Method of and Appliances for the Production of the Combustible Charges, and for the Regulation of Internal Combustion Motor Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method of and Appliances for the Production of the Combustible
Charges, and for the Regulation of Internal Combustion Motor
Engines.
I, HEINRICH SÖHNLEIN, of 15, Wilhelmstrasse, Wiesbaden, Germany, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
Heretofore the production of the mixture in internal combustion motors which
are worked by volatile combustibles by means of so-called carburetters, has
been effected by drawing the air charge by suction through the layer of com-
bustible or along the surface of the combustible liquid in contact therewith.
Now according to the present invention that process is modified as follows:-
The carburetter is left in constant open communication with a gas mixture
pump, which latter delivers the mixture into the working cylinder at the
proper moment. By the production of a high vacuum in the pump and con-
sequently also over the surface of the combustible liquid, the combustible is
caused to evaporate energetically and is converted by means of a small subse-
quent addition of air into a mixture which is very rich in combustible. This
mixture, remaining in the pump casing, is then compressed over the surface
of the combustible liquid and
has not been intimately combined with the air) has fallen back onto the surface
is only after all the combustible vapour (which
of the liquid during the compression, that the mixture is admitted into the
cylinder.
At this stage the mixture expands again until its pressure has fallen to that
of the atmosphere whereupon it is again compressed and then ignited in the
usual manner.
In consequence of this repeated compression and expansion the mixture is
rendered extremely uniform and intimate, the consumption of combustible is
ery small, and the motors start very easily. This method of working may be
mployed in motors operating either with a two-stroke or a four-stroke cycle.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a longitudinal section of
otor working with a two-stroke cycle in which the above described method
employed.
'
The front closed cylinder space K is constructed as a mixing pump. B is
e carburetter containing the hydrocarbon liquid, and which is in constant
ee communication with space K by means of a pipe f. S is the air inlet
lve to the carburetter; it is loaded by a spring of such strength that it will
en only when a considerable vacuum has already been produced in K. The
bsequently entering air thus finds on its entrance therein an abundance of
mbustible vapour with which it can become saturated.
For the purpose of terminating the period of compression in the front pump
ace K, the rear edge of the piston opens in quick succession the auerfuros
гр...

page_text: and in the wall of the cylinder. Through the products of combustion of
the preceding explosion escape into the atmosphere; through and also, if
necessary, through a valve, the mixture which has been compressed in K,
passes into the working cylinder E and expanding in the latter it moves in the
direction of the arrow and drives out a further portion of the products of com-
bustion, so that when and z are again closed, the charge will now have been
admitted into the working cylinder proper, and will be compressed, and ignited
at the rear dead point. In the case of quick-running motors which are required
to combine great power with small weight, as is the case in engines for driving
motor cars, it is of advantage to provide in the wall of the cylinder a further
aperture w (which may have a suitable valve) which is uncovered by. the front
edge of the piston at the instroke.
The air valves may be retained or dispensed with.
By the above described arrangement there is produced an high vacuum in
the space K; and consequently an active vaporisation of the combustible, and
finally the admission of a quantity of air equal to the entire volume capacity
of the pump. Consequently in this case a greater quantity of air is forced into
the working cylinder than if the air enters subsequently solely through the
spring-loaded valve s.
If the reduced valve s be connected to a gas supply, and the aperture w be
employed as an air inlet, the motor may also be worked as a gas engine
illuminating gas being in that case substituted for the generated oil vapour;
the operation of the space L, hereinafter referred to and the process of regula-
tion remain unaltered.
For four-stroke-cycle motors the method of charging may be such that the
front half of the cylinder is in this case also constructed as a mixture pump
and its valves are operated in such a manner that the entrance of the mixture
into the working cylinder takes place at the commencement of the suction
period on the working side of the piston. In this case therefore the mixture
is drawn in under a vacuum initially compressed, again expanded, and then
forced into the working cylinder.
A well known drawback of explosion motors consists in the fact that when
poor and therefore slowly-burning mixtures are employed, portions of the charge
will still be burning while fresh mixture is already entering the working
cylinder again.
The result of this is a premature explosion which causes a strong back-blow
(on the piston) especially in the case where any mixture that may have collected
in the mixture pump also becomes ignited. In order to obviate this drawback,
the following device is provided in the motor shewn. Above the carburetter B,
there is provided a chamber L, of such capacity and shape that after each
forcing of a charge into the working cylinder, the said space L is completely
emptied of mixture" so that no explosive mixture is allowed to enter the
pump space K at all.
"
Thus in the case of the occurrence of any premature ignitions, only a com-
paratively small quantity of mixture can at any time enter into combustion.
The regulation of a motor working with this mode of forming the mixture,
may be effected in a simple manner namely by providing in the mixture-pump
chamber an aperture o which is kept closed when the motor is working at full
power, and which in the case of a reduction in the power required, and of
increasing speed of revolution, is gradually opened by the governor by means
of the throttle valve p, so that the sucking and forcing action of the mixture
pump is correspondingly diminished, less combustible is vaporized, and less
mixture is forced over into the working cylinder.
When this method of regulation is employed, the motor works with variable
amounts of charge; the quantity of the explosive mixture formed and forced
over into the working cylinder corresponds to the power produced at any
moment.

page_text: 11 the motor is to be arranged for continuous working it is necessary that
the replenishing of the oil reservoir B shall take place automatically from a
main reservoir.
For this purpose the arrangement shewn in section at Fig. 2 is employed.
The oil supply pipe m coming from the main reservoir is closed by a float
valve nt which floats in the liquid so as to hold the valve closed so long as
there is a sufficient supply in the chamber.
When the level of the liquid sinks below a certain point the float valve
sinks and allows the liquid to enter. In combination with this arrangement
whereby the entering benzine is afforded a large evaporating surface without
requiring to make the carburetting chamber inconveniently large.
For this purpose there is provided between the valve and the float ta
cone of wire gauze so that the liquid entering from pipe m falls upon the
wire gauze cone and in spreading out thereon is retained in the meshes thereof.
The entering air is thus brought in contact with very extended surfaces of
liquid so as to become saturated therewith, the-float having its upper edges
sloped off so as to form openings through which the air can gain access to the
interior of the cone.
y is a pipe leading to a mixing chamber such as L, Fig. 1 the arrangement
being otherwise the same as there described.
Dated this 8th day of Sentembar 1900.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Method of and Appliances for the Production of the Combustible
Charges, and for the Regulation of Internal Combustion Motor
Engines.
I, HEINRICH SÖHNLEIN, of 15, Wilhelmstrasse, Wiesbaden, Germany, 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:.
-
Heretofore the production of the mixture in internal combustion motors which
are worked by volatile combustibles by means of so-called carburetters, has
been effected by drawing the air charge by suction through the layer of com-
bustible or along the surface of the combustible liquid in contact therewith.
According to the present invention this method is modified as follows. The
carburetting vessel, which is closed against free communication with the atmos-
phere, is put in continuous communication with the front end of the engine
cylinder, or with a special pump. In consequence of the variation in pressure
namely alternate exhaust and compression produced in such cylinder space or
pump, and consequently also over the surface of the liquid in the carburetter,
an energetic evaporation of the liquid combustible is produced, and the freed
vapours are mixed with a small proportion of entering air to form a mixture
very rich in combustible. This mixture is then compressed above the surface
of the liquid combustible, and it is only after an intimate mixture has been
effected and all particles of combustible that have not been perfectly vaporised
and taken up by the air during this preliminary mixing and compressing out-
side the combustion chamber, have been made to separate and fall back into

page_text: the liquid combustible that the gaseous combustible charge is made to enter
the engine cylinder. At this moment the air contained in the charge again
expands to atmospheric pressure, and the charge is diluted by a fresh quantity
of entering air so as to form a combustible mixture. This is then again com-
pressed in the known manner and finally ignited.
By this repeated compression (kneading) and expansion the mixture becomes
of an extraordinarily uniform and intimate character in consequence of which
the combustion is more perfect and the ignition of the charge very reliable.
This mode of operating can be applied both to two-stroke and four-stroke
cycle motors.
On the accompanying drawing is shown by way of example a two-stroke cycle
motor to which the above described mode of operating is applied.
Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 a cross section at X X, on Fig. 1
and Fig. 3 a part sectional plan on Y Y of Fig. 2.
The front end of the engine cylinder K is closed and made to act as a
charging pump. B is the carburetter, which is in continuously open com-
munication with the front end K of the cylinder; w is the inlet opening for
air, which may be provided with a spring inlet valve, as shewn.
The previously compressed mixture of air and combustible vapour passes
through the channel u and if necessary also through the valve v, into the engine
cylinder E; the combustion gases resulting from the burning of the charges
escape through the openings Z.
For fourstroke cycle motors the method of charging can be applied in such
manner that the front end of the cylinder also acts as pump, the valves being
so actuated that the entrance of the combustible mixture into the cylinder
takes place at the commencement of the suction stroke on the working side.
In this case therefore the mixture is drawn in under vacuum, compressed, again
expanded and then forced into the cylinder.
In applying the invention to larger motors the disadvantage might arise
that the formation of the combustible vapour in the carburetter would take
place too rapidly when the temperature of the atmosphere was high, thereby
producing gaseous charges too rich in combustible. An effectual remedy for
preventing the want of sufficient air in the mixture from the above cause, con-
sists in the provision of a valve S held closed by a spring on the top of the
carburetter, so that by regulating the pressure of the spring the quantity of
air admitted to the carburetter during vaporisation could be regulated at will.
By the use of such a spring valve both the degree of expansion of the air in the
pump will be decreased and consequently the intensity of the vaporisation
restricted and the deficient quantity of air supplemented.
On decreasing the tension of the spring of the valve, the gaseous mixture
can readily be maintained at the proper proportion of its constituents notwith-
standing the variations to which the atmospheric temperature and the vaporis-
able nature of the combustible may be subject.
In consequence of the open communication between the front end of the
cylinder, or of the pump and the carburetter, it is unavoidable that a portion
of the combustible vapours produced in the latter finds its way into the front
cylinder space or the pump. If now from any cause the combustible mixture
should be ignited at the moment when it enters the working end of the cylinder
(as may occur on starting the engine or when the charging space of the cylinder
is insufficiently cooled, such ignition would be transmitted into the cylinder K
or pump, causing such violent back pressures that the engine is brought to a
standstill.
In order to effectually prevent this, there is provided between the carburetter
and the front cylinder space a chamber L the capacity of which is sufficient to
retain any combustible vapour that may be passing towards the space K, and
the form of which is such as to enable the mixture of combustible vapour and

page_text: r coming from the carburetter to rise and descend again therein in a uniform
anner under the action of the pump, so as always to fill the said chamber at
ery horizontal section. The action of the chamber L will be readily under-
ood; on the engine piston performing its back 'stroke in the space K_com-
ustible vapours will be produced in the carburetter and will be made to rise
niformly into the chamber L by the suction of the pump, but they will not pass
eyond this chamber and enter the pump because the capacity of the former
greater than the volume of the combustible vapour produced or the total
olume drawn upward. At the end of the pistons back stroke and after air has
ntered the front cylinder space through the opening w (or through the inlet
alve p) there will therefore only exist combustible vapour in the chamber L
and only pure air in the front cylinder space.
The form of the chamber L which theoretically best fulfils the above required
conditions is that shewn at Fig. 1; other forms, for example that of a sphere
may however be employed.
In order further to prevent as much as possible the premature ignition of the
combustible charges and back flashes and as above referred to a special arrange-
ment of the supply of combustible mixture and air to the working cylinder
is employed as follows. The combustible vapour mixed with a 'small proportion
of air is on its entrance into the cylinder surrounded by a protective layer of
air in such manner that it is on the one hand prevented from coming in con-
tact with the hot gaseous residues, and on the other hand, it is so guided by
the surrounding air that the combustible will during the subsequent compres-
sion périod be effectually mixed with the said air to form the required explosive
charge.
Referring to the drawings, as soon as the edge of the piston has uncovered
the discharge openings Z of the cylinder, so that the combustion gases can
escape, the openings and u for air from K and combustible vapour and air
from B are also opened, the air ports t being uncovered first so that the air flows
in slightly in advance of the combustible vapour, or rich mixture of vapour
and air, and thus prevents the latter from coming in direct contact with the hot
residues contained in the cylinder in front of the entering charge. It is how-
ever also necessary to protect the combustible mixture against such contact
at the sides, by enveloping it with air at those 'ports also; for this purpose
the ports for the entrance of the combustible mixture are arranged in the
middle as 'shewn, while pure air is made to enter through the lateral ports t.
As the air ports are made with such an inclination that the entering air passes
obliquely over and thus envelopes the entering combustible mixture, it will be
seen that this will by this means be enveloped by air in all directions, as
0 indicated respectively by the dots and dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 of which
the former represent the combustible mixture, and the latter the air. This
enveloping with air is effected in such a uniform manner that afterwards
during the compression stroke the thorough mixture of the air with the com-
bustible charge will be readily effected.
45
In order to enable the combustible charge of a motor working according to
the above described method to be correctly regulated according to the amount
of energy required to be given off by the motor for the time being, an equilibrium
shutting off device, such as a throttle valve p actuated by the governor is pro
vided, which, on the speed of the engine increasing beyond the normal, gradually
50 opens to a greater or less extent an opening leading from the chamber E
or from the chamber of a separate pump to the atmosphere, whereby the sucking
and forcing action of the engine piston or of the separate pump piston i
decreased, and consequently less of the combustible is vaporised and less com
bustible mixture is forced into the working cylinder. With this mode o
55 regulation therefore the engine works with a variable combustible charge, with
out materially altering the proportions of combustible and air,

page_text: It should be mentioned that a motor engine constructed and operating in
the above described manner can also be worked by means of combustible gas
instead of vapour for which purpose the valve S on the vessel B is employed
in connection with a supply channel for combustible gas; in this case it will be
seen that the only charge will be the substitution of combustible gas in place
of the oil vapour generated by the engine, the other features, such as the
chamber L, the ports f, the regulating throttle valve p remaining unaltered.
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 internal combustion motor engine the method of and means for
producing an intimate mixture of combustible vapour and air consisting in so
arranging the front closed cylinder space K, or a separate pump in connection
with an otherwise closed receptacle for liquid combustible B that there is a
continuous open connection between the two during the suction and forcing
action of the piston, so that on the one hand by the alternate variation of pres-
sure thus produced over the surface of the liquid combustible an effectual
vaporisation of the latter is produced and on the other hand by the compres-
sion of the gaseous mixture of vapour and air an intimate mixture of the two,
and a precipitation of any excess of combustible from the mixture back into the
body of combustible liquid is effected the said combustible mixture being con-
veyed after such treatment through channels u or through a valve v, or through
both, into the working cylinder, substantially as described.
2. In the method of and appliances for effecting an intimate mixture of
combustible vapour and air in an internal combustion engine such as is referred
to in the First Claim, the provision of a spring loaded valve such as $ on the
carburetting vessel for the purpose of admitting to the latter regulatable
quantities of air from the outside, in order to maintain a uniform composition
of the combustible mixture independently of variations in the external tempera-
ture and in the degree of volatility of the combustible liquid, substantially as
described.
3. In combination with the method and appliances referred to in the First
and Second Claims, the use of an opening such as w with or without a spring
valve in the side of the engine cylinder for the admission of air towards the
end of the suction stroke of the piston for the purpose of equalising the pres-
sure of the air within the cylinder with that of the outer air, substantially as
described.
4. In combination with the method and appliances referred to in the First
Second and Third Claims the use of a chamber such as L interposed between
the carburetting vessel B and the chamber K or separate pump, the said
chamber being of such a capacity as to prevent any of the combustible vapour
or mixture of vapour and air from entering the pump chamber, substantially
as described.
5. Constructing the chamber L referred to in the fourth claim substantially
of the form shewn, whereby a uniform expansion and compression of the com-
bustible mixture drawn into and forced.out of the same by the suction and com-
pression strokes is effected, and a uniform filling out of the vessel L is attained,
substantially as described.
6. The improved internal combustion motor substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7. The use in combination with the method and appliances referred to in
the preceding claim's of means for regulating the power of the engine, wherein
a throttle valve por similar slowly opening and closing equilibrium appliance
controlled by the governor, opens or closes an aperture in the front cylinder
space or separate pump, and thereby weakens the suction and forcing action
of the piston in the front cylinder space or separate pump, so as to vary the

page_text: quantity of the combustible gas mixture passing to the cylinder, without
materially altering the proportions of gas and air in such mixture substantially
as described.
.- :תנות
Ja of T1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.