Improvements in Petroleum Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 21st Dec., 1896-Accepted, 3rd July. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Petroleum Engines.
I, DIXON BEST, of the Town of Peterboro, in the County of Peterboro, in the
Province of Ontario, Canada, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in Petroleum Engines and the object of the
invention is to improve the construction of this class of engine so that ordinary fuel
oil may be used and the explosion will take place rapidly and to the most advantage
and it consists of an exploder of peculiar construction provided with the side passage-
ways leading into the top of the cylinder, such exploder being provided with a valve
for the introduction of the oil and air and an outer shell to afford protection, the
remaining co-acting parts of the engine being constructed in the manner hereinafter
more particularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a sectional perspective view of a petroleum engine constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2, is an enlarged sectional detail of the exploder, the section being at right
angles to that shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is an enlarged detail of the oil and air supply valve for the exploder.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.
A is the cylinder, which is provided with an air tight crank pit A¹ and base
standard A2 preferably forming part of the same. B is the main shaft of the
petroleum engine, which is provided with a crank B, and C the fly wheel. D is a
follow piston open at the botton and E the crank rod, which is connected to the
piston and crank as shown. The piston D is provided with a central opening d and
a lateral passage-way d beneath the opening d. 2 are side passage-ways made in
the cylinder connecting the end of the passage-way with the ports d³. When the
piston is down the ports ds are situated in the piston diametrically opposite each
other.
F and are the exhaust port and pipe respectively, the top of the exhaust port
being slightly above the top of the piston D when the piston is at the end of the
down stroke.
.
A³ is the ordinary water jacket, which is provided with the supply pipe a.
G is the exploder, the interior of which is cylindrical with conical ends g. glare
passage-ways leading down the sides of the conical ends and joining at the bottom
into one passage-way g³ from each side of the shank g³. The tops of the passage-
ways g' are situated at about the apex of the conical ends and such passage-ways are
separated by a V-shaped partition g'. G¹ is the bottom flange plate of the exploder
by which it is secured to the top of the cylinder A. To the outside of the exploder
I provide a shell H mostly spherical in forin and having at the bottom a flange h by
which it is secured to the flange G¹ of the exploder. The shell H is provided with a
hinged cap h', which may be opened to modulate the heat.
In order to provide for the primary heating of the exploder before starting the
engine I provide an oil burner I of any suitable form, the flame of which passes
through the opening h* in the shell H.
The air is supplied into the crank pit and cylinder through a pipe J provided with
a one-way valve (see Fig. 1).
K is the oil and air valve, which is provided at the inner end with a tapered head k

page_text: as shown, the major portion of the valve being in the form of a stem k. The stem
fits within a hollow sleeve k² of interior greater diameter than the stem and
provided with an end cap ³. Outside of the sleeve I provide a cylindrical water
jacket, which has an interior diameter greater than the exterior diameter of the
steeve ², so as to form an annular space around the sleeve. K2 is a flange formed
around the water jacket and designed to form a means for securing it to the flange G
forming part of the hollow cylindrical boss G³, which itself forms part of the exploder.
The water jacket & is connected by the pipe K¹ to the water jacket A and both
water jackets are designed to keep the cylinder and valve enol. The oil is supplied
to the valve by a pump L, which is connected by the pipe to the annular chamber k²
formed around the valve rod or stem k¹.
The valve and pump are connected together so that they will co-act in the follow-
ing manner. b is a cam on the main shaft. M is a lever pivoted on the pin m pro-
vided with a handle m' and pivotally connected to the pump rod . m² is a friction
roller at the end of the lever and m³ is a spring encircling the pin m and fastened at.
one end to the base A2 and having the other end extending over the lever M, so as
to hold the friction roller m² in frictional contact with the cam b.
K³ is an arm extending outwardly from the end of the water jacket . K is a
bell crank, which is pivoted on the end of the arm Ks. The inner end of the bell
crank is connected by a rod K5 to the lever as shown. The other end of the bell
crank normally abut the end of the valve stem k. 2 is a pin, which extends laterally
from the valve rod e¹ and 3 is a flat spring, which is secured on the arm K³. The
normal tendency of the spring 3 is to press against the pin 2 and thereby force the
valve k to its seat.
A small quantity of air is introduced with the oil, so as to atomize it and form a
vapour by means of the pipe N provided with a one-way valve n cylinder N' and pipe n'
leading to the chamber. The quantity of air thus introduced of course is not
sufficient to explode the oil.
The operation of my engine is as follows, To start the engine the exploder G is
externally heated by means of the oil burner I. In Fig. 1, the piston is shown at the
bottom of the stroke. The cylinder A above the piston is charged with air and the
exploder with the oil vapour, the air being supplied to the cylinder through the pipe J,
crank pit A', hollow piston and ports d', passage-ways d, l, and central opening d.
The fly wheel is started so as to throw the piston É upwardly and in its ascent.
the ports F and are closed. As the piston ascends it compresses the air in the
cylinder and forces it up into the exploder through the ports g penetrating the oil
vapour from both sides and thoroughly mixing the vapour with air, thereby forming
an explosive mixture. When the piston reaches the end of the upward stroke the
explosion occurs. The firing of the oil vapour at the proper moment, that is when the
piston is at the end of the compression stroke, is regulated by the form and capacity
of the exploder.
As the crank is crossing the lower outward centre a charge of oil is forced into the
exploder by means of the oil pump L and atomized by means of the compressed air
stored in the air tank N¹.
During the downward pressure of the piston it will of course be seen that the air in
the cylinder below the piston and the air in the crank pit would be forced up through
the pipe N and valve n into the air cylinder where it remains under pressure and is
utilized as herein before described.
During the ascent of the piston it will of course be understood that the fresh
supply of air is drawn into the crank pit through the pipe J. The momentum of the
fly wheel causes the piston to ascend and compresses the fresh air supplied as herein-
before stated and the vapour mixture in the exploder is again fired automatically by
the heat contained in the exploder and consequently the reciprocating movement
will be imparted to the piston.
It will of course be understood that continuous explosions keep up the necessary
heat in the exploder, so that the oil burner may be turned out after starting the
engine

page_text: During the downward movement of the piston it will of course be understood that
the burnt gases will be discharged through the exhaust port f but there will, how-
ever, be left a slight layer or cushion of burnt gas below the bottom of the exhaust
pipe and above the piston E, which I find in practice as a non-conductor of heat has
the effect of preventing the head of the piston from being corroded.
It will be seen from this description that the cycle of the engine is complete in
one revolution. It will also be understood although the oil vapour or atomized oil when
delivered in the heated exploder will not explode that immediately the mixture of
air and vapour is supplemented by the compressed fresh air from the cylinder, such
explosion will take place. The size of the exploder is of course pre-determined, so
that there will be sufficient air forced into the exploder only upon the piston reach-
ing the limit of its upward stroke.
Improvements in Petroleum Engines.
I, DIXON BEST, of the Town of Peterboro, in the County of Peterboro, in the Province
of Ontario, Canada, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement.
My invention relates to improvements in Petroleum Engines and the object of the
invention is to improve the construction of this class of engine so that ordinary fuel
oil may be used and the explosion will take place rapidly and to the most advantage
and it consists essentially of an exploder of peculiar construction provided with the
side passage-way's leadingin to the top of the cylinder, such exploder being provided
with a valve for the introduction of the oil and air and an outer shell to afford pro-
tection, the remaining co-acting parts of the engine being constructed in the manner
hereinafter more particularly explained, with reference to the drawings filed with my
Provisional Specification.
Fig. 1, is a sectional perspective view of a petroleum engine constructed in accordance
with my invention.
Fig. 2, is an enlarged sectional detail of the exploder, the section being at right
angles to that shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is an enlarged detail of the oil and air supply valve for the exploder.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A is the cylinder, which is provided with an air-tight crank pit A' and base standard A2
preferably forming part of the same. B is the main shaft of the petroleum engine,
which is provided with a crauk B and C the fly wheel. D is a hollow piston open at
the bottom and E the crank rod, which is connected to the piston and crank as shown.
The piston D is provided with a central opening d and a lateral passage-way d¹
beneath the opening d. d² are side passage-ways made in the cylinder connecting the
end of the passage-way d¹ with the ports d³. When the piston is down the ports d³
are situated in the piston diametrically opposite each other.
F and are the exhaust port and pipe respectively, the top of the exhaust port
being slightly above the top of the piston D when the piston is at the end of the down
stroke.
As is the ordinary water jacket, which is provided with the supply pipe a.
G is the exploder, the interior of which is cylindrical with conical ends g. g¹ are
passage-ways leading down the sides of the conical ends and joining at the bottom into

page_text: one passage-way g² at each side of the shank g³. The tops of the passage-ways g¹are
situated at about the apex of the conical ends and such passage-ways are separated
by a V-shaped partition g. G¹ is the bottom flange plate of the exploder by which
it is secured to the top of the cylinder A. To the outside of the exploder I provide a
shell H mostly spherical in form and having at the hottom a flange k by which it is
secured to the flange G¹ of the exploder. The shell H is provided with a hinged
cap which may be opened to modulate the heat.
In order to provide for the primary heating of the exploder before starting the
engine I provide an oil burner I of any suitable form, the flame of which passes
through the opening h* in the shell H.
The air is supplied into the crank pit and cylinder through a pipe J provided with
a one-way valve (see Fig. 1).
K is the oil and air valve, which is provided at the inner end with a tapered head k
as shown, the major portion of the valve being in the form of a stem k¹. The stem k¹
fits within a hollow sleeve k² of interior greater diameter than the stem and provided
with an end cap k³. Outside of the sleeve k² I provide a cylindrical water jacket k+,
which has an interior diameter greater than the exterior diameter of the sleeve k², so
as to form an annular space le around the sleeve. K2 is a flange formed around the
water jacket and designed to form a means for securing it to the flange G forming
part of the hollow cylindrical boss G³, which itself forms part of the exploder.
The water jacket k is connected by the pipe K¹ to the water jacket A³ and
both water jackets are designed to keep the cylinder and valve cool. The oil is
supplied to the valve by a pump I, which is connected by the pipe I to the annular
chamber formed around the valve rod or stem k¹.
The valve and pump are connected together so that they will co-act in the following
manner. b is a cam on the main shaft. M is a lever pivoted on the pin m provided
with a handle m' and pivotally connected to the pump rod 11. m2 is a friction roller
at the end of the lever and m³ is a spring encircling the pin m and fastened
at one end to the base A2 and having the other end extending over the lever M, so as
to hold the friction roller m² in frictional contact with the cam b.
K³ is an arm extending outwardly from the end of the water jacketk. K' is a bell
crank, which is pivoted on the end of the arm K³. The inner end of the bell crank is
connected by a rod K5 to the lever as shown. The outer end of the bell crank
normally abuts the end of the valve stem kl. 2 is a pin, which extends laterally from
the valve rod k¹ and 3 is a flat spring, which is secured on the arm K³. The normal
tendency of the spring 3 is to press against the pin 2 and thereby force the valve k to
its seat.
A small quantity of air is introduced with the oil, so as to atomize it and form a
vapor by means of the pipe N provided with a one-way valve n cylinder N' and pipe n¹
leading to the chamber . The quantity of air thus introduced of course is not suf-
ficient to explode the oil.
The operation of my engine is as follows. To start the engine the exploder G is
externally heated by means of the oil burner I. In Fig. 1, the piston is shown at the
bottom of the stroke. The cylinder A above the piston is charged with air and the
exploder with the oil vapour, the air being supplied to the cylinder through the pipe J,
crank pit A¹, hollow piston and ports , passage-way d d and central opening d.
The fly wheel is started so as to throw the piston E upwardly and in its ascent, the
ports F and d³ are closed. As the piston ascends it compresses the air in the cylinder
and forces it up into the exploder through the ports gi penetrating the oil vapour
from both sides and thoroughly mixing the vapour with air, thereby forming an
explosive mixture. When the piston reaches the end of the upward stroke the
explosion occurs. The firing of the oil vapour at the proper moment, that is when the
piston is at the end of the compression stroke, is regulated by the form and capacity
of the exploder.
As the crank is crossing the lower outward centre a charge of oil is forced into the
exploder by means of the oil pump L and atomized by means of the compressed air
stored in the air tank N'.

page_text: During the downward pressure of the piston it will of course be seen that the air
in the cylinder below the piston and the air in the crank pit would be forced up
through the pipe N and valve n into the air tank N¹ where it remains under pressure
and is utilized as herein before described.
During the ascent of the piston it will of course be understood that the fresh
supply of air is drawn into the crank pit through the pipe J. The momentum of the
fly wheel causes the piston to ascend and compresses the fresh air supplied as herein-
before stated and the vapour mixture in the exploder is again fired automatically by the
beat contained in the exploder and subsequently the reciprocating movement will be
imparted to the piston."
It will of course be understood that continuous explosions keep up the necessary
heat in the exploder, so that the oil burner may be turned out after starting
engine.
During the downward movement of the piston it will of course be understood that
the burnt gas will be discharged through the exhaust port F but there will, however,
be left a slight layer or cushion of burnt gas below the bottom of the exhaust pipe and
above the piston D, which I find in practice as a non-conductor of heat has the effect
of preventing the head of the piston from being corroded.
It will be seen from this description that the cycle of the engine is complete in one
revolution, it will also be understood although the oil vapour or atomized oil when
delivered in the heated exploder will not explode that immediately the mixture of air
and vapour is supplemented by the compressed fresh air from the cylinder, such ex-
plosion will take place. The size of the exploder is of course predetermined so that
there will be sufficient air forced into the exploder only upon the piston reaching the
limit of its upward stroke.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. The combination with the cylinder and piston, the piston rod and shaft and
means for supplying the cylinder with fresh air above the piston, of an exploder
secured to the heid of the cylinder and provided with passage-ways leading into the
top of the cylinder and an oil supply valve located in the exploder means for operating
such valve and an annular chamber around the valve stem connected to the interior
of the exploder and an air supply for sach chamber connected to the interior of the
cylinder as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with a cylinder and piston, of an exploder connected to
the head thereof, the divided passage-way leading from the head of the piston into
the exploder and a regulated oil vapour valve for such exploder as and for the pur-
pose specified.
3. The combination with a cylinder, of an exploder circular in interior cross sec-
tion provided with conical end and having a lower flange by which it is secured to the
end of the cylinder and a divided passage-way leading from the conical ends into the
centre of the head of the cylinder as and for the purpose specified.
4. In combination the crank pit, the cylinder in communication therewith, side
passages in the body of said cylinder, and the piston having a central opening in the
head thereof and ports on the head in communication therewith leading to the
exterior of said piston, and ports in the sides of said piston below the head thereof,
the said side ports and head ports being adapted to be simultaneously brought into
communication with the opposite sides of the side passages in the cylinder, substan-
tially as described.
5. The combination with the cylinder and piston, the piston rod and shaft, and
means for supplying the cylinder with fresh air above the piston, of an exploder
secured to the head of the cylinder and communicating therewith, a valve secured to
the inner end of the valve casing and having a stem extending through the casing, a
pipe leading from such casing to a pump, a spring operated lever connected to the
rod of such pump, a cam on the main shaft co-acting with such lever, an operating
rod connected to the lever and stem and an annular chamber formed around the valve

page_text: casing and a pipe connecting it to an air cylinder, which is connected by pipe and
valve to the crank pit as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination with the cylinder having a closed exploder secured to the head
of the same, communicating with the interior thereof, of a shell enclosing said exploder
having an opening communicating with the outer air, said shell being bolted to the
cylinder head, the space enclosed by said shell being entirely separate from and
having no communication with the interior of said shell or said cylinder, substantially
as described.
nd dose of Dannenhon 1906