Improvements in Petroleum and other Hydro-carbon Motors.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Petroleum and other Hydro-carbon Motors.
We, JOHN FINLAY RANKIN and MATTHEW RANKIN both of the firm of
Rankin & Blackmore, Marine Engineers, Greenock, in the County of Renfrew,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
Our invention relates to an improved construction of that class of motors
worked with an explosive mixture produced by a combination of petroleum or
other hydro-carbons and atmospheric air but it relates more particularly to a new
method of mixing and vaporising within the cylinder (or adjacent parts) of such
motors, the petroleum with a due proportion of air. The waste products of
combustion are utilized in a novel way to heat up the mixing chamber and
vaporiser.
In carrying out this invention we preferably employ an inverted motor of the
single-acting type working on the Beau de Rochas cycle in which a combustible
charge is introduced at the beginning of every alternate down-stroke and is
compressed and ignited at the end of every alternate up-stroke. Ignition may
be effected by means of a heated tube, the electric spark or otherwise. On the
upper portion of the cylinder at the top of the combustion chamber and com-
pression space (of which it is an extension with free communication) there is a
mixing chamber and vaporiser to which petroleum and air are admitted through
suitable valves. The petroleum and air in their passage through the mixing
chamber and vaporiser are heated and vaporised by means of a lamp or otherwise
and the mixture is further heated and vaporised by the waste products of com-
bustion passing through the mixing chamber and vaporiser.
An auxiliary
vaporiser may be employed to heat up the oil along with a small portion of air
previous to its introduction to the main vaporizer. As an adjunct to the carrying
out of our invention we employ an overhung connecting rod which is arranged
so that the vertical centre line of the cylinder is set to the go-ahead side of the
shaft at a distance equal to about half the radius of the crank. The effect of
this is for practical purposes virtually to double the length of the connecting
rod and to half the amount of its working angle, thus producing longer working
and suction strokes and shorter exhaust and compression strokes with a resulting
gain in economy through increased rapidity of expansion and a reduction in the
loss caused through the cooling effect of the water jacket &c.
Although our said invention relates preferably to inverted cylinder motors
having one or more cylinders of the single-acting type on the Beau de Rochas
cycle (with crank chamber cased in or left open as may be desired) on account
of their better working at high speeds, and for the propulsion of vessels, it can also
be applied to other cycles and to motors which work horizontally diagonally or
otherwise. Such motors in addition to the manifold ordinary purposes may be
advantageously used for propelling vehicles of all descriptions and for driving
cranes, winches, windlasses &c. on board sailing and other vessels.
Dated this Fourteenth day of January 1892.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: . COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Petroleum and other Hydro-carbon Motors.
We, JOHN FINLAY RANKIN and MATTHEW RANKIN both of the firm of
Rankin & Blackmore, Marine Engineers, Greenock, in the County of Renfrew,
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 :-
Our invention relates generally to an improved construction of that class of
motors worked with an explosive mixture produced by a combination of petroleum
or other hydro carbons and atmospheric air, but it relates more particularly to
a new method of mixing and vaporising, within the cylinder (or adjacent parts)
of such motors, the petroleum with a due proportion of air.
In carrying out the invention we preferably employ an inverted motor of the
single acting type, working on the Beau de Rochas cycle, in which a com-
bustible charge is introduced at the end of every alternate down-stroke, and is
compressed and ignited at the end of every alternate up stroke. Ignition may
be effected by means of a heated tube, the electric spark or otherwise.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is a vertical section of so much of an
inverted single acting engine as is necessary to illustrate our invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of upper portion of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section and at right angles to Fig. 1 and
Figures 4, 5; 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 shew modifications of the vaporisers employed.
On the upper portion of the cylinder A (Figure 1) at the top of the com-
bustion chamber and compression space B (of which it is an extension with free
communication) there is a mixing chamber and vaporiser C to which petroleum
and air are admitted during the suction or downward stroke of the piston G
through a valve D placed at the end of an auxiliary vaporiser and mixing
chamber E. The petroleum and air in their passage through the auxiliary
vaporiser E and main vaporiser C are heated and vaporised by means of a lamp
applied to the auxiliary vaporiser E until the engine has been started for a short
time after which the lamp may be dispensed with, as, owing to the heating of
the vaporisers C and E by the products of combustion, the engine will be self-
igniting. Ignition takes place after the vapour from the vaporisers C and E has
been drawn into the combustion space B and mixed with a further quantity of
atmospheric air admitted through the main air inlet valve F during the suction
stroke of the piston G, the piston on its return compressing a part of the
explosive mixture into the vaporisers which are constructed so as to be capable
of effecting an explosion at the proper time and thereby driving the piston G
downwards. On the return of the piston G the exhaust valve H is opened and
the waste products of combustion are expelled. By the momentum of the fly
wheel the engine continues to revolve and the suction stroke begins again;
and so on as hereinbefore described.
The two vaporisers C and E are shewn on Fig. 1 in two separate pieces, but
they may also be made in one piece in some cases as shewn by Figs. 4 and 5.,
A modified form is shewn by Figures 6 and 7 in which the auxiliary vaporiser E
instead of being a prolongation of the main vaporiser C constitutes a jacket
around it, the vaporiser C being fitted with a vapour inlet valve J which shuts
off the explosive mixture from the auxiliary vaporiser E. A further modification
is shewn by Figures 8, 9 and 10 in, which the auxiliary vaporiser is placed
above the main vaporiser C which is fitted with a vapour inlet valve J.
As an adjunct in the carrying out of our invention we employ an overhung
connecting rod K which is arranged so that the vertical centre line of the
cylinder A is set to the go-ahead side of the shaft at a distance equal to
about half the radius of the crank. The effect of this is for practical

page_text: purposes virtually to double the length of the connecting rod and to half the
amount of its working angle, thus producing longer working and suction strokes,
and shorter exhaust and compression strokes, with a resulting gain in economy
through increased rapidity of expansion, and a reduction in the loss caused
through the cooling effect of the water jacket L.
Although our said invention is preferably applied to inverted cylinder motors
having one or more cylinders of the single acting type, on the Beau de Rochas
cycle (with crank chamber cased in or left open as may be desired) on account
of their better working at high speeds and for the propulsion of vessels, it can
also be applied to other cycles, and to motors which work horizontally,
diagonally or otherwise. Such motors in addition to the manifold ordinary
purposes may be advantageously used for propelling vehicles of all descriptions
and for driving cranes, winches windlasses and the like on board sailing and
other vessels.
The engine may also be arranged to work with coal or other gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In hydro carbon engines the general arrangement and combination of parts
constituting the improvements hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In a hydro carbon engine the combination with the cylinder of a compound
vaporiser or of two separate vaporisers maintained at such a degree of heat by the
compression and combustion of the explosive mixture as to automatically ignite the
said mixture, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In a hydro carbon engine the employment of an overhung connecting rod,
substantially as and for the purpose described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
Dated this Tenth day of October 1892.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.