Liquid Hydrocarbon.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 21st Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 24th Feb...1888
Liquid Hydrocarbon.
We, WILLIAM DENT PRIESTMAN and SAMUEL PRIESTMAN, of Holderness Foundry,
Hull, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :—
This invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to motor engines of
the class more particularly referred to in the Specification to Letters l'atent granted
to us, dated 30th January 1886 and numbered 1394: the objects of our present
invention being to facilitate the management of such engines and to render their
working more certain. Our invention further includes a modification in the con-
struction and working of the vapouriser and controlling valve referred to in the.
Provisional specification which accompanied our application for Letters Patent filed
the 21st December, 1886, No. 16,779.
In our aforesaid previous Specification, No. 1394 A.D. 1886, are described means
for mixing liquid hydrocarbon with atmospheric air and preparing inflammable vapour
to be subsequently used in the working of the engine. The combustible charge
before being ignited is compressed; and when petroleum oil, or distillate having a
specific gravity of 0.8 or thereabouts, is employed, it is advantageous to heat the
vapour. With the latter object, the flame of a lamp may be applied to the chamber
in which the vapour is temporarily stored; or the heat conveyed by the waste gases
discharged from the moter cylinder may be utilised for the purpose.
Our present invention relates in part to valve mechanisin for regulating and
controlling the air and liquid hydrocarbon pipes or passages, leading from the
petroleum reservoir and communicating with the vapour making apparatus and
heating lamp respectively; the latter being worked with combustible vapour. The
apparatus we employ for the purposes described comprises a four-way valve arranged
in such a manner in relation to the pipes or passages conducting the air and liquid
hydrocarbon from the petroleum reservior that, in one position of the controlling
valve, air and oil are conveyed to the vapour burning lamp, but are shut off from the
main vapouriser or apparatus employed for preparing the vapour whence the engine
derives its motive power. In another position of the valve, the communication last
referred to is reversed, the supply to the main vapouriser being open whilst that to
the lamp is shut off. In a third position of the controlling valve, the supply of air
and oil, both to the vapour making apparatus and to the heating lamp, is shut off.-
Escape from the petroleum reservoir being under such circumstances prevented,
pressure may be generated therein; either by means of a small hand pump, or by
turning the engine and so operating the pump which serves in regular working for
supplying the petroleum reservoir with compressed air. The four-way controlling
valve is furnished with a lever or hand wheel which works against an indicator

page_text: shewing the various positions appropriate for the valve; namely, for generating
pressure in the petroleum reservoir preliminary to starting the engine (corresponding
with the third position above referred to), for heating the vapour chamber
immediately before starting the engine (corresponding with the first position), and
during regular working (corresponding with the second position). Under the
conditions last referred to, the heat conveyed by the exhaust gases is available for
raising the vapour, stored in the chamber whence the working charge is drawn, to a
suitable temperature.
Where the vapouriser is mounted upon and discharges direct into the vapour
chamber, as described and illustrated in our aforesaid previous Specification No. 1394,
A.D. 1886, and where means are, employed for heating the vapour contained in
such chamber, there is a liability for the heat to cause the formation of a gummy
deposit in the minute passages of the vapouriser, the efficient action of the apparatus
being thereby interfered with. To provide against this effect, we divide the vapour
chamber into two compartments; that towards the vapouriser serving as an ante-
chamber for the reception of the vapour, whilst the heating of the vapour is conducted
in the second compartment. The partition between the two compartments is formed
of or covered with asbestos millboard or other suitable material for preventing the
transmission of heat; the dividing diaphragm being furnished with a flap or other
non-return valve for intercepting the return of vapour (after having been heated) to
the ante-chamber. Instead of dividing the vapour chamber into two compartments
by means of a partition or diaphragm as described, it will be obvious that two
vessels, each performing corresponding functions, may be employed; the non-return
valve being mounted in the pipe or passage communicating between the two vessels.
In motor engines of the class to which our present improvements relate, there is a
tendency for the action of the cylinder inlet and exhaust valves to become deranged
unless the valves and their seats are cleaned at regular intervals and freed from the
deposit which usually results from the combustion of petroleum. With a view to
facilitating such periodical examinations, we arrange the valves and their seats in
such a manner that they may be bodily removed without disturbing the inlet or
exhaust connections or breaking the cylinder cover joint. According to one method
of construction, each valve is mounted in a hollow plug or body which is fitted into
a conical recess formed in the cylinder-cover; a lateral orifice in the plug affording
communication between the interior thereof and the inlet or exhaust passage, as the
caso may be. The inner extremity of the plug is open and forms the valve seat.
The outer extremity of the plug is provided with a stuffing-box and gland, whereby
the appliance is secured in position and maintained gas-tight. According to an
alternative method of construction, the hollow body in which the valve is mounted
is formed with a conical shoulder and screwed into the cylinder cover; the conical
shoulder bearing against a corresponding surface and making a gas-tight joint.
Our improvements in the construction and working of the vapouriser and
controlling valve referred to in the Provisional Specification which accompanied our
application for Letters Patent filed the 21st December 1886, No. 16,779, consist in
applying the controlling valve solely to the passage conveying the liquid hydrocarbon
to the vapouriser, instead of subjecting the two passages (conveying liquid hydro-
carbon and air respectively to the vapouriser) to the controlling action of the said
valve. When employing apparatus modified in the manner described, the supply of
air remains constant, whilst the supply of liquid hydrocarbon is subjected to
variation, according to the requirements of the engine; the working charge being
thereby rendered richer or poorer in hydrocarbon, instead of the proportions of the
fluids constituting the mixture remaining constant, as described in our aforesaid
Provisional Specification.
L 1002
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Motor Engines Operated by the Combustion of
Liquid Hydrocarbon.
We, WILLIAM DENT PRIESTMAN and SAMUEL PRIESTMAN, of Holderness Foundry,
Hall, in the County of York, Engineers, 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 certain improvements in or applicable to motor engines of
the class more particularly referred to in the Specification to Letters Patent granted
to us dated 30th January, 1886, and numbered 1,394; the objects of our present
invention being to facilitate the management of such engines and to render their
working more certain. Our invention further includes a modification in the
construction and working of the vapouriser and controlling valve referred to in the
Specification filed in pursuance of our Application for Letters Patent dated 21st
December, 1886, No. 16,779.
In our aforesaid previous Specification, No. 1,394, A.D. 1886, are described means
for mixing liquid hydrocarbon with atmospheric air and preparing inflammable
vapour to be subsequently used in the working of the engine. The combustible
charge before being ignited is compressed; and when petroleum oil or distillate
having a specific gravity of 0.8 or thereabouts is employed, it is advantageous to
heat the vapour. With the latter object, the flame of a lamp may be applied to the
chamber in which the vapour is temporarily stored; or the heat conveyed by the
waste gases discharged from the motor cylinder may be utilised for the purpose."
Our present invention relates in part to valve-mechanism for regulating and
controlling the air and liquid hydrocarbon pipes or passages leading from the
petroleum-reservoir and communicating with the vapour-making apparatus and
heating lamp respectively; the latter being worked with combustible vapour. The
apparatus we employ for the purposes described is represented in Figs. 1 and 2
of the accompanying drawings, the latter being an elevation and the former
a section on the lino (Fig. 1). It comprises a casing or valve-body a
fitted with a plug b, the latter being traversed at 61 62 by a branched passage
such as shewn in Fig. 2 in dotted lines. The body a is provided with one
inlet and two outlet passages for the air and with similar passages for the liquid
hydrocarbon both these Huids being supplied under a moderate pressure from
the hydrocarbon-reservoir, the former arriving by the passage e and the hydrocarbon
by the pipe d. The outlet passages are duplicated, c' d' respectively conducting air
and liquid hydrocarbon to the main vapouriser, whilst perform corresponding
functions in supplying the vapour-burning lamp employed for heating the vapour-
chamber. In one position of the valve, air and oil are permitted to pass by the
outlets c²d to the vapour-burning lamp, but are shut off from the main vapouriser or
apparatus employed for preparing the vapour whence the engine derives its motive
power. In another position of the valve, (represented in Fig. 2), the supply of air
,

page_text: and oil to the lamp is closed and communication through the outlets c d to the main
vapouriser is opened. In a third position of the valve, the supply of air and oil is
shut off both to the main vapouriser and to the heating lamp. Escape from the
petroleum-reservoir being under the last mentioned conditions prevented, pressure
may be generated therein either by means of a small hand-pump or by turning the
engine by hand and so operating the pump which serves in regular working for
supplying the petroleum-reservoir with compressed air. The stem of the valve 6 may
be furnished with a lever or hand-wheel arranged or marked to shew against an
index the various positions requisite for generating pressure in the petroleum-
reservoir preliminary to starting the engine (corresponding with the third position of
the valve, before referred to), for heating the vapour-chamber immediately before the
engine is started (corresponding with the first position), and during regular working
(corresponding with the second position), when the heat conveyed by the exhaust
gases is available for raising to a suitable temperature the vapour stored in the chamber
whence the working charge is drawn. The apparatus may be conveniently mounted
upon the petroleum-reservoir, the pipe d extending downwards into the liquid whilst
the passage c is open to the compressed air stored in the same vessel.
Where the main vapouriser is mounted upon and discharges direct into the vapour-
chamber, as described and illustrated in our aforesaid previous Specification, No. 1,394,
A.D. 1886, and where means are employed for heating the vapour contained in such
chamber, there is a liability for the heat to cause the formation of a guming deposit
in the minute passages of the vapouriser, the efficient action of the apparatus being
thereby interfered with. To provide against this effect, we divide the vapour-chamber
into two compartments, as illustrated in longitudinal section in Fig. 3; e being a
diaphragm separating the ante-chamber f, in which the vapour is first received from
the vapouriser g, from the compartment in which the vapour is subsequently
heated. In the diaphragm c is mounted a non-return valve h, which serves to
prevent the heated vapour returning to the ante-chamber and mingling with the
unheated vapour. The joint between the compartments fand f¹ is preferably made
with asbestos mill-board or other suitable material for proventing the transmission of
heat from the latter to the former vessel.
Instead of dividing the vapour-chamber into two compartments by means of a
diaphragm, as above described, it will be obvious that two vessels, each performing
corresponding functions, may be employed; the non-return valve being mounted in
the pipe or passage communicating between the two vessels.
In motor engines of the class to which our present improvements relate, there is a
tendency for the action of the cylinder inlet and exhaust valves to become deranged
unless the valves and their seats are cleaned at regular intervals and freed from the
deposit which usually results from the combustion of petroleum. With a view to
facilitating such periodical examinations, we arrange the valves and their seats in
such a manner that they may be bodily removed without disturbing the inlet or
exhaust connections or breaking the cylinder-cover joint. According to one method
of construction, illustrated in the sectional view Fig. 4, cach valve i is mounted in a
hollow plug or body ; which is fitted into a conical recess formed in the cylinder-
cover a lateral orifice j¹ in the plug affording communication between the interior
thereof and the inlet or exhaust passage, as the case may be. The inner extremity
of the plug is open to the cylinder C and forms the valve-seat. The outer extremity
of the plug is provided with a stuffing-box and gland for the valve-spindle 22 and
may be secured in position by means of a flange bolted to the cylinder-cover face.
Water may be caused to circulate through the spaces for cooling purposes.
j
Instead of the removeable bodies in which the valves are mounted being conical,
they may be of the form represented in Fig. 5 and may be secured in position by
screwing; a conical shoulder formed at the inner extremity of the body being at
the same time forced against a corresponding seating formed in the recess, whereby a
gas-tight joint is effected.
According to an alternative method of construction for accomplishing the same
object, the valves and their seatings, instead of being fitted in the cylinder cover, may

page_text: be carried in a casing mounted thereon, as shewn in the sectional view Fig. 6. In
this design, is a portion of the cylinder-cover formed with a passage k² leading to
the inlet and exhaust valves respectively. i represents one of the valves carried in a
casing j bolted or otherwise secured to the cylinder-cover face and provided with a
stuffing-box and gland for the valve-spindle . In this instance, the connection
for the inlet or exhaust, as the case may be, is attached by means of a union at j', but
is readily disconnected when the casing j and valve i are removed for examination or
cleansing.
Our improvements in the construction and working of the vapouriser and controlling
valve referred to in our aforesaid previous Specification, No. 16,779, A.D. 1886,
consist in applying the controlling valve to the passage conveying the liquid hydro-
carbon to the vapouriser without subjecting the corresponding passage, convoying air
to the vapouriser, to similar regulation. Such a modified construction of valve-
mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8; the former being a face view and the
latter a longitudinal section. lis the controlling valve operated by the governor or
manually and traversed by a passage with which the pipo m conveying the liquid
hydrocarbon communicates. is the vapouriser or mixing nozzle supplied with air
which enters the space o by a pipe attached at o². Another body of air enters by
the passage p past a non-return valve p' and throttle-valve p2 carried by an
extension of the valve . The liquid hydrocarbon admitted by the pipe m past tho
valve and the air admitted to the space o issue in the form of vapour from the
nozzle ; whilst the additional body of air admitted by the passage pis distributed
through the perforations qand iningles with the vapour. When employing apparatus
modified in the manner described the supply of air to the vapouriser rema 3
constant whilst the supply of liquid hydrocarbon is subjected to variation according
to the requirements of the engine; the working charge being thereby rendered
richer or poorer in hydrocarbon instead of the proportions of the fluids constituting
the mixture remaining constant as described in our aforesaid Specification.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim in respect
of a motor engine operated by the combustion of liquid hydrocarbon :-
--
1st. The improved valve-mechanism, constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, and operating, first, to
close the air and liquid hydrocarbon outlets from the petroleum-reservoir, secondly, to
admit air and liquid hydrocarbon to the heating lamp applied to the vapour-
chamber, and thirdly, to close the communication last referred to and to admit
air and liquid hydrocarbon to the vapouriser or mixing apparatus employed in the
preparation of the working charge.
2ndly. Dividing the vapour-chamber into two compartiments, one of which forms an
ante-chamber to the compartment in which the vapour is heated, substantially as
described with reference to Fig. 3 and for the purpose set forth.
3rdly. Mounting the cylinder-valves and their seats substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 respectively, whereby these parts may be readily
removed for cleansing.
4thly. The modified construction of valve-mechanism arranged or operating
substantially as described, with reference to Figs. 7 and 8 and adapted for controlling
the supply of liquid hydrocarbon to the vapouriser and of air to the vapour-chamber,
whilst the supply of air to the former remains constant.