Improvements in or relating to the Construction of Road Vehicles and Hydrocarbon Engines for the same.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Construction of Road Vehicles and
Hydrocarbon Engines for the same.
We, GEORGE TAYLOR and ISAAC RAY, both of 32, Page's Walk, Bermondsey,
London, S.E., Mechanical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of our said
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to more especially but not exclusively to hydrocarbon
engines and the like as applied to the propulsion of road vehicles and its object
is to effect improvements in such vehicles also in the manufacture of the hydro-
carbon gas for use in the engines also in the regulation of the admission of air
thereto and in the method of cooling the cylinder by atmospheric air.
According to our invention we use two openended, single acting cylinders fitted
with pistons, connecting rods, valves and passages for the admission and eduction
of a mixture of air and gas. A cranked axle and gear wheels for driving by
chain, belt, or other gear are also fitted in a manner well known in connection with
motors of a like nature. The cylinders are provided with annular gills and
enclosed in suitable jackets for receiving cold air which becomes heated by con-
duction, and which heated air may be conducted to the vaporiser. The vaporiser
consists of a vessel or chamber having a coiled partition attached to the roof and
extending therefrom to a short distance from the floor or bottom of the chamber
so that the incoming air is compelled to travel a considerable distance in con-
tact with the liquid fuel inserted in the vaporiser. The passage of the air is
also retarded by the insertion of shavings wool or the like in the tortuous passages.
Our liquid fuel is formed of the following ingredients and (preferably) in the
following proportions:-
Gasoline of the flash point 66° Fahr. 1 gallon.
Cocoa nut oil ½ lb.
Petroleum / pint.
These ingredients are mixed together and fed into the vaporiser as required the
level of the liquids being kept slightly above the lower edge of the partition plate.
From the vaporiser the air and gas mixture is conveyed to the working cylinders
through suitable valves. Inside the cylinders the air and gas is further diluted
with atmospheric air admitted through regulating valves consisting of two dises
formed with a number of holes annularly placed.
The wheels of the motor car or other vehicle may be driven by any suitable
gear in connection with the crank shaft and in lieu of the usual locking frame
carrying the front wheels we prefer to mount the front wheels on separate pivoted
axles which are linked together by a connecting rod so as to turn simultaneously
when steering as required.
Our starting gear for motor cars consists of a driving wheel frictionally or other-
wise in contact with a smaller wheel fitted to the crank shaft. The larger wheel
is fitted with a pedal lever pivoted to the axle and capable of partially
rotating the wheel by means of a pawl attached to the lever in gear with a set
T .
077

page_text: of ratchet teeth attached to the wheel and entirely under the command of the
driver.
The exhaust spent gases are sometimes carried through suitable passages so
as to warm the inside of the carriage and the drivers feet if required.
Dated 11th July 1898.
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C.,
Agents.
Improvements in or relating to the Construction of Road Vehicles and
Hydrocarbon Engines for the same.
We, George TaYLOR and Isaac RAY, both of 32, Page's Walk, Bermondsey,
London, S.E., Mechanical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of our said
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 relates more especially but not exclusively to hydro-carbon
engines and the like as applied to the propulsion of road vehicles; and its object
is to effect improvements in such vehicles; also in the manufacture of the hydro-
carbon gas for use in the engines, also in the regulation of the admission of air
therete, and in the method of cooling the cylinder.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. is an elevation of a skeleton of a road vehicle, fitted with engines and
other driving, steering etc. apparatus, constructed according to our invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 3 is a back end elevation (partly in section) of a
portion of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of one of the cylinders and its fittings.
Fig. 5 is a plan of a portion of the cylinders.
Fig. 6 is a detail view, being an end view of the cylinders showing the air
valves.
According to our invention we use two open-ended single acting cylinders a
fitted with pistons, connecting rods, valves and passages for the admission and
eduction of a mixture of air and gas. A cranked axle and gear wheels,, for driving
by chain, belt, or other gear, are also fitted in a manner well known in connection
with motors of a like nature.
The cylinders are provided with annular gills a¹ and enclosed in suitable
jackets 6, the gills being arranged so that the cooling medium travels in a spiral
manner round the cylinders; the cooling medium such as cold air or water be-
comes heated by conduction during its passage through the jackets, which heated
medium is utilised for heating the vaporiser e or, when air is used, the heated
medium is passed through the vaporiser c, taking up or becoming charged with
hydro-carbon gas during its passage through the same.
The vaporiser consists of a vessel (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) fitted with a coiled or
spiral or zig-zag partition attached to the roof or lid and extending downward
therefrom to a short distance from the bottom or floor of the vessel." It will be
seen that, (the liquid hydro-carbon having been placed in the vessel to a depth
sufficient to form an air seal with the lower edge of the partition) the heated air
is compelled to travel a considerable distance in contact with the liquid, the

page_text: passage of the air being retarded by the insertion of shavings, wool, or the like,
in the tortuous passages.
In order to drive the cold air through the cylinder jackets, we employ a
cylindrical bellows d operated from the driving shaft by an eccentric d', rod d²,
bell crank lever and a saddle connection with the bellows, as shown in Fig. 2.
The part of the bellows is fixed and contains, at the mouth of the outlet pipe d
the usual valve. Similarly, a pump or other air propellor may be fitted in con-
nection with the eccentric. When water is employed as the cooling medium we
fit a tubular, perforated or other reservoir to or in place of the splash board of the
vehicle from, to, and through which the water circulates, the heated water as it
leaves the jackets being in some cases utilized for raising the temperature of the
contents of the vaporiser. A pressure safety valve e is preferably fitted to the jacket.
From the vaporiser C the gas passes to the cylinders through
valves f. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 which are capable of regulation and
are automatic in their action. The valves f are in the gas supply pipes and
are operated by cams f' fixed on a shaft f driven at a suitable speed ratio, the cams
operating levers f2 causing the valve spindles f to lift the valves, thereby regulating
the supply of gas to the mixing chambers. The valves g are fitted between the
mixing chambers and the cylinders for regulating or shutting off the supply of
explosive mixture to the cylinders. They are normally held shut by springs g
surrounding the end of the valve spindles as shown. The valve spindles carry
collars which are acted upon by the inclined edges of a plate arranged to
slide transversely to the cylinders as shown in Fig. 5, the plate being operated
from the driver's seat by suitable connections. Thus the amount of play between
the collar and the inclines g governs the apertures or amount of opening of
the valves whereby the quantity of explosive mixture or charge drawn into
the cylinder is regulated, the inclines being shown in the shut off" position.
The supply of air to the mixing chambers is regulated by discs (Figs. 4 and 6)
fitted centrally over the bosses . The discs and the end of the mixing
chambers are formed with corresponding holes through which the air is drawn
into the mixing chamber, and the discs are retained in contact with the end of
the mixing chambers by spring plates; it thus follows that by partially
revolving the discs the amount of opening or through way into the mixing
chamber may be regulated. In Fig. 6 the discs are shown linked together by a
bar adapted by a lever fixed to a shaft which is operated from the driver's
Beat by suitable connections.
*
¡ is the exhaust valve which is operated by a cam, as shown, revolved at the
same speed as the cams fl of the supply valves. The spent gases or exhaust pass
through a suitable length of pipe to a silencer k, the pipes being in some cases
arranged for the purpose of warming the inside of the carriage or other desired
part of the vehicle.
For the purpose of starting the engine from the drivers seat without the necessity
of dismounting therefrom, we provide a hand lever (Figs. 1 and 2), or a pedal
lever, pivoted to the frame at 7 and connected by means of a rod 12 to a pawl
lever carrying a pawl formed with a tail piece. This pawl gears with a
ratchet wheel m fixed to an axle m³ which carries a gear, chain, or friction wheel m³
in gear or contact with a similar wheel secured to the main driving shaft. A
check pawl is also provided, not shown on the drawings as it is well known in
ratchet gear, and a stud is fixed on a convenient part of the frame or engine so
as to disengage the pawl, by contact with the tail piece in a manner well known,
when the lever is moved to an extreme position, that of out of gear. Similarly
the check pawl is thrown out of gear when the engine is started by any suitable
Connection to the driver's seat.
The front or steering wheels are mounted on separate pivoted axles linked
together by a connecting rod so as to turn simultaneously when steering, the
arrangement being sufficiently well known not to merit further description here.

page_text: in the following proportions:-
Gasoline of the flash point 66° Fahr. 1 gallon.
Cocoa nut oil 2 lb.
Petroleum pint.
These ingredients are mixed together and fed into the vaporiser as required.
The usual electric sparking ignition arrangements are fitted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In motors for road vehicles, the combination therewith of a cylinder, having
spirally arranged gills, jacket, and the connections and means described for cir-
culating the cooling medium, substantially as set forth.
2. In hydro-carbon motors, passing the heated air from the cylinder jacket
through the vaporiser or carburetor, whereby it becomes thoroughly impregnated
with hydro-carbon vapours, and utilising the resulting gas as a propulsive power,
substantially in the manner as set forth in the accompanying specification.
3. In internal combustion motors, the combination of a valve in the gas supply
pipe, a rod depending from said valve, a lever arranged to actuate said rod, and a
cam on a shaft for operating said lever, substantially as set forth.
4. In internal combustion motors, the combination therewith of the means for
regulating or shutting off the supply of explosive mixture to the cylinder sub-
stantially as set forth.
5. The combination with a mixing chamber of a valve and valve spindle, a
suring, a collar, and a lock nut or nuts on said spindle a plate arranged to slide trans-
versely to the cylinder, an inclined surface or edge on said plate. to engage the
collar and adjust the opening of the valve, the plate being operated or adjusted
from any desired position for the purpose of regulating or shutting off the supply
of explosive mixture to the cylinder, substantially as set forth.
6. In internal combustion motors the combination with a mixing chamber of a
disc mounted to revolve in contact with one face of the mixing chamber, a number
of holes in the disc and corresponding holes in the wall of the mixing chamber,
and means for partially revolving said dise from any desired position, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
7. The combination with two or more mixing chambers of perforated discs (one
disc to each mixing chamber) mounted to revolve in contact with the corre-
spondingly perforated walls of said mixing chambers, a link pivoted to each of
said discs, a lever connected with said link, and a shaft carrying said lever operated
from any desired position, for the purpose of regulating the supply of air to the
mixing chamber, substantially as set forth.
8. In motor cars and other similar road vehicles, the combination therewith of
means for starting the engine from the driver's seat,, consisting of a hand or pedal
lever pivoted to the frame of the vehicle, a pawl lever, a link or rod connecting
the lever with the pawl lever, a pawl formed with a tail piece as described said
pawl acting in combination with a check pawl, a ratchet wheel fixed on a shaft and
a gear, chain or friction wheel fixed on said shaft, adapted to communicate motion
to the cranked axle of the engine, severally arranged and operating substantially
as described and illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
9. The combination with hydro-carbon engines of a jacketed cylinder formed
with spiral gills, bellows pump or other air propellor for forcing the circulation
of air round the cylinder, an air way or pipe for conveying the heated air from
the cylinder jacket to the vaporiser, a coiled spiral or zig-zag partition in said
vaporiser between which the heated air circulates and absorbs hydro-carbon vapours
from the liquid hydro-carbon, and a pipe for conducting the gas thus formed
from the vaporiser to the mixing chamber, substantially as and in the manner
set forth.

page_text: 10. The combination with the means described for operating the gas supply
valves, of a cam operating a lever in connection with the exhaust valve spindle,
and a shaft carrying said cam arranged to revolve at the same speed as the supply
valve cam shaft, substantially as set forth.
11. A liquid hydro-carbon for use in vaporisers, carburetors, and other gas
making apparatus, consisting of a mixture of gasoline (having a flash point of
about 66° Fahr.), cocoa-nut oil and petroleum in or about the proportions specified,
substantially as set forth.
12. The general construction, combination and arrangement of the several and
respective parts constituting our invention, substantially as set forth.
Dated 5th Anni 1800
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.