Improvements in or Applicable to Motor Engines Operated by the Combustion of Hydrocarbon Vapour.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aor., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 16th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Apr., 1889
DIBUIT LUATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Motor Engines Operated by the
Combustion of Hydrocarbon Vapour.
I, ROBERT HUMES, of 43, Crawford Street, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to inotor engines operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon
vapour prepared by mixing petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon with atmospheric
air or other gas capable of supporting combustion, and consists of improved means for
mixing liquid hydrocarbon with air or other suitable gas in the preparation of the
combustible vapour, of means for heating such vapour before being admitted to the
motor cylinder or other combustion chamber, and of means for proportionately varying
the supply of air for admixture with the combustible vapour as the supply of the
latter is varied under the influence of the governor.
For mixing petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon with atmospheric air or other gas
capable of supporting combustion and thus producing an explosive or inflammable
vapour suitable for use in operating motor engines, I employ a device consisting of a
body traversed by two passages to which the liquid and gas to be mixed are
respectively led under pressure. The passage conveying the gas communicates with
an internal chamber which surrounds the tube conveying the liquid and from this
chamber several; preferably three, oblique passages open iminediately against and
around the orifice of the tube conveying the liquid; the gas as it issues from the
passages being thus directed across the stream of liquid issuing from the tube. The
gas passages are preferably formed in a removeable cap, which forms one side of
the annular chamber before referred to; the tube conveying the liquid being provided
with two conical shoulders, one for Seating in a conical recess formed in the body of
the casing, and the other for seating in a similar recess formed in the back of the cap.
By this method of construction, the apparatus may be readily taken apart for exami-
nation or cleansing.

page_text: For heating the combustible vapour before admitting saine to the motor cylinder or
other combustion chamber, I employ a vessel into which the exhaust gases escaping
from the inotor cylinder, are conducted, and whence they pass to the exhaust pipe.
To the interior of the same vessel is led the heat from a lamp whereby the vessel is
heated previously to starting the engine and before the exhaust gases become available 5
for the purpose. Within the vessel a baffle-plate is arranged in such a manner
relatively to the inlets for the waste gases and for the heated products of combustion
from the lamp respectively and to the outlet from the vessel to the exhaust pipe
that a thorough circulation of the heated gases is ensured previously to their escape
from the vessel. Surrounding and to a great extent enclosing the vessel is a casing,
between which and the exterior of the vessel there is formed a chamber for the
reception of the combustible vapour to be heated preparatory to employment in the
engine. The casing is by preference cleaded with non-conducting material for
the purpose of protecting the vapour-chamber and its contents against loss of heat
the
by radiation. The heating lamp is preferably of the vapour-burning type:
moderate air-pressure requisite for operating the same being generated by a hand-
pump. The flame burning with considerable energy in the mouth of a pipe leading
to the interior of the aforesaid vessel is assisted to enter the same by the natural
draught created by the exhaust pipe, the latter acting as a chimney-shaft. Upon
the vessel and the vapour surrounding the same having become throroughly heated,
the pipe conveying the heat from the lamp is closed by means of a valve, the
engine is started, and the vapour is subsequently maintained at the requisite tem-
perature under the influence of the exhaust gases whilst traversing the heating vessel
on their way to the exhaust-pipe.
For proportionately varying the supply of air for subsequent admixture with the
vapour as the supply of the latter is increased or diminished by the action of the
governor, 1 employ a regulating device operating as hereinafter described. In working
hydrocarbon vapour engines, it is usual to employ a closed reservoir for the petroleum
or other liquid hydrocarbon, the upper portion of the reservoir being charged with
compressed air. By means of pipes respectively communicating with the upper and
lower portions of the reservoir, the supplies of compressed air and liquid hydro-
carbon are drawn at practically equal pressures and led to the mixing appa-
ratus. When the engine exceeds its normal speed, a portion of the air confined
in the reservoir may by the action of the governor be released; whereupon the
generation of the vapour becomes less active. The vapour having been prepared, it
is usual to mix an additional quantity of air therewith before admitting the same
to the combustion chamber; but in order to maintain the working charge at a
constant degree of richness and thus to ensure certainty of ignition, it becomes
necessary to diminish the volume of the additional air supply in proportion to the
reduction effected in the vapour supply. With this object, I mount two piston-valves
in cylindrical chambers respectively communicating with the liquid hydrocarbon
reservoir and with the supplementary air inlet to the vapour-chamber. The cylindrical
chambers are provided with numerous lateral perforations capable of being covered or
uncovered by the piston-valves. The latter are connected together by a stem and
are operated in unison by means of the governor. When, upon the normal speed of
the engine being exceeded, the piston-valves are moved in one direction, one or more
of the escape orifices in the valve-chamber connected with the liquid hydro-carbon
reservoir is or are uncovered, and a portion of the compressed air confined in the
reservoir is allowed to escape. At the same time, one or more of the orifices in the
valve-chamber controlling the inlet of the supplementary air charge is or are
covered by the piston-valve appertaining thereto; the quantity of the additional air
admitted for admixture with the vapour being thus proportionately reduced as the
generation of vapour is rendered less active in consequence of the pressure of the air
contained in the liquid hydrocarbon reservoir being diminished. When the piston-
valves are moved in the opposite direction, the reverse effect is produced; the escape
of air from the reservoir being partially or wholly intercepted, whilst the admission
of the supplementary air charge is subjected to less restriction.

page_text: It will be obvious that, without departing from the principle of my invention, other
types of valve-mechanism may be employed for accomplishing the regulating effect
above described.
L
41
I
000
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Combustion of Hydrocarbon Vapour.
1, ROBERT HUMES, of 68, Warner 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 hydrocarbon
vapour prepared by mixing petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon with atmospheric
air or other gas capable of supporting combustion, and consists of improved means
for mixing liquid hydrocarbon with air or other suitable gas in the preparation of the
combustible vapour; of means for heating such vapour before being admitted
to the motor cylinder or other combustion chamber; and of means for proportionately
varying the supply of air for admixture with the combustible vapour as the supply of
the latter is varied under the influence of the governor.
In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively longitudinal and
transverse sections (the latter being taken on the line - Fig. 1) and Fig. 3 an end
elevation of apparatus adapted for carrying the principal features of my invention
into effect. Figs. 4 and relate to details hereinafter particularly described.
For mixing petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon with atmospheric air or other
gas capable of supporting combustion and thus producing an explosive or inflammable
vapour suitable for use in operating motor engines, I employ a device A consisting
of a hody a traversed by two passages a¹ and a² to which the liquid and gas to be
mixed are respectively led under pressure. The passage a² communicates with an
internal chamber a³ which surrounds the tube a' conveying the liquid; and from this
chamber several, preferably three, passages a arranged obliquely or transversely open
immediately against and around the orifice as of the tube at. The gas, as it issues
from the passages a', is thus directed obliquely or at right angles across the stream

page_text: of liquid issuing from the tube a'. The gas-passages a are preferably formed in a
removeable cap a which forms one side of the annular chamber a³; the tube a' being
provided with two conical shoulders, one for seating in a conical recess formed at
the extremity of the passage a¹, and the other for seating in a similar recess formed
in the back of the cap a. By this method of construction, the apparatus may be
readily taken apart for examination or cleansing.
For heating the combustible vapour before admitting same to the motor cylinder or
other combustion chamber, I employ a vessel B into which the exhaust gases, arriving
from the motor cylinder by way of the escape-pipe and passage 1, are conducted;
the said gases after traversing the chamber B escaping by the pipe 2. To the interior
of the vessel B is also led, by way of the passage *, the heat from a lamp, whereby
the said vessel is heated previously to the engine being started and before the exhaust
gases become available for the purpose. Within the vessel B. a baffle-plate 63 is
arranged in such a manner relatively to the inlets and *, which unite at 64, that al
thorough circulation of the heated gases through the vessel is ensured previously to
their escape therefrom. Surrounding and to a great extent enclosing the vessel B
is a casing C between which and the exterior of the vessel B is formed a chamber D
for the reception of the combustible vapour to be heated preparatory to employment
in the engine. The casing is by preference cleaded with non-conducting material E
for the purpose of protecting the vapour-chamber D and its contents against loss of
heat by radiation. e is a deflector or baffle-plate for promoting the circulation of the
vapour about the surface of the heating vessel B. The heating lamp is preferably of
the vapour-burning type; the moderate air-pressure requisite for operating the same
being generated by means of a hand-pump previously to the engine being started.
The flame, burning with considerable energy in the mouth of the pipe * leading to
the interior of the aforesaid vessel, is assisted to enter the same by the natural draft
created by the exhaust pipe which should be carried up a certain height so as to act
as a chimney-shaft. Upon the vessel B and the vapour surrounding the same having
become thoroughly heated, the pipe 6* conveying the heat from the lamp is closed by
means of a valve or shutter such as 6, the engine is started, and the vapour is
subsequently maintained at the requisite temperature under the influence of the exhaust
gases which traverse the heating vessel B as before described. Any liquid hydrocarbon
which may become condensed and deposited within the vapour-chamber D may be
drawn off through the drain-pipe . The working charge passes to the motor
cylinder or other combustion chamber by way of the pipe .
For proportionately varying the supply of air entering through the passage c¹ for
admixture with the vapour issuing from the mixing apparatus A as the supply of the
latter is increased or diminished by the action of the governor, I employ a regulating
device operating as hereinafter described. In working hydrocarbon vapour engines,
it is usual to employ a closed reservoir for the petroleum or other liquid hydro-
carbon, the upper portion of the reservoir being charged with compressed air. By
means of pipes respectively communicating with the upper and lower portions of
the reservoir, the supplies of compressed air and liquid hydrocarbon are drawn at
practically equal pressures and led to the mixing apparatus, When the engine
exceeds its normal speed, a portion of the air confined in the reservoir may, by
the action of the governor, be released; whereupon the generation of the vapour
becomes less active. The vapour having been prepared, it is usual to mix an
additional quantity of air therewith before admitting the same to the combustion
chamber; but, in order to maintain the working charge at a constant degree of
richness and thus to ensure certainty of ignition, it becomes necessary to diminish
the volume of the additional air supply in proportion to any reduction which may
be effected in the vapour supply. With this object, I mount two piston-valves, such
as F (Fig. 4) in cylindrical chambers, such as F', the latter communicating respec-
tively with the liquid-hydrocarbon-reservoir and with the supplementary-air
inlet to the vapour-chamber. Each cylindrical chamber is provided with numerous
lateral perforations capable of being covered or uncovered by its piston-valve. The
valves may be connected together by a stem and operated in unison by means of the

page_text: At
governor. When, upon the normal speed of the engine being exceeded, the piston-
valves are moved in one direction, one or more of the escape orifices / connected
with the liquid-hydrocarbon-reservoir is or are uncovered, and a portion of the com-
pressed air confined in the pipe leading from the reservoir is allowed to escape.
the same time, one or more of the orifices controlling the inlet of the supplementary
air-charge is or are covered by the piston-valve appertainining thereto; the quantity
of the additional air admitted for admixture with the vapour being thus proportionately
reduced as the generation of vapour is rendered less active in consequence of the
pressure of the air contained in the liquid-hydrocarbon-reservoir being diminished.
When the piston-valves are moved in the opposite direction, the reverse effect is
produced the escape of air from the reservoir being partially or wholly intercepted,
whilst the admission of the supplementary-air charge is subjected to less restriction.
Fig. is an enlarged diagrammatic view shewing the manner in which I prefer to
arrange the orifices with a view to making the controlling mechanism as sensitive
as possible. These orifices are placed spirally round the circumference of the
chamber F, so that one hole at a time may be covered or uncovered by the movement
of the piston F.
It will be obvious that, without departing from the principle of my invention, other
types of valve mechanism may be employed for accomplishing the regulating effect
above referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. In a motor engine operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour, the
improved means, substantially as herein described, for mixing liquid hydrocarbon with
air or other suitable gas in the preparation of the inflammable charge; the same
comprising a body traversed by two or more oblique or transverse passages through
which the air or other gas is led and which open immediately against and around the
orifice through which the liquid hydrocarbon is delivered.
2. In vapourising apparatus wherein the liquid-hydrocarbon-passage is furnished
with a tube, forming the said tube with conical shoulders for engaging in corresponding
recesses respectively formed in the back and front of the chamber to which the air is
supplied, substantially as herein described and whereby the parts may be readily
separated for examination or cleansing.
3. In a motor engine operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour, the
improved means for heating the inflammable charge arranged or operating substantially
as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In vapour-heating apparatus for use with hydrocarburetted-air engines, the
improved means substantially as herein described whereby previously to starting the
engine the heat from a lamp or its equivalent may be temporarily admitted to
the chamber to which the exhaust gases are conducted subsequently to starting
the engine.
5. In a motor engine operated by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapour prepared
in the manner herein described, the improved means for varying the supply of the
supplementary air charge proportionately to the supply of the primary mixture of
liquid hydrocarbon and air, arranged or operating substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
1000
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.Č.,
Agent for the Applicant.