Improvements in and appertaining to Combustion Chambers of Petroleum or Hydrocarbon Engines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 5th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Combustion Chambers of
Petroleum or Hydrocarbon Engines.
We, JOHN RICHARDSON, of the firm of Robey and Company, Globe Works,
Engineer, and WILLIAM NORRIS, of 20, Altham Terrace, Engineer, both of
Lincoln in the County of Lincoln, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to that type of petroleum or hydrocarbon engine in which
a combustible mixture is vapourized by contact with the heated walls of a com-
bustion chamber, and an explosive mixture subsequently formed by admixture with
air is ignited under compression by contact with the said heated walls.
The objects of our invention are to so arrange our combustion chamber that the
surfaces readily and completely vapourize the petroleum or hydrocarbon pumped
upon them; that the surfaces retain a sufficient part of the heat of explosion to
ignite the next explosive charge when in a state of compression; that the hottest
part of the chamber may be readily withdrawn and replaced without disturbing
the valve connections or inlet and discharge pipes; that the valve passages are
easily accessible; and that arrangements are conveniently applied to heat up the
combustion chamber for starting the engine.
In one mode of carrying our invention into effect we construct a casing and bolt
it to the end of the water jacketed engine cylinder by a suitable flange. The
engine cylinder and piston are of ordinary construction and the air inlet valve as
well as the exhaust valve are actuated, from a valve shaft geared to the engine
shait to give the two to one action in any well known manner. The air inlet valve
may be automatic if desired, but we prefer it to be opened and closed positively.
The combustion chamber is inserted within the said casing from behind, and is
secured against an outer seat and an inner face by suitable bolts.
The valve cover is bolted down and allows of ready access to the air inlet valve.
An aperture and the seated cover plate carrying a cock or valve permit flame from
a blast lamp or other convenient source to be applied in the first instance to heat
the combustion chamber, and an outlet cock from the casing opens to the space
between the casing and combustion chamber. When this chamber is sufficiently
hot the engine is started and acts in the following manner :-The piston on one out
stroke draws a charge of air into the cylinder through the air inlet valve, opened
as hereinbefore described in any suitable manner. After this suction stroke, or
during it, petroleum or hydrocarbon is pumped into the combustion chamber
through a convenient aperture, and the liquid immediately upon striking the hot
surfaces evaporates, and mixes with the gases in the cylinder and forms a com-
bustible charge. This charge is compressed on the return stroke of the piston into
the combustion chamber, and coming into contact with the hot walls it ignites,
when the said piston is at or near the in end of its stroke, and so propels the piston
on its next outward stroke.
On the succeeding return stroke the exhaust valve is opened and the burned
gases discharge through it to the atmosphere.
The heat of each explosion supplies sufficient heat to the walls of the com-
bustion chamber to maintain a temperature high enough for effective explosion
and evaporation.
In another modification, the flange bolts to the engine cylinder as in the first
modification, but the flange carries a double casing and the combustion chamber
is secured to the said double casing by a single joint and suitable studs or bolts
instead of a double joint. The hydrocarbon is pumped either into the interior

page_text: of the combustion chamber or upon the external surface within the double casing.
The oil is pumped in through a suitable aperture. A pipe supplies air to the
double casing, and the air is admitted by way of the inlet air valve from the
said casing in a somewhat heated state. The vapour of the oil, whether pro-
duced by the internal or external surface of the combustion chamber, ultimately
mixes with the air to form an explosive charge, which charge is ignited by the
hot walls after compression. The combustion chamber it is to be noted, is arranged
to be very readily withdrawn by pulling down the valve box of the inlet valve
which projects through the chamber at the rear, and unscrewing the nuts holding
the combustion chamber flange to the single facing..
In both modifications the exhaust valve is arranged at the front end of the
external casing near the flange.
In another modification a single casing carries a combustion chamber, and the
chamber is arranged to bolt up to a single facing and may be readily removed
by undoing one joint without disturbing the air inlet valve or the exhaust valve,
which valves are arranged at opposite ends of the casing and clear of the com-
bustion chamber. The passage from the air inlet valve in this case leads from
the air valve to a space outside the combustion chamber within the casing. The
oil is pumped into this external space through an aperture and is evaporated by
the external surface of the combustion chamber. In a similar arrangement the
combustion chamber carries the air inlet valve and the exhaust valve is arranged
at the side of the casing.
In another arrangement the combustion chamber carries the exhaust valve and
the air inlet valve. It is also divided into two portions by a partition. The oil
may be injected into one of these divisions or on the external surface of the
combustion chamber within the casing. In all these combustion chambers we
prefer to narrow the entrance from the cylinder.
By these arrangements, we are enabled to construct effective combustion
chambers for petroleum or hydrocarbon engines, which are still readily accessible
for cleaning, and may be withdrawn without difficulty when required. At the
same time, the arrangements are such that the heat of the explosions. maintain
the combustion chamber walls at a sufficiently high temperature to perform the
functions of igniting and evaporating.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1892.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.
.
Improvements in and appertaining to Combustion Chambers of
Petroleum or Hydrocarbon Engines..
We, JOHN RICHARDSON, of the firm of Robey and Company, Globe Works;
Engineer, and WILLIAM NORRIS, of 20 Altham Terrace, Engineer, both of
Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln, 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 relates to that type of petroleum or hydrocarbon engine in which
a combustible mixture is vapourized, by contact with the heated walls of a com-
bustion chamber, and an explosive mixture subsequently formed by admixture with
air, is ignited under compression by contact with the said heated walls.
The objects of our invention are to so arrange our combustion chamber that the
surfaces readily and completely vapourize the petroleum or hydrocarbon pumped
upon them; that the surfaces retain a sufficient part of the heat of explosion to
ignite the next explosive charge when in a state of compression;, that the hottest
part of the chamber may be readily withdrawn and replaced without disturbing the

page_text: valve connections or inlet and discharge pipes; that the valve passages are con-
veniently accessible; and that arrangements are conveniently applied to heat up
the combustion chamber for starting the engine.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figures 1 to 6
inclusive illustrate in section various modifications in which our invention is carried
into effect, the same or similar letters are used throughout the figures to indicate
the same or similar parts.
In Figure 1 the flange A carrying the casing A' bolts to the end of the water
jacketed engine cylinder. B is the engine piston and the air inlet valve D as well
as the exhaust valve E are actuated from a valve shaft geared to the engine shaft
to give the two to one action in any well known manner.
The air inlet valve may,
be automatic if desired, but we prefer it to be opened and closed positively.
The combustion chamber C is inserted within the casing A' from behind, and is
secured against the seat band face a by suitable bolts. The valve cover D' is
bolted down and allows of ready access to the air inlet valve D. An aperture F¹,
and the seated cover plate F carrying a cock or valve F2 permit flame from a blast
lamp or other convenient source to be applied in the first instance to heat the
combustion chamber C. F³ is an outlet cock from the casing between A and C.
When this chamber is sufficiently hot the engine is started and acts in the following
manner: The piston B on one out stroke draws a charge of air into the cylinder
through the valve D opened as hereinbefore described in any suitable manner.
After this suction stroke, or during it, petroleum or hydrocarbon is pumped into
the combustion space through the aperture G, and the liquid immediately upon
striking the hot surfaces evaporates, and mixing with the gases in the cylinder
forms a combustible charge. This charge is compressed on the return stroke of
the piston B into the chamber C, and coming into contact with the hot walls, it
ignites, when the said piston is at or near the in end of its stroke, and so propels
the piston on its next-outward stroke.
On the succeeding return stroke the exhaust valve E is opened and the burned
gases discharge through it to the atmosphere.
The heat of each explosion supplies sufficient heat to the walls of the chamber C
to maintain a temperature high enough for effective explosion and evaporation. In
Figure 2 the flange A bolts to the engine cylinder as in the first modification
(Figure 1); but the flange carries a double casing A1 A2 and the combustion
chamber is secured to A¹ A by a single joint and suitable studs or bolts.
Here also the air inlet and exhaust valves are respectively lettered D and E. The
hydrocarbon is pumped either into the interior of C or upon the external surface C
within the casing A. The oil may be pumped in through an aperture G Figure 1.
The pipe F supplies air to the casing A and the air is admitted by way of the
valve D from, the said casing in a somewhat heated state. The vapour of the oil,
whether produced by the internal or external surface of the chamber C, alternately
mixes with the air to form an explosive charge, which charge is ignited by the hot
walls after compression. The chamber C it is to be noted can be very readily
withdrawn by pulling down the valve box of the valve D and unscrewing the nuts
holding the flange to the facing c.
In Figure 3 a single casing A' carries a combustion chamber C, and the chamber
is arranged to bolt up to a facing b and may be readily removed by undoing one
joint without disturbing the air inlet valve D or the exhaust valve E. The
passage D' in this case leads from the air valve D to a space outside the chamber C.
The oil is pumped into this external space through the aperture a and is evaporated
by the external surface of the combustion chamber. In Figure 4 the chamber C
carries the air inlet valve D and the exhaust valve E is arranged at the side of the
casing. Figure 4 is a plan.
In Figure 5 the combustion chamber C carries the exhaust valve E and the air
inlet valve D. It is also divided into two divisions C2, C3 by a partition H. The
oil may be injected into one of these divisions or on the external surface of the
combustion chamber. In all these combustion chambers we prefer to narrow

page_text: the entrance as shown at C₁ throughout. Figure 6 is a section showing the
partition H.
By these arrangements we are enabled to construct effective combustion
chambers for petroleum or hydrocarbon engines, which are still readily accessible
for cleaning and may be withdrawn without difficulty when required. At the same
time, the arrangements are such that the heat of the explosions maintain the com-
bustion chamber walls at a sufficiently high temperature, to perform the functions
of igniting and evaporating.
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 a petroleum or hydrocarbon engine in which the liquid fuel is evaporated
and the explosive mixture is ignited by the hot walls of a combustion chamber, the
arrangement and construction of a combustion chamber to insert from behind pro-
jecting into a casing in such manner that it receives a sufficient supply of heat and
is readily withdrawn when required substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a petroleum or hydrocarbon engine in which the liquid fuel is evaporated
and the explosive mixture is ignited by the hot walls of a combustion chamber, the
arrangement and construction of a combustion chamber as claimed in Claim 1, the
said combustion chamber being inserted in a casing and secured by two joints, and
the air admitted at the back end while the oil charge is injected into the interior
of the inserted chamber, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figure 1 of the drawings.
3. A petroleum engine combustion chamber as claimed in Claim 1, in which the
inserted chamber is secured by one joint and forms an annular space between its
external and the internal surface of the casing substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. A petroleum engine combustion chamber as claimed in Claim 3, and having a
partition to divide the chambers into two parts substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 4th day of January 1893.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.