Improvements in Apparatus for Igniting the Charge in Petroleum and other Hydro-carbon Motors.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1891-Accepted. 29th And
1801
·PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Igniting the Charge in Petroleum
and other Hydro-carbon Motors.
I, SAMUEL GRIFFIN, of Kingston Iron Works, Bath, in the County of
Somerset, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
==
My invention relates to improved means and apparatus for igniting the inflam-
mable charge in the cylinders of petroleum and other hydro-carbon motors in such a
manner as to render same certain in action and of easy control.
Hitherto it has been customary in some cases to effect the ignition of the charge
in such motors by an electric spark; in other cases lamps burning the liquid
petroleum have been employed to heat an ignition tube. These methods have
however for practical reasons been more or less inefficient.
In order to overcome these defects and render the ignition simple and reliable I
arrange my improved igniting apparatus as follows:-
A small retort or vaporizing chamber of any suitable shape is so arranged that
heat may be conveniently applied to it in the first instance by any suitable petroleum
or spirit lamp, or other heating apparatus. In connection with this retort and
leading directly to its interior is a pipe through which passes a spray formed of air
and finely divided liquid petroleum or other hydro-carbon. This spray is con-
veniently formed by means of two fine jets or nozzles arranged at about right angles
to each other and fixed in any convenient manner in the interior of the before
mentioned pipe. Through one of these jets or nozzles a given quantity of liquid
petroleum or other hydro-carbon is allowed to issue advantageously under pressure
while from the other a stream of air also under pressure issues, the amount in each
case being regulated by a cock or other device. By this means the jet of air
passing over the jet of liquid hydro-carbon commingles with it forming the before
mentioned spray which passes directly through the pipe into the before mentioned
hot retort or vaporizer. In this retort or vaporizer the spray is heated forming a
gaseous combustible mixture of great heating power and which, issuing from a con-
veniently situated orifice or orifices in the retort, is ignited and impinges on an
igniting tube or other device, which is in communication with the combustible charge
in the interior of the motor cylinder, rendering the same incandescent.
In certain cases it may be advantageous to induce a current or quantity of air
into the before mentioned pipe in which the spray is formed in addition to that
supplied by the before mentioned air jet itself.
The retort is so arranged that after being heated in the first instance by any
suitable petroleum or spirit lamp or by any other suitable apparatus as before
mentioned in order to start or set it in operation the before mentioned gaseous
combustible mixture issuing from it will continue to impart the necessary heat to
carry on the operation of vaporization within it.
According to another arrangement I dispense with the before mentioned retort
or vaporizer and allow the before mentioned spray to pass directly from the before
mentioned pipe into contact with the before mentioned igniting tube or other device.
The before mentioned pipe through which the spray passes together with the
igniting tube is heated in the first instance by any suitable means sufficiently to
vaporize the spray and render the same combustible as before described. This
atter being ignited continues to supply the necessary heat both to raise the
guiting tube to incandescence as well as to vaporize the before mentioned spray.
In either of the above arrangements a case or chimney of any suitable form and
ined with asbestos or other suitable non-conducting material may be employed
with advantage to enclose the igniting tube in order to further assist combustion.

page_text: This apparatus may also on account of its great heating power be advantageously
employed for heating the retort or vaporizer in which petroleum or other liquid
hydro-carbon is vaporized in order to supply the working charge in the motor
cylinder.
Dated this 14th day of November 1890.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Igniting the Charge in Petroleum
and other Hydro-carbon Motors.
1 SAMUEL GRIFFIN of Kingston Iron Works Bath in the County of Somerset
Engineer 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:—
My invention relates to improved means and apparatus for igniting the inflam-
mable charge in the cylinders of petroleum and other hydro-carbon motors in such
a manner as to render same certain in action and of easy control.
Hitherto it has been customary in some cases to effect the ignition of the charge
in such motors by an electric spark in other cases lamps burning the liquid petroleum
have been employed to heat an ignition tube. These methods have however for
practical reasons been more or less inefficient.
In order to overcome these defects and render the ignition simple and reliable I
arrange my improved igniting apparatus as follows:-
A small retort or vaporizing chamber of any suitable shape is so arranged that
heat may be conveniently applied to it in the first instance by any suitable petroleum
or spirit lamp or other heating apparatus. In connection with this retort and
leading directly to its interior is a pipe through which passes a spray formed of air
and finely divided liquid petroleum or other hydro-carbon. This spray is con-
veniently formed by means of two fine jets or nozzles arranged at about right angles
to each other and fixed in any convenient manner in the interior of the before
mentioned pipe.
These jets may also be arranged parallel and concentric with each other the
relative distances of the nozzles being adjusted by a screw. For the production of
a very small quantity of spray I find this latter arrangement most advantageous.
Through one of these jets or nozzles a given quantity of liquid petroleum or
other hydro-carbon is allowed to issue while from the other a stream of air
(under pressure) issues the amount in each case being regulated by a cock or other
device.
By this means the jet of air passing over the jet of liquid hydro-carbon com-
mingles with it forming the before mentioned spray which passes directly through
the pipe into the before mentioned hot retort or vaporizer. In this retort or
vaporizer the spray is heated forming a gaseous combustible mixture of great
heating power and which issuing from a conveniently situated orifice or orifices in
the retort is ignited and impinges on an igniting tube or other device which is in
communication with the combustible charge in the interior of the motor cylinder
rendering the same incandescent.
In certain cases it may be advantageous to induce a current or quantity of air
into the before mentioned pipe in which the spray is formed in addition to that
supplied by the before mentioned air jet itself.
The retort is so arranged that after being heated in the first instance by any
suitable petroleum or spirit lamp or by any other suitable apparatus as before
mentioned in order to start or set it in operation the before mentioned gaseous com-
bustible mixture issuing from it will continue to impart the necessary heat to
carry on the operation of vaporization within it.
According to another arrangement I dispense with the before mentioned retort

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a section of my improved igniting apparatus (for igniting the
inflammable charge) shewing a portion of the chimney or casing and incandescent
tube attached.
A is the air nozzle having a screw thread on the outside for a portion of its length
and fitted by means of a corresponding screw thread into the interior of the
petroleum or liquid hydro-carbon nozzle B which is supplied through the pipe C.
Each of these nozzles are conical at one end and terminate with fine orifices or
jets a a. The before mentioned screw threads serve to regulate the annulus or
distance between the two jets a a. One end of the pipe or retort D is fitted con-
centric with the nozzles A B by means of the enlarged end or box E the other
end passing direct into the chimney or casing F which is lined with asbestos
or other refractory material G. The incandescent or igniting tube H communi-
cates with the inflammable mixture to be ignited in any convenient manner.
hole or orifice I in the enlarged end or box E is for the purpose of admitting an
induced current of air into the retort D. The apparatus is combined and held in
position by the bracket J.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The
The petroleum or liquid hydro-carbon nozzle B being supplied with liquid hydro-
carbon from any convenient source through the pipe Cair (under pressure) passes
through through the nozzle A and coming in contact with the liquid hydro-carbon
at a mixes with it thus forming a fine spray of air and liquid hydro-carbon which
rushes through the orifice a of the hydro-carbon nozzle B directly into the pipe
or retort D at the same time inducing a further quantity of air through the hole or
orifice into the pipe or retort D where it commingles with it. This pipe or
retort D is of such suitable length and diameter as to thoroughly vaporize the
liquid hydro-carbon spray as it passes through it thus forming in combination with
the air a highly inflammable gaseous mixture which issuing from the end of the
pipe or retort at d' impinges directly on the igniting tube H in the case or
chimney F. The amount of liquid hydro-carbon to be converted into spray in a
given time is accurately determined by varying the distance or annulus between
the jets a a by means of the screwed adjustment of the nozzles A and B. The
quantity and pressure of air passing through the nozzle A is regulated in any con-
venient manner by a stop cock or other device. The apparatus is set in action by
heating the tube or retort D until its temperature is sufficient to vaporize the spray
which is now allowed to pass through it as before described. The resultant gaseous
mixture issuing at d' is then ignited and impinging on the igniting tube H quickly

page_text: raises it to any required degree of incandescence the heat of this flame at the
same time being sufficient to maintain the necessary temperature of the tube or
retort D. The apparatus now continues working without further attention.
Figure 2 is a modification of the apparatus previously described having the
enlarged end or box E deepened so as to form a liquid hydro-carbon chamber K
into which the nozzle supply pipe C descends. This reservoir K is fed by means
of the pipe L which communicates with a closed reservoir situated in any con-
venient position. The level of the liquid hydro-carbon in the chamber Kis
regulated by the liquid itself which flowing through the pipe L rises in the
chamber until the end of the pipe L is covered thereby preventing the entrance
of air into the before mentioned closed reservoir and in consequence the further
flow of liquid hydro-carbon from it. When the level of the liquid in K is lowered
slightly below the orifice of the pipe L a bubble of air will pass into the before
mentioned closed reservoir allowing an equivalent of liquid to pass into Ka
practically uniform level being thus maintained. The relief pipe M is employed
to return any excess of liquid hydro-carbon (due to over spraying) not converted
into vapour in the pipe or retort D into the chamber K from whence it is used
again. The action of the issuing air through the jets a a will induce the liquid
hydro-carbon to rise through the pipe C filling the interior of the nozzle B from
whence it is forced in the form of spray as before described. The action of the
apparatus from this point together with the letters of reference is precisely as in
Figure 1.
It will be obvious that a relief pipe such as M may if desired be applied to the
apparatus shown in Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The application of nozzles a a such as shown in Figure 1 for the purpose of
producing a fine spray of liquid hydro-carbon and air combined for the purpose of
heating an igniting tube or equivalent device for igniting the charge in petroleum
and other hydro-carbon motors substantially as herein before described and repre-
sented in the drawings hereto annexed.
2. The arrangement and application of a tube or retort such as D for heating
and vaporizing the liquid hydro-carbon spray previous to its ignition substantially
as hereinbefore described and represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
3. The arrangement and combination of nozzles a a and tube or retort D for the
purpose of producing an inflammable gaseous mixture from liquid hydro-carbon
and air substantially such as herein before described and represented in the drawings
hereto annexed.
4. The arrangement and application of a pipe such as M (Figure 2) for the
purpose of draining and receiving any excess of liquid hydro-carbon from the tube
or retort D substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of
the drawings hereto annexed.
5. The improved arrangement and combination of apparatus for igniting the
inflammable charge in petroleum and other hydro-carbon motors substantially as
and for the purpose herein before described and represented in the drawings hereto
annexed.
ديد
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