Apparatus for Vaporizing Hydrocarbons, applicable to Engines. worked by Gas, Petroleum, Alcohol and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1897--Accepted, 18th Sept., 1897
Apparatus for Vaporizing Hydrocarbons, applicable to Engines.
worked by Gas, Petroleum, Alcohol and the like.
I, ETIENNE PETRÉANO of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a vaporizing apparatus applicable to engines worked
by gas, petroleum, alcohol and the like.
This apparatus or vaporizer is designed to produce an inflammable or explosive
mixture, by vaporizing hydrocarbons and mixing the vapor thereby produced with
atmospheric air. Those constituents (such as tar, petroleum, distilling at tempera-
tures above 400° C. &c.) of the hydrocarbons which are not vaporized by the
apparatus, being eliminated automatically and so as to be capable of being removed
or discharged from the apparatus as desired.
This
These liquid constituents are not able to enter into the engine cylinder, which
receives only the mixture of air and vapor produced by the vaporizer.
mixture is perfectly intimate and homogeneous, because it is not produced in the
engine cylinder, as is the case in apparatus as hitherto constructed, but is effected
previously in the vaporizer in sufficient quantity to last for several charges.
The vaporizer may be heated by the exhaust gases from the engine cylinder, or
by means of the engine cylinder itself, or by any suitable burner.
A suitable arrangement of vaporizer constructed in accordance with the present
invention may comprise a vessel in the form of a column through which passes
the exhaust pipe of the engine cylinder. That part of the exhaust pipe which
is situated inside the column may be covered with metallic cloth or with cloth
or fabric composed of metallic wires covered with asbestos. The liquid hydro-
carbon to be vaporized is contained in an upper receptacle. The vaporizer column
contains a series of inverted truncated cones arranged preferably as follows:-
The first cone is fixed at its larger end to the inside wall of the vaporizer so as
to leave an annular space between its smaller end and the aforesaid exhaust pipe.
The second cone, that is to say the next cone, is fixed with its small end on the
exhaust pipe, whilst its large end is open. The third cone is arranged in the
same manner as the first cone, and the fourth cone is fixed in the same manner
as the second cone and so on. By this arrangement, the vapor produced in the
vaporizer is compelled to follow a sinuous or zig-zag course on its way to the lower
part of the apparatus, so that the said vapor is caused to become thoroughly mixed
with air, whilst the mixture becomes heated by the exhaust gases passing through
the said exhaust pipe.
The mixture of air and gas may be rendered still more intimate by being com-
pelled to pass through metallic cloth with or without a covering of asbestos,
arranged in the space comprised between the fire large ends of the truncated cones
and the shell of the vaporizer.
The upper hydro carbon receptacle may communicate with the vaporizer by
means of a pipe terminating at its lower end in a valve which is adapted to open

page_text: to allow hydrocarbon and air to enter the vaporizer. The liquid hydrocarbon falls
into the truncated cones and spreads over the asbestos-covered metallic cloth.
Here, a part of the hydrocarbon becomes vaporized, whilst the remainder flows
down the column and through small holes formed in one or more of the truncated
cones. The liquid hydrocarbon in its descert comes in contact with increasingly
hot portions of the exhaust pipe, whereby a further quantity of the hydrocarbon
becomes vaporized. The vapor thus preduced mingles with the air and follows
the sinuous or zig-zag path hereinbefore referred to. Finally, the gaseous mixture
passes in underneath a bell situated in the lower, part of the vaporizer whence the
said mixture is drawn by the engine through a pipe leading to the admission
valve. The small drops of liquid hydrocarbon cannot be drawn into the engine,
because they become condensed in the lower portion of the column around the
bell. This bell practically constitutes a chamber in which the suction takes place
and from which the mixture can be drawn in homogeneous charges of one uniform
composition into the engine.
The very heavy hydrocarbons and residual matters which do not vaporize at
temperatures below 400° C. collect in the lower part of the column and can be
removed from the apparatus.
It is a well-known fact that in order that a gaseous mixture shall produce its
maximum effect on explosion, the said mixture should be as homogeneous as
possible, that is to say there should be an intimate mixture of the air with the
vapor or gas. Now in all gas or hydrocarbon engines employed at present, the
gaseous mixture is produced in the engine cylinder. But in my apparatus on
the contrary the mixture is produced previously and in sufficient quantity to
always provide a certain number of charges ready. for use, thus affording the time
necessary to allow of the mixture being perfectly intimate at the moment of being
admitted into the engine cylinder.
It is well known that heat promotes the diffusion of gases, and I utilize this
principle by heating the air which is admitted into the vaporizer. For this pur-
pose I cause the said air to circulate around the engine cylinder in a serpentine
or sinuous manner, by means of baffles coiled piping, and I thus enable the use
of cooling water to be entirely dispensed with. However, in certain cases I may
construct the apparatus with an outer casing for the circulation of cooling water.
During the period of admission, the engine governor opens the admission valve
and the explosive mixture is drawn from the aforesaid bell into the engine, whilst
the atmospheric pressure opens the valve herein before referred to, which is pro-
vided at the lower end of the hydrocarbon supply pipe, and through which
hydrocarbon and air are admitted into the vaporizer to replace the mixture which
has been drawn into the engine cylinder.
During the period of compression and of expansion the vaporizer is not in
communication with the engine cylinder and it is during this period that the
diffusion of the gases takes place in the vaporizer.
With the aid of my apparatus I am able to produce a mixture capable of under-
going complete combustion without formation of smoke or soot, or of other com-
pounds such as benzol, tar &c. Consequently the parts of the engine never become
incrusted with deposit, and cooling water can be dispensed with.
Moreover with my vaporizer it is possible to ignite a mixture containing only
a very small percentage of combustible gas.
The heating of the air before its entry into the vaporizer prevents the gaseous
hydrocarbons that have been produced from becoming re-condensed into the liquid
form in the engine cylinder.
My vaporizer constructed as hereinbefore described is suitable for use for
vaporizing hydrocarbons and for mixing the resulting gas or vapor with air; but
it is obvious that by completely inverting it, it may be utilized to produce a
mixture of gas and air suitable for use in an ordinary gas engine. In such a
case the admission of the gas and air is effected at the lower part of the apparatus
and the gaseous mixture is drawn off from the upper part of the column.

page_text: When, instead of utilizing the heat of the exhaust gases for heating the
vaporizer, it is desired to utilize the heat of the engine cylinder itself, or to
employ a suitable burner, for the same purpose, the requisite modifications of the
apparatus can be effected without departing from the essential nature of my
invention.
In order to increase the work generated by the explosion of the gaseous mixture,
I may sometimes inject or allow water to fall drop by drop into the vaporizer; the
steam or water vapor thus produced mixes with the vapor or gases, and whilst
cooling the cylinder acts also to increase the work produced.
Dated this 20th day of October 189ti.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Apparatus for Vaporizing Hydrocarbons, applicable to Engines
worked by Gas, Petroleum, Alcohol and the like.
I, ETIENNE PETREANO of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, France, 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 a vaporizing apparatus applicable to engines worked
by gas, petroleum, alcohol and the like.
This apparatus or vaporizer is designed to produce an inflammable or explosive
mixture, by vaporizing hydrocarbons and intimately mixing the vapor thereby
produced with atmospheric air, this intimate mixing being effected outside of the
engine cylinder. Those constituents (such as tar, petroleum &c., distilling at tempera-
tures above 400° C. &c.) of the hydrocarbons which are not vaporized by the
apparatus, being eliminated automatically and so as to be capable of being removed
or discharged from. the apparatus as desired.
These liquid constituents are not able to enter into the engine cylinder, which
receives only the mixture of air and vapor produced by the vaporizer. This
mixture is perfectly intimate and homogeneous, because it is not produced in the
engine cylinder, as is the case in apparatus as hitherto constructed but is pro-
duced as an intimate mixture previously in the vaporizer at the pressure of the
atmosphere and in sufficient quantity to last for several charges.
The vaporizer may be heated by the exhaust gases from the engine cylinder, or
by means of the engine cylinder itself, or by any suitable burner.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a vaporizing apparatus constructed and
arranged in accordance with the present invention in conjunction with a gas
engine cylinder. In these drawings:-
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of an arrangement in which the vaporizer
is separate from the engine cylinder and is heated by the exhaust pipe of the engine
cylinder.
Figure 1 is a horizontal section on the line 1 1 of Figure 1. In both of
these figures so much of the engine cylinder and valve is shown as is necessary
to illustrate the application of the vaporizer to the engine.
Figure 2 and 2 are vertical sections at right angles to each other of a vaporizer
directly surrounding and heated by the engine cylinder.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are comparative indicator diagrams taken from the cylin-
ders of gas engines with and without vaporizing apparatus according to this
invention.

page_text: Figure 7 is a general view of an engine provided with a form of vaporizer more
particularly suited for alcohol and the like.
The vaporizer shown in Figures I and 12 comprises a vessel A in the form of a
column through which passes the exhaust pipe B of the engine cylinder. That
part of the exhaust pipe B which is situated inside the column A is covered with
inetallic cloth or preferably with cloth or falaic composed of metallic wires
covered with asbestos. The liquid hydrocarbon to be vaporized is contained in an
upper receptacle C. The vaporizer column A contains a series of inverted trun-
cated cones a', a³ ³, a arranged preferably as follows:-The first or uppermost
coue a is fixed at its larger end to the inside wall of the vaporizer A so as to
leave an annular space between its smaller end and the aforesaid exhaust pipe B.
The second cone, that is to say the next cone is fixed with its small end on the
exhaust pipe B, whilst its large end is open. The third cone a³ is arranged in the
same manner as the first cone a' and the fourth cone at is fixed in the same manner
as the second cone a, and so on. By this arrangement, the vapor produced in the
vaporizer is compelled to follow a sinuous or zig-zag course on its way to the
lower part of the apparatus, so that the said vapor is caused to become thoroughly
mixed with air, whilst the mixture becomes heated by the exhaust gases passing
through the said exhaust pipe B.
The mixture of air and gas may be rendered still more intimate by being com-
pelled to pass through metallic cloth d with or without a covering of asbestos,
arranged in the space comprised between the free large ends of the truncated cones
and the shell of the vaporizer A.
The upper hydrocarbon receptacle C communicates with the vaporizer A by
means of a pipe e terminating at its lower end in a valve f which is adapted to open
to allow hydrocarbon and air to enter the vaporizer. The liquid hydrocarbon
falls into the truncated cones a¹, a, and spreads over the asbestos-
covered metallic cloth. Here, a part of the hydrocarbon becomes vaporized, whilst
the remainder flows down the column and through small holes s formed in one or
more of the truncated cones. The liquid hydrocarbon in its descent comes in
contact with the hot exhaust pipe B whereby a further quantity of the heavier
hydrocarbon becomes vaporized. The vapour thus produced mingles with the air
and follows the sinuous or zig-zag path hereinbefore referred to. Finally, the
gaseous mixture passes in underneath a bell G situated in the lower part of the
vaporizer whence the said mixture is drawn by the engine through a pipe K
leading to the admission valve II. The small drops of liquid hydrocarbon cannot
be drawn into the engine, because they become condensed in the lower poruon of
the column A around the bell G. This bell practically constitutes a chamber in
which the suction takes place and from which the mixture can be drawn in homo-
geneous charges of one uniform composition into the engine cylinder X through
the pipe K and suction valve S; the products of the explosion being discharged
through the exhaust valve E into the pipe B. Y is the engine piston.
The very heavy hydrocarbons and residual matters which do not vaporize at
temperatures below 400° C. collect in the lower part of the column A and can be
removed from the apparatus.
In the arrangement of vaporizer shown in Figures 2 and 2 the vaporizer
vessel A consists of a casting in the form of a jacket or outer cylinder
surrounding with a suitable interval of distance, the vertical engine cylinder X
which thus takes over the place and heating function of the exhaust pipe B in the
arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 1^ which is more suitable for use with engines
having horizontal cylinders.
In the space between the jacket A and the cylinder X there are arranged a
number of inverted truncated cones a, a, a, a and a carried by the cylinder,
the topmost cone a stopping short at its upper and wider end of the jacket A
whilst the next lower cone al touches the jacket A with its wider and upper end,
this alternate arrangement being continued to the end of the series.
The oil to be vaporized is admitted from an upper reservoir C through a pipe e

page_text: and valve f on to the topmost cone a* and thence on to the next lower cones a¹,
a², a and a in order, the vaporization of the oil being effected by the heat con-
ducted by and radiated from the outside of the engine cylinder X which is covered
with metallic cloth or cloth or fabric composed of metallic wires covered with
asbestos. The air is drawn into the vaporizer through the holes g g when the
valve f is opened.
Y is the engine piston, and Z is the crankshaft. The explosive mixture is drawn
through the pipe and the suction valve S into the cylinder and after explosion
the products of combustion are expelled through the exhaust valve E.
By the combination of the vaporizing apparatus hereindescribed with a gas
engine, the latter acquires the fellowing features:-
I. The explosive mixture is not produced as in other gas engines, in the engine
cylinder itself on the suction stroke of the engine piston, but is produced before-
hand in a state of homogeneity at atmospheric pressure and heated or not heated,
in a quantity sufficient to last for several charges, all the charges having the
same composition. The heating when required may be effected by means of the
exhaust gases of the engine or by means of any suitable burner.
II. The engine is exclusively an instantaneous explosion engine, the duration
of the explosion being inappreciable. There is no appreciable duration of a com-
bustion which in all other known gas engines is more or less imperfect.
Consequently no deposits and incrustations due to the flame of combustion are
produced.
III. The engine does not require any water-cooling of the cylinder.
IV. The construction of the engine can be such that there is a fixed ratio
between the capacity of the cylinder and the capacity of the compression space.
By this means complete explosion and complete expansion are produced with
consequent maximum efficiency.
V. The governor can control simultaneously the exhaust and the admission,
and also the entry of gas into the vaporizer.
VI. The engine requires only two valves riz:--an admission valve and an
exhaust valve.
VII. In the engine there may be employed water in the form of steam con-
jointly with the explosive mixture, with the object of increasing the work done
and cooling the cylinder so as to allow of letter lubrication.
VIII. The engine although constructed to work with ordinary illuminating
gas, may be immediately convertel into an alcohol engine without injury to the
piston or cylinder.
IX. The engine may also be converted instantly into an engine working with
water gas, poor gas, petroleum lamp oil, unrefined raw petroleum, residue of the
distillation of raw petroleum, petroleum essence, benzine, heuzel, &c.
In gas engines as hitherto ordinarily constructed the mixing of the gas and air
is always effected in the engine cylinder itself during the suction stroke
Consequently the gas has not sufficient time to become intimately mingled with
the air, so that there takes place, not an explosion, but a more or less incomplete
combustion which does not reach the centre of the gaseous mass with the result of
producing a partial decomposition of the gas into smoke-black and other hydro-
carbons of the benzol series (constituting the richest part of illuminating gas)
which are found deposited in the exhaust pot. Now in an engine working with a
separate vaporizer in accordance with this invention the intimate mixture of gas
and air is produced outside of the engine cylinder in quantity sufficient to enable
the gas to become completely diffused in the air.
Gac engines as hitherto ordinarily constructed are called explosion engines,
but that an obvious error because the so-called explosion is really a rapid rom-
bustion of the mixture in the cylinder and not an instantaneous explosion.
If a determined volume of a mixture of gas and air at atmospheric pressure,
containing 5359 calories, be ignited, with complete combustion, it will be found

page_text: that the temperature due to combustion is 2194'56 degrees, and that the end
pressure due to said instantaneous combustion should be 762 atmospheres.
Now in existing engines this end pressure does not exceed 35 atmospheres.
Further, the temperature produced is only 1200° and even less. It is therefore
evident that all the heat energy of the gaseous mixture has not been converted
into work at the moment of the instantaneous combustion. And consequently
in view of the said difference in temperature it can be assumed that the combus-
tion was not instantaneous. This is proved by the fact that on disconnecting the
pipe or passage leading from the exhaust valve to the exhaust pot, a flame will be
seen to issue from said valve at the moment of the expulsion of the gases and
this flame would not be produced if the combustion was instantaneous.
It will now be easy to explain the difference between the calculated temperature
of explosion of a determined volume of air and gas and the temperature which is
actually ascertained in existing engines.
A part only of the caloric has been converted into work at the instant of ignition,
another part has been converted into luminous energy and heat (visible
flame and heat absorbed by the walls of the engine) during the whole of
the power stroke, and finally a further part has not even been utilized from the
fact that a portion of the mixture of gas and air has not shared in the combustion,
or has been decomposed into carbonic oxide and heavy hydrocarbons which collect
in the exhaust pot.
From this it is to be concluded that in existing gas engines, there is not an
instantaneous and complete combustion, but only a slow and incomplete combus-
tion, this being solely due to the fact that the mixture of air and gas formed in the
cylinder during the suction stroke of the piston has not had time to become
thoroughly diffused.
Now on the contrary in my engine, in consequence of the use of a previously
produced intimate mixture, the explosion is rendered instantaneous and is not
a more or less incomplete combustion as in existing gas engines.
This statement can be proved by the following example: Say an ordinary gas
engine is dimensioned to pruce 16 brake horse-power at 200 revolutions as its
maximum power with a mixture of 1 volume of gas to 10 volumes of air produced
in the usual way in the engine cylinder itself; then, if the same engine without
being altered in any way be worked at 200 revolutions with a previously prepared
intimate mixture of 1 volume of gas to 10 volumes of air, the said engine will now
give 24 brake horse-power.
This therefore proves that there is a more efficient conversion of the caloric into
work, and consequently it can be said that the combustion of the previously
prepared mixture has been more complete than in an existing gas engine.
I shall now proceed to show that the combustion will also be more rapid and
take place only at the very moment of ignition. The following two practical
observations will show this:-1st. On disconnecting the passage leading from the
exhaust valve to the exhaust pot, no flame will be seen issuing from the exhaust
valve at the moment of the expulsion of the burnt gases. Consequently there has
been no combustion, at least at the end of the expansion stroke, as in existing
engines. 2nd. On disconnecting the indicator from the cock which serves to
connect it to the compression chamber, and on opening said cock whilst the engine
is working with a previously produced mixture in accordance with the present
invention, not the slightest flame will be seen to issue from said cock at the
moment of ignition, whereas when the engine is working with a mixture produced
in the ordinary manner in the cylinder, not only a more or less luminous flame
of from 10 to 15 centimetres long, but also sparks produced by particles of
incandescent carbon will be seen to issue from the said cock.
Consequently it can be said that from the moment of the ignition of the pre-
viously prepared mixture to the end of the expansion there is neither combustion
nor flame in the engine cylinder,

page_text: It is therefore quite justifiable to say that an explosion takes place since the
combustion is complete at the very moment of ignition.
The study of diagrams taken from an engine working with a previously pro-
duced intimate mixture under the same conditions as an ordinary engine working
with a mixture produced in the cylinder itself, shows that in the former case there
is a much better utilisation of the calorific energy of the motive mixture.
In considering Figure 3 which is a diagram of a four stroke cycle gas engine
on the Otto system, working with a previously produced intimate mixture, it will
be seen that the pressure rises from 4 atmospheres (reckoning from the absolute
zero) to 25 atmospheres, that is to say, the pressure rises in the proportion of
1 to 625 atmospheres. It has been however stated above that the theoretical
proportion is 1 to 762, but that is without taking into account the presence of
inert gases in the compression chamber.
Figure 4 shows a diagram of a four-stroke cycle gas engine on the Otto system,
working without a previous produced intimate mixture, and under the same
conditions as the engine in the previous example, except that the compression is
one-half of that in the said foregoing example. It will be seen that the pressure
rises from 27 atmospheres (reckoning from the assolute zero) to 77 atmospheres
that is to say the pressure rises in the proportion of 1 to almost 3 atmospheres.
Figure 5 shows two diagrams placed one over the other, taken from the afore-
said Otto engine when working first with the ordinary mixture produci in the
cylinder and then with the previously produced intimate mixture in accordance
with this invention. The gaseous volume and the compression were the same in
both cases.
With the previously produced intimate mixture the pressure rose from
26 atmospheres to 13 atmospheres; whilst with the ordinary mixture the pressure
rose from 26 atmospheres to 7'66 atmospheres. In the former case the proportion
is 1 atmosphere to 5 atmospheres, and in the latter case the proportion is only
1 atmosphere to 2'9 atmospheres.
Bearing in mind what has been above stated regarding the slow and imperfect
combustion in existing gas engines, and the instantaneous explosion which takes
place in a gas engine working with a previously produced intimate mixture, it
will be seen on inspecting the diagram that the line A B in the latter case cor-
responds to an instantaneous explosion producing a pressure which approxi-
mates to the theoretical pressure, follows immediately by an expansion without
flame which also approximates to the curve of theoretical expansion; which said
instantaneous explosion effects the maximum possible utilization of the calorific
energy of the mixture.
In the ordinary case on the contrary, the line AB corresponds to a slow.
combustion giving a pressure which is less than the theoretical pressure by one
third, and is followed by an expansion which is accompanied during its entire
duration by a more or less imperfect combustion, that effects a very much smaller
utilisation in work of the calorific energy of the mixture.
Finally in addition to a much better utilisation of the caloric, there is gained
a very important advantage, of rithe total suppression in the cylinder of the
incrustating deposits due to slow combustion.
A gas engine working with previously produced intimate mixture in accordance
with this invention does not require any cooling water externally of the engine
cylinder. The suppression of the water cooling jacket of the cylinder is possible
because as the previously prepared intimate explosive mixture does not burn
during the whole duration of the piston stroke, but undergoes a complete and
instantaneous explosion in the compression chamber, it is this chamber alone
which is exposed to the whole heat due to the explosion. From the moment of
the explosion, the energy of the chemical combination of the gases is converted
into work and not into heat; the gases undergoing an enormous relative expansion
up to the end of the stroke.
In existing gas engines on the contrary the inner surface of the cylinder is

page_text: exposed from the moment of ignition to the end of the piston stroke, to a con-
tinuous flame produced by at least the circumferential combustion of the gaseous
mixture, because from the moment of ignition the energy of the chemical com-
bination of the gases is converted partly into work, partly into heat, and partly
into decomposition of the gas into heavy hydrocarbons which are deposited on
the inner surface of the cylinder.
In fact, although this circumstance is not known it is the use of cooling water
which prevents the greater part of those hydrocarbons from adhering to the surface
of the cylinder. This view is corroborated by the fact that those parts of the
cylinder which are not cooled, such as the inner face of the piston, and the valves,
are always coated with a thick coat of smoke black, due to the decomposition of
those hydrocarbons.
It has been stated above, that the explosion of the previously produced intimate
mixture is instantaneous and complete. Now to render the explosion complete it
is necessary that the mixture shall always be compressed to the same pressure
before ignition. If therefore, the arrangements are such as to render the instan-
taneous explosion complete, and if also, complete expansion of the gases after their
explosion is effected, the gas engine so worked will have a maximum efficiency.
But in order to effect this result, it is necessary above all to determine the
proportion which should exist between the capacity or volume of the engine
cylinder and the capacity or volume of the compression chamber.
law.
In a gas engine worked as described, there will always be an intimate inter-
mixture of the gas and air, and therefore an instantaneous explosion will be
produced having as products permanent gases (N; CO, and H2O) raised to a
pressure which is 7*62 times greater than the initial pressure, and
these gases being permanent will expand according to Mariotte's
As this expansion can be continued indefinitely, it is advisable to stop the
stroke at the point where the pressure of expansion is equal to the initial pressure.
Then for a given initial pressure it is easy to determine the stroke, and conse-
quently the capacity of the cylinder with relation to the capacity of the compression
chamber.
This determination could not be done with the existing gas engines because the
mixture of the air and gas produced in the engine cylinder itself, is not an
intimate mixture and cannot therefore after combustion yield permanent gases
which follow Mariotte's law.
From the point of view of its construction my engine is characterised by the
fact that it comprises for the cylinder only two valves, one for the admission,
and the other for the exhaust. The reason of this is that the explosive mixture
is produced beforehand and not in the cylinder as in existing engine, which
require three valves, one for the admission of gas, a second for the admission of
air, and a third for the exhaust.
The engine is such as to allow of employing therein water in the state of steam
conjointly with the explosive mixture with the object of increasing the work
whilst cooling the cylinder.
Attempts have already been made to employ water with the object of cooling
the cylinder, but said use has been obliged to be abandoned in the case of gas
engines as well as of engines worked by petroleum or the like. In fact this water
was always introduced into the cylinder itself where it was vaporized instan-
taneously; but as the temperature was very high and this vaporization is very
sudden, it became dissociated in part and the portion of oxygen liberated in the
nascent state attacked at that temperature the metal of the cylinder and corroded
it. After a very short period the cylinder and the piston become useless.
By employing an apparatus for producing the mixture beforehand, it is on the
contrary now possible to employ water without fear of damaging the walls of the
evlinder. To this end, I inject the water directly into the mixing apparatus; it
is vaporized therein, and mixes in the state of steam with the previously produced
mixture and is introduced with it in the form of dry steam into the cylinder.

page_text: Instead of injecting water I may equally well introduce water by means of a pipe
int the bottom of the mixing apparatus. This water rises by capillary action
in the asbestos fabric which surrounds the exhaust pipe which heats the mixing
apparatus, and it is promptly vaporized.
Not only does the steam introduced in these conditions have no injurious action
whatever upon the walls of the cylinder because it is introduced in the form of
dry team, but it also keeps the said walls at a moderate temperature which
facilitates the lubrication of the piston. The dry steam being exposed to the heat
of the explosion of the mixture, it becomes superheated by absorption of a part of
said heat and thus reduces the temperature of explosion. Moreover it expands and
performs work.
If a diagram such as the one shown in Figure 6 be examined it will be seen that
the area of the diagram is much greater than that of a diagram obtained with the
mixture alone; and that although the line of explosion does not rise so high, yet
the line of expansion is well above the line of expansion of mixture only, which
proves conclusively that the use of steam in these conditions has increased the
work.
The use of water which has thus been rendered possible by this invention
enables me to work the engine, not with gas but with alcohol, which has not yet
been practically effected heretofore.
Alcohol is a member of the ethane family in which one atom of hydrogen is
replaced by the radical HO. Consequently the failures were due to the same
cause which as I have said above, has prevented the introduction of water in the
liquid state with the gas into gas engines. By injecting alcohol into the engine
cylinder, as has hitherto been done the water contained in said alcohol becomes
dissociated and its oxygen in the nascent state having a great affinity for the
metal of the cylinder and piston, these latter are very soon rendered quite unfit
for use.
I can on the contrary employ alcohol in my engine instead of gas, without
altering it in any way, and without fear of corroding the cylinder, because instead
of injecting it into the cylinder I gasify it and mix it with air in an intimate
manner before its introduction into the cylinder in the same manner as in the
case of gas and in the same apparatus. During this gasification and this previous
mirture the water of the alcohol is vaporized and superheated in such a manner
that it cannot become dissociated and attack the metal. The gas engine can thus
De converted into an alcohol engine without alteration in any respect. The sole
precaution to be taken if it is desired to operate in the best possible conditions,
will be to diminish the compression space simply by introducing into the bottom
thereof a counter-plate of determined thickness.
The apparatus for effecting the previously produced mixture of alcohol and
air may be of the kind suitable for gas such as is shown in Figure 7 but inverted,
because the mixture of air and alcohol is heavier than the mixture of gas and air.
In this mixing apparatus which in its general features resembles that shown in
Figure 1 there are zig-zag or sinuous passages through foraminous material ..
Finally the gas engine can be converted just as easily into a petroleum engine,
whatever the kind of petroleum employed, (such as petroleum essence, unrefined,
raw petroleum, residue of the distillation of petroleum) and into a benzine, benzol
&c. engine. This conversion is obviously explained by the fact that I do not
inject these hydrocarbons into the cylinder, but that I gasify them outside and
I draw in the previously produced intimate mixture with air, and they thus enter
in the state of gas into the engine.
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. An apparatus in which an intimate and heated mixture of gas or gaseous
fluid and air is produced outside the cylinder of an engine. substantially in the

page_text: manner described, the said apparatus being connected with the engine cylinder
so as to deliver the mixture of gas and air thereto and said cylinder having no
direct communication with the atmosphere.
2. A vaporizing apparatus for use in connection with engines worked by gas,
petroleum, alcohol or the like, the said apparatus comprising a vessel enclosing a
series of inverted truncated cones arranged around a central heating pipe passing
through the vessel, said cones being fixed alternately to the sides of the vessel and
to the central heating pipe; the air and hydrocarbon being drawn into the
topmost cone by the suction of the engine piston and caused to become intimately
intermixed and heated during their passage to the lower part of the vessel whence
the intimate mixture is drawn free of heavy hydrocarbons into the engine cylinder
which has no direct communication with the atmosphere substantially as herein-
before described.
3. The particular construction and arrangement of vaporizing apparatus adapted
to be heated by the exhaust gases of a gas engine, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 and 1.
4. The particular construction and arrangement of vaporizing apparatus adapted
to be heated directly by a gas engine cylinder, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 2 and 2ª.
5. Constructing vaporizing apparatus substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and represented in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of July 1897.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.