Improvements in Hydrocarbon Motor Engines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 11th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydrocarbon Motor Engines.
We, HERBERT LINDLEY, and THOMAS BROWETT, of Sandon Engine Works, Salford,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to petroleum or liquid hydrocarbon motor engines such
as are described in the Specification of an application for Letters Patent filed by us
dated 6th November 1888, No. 16057 and relates to improvements in the means or
apparatus used in such engines for measuring and vaporizing the liquid hydrocarbon,
and for firing the charge of combustible vapour and air in the cylinder; to improve-
ments in the manner of cooling the cylinder of the engine by making the circulation
of water in the jacket surrounding the same dependent in a measure on the frequency
of explosions in the cylinder, so that the cylinder is kept at a more or less uniform
temperature when working whether the engine be lightly or heavily loaded; and to
improvements in burners or apparatus adapted to burn with heavy petroleum and such
as described in the Specification of an application for Letters Patent filed by us
No. 11226 of 1889.
A pump for measuring the required volumes of liquid hydrocarbon for successive
working strokes of the engine may according to this invention be constructed as
follows:-
A chamber provided with suction and delivery valves in any ordinary manner is in
communication with a small cylinder in which works a plunger arranged to slide
freely. The space at the upper end of this cylinder and plunger which may be
enlarged in diameter if necessary, is placed in communication with the heated chamber
for vaporizing the hydrocarbon necessary for working the engine and lettered M'.
in our said former Specification viz., No. 16057 of 1888 or other equivalent portion of
such an engine as therein described. On the valve for admitting the hydrocarbon
vapour to the cylinder being opened the partial vacuum existing in the cylinder and
heated chamber causes the plunger to rise, its travel being limited by a screw or
similar device; liquid hydrocarbon is thus sucked into the valve chamber from the
supply tank which on the plunger descending when the vacuum is destroyed due to
the closing of the aforesaid valve, such liquid hydrocarbon is forced into the heated
chamber to be converted into vapour.
The descent of the plunger may be aided by a spring or may be due to its own
weight only. There is thus no external leakage, any leakage that may take place past
the plunger being sucked into the heated chamber of the engine. In cases when the
upper end of the plunger is enlarged, so that it can operate with a reduced vacuum
in the cylinder, we allow leakage if any, that may accumulate on the under side of
the enlarged portion of the piston to run back into the tank through a tube, which
also serves to admit atmospheric pressure under the enlarged portion of the piston and
permits the plunger to rise, on the reduction of pressure on its upper surface.
In the arrangement described in our said former Specification No. 16057 of 1888
for firing the charge and consisting, essentially of a heated chamber communicating
with the interior of the cylinder by means of a perforated nozzle, or in cases when a
heated tube, (such as is now usual in gas engines) is used to fire the compressed.
charge in the cylinder we find that a deposit of soot, or carbon, is gradually set up in
such heated chamber or tube and also that, especially in large engines, it is advisable
to provide a timing valve to determine the exact point at which ignition shall take
place. To prevent the deposit of soot or carbon in such portions of an engine, we
provide a small snifting valve arranged to open inwards, so that on the suction strokes
of the engine a small quantity of air is drawn therein, and creates a current through
them in such a manner as to prevent the settlement of the carbon therein. By holding
such snifting valve open during the compression stroke of the engine a slight leakage

page_text: is allowed to take place through the chamber or tube which prevents ignition, and
on the valve being closed at or near the end of the compression stroke, ignition
takes place.
In order to control the water circulation in hydrocarbon motor engines as herein-
before mentioned so that the cylinders of such engine may not be too hot when
working at full load, nor too cold when working at light loads, we make the circulation
of water in the jacket surrounding such cylinders dependent on, or proportional to,
the amount of work being done by the engine. To this end we may cause the exhaust
gases of the engine as soon as they are released to impinge against a spring diaphragm
or equivalent device in connection with which is a small plunger, or the other side
of the diaphragm may be used as a pump plunger, in connection with suction and
delivery valves, so that each time a working charge is fired and exhausted from the
cylinder, such diaphragm or plunger will be moved, and a volume of water sent
through the water casing or jacket of the engine cylinder. Or we may rely on the
natural circulation of the water due to its becoming heated, as is usual in such engines
and arrange a throttle valve in the entering or delivery pipe, such valve being con-
trolled or operated by a twisted or bent coil or merely by a straight bar, such coil or
bar being composed of two different metals and placed either in the water casing or
in contact with the exterior hot wall of the same; and so arranged that when the
temperature in the cylinder becomes too high such bar or coil will bend or twist and
will impart motion to the valve, and tend to open the same and allow a more rapid
circulation. The reverse action takes place when the cylinder gets too cold, or tends
to do so.
Other devices depending for their action on the heat imparted by the explosion in
the cylinder to the water in the casing or jacket surrounding the same may be
utilized to operate the throttle valve.
In a Bunsen burner according to this invention we obtain the requisite velocity of
the hydrocarbon vapour and air through the duct or mixing tube of the burner, by
means of an air jet. For this purpose the liquid hydrocarbon is delivered to the heated
coil through a regulator from a supply tank which may be at a height above the level
of the burner; or the liquid hydrocarbon therein may be put under pressure as by a
volume of compressed air in such tank, or by means of a spring piston in a cylinder
or in any other manner.
After passing through the heated coil, and being converted into gas, or vapour, the
hydrocarbon is led to an orifice near-in or about which is a jet of air at a slight
pressure above the atmosphere and so arranged that the effect of the jet of air is to
carry forward the petroleum vapour through the mixing tube, to that portion of the
burner where combustion takes place. The jet of air carrying with it the hydrocarbon
vapour may be made to draw into the mixing tube of the burner a further supply of
air necessary for the complete combustion of the vapour, or, the jet may itself contain
suflicient air to cause its complete combustion. The air forming this jet may be
heated to prevent condensation of the vapour, one method of doing this conveniently
being to take the tube conveying such air round or near the flame of the aforesaid
burner. An orifice which may be closed by a check valve, may be made in the heated
coil at or near that part where the hydrocarbon enters, to facilitate the carrying-on of
the vapour through the heated coil. by allowing a small portion of air to enter same,
and create a current through it. We also insert a loosely fitting wire into that portion
of the heated tube where the liquid hydrocarbon enters, both in this and the burner
described in our former Specification No. 11226 of 1889 the object of this wire being
to spread out the liquid hydrocarbon into a thin layer and facilitate, and graduate its
heating and vaporization. We find this wire very important in preventing pulsation
in the flame.

page_text: Improvements in Hydrocarbon Motor Engines.
We, HERBERT LINDLEY, and THOMAS BROWETT, of Sandon Engine Works, Salford,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, 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:-
Our invention has reference to petroleum or liquid hydrocarbon motor engines
such as are described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to us dated
6th November 1888, No. 16057, and relates to improvements in the means or
apparatus used in such engines for measuring the liquid hydrocarbon, and for
firing the charge of combustible vapour and air in the cylinder; to improvements
in the manner of cooling the cylinder of the engine by making the circulation of
water in the jacket surrounding the same dependent in a measure on the frequency
of explosions in the cylinder, so that the cylinder is kept at a more or less uniform
temperature when working whether the engine be lightly or heavily loaded; and
to improvements in Bunsen burners or apparatus adapted to burn with heavy
petroleum and such as described in the Specification of an application for Letters
Patent filed by us No. 11226 of 1889.
A pump according to this invention, for measuring the required volume of liquid
hydrocarbon for successive working strokes of the engine is constructed with a
conduit or chamber provided with suitable suction and delivery valves, and in com-
munication with a small cylinder in which works a plunger arranged to slide freely.
The space at the upper end of this cylinder and plunger, which may be enlarged in
diameter if necessary, is placed in communication with the heated chamber of a
heating device for vaporizing the hydrocarbon necessary for working the engine, as
for example with the chamber lettered M' in Figs. 5 and 6 of our said former
Specification viz., No. 16057 of 1888, or with other equivalent part of such an engine
as therein described. On the valve for admitting the hydrocarbon vapour from the
heating device to the cylinder being opened, the partial vacuum existing in the
cylinder and heated chamber, will cause the plunger to rise, its travel being limited by
a screw or similar device; liquid hydrocarbon is thus sucked into the valve chamber
from the supply tank, and on the plunger descending when the vacuum is destroyed,
due to the closing of the aforesaid valve, such liquid hydrocarbon will be forced into
the heated chamber of the heating device to be converted into vapour. The descent
of the plunger may be. aided by a spring or may be due to its own weight only.
There is thus no external leakage, any leakage that may take place past the plunger
being sucked into the heated chamber of the engine. When the upper end of the
plunger is enlarged, so that it can operate with a reduced vacuum in the cylinder, we
allow leakage if any, that may accumulate on the under side of the enlarged portion
of the piston, to run back into the supply tank through a tube, which also serves to
allow the pressure of the atmosphere to act against the under side of the enlarged
portion of the plunger, and permit the plunger to rise on the reduction of pressure on
its upper surface.
In the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shows partly in section and partly in elevation a measuring pump constructed
according to this invention. A is a cylinder having an enlarged upper end and within
which works a freely sliding plunger B that is also enlarged at its upper end for the
purpose hereinbefore mentioned, and is made at this end to fit the enlarged part of
the cylinder. A2 is a conduit or chamber provided with suction and delivery.
valves D and E respectively, and in communication with the lower end of the
cylinder A. C is a pipe by which the upper end of this cylinder is placed in com-
munication with a heating chamber such as that hereinbefore referred to, in which the
hydrocarbon is vaporized. This heating chamber is separated from the cylinder of
the engine by a check valve such as the valve N shown in the drawings of our said
former Specification No. 16057 of 1888 and in Fig. 2 of the annexed drawings, and

page_text: this valve is opened whenever a charge of combustible vapour is required to be drawn
into the cylinder. When this valve is opened a partial vacuum is also produced in
the heating chamber referred to, and therefore also in the enlarged portion of the
cylinder shewn in Fig. 1 of the present drawings. The vacuum thus produced
in A causes the plunger B to ascend, and produce a vacuum in the lower portion of
the cylinder A and conduit A2 and cause liquid hydrocarbon to be drawn therein past
the valve D from a supply tank, which need not be at a higher level than the engine
but which may be placed below it if desired. When the communication between the
cylinder A and the cylinder of the engine is closed by the aforesaid valve N, the
plunger B will descend either by gravity or aided by a spring, and a volume of hydro-
carbon equal to that previously drawn into the cylinder A will be expelled past the
.delivery valve E and through a pipe E' to the heating device of the engine to be
converted into gas or vapour. F is a screw to control the travel of the plunger B.
and regulate the quantity of hydrocarbon drawn in and delivered to the heating device
at each stroke of the plunger B. G is a pipe by which any hydrocarbon that may
leak into the annular chamber A' will be returned to the tank; this pipe also serves
to admit atmospheric air to the annular chamber A' for the purpose hereinbefore
mentioned.
In the arrangement described in our said former Specification No. 16057 of 1888
for firing the charge and comprising a heated chamber or tube communicating
with the interior of the cylinder, or in cases where a heated tube, (such as is now
usual in gas engines) is used to fire the compressed charge in the cylinder, we
find that a deposit of soot, or carbon, is gradually set up in such heated chamber
or tube. To prevent the deposit of soot or carbon in such portions of an engine
we provide a small snifting valve arranged to open inwards, so that on the suction
strokes of the engine a small quantity of air is drawn therein, and creates a
current through them in such a manner as to prevent the settlement of the carbon
therein. This snifting valve may if desired be put under the control of the
governor so as to operate only after an explosion has taken place in the cylinder,
in order that the heated igniting chamber or tube may not be cooled more than
necessary by the admission of cold air thereto.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a heating device similar to that shewn in Fig. 7 of
our said former Specification No. 16057 of 1888, a being the heating chamber or tube
and Na snifting valve arranged to open inward on the suction strokes of the engine
for the purpose mentioned. N is the valve that controls the passage of hydrocarbon
gas or vapour and air from the heating chamber a¹ to the tube a and thence to the
engine cylinder.
In order to control the water circulation in hydrocarbon motor engines as herein-
before mentioned so that the cylinders of such engines may not either become too hot
when working at full load, nor so cold when working at light loads as to condense
the vapour drawn in, we make the circulation of water in the jacket surrounding such
cylinders dependent on, or proportional to, the amount of work being done by the
engine. To this end we may rely on the natural circulation of the water due to its
becoming heated, as is usual in such engines and arrange a throttle or other suitable
valve in the entering or delivery pipe, such valve being controlled or operated by a
thermostat. This thermostat may conveniently consist of a twisted or bent coil or
merely of a straight bar, such coil or bar being composed of two different metals and
placed either in the water casing, or in contact with the exterior hot wall of the same;
and so arranged that when the temperature in the cylinder becomes too high such bar
or coil will bend or twist and will impart motion to the valve, and tend to open the
same and allow a more rapid circulation. The reverse action takes place when the
cylinder gets too cold or tends to do so. The thermostat may consist simply of a bent
tube such as a Bourdon gauge tube filled with spirit or other suitable liquid. Other
devices depending for their action on the heat imparted by the explosion in the
cylinder to the water in the casing or jacket surrounding the same may be utilized to
operate the throttle or other valve.
Fig. 3 shows partly in central section and partly in elevation, apparatus constructed

page_text: according to this invention for regulating the circulation of the water by which the
engine cylinder is cooled. H is a casing through which the cooling water passes after
leaving the water jacket of the engine cylinder. At the upper end of this casing is
an outlet H' closed by a valve I which is capable of being opened from below by
means of a rod or stem K. This rod or stem K is pivoted to one end of a lever L,
that is pivoted at its other end to the casing by a pin L. M is a thermo sensitive
device jointed at one end to the lever L as shewn and secured at its other end M² to
the casing H. The device M may be formed of a metallic bar bent into a coil, and
composed of different metals having different ratios of expansion for heat, the effect.
being that when heated beyond a predetermined temperature, the coil will tend to
further uncoil itself and so raise the lever Land with it the stem K and valve I. Or
the device M may consist of a coiled Bourdon gauge tube or its equivalent filled with
oil, spirit or other substance and hermetically sealed, the effect being that when the
contents of the tube expand due to the heat of the effluent water from the water
jacket of the engine cylinder, an internal pressure is produced in the Bourdon tube
which causes it to expand or uncoil itself in endeavouring to approach to a straight
form. The arrangement is such that when the temperature of the water in the water
jacket of the cylinder rises too high the Bourdon tube will partly uncoil or expand and
impart motion to the lever L so as to open the valve I, the reverse action taking place
when the temperature of the water falls too low. A screw O in the valve I against
which the stem K presses to open said valve, allows for an adjustment of the.
temperature at which the valve I shall open, the stem K being of such a length as not
to reach screw O until that temperature is reached.
:
In a Bunsen burner according to this invention for burning heavy oils for example
petroleum, for heating the oil vaporizing device of a liquid hydrocarbon engine, we
obtain the requisite velocity of the hydrocarbon vapour and air through the duct or
mixing tube of the burner, by means of an air jet. For this purpose the liquid
hydrocarbon is delivered to the heated coil through a regulator from a supply tank
which may be at a height above the level of the burner; or the liquid hydrocarbon
therein may be put under pressure, it may be by a volume of compressed air in such
tank, or by means of a spring piston in a cylinder communicating with the tank, or
in any other manner. After passing through the heated coil, and being therein
converted into gas, or vapour, (hereinafter called vapour), the hydrocarbon is led to
an orifice near, in, or about which is a jet of air at a slight pressure above the
atmosphere, and so arranged that the effect of the jet of air is to carry forward the
hydrocarbon vapour through the mixing tube, to that portion of the burner where
combustion takes place. The jet of air carrying with it the hydrocarbon vapour,
may be made to draw into the mixing tube of the burner a further supply of air
necessary for the complete combustion of the vapour, or the jet may itself contain
sufficient air to effect its complete combustion. We also insert a loosely fitting wire
or bundle of two or more wires, into that portion of the heated coil where the liquid
hydrocarbon enters, the object of this wire or wires being to spread out the liquid
hydrocarbon into a thin layer and thus facilitate and graduate its heating and
vaporization. We find this wire very important in preventing pulsation in the flame.
The wire or wires can also be used with a Bunsen burner constructed as described
in the Specification of our former application for Patent dated 12th July 1889
No. 11226.
Fig. 4 shows partly in elevation and partly in section, a Bunsen burner according
to the present invention. A is a gas generating coil in communication at its upper
end by a coupling B with a tube B through which hydrocarbon can be led from a
tank, which may be at a higher level than the burner. The lower end of the coil A
is connected to a tubular heat conducting part C carried by arms E³ that extend
upward from the upper end of the bent mixing tube E above the open inlet end of
which the part C is arranged. H is a perforated combustion plate at the other or
exit end of the mixing tube. The coil and mixing tube are similar in construction
and arrangement to the corresponding parts in our said former Specification
No. 11226 of 1889. M is a tube in communication with a jet piece N* arranged

page_text: within the tubular part C and terminating in a fine hole or nozzle. L is a loosely
fitting wire passing through a small gland B' on the coupling B and extending into
the upper part of the coil A. This wire serves to spread out the hydrocarbon into a
film as it reaches the hot portion of the coil and so provides for a gradual
vaporization of the hydrocarbon and prevents pulsation of the flame produced by its
combustion. The vapour formed in the coil A is led into the tubular part C. Air
is supplied under a pressure of a few pounds above, that of the atmosphere to the
tube M and jet piece N* whence it issues from the small hole or nozzle at the lower
end of S in a jet-like form. The jet of air so formed and which can be heated by
arranging the air tube M so as to be heated by the flame of the lamp carries with
it the hydrocarbon vapour formed in the coil. A together with a further portion of
atmospheric air that enters between the arms E, and propels the mixture through
the mixing tube E and through the perforated combustion plate H at the upper side
of which the mixture is burnt as in the burner described in our said former Speci-
fication No. 11226 of 1889. In the present case however, the velocity of the
mixture of air and hydrocarbon vapour passing through the mixing tube E is produced
mainly by the air-jet issuing from the jet piece N* instead of from the jet of
hydrocarbon vapour itself. It is obvious that the supply of air under pressure may
be made suflicient in quantity for the complete combustion of the hydrocarbon vapour
without drawing in an additional quantity of atmospheric air at the open end of the
mixing tube. In this case there is no necessity for forming a jet of air as in Fig. 4,
all that is necessary being to provide for a sufficient supply of air under slight
pressure to the mixing tube E, the hydrocarbon vapour being led into this tube in any
convenient manner. Fig. 5. shows how this may be done and requires no further
explanation..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:--
:
1. In a hydrocarbon motor engine causing successive charges of liquid hydrocarbon
to be measured off and fed through a heater to the motor cylinder by means of a
pump constructed with a free piston or plunger caused to operate at the required
times by reduction of pressure in the motor cylinder as set forth.
2. In a hydrocarbon motor engine, the hydrocarbon pump hereinabove described
with reference to and shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings annexed for the purpose
specified.
"
3. In a hydrocarbon motor engine having in connection with its cylinder a
chamber or tube adapted to be itself heated for the purpose of igniting the
combustible charge and having an inlet for successive charges of heated gas or
vapour, constructing the said chamber or tube with an inlet furnished with a snifting
valve adapted to admit air to the heated chamber or tube on each suction stroke
of the engine for the purpose specified.
4. In a hydrocarbon motor engine the combination with a cylinder having a water
jacket, of a thermo-sensitive device or thermostat so arranged as to be subject to
the influence of heat produced in the said cylinder and adapted to automatically
control the water circulation in the cylinder jacket so that the amount of cooling
water passing through such jacket shall be proportional to or dependent on the work
done by the engine.
I
5. In a hydrocarbon motor engine apparatus constructed and operating substantially
as herein described with reference to and shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings annexed
for controlling the circulation of water in the cylinder jacket, and consisting of a
thermo-sensitive device or thermostat and a valve controlled thereby as set forth.
1. 6. In a Bunsen burner adapted to burn heavy oils as set forth, for heating the
vaporizing or heating device of a liquid hydrocarbon motor engine, obtaining the
velocity of the mixture of air and hydrocarbon vapour through the mixing tube E of
the burner by means of an air jet as hereinbefore described.
7. In a Bunsen burner of the kind hereinabove referred to for the purpose specified

page_text: the construction of the gas generator or oil vaporizer of the burner, with a wire or
wires adapted to prevent pulsations of flame substantially as herein described.
8. The improved Bunsen burner constructed with air inlet nozzle and operating as
hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings annexed
(with or without the wire L) for the purpose specified.
9. A Bunsen burner for burning heavy oils as set forth for the purpose specified,
constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 5 to admit
of the passage of a current of air through the mixing tube of sufficient volume to
ensure the complete combustion of the hydrocarbon vapour delivered into the mixing
tube from the gas generating coil, as set forth.
H. LINDLEY.
Per L. W.
THOS. BROWETT,
Per L. W.