Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1886.
Complete Left, 22nd Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 3rd May, 1887
JAMES ROOTS 2: The Avenue Tottenham N. Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to utilize the heat of combustion within the cylinder
to assist the vaporizing of the petroleum or benzolene, so that the engine may consume
petroleum of a greater specific gravity, and that in return the cold induced by the
rapid evaporation of the petroleum may be employed to lower the temperature of
the cylinder; to use the vapour of water to increase the power; and to enable,
the petroleum vapour to be used for exploding the charge in the cylinder. It is well
known that a degree of cold lower than 32° F. may be induced by the rapid
evaporation of benzolene or any other spirit and that heat will assist the evaporation.
The combustion cylinder is surrounded by another cylinder fitting it similarly to a
water jacket enclosure, within which are placed the layers or strata of wire, woven or
otherwise, or of asbestos fibre, or both, as described in my provisional application
dated Nov. 16/85, No. 13967. The larger portion of this space is loosely packed -
with the wire or asbestos. This space between the two cylinders forms the
vapourizing chamber and the petroleum is admitted to it in regular quantities by
any ordinary regulator governed by the speed of the machine. The outstroke of the
piston tending to produce a vacuum draws in air through the vapourizing chamber
which evaporates the petroleum within it, and the mixture is drawn into the cylinder
through valves which are closed when the cylinder is full. For the purpose of
increasing the power of the engine the innermost stratum of asbestos is kept saturated
with water by a regulated supply, the air in its passage is mixed with watery vapour
as well as petroleum which during combustion becomes steam, economising the
petroleum. The petroleum and the water may have a separating wall between them.
The compound may be ignited in the cylinder, by a flame at the port hole of the slide
valve. While the petroleum & air is undergoing compression in the cylinder the
slide valve may momentarily permits communication between the cylinder and the
rubber bag or small gasometer which is used to supply the burner. If necessary
an electric spark may be employed to ignite it. The water jacket may be used if
required.

page_text: 1, JAMES ROOTS of 25 The Avenue, Tottenham, 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 :-
The object of this invention, is to utilize the heat of combustion to assist vapouri-
zation of the hydrocarbon, so that a petroleum of a greater specific gravity may be
used, and in so doing, cooling the cylinder; to use the vapour of water to economize
the petroleum; and to enable the explosive mixture produced by the engine to be
used for igniting the charge in the cylinder.
The same letters refer to the same parts in all the drawings. A is the cylinder
containing B the piston, C the hydrocarbon reservoir, D the hydrocarbon gas generator
loosely packed with asbestos and wire straight or woven, E the water reservoir, F the
steam generator, G the exhaust valve, I the petroleum supply pipe to the generator D,
having a cock fitted to cut off the supply, J is the apparatus for supplying the burner K
with gas made by the engine for igniting the charge in the cylinder. It consists of
a small generator packed in the same way as D, air is forced through it by the small
fan O which is driven by a band off the exhaust valve-rod; J is supplied with hydro-
carbon by the pipe J¹ from C. L' is the pipe supplying gas to the cylinder from the
generator D, it has an ordinary lift valve at its end. L is the pipe conveying air
and steam from E to the cylinder. L is the pipe for conveying steam controlled by
the valve Q. L, L, are the pipes supplying the generator F with water from E
having cocks to cut off supply. M is a lift valve occasionally admitting air and
having an adjustable weight attached. N is the pipe igniter enclosed in a tube
chimney lined with asbestos and having the pipe I passing round it. P is a chain
or band pump in reservoir C having small holders which raise the petroleum and
empty themselves into a receptacle to which is attached the pipes I and J for supplying
the generators D and J.
The engine may be governed by an ordinary governor (not shown) being made to
act upon the cock in I or shifting the driving band of P. The valve Q is worked by
a lever by means of the cam Q on the exhaust-valve rod and has a spring attached
to keep it in its seating. Qalso acts as a safety or pressure valve.
The engine works as follows:-the fan O is revolved by band sufficiently to render
the igniter N red hot, then the fly wheel is turned as usual, a charge of petroleum
gas is taken through the pipe L' from the generator D and air through E by L into
the cylinder by the outstroke compressed by the instroke and ignited by the tube N,
the piston is driven out by the expansion and drives out the used gases in the return.
After the engine has been working a short time, the generator supplies steam by
the pipe L2, and as the cylinder becomes more heated and there would be a pressure
of steam, if the full power of the engine is not required, the petroleum may be cut
off, the cocks in L and L being closed, air only enters by L' and steam by L³

page_text: controlled by the valve Q, the working is continued though of diminished power, thus
economizing the petroleum.
Although I prefer the generator D to surround the cylinder, it may be placed in
any position, if the more volatile petroleum be used such as at Figure 3, or it may be
placed in the bed casting. By modification of details the engine can also be made
vertical. An ordinary water jacket may also be used as shown at Figure 4. Although
I prefer this usual cycle of engine, any other cycle may be used and a slide valve
may be used in place of the heated pipe for ignition.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I make no claim of cycle
or igniter or the using a steam generator in connection with a gas engine but what
I do claim is :-
1. In a gas engine the combination of a piston and cylinder with two generators
the one supplied with petroleum or hydrocarbon, the other with water, each acting
in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In a gas engine a jacket forming a petroleum or hydrocarbon generator taking
heat from the cylinder, thus assisting vapourization and cooling the cylinder,
substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In a gas engine a jacket forming a steam generator, the vapour from which is
heated, conveyed to the cylinder, and consumed therein, substantially as described
and illustrated.
4. In a gas engine the combination of a cylinder and piston and two separate
reservoirs, the one containing petroleum or other hydrocarbon supplying a generator
packed with wire, woven or otherwise, and the other containing water supplying the
steam generator, the vapour from either being conveyed into the cylinder, the
consequent expansion or ignition producing the motive power substantially as.
described and illustrated.
5. The combination in a gas engine of a piston cylinder and hydrocarbon gas
generator such as D with the conveying pipes and valves substantially as described
and illustrated.
6. The combination in a gas engine of a piston cylinder and steam generator such
as F, with the conveying pipes and valves substantially as described and illustrated.
7. The means for supplying the burner with the gas produced by the engine
substantially as described and illustrated.
8. The invention as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and
any mere modification thereof.