improvements in Petroleum and other Explosive Engines.
Year: 1886

page_text: .
Date of Application, 31st July, 1886.
Complete Left,. 31st Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th July, 1887.
improvements in Petroleum and other Explosive Engines.
HERBERT AKROYD STUART, Mechanical Engineer, Bletchley Iron Works Bletchley,
Bucks, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
PETROLEUM AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE ENGINES, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to Engines and Motors driven by explosion. Wherein the
said explosive mixture is produced by combining any combustible Fluid or liquid such
as gas, petroleum, Naptha, Benzine or any volatile liquid or spirit with a proper
proportion of atmospheric air.
My said Invention consists of improved means of variably automatically mixing and
measuring and controling any desired supply of the combustible mixture for
producing the explosion but more particularly to the means of visibly measuring in
certain fixed quantities, and of visibly ascertaining the amount of combustible liquid
used for each explosion so that each charge of the said liquid may be seen both before
and after it has been measured, and if desired, at any time before it enters the cylinder
for explosion. I also provide an improved method of a firing valve for igniting or
firing the explosive mixture. In carrying my said invention into practice I construct
a cylinder having one or more suitably fitted pistons therein-one of them is suitably
connected to the crank of the engine. When more than one piston is used the loose
or back piston acts as a telescopic cylinder back or cover, so that when the desired
supply of combustible mixture has entered the cylinder for explosion the main or
driving piston on its further portion of outward stroke instead of producing a partial
vacuum as hitherto is followed up by the other or loose piston which is open to and is
propelled forward by the pressure of the atmosphere against the back of it. I further
construct à reservoir or tank on the principle of the "Sight Feed
"Visible Drop
Lubricator and this reservoir holds the petroleum or other volatile liquid. The main
object of this "Sight Feed" reservoir is to provide a means to regulate at sight the
necessary drop or flow of the said liquid for each explosion or to regulate it in any
desired quantities. Or by preference I allow the combustible liquid to flow into a
transparent vessel the capacity of which may be regulated so as to be exactly equal to
TI
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or
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page_text: the amount of liquid required for one explosion so that should the flow of liquid from
the reservoir into the measured vessel be more than is necessary it will flow over into
another receptacle constructed to receive it and from there may be conveyed back to
the main supply. Or the flow of the liquid may be controlled and exactly regulated
by the action of the governors of the engine so as to supply in various quantities the
necessary liquid for the proper working of the engine. I also provide a means to
control and regulate the supply of air in proportional quantities to the varied supply
of the combustible liquid or gas, and thus I can cut off the supply of combustible
mixture at various portions of the stroke of the piston and thereby produce any
desired strength of explosion to suit the work or weight on the engine.
After the liquid has been measured it is allowed to pass at the desired time into
the air-chamber or air-inlet. Arranged in combination with the said air-inlet is
what I term the mixer or vapourizer, because it throttles and better mixes the
combustible mixture before it enters the cylinder. The mixer or vapouriser may be
made of layers of gauze-wire of any metal or of layers of any textile fabric or fabrics
or of layers of any porous or perforated substances or by a combination of any of
them. The chief object being to mix or spray the liquid with the air more thoroughly
than hitherto and also to prevent the said liquid from entering the cylinder in
large drops.
In some instances I prefer to drop or deliver the liquid directly onto or into the
said mixer or vapouriser and it is retained there until it and the necessary quantity
of air is drawn automatically into the cylinder by the action of the piston on its
outward stroke, the return stroke of the piston compresses the mixture ready for
firing and the explosion takes place on the succeeding outward stroke and the next
return stroke clears the products of combustion from the cylinder through a suitable
opening, and the next outward stroke takes in a fresh supply of mixture and so on.
For firing or igniting the explosive mixture, I heat a metallic wire or any suitable
substance to the desired temperature and at the proper time it is put in communication,
by suitable mechanism, with the said explosive mixture and thus produce the explosion.
Or I saturate or charge any suitable substance with a certain quantity of inflammable
liquid, and this is lighted at the desired time, and it burns long enough during its
travel, to explode the mixture in the cylinder. Or I arrange a piece of Potassium
preferably within the cylinder and at the desired time water communicates with it
and produces a flame which ignites the explosive mixture.
By this means it will be seen that by the flame being produced within the
cylinder there is no possible chance of the explosion not taking place which has been
a very common occurrence heretofore. Or in some instances I explode the mixture in
the cylinder at the desired time by an outside flame preferably arranged in combination
with a circular valve arrangement.
It will easily be understood that certain portions of the herein referred to
Improvements are likewise applicable to engines or motors wherein combustible gas
is used.
Dated this 30th dow of Inle 100

page_text: Improvements in Petroleum and other Explosive Engines.
HERBERT AKROYD STUART, Bletchley Iron Works, Bletchley in the County of
Buckinghamshire "Mechanical 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 Engines and Motors driven by explosion, wherein the said
explosive mixture is produced by combining any combustible fluid or liquid such as
Gas Petroleum, Naptha, Benzine or any volatile liquid or spirit with a proper
proportion of atmospheric air.
My said Invention consists of improved means of variably automatically mixing
and measuring and controlling any desired supply of the combustible mixture for
producing the explosion, but more particularly to the means of visibly measuring in
certain fixed quantities, and of visibly ascertaining the amount of combustible liquid
used for each explosion so that each charge of the said liquid may be seen both before
and after it has been measured, and if desired, at any time before it enters the
cylinder for explosion.
I also provide an improved method of a firing valve for igniting or firing the
explosive mixture.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I construct a cylinder having one or
more suitably fitted pistons therein. One of them is suitably connected to the crank
of the engine.
When more than one piston is used the loose or back piston acts as a telescopic
cylinder back or cover, so that when the desired supply of combustible mixture has
entered the cylinder for explosion, the main or driving piston, on its further portion
of outward stroke, instead of producing a partial vacuum as hitherto, is followed up
by the other or loose piston, which is open to, and propelled forward by the pressure
of the atmosphere against the back of it. I further construct a reservoir or tank on
the principle of "sight-feed" or visible drop lubricator and this reservoir holds the
Petroleum or other volatile liquid.
The main object of this sight-feed reservoir is to provide a means to regulate at
sight the necessary drop or flow of the said liquid for each explosion, or to regulate it
in any desired quantities. Or by preference I allow the combustible liquid to flow
into a transparent vessel the capacity of which may be regulated so as to be exactly
equal to the amount of liquid required for one explosion so that should the flow of
the liquid from the reservoir into the measured vessel be more than is necessary, it

page_text: will flow. over into another receptacle constructed to receive it and from there may be
conveyed back to the main supply. Or the flow of the liquid may be controlled and
exactly regulated by the action of the governors of the engine so as to supply in
various quantities the necessary liquid for the proper working of the engine. I also
provide a means to control and regulate the supply of air in proportional quantities to
the varied supply of the combustible liquid or gas, and thus I can cut off the supply of
combustible mixture at various portions of the stroke of the piston and thereby produce
any desired strength of explosion to suit the work or weight on the engine. After
the liquid has been measured it is allowed to pass at the desired time into the air
chamber or air inlet. Arranged in combination with the said air-inlet is what I term
the mixer or vapouriser because it throttles and better mixes the combustible mixture
before it enters the cylinder. The mixer or vapouriser may be made of layers of
gauze wire of any metal or of layers of any textile fabric or fabrics, or of layers of
any porous or perforated substance or by a combination of any of them.
The chief object being to mix or spray the liquid with the air more thoroughly
than hitherto and also to prevent the said liquid from entering the cylinder in
large drops.
In some instances 1 prefer to drop or deliver the liquid directly onto or into the
said mixer or. vapouriser and it is retained there until it and the necessary quantity
of air is drawn automatically into the cylinder by the action of the piston on its
outward stroke.
The return stroke of the piston compresses the mixture ready for firing and the
explosion takes place on the succeeding outward stroke, and the next return stroke
clears the products of combustion from the cylinder through a suitable opening and
the next outward stroke takes in a fresh supply of mixture and so on.
For firing or igniting the explosive mixture I heat a metallic wire or any suitable
substance to the desired temperature and at the proper time it is put in communication,
by suitable mechanism, with the said explosive mixture, thus producing the explosion.
Or I saturate or charge any suitable substance with a certain quantity of inflammable
liquid and this is lighted at the desired time, and it burns long enough to explode the
mixture in the cylinder. Or I arrange a piece of Potassium, preferably within the
cylinder, and at the desired time water communicates with it and produces a flame
which ignites the explosive mixture.
By this means it will be seen that by the flame being produced within the cylinder
there is no possible chance of the explosion not taking place, which has been a very
common occurrence heretofore. Or in some instances I explode the mixture in the
cylinder at the desired time by an outside flame, preferably arranged in combination
with a circular valve arrangement. It will be easily understood that certain portions
of the herein referred to improvements are likewise applicable to Engines or Motors
wherein combustible gas is used.
In order that my said invention may be more fully understood I have annexed
hereto, two Sheets of Drawings and similar letters refer to similar parts in the figures.
Fig. 1-Sheet 1. is a part side elevation and part section of a combined Engine
and Pump.
Figure 1-Sheet 2. is part sectional plan of same.
Figure 2-Sheet 1. is a vertical section of one means of controlling, mixing and
measuring and vapourising the combustible liquid.
Figure 3-Sheet 1. is a vertical section of a perforated mixer or vapouriser and
Figure 4 is a plan of same.
Figure 2. Sheet 2-is a part elevation of engine cylinder.
Figures 3 & 3 are respectively, an elevation and vertical cross section of the firing
or igniting valve and the means for actuating same.
Figure 4 Sheet 2-is part elevation of engine cylinder showing exhaust port and
Figures 5 & 5¹ are respectively an elevation of the exhaust valve and a cross section
of same.
Referring now separately to the several parts in the respective figures.

page_text: Figure 1-Sheet 1-A. is a reservoir or tank for holding the supply of combustible
liquid. B is a transparent plug or cock chambered out to receive and measure the
necessary quantities of liquid; and each charge of the said liquid may be seen thus
measured, and may also be seen dropping from the said measurer on its passage to the
cylinder.
The
C. is a set screw to vary the capacity of the chamber in the plug or measurer.
plug (B) is controlled by the toothed quadrant D. which acts onto the toothed pinion
attached to the said plug and as shown in the elevation Figure 5. Sheet 1-the
quadrant D. receives its motion from a lever attached to the eccentric rod E.
F. is a mixer or vapouriser, preferably made from a Textile Fabric so that the
combustible liquid is held therein in absorption until vapourised; by this means the
combustible liquid cannot enter the cylinder in large drops.
G. is the valve for admitting the explosive mixture, and it is also actuated by the
quadrant D. through the pin H. I. is another mixer or vapouriser to better mix the
Hydro Carbon with the air before entering the cylinder K. and it is preferably made
of Gauze wire; which during work quickly attains a great heat and the explosive
mixture- having to pass through it meshes on its transit to the cylinder greatly rises
in temperature and also in explosive power. L. is the driving piston and connected
to the crank of the Engine M. by the connecting rod N. O. is the loose or back
piston or ram and is employed to vary the capacity of the compression chamber P.
so that an equal compression may be given to different quantities of the explosive
mixture in the air chamber. This ram O. communicates with water or other liquid
in the cylinder R. and it is kept tight by the cup leather S. proportionally to the
travel of the ram O. in the cylinder R. so does it draw the water after it entering
through the clack box T. Fig. 1-Sheet 2-and it is retained there until after the
explosion has taken place; it is then worked back to its normal position, and so on,
its travel varying each time proportionally to the amount of mixture entering the
cylinder; V. is a chamber for the purpose of containing compressed air pumped
therein by the Engine during its usual working by the pumps W. W. Fig. 1. Sheet 2.
the compressed air is used to restart the Engine when desired.
Figure 2-Sheet 1-A is a reservoir or tank for holding the combustible liquid.
B is a sample plug or cock; C is a circular disc, on the face of which is an index
stating at different positions thereon how many drops or charges of liquid will pass or
flow from the cock B per minute, and such charges may be visibly seen through the
transparent portion D. E is the mixer or vapouriser Figures 3 & 4; this is another
kind of mixer or vapouriser, the combustible mixture having to pass through the
ports or passages A-during its transit to the cylinder.
Figure 1. Sheet 2-the similar letters in this figure refer to similar parts as
described in Figure 1. Sheet 1.
Figure 2-Sheet 2-is part elevation of cylinder shewing firing or igniting
inlet A.
Figures 3 & 3-B. is the eccentric rod and marked E. on Figure 1-Sheet 2-
pivotted thereto is the lever C. having a pawl and spring arranged therein, the pawl D.
engages in the one direction with the teeth on the firing valve E. and slips them on
its return; for every revolution of the engine the valve E. is worked round one
tooth or a quarter of a revolution, it will thus be seen that one of the fine slots or
openings H. in the firing valve E. communicates every alternate revolution of the
Engine with the port or opening A-in the cylinder Fig. 2-Sheet 2-and just at the
time one of the slots passes the one in the cylinder the explosive mixture in the
cylinder communicates with an outside flame and thus the mixture is exploded.
Figure 4 is part elevation of cylinder shewing exhaust port A.
Figures 5 & 5 is the exhaust valve and is worked by a similar motion as the firing
valve, and as shewn in Fig. 1-Sheet 2-it will easily be understood that both the
igniting and exhaust valves may be worked from a revolving shaft making one
3 revolution to every two revolutions of the Engine and in such a case only one port
or opening in each is necessary, instead of two or more openings as above described.

page_text: Having now particularly described my said invention and the manner in which the
same may be performed I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact configuration of the herein described Improvements-neither to the material to
be used for each or any of its parts but what I claim to be novel and original is :-
1stly. The general arrangement and construction of the herein described mechanism
for the purposes and substantially as herein described and set forth.
2ndly. The application and combination of the apparatus for measuring "visibly"
the combustible liquid in various quantities substantially as herein described and
set forth.
3rdly. Providing "visible means" for controlling and regulating the desired supply
of the combustible liquid as substantially herein described and set forth.
4thly. The application and combination of one or more "Mixers or Vapourisers"
for combining, mixing, and vapourising Hydro Carbons with air substantially as
herein described and set forth..
5thly. The application and combination of the firing or igniting valve, provided
with one or more suitable openings H Figures 3 & 3¹ Sheet 2. for the purposes, and
substantially as herein described and set forth.
6thly. The application and combination of the mechanism for varying the capacity
of the compression chamber proportionally to the quantity of explosive mixture,
entering therein for the purposes, and substantially as herein described and set forth."
Dated this 30th day of March 1887