Improvements in Apparatus for Vapourizing Hydrocarbons and Carburetting Air.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Vapourizing Hydrocarbons and
Carburetting Air.
I, ROBERT BOLTON RANSFORD, of 41, Waldegrave Road, Upper Norwood, in
the County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(which has been communicated to me from abroad by The Société l'Aster, of
35, Cours Benoist, St. Denis, France,) to be as follows:-
The hydrocarbon vapourizers of the type known as surface vapourizers hitherto
in use for feeding petroleum motors are usually composed of a receiver, for the
petroleum spirit or gasoline containing an evaporating apparatus.
The evaporating apparatus is formed of a suction pipe which carries at its
lower end a horizontal metal plate maintained at a suitable distance from the
liquid. The external air sucked by any method (for example the movement of
the piston in the cylinder of the motor) enters into the suction pipe; meets the
liquid, enters the space left free below the metal plate becomes charged with
hydrocarbon vapour in excess and passes through a suitable valve in which the
gaseous mixture is diluted by an addition of air in the proper proportion for
rendering it explosive.
Vapourizers thus constructed have certain main faults which hinder their proper
action.
1. The liquid in the receiver does not keep its place. If the vapourizer is in
use upon a motor car, the jolting will cause sudden movements in the liquid which
will tend to form waves and the liquid will be projected into the valve and
thus alter the relative proportions of the mixture to the point of rendering it
inexplosive.
2. When the liquid evaporates its level is lowered and consequently the space
left free for the passage of the air below the metal plate increases as the pro-
duction of hydrocarbon vapour diminishes and the standard of the gaseous mixture
is lowered.
The arrangements hitherto in use for preventing the first of these evils have
not produced any appreciable result.
As to the second certain manufacturers have arranged that the driver of the
apparatus should himself at his discretion lower the suction pipe and the metal
plate to the extent he considers necessary: others by more ingenous than
racticable methods maintain automatically the liquid at a constant level.
This invention has for its object the novel apparatus for evaporating hydro-
carbons and mixing the vapours with air represented in the accompanying draw-
ing in which :
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan of the main float.
Figure 3 is a view showing the cock.
Figure 4 is a plan of the same indicating its open or closed positions.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the said cock.

page_text: Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line X X of Figure 5, and
Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line Y Y of Figure 5.
The vapourizing apparatus consists of a box or casing A containing a metal
plate B fixed to the suction pipe C, of a main float D of cork or hollow metal
partially immersed by means of pieces E of the same material as the float and
which leave empty segmental spaces F between them.
The pieces maintain the distance between the metal plate and the liquid con-
stant and the segments lessen the section offered to the passage of the air and
increase its speed.
At the centre of the suction pipe and immediately below its lower orifice is a
second float G of conical shape which is provided with a metal rod H placed inside
the suction pipe, the end of the rod rises above the upper end of the pipe in
such a manner as to serve as a level indicator.
It will easily be seen that the presence of floating bodies in the liquid keeps
it nearly at rest.
The projection of the liquid and the formation of waves as in other vapourizers
is thus avoided. Lastly the metal plate B and the pipe C are automatically
lowered without any intervention on the part of the operator; the space in which
evaporation of the hydrocarbon takes place remains practically constant, an
equable production of vapour is therefore automatically obtained.
It has been stated that the float G indicating the level is conical. This shape
is not arbitary, it has for its object to divide the stream of air passing out of the
bottom of the suction pipe, and to favour its dispersion on the surface of the
liquid, below the metal plate; this facilitates the rapid formation of the gaseous
mixture. Owing to this arrangement a mixture of air and hydrocarbon vapour
is obtained under the best conditions the composition of which is nearly constant.
Besides the essential peculiarities of the evaporating apparatus, it has others
not less important. The receiver or box A which may be of any shape is sur-
mounted by a dome I of less diameter closed at its lower end by metallic gauze J.
Owing to this arrangement any waves produced will break upon the flange formed
at the junction of the receiver and the dome, and the metallic gauze will at the
same time insure the better mixture of the mixed gases produced by the evaporat-
ing apparatus. The dome I is of sufficient capacity for the gaseous mixture to
stop there for an appreciable time. The hydrocarbon vapours will if necessary
diffuse there into the air less rich or insufficiently charged thus rendering the
mixture completely homogeneous.
In order to render the products of the vapourizer fit for use, it is only necessary
for them to have the proportions of air and hydrocarbon vapour necessary for
obtaining a maximum explosive effect. But the vapourizer furnishes a mixture
too rich in hydrocarbon, it is therefore necessary to add air in definite quantities.
In order to obtain this result the most simple arrangement hitherto employed
has been borrowed from the Bunsen burner. The outlet tube of the vapourizer
has in it one or more holes which may be blocked when desired by giving a move-
ment of rotation to a sleeve itself provided with holes. This apparatus which forms
part of the vapourizer, it being indispensible to its working, is, thus constructed
faulty, for, if the vapour from the vapourizer is in excess with respect to the
quantity of air passing through the holes it is necessary, in order to moderate
this excess to employ a second cock. Thus a second action is necessary which
is obviated by the use of the cock described below.
The shell K of the cock is pierced with two lateral holes one L of which com-
municates with the vapourizer and the other M with the outside atmosphere.
The plug N of the cock is hollow and has also two holes pierced in it which are
at the same level as those in the shell but whose breadth in the same trans-
verse section is double that of the others. These holes are placed in such a
manner that he turning the plue they may be onened and shut.
In its first position the orifice communicating with the vapourizer is open to
its fullest extent and that communicating with the outside atmosphere is closed.

page_text: Between the first and the second position the air orifice opens, to be fully open
in the second position, the orifice to the petroleum still remaining fully open.
From the second to the third position the air orifice remains in its turn closed
whilst that to the petroleum orifice is closing to be fully closed in the third
position.
By a reverse movement given to the plug the same phases are gone through
up to the first position.
There is therefore only one action necessary to obtain the mixture desired with
the greatest ease and certainty.
This cock is connected to an ordinary cock 0 which allows the gaseous mixture
to be drawn off in the quantity desired. This cock is placed above the other.
The arrangement above described allows a vapourizer to be constructed which
works perfectly and the management of which is easy.
Dated this 10th dor of Anril 1800
COMPLETE SPECIFICATJUN.
Improvements in Apparatus for Vapourizing Hydrocarbons and
Carburetting Air.
I, ROBERT BOLTON RANSFORD, of 41, Waldegrave Road, Upper Norwood, in
the County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(which has been communicated to me from abroad by The Société l'Aster, of
35, Cours Benoist, St. Denis, France,) and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The hydrocarbon vapourizers of the type known as surface vapourizers hitherto
in use for feeding petroleum motors are usually composed of a receiver, for the
petroleum spirit or gasoline containing an evaporating apparatus.
The evaporating apparatus is formed of a suction pipe which carries at its
lower end a horizontal metal plate maintained at a suitable distance from the
liquid. The external air sucked by an method (for example the movement of
the piston in the cylinder of the motor) enters into the suction pipe; meets the
liquid, enters the space left free below the metal plate becomes charged with
hydrocarbon vapour in excess and passes through a suitable valve in which the
gaseous mixture is diluted by an addition of air in the proper proportion for
rendering it explosive.
Vapourizers thus constructed have certain main faults which hinder their proper
action.
1. The liquid in the receiver does not keep its place. If the vapourizer is in
use upon a motor car, the jolting will cause sudden movements in the liquid which
will tend to form waves and the liquid will be projected into the valve and
thus alter the relative proportions of the mixture to the point of rendering it
inexplosive.
2. When the liquid evaporates its level is lowered and consequently the space
left free for the passage of the air below the metal plate increases as the pro-
duction of hydrocarbon vapour diminishes and the standard of the gaseous mixture
is lowered.
The arrangements hitherto in use for preventing the first of these evils have
not produced any appreciable result.
As to the second certain manufacturers have arranged that the driver of the

page_text: plate to the extent he considers necessary; others by more ingenious than
practicable methods maintain automatically the liquid at a constant level.
This invention has for its object the novel apparatus for evaporating hydro-
carbons and mixing the vapours with air represented in the accompanying draw-
ings.
The drawings herein referred to are those left with the Provisional Specifica-
tion in which:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan of the main float.
Figure 3 is a view showing the cock.
Figure 4 is a plan of the same indicating its open or closed positions.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the said cock.
Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line X X of Figure 5 and
Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line Y Y of Figure 5.
The vapourizing apparatus consists of a box or casing A containing a metal
plate B fixed to the suction pipe C, of a main float D of cork or hollow metal
partially immersed by means of pieces E of the same material as the float and
which leave empty segmental spaces F between them.
The pieces maintain the distance between the metal plate and the liquid con-
stant and the segments lessen the section offered to the passage of the air and
increase its speed.
At the centre of the suction pipe and immediately below its lower orifice is a
second float G of conical shape which is provided with a metal rod H placed inside
the suction pipe, the end of the rod rises above the upper end of the pipe in
such a manner as to serve as a level indicator.
It will easily be seen that the presence of floating bodies in the liquid. keeps
it nearly at rest. .
The projection of the liquid and the formation of waves as in other vapourizers
is thus avoided. Lastly the metal plate B and the pipe C are automatically
lowered without any intervention on the part of the operator; the space in which
evaporation of the hydrocarbon takes place remains practically constant, an
equable production of vapour is therefore automatically obtained.
It has been stated that the float G indicating the level is conical. This shape
is not arbitary, it has for its object to divide the stream of air passing out of the
bottom of the suction pipe, and to favour its dispersion on the surface of the
liquid, below the metal plate; this facilitates the rapid formation of the gaseous
mixture. Owing to this arrangement a mixture of air and hydrocarbon vapour
is obtained under the best conditions the composition of which is nearly constant.
Besides the essential peculiarities of the evaporating apparatus, it has others
not less important. The receiver or box A which may be of any shape is sur-
mounted by a dome I of less diameter closed at its lower end by metallic gauze J.
Owing to this arrangement any waves produced will break upon the flange formed
at the junction of the receiver and the dome, and the metallic gauze will at the
same time insure the better mixture of the mixed gases produced by the evaporat-
ing apparatus. The dome I is of sufficient capacity for the gaseous mixture to
stop there for an appreciable time. The hydrocarbon vapours will if necessary
diffuse there into the air less rich or insufficiently charged thus rendering the
mixture completely homogeneous.
In order to render the products of the vapourizer fit for use, it is only necessary
for them to have the proportions of air and hydrocarbon vapour necessary for
obtaining a maximum explosive effect. But the vapourizer furnishes a mixture
too rich in hydrocarbon, it is therefore necessary to add air in definite quantities.
In order to obtain this result the most simple arrangement hitherto employed
has been borrowed from the Bunsen burner. The outlet tube of the vapourizer
has in it one or more holes which may be blocked when desired by giving a move-
ment of rotation to a sleeve itself provided with holes. This apparatus which forms

page_text: part of the vapourizer, it being indispensible to its working, is thus constructed
faulty, for, if the vapour from the vapourizer is in excess with respect to the
quantity of air passing through the holes it is neccessary in order to moderate
this excess to employ a second cock. Thus a second action is necessary which
is obviated by the use of the cock described below.
The shell of the cock is pierced with two lateral holes one L of which com-
municates with the vapourizer and the other M with the outside atmosphere.
The plug N of the cock is hollow and has also two holes pierced in it which are
at the same level as those in the shell but whose breadth in the same trans-
verse section is double that of the others. These holes are placed in such a
manner that by turning the plug they may be opened and shut.
In its first position the orifice communicating with the vapourizer is open to
its fullest extent and that communicating with the outside atmosphere is closed.
Between the first and the second position the air orifice opens, to be fully open
in the second position, the orifice to the petroleum still remaining fully open.
From the second to the third position the air orifice remains in its turn open
whilst that to the petroleum orifice is closing to be fully closed in the third
position.
By a reverse movement given to the plug the same phases are gone through
up to the first position.
There is therefore only one action necessary to obtain the mixture desired with
the greatest ease and certainty.
This cock is connected to an ordinary cock which allows the gaseous mixture
to be drawn off in the quantity desired. This cock is placed above the other.
The arrangement above described allows a vapourizer to be constructed which
works perfectly and the management of which is easy.
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:-
The apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 12th day of January 1900