Improvements in or connected with Engines Worked by Gas. Generated from Petroleum or other Liquid Hydrocarbon.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1892-Accepted. 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Engines Worked by Gas.
Generated from Petroleum or other Liquid Hydrocarbon.
I CHARLES WILLIAM PINKNEY of 77 Raglan Road Smethwick in the County
of Stafford Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby what are generally
called petroleum engines are improved in their general arrangement and working.
When the engine is being used for very light loads, the combustion chamber would
be comparatively cool owing to the explosions being less frequent than when the
engine is working under full load. I fix a lamp underneath the combustion
chamber and allow the explosions to heat an igniting chamber which I line with
refractory or nonconducting material and place in connection with the combustion
chamber by a pipe or passage controlled by a valve. The inside of the said chamber
soon becomes sufficiently heated as to ignite the explosive charge regularly. To
prevent ignition taking place too soon I regulate the length and size of the pipe or
passage leading to the said chamber so as to cause ignition to take place at about
the same time as spontaneous ignition occurs, let us suppose the said chamber to be
filled with exhaust gases due to a previous explosion and the cylinder to be filled
with a fresh charge of the explosive mixture and the combustion chamber to be just
hot enough to vaporize the charge but not to ignite it. During the compression
stroke part of the charge will be forced through the pipe or passage and past the
valve therein into the said chamber but the heat of chainber cannot ignite the fresh
explosive charge until sufficient has been forced into the said chamber to neutralize
the effect of the exhaust gases and make an explosive compound so during the
time of this operation the piston will have arrived at the most favourable position
for the explosion. If the heat of the chamber should cause the explosion to occur
too soon I lengthen the pipe or passage leading to the said chamber (or I may
reduce its bore or cross sectional area) which will retard the progress of the gases
into the said chamber and so cause later ignition. But if the ignition should occur
too late I shorten the pipe or passage or enlarge the bore of same which will allow
the gases to flow more freely into the said chamber and so ignite earlier. I may
vary the time of ignition by positively operating the valve for instance by causing
a cam on the second motion shaft to open it sooner or later as required or I may
time the moment of ignition by introducing a jet or stream of cool air into the com-
bustion chamber during the time the main charge of air and oil is being compressed
into the said chamber either during the whole or any portion of that stroke, I can
also use the jet of cool air to advantage by introducing it into the combustion
chamber at or about the end of the main pistons charging stroke. For instance if
the engine should work up to its maximum power constantly and the combustion
chamber should ignite the compressed charge a little too soon I cause the air pump
to force its charge of air into the mixture inside the combustion chamber. The
introduction of this air will somewhat cool the charge during the time of compression
or otherwise and consequently cause ignition to take place later or at the correct
time. I may work the air pump by an eccentric and rod operated by the second
motion shaft the position of which can be altered at will.
In cases where the engine is required to work with very little load I do not
require the air jet so I open a relief cock and allow the air to flow into the
atmosphere. I can also use the said relief cock to regulate the amount of air to be
delivered into the main cylinder. I may use the air pump to vary the strength of

page_text: the charge inside the cylinder. In this case a larger pump will be required than is
necessary for cooling the mixture only.. I prefer to fix the air pump in a position
where it can be kept cool by the circulating water.
In order to keep the supply of petroleum to the engine regular I may use a tank
containing the petroleum with a closable valve at top for filling it and for closing it
airtightly. At the lower part of the said tank is an outlet controlled by a valve which
outlet leads into a small vessel into which the petroleum flows until it covers the
said opening. From this small vessel the supply of petroleum for the engine is
drawn and when the level of the petroleum in the said small vessel descends so as
to uncover the outlet from the tank air gets into the tank and more petroleum flows
into the small vessel until the said outlet is again covered.
Dated this 30th day of June 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Engines Worked by Gas
Generated from Petroleum or other Liquid Hydrocarbon.
I CHARLES WILLIAM PINKNEY of 77 Raglan Road Smethwick in the County
of Stafford 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:-
-
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby what are generally
called petroleum engines are improved in their general arrangement and working.
When the engine is being used for very light loads the combustion chamber would
be comparatively cool owing to the explosions being less frequent than when the
engine is working under full load. I fix a lamp underneath the combustion chamber
and allow the explosions to heat an ignition chamber which I line with refractory
or non-conducting material and place in connection with the combustion chamber by
a pipe or passage controlled by a valve as hereinafter described.
The inside of the said ignition chamber soon becomes sufficiently heated to
ignite the explosive charge regularly. By regulating the length and size of the
pipe or passage leading to the said chamber I can so regulate the time of
ignition of the charge as to cause ignition to take place at about the same time
as spontaneous ignition occurs. Let us suppose the said ignition chamber to be
filled with exhaust gases due to a previous explosion and the cylinder to be filled
with a fresh charge of the explosive mixture and the combustion chamber to be
just hot enough to vaporize the charge but not to ignite it. During the com-
pression stroke, part of the charge will be forced through the pipe or passage
and past the valve therein into the said ignition chamber but the heat of the
chamber cannot ignite the fresh explosive charge until sufficient has been forced
into the said chamber to neutralize the effect of the exhaust gases and make an
explosive compound and during the time of this operation the piston will have
arrived at the most favourable position for the explosion. If the heat of the
chamber should cause the explosion to occur too soon may lengthen the pipe
or passage leading to the said chamber (or I may reduce its bore or cross
sectional area) which will retard the progress of the gases into the said chamber
and so cause later ignition. But if the ignition should occur too late I shorten
the pipe or passage or enlarge its bore or cross sectional area which will allow
the gases to flow more freely into the said chamber and so ignite earlier. I also
vary the time of ignition by positively operating the valve; for instance by
causing a cam on the second motion shaft to open it sooner or later as required
or I may time the moment of ignition by introducing a jet or stream of cool
air into the combustion chamber during the time the main charge of air and

page_text: petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon is being compressed into the said chamber
either during the whole or any portion of that stroke. I can also use the jct
of cool air to advantage by introducing it into the combustion chamber at or
about the end of the main pistons charging stroke. For instance if the engine
should work up to its maximum power constantly and the combustion chamber
should ignite the compressed charge a little. too soon I cause the air pump to
force its charge of air into the mixture inside the combustion chamber. The
introduction of this air will somewhat cool the charge and consequently cause
ignition to take place at the correct time. I work the air pump by any con-
venient or suitable means such as by an eccentric and rod operated by the second
motion shaft the position of which eccentric can be altered at will.
In cases where the engine is required to work with very little load and .con-
sequently the air jet is not required, I open a relief cock and allow the air to flow
into the atmosphere I can also use the said relief cock to regulate the amount of
air to be delivered into the combustion chamber I may use the air pump to vary
the strength of the charge inside the cylinder. In this case a larger pump will be
required than is necessary for cooling the mixture only I prefer to fix the air pump
in a position where it can be kept cool by the circulating water.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing shew in sections at right angles to
each other an arrangement of an igniting chamber with a valve according to my
invention. 1 is the said chamber which is lined with refractory or non-conducting
material 3 and is in connection with the combustion chamber C by a pipe or passage 2
through which part of the charge passes from the combustion chamber as aforesaid.
The said igniting chamber 1 is closed by the cover 4 and may be heated by an
external lamp. 5 is a valve in the passage 2, the spring 6 tending to keep the valve to
its back seat but the said valve is opened at the proper time by a lever 7 operated
by a cam on the second motion shaft Q2. 6 is a spring by which the valve 5 is
kept on its front seat during compression.
If the heat of the chamber 1 should cause the explosion to occur too soon I can
lengthen the pipe or passage 2 or reduce its bore or cross sectional area whilst if
the ignition should occur too late 1 can shorten the said pipe or passage 2 or enlarge
its bore or cross sectional area as aforesaid or I can time the opening of the valve 5
by means of the cam q'.
Figure 3 represents an arrangement of apparatus for pumping air into the com-
bustion chamber C to time the period of ignition as aforesaid.
8 is the pump barrel and 9 the plunger, 10 is the inlet valve and 11 the outlet
valve kept to their seats by springs as shewn when not opened by the action of the
pump. 12 is the passage by which air is delivered into the combustion chamber by
the pump which is worked by an eccentric 9 and rod operated by the second motion
shaft Q 13 is the relief cock which is opened to allow the air to flow into the
atmosphere when it is not required to be passed into the combustion chamber or
which cock is partly opened to regulate the amount of air to be delivered into the
combustion chamber. "C' are water circulating spaces which serve to keep the parts
adjacent to them cool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In engines operated by gas generated from petroleum (or other liquid hydro-
carbon) the combination with the combustion chamber of an ignition chamber such.
as the chamber 1, the passage 2, and the valve 5 and means for operating it and for
regulating the period of ignition substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
2. In engines of the kind referred to the combination with the combustion chamber
of a device for passing air thercinto substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.

page_text: 3. In engines of the kind referred to the combination with the combustion chamber
of a pump for passing air thereinto and a device such as the cock 13 for regulating
or stopping the supply of air to the said chamber substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.
Dated this 5th day of February 1892.
CHARLES WILLIAM PINKNEY.