of Vapour Fuel.
Year: 1886

page_text: of Vapour Fuel.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and
323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (a communication from abroad by Augustin
Irel Ambler of the City of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of
America, Inventor) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for producing and utilizing vapor fuel by the
combined use of petroleum or its products and steam, for generating steam, and
other purposes, or wherever the production of flame and heat is required, including
the supplying of vapor fuel to burning brick, lime, crockery, and for the reduction
of ores in furnaces, etcetera. The invention, however, is more particularly designed
to be used in connection with locomotive engine boilers or other boilers of the
locomotive type, and it will be described more especially with referenco to such use.
The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts;
whereby the vaporizing of the petroleum or oil and the mixture of the steam with
it or its vapor is very perfectly and economically secured, and other advantages are
obtained, substantially as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the Figures.
Figure 1, represents a vertical longitudinal section of a locomotive engine, in
part, with tender, having the invention applied.
Figure 2, is a plan view of the tender, with certain attachments.
Figure 3, represents a plan view of a series of multiple retorts with connections,
applicable to or forming part of the invention.
Figure 4, a partly sectional plan view of the main burner portion of the
apparatus.

page_text: Figure 5, is a mainly sectional plan view, upon a larger scale, of the multiple
retort under one form of its construction.
Figure 6, is a longitudinal section, also upon a larger scale, of the burner portion
of the apparatus.
Figure 7, is a horizontal section of a single flue retort, which may be used in
place of the multiple one, and,
Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section of the fire-box end of the boiler,
showing a modified construction of the bridge and a series of single cylinder
retorts.
Referring in the first instance, or more particularly, to the first six Figures of
the drawing, A is the fire-box of the boiler of a locomotive engine, or it might be
any other boiler of locomotive type. B, is a water bridge, compartment or
diaphragm within the fire-box, to deflect and direct the flame against the water
leg of the fire-box, also against the crown sheet, and, as shown by the arrow in
Figure 1, directly into the tubes or flues of the boiler.
C C, are the main burners used to run the locomotive; D D, the multiple
retorts; and E E, the burners below the retorts for heating the latter. These
several devices are all located below the water bridge B, in regular order one
above or below the other, the main burners C, C, being above the retorts and the
burners E E, below the retorts.
The multiple retorts consist of a series of cylinders or outer boxes c, arranged
horizontally side by side with end compartments d in them, and numerous interior
longitudinal tubes or flues e, connecting said compartments at the opposite ends of
the cylinders. The several retorts are connected together by means of right and
left hand nipples f, arranged to produce a return action through the several retorts
in succession, as clearly shown in Figure 5; or said retorts may be otherwise
equivalently connected than by nipples, which latter when used may be reversely
tapering and smooth, or have right and left hand threads on their opposite ends
respectively. Bands or straps g, also serve to bind or hold the several retorts
together.
The burners CC, and E E, are also constructed of parallel outer cylinders h,
connected respectively at their opposite ends, and with burner orifices i, in and
along them, and having a perforated longitudinal tube or flue k, extending through
each of them and connected by end elbow attachments 1, the whole being arranged
so as to produce a return action through the entire series of inner and outer tubes
or cylinders and tubes respectively.
F, is a pump or mixing chamber for the steam and oil or vapor, and m, a pipe
connecting the one end of the retorts D, with said mixer for supplying vapor to the
retorts; and n, a pipe connecting the retorts with the one end of a superheater or
superheating coil G, said superheater being supplied with steam at its opposite end,
from the steam dome or chamber of the boiler by a pipe o, subject to control by a
cock p, through a handle r, from the outside of the boiler.
The superheater G, is arranged within a suction chamber H, at the forward end
of the boiler.
I is a supplementary burner arranged crosswise within the suction chamber H,
to give additional heat to the superheater, or to heat the same at starting the
apparatus.
J, is a perforated nozzle arranged in the upper part of the suction chamber H, or
within the stack Ķ and through which steam is blown from the pipe o, to create a
constant suction or partial vacuum within the chamber H, to assist the draught.
The tender of the engine is constructed to form an inner oil reservoir L, for
supplying the retorts D, through the mixer F, and an outer water tank or
reservoir M, for supplying the boiler with water to keep up the steam.
Oil is supplied to the mixer F, from the reservoir L, by a pipe 8. This pipe is
connected at its receiving end with a chamber or circular socket t, in the lower
part of the oil reservoir near its one end and through which the stem of a valve u
passes to admit oil to or to shut it off from the supply pipes, the stem of said

page_text: valve, which may be a screw threaded one, passing upward and being operated by
a wheel or handle v, from above. As it is always to supply the retorts with the
oil which is lightest and freest from sediment, it is supplied to the chamber or
socket t, from the upper surface of the oil in the reservoir L, regardless of the
depth of oil therein, by means of a rising and falling pipe N, provided at its upper
end with a screen or rose w, and float O, and connected at its opposite or lower end
in a free or loose manner, as for instance by a partial ball and socket joint, with
the chamber t.
P is an upper cylinder or chamber on or connected with the oil reservoir L, for
the purpose of receiving ascending vapors produced either mechanically or other-
wise for use in starting when steam cannot be obtained. This may be done by
well known means as for instance by a force pump and pipe connected with the
bottom of the oil reservoir.
Steam is applied to the mixer F, by a pipe a¹, and 6¹ is a valve with its attached
stem and wheel for controlling the flow of steam therethrough. c indicates the
valve to regulate and control the flow and supply of oil by the pipe 8 to the
mixer F. d (Figure 3) is a valve in a branch pipe e¹ to regulate and control
the flow of steam to the retorts in starting. f¹ is the pipe to conduct the vapor
from the multiple retorts D, through branch pipes and valves g¹, h¹ to the burners C
and E, above and below the retorts, the valve g' controlling the supply to the
burners C, and the valve h¹, which may be worked by a lever not shown here,
controlling the supply to the burners E. ¹ is a pipe having a controlling valve k¹
in the pipes to and through the orifices in the burners to quicken the draught
and assist combustion.
All the pipes which are exposed should have an asbestos or other suitable
covering, as shown for the portion of the pipe n, which passes beneath the boiler.
A pipe m² provided with a valve n¹ may be arranged to connect the apparatus
with a donkey boiler, not shown, for supplying steam at starting, and by which
and the connecting pipes steam may be caused to flow to all parts of the apparatus,
and may be so continued, by the operation of the proper valves, until steam of a
suitable pressure is obtained in the main boiler or boiler proper of the apparatus,
when connection with the donkey boiler may be shut off.
The interior construction of the multiple retorts, as hereinbefore described, is
more clearly seen in Figure 5, in which although the relative arrangements of the
vapor connecting pipes m, f¹, and steam connecting pipes m, e' are somewhat
different to the arrangement shown in Figure 3, and only three connected retorts
are represented, the return action or course of the steam through the tubes or
pipes e, and vapor through the outside cylinders or pipes c, shown by arrows, is the
same, the invention not being restricted to any precise arrangement of the con-
nections nor yet to the number of connected retorts, the whole series of which.
form in effect but a single retort. As shown and described, the retort comprises an
outer chamber or series of outer chambers in which the combined vapors of steam
and oil, as coming from the mixer, are both externally heated by means of the
lower burners E, and internally heated by steam circulating through the tubes e,
which connect at their opposite ends with the steam chambers d. One (a²) of the
heads a³, a³, in which these tubes e within each cylinder c fit, is welded or other-
wise securely attached to the cylinder in a steam tight manner. The other head a³,
in which the opposite ends of the tubes e fit, is of a piston like construction, with
a metallic spring packing in its periphery to make a close but sliding joint with
the interior of the cylinder. This construction compensates for any inequality in
the expansion and contraction of the inner and outer tubes or cylinders and tubes.
If desired, steam ways may be used in the heads a³, and end portions of the tubes e
fitting therein to admit steam to the backs of the metallic packings, to secure, their
close and more perfect action, as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. This Figure
represents a modified construction of the retort, in which each cylinder o
chamber c has but one steam tube e within it. Figure 8 of the drawing shows
such modified construction of the retort or retorts in place within the fire box of
.or

page_text: the boiler, and a modified construction of or substitute for the bridge B, the same
being designed to show that the ordinary brick arch or cross tubes, with or without
brick, may be employed to deflect the flame, instead of the water bridge shown in
Figure 1.
The operation is as follows:-
Steam having been made in the boiler, the valve p in the pipe o, is opened,
which allows of the steam passing to and through the superheater, and to and
through all parts of the apparatus to which it is required or desirable to admit it,
as for instance, to and through the steam pipes in the retort and in the burners.
When the retorts and other parts are thoroughly heated up, the valve admitting
steam to the mixer F, also the valve admitting oil to the mixer are opened, and
from thence the combined oil and steam are passed into the vapor spaces or
chambers of the retort, steam being admitted also to all the tubes and steam
chambers of the retort, the steam starting from the dome and entering the retort
by the pipe n, and the oil supplied from the oil reservoir passing first to the
mixer F by the pipes 8, and afterward in a broken up condition and mixed with
the steam, by the pipe m to the vapor chambers of the retort, from whence the
vapor in a highly heated condition, by reason of the steam pipes in the retort and
burners E on the outside thereof, passes and keeps up the supply to the burners C
and E. When the vapor is thus made or becomes sufficiently inflammable to burn
freely, which may be tested by opening the valves g¹ and h¹, that admit the vapor
to the burners, and igniting the vapor from time to time as it issues from the
burners, the engineer or operator may then set his valves to secure a steady flow
of vapor, also steam by the pipes k, to the burners to produce the necessary degree
and quality of flame and heat for doing the work it is required to perform. This
by experience the operator will soon be familiar with so as to obtain the best or
most desirable results.
It will be readily seen that by a proper manipulation of the valves, the operator
may have the most perfect control over the heat and flame, as well as its quality
or character, and that he can turn his flame down to a series of mere jets, or, if
necessary, fill the fire-box, boiler flues and suction chamber in front of the boiler
with flame, and that these or other changes can be made instantaneously. The
invention essentially differs from a mere atomizing system of devices, and will be
found much more advantageous in the results obtained, as well as more economical.
Applied to a locomotive, the chamber which constitutes an exhaust one and
smoke box is converted into a suction and heating chamber, and no sharp exhaust
is needed to break up a solid bed of coal in the fire-box, or to create a draught,
but the exhaust steam from the cylinders of the engine may, by very slight means,
be condensed and utilized to heat both the water and oil in the tender. The
utility of the invention in its combined use of petroleum or its products and steam
is more perfectly attained in boilers of the locomotive type as described. If
desired, air instead of steam, may be ejected through the burners for use in
connection with the flame produced from the vapor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus for the production and use, as vapor fuel, of petroleum or its
products and steam combined, the combination, with a mixer of the oil and steam,
of a retort or retorts for heating the vapor derived from said mixer, and a series of
burners arranged above and below said retorts and arranged to receive their supply
of heated vapor from the retorts, essentially as described.
2. In vapor fuel apparatus, the combination, with oil and water reservoirs and
tanks, of a steam boiler of locomotive type having a suction chamber in its forward
end, a superheater for the steam, a steam and oil mixer, a retort or retorts
arranged within the fire-box of the boiler, burners arranged above and below said
retorts and connected with them, and pipes and valves connecting and controlling

page_text: the supply of oil and steam in the mixer and retorts, and vapor from the retorts to
the burners, substantially as described.
3. The retort or retorts of the apparatus consisting of a series of outer return
vapor tubes or chambers and inner return steam pipes or tubes secured at their one
end to inner fixed heads, and at their opposite end to inner sliding or piston-like
heads, substantially as shown and described.
4. In an apparatus for the production and use of vapor fuel, the combination of
an oil and steam supply, a mixer and force-pump, retort cylinders closed at each
end, internal stean heating tubes, steam chambers, a vapor chamber in each
cylinder, and connecting pipes for the passage of the steam and vapor from one
cylinder to the other of the retort, substantially as shown and described.
5. The cylinders forming the outer casings of each part of the multiple retort,
the headings therein, the internal steam heating tubes, the steam chambers and
vapor chambers combined with the pipes connecting the steam chambers and the
vapor chambers of each retort, and the pipes and valves connecting the apparatus
with the supply of oil and steam, and the burners, substantially as described.