Improvements in Combustible Vapour Engines and in their Accessories.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combustible Vapour Engines and in their
Accessories.
I, THOMAS MORGAN, of 10 South Road, Sparkbrook, in the City of
Birmingham, Iron Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to detail improvements in the construction of vapour
engines and their accessories, such as the exhaust box, with its cognate parts.
My invention consists in one part, in means for assisting in the starting of the
engine by employing a double compressing chamber, or an auxiliary compression
or combustion chamber in addition to the primary one; in a further part, in means
for converting the petroleum or oil into spray by a centrifugal action, prior to the
same being converted into vapour and to its intermingling with atmospheric air
introduced into the generating chamber, and in a still further part, in means for
damping-off the entrance to the lamp leading to the exhaust box, and sealing up
the exhaust chamber.
In carrying out my improvements in connection with, or appertaining to, the
exhaust box, I take a cylindrical or other casing, and provide or fit the interior of
the same with a worm or coil, open at its lower end to the atmosphere and at its
upper and other end to the vapour generating chamber, consisting of a hollow box,
fitted within the crown of the casing, which is closed at top and bottom by suitable
covers or lids. Through this coil, which is disposed approximate to the inside of
the walls of the casing, the air conveyed to the generating chamber is heated in
its passage to the said chamber.
The bottom of the generating chamber is fitted with an outlet in the form of a
pipe directed downwards and through the lower part of the casing of the exhaust
box, and from thence leading to the first compression chamber of the cylinder, at
the entrance to which, an inlet or check valve is situated, and also an inlet valve
for the admission of pure air into the gaseous mixture entering the compression
chamber or cylinder.
The air admitted is in proper proportion for producing the best mechanical
advantage from the gaseous mixture drawn into the cylinder by the retrograde
movement of the piston head.
The exhaust box is fitted at bottom with an exhaust delivery pipe or pipes,
whilst the generating chamber has the air inlet made in the form of an annular
pipe, with air holes made around its inside edge, alike unto an ordinary Bunsen
burner, and through which holes, jets of hot air issue into the generating chamber,
and convert the suspended spray flirted from the spray plate, as hereinafter described,
into vapour, which is conveyed to the cylinder for combustion in the way as before
stated.
The spray converter consists of a suspended and rotating plate or disc, horizon-
tally disposed, whilst the spindle, which is vertical, passes through a gland and is
supported by suitable bearings carried by a bracket, supported or carried from
the middle of the upper cover of the exhaust box.
Also directed through the cover of the casing is an oil-pipe with its nozzle
terminating near the centre or middle of, and coming at a short distance from,
the top side of the spray plate, so that as the said plate is rapidly rotated, the oil,
which is regulated by suitable means, is dropped upon the same, and by the

page_text: centrifugal force, the oil is instantly converted into spray, which on being thrown
in all directions in the generating chamber, is then converted into vapour by coming
in contact with the heated air intermingling with it.
The spindle which drives the spray plate, carries an armature of a dynamo for
inducing on electrical current for the creation of an electric spark to be employed
in the ignition of the vapour charge introduced into the cylinder.
The spark generating means may be of any known construction, and the spark
is timed to pass only at each charge introduced into the cylinder.
The exhaust box is fitted at the middle of its bottom with a lamp consisting of
a cylindrical shaped chamber contracted at its upper part into a burner dome, and
having at its lower part an annular well, with a vertical and open ended air shaft
directed through it, up the centre of which is an axis or stem, surmounted at its
inner and upper end by a disc plate, and fitted at its other end with a turn, whilst
the stem itself is supported and works within a bearing carried by the bracket, and
the annular oil tank has a let-off valve.
The disc at the end of the stem constitutes a plain deflector, so that when the
lamp is alight, the flame and products of combustion pass upwardly, and the flame,
which passes through the outlet of the burner or lamp, is regulated by the relative
position which the said deflector takes, but when combustion is to be stopped, and
the exhaust box sealed, then the deflector plate is brought down upon the top of
the centrally disposed air shaft.
In the cylinder part of the engine, the same consists of a tubular casing, with
the lower part double cased, and working within the said cylinder is a reciprocating
plunger or piston.
Located at the lower part of the cylinder, or made within the cover or bottom
are two combustion or compression chambers or cylinders, viz., a primary one and
an auxiliary one.
The vapour pipe from the generating chamber empties itself into the primary
compression chamber, whilst the auxiliary or second compression or combustion
chamber is entered from the primary combustion or compression chamber.
The second chamber or auxiliary chamber, which is for the purpose of relieving
the pressure, or the resistance occasioned to the movement of the piston on passing
the centre in starting consists of an attached chamber having an inlet fitted with a
valve, whose stalk passes through a gland and stuffing box, and is operated by a
turn from the outside.
This said stalk is screwed, and works within a screw box passing as it were
through the gland, so that by rotating the turn, the valve is opened and closed,
and combustible matter allowed to enter or be stopped off from the second
chamber.
Thus, assuming that oil is admitted, the spray, plate rotated, and the lamp in the
bottom of the exhaust box lighted, and with the piston head at the forward
end of its stroke, then the oil, which drips upon the spray-plate, is converted
into vapour, intermixed with air, and is then conveyed into the combustion
chamber. Then an electric spark is passed through the vapour, which is ignited
and the piston head forced to the top of the cylinder, whereby prepared air inter-
mixed with vapour is then drawn into the said cylinder, filling the same up to the
piston.
The secondary compression chamber is then closed by the valve, and by the
return stroke of the piston, the gaseous mixture is again compressed and the engine
then worked in the ordinary way.
Instead of generating the vapour at a distance from the compression or
generating chamber, I may fit and work the vaporizer within the said com-
bustion or compression chamber, and in so doing, 1 heat the said chamber, and
rotate the spray plate the same, and convey the oil through the walls of the
chamber to the top of the disc, which, by its centrifugal force, converts the
liquid into spray, and throws the same against the heated walls of the chamber,
hence the conversion of the same into vapour.

page_text: The vapourizer operates only during the time of the ascension of the piston, and
the drawing-in of the air for promoting complete combustion, whilst the oil is
intermittently pumped during the time only that spray is required to be formed.
Dated this 28th day of June 1893.
THOMAS MORGAN,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Combustible Vapour Engines and in their
Accessories.
I, THOMAS MORGAN, of 10 South Road, Sparkbrook, in the City of
Birmingham, Iron Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to detail improvements in the construction of combustible
vapour engines and their accessories.
In carrying out my improvements, the cylinder, which has a water jacket
surrounding it, and wherein the head of the piston reciprocates, has made
continuous with it an auxiliary or ignition chamber, having suspended within it,
a gas-generating chamber, and having located upon the two opposite sides of its
mixing and valve chambers or chests, fitted with valves as hereinafter described.
Working within the gas generating chamber is a spray plate, rotated with
considerable velocity, so that as oil is dripped upon it, the same is first converted
into spray by the centrifugal action of the rotating plate and is then volatilized by
coming into contact with the heated walls of the generating chamber, which are
kept hot by the explosions of the gas charges fired within the chamber or ignition
chamber surrounding the said generating chamber.
Located in the bottom of the ignition chamber and immediately under the gas-
generating chamber is an auxiliary and initial heater in the form of a lamp
supported by a bracket and having a damper for closing the inlet to the interior
of the motor when the engine is working in the ordinary way.
The generated vapour is conveyed to the mixing chamber through a suitable
passage and is then intermingled in proper proportion with fresh air supplied from
a pipe leading to the atmosphere.
The exhaust box has an exhaust delivery pipe for the exit of the exhaust vapour
forced from the working cylinder by the back stroke of the piston.
The oil to be converted into vapour may be delivered by pressure through or
may be allowed to drop by gravitation from an oil pipe, whose nozzle terminates
over the topside of the spray plate, so that as the plate is rapidly rotated, the oil
is converted into spray as hereinbefore described.
The spindle which carries the spray plate may carry the armature of a dynamo,
so that au electric current may be induced and a spark created for the ignition of
the vapour charge when the same compressed and located in the ignition chamber
although the said charge may be ignited by a tongue of flame as in ordinary
engines.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in transverse vertical section,
a combustible vapour engine constructed, arranged and provided with improvements
made according to my invention.
Figure 2 represents a part longitudinal and part vertical section of the same
taken upon the dotted lines A B Figure 1, showing the disposition of the piston
head and also the generating chamber relative to the combustion chamber, which
latter is in direct communication with the interior of the cylinder, which is

page_text: surrounded by a water jacket for the purpose of keeping the said cymder Coor
during working.
Figure 3 represents a horizontal section of the said engine upon the dotted
lines CD Figure 2.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
a is a generating chamber consisting of a circular shaped hollow box, surrounded
by walls a', on all sides, and suspended within and surrounded by the ignition
chamber 6, of a casing b, located at one end of and open to the working and
compression cylinder c, surrounded by a water jacket c', kept cool by water
circulating within the hollow c³, of it. Working within the said cylinder c, is a
piston-head d, with a piston or connecting rod d', at one end working through the
open back end of the cylinder, which cylinder is supported by a bed or elevated
framing e.
The generating chamber a, has an inside hollow crown a³, closed by a bolted-
down cover a, and with the middle fitted with a stuffing box a', kept in position by
a gland as, through which stuffing box and gland, a rotating spindle f, downwardly
passes and has its lower end (which is located within the interior of the gas
generating chamber) fitted with a horizontally directed disc or plate g, situated at
a suitable distance below the nozzle ', of an oil supply pipe h, which passes
through the cover a³, and into the interior of the generating chamber, so that as
oil is delivered upon the topside of the disc or plate g, through the nozzle A', of the
pipe h, it is converted into spray by the centrifugal force imparted to it by the
rotatory movement of the said disc.
The fine spray thus produced is thrown upon the inside walls a', of the chamber a,
which are heated consequent upon the repeated explosion of gas taking place within
the ignition chamber surrounding them.
The spindle fis supported at its outer end f¹, by, and works within bearings of,
a bracket, bolted to, or carried by, the top of the cover a³, of the chamber a,
whilst a pulley f', driven by a band f, is made fast to the said end f¹, of the
spindle.
Leading from the hollow crown or secondary chamber a³, of the generating
chamber a, is an outlet port a, with a depending or turn-down end a', leading by
an inlet as, to a mixing chamber i, located upon one side of the ignition or com-
bustion chamber b¹. This said chamber i, has an outlet 2, and an air inlet 3, the
latter leading from the atmosphere by an upright pipe. The outlet, has a
valve seating, and a valve, whose stalk, works within a guide . Above the
valve is a passage j, leading to the combustion or ignition chamber 6', and fitted at
its crown with a lid, and an attachable and detachable screw plug 1, for the
purpose as hereinafter described.
The other side of the ignition chamber is fitted with an exhaust passage or
chamber k, having an outlet open to the atmosphere k³, and being fitted with a
valve k³, which comes upon the valve seat k', formed within the partition k, located
between the said box k, and an outlet passage k, leading from the ignition
chamber b', which, as before described is in direct communication with the interior
of the cylinder, wherein the piston head reciprocates in the ordinary way. The
roof of the passage k, is fitted a bolted-down lid k', having a removable stopper or
closure k, taking and screwing into the said lid.
The stalk k', of the valve k³, passes through a stuffing box and gland kº, and is
reciprocated by the action of a rotating cam driven in any desired way.
The bottom of the ignition chamber is fitted with a lamp casing m, bolted to the
underside of the outer walls of the said chamber b, and fitted at its lower part with
a combined valve and flame spreader m², terminating the stalk m², of a screw m³,
having a hand wheel m, and passing upwardly through a screw box m", of a
bracket mo, which carries a lamp m³, confined between and supported by the
arms m, of the said bracket, which is connected to a lower extension of the lamp
casing. This casing m, is separated from the extension of it by a diaphragm m³

page_text: having a valve seating wherein the valve lies when in its cutting off position as in
Figure 1.
To start the apparatus raise the valve m³, from its seat, light the lamp m², and
remove the plugs j, k, from the covers or lids , k'. The heat given off from the
lamp rises and passes into the ignition chamber and impinges upon the underside
of the walls of the generating chamber which become heated to a sufficient degree
to vapourize the oil delivered upon the spray plate or disc from the nozzle of the
oil pipe for the initial starting of the engine.
The lamp is then damped off by rotating the hand wheel m', which brings the
valve n', up to the valve seating of the passage between the atmosphere and the
the interior of the motor. Now replace the plugs , k, and initially rotate
the spiudle and deliver oil upon the topside of the spray plate g, when the
centrifugal action will flirt the oil in all directions and convert it into spray which,
on being thrown against the heated walls of the generating chamber, is vapourized,
and as the vapour is made it rises and passes through the delivery pipe a, to the
mixing chamber i, and is there intermingled with the fresh air supplied through
the pipe. The valve 1, is then lifted as the piston head d, traverses to the after
end of the cylinder and at the same time, the valve k³, is closed by a cam or other
means whose motion is taken from off the main shaft.
As the piston head d, recedes from the ignition chamber so the gaseous mixture
is drawn after it and fills the working cylinder. The return stroke of the piston
head up again to the ignition chamber compresses the vapour charge, closes the
valve, and cuts off communication from the generating chamber. An electric
spark is then passed through the ignition chamber, when the charge is exploded, the
piston head d, forced back, and through it the engine is worked. The exhaust
valve, is then lifted by the cam, thus making through communication between
the exhaust passage k*, and the interior of the motor. The piston again reciprocates
forwardly up to the ignition chamber, expelling the vapour products of combustion
out of the working cylinder and through the exhaust into the atmosphere. On
the piston head being again forced back from the ignition chamber the valve k³, is
closed and the valve is open and the gaseous mixture generated is drawn again
into the ignition chamber and cylinder, when the same operation as before described
is repeated.
It is understood that the piston d, makes two reciprocations to every single
charge exploded, and that once the motor has been started, the heat generated by
the explosions keeps the walls of the generating chamber constantly hot, whilst the
walls of the cylinder are kept cool by water circulating through the hollow jacket.
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 :-
First. In the vapour generators of combustible vapour engines or motors,
converting oil into spray by the centrifugal action of a rapidly rotating plate or
equivalent substantially as and for the purpose as described and set forth.
Secondly. In the vapour generators of combustible vapour engines or motors,
converting oil into spray by centrifugal action through the medium of a rapidly
rotating plate or equivalent which converts the oil delivered upon it into spray
which is thrown upon the heated surrounding walls or surfaces of a generating
chamber whereby vapour is produced, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly. In combustible vapour engines or motors, the combination with the
working cylinder, of an ignition chamber 6', having within it a vapour generating
chamber or a depending vapour generating chamber a, substantially as described
and set forth.
Fourthly. In combustible vapour engines or motors, providing the same with a
lamp or equivalent for the initial heating of the generating chamber, substantially
as described and set forth.
Fifthly. In the lamp part of combustible vapour engines or motors, the general

page_text: construction, arrangement and combination of the damping-off parts forming a
combined valve and flame-spreader, substantially as described and set forth.
Sixthly. In combustible vapour engines or motors, the combination with the
ignition chamber having a vapour-generating chamber within it, of exhaust and
mixing chambers with their delivery pipes, inlets and outlets, substantially as and
for the purpose as described and set forth.
Seventhly. The improvements in combustible vapour engines or motors, and the
general construction, arrangement and combination of the parts of the same,
substantially as herein described and set forth.
Dated thia 91m² 1.
L 1004
THOMAS MORGAN,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.