Improvements in and relating to Petroleum or Hydrocarbon Engines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Petroleum or Hydrocarbon Engines.
I EDMUND GRACE WASTFIELD of Wandsworth in the County of Surrey Civi!
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that class of motors in which the petroleum or other
hydro-carbon oil is converted into gas previously to admitting it to the working
cylinder. Under the first part of this my Invention I construct the working cylinder
or cylinders of the motor with a combustion chamber or less size than the bore of the
working cylinder, and instead of directly surrounding the said combustion chamber
with a water jacket I enclose the sides of said combustion chamber within another
casting so as to form an annular space or vaporizing chamber, and on the outside of
the said casting forming the vaporizing chamber, water is applied in the usual way
to prevent excessive heating. A diaphragm extends from said combustion chamber
to the interior surface of the water jacket, and through said diaphragm passage ways
are provided at the top and bottom to allow of the inflow of cold water and the outflow
of hot water or steam. From said combustion chamber I carry a port or passage way
directly to the side of said cylinder. Such passage way passing through both the
said annular vaporizing chamber as well as the water jacket. The object of such
port way being to enable the explosive mixture to be both introduced and fired across
the axis of the combustion chamber, in connexion with said port or passage way
arrange an admission valve opening inwards through which the explosive mixture is
drawn by the action of the piston when making its charging outstroke. Immediately
below the face of said admission valve is an annular passage way into which the
petroleum or other hydro-carbon vapour is admitted by a valve controulled by the
governor. And below this again is a back pressure valve to prevent the possibility
of vapour passing back into the air pipe. An exhaust port in the side of the cylinder
leads to the exhaust valve placed in any convenient position. The outer end of said
combustion chamber, annular vaporizing chamber, and water space, being open so
that the annular vaporizing chamber as well as the combustion chamber, may be
readily cleaned by removing the cylinder cover, said cylinder cover being constructed
with facings formed thereon to form pressure tight joints. The said cylinder cover
also is formed with a projection on the inner side into which is screwed a tube closed
at the end forming a primiary retort or generator, and inside this is another tube the
end of which is open, and the other end in connexion with an oil regulator secured to
the outside of the cylinder cover. Passages cast in the cylinder cover connect the
said oil regulator with the internal pipe to the primiary retort, and also from the
primiary retort itself to connect it with the annular vaporizing chamber. On the
lower side also I form a passage leading to an outlet to which a pipe being connected
conveys oil to the starter or auxiliary vaporizer; hereinafter described. The said oil
regulator is formed with ports and passage ways that at will it entirely cuts off the
supply of oil, or admits it to the primiary retort or to the auxiliary vaporizer.
The second part of my Invention relates to the means of firing the explosive charge.
I prefer to construct a firing valve of differential form the larger end of such valve
being constantly pressed in one direction by either a spring or its equivalent, or the
pressure of the compressed contents of the working cylinder may be utilized. Imme-
diately beyond the said valve I attach an hot tube or pipe maintained at a temperature
sufficient to fire an explosive mixture, when, by the action of said differential valve
such is admitted-a groove or passage in the side of said differential valve enables the
contents of the heated tube to exhaust down to atmospheric pressure.
The third part of my Invention relates to the apparatus necessary to maintain at

page_text: the requisite temperature the hot tube or pipe by means of which the explosive
charge is fired. I may do this by employing a circular wick lamp having a blast
through the center, such blast being produced and maintained by a small air cylinder
actuated from any convenient part of the engine, preferably off the gear wheel
actuating the valve motion; or off the valve rod itself. The piston in said air cylinder
is actuated by a connecting rod of teliscopic form and encloses a spring or its equivalent,
the object being to allow the stroke of the piston to be be reduced in travail as the
pressure of air in said air cylinder rises. When it is desired to obviate the use of
said air cylinder and blast lamp described herein before I construct a petroleum
Bunsen burner having a vaporizer attached so that oil admitted to such vaporizer is
converted into gas before being admitted to the Bunsen burner proper. I construct
said vaporizer of any convenient or suitable form a baffle plate being so arranged
that the petroleum oil after being vaporized is caused to pass over heated surfaces.
At starting a small quantity of oil being placed in a receptacle immediately below the
vaporizer, heats same to a temperature sufficient to convert into gas the oil as fast
as it is admitted to the vaporizer. In order to make the said vaporizer self acting
after being started two or more small jets of flame fed from the generated gas
maintain the vaporizer at the necessary temperature. An outlet above the said
vaporizer itself allows the generated gas to mix with the necessary volume of air to
produce a Bunsen flame--such flame maintaining at the required temperature the hot
tube before described for igniting the explosive charge in the working cylinder.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to the arrangement for obtaining a supply
of gas for starting the engine when cold. In any convenient part I attach a box (or
case, or I may form such in the base of the engine itself containing an auxiliary
vaporizer this consisting of a metal box provided with an inlet and outlet, the inlet
being connected with a pipe or in any convenient way to the oil regulator and the
outlet in like manner being connected to the annular passage way into which the
petroleum vapour is admitted at said inlet valve of the working cylinder. Underneath
said auxiliary vaporizer I place a lamp or other source of heat for the purpose of
heating such vaporizer to the required temperature. An arrangement hereinafter
described exhausts the fumes of such lamp at the same time utilizing the waste heat
thereof.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to the arrangement for warming the air
previous to mixing the same with petroleum vapour. I do this by passing the exhaust
gasses round an air pipe or tube the air needed for the working cylinder being drawn
through the air tube and a continuation thereof extending to the lower side of said
back pressure valve of the working cylinder, I also utilize the force remaining in the
exhaust gasses by passing them through an ejector, the chamber in which said auxiliary
vaporizer and the lamp for same being connected to the suction branch of the ejector,
so that at each exhausting stroke the fumes of said lamp are exhausted, and being
delivered into the main exhaust pipe surrounding the air pipe the waste heat of the
lamp is thus utilized in warming the air pipe in the first instance. A suitable inlet
admits pure air to the interior of said air pipe. A valve actuated in any convenient
way closes the suction branch of the ejector when the auxiliary vaporizer is not
in use.
The sixth part of my Invention relates to the means of actuating the valves and
governing the speed of said engine. I prefer to do this by using a swing beam or
lever carried on a projection on the lower side of the working cylinder. Such swing
beam being pivotted at or near its center, is made to rock to and fro by any con-
venient arrangement, at the upper end is a projection which at the proper time
primarily forces the differential firing valve off its face, and the lower end of said
swing beam is made to actuate the valve by which the admission of petroluem vapour
to the annular gas way before described is controulled. This is done by either
attaching to the lower end of said beam, or to the end of the valve controulling the
petroleum vapour a striking piece or pointer, the governor being arranged to actuate
an arm, ou a lateral projection on which said striker rests; the arrangement being
such, that when the speed of the motor falls below a predetermined rate the striker

page_text: being lowered by the governor, either engages with a projection at the lower end of
said swing beam, or if attached to the beamr itself engages with the end of the valve
controulling the petroleum vapour. And thus pushing it off its seat allows petroleum
vapour to pass into the annular mixing chamber, and thus forms an explosive charge.
Said swing beam also when when desired is caused to actuate the said admission
valve.
The seventh part of my Invention relates to the arrangement whereby the pressure
of the liquid petroleum when the main oil cistern is above the levil of the engine
At the necessary height the
and thereby produces a considerable hydrostatic head.
main petroleum supply pipe is connected to a regulator cistern. Such cistern contains
a float which actuates a valve or its equivalent controulling the admission of petroleum.
An outlet pipe from said regulator cistern conveys the petroleum to the engine. By
this arrangement I obviate the difficulty involved if the gas stored in the auxiliary or
main vaporizer is placed under a considerable hydrostatic head.
Dalad this 5th July 1889
E. G. WASTFIELD).
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Petroleum or Hydrocarbon Engines.
I EDMUND GRACE WASTFIELD of Wandsworth in the County of Surrey Civil
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 relates to that class of motors in which the petroleum or other hydro-
carbon oil is converted into the gaseous state previous to admitting it to the working
cylinder. Under the first part of this my Invention I construct the working cylinder
or cylinders of the motor as shown at Fig. 1, with a combustion chamber A of less
diameter than the bore of the working cylinder A'. And instead of directly surrounding
the said combustion chamber with a water jacket. I enclose the sides of said combustion
chamber within a casting so as to form an annular space or vaporizing chamber B,
water may be applied in the usual way to prevent excessive heating, or, instead of a
water space such annular space D' is utilized as a passage way through which the
air to be indrawn to the cylinder passes, and to which the waste heat of the heater
lamp may be admitted when desired. A diaphragm G extends from said combustion
chamber to the interior surface of the water jacket "D" and through said diaphragm
passage ways are provided when required at the top and bottom to allow of the
inflow of cold water and outflow of water and steam when such space is used as a
water jacket. From said combustion chamber I carry a port or passage way "E"
directly to the side of said cylinder such passage way passing through both the
Das the case
vaporizing chamber "B" as well as the water jacket or air way
may be. The object of such port way "E" being to enable the explosive mixture to
be introduced and fired across the axis of the combustion chamber "A." Inconnexion
with the said port or passage way "E" I arrange an admission valve G₁ Figure 2
opening inwards through which the explosive mixture is drawn by the action of the
piston, when making its charging outstroke. Immediately below the face of said
admission valve is an annular passage way "H" into which the petroleum or other
hydrocarbon vapour is admitted by a valve.controlled by the govenor. And beyond
this again is a back pressure valve J to prevent the possibility of vapor passing
back into the air pipe. An exhaust port-F Figure 1 in the side of the cylinder leads
to an exhaust valve placed in any convenient position. The outer end of said combus-
tion chamber, annular vapourizing chamber and water jacket or air passage way as
the case may be, being: so that the annular vapourizing chamber as well as the
combustion chamber, may be readily cleaned by the removal of the cylinder cover
said cylinder cover being constructed with facings formed thereon to form pressure
tight joints. Said cylinder also is formed with a projection on the inner side into
which is screwed a tube K figure 1 closed at one end forming a primiary retort or

page_text: generator shown in detail at figure 6 and inside this is another tube one end of which
is open and the other end in connection with an oil regulator hereinafter described
and which is secured to the outside of the cylinder cover. Means are provided to
connect the said oil regulator with the internal pipe to the primiary retort and also
from the primiary retort itself to connect it with the annular vapourizing chamber.
From said oil regulator I connect a passage or pipe leading to an outlet to which a
pipe being connected conveys oil to the starter or auxiliary vapourizer hereinafter
discribed the said oil regulator is formed with ports & passages that at will it entirely
cuts off the supply of oil or admits to the primiary retort or to the auxiliary
vapourizer.
The second part of my Invention relates to the means of firing the explosive
charge. I prefer to construct a firing valve as shown at Figure 4. The end of such
valve "L" being constantly pressed in one direction by a spring "M" or its equiva-
lent, or the pressure of the compressed contents of the working cylinder may be
utilized. Immediately beyond the said valve "L" I attach an hot tube or pipe "N"
maintained at a temperature sufficient to fire the explosive mixture when by the action
of valve "L" such explosive mixture is admitted; on the stem of said valve L is
a grove O which by means of the passage() enables the contents of the
hot tube Nto be exhausted down to atmospheric pressure, when said valve L
is on its seat or face. Water is admitted from the jacket "D" to the spaces M¹ to
prevent the said valve L and spring M being overheated.
..
The third part of my Invention relates to the apparatus necessary to maintain at
the requisite temperature the hot tube or pipe, by means of which the explosive
charge is fired. I do this by employing a circular wick lamp of any convenient
for having a blast through the center, such blast, being produced and maintained,
by means of a small air cylinder Figure 9 actuated from any convenient part of
the engine preferably off the gear wheel actuating the valve motion, or off the
valve rod itself. The piston in said air cylinder is actuated by a connecting rod
of telescopic form 39 and encloses a spring 40 or its equivalent, "36" being the
air cylinder 37 piston of same, "38" port leading to inlet and outlet valves of any
suitable form the object being to allow the stroke of the piston to be reduced in
travel as the pressure of air rises in said air cylinder. When it is desired to obviate
the use of the said air cylinder and blast lamp, herein before described, I construct a
petroleum Bunsen burner Fig. 10 having a vaporizer "P" attached so that oil
admitted to such vaporizer is converted into gas before being admitted to the
Bunsen burner proper. I construct such vaporizer "P" with a baffle plate "Q"
being so arranged that the petroleum oil after being vaporized is caused to pass over
heated surfaces. At starting a small quantity of oil is allowed to flow from the
jets R & R into a receptacle S," immediately below and being there inflamed
heats said vaporizer "P" to a temperature sufficient to convert into gas the oil as fast
as it is admitted to the vaporizer. In order to make the said vaporizer self acting,
after being started, two or more small jets of flame, issuing from the burners "RR,
and fed by the generated gas in P, maintain the vaporizer at the necessary temperature,
one or more needle pointed valves "T and T," controuling the volume of issuing gas.
An outlet "U" above said vaporizer P allows the generated gas to mix with the
necessary volume of air, in a Bunsen burner "V" producing a smokeless flame, such
flame maintaining at the required temperature the hot tube NFig. 4 before
described for igniting the explosive charge in the working cylinder.
"
The fourth part of my Invention relates to the arrangement for obtaining a supply
of gas for starting the engine when cold preferably under the outer end of cylinder.
I attach a box or case 1 figure 5 or I may form such in the base of the engine itself,
containing an auxiliary vaporizer 2 Figures 7 and 8 this consisting of a shallow
metal box having a series of divisions, 3 so arranged that the vapour passing through
it is caused to take a circuitous course, and provided with an inlet "4" and outlet" 5,"
the inlet being connected, by means of a pipe 6 Fig. 6 or in any convenient way to
the oil regulator and the outlet in like manner being connected to the gas valve 7
past which the petroleum vapour is admitted to the annular passage way H Figure 2.

page_text: Underneath said auxiliary vaporizer I place a lamp 8 Figure 5 for the purpose of
heating said vaporizer 2 to the required temperature, and an arrangement hereinafter
described exhausts the fumes of such lamp at the same time utilizing the waste heat
thereof.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to the arrangement for warming the air
previous to mixing it with petroleum vapour, I do this by passing the exhaust gasses
round or through an ejector pipe or tube 9 Figure 11 the air needed for the
working cylinder being drawn through an annular space 10 surrounding said tube 9.
From the inlet 11 a pipe or tube leads to the lower side of the said back pressure
valve of the working cylinder. I also utilize the force remaining in the exhaust
gases by passing them through the ejector nozzle 12 forming a part of said pipe 9-
the chamber in which said auxiliary vaporizer and lamp for heating same being
connected to the suction branch 13 of said ejector so that at each exhausting stroke
the fumes of said lamp are caused to pass away by the pipe 9 to the outer air, the
waste heat of the lamp is thus utilized in warming air. Pure air passes in at 14 to
the annular space 10. And actuated in any convenient way and at any convenient
point I place a valve which closes the suction branch of the ejector when the lamp 8.
is not in use.
The sixth part of my Invention relates to the means of actuating and governing the
speed of said engine. I prefer to do this by using a swing beam or lever 15
Figure 3, carried on a projection 16 on the side of the working cylinder, such swing
beam being pivotted at or near its center, is made to rock to and fro by any con-
venient means, at the upper end is a projection 17 which at the proper time forces by
coming in contact with the contact piece 4' the firing valve 4 off its face, and the
lower end of said swing beam is made to actuate the gas valve 7 by which the
admission of petroleum vapour to the annular gas way I Figure 2 is controulled.
This is done by either attaching to the lower end of said beam or to the end of the
gas valve stem 7 a striking piece or pointer 18-the governor being arranged to
actuate an arm 19. On a lateral projection of which 20 said striker 18 rests, the
arrangment being such that when the speed of the motor falls below a predeter-
mined rate the striker 18, being lowered by the action of the governor; engages
with a projection 15 at the lower end of said swing beam 15 or if attached to the
beam itself engages with the end of valve 7. A balance weight 18 prevents the
striker 18 from turning partially round as it would otherwise do, and thus pushing
it off its seat allows petroleum vapour to pass into the annular mixing chamber H.
Said swing beam also, when desired is caused to actuate the said admission valve G¹.
The seventh part of my Invention relates to the arrangement for controlling the
pressure of the liquid pretroleum when the main oil cistern is above the level of the
engine. At the necessary height the pipe from the main petroleum supply is con-
nected to a regulator cistern 21 Figure 12 such cistern containing a float 22 which
actuates a valve 23 or its equivalent controlling the admission of petroleum. An
outlet pipe 24 from said regulator cistern conveys the petroleum to the engine,
25 being the oil inlet. By this arrangement. I avoid the difficulty involved if the
gas stored in the auxiliary or main vaporizer is placed under a considerable
hydrostatic head.
Figure 6 shows in detail the construction and arrangment of the said oil regulator
referred to under the first part of this invention 26 being a cock or valve controulling
the main supply of petroleum. 27 oil inlet pipe 28 conical valve, adjustable by
At 30 is an outlet leading to a passage
means of the spindle & lock nut 29.
terminating in the nozzle 26 Figure 5, so that the volume of oil passing through
said oil regulator is rendered visable, and easily adjusted to the requirement of the
engine. Another outlet 31ª connects said oil regulator with the pipe 31. A valve 32
enables air to pass into and through said oil regulator and thence to the oil pipe 31
at each charging outstroke if required. 33 and 34 are a dial and pointer respec-
tively enabling the attendant to adjust the plug of said oil regulator so that oil is
either admitted to said outlet 30 to the oil pipe 31 or prevents the oil from entering
the engine at all. A passage way 85 connects the interior of the primiary retort I

page_text: Figure 1 to the aunular space B. From whence the petroleum vapour passes down-
wards by way of the passage B' to a junction in connexion with a passage 7a leading
to said gas valve 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is―
1st. The construction, arrangment and use in or on petroleum or hydrocarbon
engines, or motors, of ports and passage ways through which the explosive mixture
is admitted to the working cylinder substantially as herein before described and
illustrated.
2nd. The construction arrangment and use in or on petroleum or hydrocarbon
engines of the firing valve Figure 4 and the mode of actuating same substantially as
herein described and illustrated.
Brd. The construction arrangment or use in or on a motor of the nature or kind
herein described of the improved method of governing the speed of such motors
and the mode of actuating the same substantially as described and illustrated.
4th. The construction arrangment and use of cylinders of such motor engines
substantially as described set forth and illustrated.
5th. The construction arrangment and use of oil regulators for hydrocarbon or
petroleum engines substantially as set forth and illustrated.
6th. The construction arrangment and use of the vaporizing arrangment shown at
Figures 5, 7, and S for starting such motor engines. And also the arrangment
shown at Figures 1 and 6 whereby the oil is converted into vapour by the heat
of the explosions for the purpose in the manner and substantially as described and
illustrated.
7th. The construction arrangment and use of the petroleum Bunsen burner and
its vaporizer as described and illustrated at Figure 10 for the purpose and substantially
as herein described.
Sth. The construction arrangment and use of the air pressure cylinder and
teliscopic connecting rod substantially as herein set forth described and illustrated.
9th. The construction arrangment and use of the regulator cistern shown at
Figure 12 for the purpose in the manner & substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
10th. The construction arrangment and use of an ejector and heating arrangment
for the purpose, in the manner and operating substantially as herein described and
illustrated at Figure 11.
11th. The arrangment general combination and construction of petroleum or
hydro carbon engines and the various parts thereof, to be operated and governed in
the manner for the purpose and substantially as herein before described and illustrated
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1800