Improvements in and relating to Internal Combustion Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Internal Combustion Engines.
I, FRANCIS CLAUDE BLAKE, of Ravenscourt Works, Dalling Road, Hammersmith,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
65
This invention relates to an improved carburettor and mixing valve for internal
combustion engines, and has been designed more particularly for use with those of
motor-cars, launches and the like. Its object is to efficiently vapourize the
petroleum spirit commonly known as 'petrol," gasoline, benzoline, and the
like, by the passage of air over absorbent materials and also through passages by
the suction of the piston of the engine in intaking its charge, and at the same
time not to cause back-pressure or leave a dangerous quantity of explosive vapour
in the carburettor. The mixing valve is combined in the same apparatus and
controls the amount of petrol admitted to the carburettor and at the same time
allows the proper mixture of air to the working charge to be adjusted to a
This mixing valve can be worked by hand or either wholly or partly by connection
nicety.
with any suitable governor attached to the motor.
The apparatus consists of a main cylinder enlarged or expanded shallowly
towards the top and surmounted by a dome or smaller cap provided with a central
petrol-inlet and a side air inlet. The shallow chamber thus formed may be main-
tained by the cap being screwed on to the upper expanded portion of the main
cylinder or the cap may be clamped or otherwise secured thereto in any convenient
manner. The base of the shallow chamber, and also the cap, if so desired, is
provided with a number of short radial ribs.
The central dome covers a number of perforations converging downwardly
towards the centre, in the the plate of the shallow cap through which air can pass
from its admission inlet to the aforesaid chamber. Preferably this air is previously
warmed by being caused to pass around or through the exhaust box of the engine
or a portion thereof.
Petrol is admitted in regulated quantities through the central inlet of the
dome, which inlet is at first of constant bore; towards its lower part, however it
is somewhat contracted for a short distance and is then slightly belled out to the
cap of the shallow chamber.
Within the main cylinder and extending upwards from the bottom thereof,
is an inner sleeve or pipe provided towards its top with a number of perforations.
This sleeve is approximately concentric with the main cylinder and between this
sleeve and the latter and also concentric therewith is another shorter pipe or cylinder.
This shorter pipe is provided with a screw cap by means of which it may be
secured upon the central sleeve, which latter is furnished with a suitable cap or
plug for this purpose. These two caps are arranged just above the level of the
base of the shallow chamber.
Extending or wound spirally around the outer pipe is a coil or spiral of asbestos
or similar absorbent material of about the thickness of the space between the

page_text: intermediate pipe and the main cylinder, for the purpose of causing the mixture
of petrol vapour and air to pass spirally around the intermediate pipe.
Within the central sleeve or pipe is arranged to slide a tube provided with two
holes diametrically opposite to one another, which tube is arranged to act as the
mixing valve. One hole assumes the form of a slot and its upper edge is situated
at the same level as that of the smaller opposite hole, but, being a longitudinal
slot and of greater extent, its lower edge is considerably below the lower edge of
the hole, for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
Above this sliding tube forming the mixing valve, is a tube. or socket sur-
rounded by a spiral spring, and furnished at its lower end with a foot or shoulder.
This socket passes upwards through the cap of plug of the central sleeve or pipe
and passes into the aforesaid shallow chamber. It is there provided with a special
pointed or conical head furnished with an expanded rear portion, and this cone
enters the central petrol-inlet of the aforesaid dome at the top of the apparatus.
This socket above the sliding tube provided at top with a conical head, is furnished
interiorly with a small spiral spring retained in the socket by means of a control
The lower end of the
rod passing up through and from the base of the apparatus.
mixing valve contains a suitable plug or stopper acting as an air-tight guide for
the rod which latter is secured to the lower plug or socket by lock nuts or in any
other suitable manner.
The outwardly expanded rear portions of this conical head may be somewhat
dished or curved upwards for the purpose to be presently mentioned, and under
this rear portion of the head is placed or secured a disc or pad of an absorbent
material secured between two layers or wire gauze to prevent the pad or disc from
falling into the passages between the ribs on the base of the shallow chamber.
This pad with its covers of wire gauze thus fits into the shallow chamber but
allows communication along its upper side, around its outer edges and to its
under side. Dependent from the base of the main cylinder and surrounding the
sliding tube forming the mixing valve, is a short pipe or narrowed continuation
of the cylinder itself, provided on one side with an ordinary vapour outlet to the
combustion chamber of the motor, and on the other opposite side with an auxiliary
air-inlet, capable of coinciding with the smaller hole in the sliding tube (mixing
valve).
The action of this improved carburettor is as follows;-Petrol is admitted at
the top of the apparatus from a reservoir by gravity or under slight air or other
pressure, if desired, or preferably, from a sight-feed valve, into the central petrol-
inlet in the dome. The petrol passes down through the contracted bore and
impinges upon the conical head of the central socket. At the same time air-
preferably warmed, as before mentioned, enters by the air-inlet and through the
perforated passages into the shallow chamber and carries the spray or vapour over
the top of the absorbent pad around its edges and along the base of the chamber
to the space between the intermediate pipe and the main cylinder. Here the
mixture is drawn or conducted helically or spirally to the lower portion of the
main cylinder, where any petrol not vapourized collects and may be drawn off
by a pipe or other suitable means, and thence the carburetted air passes upwardly
into the space between the central sleeve and the intermediate pipe. When it
reaches the top the suction of the engine continuing-it passes through the
perforations at the top of the central sleeve into the latter and descends into the
sliding tube acting as the mixing valve.
A portion of the slot in the sliding tube being over the vapour outlet to the
combustion chamber, allows the mixture to pass out that way.
The strength of the inflammable mixture can be varied in the following way.
The above-mentioned control rod may be actuated by hand, by the governor of the
engine or in any other desired way. By pushing up the control rod, the spring
contained in the central socket causes the conical head to block the bore of the
petrol-inlet thus preventing the entrance of the spirit into the carburettor. The
remaining vapour may still be extracted from the carburettor by the suction of the

page_text: engine but by continuing to push upwards the control rod, the portion of the
slot over the vapour outlet to the motor, is raised, thus cutting off the supply of
inflammable vapour to the combustion chamber.
If it be desired to admit more air, i.e. a greater proportion of air, to the
explosible vapour, the control-rod is drawn down so that the vapour outlet is full
open owing to the slot in the mixing valve coinciding in part with the vapour.
outlet, whilst the opposite hole in the sliding tube coincides wholly or partially
with the auxiliary air-inlet aforesaid, and by this means the amount of extra air
admitted may be regulated as desired.
The rear portions of the conical head to the central socket are curved upwardly
so as to cause the petrol or other spirit to be thrown upwardly towards the top of
the shallow chamber and to be, therefore, better mixed with the entering warmed
air.
Improvements in and relating to Internal Combustion Engines,
I, FRANCIS CLAUDE BLAKE, of Ravenscourt Works, Dalling Road, Hammersmith,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement; -
*
This invention relates to an improved carburettor and mixing valve for internal
combustion engines, and has been designed more particularly for use with those of
motor-cars, launches and the like. Its object is to efficiently vapourize the
petroleum spirit commonly known as 'petrol," gasoline, benzoline and the
like, by the passage of air over absorbent materials and also through passages by
the suction of the piston of the engine in intaking its charge, and at the same
time not to cause back-pressure or leave a dangerous quantity of explosive vapour
in the carburettor. The mixing valve is combined in the same apparatus and
controls the amount of petrol admitted to the carburettor and at the same time
allows the proper mixture of air to the working charge to be adjusted to a nicety.
This mixing valve can be worked by hand or either wholly or partly by connection
with any suitable governor attached to the motor.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings, on which Figure 1 is a
sectional elevation of the apparatus and Figure 2 is a similar view of the same
with certain slight modifications imparted thereto, Figure 3 being a diagram
illustrating a further modification, it will be seen, that the apparatus consists of
a main cylinder, enlarged or expanded shallowly towards the top and surmounted
by a dome or smaller cap a provided with. a central petrol-inlet a¹ and a side
air-inlet a". The shallow chamber B thus formed may be maintained by the
cap a being screwed on to the upper expanded portion of the main cylinder A or
the cap may be clamped or otherwise secured thereto in any convenient manner.
The base of the shallow chamber, and also the cap, if so desired, is provided with.
a number of short radial ribs r.
The central dome a covers a number of perforations C converging downwardly
towards the centre, in the plate of the shallow cap through which air can pass
from its admission inlet all to the aforesaid chamber B. Preferably this air is

page_text: previously warmed by being caused to pass around or through the exhaust box
of the engine or a portion thereof.
Petrol is admitted in regulated quantities through, the central inlet a¹ of the
dome, which inlet is at first of constant bore, as will be seen on the drawing;
towards its lower part, however, it is somewhat contracted for a short distance
and is then slightly belled out to the cap of the shallow chamber.
Within the main cylinder A and extending upwards from the bottom thereof,
is an inner sleeve or pipe D provided towards its top with a number of perfora-
tions d. This sleeve is approximately concentric with the main cylinder and
between this sleeve and the latter and also concentric therewith is another shorter
pipe or cylinder E. This shorter pipe is provided with a screw cap F by means
of which it may be secured upon the central sleeve D, the latter being furnished
with a suitable cap or plug d¹ for this purpose. These two caps F d are arranged
just above the level of the base of the shallow chamber. Extending or wound
spirally around the outer pipe E is a coil or spiral G of tightly wrapped asbestos
or similar absorbent material of about the thickness of the space between the inter-
mediate pipe E and the main cylinder A, for the purpose of causing the mixture
of petrol vapour and air to pass helically or spiral-wise around the intermediate
pipe.
Within the central sleeve or pipe D is arranged to slide a tube H provided
with two holes h h¹ diametrically opposite to one another, which tube is arranged
to act as the mixing valve. One hole h assumes the form of a slot and its upper
edge is situated at the same level as that of the smaller opposite hole h¹, but,
being a longitudinal slot and of greater extent, its lower edge is considerably
below the lower edge of the hole h¹, for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
Above this sliding tube H forming the mixing-valve, is a tube or socket J
surrounded by a spiral spring ; and furnished at its lower end with a foot or
shoulder . This socket J passes upwards through the cap of plug d¹ of the
central sleeve or pipe D and passes into the aforesaid shallow chamber. It is
there provided with a special pointed or conical head J₁ furnished with an
expanded rear portion, and this cone J¹ enters the central petrol-inlet a¹ of the
dome or cap a at the top of the apparatus. This socket J above the sliding tube H
provided at top with a conical head, is furnished interiorly with a small cushioning
spiral-spring retained in the socket by means of a control rod M passing up
through and from the base of the apparatus. The lower end of the mixing valve
contains a suitable plug or stopper N acting as an air-tight guide for the rod
which latter is secured to the lower plug or socket by lock nuts or in any other
suitable manner.
The outwardly expanded rear portions J" of this conical head J¹ may be some-
what dished or curved upwards for the purpose to be presently mentioned, and
under this rear portion of the head is placed or secured a disc or pad m of an
absorbent material, such as flannel, felt, a pile fabric, and the like, secured
between two layers of wire gauze to prevent the pad or disc from falling into the
passages between the ribs on the base of the shallow chamber. Or the absorbent
pad may consist of several superposed layers of fine wire-gauze; the liquid petrol
is retained by the meshes of the gauze until carried on as vapour by the incoming
air which can in such case pass partly through the gauze.
This pad with its covers of wire gauze thus fits into the shallow chamber but
allows communication along its upper side, around its outer edges and to its
under side, as shewn by arrows on the annexed drawings.
It will be found that this pad or disc of absorbent material acts as a reservoir;
the liquid hydrocarbon which may be splashed over the plate J" on the disc
gradually volatilises and a constant and better mixture of air and vapour is thus
formed.
Dependent from the base of the main cylinder A and surrounding the sliding
tube H forming the mixing-valve, is a short pipe or narrowed extension. or con-
tinuation of the cylinder itself, provided on one side with an ordinary vapour

page_text: outlet o to the combustion chamber of the motor, and on the other opposite side
with an auxiliary air-inlet o¹, capable of coinciding with the smaller hole h¹ in
the sliding tube H of the mixing-valve.
The action of this improved carburettor, is as follows; -Petrol is admitted at
the top of the apparatus from a reservoir, by gravity, or under slight air or
other pressure, if desired, or preferably, from a sight-feed valve, into the central
petrol-inlet a¹ in the dome. The petrol passes down through the contracted bore
and impinges upon the conical head J of the central socket J. At the same
time air preferably warmed, as before mentioned-enters by the air-inlet a¹¹
and through the perforated passages C into the shallow chamber and carries the
spray or vapour over the top of the absorbent pad m around its edges and along
the base of the chamber to the space between the intermediate pipe E and the
main cylinder A. Here the mixture is drawn or conducted helically or spirally
to the lower portion of the main cylinder A, where any petrol not vapourised
(which is rarely the case, owing to the pad m) collects and may be drawn off by
a pipe (Fig. 2) or other suitable means, and thence the carburetted air passes
upwardly into the space between the central sleeve D and the intermediate pipe E.
When it reaches the top,-the suction of the engine continuing-it passes through
perforations d at the top of the central sleeve, into the latter, and descends into
the sliding tube H of the mixing valve.
A portion of the sloth in the sliding tube being over the vapour outlet o to
the combustion chamber, allows the mixture to pass out that way.
It will be noted that the inner cushioning spring is in compression and the
outer spring is in tension. I have found advantage in making the inner spring
weaker than the outer spring until compressed by the control-rod, but I do not
wish to restrict myself to this arrangement; the springs may be otherwise
proportioned.
The strength of the inflammable mixture may be varied in the following way.
The above-mentioned control-rod M may be actuated by hand, by the governor
the engine, or in any other desired way. By pushing up the control rod,
the spring contained in the central socket J causes the conical head J¹ to block the
bore of the petrol-inlet a¹ thus preventing the entrance of the spirit into the
carburettor. The remaining vapour may still be extracted from the carburettor
by the suction of the engine but by continuing to push upwards the control rod,
the portion of the slot h over the vapour outlet o towards the motor, is raised,
thus cutting off the supply of inflammable vapour to the combustion chamber.
If it be desired to admit more air, i.e. a greater proportion of air, to the explosive
vapour, the control-rod M is drawn down so that the vapour outlet is full open
owing to the slot h in the mixing valve coinciding in part with the vapour outlet,
whilst the opposite hole h¹ in the sliding tube H coincides wholly or partially
with the auxiliary air-inlet o¹ aforesaid, and by this means the amount of extra
air admitted, may be regulated as desired.
The rear portions J" of the conical head J' are curved upwardly, as shewn on
Figures 1 and 2, so as to cause the petrol or other spirit to be thrown upwardly
towards the top of the shallow chamber and to be therefore, better mixed with
the entering warmed air. Other advantages arising from such construction will
be apparent from this description.
The plate J concaved in Fig. 1 and practically (comparatively) flat in Fig. 2,
is so formed and proportioned that when the conical head J blocks the petrol-
inlet the said plate is either abutting against or almost touching the ceiling of
the shallow chamber; in either case, the head J¹ closes the petrol inlet before
the plate reaches its uppermost position.
The upper ends of the curved portions J" are shewn abutting upwards towards
the lower side of the upper plate of the shallow chamber. The atomized petrol
is admitted onto this flat cap or into the concavity thereof, as mentioned, and the
suction of the engine causes the depression of the concaved plate and consequent
escape of the vapour or spray over the top of the disc of absorbent material and

page_text: into the passages around intermediate pipe D and into the channel between D
and E.
The spring being in tension will again press the plate Ju against the top of
the shallow chamber.
On the modified form shewn on Fig. 2, I dispense with the central tensioned
spring j.and form the sliding tube H as a screwed or rotatable tube, the slots h
and being formed around the tube. H so that the slot h may be caused to coin-
cide to the extent desired, with the vapour outlet o by means of the rotation of the
tube H, and the extent of the mixture can thus be regulated and controlled as
desired. In this case, also, less attention and manipulation by hand are required,
the working being more automatic.
A further modification in the base of the apparatus towards the vapour outlet
consists in providing the outlet with a butterfly-valve (see Figure 3) for passing the
vapour and with means for admitting auxiliary air; I have, there shewn the side
of the tube flattened and furnished with one or more rotary plates fitted with
hit and miss openings, through which air can be passed to the mixed explosive
vapour. The modification illustrated on Fig. 3 is shewn adapted to the mixing-
valve on Fig. 2 in dotted lines lettered 3.
The petrol or other similar liquid hydrocarbon is supplied to the inlet a¹ by
means of a sight-drop valve or in any other way which will ensure a constant
feed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;-
(1). An improved carburetting apparatus, comprising a cylinder fitted with
a shallow chamber at its upper portion surmounted by a dome having a per-
forated base and provided with a petrol-inlet and an air-inlet, and said cylinder
being fitted interiorly with sleeves dependent from a cap through which passes
a rising and falling socket fitted with a flat or concaved plate and a central
conical head entering the bore of the petrol-inlet, the inner sleeve being perforated
and the outer sleeve being wound helically with a spiral of absorbent material, the
said hollow chamber being provided with radial ribs and containing a disc sup-
ported on the latter, also of absorbent material, substantially as and for the
purposes described, and as illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
(2). An improved carburetting apparatus, characterised by means for conduct-
ing the sprayed hydrocarbon onto a disc of absorbent material in such a manner
that any surplus liquid hydrocarbon is absorbed by the said pad or disc, before the
vapour is conducted into the combustion chamber of the motor, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
(3). In combination with the carburetting apparatus, as claimed in the pre-
ceding claim, an improved mixing-valve, comprising a sliding or rotatable tube
furnished with slots admitting respectively air and the explosive mixture to the
vapour outlet, means being provided for the adjustment of the working-charge
and being worked by hand or from the motor, substantially as herein described
and illustrated on the annexed drawings.
(4). In internal combustion engines, the combination in a single apparatus of
a carburettor and of a mixing-valve, both as herein described, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.