Improvements in Petroleum and similar Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1895
0
CUMI
Improvements in Petroleum and similar Engines.
, GEORGE WILLIAM WEATHERHOGG, of 7, Broadgate, in the City of Lincoln,
gineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
e same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
e following statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention relates to improvements in petroleum and similar engines, of the
nd in which the ignition is effected by a metal surface, heated by a lamp, or
herwise, when starting the engine, and kept at the proper temperature, while the
gine is at work, by the heat of the explosions.
Now, my invention is designed to provide, in an engine having an igniter
ranged in a separate ignition chamber, improved means for igniting the explosive
harges, so that the igniter can be heated more rapidly than heretofore, and can
ave its temperature regulated according to the nature of the oil employed, while
will not be so liable to become cooled too much by the incoming charges, or when
he engine misses explosions, as in regulating the power for different loads.
My invention further comprises arrangements in connection with the ignition
chamber, for vapourizing the oil by heat derived from the explosions, and for
delivering the explosive charges to the engine cylinder; and also has reference to
an improved construction of exhaust chimney which may be employed to facilitate
the cooling of the jacket water.
In carrying my invention into practice, I preferably arrange the ignition chamber
as a prolongation of the combustion chamber, or engine cylinder, and I provide the
the
1 further arrange
said ignition chamber with an air or water jacket, and with a removable metal
narrow annular space.
lining separated from it by a
vapourizing apparatus, and the working valves, on the said ignition chamber. The
igniter, which may be a tube, rod, or plate, is arranged in a suitable casing or
holder fitted into the outer end of the ignition chamber, the inner part of said
casing or holder being closed, while a suitable cover is provided for closing, or
partially closing, its outer end, when required, so that it may be opened to the
atmosphere, to a greater or less extent, to regulate its temperature, and that of the
igniter, or may be closed entirely when it is desired to prevent any reduction of
temperature. By this incans, the temperature of the casing or holder, and of the
vaporizer, may be varied according to the nature or inflammability of the oils
employed, so preventing, to a great extent, and without altering the compression of
the combustible charges, too early firing and "knocking" in the cylinder, should
the temperature become too high. The said casing or holder and igniter are
heated by an exterior flame before starting the engine, and a flame may be allowed
to temporarily play upon them to maintain their temperature during the working
of the engine.
The vaporization of the oil takes place in a spiral tube arranged between the
igniter casing or holder and the wall of the ignition chamber, or in a passage, or
passages, formed or provided around or partly around the chamber.
The improved exhaust chimney consists of two tubes arranged one within the
other. The exhaust gases pass up the inner tube and induce a current air u
5 the space between the tubes; or a forced draught, caused by a blower or fin, may
be employed therefor, and the jacket water is conveyed to perforated horizonta
distributing trays, or to a perforated helical plate arranged in this latter space
thereby arcatly facilitating cooling of such water.

page_text: order that my invention may be readily understood, I will describe t
same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of one arrangement of ignition chamb
according to my invention, for attachment, in a longitudinal direction, to the end
the cylinder, or combustion chamber.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the valve chest and valves for the gas or vapo
supply.
Fig. 3 is a plan, and Fig. 4 a sectional elevation of another arrangement
ignition chamber.
Fig. 5 shews, in longitudinal section, another form of ignition chamber.
Fig. 6 is an elevation, and Fig. 7 a sectional end view of a petroleum, or like
engine, preferably of the portable type, with my improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 8 is a vertical section, and Fig. 9 a sectional plan of a chimney for a
petroleum other or like engine constructed according to my invention.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a is the ignition chamber, which may be cast o
bolted on to the combustion chamber, or engine cylinder, and on which are
arranged the exhaust valve b, the air inlet valve e, a regulating valve d, and the
vapour supply valves. eis the removable metal lining which is supported in places
by faced bosses or strips el against the inner walls of the chamber a, so as to leave
annular spaces e to retard the passage of heat to the water circulating in the
jacket. In the arrangement shewn, the lining has openings c³ in it to correspond
to the valves and c, and another opening e is provided in it for the admission of
the gases to its interior. If, however, the ignition chamber is air jacketed only,
or if water is not permitted to enter the jacket, the lining e may be dispensed with.
g is the casing or holder carrying the tubular igniter h, and which casing or
holder is closed at its outer end by an adjustable screw cover g'. The igniter h is
formed of copper, or other suitable material, and is always open to the gases from
the explosion. It is so arranged that the said gases may play freely both upon the
inside and outside of its inner end. The outside of the casing or holder may he
ribbed or corrugated, so that the gases entering through the opening may be
more thoroughly mixed with the air in passing over it. In the rear part of this
casing or holder, openings gx are provided, so that the heating flame can pass
through them and play upon the vapourizing coils, hereinafter mentioned.
Or the casing or holder may be screwed into or otherwise jointed to the rear end
of the ignition chamber (where the passage of the exploding gases are stopped off).
In such case, the rear part of the casing or holder with the openings g* are
dispensed with, and the outer cover is then jointed to the outer flange or casting of
the vapourizing chamber, thus giving more space in the vapourizing chamber for
the heating flame or gases to play therein.
thick oils are used and vapourization is difficult, the vapourizing chamber, and also 4
In some cases, such as where very
part of the casing or holder, may be lined with fireclay, asbestos, or other like
material, to increase the temperature of these chambers; or the exhausting gases
may be allowed to play therein, a suitable cock being provided for shutting off
these gases, when desired.
The cover g' may be provided with a register plate or damper, which can be 4
adjusted to open communication, more or less, to the atmosphere, to regulate the
temperature of the igniter; and for large powers, a diaphragm (not shewn) may be
arranged inside the casing or holder, and the flame for heating the igniter may be
situated beneath this diaphragm. At its outer end, the igniter h is provided with
perforations to enable it to drain itself from any fatty or other matters, and 50
it is shielded from the cooling action of the entering charges by its casing or
holder g.
The vapourizing arrangement comprises coils k situated in an annular space i,
between the igniter casing or holder and the wall of the chamber a.
communicate with a valve chest j containing the valves for controlling the flow of 55
These coils
vapour. This chest has two chambers land l', connected by a passage * preferably
controlled by the needle regulating or conical valve d. The chamber into which

page_text: the coiled pipe kopens, is provided with a mechanically operated check or supply
valve, kept upon its seat by a spring and also by the pressure of the vapour.
The latter chamber has a similarly mechanically operated valve 1, kept on its
seat by a spring 1. m, m² are removable plugs, by which access can be had to the
chambers l¹.
When the foregoing arrangement of valves is applied to a two cycle engine, the
air valve e (which may be opened either mechanically or automatically) admits
atmospheric air into the combustion chamber, or cylinder, by way of the ignition
chamber a during a portion of the outstroke. At the proper moment, the gas or
vapour valves and are opened by suitable levers and cams from the side shaft
of the engine, permitting a charge of gas or vapour to flow along with the incoming
air into the working cylinder. On the return stroke, the charge is compressed in
the combustion chamber and the ignition chamber a, and at or about the
commencement of the next outstroke the charge is fired by the igniter h, which
propels the piston outwards, the products of combustion being exhausted through
the valve upon the next return stroke in the usual manner.
In the arrangement shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, the vaporization of the oil takes place
in an annular passage formed around the ignition chamber, instead of in pipes k.
The chamber has a combined plug and valve whose lower end projects over the
end of the passage 17, leading to the engine cylinder, and has openings or ports
corresponding with said passage. The plug is provided with a handle 7, by which
it can be turned to close, or to open, the passage when stopping, or starting, the
engine. The adjustment of the needle regulating valve d need not thus be interfered
with.
In this arrangement, the igniter is placed transversely of the casing or holder g,
instead of longitudinally, and is kept in position in a tubular passage g** by wings
or projections. The above described construction of plug and valve may be
applied to the arrangement shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, in place of the plug m¹.
In the arrangement shewn in Fig. 5, the igniter consists of a tube o, preferably
perforated (or of a rod or plate) arranged within a dome or case a', a space being
left between them, and said dome is coated with fire clay, or other non-conducting
material. A casing or holder g closes the back end of the ignition chamber a,
and has a close ended igniter g which, by removing the cover g may be heated
at starting by a lamp, or blow pipe flame, till the ignition tube o is heated
sufficiently by the explosion. Or means may be provided for heating this latter
separately, at starting.
In Figs. 6 and 7, the gas or vapour after passing through the admission valve 1,
and the needle regulating valve d, passes into a mixing chamber through a
perforated spraying device u' where it mingles with the entering air and is drawn
through the valve into the ignition chamber a and engine cylinder, by the power
piston, wherein it is compressed as in the preceding arrangement. This latter
valve is operated either automatically, or mechanically, as desired, and the gas
or vapour valve 2 is operated by the lever p, actuated by a camp on the side
shaft of the engine. A sliding shutter, or other equivalent device (not shewn) is
preferably used for throttling the air charges.
In some cases, I prefer to dispense with the check or supply valve ², the gas or
vapour being then forced through the passage * into the mixing chamber by the
oil supply pump, the quantity being regulated by the needle regulating valve d.
When so arranged, any excess vapour or condensed oil which is liable to accumulate
in the mixing chamber, especially when the engine is working intermittently or
cutting out the charges, passes through a drain pipe (not shewn) which inore or
less prevents a beavy explosion after an interruption of the series.
The lever has a third arm from which, by means of the connecting rod p², the
oil supply pump g is worked, and forces the oil up the pipe k which is a continuation
of the coil k. The exhaust valve is operated by a lever p³ actuated by a
cam p.

page_text: The governing of the engine is effected as in an ordinary petroleum or gas
engine, and the oil pump is arranged so as to cease working upon excess speed.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, is the outer tube of the specially constructed
exhaust chimney, arranged for cooling the jacket water. This chimney is jointed,
for example, as at r', so as to be capable of being lowered when travelling, and
stands upon the water tank, or the exhaust silencing chamber. ² is the inner
tube between which and the outer tube r, are arranged, at suitable distances apart,
flanged rings or annular trays 3 having a number of drilled bosses and supported
by rods or pipes, one of which has a cock in its outer end for emptying the
trays, when it is desired to lower the chimney. These trays (which are easily
removable for cleaning, and are not in immediate contact with the chimney tubes)
present a considerable cooling surface to the air current, and the outer tube or
casing may, if desired, be perforated, or have suitable openings at intervals to
admit of the free entry of air, through the annular spaces for cooling the water.
A water pipes is arranged preferably at the side of the chimney, and a trough
is formed in the casting at the bottom thereof. The water, after being forced
through the jacket, or jackets, in any well known manner, is conducted by the
pipes to the top of the chimney, and is delivered to the uppermost annular tray,
on which it collects and rises up to the level of the perforated bosses, through
which it overflows to the next tray, and so on through the whole of the trays.
From the trough it is returned by a conduit pipes to the water tank s² which,
when applied to an engine fitted with travelling wheels, is preferably of semi-
cylindrical or trough shape, as shewn, (the end of which next the cylinder serves
as an oil reservoir) so presenting a large surface to the atmosphere, and being of
considerable capacity allows the water to cool still further than it has in passing
through the draught created in the chimney by the exhaust. When, however,
the engine is of the stationary kind, a water tank of ordinary form may be
employed.
In some cases, I may employ a perforated helical plate in place of the trays in the
chimney; or wire gauze may be provided instead of the perforations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed what I claim is:
1. A petroleum or like engine having a separate ignition chamber provided with
means for regulating the temperature of the igniter, and with means for vapourizing
the oil, substantially as described.
2. In a petroleum, or like, engine, the arrangement for vapourizing the oil by
heat derived from the explosions, and consisting of a coiled pipe (or a passage)
surrounding the igniter casing, as in Fig. 1, or the ignition chamber, as in Fig. 3,
and communicating with a valve chest, in which are the valves for controlling the
flow of vapour to the cylinder, and with an oil pump, substantially as described.
3. The improved arrangement of ignition chamber and its connected parts,
substantially as described and shown with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the
drawings.
4. The arrangement of ignition chamber and its connected parts, substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
5. The arrangement of ignition chamber having two igniters, substantially as
described with reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings.
6. In a petroleum or like engine, the arrangement whereby the gas or vapour
supply is forced into a mixing chamber, by means of an oil pump, previous to
entering the ignition chamber, the supply being regulated by means of a conical or
needle valve and a mechanically operated gas valve, or by a conical or needle
valve only, and the supplies cut off upon excess speed, substantially as described.
7. In a petroleum or like engine, the exhaust chimney formed of two concentric
tubes (the outer of which may be perforated) and having arranged between these
tubes perforated water trays, substantially as described with reference
to 5

page_text: Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings; or provided with a perforated helical plate, as
set forth.
8. The general arrangement and construction of petroleum or like engines,
having a combined ignition chamber and vaporizer; a single lever for actuating the
gas and vapour, or the vapour and air supply valves and the oil pump; and an
exhaust chimney having perforated trays, or helical plates, arranged to cool
the jacket water, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of
the drawings.
9. My improvements in petroleum and similar engines, substantially as herein-
before described and as shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of September 1895.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78 Fleet Street, London, and 5^ Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.