Improvements in or Applicable to Motor Engines Operated by the Combustion of Hydro-carbon Vapour.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Motor Engines Operated by the
Combustion of Hydro-carbon Vapour.
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 motor engines operated by the combustion of inflammable
vapour, such as petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon mixed with air, and consists
of improved means for heating the vapour-chamber preparatively to starting the
engine, means for replenishing the supply of oil in the petroleum-reservoir whilst
the engine is running, means for purifying the exhaust gases previously to their
discharge into the atmosphere, and means applicable for use in connection with
firing the working charge when the ignition thereof is effected by means of a
flame.
Instead of employing an air-pump actuated by hand for creating sufficient pressure
in the petroleum and compressed air reservoir to operate the vapour-burning lamp
before the engine is started, we employ a vessel which is supplied with compressed
air from the said reservoir, or into which, by means of a pump worked by the
engine, air is forced direct. When a quantity of compressed air has been stored
sufficient to maintain the vapour-burning lamp in operation long enough to heat the
vapour-chamber to the required extent for enabling the engine to be started, the com-
munication between the reservoir and the air-vessel or between the pump and the air-
vessel, as the case may be, is cut off. To heat the vapour-chamber whilst the air-pump
normally used for creating and maintaining the pressure in the petroleum-reservoir is
out of action, it is merely necessary to open the communication between the vessel
in which the compressed air is stored and the vapour-burning lamp when the latter is
furnished with a special oil reservoir, or between the air-vessel and the petroleum-
reservoir when the lamp is supplied with compressed air and oil from the latter.
By these means, the lamp is maintained in operation sufficiently long to heat the
vapour-chamber to the required degree for enabling the engine to be restarted.
For replenishing the supply of oil in the petroleum-reservoir whilst the engine is
running and the said reservoir is under pressure, we carry an air-pipe from the
petroleum-reservoir to a closed storage tank placed above the reservoir and in
which a supply of oil is stored; such pipe serving to enable the pressure in the
reservoir and in the storage tank to be equalised. Communication may then be
opened between the tank and the reservoir, an additional supply of oil flowing from
the former to the latter by gravity. When the tank is placed at the same level as cr
at a lower level than the petroleum-reservoir, oil may be forced from the former to
the latter by generating an excess of pressure in the tank by means of the air-pump
on the engine. If the storage tank he placed at a sufficient height to overcome tho
pressure in the petroleum-reservoir, the latter may be recharged by the aid of gravity
alone.
For purifying the exhaust gases when requisite previously to their discharge into
the atmosphere, we conduct the exhaust-pipe into a cistern containing water, so
that the gases before escaping pass through the water, the heavier products
being thereby condensed and arrested, the lighter products alone escaping to the
atmosphere.
When a lamp (instead of an electric spark or incandescent wire) is employed for
igniting the working charge, we prefer to use a petroleum lamp provided with an
oil-tank and supplied with air from the petroleum-reservoir, a greatly-intensified
flame resulting. The air is preferably admitted below the burner, and may be

page_text: obtained from any vessel in which compressed air is stored during the normal
working of the engine; although we regard drawing the supply of compressed air
from the petroleum-reservoir as the more convenient arrangement.
Dated the 18th day of April 1880
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Motor Engines Operated by the
Combustion of Hydro-carbon Vapour.
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 performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to motor engines operated by the combustion of inflammable
vapour, such as petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon mixed with air, and consists
of improved means for heating the vapour-chamber preparatively to starting the
engine, means for replenishing the supply of oil in the petroleum-reservoir whilst the
engine is running, means for purifying the exhaust gases previously to their
discharge into the atmosphere, and means applicable for use in connection with firing
the working charge when the ignition thereof is effected by means of a flame.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents in side elevation an engine
embodying the present improvements; Fig. 2 being a detail-view of the improved
lamp employed for igniting the working charge.
Instead of employing an air-pump actuated by hand for creating sufficient pressure
in the petroleum and compressed air reservoir (hereinafter called the petroleum-
reservoir) (the position whereof is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1) to operate the
vapour-burning lamp (used for heating the vapour-chamber) before the engine is
started, we employ a storage vessel A which is supplied by way of the pipe
a with
compressed air from the said reservoir, or into which, by means of a subsidiary pump
worked by the engine, air is forced directly through the pipe a*.
When a quantity
of compressed air has been stored sufficient to maintain the vapour-burning lamp in
operation long enough to heat the vapour-chamber to the required extent for enabling
the engine to be started, the communication through the pipe a between the reservoir
and the air-vessel A, or through the pipe a *between the pump and the air-vessel A,
as the case may be, is cut off by a cock a or * provided for the purpose. To heat
the vapour-chamber whilst the air-pump normally used for creating and maintaining
the pressure in the petroleum-reservoir is out of action, it is merely necessary, by
turning the cock 2¹, to open the communication through the pipe a¹ between the
vessel A and the petroleum-reservoir, when the lamp is supplied with air and oil
therefrom, or between the vessel A and the oil-reservoir appertaining to the vapour-
burning lamp, when an independent lamp-reservoir is employed (to which, under
such circumstances, the pipe a¹ would be connected instead of being connected to
the petroleum-reservoir). The vessel A or the lamp-reservoir may, however, if
preferred, be filled by an air-pump actuated by hand. By these means, the lamp is
maintained in operation sufficiently long to heat the vapour-chamber to the required
degree for enabling the engine to be started.
For replenishing the supply of oil in the petroleumi-reservoir when the air and oil
are under pressure and whilst the engine is running, we connect the said reservoir
by an air-pipe e with a closed storage tank C (shewn in dotted lines) placed at a
higher level than the reservoir and in which a supply of oil is stored; such pipe serving
to enable the pressures in the reservoir and the storage tank to be equalised.
Communication by way of the pipe c¹ may then be opened (by turning the cock y).
between the tank and the reservoir, oil thereupon flowing from the former to the
latter by gravity. When the tank is placed at the same level as, or at a lower level
than the petroleum-reservoir, oil may be forced from the one into the other by

page_text: generating an excess of pressure in the former (the tank) by means of the air-
pump B. The tank C₁ is shewn as being placed beneath the engine; the air-pipe b
leading from the air-pump to the tank, and the oil-pipe 6' from the tank to the
petroleum-reservoir. Both pipes are provided with suitable stop-cocks. If the
storage-tank he open and placed at a sufficient height to enable oil to flow therefrom
and overcome by the effect of gravity alone the pressure in the petroleum-reservoir,
the latter may recharged by simply turning the cock on the oil-pipe as required.
For purifying the exhaust gases when requisite previously to their discharge into
the atmosphere, we conduct the exhaust-pipe d into a cistern D containing water, so
that the gases before escaping pass through the water, the heavier products being
thereby condensed and arrested, the lighter products alone escaping to the atmosphere
(by way of the pipe d'). If preferred, the cistern D may be left uncovered.
When a lamp (instead of an electric spark or incandescent wire) is either directly.
or indirectly employed for igniting the working charge, we prefer to use a petroleum-
lamp E provided with an oil-tank e and supplied with air from the petroleum-
reservoir through a pipe el; a greatly-intensified flame resulting. e is the lamp-
wick. The air is preferably admitted below the burner e³, as shown, and may be
obtained from any vessel in which compressed air is stored during the normal
working of the engine; although we regard drawing the supply of compressed air
from the petroleum-reservoir as the more convenient arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim
1. In a motor engine operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour, the
improved mode of working the vapour-chamber-heating lamp preparatively to
starting the engine, consisting in utilising air compressed by the engine whilst at
work and stored in a vessel whence the lamp may be supplied when the engine is at
rest and the air-pump normally used for creating pressure in the reservoir and
supplying the lamp inoperative.
2. In a motor engine operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour, the
improved means for supplying the vapour-chamber-heating lamp with air pre-
paratively to starting the engine, substantially as herein described, and comprising a
storage vessel A into which air under pressure is forced, either by the engine whilst
at work or by a hand-pump, and whence air is allowed to gradually escape when the
lamp is required to burn whilst the engine is at rest.
3. In a motor engine operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour, the
improved mode of replenishing the petroleum-reservoir with oil whilst the engine is
running, consisting in admitting or forcing air into a closed storage-tank and
thereby enabling or causing a fresh supply of oil to flow into and replenish the
working reservoir.
4. In a motor engine operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour, the
improved means for replenishing the petroleum-reservoir with oil whilst the engine is
running, substantially as herein described, and comprising a closed storage-tank into
which air under pressure is either admitted or forced for the purpose of enabling or
causing oil to flow from the storage-tank into the petroleum-reservoir.
5. In a motor engine operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour, the
improved mode of purifying the exhaust gases, consisting in submerging the
extremity of the exhaust pipe, whereby certain of the escaping products are
condensed and arrested, the lighter products alone escaping to the atmosphere.
6. In a motor engine operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour, the
employment of a lamp for igniting the working charge, constructed substantially as
herein described, and supplied with air flowing from a vessel in which compressed air
is stored during the working of the engine.
Dated this 18th day of January 1890
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.