitable for use as carbureting agents are drawn off
from time to time through the pipe 16 to some convenient receptacle outside the
building. This obviates the necessity of using a pump for the removal of the heavy
hydrocarbon, while at the same time there is no opportunity for the escape into the
building of noxious and disagreeable odours from the carburetor. The receptacles 1,8,9,
and a further receptacle 17 are all surrounded and enclosed within an external jacket
or housing 18, hermetically sealed, an intervening space being left between the
interior of said housing and the exterior walls of the varions receptacles for the

page_text: I
circulation of a body of warm water. The warm water may conveniently he admired
into the intervening space referred to by means of a pipe 19, leading from a flout
chamber 20 having the usual overflow 21. and float 22 governing a valve 23, said
valve being located at the end of a pipe 21, extending from a float chamber 25, ful
from the street main by means of the float netuate valve 26. The float chamber 25
is of metal, adapted to be heated by a flame as 27 or otherwise so as to raise the
water therein to the proper temperature. The receptacle 17 consists of an hermetically
sealed vessel filled with air and provided with a series of pipes, 28 open at both ends,
and extending entirely through the vessel so as to permit the warm water contained
in the housing 18 to circulate freely through said pipes. A pipe 29+ xtends outwardly
from the reseptacle 17 through the housing to the external air, and is provided out-ide
of the housing with a stop rock 30. A pipe 31 extends to and communicates with
the interior of a mercury emp or trap 32 provided with a hell på mger 30 mdapted to
rise within the mercury cont sined in the outer shell 34. At its upper end the bell 33
is connected with an arm 35 pivoted at 56, and having at its opposite end a contact 37
adapted to make or break an electric circuit according as the Fell 3 descends or rises.
In the eletric circuit referred to is includ d the battery X and magnet Y, the
may net Y, being provided with a spring armature 38 pivotel at 39 and connected
by suitable links with the drawing off or waste cock 40 locates in a pipe leading from
the int rior of the housing 18 to a dinin or some other resept tele ont-ile of the
building.
The purposes of the devices last described is to maintain the hydrocarbon within
the receptable 1, 8, 9, contained within the housing at a predetermined temperature,
This is ffted as follows: Warm water is admittel throngn the pipe 19 into the
housing 18 at the temperature which it is dired to impart to the hydrocarbon
within the carlaureting and teeding chambers. During this operation, the stopcock 30
of the receptach 17 is lett open and consequently the air within said recaptaela 17
and within the mercury cup connected with it will remain at normal pressure, and
will exert no influence upon the bill 33. When the housing has been filled with
warm water of the desire temperature, the stop cock 30 is closed, thereby leaving a
body of contined air within the receptacle 17, said air communicating with the interior
The passage of the gas or air through the carbureting
of the mercury enp.
chunters 8. 9, during the operation of the carburetor will cause an absorption of heat
thereby lowering the temperature of said chambers, and cooling correspondingly the
water in the housing 18. The air in the receptacle 17 will in like mummer become
cooled an i will contract, thereby causing the bell 33 of the mercury cup to be drawn
downwardy by the partial vacum due to the contraction or condensation of the air,
and in its descent, causing the pivote contact arm 33 to use the lattery circuit,
energize the magnet Y, thereby attracting the spring armature 38, and opening the
waste cork it whereupon the cooled water in the housing 18 will begin to flow
outward into the drain, and a fresh supply of warm water will be admitted through
the pipe 19 until the water in the housing 18 shall have again attained the normal
temperature whereupon the air in the receptacle 17 will expand causing the bell 33 io
rise. The batt ry irenit will thereupon be broken, and the spring armature 38 being
no longer attracted by the magnet Y will be drawn back by its spring thereby closing
the waste cock 10, until the parts are again brought into action by a subsequent
lowering of temperature of the carburetor.
It will be evident that by the use of this device the water in the housing 18 may bo
kept automatically at any desired temperature, which temperature may be pre-
determine by leaving the stop cork 30 open in the first instance until the required
temperature is attained.
I have found that to adapt my carburetor to the best advantage for use with
air or gas of different qualities, and carbureting liquids of different consistencies,
it is desirable to provide means for imparting to the gas or air, a temperature
slightly in excess of that prevailing in the carburetor.
For this reason I havo adopted means for raising the gas or air to such higher
temperature, and maintaining it at said temperature automatically, said means to

page_text: be independent of the means employed for maintaining the temperature of the
hydrocarbon liquids within the carburetor. To this end, I locute preferably upon
the top of the housing 18 a vessel 41 connected to the float chamber 25 by means
of a pipe 42, and having a drawing off pipe 18, provided with a waste cock 4,
said pipe 43, extending into the drain. Within the receptacle 41 extends in
serpentine form the air or gas pipe 45, which pipe enters the lower carbureting
chamber 9, as shown in Fig. 1. Surrounding the receptacle is a casing 46, an
intervening space being left between the receptacle 41 and the casing 46 for the
reception of a body of confined air, and a pipe provided with a cock 47, being
provided for opening or shutting off communication between said space and the
outer air. A pipe 48 communicates with a mercury cup similar in construction
and function to that hereinbefore described, the mercury cup 33' being connected
with the pivoted arm 35 said arm serving as a circuit closer for a divided circuit
taken from the battery X, as shown in Fig. 1. In said divided circuit is included
the magnet having a spring actuated armature 381 pivoted at 39' and connected
by suitable links to the waste cock 44.
It will be evident that by the use of this thermostatic apparatus, the temperature
of the gas passing through the serpentine pipe 45 may be automatically regulated
independently of the temperature of the hydrocarbons within the carbureting
chambers, the automatic regulation being effected in the same manner as horein-
before described. The addition of this second thermostatic regulator enables me
to determine beforehand a given temperature for said gas of a higher degree than
that prevailing in the carburetor chambers, and to maintain said temperature
automatically, or to vary it as circumstances may require without altering the
The general
temperature found most advisable for the carbureting chamber.
carbureting operation is as follows: The air or gas to be carbureted, passes through
the serpentine windings of the pipe 45 in which it attains the predetermined
uniform temperature desired. It then passes downwardly into the lower carbureting
chamber 9, and through the zigzag passages of said carburetor through the pipe 10
into the carbureting chamber 8, and out into the exit pipe 49 to the holder. In
its passage through the carbureting chambers 8 and 9 it comes in contact with
the wool suspended upon the frames between the partitions, said wool having
taken up by capillary attraction the hydrocarbon liquid admitted into the chambers
from the feeding chamber 6, and becomes carbureted by such contact.
The carbureting chambers 8 and 9 receive their supply of carbureting liquid
from the receptacle 1 in the following manner:
The hydrocarbon liquid passes by the pipe 3 through the valve 5 which is open
when the float 7 is at or near the bottom of the chamber 6. The outflowing liquid
from the valve 5 strikes the partition 50, which is preferably composed of a slicet
of lead or other flexible material, fashioned or formed into a spoon shape, as
shown in Figure 3 and connected at its forward end to the side of the feed
chamber where it communicates with the pipe 11 leading into the carbureting
chamber 8. The hydrocarbon liquid entering the chamber 8 rises in suid chamber
until it reaches the opening of the pipe 10 through which the overflow descends
into the carbureting chamber 9. Within the carbureting chamber 9, it rises to
the level of the pipe 12, and passes through said pipe into the lower portion of
It will be evident
the chamber 6 causing the float 7 to rise, closing the valve 5.
that as the level of the liquid falls in the carbureting chambers, the float 7 will
in turn descend reopening the valve 5, and automatically renewing the supply of
carbureting liquid.
The flexible partition 50, 1 regard as a feature of considerable importance in
my invention. Thus when the gas or air may be sufficiently carbureted for the
purpose of any particular use by coming into contact with the carbureting liquid
only in the lower chamber 9, it will merely he necessary to bend the flexible
partition 50 downwardly or to one side out of the path of the liquid issuing from
the valve 5. Said liquid will therefore pass directly to the bottom of the feed
chamber, and through the pipe 12 into the chamber 9 without entering the

page_text: chamber 8. Moreover, the flexibility of the partition 50, enables it to bo turned
aside so that the bottom of the feed chamber may be readily accessible through
the top opening 51, thereby permitting the float to be clanner of any deposits
that may have formed upon it, and permitting the ready removal of anything which
may have accidentally fallen into the bottom of the font chamber during such
times as the valve 5 is being cleaned or adjusted by the workman.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. A carburetor consisting of an oil supply tank, 1, carbureting chambers 8,9,
communicating with each other by pipe 10, and a feed chamber 6, communicating
with the oil supply elamber by a pipe 3, having a float operated valve 5, and with
carbureting chambers 8, 9. by pipes 11, 12, said feed chambers being provided with
the flexible partition 50, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a carburetor of means for heating the oil in the
carburetor; a thermostat, controlled by such oil heating means and arranged to
maintain the oil at a predetermined temperature; a pipe for conveying air or gas
into the carburetor; means for heating the air or gas prior to its entrance into
the carburetor and a second thermostat controlled by such air heating means, and
arranged to maintain the air or gas entering the carburetor at a predetermined
temperature slightly above that at which the oil in the carburetor is maintained;
substantially as described.
:
3. The combination with a carburetor of means for heating the oil in the
carburetor an electric thermostat controlled by such oil heating means, and arranged
to maintain the oil at a predetermined temperature; a pipe for conveying air or
gas into the carburetor; means for heating the air or gas prior to its entrance into
the carburetor a second electric thermostat controlled by such air heating means
and arrange to maintain the air or gas entering the carburetor at a predetermined
temperature slightly above that at which the oil in the carburetor is maintained;
and a battery common to both thermostats, the thermostats being in divided circuit
from suid battery; substantially as described.
JAMES JOSEPH COOPER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.