An Improvement in Motor Engines Worked by the Combustion of Spray of Petroleum or other Combustible Liquids.
Year: 1888

page_text: An Improvement in Motor Engines Worked by the Combustion of
Spray of Petroleum or other Combustible Liquids.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to notor engines wherein spray of petroleum or other
combustible liquid, together with air, is introduced into a charging space in the engine
cylinder so as, on being there ignited, to expand and propel the piston.
According to the present improvement, instead of effecting the spraying of the
petroleutu, the admixture therewith of air and the ignition of the combustible mixture
thus produced in the said charging space of the cylinder itself, these operations are
effected in a passage of comparatively small sectional area leading into the cylinder.
It is well known that there are considerable difficulties attendant on the certain
ignition of a mixture of sprayed or vaporised petroleum and air and its useful
employment for driving motor engines. It is necessary for this purpose to heat the
combustible mixture in the first instance to a considerable extent, for which purpose
the charging chamber of the cylinder has to be heated, or to be maintained in a
heated condition, and this sometimes leads to the overheating of the cylinder causing
premature ignition of the combustible charges. Furthermore, the residual combustion-
products from the previous explosion remaining in the charging space of the cylinder
effects the dilution of the combustible mixture; and the greater this dilution is, the
more it is necessary to heat the cylinder, thus tending to produce premature explosions
as explained. On the other hand the less the dilution of the charge is, the more easily
and rapidly is its ignition effected, and the less heating of the charging chamber is
required.

page_text: By effecting the spraying of the petroleum, its admixture with air and ignition in
a comparatively narrow passage leading into the cylinder instead of in the cylinder
itself, according to the present invention, the above described difficulties are obviated,
as the air introduced into the said passage for admixture with the spray drives the
products of combustion from the same into the cylinder so that the portion of the
combustible charge contained in this passage reinains practically undiluted, as compared
with that portion which passes into the charging space of the cylinder; and even on
the compression of the charge, the composition of the portion in the passage remains
practically unchanged.
Furthermore, by so forming the said passage that it projects to a great extent from
the cylinder, it is capable of being readily heated to a certain degree without unduly
heating the cylinder itself, and as the combustible mixture contained in the passage is
practically undiluted, its ignition will be effected with certainty with only a inoderate
preliminary heating, which precludes premature ignition.
The arrangement of the said passage and ineans for introducing the petroleum in
the form of spray therein and mixing it with air can be variously modified.
Thus the passage may either project centrally from the cylinder cover or it may
project from the side of the cylinder, and be so arranged that the combustible mixture
on passing from it into the cylinder comes in contact either with the hot sides of the
latter or with a specially heated plate.
The cylinder may either be entirely cooled by water circulation, as heretofore, or
the charging space may be left partly uncooled. The spraying of the combustible
liquid may be effected by an injector spraying apparatus of known construction
arranged at the end of the said passage into which the necessary air for admixture
with the spray is introduced through a lateral opening controlled by a valve.
The ignition of the charge in the said passage may either be effected by an externally
heated igniting tube of known construction, or by an electric spark, or by any other.
known means.
. Dated this 17th day of April 1888.

page_text: 1
Spray of Petroleum or other Combustible Liquids.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to notor engines wherein spray of petroleum or other
combustible liquid together with air is introduced into a charging space in the engine
cylinder so as on being there ignited to expand and propel the piston.
According to the present improvement, instead of effecting the spraying of the
petroleum, the adinixture therewith of air,and the ignition of the combustible mixture
thus produced in the said charging space of the cylinder itself these operations are
effected in a passage of comparatively small sectional area leading into the cylinder,
It is well known that there are considerable difficulties attendant on the certain
ignition of a mixture of sprayed or vaporised petroleum and air and its useful
employment for driving motor engines. It is necessary for this purpose to heat the
combustible mixture in the first instance to a considerable extent, for which purpose
the charging chamber of the cylinder has to be heated, or to be maintained in a heated
condition and this sometimes leads to the overheating of the cylinder causing
premature ignition of the combustible charges. Furthermore, the residual combustion
products from the previous explosion remaining in the charging space of the cylinder
effects the dilution of the combustible mixture, and the greater this dilution is, the
inore is it necessary to heat the cylinder, thus tending to produce premature explosions
as explained. On the other hand, the less the dilution of the charge is, the more easily
and rapidly is its ignition effected, and the less heating of the charging chamber is
required.
By effecting the spraying of the petroleum, its admixture with air and ignition in
a comparatively narrow passage leading into the cylinder instead of in the cylinder
itself, according to the present invention, the above described difficulties are obviated,
as the air introduced into the said passage for admixture with the spray, drives the
products of combustion from the same into the cylinder, so that the portion of the
combustible charge contained in this passage remains practically undiluted as
compared with that portion which passes into the charging space of the cylinder, and
even on the compression of the charge, the composition of the portion in the passage
remains practically unchanged. Furthermore, by so forming the said passage that it
projects to a great extent from the cylinder,it is capable of being readily heated to a
certain degree without unduly heating the cylinder itself, and as the combustible
mixture contained in the passage is practically undiluted its ignition will be effected
with certainty with only a moderate preliminary heating which precludes premature

page_text: ignition. The arrangement of the said passage and means for introducing the petroleum
in the form of spray therein and mixing it with air can be variously modified.
Thus the passage may either project centrally from the cylinder cover or it may
project from the side of the cylinder, and be so arranged that the combustible mixture
on passing from it into the cylinder comes in contact with either the hot sides of the
latter or with a specially heated plate.
The cylinder may either be entirely cooled by water circulation as heretofore, or
the charging space may be left partly uncooled. The spraying of the combustible
liquid may be effected by an injector spraying apparatus of known construction
arranged at the end of the said passage into which the necessary air for admixture
with the spray is introduced through a lateral opening controlled by a valve.
The ignition of the charge in the said passage may either be effected by an externally
heated igniting tube of known construction or by an electric spark, or by any other
known means.
The accompanying drawing shews by way of example a part longitudinal section of
a petroleum motor engine in which L is the charging chamber for containing the
compressed combustible charge prior to ignition, A is the before mentioned passage
projecting centrally from the cylinder cover, and provided at its end with an injector
spraying apparatus B of known construction through which the petroleum spray is
forced by an air jet the requisite air supply for mixing with the spray being introduced
through the valve C. D is the externally heated tube for igniting the combustible
charge.
As the heated passage or chamber A communicates directly with the cylinder so
that the charge passes into the latter without being restricted by having to pass
through admission valves, not only is any appreciable cooling of the heated charge
avoided, but also there is not injurious heating of adinission valves through which the
heated charge would otherwise have to pass.
Also, by effecting the combustion of a portion of the charge in the passage itself,
the external heating of this is assisted, and may even in some cases be dispensed with,
when the combustible liquid employed is such as not to require a higher degree of
heat for effecting its perfect evaporation than can be obtained by the said combustion
of the charge.
In the engine shown on the drawing the charge is automatically ignited by means of
the externally heated tube D at the moment when it attains its highest degree of
compression in a manner already known. In place of this arrangement may also be
used any other known arrangement for igniting the combustible charges such as by
an electric spark or by an igniting slide or valve which, at the required inoment puts
the charge in communication with an igniting flame or incandescent body.
Such igniting appliance might also be applied in the cylinder itself instead of in the
passage A although for the reasons given, I much prefer the former arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a petroleum motor engine, the method of heating externally, a passage or
tubular chamber projecting from the cylinder and communicating directly therewith
into which passage or tubular chamber the charge of combustible liquid mixed with
air is injected so as to become heated before passing thence into the cylinder whereby
the complete combustion of the combustible charge is insured,substantially as herein
described.
2. In a petroleum motor engine, the method of injecting the spray of combustible
liquid and air, into a passage or chainber of restricted sectional area communicating
directly with the cylinder from which passage the combustible mixture passes into the
charging chamber of the cylinder, so as to mix with the residual gases therein, the
ignition of the charge being effected in the said passage or chamber containing more
or less undiluted combustible mixture whereby a certain ignition of the charge is
insured
11

page_text: 3. In a petroleum motor engine, the combination with the engine cylinder of a
passage or chamber of small sectional area provided with spraying apparatus for the
introduction of petroleum spray with a valve for the adinission of the necessary air
supply for mixing with the said spray, and with an igniting tube or equivalent
appliance for igniting the combustible charge, substantially as herein described.
4. In a petroleum motor engine the combination with the engine cylinder of a
passage or chainber of small sectional area projecting from the cylinder so as to afford
facility for heating the same, such passage or chamber being provided with means for
introducing therein the petroleum spray and the necessary air supply and means for
igniting the combustible mixture, substantially as herein described.
Dated thin 8th day of Amun 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.