Improvements in or Connected with Petroleum Engines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept.. 1839
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Petroleum Engines.
I JAMES ROOTS Engineer 20 Bucklersbury London do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the more easily starting a petroleum engine, the
same arrangement may also be used for running it if desired. I use a lamp burning
common petroleum having a circular burner with a button to deflect the flame
outward, and in place of the glass chimney I construct the lamp chimney of a coil
or spiral of copper tube in one piece, each wind of tube being as close as possible to
the next thus forming a tube or chimney completely of tubing. The outside is
covered with asbestos or other good non-conductor with the double object of
preventing radiation of heat and of closing the interstices between each wind of
tube. That end of the pipe at the top of the coil chimney has a funnel-shaped mouth
into which the petroleum is dropped in the proper and regulated quantities: air and
petroleum are drawn by the suction of the outstroke of the piston through the coil
maintained at a red heat by the flame of the lamp, so that when the mixture has
reached the cylinder it forms a perfect gas. This is effected by the beating up or
triturating together the particles of the petroleum and air by passing the air through
the heated pipe with such great rapidity, the coil pipe being small compared with
the cubic capacity of the cylinder to be filled in the time.
Dated Nouancha
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Petroleum Engines.
I, JAMES ROOTS, of 19 St. Marys Road, Westbourne Park, Middlesex, 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:
The object of this invention is the more easily starting a petroleum_engine, while
the same arrangement may also be used for running it if desired. I use a lamp
burning common petroleum having a circular burner with a button to deflect the
flame outward, and in the place of the glass chimney, I construct the lamp chimney
of a coil, or spiral, of copper tube in one or more pieces, each wind of tube being
as close as possible to the next, thus forming a- tube or chimney-completely of
tubing. The outside is covered with asbestos or other good non-conductor with the
double object of preventing radiation of heat, and closing the interstices, between each
wind of tube. That end of the pipe at the top of the coil chimney has a funnel
shaped mouth, into which the petroleum is dropped in the proper and regulated
quantities, air and petroleum are drawn by the suction of the outstroke of the piston
through the coil maintained at a great heat by the flame of the lamp, so that when
the mixture has reached the cylinder it forms a perfect gas. This is effected by the
beating up or triturating together the particles of the petroleum and air by passing
the air through the heated pipe with such great rapidity, the pipe being small
compared with the cubic capacity of the cylinder to be filled.
My invention will be understood by the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional
elevation of a lamp chimney A, and the position it occupies near the end of a
cylinder B, for the purpose of heating, and converting into vapour, the petroleum
which is supplied from the pipe C, the vapour along with air which has free entranco
into the mouth D of the down tube E forming part of the coil and from which the

page_text: air and vapour in a combined state are drawn into the cylinder B by suction due to
the out stroke of the piston, such air and petroleum vapour passing through the
pipe into the valve box G, the interior of which has the cylinder admission valve
so placed below it as to prevent a return blast through the coil when the piston is
not making its suction stroke.
I is the lamp, having a circular burner and I is a button or flame spreader for
bringing the heat of the flame closer to the coil, said button being on the end of the
firing tube J, which by being surrounded by flame is made red hot for firing the
charge in the cylinder at the required moment in a manner well known in connection
with Gas Engines.
Figure 2 illustrates a modified arrangement, in which two lamps are used, one for
heating the air and vapour in the coil A and another (not shown) for heating the
firing tube J. The wick of the lamp in this case can be round or flat and the flame
can be contracted by the conical collar K serving also as a means for concentrating
the heat of the flame upon, or against the lower part of the coil. Thus the petroleum
and air from the great velocity of their passage together through the coil are
rapidly converted into a mixed gaseous compound just prior to entering the box G.
The coils of the chimney are in close contact with one another and surrounded by
asbestos or non-radiating material L. and instead of the coil being formed from one
length of metal, say, copper, it may be produced by castings which are bolted together
as at Figures 3 and 4 A, A', to form a rectangular coil chimney specially
applicable for flat wicked lamps. The castings may also be used for a circular
chimney.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a Petroleum Engine, forming the chimney necessary for proper combustion
of an oil lamp of a coil of piping, the upper end of which carries a receptacle into
which the petroleum and air are admitted, and the other end of which is fitted into
the admission valve box of the Engine, the chimney coil cast or otherwise being
packed round by a non-conductor as described with reference to the annexed
drawings.
2. The means or appliances described and shown for beating up or triturating
together the particles of petroleum and air by passing them together through a heated
pipe with great velocity, said pipe being small compared to the cubic capacity of the
cylinder, as set forth.
Dotal thin 2nd
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said James Roots.