Operating Liquid-nyarovar Dongines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Operating Liquid-nyarovar Dongines.
I, JOHN JOSEPH REVELEY HUMES, of 18 Lilford Road, Camberwell, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to motor engines operated by the combustion of a liquid
hydrocarbon, and has special reference to means for mixing such liquid with
atmospheric air or other suitable gas to form the combustible charge, and to means
for igniting such charges in effecting the working of the engine.
For mixing benzoline or other liquid hydro-carbon with atmospheric air or other
gas capable of supporting combustion, and thus producing an explosive or inflam-
mable compound consisting of gas permeated with liquid as distinguished from a
purely gaseous compound, I employ apparatus of the following description. From
the main shaft of the engine, or otherwise as may be most convenient, is driven an
air-compressing pump; the air thereby compressed being conveyed to a closed tank
or receptacle partially filled with liquid hydrocarbon, which, in the present instance,
I will assume to be benzoline. The air in the upper part and the benzoline in the
lower part of the tank are, under these circumstances, subjected to the same
pressure per unit of area. An air delivery pipe is led from the upper part of the
tank and a benzoline delivery pipe from the lower part of the tank; these two
pipes, which may be respectively fitted with a regulating cock, communicating
with a spray-producer. This device consists of a body traversed by two longitu-
dinal passages apated for connexion at one end to the benzoline tank and at the
other end to a vessel for receiving the combustible compound produced, or to a
pipe communicating therewith. Of the two passages above referred to, one
extends the whole length of the before mentioned body and serves to convey air
from the benzoline tank; whilst the other passage stops short of the extremity of
the body and terminates in a screwed socket in which is mounted a small tube
extending in one direction through the passage to the liquid contained in or
flowing from the benzoline tank, and projecting in the opposite direction into a
removable nozzle the inner end of which is in communication with the air passage.
The extension of the benzoline tube enclosed within the air nozzle terminates
immediately within the extremity of the said nozzle and in close proximity to an

page_text: A
'
.
orifice formed in the latter. The outer extremity of the air nozzle is in the form
of a blunt cone, the space between the inner surface thereof and the end of the
benzoline tube forming a passage for the air, which, owing to the form of the
nozzle at this part, directed obliquely across the stream of liquid issuing from
the benzoline tube. The mixture of air and inflammable liquid thus formed is
conducted, or discharged direct into, a vessel from which the motor cylinder of the
engine, or a pump for compressing the charge to be subsequently conveyed to that
cylinder, draws its supply. To this vessel may be admitted a regulated quantity
of air for diluting the inflammable mixture previously referred to, when that
mixture is more highly charged with hydrocarbon than is deemed desirable. One
advantage resulting from the construction described is that the small tube through
which the benzoline passes may be readily removed and freed from any obstruction
created by impurities contained in the liquid.
For igniting the charge in the motor cylinder, I prefer to employ the agency
of an electric spark. It should, however, be understood that an inflaminable or
explosive mixture prepared as above described may be ignited by means of an
incandescent wire, or a flame communicated to the charge at the proper moment
from the exterior of the cylinder.
At the
When using an electric spark or incandescent wire for igniting the charge,
I employ apparatus of the following description for making and breaking the
electric circuit. Upon one of the pump rods, or other reciprocating and conve
niently available part of the engine, I form or attach a projection or finger
carrying an insulated body, preferably of copper, to serve as a connector.
extremity of the reciprocating movement of the finger in one direction, the
insulated connector arrives between and in contact with two insulated flexible
plates or pivotted arms composed of copper or other conductive material; the
connector thereupon serving to establish communication between the free ends of
the plates or arms. Around the two plates or arms may be passed a light
caoutchouc ring to provide against their becoming permanently thrust apart and
displaced by the repeated action of the finger-carried connector brought into
contact with them for the purpose of completing the circuit. The flexible plates
or arms are connected with wires which communicate with the spark receiving
and discharging points presented opposite one another within the cylinder or
with the incandescent wire, as the case may be; the arrangements in these
latter respects being of the usual character. The electric current may be
derived from a battery or other available source.
DL: 00
ני
1000
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Agent for the Applicant,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.

page_text: Operating Liquid-hydrocarbon Engines.
I, JOHN JOSEPH REVELEY HUMES, of 18 Lilford Road, Camberwell, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to motor engines operated by the combustion of a liquid
hydrocarbon, and has special reference to means for mixing such liquid with
atmospheric air or other suitable gas to form the combustible charge; and to
means for igniting such charges in effecting the working of the engine.
For mixing benzoline or other liquid hydrocarbon with atmospheric air or other
gas capable of supporting combustion, and thus producing an explosive or inflam-.
mable. compound consisting of gas permeated with liquid as distinguished from a
purely gaseous compound, I employ apparatus of the following description. From
the main shaft of the engine or otherwise, as may be most convenient, is driven an
air-compressing pump; the air thereby compressed being conveyed to a closed tank
or receptacle partially filled with liquid hydrocarbon, which, in the present instance,
I will assume to be benzoline. The air in the upper part and the benzoline in the
lower part of the tank are, under these circumstances, subjected to practically the
same pressure per unit of area. An air delivery pipe is led from the upper part
of the tank, and a benzoline delivery pipe from the lower part of the tank; these
two pipes, which may be respectively fitted with a regulating cock, communicating
with a spray producer. Such a general arrangement and method of working is
represented in the drawings and described in the Specification fled in connection
with my application for Letters Patent No. 8411, A.D. 1885.
The improved apparatus more particularly concerned in the production of the
explosive or inflammable compound, consisting of air or other suitable gas per-
meated with liquid hydrocarbon, is represented in longitudinal section in Figure 1
of the accompanying drawings. This device consists of a body a traversed by two
longitudinal passages a¹ a², of which a¹ extends the whole length of the body and
serves to convey air arriving from the benzoline-tank by way of the pipe b, whilst
the other passage a stops short of the extremity of the body and terminates in a
screwed socket c in which is mounted a small tube d extending in one direction
through the passage a to the liquid flowing from the benzoline-tank by way of
the pipe e.. The small tube d projects in the opposite direction into a removable
nozzle f, the inner end of which is in communication with the air-passage a¹. The
projecting portion of the benzoline-tube d terminates in close proximity to an
orifice formed in the outer extremity of the air-nozzle f, the latter being in the
form of a blunt cone. The space between the end of the benzoline-tube d and
the inner surface of the conical extremity of the nozzle f forms a passage for the
air, which, owing to the form of the nozzle at this part, is directed obliquely across
the streain of liquid issuing from the benzoline-tube d. By means of the union g,
the apparatus may be attached to the vessel in which the vapour is stored, or to

page_text: a pipe communicating therewith; the connection in the opposite direction being
effected by means of a union h screwed to a body j in which the pipes b and e
terminate.
It will be obvious that, as regards the special form of the mixing nozzle, similar
results may be obtained by making the extremity of the air-passage rectangular
in form, or approximately so, and coning the end of the benzoline-tube which,
under such circumstances, may be of thicker metal. Such an alternative method
of construction is represented in Figure 1*.
It will also be obvious that instead of employing washers for packing the socket o
and nozzle upon the body a, each of those parts may be formed with a conical
seating. Similarly, the joints between the pipes b and e and the passages a¹ and a³
respectively may be formed with cones fitting corresponding seatings, instead of
being ferruled as shown.
The regulating cocks appertaining to the pipes b and e may be applied to those
pipes, or may be formed in a prolongation of the body j, or in an independent
body; or the body a may be arranged for their reception. In any of these cases,
the levers or other appliances for operating the cocks may be connected with a
common handle for working same simultaneously.
The type of construction wherein the regulating cocks are applied to the air and
benzoline passages a' a' traversing the body a of the apparatus is represented in
elevation and to a reduced scale in Figure 2. a³ is the cock controlling the air-
supply and a that for controlling the flow of the benzoline. The stem of each
plug is furnished with a toothed wheel; these two wheels being so arranged as to
gear with one another and to be operated by a single handle a applied to either
valve stem. When the regulating cocks a³ a' are mounted in the body a, as above
described, it will be understood. that the length of the benzoline-tube d is limited
by the position of the cock a*. The length of the body (a) itself may, however, be
varied.
One advantage resulting from the construction hereinbefore described is that
the small tube d, through which the liquid hydrocarbon passes, may be readily
removed for cleaning purposes. A further object in arranging the tube d in the
manner herein before described is to afford means for varying and adjusting the
quantity of liquid delivered; a reduction in the length of the backwardly extending
portion of the tube allowing a greater quantity to pass, the resistance to its flow
being diminished.
When the size of the engine requires the supply of a considerable volume of
hydrocarbon vapour, I duplicate or otherwise increase the number of the mixing
nozzles in preference to enlarging the general proportions of the vapourising
apparatus.
In such cases, the general arrangement of the vapouriser represented in Figure 1
may be subjected to modifications of a character which will be readily perceived.
For example, a single air-passage a¹ may be employed in conjunction with two
benzoline-passages a² (communicating with a common source of supply) provided
with two benzoline-tubes d and two mixing nozzles f. Such a variation is
especially advantageous when working with common petroleum, a more perfect
subdivision and dispersion of the oil being thereby secured.
When using an electric spark or incandescent wire for igniting the charge in the
motor cylinder, I employ, for making and breaking the electric circuit, apparatus
of the kind represented in Figures 2 and 3; the same being elevations in planes
respectively at right angles to one another. On the rod k, which may be any
conveniently situated reciprocating part of the engine,-as, for example, the con-
necting-rod operating the pump compressing air for conveyance to the benzoline-
tank is mounted an insulated roller 1, preferably of copper, to serve as &
connector. At one extremity of the reciprocating movement of the rod k, the
insulated connector arrives in contact with two insulated flexible plates or
pivotted arms m m², composed of copper or other conductive material; the
connector thereupon serving to establish electrical communication between the free

page_text: ends of the said plates or arms. When flexible plates are used, they may he
mounted upon a block of vulcanite or other suitable insulating material n; and
may be furnished with a light caoutchouc ring o, to provide against their becoming
permanently thrust apart and displaced by the repeated action of the connector
brought into contact with them in completing the circuit. The flexible plates or
arms mm² are respectively connected by means of wires p p¹ with the sparking
apparatus or incandescent wire with which the motor cylinder is furnished and
with the battery; the arrangements in these latter respects being of the usual
character.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
First: For use in the preparation of combustible vapour for operating liquid-
hydrocarbon engines, the improved means for mixing the liquid hydrocarbon with
atmospheric air or other gas capable of supporting combustion, substantially as
herein described; such means including a mixing nozzle in which the gas is
directed with considerable obliquity across the stream of liquid as it issues from
the extremity of a pipe enclosed within the gas conduit.
Secondly-In a vapouriser for the purpose referred to in the preceding claiming
clause, the improved method of arranging and mounting the tube d conducting the
liquid hydrocarbon to the mixing nozzle, substantially as herein described; whereby
the said tube is rendered readily removable for cleaning, whilst the length thereof
is capable of variation for the purpose of regulating the quantity of liquid
delivered.
Thirdly For use in or in connection with a vapouriser for liquid-hydrocarbon
engines, the improved means, substantially as herein described, for simultaneously
operating the valves respectively controlling the passages or pipes conveying the
fluids to be mixed.
Fourthly For use in liquid-hydrocarbon engines where the inflammable charge
is fired by electricity, the improved means, substantially as described with reference
to Figures 3 and 4, for making and breaking the electric circuit, the same consisting
of an insulated connector, mounted on any suitable reciprocating part of the engine,
and working in conjunction with two flexible or pivotted arms respectively cou-
nected with the circuit.