IMPROVEMENTS IN PETROLEUM AND GAS ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: "
I JOHANNES SPIEL of Berlin in the Empire of Germany Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PETROLEUM AND
GAS ENGINES" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
drawings:-
My said Invention relates to motors which are driven by the explosion within
the cylinder of combustible mixtures of fluids and more particularly to engines
wherein the explosive mixture is formed by combining: a combustible liquid such
as petroleum naptha, benzine, spirits of wine or other suitable volatile liquid or
spirit with a due proportion of atmospheric air, pure oxygen or other suitable gas
so as to form an explosive mixture which is fired under compression in the working
cylinder of the motor. My invention consists of improved means for delivering a
certain fixed quantity of such explosive mixture to the cylinder and also to means
for combining the air or gas with the other combustible fluid agent in certain fixed
proportions whereby the combustion under pressure is rendered more certain the
pressures generated by the successive explosions are constant or nearly so and the
engine is more regular in action. In combination with the foregoing I also use an
improved means of firing the said mixture in the cylinder.
In order that my invention may be properly understood I have annexed hereto
a sheet of drawings to which I will now refer.
Fig 1 of the said drawings is a side elevation of a motor to which my improve-
ments are shown applied. Fig: 2 is a longitudinal section of the working cylinder
and other parts Fig: 3. being a cross section of the same. Fig: 4 is a plan of the
motor showing the cylinder in section. Figs: 5, 6 and 9 are respectively vertical
and horizontal sections of the improved means I employ to measure mix and supply
the explosive mixture hereinbefore referred to.
Fig: 7 illustrates the firing valve and Fig: 8 is a diagram illustrative of the
shaft and tappets which work the apparatus shown at Figs: 5, 6 and 9. The
apparatus for effecting the admixture and delivery of the explosive fluid consists as
seen at Fig: 5 of a pump cylinder c. fitted with a piston or plunger k. which is
operated through the link h. from a tappet d. on the shaft w. in the manner shown
at Figs 1 and 8. The said shaft w. makes one revolution for two of the crank shaft
and an explosion takes place in the cylinder at every fourth stroke of the piston.
Each piston stroke performs the following functions viz: during the first stroke
marked I in Fig: 8 the explosive mixture is drawn into the cylinder. The return

page_text: stroke (II. Fig: 8) compresses the mixture in the cylinder. When the dead point
is reached by the crank the mixture is ignited and the piston is impelled through
its third working stroke (III. Fig: 8). On its return fourths troke (IIII. Fig: 8.)
the piston drives the products of explosive combustion out of the cylinder and
during the next succeeding stroke the induction of a fresh supply of mixture takes
place. The cam tappet d. shown at Fig: 8. of the drawings is so formed and
arranged as to cause the plunger kc. to force the liquid contained in the space r. at
the foot of the pump towards the cylinder whilst the inducing stroke of the piston
is being made that is to say the stroke which draws the explosive mixture into the
cylinder. Beneath the pump c. is a cock H. which in one position places the pump
in communication with the reservoir O. (Figs: 1 and 2.) and in another position
shuts off communication with the reservoir O. and opens the way between the pump
and the inlet valve V. This cock is connected to and operated from the lever h¹
by the link h. 8. so that during the induction stroke represented by the division I.
Fig: 8, the cock is in a position which permits the liquid in the pump to have
access through the passage z. to the space above the inlet valve V. whilst at the
same time the admission of liquid through the pipe n. from the reservoir O. is cut
off. During the remaining strokes represented by the divisions II, III and IIII
Fig: 8 the cock occupies such a position as to cut off the communication with the
valve V. whilst the pump is again placed in communication with the reservoir O.
To enable the cock to fulfil these aforesaid functions part of the circumference of
the plug is formed with a channel a. as seen in Fig: 9, lying opposite the passages
which are alternately opened and closed by the rotation of the plug as aforesaid.
An adjusting screw and nut are provided at the junction hk. of the plunger k.
with the lever h. so that the plunger can be set to increase or diminish the
capacity of the space r. I do not confine myself to the form of pump c. as
shown as a modified form of apparatus might be used the object being to obtain a
means for using a fixed and ascertained quantity of combustible liquid for each
explosion. The valve V. is operated in a manner similar to the pump c. by a
lever ' as shown in Fig: 3. The upper end of the spindle of the valve V. is
likewise provided with means r. h. for adjusting the lift of the valve V. so as to
regulate the quantity of atmospheric air admitted through the pipe E. and which
meets and mixes with the liquid entering through z. The air supply is obtained
through the pipe R in Fig: 3. By allowing the valve V. at its lowest position
to approach to the lip o. at the mouth of the pipe E. to a requisite degree the
delivery of air can be governed. To maintain the air and liquid longer together
and to give them time to mix I extend the delivery pipe E. into the cylinder as seen
at Fig 2. The curved gutter t. formed round the mouth of the pipe E. serves to
arrest any liquid that may be imperfectly mixed with the accompanying air and
as the explosive mixture flows over it and beneath the valve V. the said gutter
tends to direct the current upwards so as to break up and still further mix the air
with the liquid as it is desirable that the globules of liquid should be separated
and held in suspension by the air when introduced into the cylinder. The valve V.
is operated by the cam D. shown in dotted lines at Fig: 8. of the drawings. When
the cam comes beneath the lifting link the valve is lowered and held over the
mouth of the pipe E. at the adjusted distance. The firing valve shown at Fig: 7
consists of a plate M. which is operated by a tappet on the shaft w. as shown.
The valve spindle is prolonged and provided with a spring f. by which the valve
is shot back when the tappet ceases to act on the friction bowl. The burner in the
valve is kept lighted by the outside master flame shown in dotted lines and the
quick return movement of the valve transports a flash opposite to the firing
aperture in the cylinder the contents of which are thus fired. Spring tongs b. the
members of which run between bowls g. g. are applied to the plate so as to act as a
brake to prevent the valve from being pulled by the spring with too great a shock
against the tappet. It will be evident that the whole or a portion of the herein-
before referred to improvements might be used in conjunction with motors wherein
combustible gas is used instead of the liquids hereinbefore referred to.

page_text: 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. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting my improve-
ments for the purposes and substantially in the manner herein before described
and shown.
2. The apparatus illustrated separately at Figs: 5, 6 and 9 of the drawings for
measuring and combining certain fixed proportions of combustible liquid and air or
gas substantially as described and shown.
3. Leading the explosive mixture to the interior of the cylinder through a pipe E.
and furnishing the inlet of the said pipe with a gutter or channel t. for the
purposes and substantially as described and shown.
4. The igniting valve M. operated in one direction by a cam or tappet and in
the other direction by a spring and provided with a brake all substantially as
described and shown.