Improvements in the Construction and Working of Hydrocarburetted- air Engines and in Apparatus Applicable thereto.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 21st Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1887
Improvements in the Construction and Working of Hydrocarburetted-
air Engines and in Apparatus Applicable thereto.
We, WILLIAM DENT PRIESTMAN and SAMUEL PRIESTMAN, of Holderness Foundry,
Hull, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of and means for automatically and
otherwise varying or regulating inflammable charges (employed in working hydro-
carburetted-air engines), according to the duty to be performed; and to apparatus
for igniting such charges in the motor cylinder or other combustion chamber. It
also relates to improved means specially applicable to the class of hydrocarbon engines
in which the fuel is supplied in a liquid state; the same being in part adapted for
mingling and in part for thoroughly mixing the liquid hydrocarbon with air for
forming a combustible vapour to be subsequently employed in operating the
engine.
In the Specification filed in pursuance of our application for Letters Patent,
dated 30th January 1886, No. 1394, there is described a motor engine operated by
the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour and in which special means are employed for
automatically regluating the speed of rotation under a variable load.
According to the method of governing there described, upon the speed of the engine
becoming excessive, a portion of the compressed air contained in the petroleum-reservoir
is allowed to escape, the pressure therein falling in consequence, and the action of the
vapour-generating apparatus becoming modified.
In instances where greater sensitiveness or promptness of effect is required than is
usually attained where speed-governing mechanism operating on the principle
herein before alluded to is employed, we apply means whereby the action of the
governor is utilized for the purpose of regulating the supply of air and hydrocarbon
to the vapouriser or mixing apparatus, as also the supplementary air-supply to the
vapour-chamber.
With this object, each of the air-pipes or passages, as also that conveying the
hydrocarbon, is provided with a cock or regulating valve in connection with and

page_text: subject to the control of the governor-spindle. With a view to neatness and
compactness, the three valves may be combined in a specially designed apparatus.
Upon the normal speed of the engine being exceeded, the action of the governor has
the effect of partially or wholly shutting off the supply of air and hydrocarbon to the
vapouriser or mixing apparatus, as also the supplementary air-supply to the vapour-
chamber. The inflammable charge drawn by the engine from the vapour-chamber
thereupon becomes attenuated; and, although remaining of normal character as regards
composition, is reduced in density and total potency.
Instead of subjecting the valves controlling the air- and hydrocarbon- passages, as
also that appertaining to the supplementary air-supply, to the control of the governor,
these valves, or the triple valve as the case may be, inay be provided with means for
manual adjustment. Or the air- and hydrocarbon- passages may be provided with a
duplex valve, as hereinafter described, operated by one hand-levor; whilst the
supplementary air-controlling valve is regulated by means of a second hand-lever.
An important advantage secured by this method of working is that the facility with
which the reduced charge may be ignited is but little impaired. On the other
hand, if the carburetted air charge be reduced without a proportionate reduction
being effected in the supplementary air charge, the ultimate mixture is rendered
comparatively poor in hydrocarbon, and its ignition becomes difficult and uncertain.
According to another method of accomplishing the same or a similar result, we
interpose a throttle-valve or equivalent device between the vapour-chamber and the
motor or other cylinder in which the charge is compressed before. being ignited. The
action of this valve may be under manual control; or it may be connected with the
governor and operated automatically. In either case, it operates to vary the quantity
of inflammable mixture admitted to the motor or compressing cylinder, and thus
to render the charge of greater or less density and operative power.
For the purpose of comparison, we have referred to an engine constructed in
accordance with a previous invention and worked with liquid hydrocarbon; but it
will be perceived that our present improved method of regulating the operative
charge is applicable to hydrocarbon engines of the class in which inflammable mixtures
of a homogeneous character are employed, whether the hydrocarbon be supplied in a
liquid or gaseous state to the engine.
In some instances, especially when the operative charge is intended to be heated
before being ignited, we dispense with the use of apparatus for converting the liquid
hydrocarbon into spray, and simply admit the liquid in a fine stream (along with the
air for supporting its combustion) to the vapour or storage chamber, In such cases,
the air charge may be supplied from a single source instead of being divided into two
bodies, one for mixing with the hydrocarbon and the other for diluting the resultant
mixture as before described. In order the more thoroughly to permeate the air-charge
with the hydrocarbon, the fluids may be subjected to a repetition or repetitions of the
mixing process, as described in our aforesaid previous Specification.
For igniting the charge in the motor cylinder or combustion chamber, an electric
spark or incandescent wire within the cylinder or chamber may be employed, or a
flame may be communicated to the charge from the exterior. For effecting the
ignition on the latter system, we employ an ignition-slide in which a small port or
chamber is formed, the same being supplied with inflammable vapour from the cylinder
or otherwise. The port in the slide is alternately placed in communication with a
passage exposed to the lamp-flame and with a passage leading to the cylinder. Such
means for igniting the compressed charge within a motor cylinder from an external
lamp are already known. Our improvements relate to means for working such an
ignition-slide from a reciprocating rod employed to actuate the exhaust-valve; the
parts being specially arranged in such a manner as to ensure the requisite action of
the ignition-slide and of the exhaust-valve at proper intervals relatively to one another
and to the position of the crank. Suitable mechanism for accomplishing this two-fold
duty through the instrumentality of a single reciprocating valve-rod may be arranged
in various ways, according to the form of engine to which the same is applied, or other
circumstances.

page_text: Oar improved apparatus adapted for mixing the liquid hydrocarbon with air and forming
the combustible vapour to be subsequently employed in operating the engine comprises
a body traversed longitudinally by two passages; one serving to convey the liquid,
whilst the other conducts air for mixing therewith. For facility of manufacture,
we prefer to arrange the passage for the liquid centrally in the body of the apparatus ;
which latter is furnished with a conical plug arranged transversely and serving the
function of a cock to control both passages. At one extremity of the apparatus, the
pipes for supplying the liquid and air respectively are connected, each of these
communicating with a chamber packed with cotton-wool or other suitable filtering
material through which the fluids are screened on their passage to the mixing nozzle.
The opposite extremity of the body before referred to is formed with a chamber, in
which the air is received and where 'it' surrounds a nozzle communicating with the
liquid-supply-passage. This chamber is closed with or terminates in a specially formed
cap having an orifice immediately opposite or surrounding the extremity of the liquid-
delivery-nozzle before referred to. The liquid issuing from the hydrocarbon nozzle,
and the air escaping from the surrounding chamber become thoroughly mixed as they
pass together through the terminal orifice of the apparatus.
Dated this 13th day of December 1886.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: air Engines and in Apparatus Applicable thereto.
We, WILLIAM DENT PRIESTMAN and SAMUEL PRIESTMAN, of Holderness Foundry,
Hull, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to an improved method of automatically and otherwise varying
or regulating inflammable charges (employed in working hydrocarburetted-air
engines) according to the duty to be performed; as also to improved devices specially
applicable to motor engines of the class in which the fuel is supplied in a liquid
state.
In the specification to Letters Patent granted to us, A.D. 1886, No. 1,394, there is
described a motor engine operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour and in
which special means are employed for automatically regulating the speed of rotation
under a variable load. According to the method of governing there described, upon
the speed of the engine becoming excessive, a portion of the compressed air contained
in the petroleum-reservoir is allowed to escape, the pressure therein falling in
consequence, and the action of the vapour-generating apparatus becoming modified.
In instances where greater sensitiveness or promptness of effect is required than is
usually attained where speed-governing mechanism operating on the principle above
alluded to is employed, we apply means whereby the action of the governor is utilized
for the purpose of regulating the supply of air and hydrocarbon respectively to the
vapouriser or mixing apparatus, as also the supplementary air-supply to the vapour-
chamber.
And in order that our invention may be readily understood, we will proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings; whereof Figures 1
and 2 represent longitudinal and transverse sections respectively and Figure 3 an
elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention and adapted for
automatically or otherwise varying or regulating the supply of air and liquid
hydrocarbon for constituting the inflammable vapour to be employed in working the
engine. a is a body traversed longitudinally by two passages bc; the former serving
to convey the liquid hydrocarbon, whilst the latter conducts air for mixing therewith.
For facility of manufacture, we prefer to arrange the passage b centrally in the body a;
that is to say, in line with the mixing nozzle m. The body a is fitted with a conical
plug d, arranged transversely and serving to control both the passages bc. The
stem of the valve is connected, by means of the lever d', with the governor-spindle.

page_text: The valve or conical plug d is pressed into its seating by the spiral spring d² adjusted by
means of the screw-cap d, the latter being secured in place by the lock-nut d. At one
extremity of the apparatus, the pipes b¹ c¹ for supplying the liquid and air respectively at
a moderate pressure (as described in our aforesaid previous specification) are connected;
each of these being furnished with a chamber 62 or 3 packed with cotton wool or other
suitable filtering material through which the fluids are strained on their way to the
passages bc and mixing nozzle m. The opposite extremity of the body a is formed with a
chamber ca in which the air is received from the passage c and where it surrounds the
nozzle communicating with the liquid supply passage b. The chamber c³ is closed with a
specially constructed cap, which forms a part of the mixing nozzle m and which has
an orifice immediately opposite the extremity of the liquid delivery nozzle 63. The
nozzle m is not illustrated in detail, as our mode of constructing this instrument is not
included in the subject-matter of our present Patent-application. The liquid issuing
from the nozzle 63 and the air escaping from the surrounding chamber c³ become
thoroughly mixed as they pass together through the nozzle m, and escape as vapour
by way of the pipe e to a chamber provided for the reception thereof.
In the sectional view Figure 4 is represented an alternative construction of valve
mechanism, wherein the hydrocarbon and air-passages b and c leading to the mixing
nozzle m, and the supplementary passage conveying air for admixture with the
vapour, are all under the control of the governor; the stem d being prolonged and
furnished with a throttle-valve do, arranged to work within, and to regulate the effective
area of, the passage e'. This passage is further provided with a non-return valvo e
for preventing the escape of the inflammable vapour contained in the vapour-chamber
wherewith the apparatus illustrated in this Figure is designed to be connected direct.
The spiral spring d² (Figure 1) is omitted in this construction, and the cap d³ arranged
to bear directly upon a shoulder formed on the valve-spindle d³.
Upon the normal speed of the engine being exceeded, the action of the governor has
the effect of partially or wholly shutting off the supply of air and hydrocarbon to the
vapouriser or mixing apparatus, as also the supplementary air-supply to the vapour-
chamber. The inflammable charge drawn by the engine from the vapour-chamber
thereupon becomes attenuated; and, although remaining of normal character as regards
composition, is reduced in density and total potency.
Instead of subjecting the valves controlling the air and hydrocarbon-passages, as
also that appertaining to the supplementary air-supply, to the control of the governor,
these valves, or the triple valve as the case may be, may be provided with means for
manual adjustment. Or, the air and hydrocarbon-passages may be provided with a
duplex valve operated by one hand-lever, whilst the supplementary air-controlling valve
is regulated by means of a second hand-lover.
An important advantage secured by this method of working is that the
facility with which the reduced charge may be ignited is but little impaired. On the
other hand, if the hydrocarburetted-air charge be reduced without a proportionate
reduction being effected in the supplementary air-charge, the ultimate mixture is
rendered comparatively poor in hydrocarbon, and its ignition becomes difficult and
uncertain.
According to another method of accomplishing the same or a similar result, we
interpose a throttle-valve or equivalent device between the vapour-chamber and the
motor or other cylinder in which the charge is compressed before being ignited. The
action of this valve may be under manual control, or it may be connected with
the governor and operated automatically. In either case, it operates to vary the
quantity of inflammable mixture admitted to the motor or compressing cylinder, and
thus to render the charge of greater or less density and operative power.
For the purpose of comparison we have referred to an engine constructed in
accordance with a previous invention and worked with liquid hydrocarbon; but it will
be perceived that our present improved method of regulating the operative charge is
applicable to hydrocarbon engines of the class in which inflammable mixtures of a
homogeneous character are employed, whether the hydrocarbon be supplied in a liquid
or gaseous state to the engine.

page_text: Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim in respect of or for use with
motor engines operated by the combustion of hydrocarburetted air :-
1st. The improved means substantially as herein described for controlling the
action of the engine by regulating individually the streams of fluid contributing to
the constitution of the hydrocarbon vapour or hydrocarburetted-air charge, whereby
the working charge may be attenuated without being diluted with a disproportionate
quantity of air.
2ndly. The alternative means substantially as herein described for effecting a similar
object to that referred to in the preceding claiming clause the same consisting in the
employment of a throttle-valve or equivalent device between the motor cylinder and
the chamber whence the working charge is drawn ; such throttle-valve being operated
by the governor or manually and serving to regulate the quantity or density of the
charge admitted without affecting its degree of richness in hydrocarbon.
3rdly. The improved construction of valve mechanism for controlling the supply of
hydrocarbon and air to the vapouriser or mixing apparatus, substantially as herein
described and whether operated by the governor or manually.
4thly. The improved construction of valve mechanism, arranged or operating
substantially as herein described, for controlling the supply of hydrocarbon and air
to the vapouriser or mixing apparatus, as also the supplementary air-supply for
subsequent addition to the mixture.