Improvements in Petroleum or Liquid Hydrocarbon Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1890
.Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Petroleum or Liquid Hydrocarbon Engines.
I, JAMES ROOTS 24 Adam Street Portman Square W. Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the prevention of the leakage of vapour and the
consequent smell. For cylinders having pistons attached directly to the connecting
rod, in which the piston acts also as the crosshead and the cylinder as a guide
cast an addition to the front of the piston of a deep-groove or U shaped section
the smaller periphery of which casting is screwed or bolted to the piston and the
other periphery is of the same diameter as the piston and carries a piston ring;
the front view has the appearance of a disc with a long narrow slot to allow the
movement of the connecting rod; the space within is deeper at the sides of the
slot than at the end. The leaking vapour is caught and condensed in the space so
formed and utilised for lubricating the piston, the remainder may be allowed to
pass back by a pipe screwed in the cylinder or air may be drawn through it by
means of a second small port. The connecting rod may be connected directly to the
vapour catching cover instead of to the piston. For engines having a crosshead
and guide I make both cylindrical and place one or more rings on the periphery of
the crosshead so that it, acts like a second piston the space between the two
catching and condensing the petroleum vapour, or passing it to the reservoir.
Dated Nov. 28/90.
JAMES ROOTS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Petroleum or Liquid Hydrocarbon Engines.
I, JAMES ROOTS, of 24 Adam Street, Portman Square, London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object, the prevention of any escape or leakage of
petroleum vapour from the interior of the cylinder past the piston to the atmo-
sphere, thereby avoiding the unpleasant smell usual to engines of this class as
hitherto constructed.
It consists in providing that any escape or leakage of vapour past the piston
becomes pocketted and condensed in an annular or other shaped chamber fitted to
the piston. A portion of the condensed vapour caught in the space so formed is
utilized for lubricating purposes, the remainder may be allowed to flow back to the
reservoir by a pipe screwed into the cylinder, or it may be again drawn into the
cylinder by the suction stroke of the piston by way of a small port provided for
the purpose.
In order that my invention, and the manner of its application may be fully
understood, I have appended the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figures 1 and 2 are a sectional plan and front sectional elevation respectively of
an engine cylinder, in which the piston A is attached directly to the connecting
rod B, the piston acting as the crosshead, and the cylinder as a guide.
To engines of this description, I fit an additional piece C with a deep groove D,
the periphery at the front end being provided with a piston ring E, the neck F is
of sufficient width and depth to allow of the free up and down movement of the
connecting rod B (see Figure 2). In the chamber or space formed by the groove D,

page_text: the vapour that passes the piston is caught and condensed to serve for lubricating
purposes, as hereinbefore stated, and excess may be passed back to the reservoir by
the pipe G.
'
Figures 3 and 4 represent the arrangement adopted for engines having.crosshead
and guide. The crosshead H is made cylindrical with one or more rings on its
periphery forming, as it were, a second piston, the space or chamber D formed
between the two pistons; pocketting.and condensing the vapour in the same manner
and for the same purpose, as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
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
olaim is
In petroleum or liquid hydrocarbon engines, forming a chamber attached to the
piston for the purpose of catching and condensing the leaking vapour in (1) the
manner described, and shown in Figures 1 and 2, and (2) the manner described, and
shown in Figures 3 and 4.
TI
on any weptember 1.
H. GARDNER,
Patent, Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said James Roots.