IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDROCARBON INJECTORS AND IN APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION THERE- WITH
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HYDROCARBON INJECTORS AND IN APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION THERE-
WITH." A communication from abroad by Frederik Constantyn Mensinga, of
the City, County, and State of New York. United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th September 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDROCARBON INJECTORS AND IN APPARATUS
USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH." [A communication from abroad by Frederik
Constantyn Mensinga, of the City, County, and State of New York, United States
of America.]
This Invention relates to a mode of mixing petroleum or other hydrocarbons with
air, which said mixture when ignited furnishes a safe, cheap, and cleanly means of
producing and applying heat in any desired quantity and for any desired purpose.
The mixture is not a gas, and is not to be confounded with petroleum gas or other
explosive gases, nor with a spray of petroleum or of other hydrocarbons; whether
such spray is produced through the force of air, of steam, or in any other manner.
The product of this Invention is atmospheric air saturated with a hydrocarbon,
which burns and is consumed immediately when ignited, and is rather like a fog or
mist which may be blown away, and is of an entirely different nature from either
spray or gas. In this mixture atmospheric air is the essential and main ingredient,
the hydrocarbon serving only to saturate such air, thereby rendering it highly in-
flammable.
The following is a description of an apparatus or mixer for preparing and applying
the petroleum air mixture, which mixture is connected and in combination when in

page_text: use with reservoirs of petroleum and compressed air, and with other apparatus
herein after referred to.
The body of the mixer is formed of a funnel or other shaped hollow pocket or
receiver, which is filled with compressed air coming from a reservoir through a tube,
and brought in contact with the petroleum at or near the orifice or mouth of the
mixer from which the petroleum air mixture is forced. This orifice may be made of
platinum or other material which will resist great heat. The petroleum is supplied
through a movable pipe or tube encased in another stationary tube in such a manner
that it slides easily forward and backward, yet in an air-tight manner to prevent
the escape of air or petroleum, to accomplish which purpose said tube is oiled and
is wrapped or enveloped with an air-tight packing of rubber or other material at
or near the point of junction of the stationary tube with the body of the mixer.
The petroleum tube may also be provided with a point of platinum or other infusible
material to prevent it from melting. Suitable stop-cocks are provided to regulate
the supply of compressed air and petroleum. The mixer is connected with the
other apparatus when in use by a coupling, which may be provided with screw
threads for the purpose. It may be necessary to place at the rear extremity of the
stationary tube an adjustable screw or bridge connecting the said tube with the
petroleum pipe, whereby the mixer may be held firmly in the desired position on
the latter, so that the pressure of the compressed air flowing through the pipe may
not force the mixer forward.
The reservoir for holding the compressed air is supplied by means of an ordinary
forcing pump through a pipe or tube which is provided with two cocks, by means
of which the air may be confined or not as desired. A manometer is connected with
the pump tube and reservoir to indicate the pressure of the air. The compressed
air in the reservoir is conveyed in the first instance through a pipe or tube pro-
vided with a cock, by means of which the supply of compressed air may be regulated.
The course of the compressed air flowing through this pipe is divided at a
certain point in two directions, being conducted in one direction through a pipe
or tube to the mixer, and in the other direction through a pipe or tube to the
petroleum reservoir, whence the petroleum is conveyed by means of a pipe to the
mixer. All or any of the connecting pipes may be of metal, india-rubber, or other
suitable material, but the pipe between the mixer coupling and the junction of the
compressed air and petroleum pipes must be made of soine flexible material or else
of adjustable metal pipes, so that the mixer may be moved slightly forward or back-
ward if desired after the mixer is connected with the other apparatus.
When in action the petroleum is forced upward through the pipes by means of
the compressed air, which flows into the reservoir to the orifice of the mixer, where
it is met by the compressed air flowing through the other pipes and is mingled
therewith, which mixture after forcing its way through the small orifice is reduced
to an impalpable mist or fog, which may then be ignited and applied to the object
to be heated. The intensity of the heat may be regulated by increasing or
diminishing the supply of petroleum air mixture by means of the cocks, whilst the
proper mingling of the petroleum with the air at the orifice of the pipe may be
effected by slightly moving the mixer forward or backward. The pressure of air
in the petroleum reservoir and in the mixer must be kept about the same, for too
much pressure in the mixer would prevent the petroleum from coming forward
through the pipe, and too much pressure in the reservoir would flood the mixer,
thereby preventing the proper action of the compressed air coming through the
pipe at the orifice of the mixer. This may be easily regulated by means of the
various cocks.
It will be advisable in most instances to separate the space containing the com-
pressed air and petroleum reservoirs and their connecting parts from the balance of
the apparatus by means of a petition or wall of stone, metal, or other non-
inflammable material, both as a precaution against fire from the burning petroleum
air mixture, and to prevent the escaping heat of the latter from affecting the
petroleum and compressed air reservoirs. The forcing pump will in the first instance

page_text: have to be worked by hand, but in cases where the heat is applied to the production
of motive power the latter may through a suitable arrangement be connected with
the pump, or be made to compress air in some other way and thus supply the
reservoir.
The Invention will be found useful as applied for heating purposes in general,
and among others for boilers, steam engines, cars, locomotives, steamboats, &c., as
well as in the various industrial and mechanical arts, like blacksmithing, plumbing,
smelting, &c., in short, wherever safe, cheap, and cleanly fuel is desired.
Among the advantages of the Invention are,-that through it the intensity of
the heat may be easily and speedily regulated and graduated at any time in any
degree, or instantaneously cut off, by simply regulating the supply of petroleum air
mixture; its cleanliness and cheapness; it does not produce any smoke nor leave
any ashes, cinders, or dirt, as the petroleum air mixture is wholly self-consuming;
it requires little or no attention in the way of kindling, &c., after the apparatus is
once started; its great saving of valuable room, as in steamboats, &c., where in the
place of bulky quantities of coal and wood with the aid of this Invention only a
comparatively small space is needed for storing the necessary quantity of petroleum ;
its safety, not only by reason of not producing sparks, but also by reason of its non-
explosiveness, as the pressure of the compressed air on the petroleum in the petroleum
reservoir will prevent the expansion and development of gases.
The basis of the fire produced by this Invention is not explosive gas but
petroleum air mixture, as herein described, which in burning is instantaneously
consumed.
In the preceding part of this Specification I have confined myself to petroleum
as one of the principal ingredients therein, because that oil is probably the cheapest
and adapted to the greatest variety of uses, but should it be found advisable for
some or all purposes to substitute some other oil or liquid, like alcohol, turpentine,
camphine, or other hydrocarbon in the place of petroleum, such substitution may
be easily made without substantially varying the Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th March 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDROCARBON INJECTORS AND IN APPARATUS
USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH." A communication from abroad by Frederik
Constantyn Mensinga, of the City, County, and State of New York, United States
of America.
This Invention relates to a mode of mixing petroleum or other hydrocarbons with
air, which mixture the inventor calls hydrocarbon air mixture, and which said
mixture when ignited furnishes a safe, cheap, and cleanly means of producing and
applying heat in any desired quantity and for any desired purpose. The mixture is
not a gas, and is not to be confounded with petroleum gas or other explosive gases,
nor with a spray of petroleum or of other hydrocarbons, whether such spray is
produced through the force of air, of steam, or in any other manner.
The product of this Invention is atmospheric air saturated with a hydrocarbon
which burns and is consumed immediately when ignited, and is rather like a fog or
mist which may be blown away, and is of an entirely different nature from either
spray or gas. In this mixture atmospheric air is the essential and main ingredient,
the hydrocarbon serving only to saturate such air, thereby rendering it highly in-
flammable.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents the new device for preparing
and applying the petroleum air mixture with the interior arrangement exposed to
view, this device being herein-after termed a mixer. Figure 2 represents the mixer
as connected and in combination when in use with reservoirs of petroleum and
compressed air and with other apparatus. The arrows in said Figure indicate
the course or direction of the petroleum and compressed air when the apparatus
is in use.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two
Figures.
O represents the orifice or mouth of the mixer from which the petroleum air
mixture is forced. This orifice may be made of platinum or other material which
will resist great heat. B represents a pipe or tube through which the compressed
air is supplied and brought in contact with the petroleum at or near the orifice O.
The petroleum is supplied through tube D, which is a movable pipe or tube encased
in another stationary tube C in such a manner that it slides easily forward and
backward, yet in an air-tight manner to prevent the escape of air or petroleum, to
accomplish which purpose said tube D is oiled and is wrapped or enveloped with an
air-tight packing of rubber or other material at or near L. At the point L the
junction of the stationary tube C with the body of the mixer M is formed, the mixer
being a funnel or other shaped hollow pocket or receiver, which is filled with the
compressed air coming through the pipe B. The tube D may also be provided with
a point of platinum or other infusible material A to prevent it from melting.
E represents a cock to regulate the supply of compressed air, and G a cock to
regulate the supply of petroleum. F represents the coupling or connection of the
mixer with other apparatus when in use, and may be provided with screw threads
for that purpose.
It may be necessary to place at the extremity towards F of
the tube C an adjustable screw or bridge connecting the tubes C and D, whereby
the mixer may be firmly held in the desired position on the tube D so that
the pressure of the compressed air flowing through B may not force the mixer
forward.
In Figure 2 P represents a reservoir for holding compressed air, which is supplied
by means of an ordinary forcing pump J through a pipe or tube V, which is pro-
vided with two cocks R, by means of which the air may be confined or not as
desired. W represents a manometer connected with the tube V and the reservoir P
to indicate the pressure of the air. Q represents a reservoir for holding the

page_text: petroleum, which is supplied through the orifice or opening U. The compressed air
in the reservoir P is conveyed in the first instance through the pipe or tube K,
which is provided with a cock X, by means of which the supply of compressed air
may be regulated. At I the course of the compressed air dowing through K is
divided in two directions, being conducted in one direction through the pipe or
tube Z to the mixer, and in the other direction through a pipe or tube S at the
connection N to the petroleum reservoir Q. The petroleum is conveyed from the
petroleum reservoir by means of the pipe Y through the opening H to pipe D. All
or any of the connecting pipes may be of metal, india-rubber, or other suitable"
material, but the pipe Z must be made of some flexible material or else of adjustable
metal pipes, so that the mixer may be slightly moved forward or backward if
desired after the mixer is connected with the other apparatus at F. When in action
the petroleum is forced upward through the pipes Y and D by means of the com-
pressed air (which flows into the reservoir Q through S) to the orifice A, where it is
inet by the compressed air flowing through Z and B, and is mingled therewith,
which mixture after forcing its way through the small orifice O is reduced to an
impalpable mist or fog, which may then be ignited and applied to the object to be
heated.
The intensity of the heat may be regulated by increasing or diminishing the
supply of petroleum air mixture by means of the cocks, whilst the proper mingling
of the petroleum with the air at A may be effected by slightly moving forward or
backward the mixer. The pressure of air in the petroleum reservoir and in the mixer
must be kept about the same, for too much pressure in the mixer would prevent the
petroleum from coming forward through the pipe D, and too much pressure in the
reservoir would flood the mixer, thereby preventing the proper action of the
compressed air coming through the pipe B at the orifice O. This may be easily
regulated by means of the various cocks. It will be advisable in most instances to
separate the space containing the reservoirs P and Q and their connecting parts
from the balance of the apparatus by means of a partition or wall T, Figure 2, of
stone, metal, or other non-inflammable material, both as a precaution against fire
from the burning petroleum air mixture, and to prevent the escaping heat of the
latter from affecting the petroleum and compressed air reservoirs. The forcing pump
J will in the first instance have to be worked by hand, but in cases where the heat
is applied to the production of motive power the latter may through a suitable
arrangement be connected with the pump J, or made to compress air in some other
way, and thus supply the reservoir P.
The Invention will be found useful for heating purposes in general, and among
others for boilers, steam engines, cars, locomotives, steamboats, &c., as well as in
the various industrial and mechanical arts, like blacksmithing, plumbing, smelting,
&c., in short wherever safe, cheap, and cleanly fuel is desired.
Among the advantages of the Invention arc,-(a), that through it the intensity
of the heat may be easily and speedily regulated and graded at any time in any
degree, or instantaneously cut off, by simply regulating the supply of petroleum air
mixture; (b), its cleanliness and cheapness; it does not produce any smoke nor
leave any ashes, cinders, or dirt, as the petroleum air inixture is wholly self-
consuming; it requires little or no attention in the way of kindling, &c., after the
apparatus is once started; (c), its great saving of valuable room, as in steam-
boats, &c., where in the place of bulky quantities of coal and wood with this
Invention only a comparatively small space is needed for storing the necessary
quantity of petroleum; (d), its safety, not only by reason of not producing sparks,
but also by reason of its non-explosiveness; the pressure of the compressed air on
the petroleum in the petroleum reservoir will prevent the expansion and develop-
ment of gases. The basis of the fire is not explosive gas, but petroleum air mixture,
as herein described, which in burning is instantaneously consumed.
In the preceding part of this Specification I have confined myself to petroleum
as one of the principal ingredients thereiu, because that oil is probably the cheapest
and adapted to the greatest variety of uses with the present Invention, "but

page_text: should it be found advisable for some or all purposes to substitute some other oil
,or liquid, like alcohol, turpentine, camphine, or other hydrocarbon in the place of
petroleum, such substitution may be casily made without substantially varying the
Invention.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,
1st. In a hydrocarbon injector the combination of the mixer or burner, the tube B
provided with stop-cock E rigidly connected to the mixer, and communicating with
the compressed air reservoir by a flexible, tube, the tube C rigidly connected with
the mixer, and the tube D provided with stop-cock G leading from the oil reservoir
through the tube.C to the mixer, whereby the latter is made adjustable and the
supply of air and oil is regulated, substantially as described.
2nd. The combination with the mixer having connections as described of the
compressed air reservoir, the air pipes K and S, the coupling I, and the oil reservoir,
whereby the air is furnished to the mixer and oil reservoir simultaneously, substan-
tially as described.
3rd. In a hydrocarbon injector a conical mixer for the compressed air and hydro-
carbon, being closed at the back and adjustable on the hydrocarbon supply pipe, sub-
stantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.