Improved Mineral Oil Engine.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1897---Accepted, 25th Sept., 1897
Improved Mineral Oil Engine.
I, PIERRE ALPHONSE ESTEVE, of La Reole, Gironde, in the Republic of France,
Apothecary, 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 a petroleum motor of the kind designated "four-stroke
motors and has been especially designed to work effectively and regularly at any
speed with a heavy hydrocarbon of a density of at least 790 and with the cylinder
either water jacketed or having radiating gills.
•
My invention is principally characterised not only by the special shape of its
frame and the special arrangements devised for the lubrication of the cylinder
and of the other parts but also by the special manner in which the oil is distributed
and by the arrangement of the stop cocks at the side and above the cover of the
cylinder. It is also characterised by a special method of cleaning whilst at work
of the escape valve and also by having a special chamber, hereinafter described as
the platinum chamber, the ignition of the explosive mixture being always assured
by the presence of this metal in its various conditions but usually applied in the
form of a tube.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 shows a vertical section along the axis of the motor.
Figure 2 shows the motor in elevation and partial section on the line 6, 7, 8,
with a portion broken off.
The frame is formed of two hollow semi-circular shells A B united at their
flanges by means of the bolts b b and forming a closed chamber which protects the
crank head and the gearing and acts as a lower reservoir for oil floating upon a
quantity of washing water. The upper shell A supports the cylinder which is
affixed thereto by means of bolts or may form one piece with it. The shell is
moreover provided with glazed frames t enabling the interior organs to be seen
and reached. The lower shell B is fixed to the base X. The axle of the motor
shaft G is placed in the same plane in which the two shells A and B are jointed
together. The motor cylinder C provided with the usual water jacket or with
radiating gills opens as to its lower part above the chamber aforesaid formed by
the shells and at the bottom of which above the layer of wash water which can be
withdrawn as may be desirable there collects the oil distributed to the wall of the
cylinder by means of a lubricator. Into the supernatant layer of oil collected
within the shell B and of which the normal level 5-5 is indicated by a gauge
glass there plunge at each turn the head of the crank shaft and the parts of the
motor shaft G, these project upwards and against the walls drops of oil which
lubricate the upper organs collected by the groove w and redescend through the
openings yy upon the shaft G from whence they are lead by means of the slots H
and the conduits zx into the shell B.
The cam Q actuated by the shaft Z which makes one revolution whilst the motor
shaft is making two, acts upon the projection of the bar D of the escape valve U,

page_text: which bar under the action of the cam Q and of the spring Q1 slides in the piece S.
Around a shaft s which traverses two lugs of the piece S and under the combined
action of the projection t¹ and of the spring H' a lever J oscillates, the lower portion
of which bears the said projection t. This projection is maintained in such a
position that the piece K in the form of a horse shoe placed against the hub of
the flywheel F, and which serves to regulate the speed by oscillating under the
action of the centrifugal force around a shaft o against a resisting spring p touches
it at each turn. The top of the upper end of this lever can place itself under the
screw head N of the bar D of the valve U, and hold this valve open as long as the
speed of rotation of the motor exceeds a given limit.
Air is
Upon the bar of the valve U is fixed a spool 6 around which may be coiled two
or three times a thin cord so that by pulling to the right or to the left at its ends
the valve U may be turned upon its seat. If by means of the reversed cock r¹ the
operator takes the opportunity of the moment of the aspiration in order to cause
to pass into the valve U a little oil and emery the said valve can be cleansed whilst
at work without the necessity of stopping the machine. The air aspiration
valve V is mounted above the valve U and upon the same part, by means of a holder
and bolts d, these two valves are fixed against the edge of the cover E of the cylinder,
above and at one side of which is placed the petroleum reservoir R.
admitted to this valve through an india rubber tube m¹ which has the effect of
diminishing the noise caused by the aspiration of the air. The top of the
cylinder C communicates through an opening 9 with the aspiration and escape
tube and with the compressing and igniting chamber 0 by means of the tube
I of the connecting tubes by which this chamber is fixed also above the cylinder
cover and in the axis of the cylinder. By means of the tubular channel e¹ the
chamber is connected to a valve having a horizontal shaft T. This arrange-
ment is surmounted by a distributing apparatus to which petroleum is conducted
by means of a tube K² passing from the petroleum reservoir R in which is
maintained a constant level c c. The said reservoir is composed of two
compartments m n; the upper compartment is a petroleum reservoir intended to
supply the other compartment n, where is placed the constant level c c. The
compartment m is hermetically closed above and has an opening below in order to
allow the liquid to pass into the lower compartment which is in communication at
its upper part with the outer air through the tap r and from below by means of the
escape pipe K2 with the regulating tap M. When this tap is opened the level
lowers and uncovers the edge of the lower opening of the upper compartment m.
A quantity of air then penetrates into this compartment and allows an equivalent
quantity of petroleum to flow into the lower compartment n thus maintaining at the
discharge outlet a constant level.
The
In order to fill the reservoir m the tap r is closed and also the tube K2 is closed
by means of the valve M; the plug is then unscrewed and the reservoir m can be
filled with petroleum. It is then closed hermetically and the lower reservoir n is
put into communication again with the atmosphere by opening the tap r.
charged reservoir m then supplies the compartment n in proportion as the level
of the liquid sinks in this compartment by reason of the flow of petroleum through
the tube K. The valves U and V, the ignition chamber 0, the tap for aspiration
of petroleum and of air with shaft T, the distributor L M and the petroleum
reservoir R are consequently as much separated and detached as possible one from
another and from the cylinder and may thus be easily examined and detached.
The chamber contains at its upper part an ignition capsule or tube of
platinum 0¹. The presence of platinum in the spongy state or of tubular
platinum or even platinum wire coiled renders certain the ignition of the mixture
without the necessity of excessive heat, and even in the case of only slight com-
pression; this gives the motor great facility of working. In order to set it at work
the chamber is first heated by means of a lamp until ignition is produced and the
motor is started after which ignition is produced automatically owing to the
presence of the platinum 'sponge or tube. The petroleum of the reservoir R is

page_text: distributed to the valve x T through the narrow channel L in which the needle M
moves up and down; this motion is obtained by the rotation of M itself which is
pressed by two nuts 3 and 8 against 1) and consequently partakes of the motion
of the handle S¹. M revolves in the stuffing box 2 and rises or falls according as
S¹ is turned to the right or the left; the screw-threading should be micrometric so
that this motion is extremely small. The position of the needle M is adjusted
approximately before the machine is set to work.
A brass cap D' is firmly held between the screws 3 and 4; this cap bears a
handle S¹ and on the opposite side a bent pointer 2 which moves to the right or
the left over a dial 9. The lower part of the piece D¹ has four saw cuts so as to
cause it to slip over and revolve with considerable friction upon the piece I. The
dial is fixed upon a support P itself carried by the piece I which serves as a pivot
for the piece D¹. The supply of petroleum being thus regulated and distributed
in the form of a uniform charge, arrives through the little channels y under the
head of the valve a T, which valve allows it to pass at the moment of the
aspiration and at the same time as there passes a fixed quantity of air coming
through the narrow inlet z which connects to the tube K¹. No quantity of
petroleum can collect behind the valve T and thus form a reserve which would
affect the regularity and amount of the explosion. The noise resulting from the
aspiration is also diminished, as in the case of the valve V, by means of an india
rubber tube K¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In an oil motor the ignition chamber O placed outside of the motor cylinder
communicating on the one side with the said cylinder and on the other side with
the supply pipe of the petroleum distributed and accompanied by a fixed quantity
of air in combination with the platinum tube 0' fixed in the said chamber for the
purpose of securing by its special properties the ignition of the explosive mixture
2. In an oil engine the petroleum distributor consisting of the spike M, the
index, the handle S¹ for the purpose of regulating the position of the said
spike M according to the dial 9; the valve for aspiration and distribution in the
chamber of the petroleum supplied by the spike M of the distributor and the
air which passes through the india rubber tube K¹; in combination with the
reservoir R having its level maintained constant for supplying to the distributor
aforesaid a given quantity of liquid in a uniform space of time.
3. In an oil engine the aspiration valve U provided with the spool 6¹ by means
of which and of a cord wrapped around the same the valve may be caused to turn
whilst at work; the reversed tap r' permitting of the introduction upon the seat
of the valve U of oil mixed with emery in order to effect during working the
cleansing of this valve.
4. In an oil engine the turning piece K articulated at under a spring p
(opposing the centrifugal force) against which piece K there presses at each turn
the piece placed at the lower end of the lever J which oscillates on S under the
action of the spring H₁ of the piece K, whilst the other end of the said lever J
can pass under the washer N and hold the escapement valve U open until the speed
of rotation diminishes and the piece K approaches the centre of rotation of the
shaft G.
5. In oil engines the process which consists in keeping under the layer of
lubricating oil in the chamber B a deep bed of water in such manner that the
impurities carried in with the lubricating oil may all fall to the bottom of the said
layer of water, whilst the oil floats purified on a level indicated by a glass gauge
tube h, such level being touched by the head of the crank shaft at each turn thus
projecting drops of oil against the upper part of the walls, which drops lubricate
(in flowing down again) the interior organs and driving shaft, and finally re-unite
in the chamber B.

page_text: C. The combination of parts forming the improved oil engine substantially as
herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day c: May 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
32, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.