Improvements in Fuel Injectors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fuel Injectors.
I, ANDREW BRYCE, Inventor and resident in the City of Allegheny, County
of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following
statement :-
and connections with the fire box and
Fig. I is a plan of double injectors and connections applied to a fire box of a
locomotive, shown in horizontal sections;
Fig. Il is an elevation of the injectors
flues in vertical section to which it is applied ;*
Fig. III is an end elevation of Fig. I;
Fig. IV is a longitudinal vertical section through injectors;
Fig. V is a horizontal longitudinal section through delivery tip ;
Fig. VI is an end view of delivery tip;
Fig. VII is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. IV;
Fig. VIII is a section on line b-b of Fig. IV;
Fig. IX is a section on line y-y of Fig. IV;
Fig. X on line 2-z of Fig. IV;
Fig. XI on line - of Fig. IV;
Fig. XII is a central vertical section of the delivery tip, reciprocating sleeve
and delivery plug attached, moved forward;
Fig. XIII a central vertical section of governor and
Fig. XIV, a detail view in vertical section of the forward end of needle valve
injector.
The purposes of our invention generally stated are to devise a universal fuel
injector for gas, oil, comminuted solids, or any of these, the propulsive force being
steam, or air, or both, superheated or not, with means for automatically regulating
the volume of each constituent injected. For the purpose of illustration we have
shown two of our injectors attached to a fire box of a locomotive, but the number
of the injectors may obviously be varied and the apparatus attached to any
firebox.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of this application, 1 is the fire
box, having rear water leg 2.
Through thimbles 3, 3, in said legs are inserted the delivery tips of our
injectors. 4, is a grate bar and 5 the door. 6, 6, are the flues, through one of
which extends superheated steam pipe 7. To protect the latter at the front of the
fire-box from the intense heat, as well as to receive the impact of projected fuel,
we provide masonry 8. 9, is a fuel pipe, see Fig. 3, by which comminuted fuel is
conveyed from any suitable bin by branches 10, 10, to the injectors. 11, 11, are
air or gas pipes leading to injectors. 12 is the oil pipe having branches 13, 13,
connected to injectors. 14, 14, are hot air pipes leading from interior of fire box
and discharging into the injectors near where the pulverized fuel enters same.
They also serve to fasten the injectors firmly in place.
The superheated steam pipe 7 has two branches 15, 15, each being connected
respectively to T piece 16. One line of connections, one regulating lever and one
injector only will now be described as they are in duplicate.
T piece 16 connects on the left, as seen in Fig. 4, with steam valve 17, connected
by nipple 18 to T piece 19 having drip cock 20, and through pipe 79 with injector.

page_text: On the right, T piece 16 connects with valve 21, and by nipple 22, union 23 and
nipple 24, with shell 25, of steam inspirator. 26 is a regulating lever provided at
its left hand end with balancing weight 27, which is grooved on one side at 42 to
engage the periphery of the wheel 61, so as to cause a slight longitudinal
reciprocating motion to be given to the hollow spindle 60 by the rise or fall of the
said lever, and yet the said hollow spindle 60 is permitted to be revolved at will
independently in its place 'by loosening set screw 73. 28, 29, 30 and 31, are
collars capable of adjustment along the lever by set screws. Pivoted links 32, 33,
and 34 connect three of said collars to collars 35, 36 and 37 respectively on valve
handles 38, 39, and 40 of oil valve 41, primary steam valve 17, and secondary
steam valve 21. Collar 31, by link 44, is connected to plunger 45 of governor,
best seen in Fig. 13. Said governor consists of shell 46 having screw cap 47 with
air discharge passage 48. Around plunger rod 45 is a coiled spring 49.
50 is the
ring packed plunger head having in combination with the ring packed head the
inverted cup-shaped flexible packing 51, and washer 52, and nut 43, below
the plunger head. The plunger stem 45 rests loosely upon the adjusting plug 53,
and the screw cap 47 has a square projection on its outside end to receive a wrench or
actuating lever for the purpose of raising or lowering the plunger stem 45 and through
it to communicate motion to the regulating lever 26, which in turn communicates
motion to all of the valve levers of the injector, and in this simple manner
adjusting simultaneously and uniformly not only all of the valves but also the
tension spring of the governor. Shell 46, is secured into elbow 54, connected with
hot water pipe 55, leading from the front water-leg and controlled by valve 56.
The construction of the injectors will now be described.
Generally speaking, the injectors are composed of the following parts: The
needle valve injector seen at the left of Fig. 4, where the more volatile substances,
such as gas, steam hot air, or oil superheated by steam are introduced; second the
vacuum or mixing chamber where the products received from the needle valve
injector are mingled with comminuted fuel and additional supplies of hot air, third,
the exhaust chamber connected to the mixing chamber by a velocity giving
thimble, in which exhaust chamber the excess of lighter products is drawn off to
auxiliary injectors (not illustrated); fourth, the regulating chamber where the
pressure of steam by means of the governor and intermediate connections to
à telescoping pipe controls the throw of the flared fuel deflector in the delivery tip
and the thickness of the annular jet delivered from said tip; fifth, the delivery
tip itself, and sixth the steam or air actuated inspirator for additional supplies of
air, hot air or gas, connected with the regulating chamber.
The needle valve injector will first be described: 57, is the shell of the needle
valve injector. It is virtually a T and makes a slip joint with the mixing vacuum
chamber being secured thereto by set screw 58. At the other end of the shell is
gland 59, through which moves hollow spindle 60. Said hollow spindle 60,
is threaded at 61 at its outer end, the thread projecting from the surface of the
spindle, to receive hand wheel 62, which turns in groove 42, in weight 27, on
lever 26. Said wheel also acts as a packing gland aud is the means for oscillating
longitudinally both of the combined spindles 60 and 65, which thus regulate the
volume and force of the annular jet of atomized oil through the reciprocation
of the jet or nozzle 67. Said spindle 60 is interually threaded at 63 to engage
with thread 64, on valve spindle 65. Said hollow spindle 60, does not extend quite
through the whole length of the shell but terminates before it reaches the mixing
chamber. At its forward end it is threaded to receive connecting sleeve 66, the
latter being internally threaded its entire length. Into the latter is screwed jet or
nozzle 67, said jet or nozzle having as a backing sleeve 68, against which it locks.
Sleeve 68 may be made in different lengths so that when the lengths of the jets or
nozzles are varied, the jets or nozzles may nevertheless be firmly locked against
the sleeve.
These steam passages communicate with ante-chamber inside of conical projec-
tion 72, which divides steam from oil the steam passages 71, 71 allowing steam to

page_text: pass from steam pipe 79 and interior of the hollow spindle and thence to mixing
chamber.
104 is a cone with slip joint which forms a dividing wall between the air and the
oil passages. 72, is an internal integral cone projecting from the inside of
the shell 57, which forms a dividing wall between the steam and the oil. 73, is a
screw penetrating shell 57 and working in longitudinal groove 74, on the exterior
of hollow spindle 60, as seen most clearly in Fig. 4.
Valve spindle 65 has valve 75 to meet seat 76 in interior of hollow spindle 60.
In forming the valve 75, on said spindle 65, it is again slightly reduced in
diameter, elongated, flattened or cut down about one half, leaving a spoon shaped
projection large enough to cover one or more of the transverse exit passages 71,
for the steam and at the same time leaving one or more open to the annular
chamber surrounding the spindle 60, at this point without interfering with the
force and suctional power of the jet or nozzle 67. This is accomplished by giving
quarter turn to spindle 65. This latter jet or nozzle is for the purpose of creating
a vacuum in mixing chamber, 81, for the comminuted solid fuel and is also adapted
to be longitudinally adjusted or set, by means of the neelle valve 77, which is 1
threaded and screwed into the end of the spindle 65, and can be set so as to stop
the motor jet entirely or to so regulate the motor force by dividing it with the
annular atomizing jet through the exit aperture 71. The said jet or nozzle 67 and
needle valve 77, are made adjustable also for the purpose of regulating the volume
and force of the motor jet thereby increasing or diminishing the suctional power of
the vacuum varying as the comminuted solids are light or heavy, or the wants of
the plant, or to the quantity or the distance that they are drawn through the
induction conduits connecting the vacuum chamber and fuel supply. It will be
noted that the hollow spindle 60, needle valve stem 65, adjustable nozzle 67,
sleeve 68, and connecting sleeve 66 are constructed of such relative diameters
that by loosening thumb-screw 73, they may be quickly removed, by simply.
pulling on spindle 65 and adjusted and cleaned, in case of clogging, and as speedily:
replaced.
In the lower part of T shell 57 is inserted the hollow plug 78, which
communicates with the oil pipe. The upper end of this plug fits with a tapering
slip joint into an opening in cone 104. Centrally into hollow plug 78 is inserted a
hollow bolt 79, serving as a steam pipe which is threaded at its upper end into
shell 57. At its lower end it is screwed into T piece 19, and has annular
shoulder 80 to bear against lower end of hollow plug 78. When said shoulder is
brought to bear against said plug, it locks in place the plug and also cone 104,
because of the tapering slip joint which the latter makes with the oil chamber 78.
Through pipe 105 Fig. 9 (which may connect either with a gas main, or with the
interior of the furnace for hot air, dependent on whether oil or gas is used as fuel)
heated air or gas is fed into the space between the hollow plug, 78, and lower part
of shell, 57.
The vacuum or mixing chamber, 81, is substantially an inverted T, into the
upper end of which the fuel pipe, 10, enters, to give proper direction to the hot air
and to prevent fuel from pipe, 10, entering the pipes, 14, 14. The conical
piece, 82, acting as nozzle for fuel pipe, 10, is secured into the upper part of the
mixing chamber. Here also the heated air pipes, 14, 14, enter the mixing chamber.
The mixing chamber is secured to the shell, 83, of the exhaust chamber by
screw, 84, and connected by short thimble 85 which being of smaller diameter
acts as a velocity giver. The exhaust chamber communicates on one side by
pipe 86, with auxiliary injector of any desired pattern, (not here shown), and on
the other side by pipe 103, with the other or secondary injector. The exhaust
chamber is therefore a four-way chamber.
87, is shell of. regulating chamber connected by a slip joint and set screw 88,
with exhaust chamber. Screwed into the forward end of said exhaust chamber is
guide pipe 89. The shell of the exhaust chamber. is cut away at four points as is

page_text: seen at a-a, Fig. VIII to get a peripheral exit communication from chamber of
shell, 87, with exhaust chamber, 83, and the suctional power of the auxiliary
injectors through connecting exit pipe, 86. b-b, represent feet that are interposed
between the guide pipe 89, and telescoping pipe, 90, and upon which it slides
leaving the annular delivery space 108 between the two aforesaid pipes. The
flared fuel deflector, 91, is screwed or adjustably fastened to said telescoping pipe 90,
and is located in this way between the said guide pipe, 89, and shell, 87, so that
the two annular spaces 107 and 108, are thus constructed for the regulated delivery
of air or gas from shell 87. Delivery tip, 92, is fastened by screw, 93, to shell 87.
The inner circular end of fuel deflector, 91, is tapered or formed wedge shaped, so
that when it is longitudinally reciprocated it will increase or diminish the output
of said annular spaces, 107 and 108.
The holes, 94, 94, in telescoping pipe 90, are for the purpose of facilitating the
admission of air or gas to the smaller annular delivery space 108. Upon each side
of said pipe, 90, projects a stud, 95, which engages with slotted rocking lever, 96,
set on shaft, 97, by set screw, 98. Said shaft 97, projects through the lower part
of shell, 87, of regulating chamber, and into end of regulating lever, 26, being
secured there by nut, 99, all seen in Figs. X and XII. Nipple 100, connects the
lower end of shell, 87, with shell, 25, of secondary air or steam inspirator. 101, is
the jet in the inspirator and, 102, a bend connecting inspirator with hot air
pipe, 11, or with a fuel gas-pipe. The steam and air inlets to the inspirator may
have their positions interchanged.
The operation of the devices is as follows: Assuming that the fuel is oil.
Superheated steam is admitted through T piece 16, steam valves, 21 and 17, the oil
valve, 41, having been opened by hand. The steam passing through the needle
valve injector will create a vacuum in mixing chamber, 81. This vacuum will act
by suction to draw up the oil through the annular opening between steam pipe, 79,
and the interior of hollow plug, 78. The oil will here become superheated and
partially vaporized and pass out into mixing chamber. As heat is generated in the
furnace, heated air will be supplied through pipe 105 to the space between exterior
of hollow plug, 78, and interior of shell, 57, and the path of the oil will thus lie
between two heated surfaces. Before the injectors are started it is assumed that
valve, 75, connecting sleeve, 66, jet, or nozzle 67, and hollow spindle 60, of the
needle valve injector have been set to the point required by the particular fuels
employed and the necessities of the plant. The oil passage, it will be noticed,
throughout its entire course through the needle valve, is surrounded by the walls of
a heated air passage, and bounded interiorly by the walls of the steam passage.
The form of all these passages being annular, spreads the oil out over a large
heating surface and delivers it in a thiu annular sheet of vapor easily atomized by
the superheated annular motor jet, formed between 72, and, 66. The end of
screw, 73, entering groove 74, prevents both spindles revolving when moved
longitudinally, and acts as a stop or set screw, to hold the hollow spindle in
place, when so desired, without interfering with the adjustment of the valve
spindle 65.
The proportions of hot air or gas, when gas is used, are determined by external
valves.
The quantity of the motor force may be determined either by screwing down
valve 75, towards its seat, 76, or by releasing screw, 73, and giving a quarter turn
to hollow spindle 60, which changes the size of opening at 106, between hollow
bolt, 79, and hollow spindle, or by giving a quarter turn to valve spindle 65, which
will cut off one of transverse steam openings, 71, 71, as before stated, see
Fig. XIV. The motor jet therefore can be very delicately adjusted by cutting
down amount of steam introduced at 106 by partially rotating hollow spindle 60
which will gradually close said opening as well as by cutting off one of the
transverse steam openings, 71, 71. The actuating force normally has two channels
of escape; one through the central bore of the needle valve, and one in the annular

page_text: space around connecting sleeve, 66, but can be changed at will into one escapement,
by adjusting sleeve, 66, or needle valve, 77 longitudinally, so that they may become.
stop valves interchangeably.
Should the normal fuel be gas, oil may also be used together with comminuted
fuel to supplement a failing supply, and when the gas is adequate the oil and coal
would be cut off and the gas used with the steam as above described, or alone,
being admitted through pipe, 105, or through one of the inlets of secondary
inspirator, 25.
The use of the comminuted solids which is now to be described, may be with a
motor force of heated compressed air, or superheated steam, and either oil or gas
mixed therewith and fired with the coal.
The vacuum in the mixing chamber sucks the comminuted solids through
pipe, 10, which are immediately met by supplies of heated air through pipe 14.
These encounter the thoroughly atomized oil, or gas and steam issuing in jets from
needle valve injector, and are mixed with the same and pass through velocity
giver, 85, into exhaust chamber, 83.
This chamber communicates through pipe, 86, with an auxiliary injector of any
desired form, and therefore not shown, and where duplicate injectors are used it
communicates with the other or secondary injector by pipe 103. Any excess of
blast is here drawn off as the intention is to give just such momentum to the fuels,
as will properly deposit them on the hearth of the fire chamber without blowing
them up the stack. The commingled fuels next pass through guide pipe, 89, and
into delivery tip, 92. The solid fuels here strike flared delivery plug, 91, and are
deflected to the hearth, while the gaseous fuel comes out in an annular jet above
the solids and therefore interposes between the solids and the uptake a hot gaseous
envelope which must consume the solid carbon before it escapes. Meantime
through jet, 101, of steam inspirator, 25, additional quantities of cold or heated
air or gas are delivered to the lower part of regulating chamber 87 and pass
through openings, 94, 94, to the annular space 108. Some portion of this air or
gas passes back through openings a-a to exhaust chamber, 83, to mingle with fuel
there and reinforce the draft in pipe leading to auxiliary injectors and also forward
through annular openings numbered, 107, and 108.
The action of the governor remains to be explained. By means of screw cap, 47,
and adjusting plug, 53, the spring, 49, is set at a tension which will give the
normal steam pressure used in the plant. As the pressure rises the plunger will
rise, raising regulating lever, 26, and by the connecting links from said lever the
various valves. Steam will be increased at valve 16, increasing force of motor jet
and therefore of solid fuel injected. Oil will be increased or diminished at will
by valve 41, also, air or gas, by means of the inspirator 25, and by valve 21.
Slotted rocking lever, 96, also receiving its impulse from said lever 26, will move
forward or backward, flared delivery plug, 91, opening or regulating the outlet
apertures, both in forward end of delivery tip and including also the aunular air
or gas jets at 107. Also by the rise or fall of the lever 26, and by means of its
connecting device with the spindle valve, 60 it is moved to and fro, longitudinally,
thus regulating the atomizing capacity of the annular jet around 66, according to
the quantity of fuel used.
To give an additional start to the apparatus and raise the steam pressure an
ordinary fire may be made in the combustion chamber or an oil fire may be used
for an initial start. The air pressure for the purpose of thus preliminarily spraying
the oil in may be developed by attaching an air pump by flexible pipe to drip
cock, 20, seen in Fig. 4. When the plunger stem of the governor begins to rise,
the lever, 26, will open valve 17, for the admission of the motor force to the
injectors. Of course the thumb valve 20, must now be shut off and the valve, 21,
will gradually begin to open and cause the induction of air or gas, as the case may
be. By means of the inspirator, 25, the lever, 26, will still continue to rise
gradually opening all of the various valves connected with it, aud by means of the
grooved weight, 27, on the left hand end of said lever moving the hollow spindle

page_text: valve stem forward, thus gradually increasing the capacity of the annular oil
-atomizing space around 66. Simultaneously the flared delivery plug, 91, has been
moved forward by the rocking lever, 96, thus gradually opening up all of the
several apertures at the forward end of the injector, including not only the one at
the delivery tip, 91, and, 92, but at both of the annular jets 107 and 108, surrounding
the delivery end of guide pipe, 89.
The ports of the valves, 17 and 21, (for the arrangements are that before the
limit for the steam pressure is quite reached, the openings are at their full delivering
capacity) the steam pressure still increasing and the lever still rising, will have
passed their registering center and will gradually begin to cut off the amount of
fuel delivered to the fire and the steam pressure decreasing the lever will fall and
thus supply again the desired fuel. However, should the pressure rise a limited
number of degrees above this, the safety valve of the steam generator will open
and relieve the pressure and the plunger stem of the governor having reached its
limit, in raising the lever, 26, a sufficient amount of fuel will be supplied to sustain
the given pressure of the plant, for a time at least. But if the pressure decreases,
the lever, 26, gradually falls again, and admits the gauged quantity of fuel to the
fire that is required to sustain a uniform degree of pressure.
Thus the whole construction is delicately adjusted for all emergencies and for a
complete interchange of fuels.
The results are that an exceedingly economical use of fuel is obtained and no
stoking is required as the machine automatically feeds itself and the combustion is
practically perfect. If desired, the governor and slotted weight may be detached
from the regulating lever, and the regulation done by hand.
For compactness and simplicity, the delivery tip may be secured directly to the
exhaust chamber and the regulating chamber omitted, or secured to the mixing
chamber, omitting velocity giver, exhaust chamber and regulating chamber.
The hot air would still be delivered however into the mixing chamber. The
regulating chamber, delivery tip, and inspirator, detached, may make a complete
fuel injector, alone.
Having described our invention, we claim :
(1.) The combination of a fuel injector; a furnace fed by said injector; a
governor connected with a steam boiler; said boiler; a regulating lever actuated
by the governor when the pressure has passed a predetermined point; grooved
weight upon said lever and a wheel upon the injector valve adapted to be rotated
by the rise or fall of said weight.
(2.) In a fuel injector, the combination of a governor; a regulating chamber
which includes a reciprocating pipe; said reciprocating pipe bearing a Hared fuel
deflector said flared fuel deflector and intermediate connections between said
governor and said pipe.
(3.) In a fuel injector, the combination of a governor a regulating lever connected
with the governor; a shalt extending from the regulating lever into a regulating
chamber said regulating chamber; a reciprocating tubular delivery controller
and connections between said controller and the shaft.
(4.) In a fuel injector, the combination of a governor; a regulating lever
connected with the governor; a shaft extending from said regulating lever into a
regulating chamber; said regulating chamber; a rocking slotted lever attached to
said shaft; a reciprocating pipe having projections to engage the slot in said lever
and a delivery cut off carried by said pipe.
(5.) In a fuel injector the combination of a hollow spindle; a valve spindle
therein, a wheel rigidly fastened upon said hollow spindle and having a rearwardly
projecting flange forming a recess for packing around the valve spindle.
(6.) In a fuel injector the combination of a valve case substantially T shaped;
a slip joint core, 104, inserted in the forward end of the head of said T and
provided with an opening at its rear and lower side; a hollow plug extending
longitudinally through the stem of said T and fitting within said opening in

page_text: cone 104; an internal integral conical projection 72, in the head of the T and a.
hollow bolt screwing into said projection, extending longitudinally through said
hollow plug and having a shoulder at its lower end to bear against the hollow plug-
and lock the same in position.
(7.) In a fuel injector the combination of a valve case; a hollow spindle adapted.
to be reciprocated in said case; transverse outlet steam passages in said hollow
spindle; a valve in said hollow spindle cut away on one side whereby one steam.
passage may be closed, without closing the other passage, or the central bore
connected therewith.
(8.) In a fuel injector, the combination of a valve case; a hollow spindle in,
said case, externally threaded at its forward end to receive a threaded sleeve; a
sleeve internally threaded to screw upon said hollow spindle; a backing sleeve-
inserted in said sleeve and a jet pipe screwed into the sleeve, thus adjustably
locking firmly both jet and sleeve into place.
(9.) In a fuel injector, the combination of a regulating chamber for the delivery
consisting of a shell; a guide pipe axially set in said shell; a telescoping pipe
sliding upon said guide pipe and a flared fuel deflector borne by said telescoping
pipe.
(10.) In a fuel injector, the combination of an exhaust chamber; a regulating
chamber into which a flange on said exhaust chamber slips; a pipe extending
through said regulating chamber and inserted into the flange of the exhaust.
chamber; openings between said pipe and the flange of the exhaust chamber; a
secondary injector and connections between said secondary injector and said
openings into the exhaust chamber.
(11.) The regulating chamber of a fuel injector consisting of a shell; a pipe
connected with a source of fuel supply, longitudinally set in said shell and having
guide feet on its periphery; a telescoping pipe moving upon said guide feet and
an adjustable cut off borne by said telescoping pipe.
(12.) In a fuel injector, the combination of a chamber; a pipe reciprocating in.
said chamber; a tubular flared fuel deflector tapered exteriorly at its rear end
borne by said pipe and forming a continuation thereof; a guide pipe concentric
with said first pipe and connected with a fuel supply and a delivery tip extending
from the forward end of the chamber.
(13.) In the regulating chamber of a fuel injector the combination of a shell;.
a guide pipe in said shell; a telescoping pipe moving upon said first pipe and
bearing the flared fuel deflector, said flared fuel deflector; said shell, guide pipe,.
and flared fuel deflector being of such relative size as to leave an annular discharge
between the periphery of the forward end of said guide pipe and the interior of
the flared fuel deflector and a second annular discharge between the periphery of
the rear of said flared fuel deflector and the interior forward end of the shell
of the chamber, and fuel supplies for said discharge openings.
(14.) In a fuel injector, the combination of a primary injector for gases and
liquids; a mixing chamber in advance thereof connected with the reservoir of
comminuted solid fuel; said reservoir of comminuted fuel; a velocity giving pipe
connecting said mixing chamber with an exhaust chamber; a regulating chamber
connected with the exhaust chamber and a delivery tip connected to the regulating
chamber.
(15.) In a governor for fuel injectors, the combination of a shell connected with
the steam pressure; a cap for said shell; a plunger head in said shell; a spring
set between said cap and said head; a plunger rod extending through the plunger
head and an adjustable plug supporting the bottom of said plunger rod.
Dated 8th June 1896
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.