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Description: |
| Abstract:
My invention relates to motor-engines deriving their power from the combustion of liquid hydrocarbons or other combustible liquids which are vaporized and mixed with air in order to form a combustible mixture or vapor. It is also in part applicable to engines for burning mixtures of and air.
The objects of my invention are to produce an engine for generating power by the consumption of cheap liquid fuel-such as crude petroleum-which shall be economical in its operation, convenient. and easy to manage, portable, shall develop high efficiency, and shall yield large power in proportion to its weight.
Prior to this invention engines of various forms have been devised for generating power by the combustion of hydrocarbon liquids such as petroleum vaporized and mixed with air to form a highly combustible mixture. In such engines the liquid combustible is introduced in measured quantities into contact with a jet or stream of compressed air in such manner that the liquid is sprayed or atomized and forced through heated diaphragms in order to vaporize it, after which the vaporous mixture is ignited, and in its combustion expands many times in volume, and thereby generates a considerable pressure, which is utilized to drive a piston forward in a power cylinder, and through the piston to give motion to a crank. On the return stroke of the piston the gaseous products of combustion are expelled from the cylinder through an escape or exhaust valve, and upon each successive power-stroke of the piston a fresh charge of mixed air and vapor is admitted to the cylinder through an inlet or admission valve and, being ignited, expands and forces forward the piston. The ignition of the combustible charge is effected in various ways as by a master-light brought into communication at proper intervals with the combustible charge, or by the passage of electric sparks at the proper instant, or by the continuous inflow to the power-cylinder during both the power and exhaust strokes of a sufficient jet of combustible vapor to maintain a flame. The latter method is considered the preferable one. Oil-engines of this character include as essential parts a power-cylinder with its piston, the power shaft with its cranks and fly-wheel, the pump or compressor for compressing air, and a pump for injecting the oil. In addition valves are necessary for determining the admission of air to the power-cylinder and the exhaust of the spent gaseous products therefrom. The exhaust-valve is opened mechanically during the entire or nearly the entire return-stroke of the power-piston. The admission-valve should be operated with a varying cut-off, determined by means of a governor, in order to graduate the quantity of air supplied proportionally to the work ,being done by the engine. The stroke of the oil-pump may also advantageously be varied in like manner in order to inject more or less oil as the work of the engine increases or diminishes. It is also customary to provide engines of this class with a cylinder or reservoir for holding compressed air in order that; during the operation of the engine a supply of air maybe pumped into this reservoir and there contained by the closing of a valve in order to be held in readiness for use when it next is returned to start the engine, and before the engine has acquired sufficient momentum and energy to be able to pump the air for its use under the requisite pressure.
Hydrocarbon engines as heretofore constructed have been subject to certain detects, which have prevented their extended introduction. They have been liable to stop unexpectedly and without apparent cause while in use. They have been subject to explosions, which at times have been so severe as to disable them, and which, if less severe, have had the effect of making the motion of the engine irregular. They have been difficult to start, requiring great skill and expertness to effect their proper starting, and liable to be started with so little momentum as to stop before a second or third stroke could be made, thereby wasting the supply of compressed air and requiring to have a new supply pumped up by hand before the engine could be finally started. They have been subject to considerable difficulty in the lubrication of the power-cylinder, and in other respects the construction of such engines has been defective and unsatisfactory in use, so that they have required close attention to keep them running properly and have been liable to break down or wear out prematurely.
My present invention aims to correct the defects to which such engines have heretofore been subject. It is especially directed to securing a thorough subdivision and vaporization of the hydrocarbon liquid, to insuring' the retention of the flame, so that the engine shall not be stopped by the extinguishment thereof, to providing improved means for insuring the correct and easy starting of the engine, and in general to improving the details of construction thereof.
My improved engine in its simplest form includes a power-cylinder and piston, a crankshaft, a pump-cylinder and piston or other air-compressor, an oil-injecting pump, an exhaust-valve for the power-cylinder, and an admission-valve therefor, with suitable valve gear for operating these valves. The power-cylinder and piston are single-acting and may be duplicated or triplicated in order to provide a continuous forward impulse, if such be desired. If a single cylinder is employed a heavy fly-wheel is used to store up momentum and effect the return-stroke of the piston. Both the power and pump cylinders are water-jacketed, as usual, an improved construction being employed to insure a thorough circulation of the water through their jackets in order that they shall be cooled uniformly and continuously.
The machine is provided with a governor, as usual, to determine the cut-off of the air admission valve. According to the preferred construction, the valve-gear is operated by cams on an auxiliary cam-shaft driven by gearing from the power-shaft and at the same speed, and this shaft also operates the oil-injecting pump. The power-cylinder is provided with air-inlet and vaporizing chambers of improved construction, whereby the vaporization of the oil is made more complete, and whereby the extinguishment of the flame is more effectually guarded against than in previous engines. A lighting-hole is provided communicating' with the vapor-chamber for igniting the combustible vapors in order to start the engine, this hole being provided with a valve or gate for closing it, as heretofore, and means being also provided, as heretofore, for retaining the admission-valve temporarily closed during the starting of the engine. In starting it is necessary, after lighting the vapor, to first close the lighting-hole and then instantly throw open the admission-valve, and if the latter operation is not performed with the requisite quickness the engine will stop before completing one revolution. As heretofore constructed, it has been necessary for the operator to become very adept in performing this manipulation in order to insure the correct starting of the engine.
My improved engine is provided with automatic means for throwing open the admission valve instantly upon the closing of the lighting-hole, so that no skill on the part of the operator is demanded.
My improved engine may be constructed in various ways in order to adapt it for different uses, it being understood that the arrangement and construction of its parts may undergo such variations as engine designs are commonly subjected to.
Claims:
l. In a motor-engine, the combination, with the power-cylinder and its piston, its inlet and exhaust valves, a source of compressed air, and a compressed-air passage leading thence to the power-cylinder and controlled by the inlet-valve, of an oil-commingling chamber communicating with said passage, having its bottom or floor formed with a slight upward incline toward the outlet to the cylinder and arranged to be traversed by the air flowing toward said outlet, a source of oil, and an oil duct leading to said commingling-chamber.
2. In a motor-engine, the combination, with the power-cylinder and its piston, its inlet and exhaust valves, a source of compressed air, and an air-passage leading thence to the power-cylinder and controlled by the inlet valve, of an oil-commingling chamber arranged to be traversed by the compressed air in its passage, having its bottom or floor formed with an upward incline toward the outlet of the cylinder and provided with a deflector for causing the air to circulate in said chamber, a source of oil, and an oil-duct leading to said chamber.
3. In a motor-engine, the combination, with the power-cylinder and its piston, its inlet and exhaust valves, a source of compressed air, and an air-passage leading thence to the power-cylinder and controlled by the inlet valve, of an oil-commingling chamber entered by said air-passage at its top and having an outlet through its bottom to the cylinder, a valve for closing said outlet, adapted when lifted to act as a deflector for causing the air to circulate outwardly and inwardly in said chamber, a source of oil, and an oil-duct leading to said chamber.
4. In a motor-engine, the combination with the power-cylinder and its piston, a source of compressed air, and an air passage leading thence to to power-cylinder, of a commingling-chamber communicating with said passage, a valve controlling the admission of compressed air into said chamber, a valve controlling the outlet from said chamber to the cylinder, a source of oil, and an oil-duct leading to said commingling-chamber, whereby the oil in said chamber is vaporized by the circulation of air therethrough and controlled by said valves.
5. In a motor-engine, the combination, with the power-cylinder and its piston, a source of compressed air, and an air passage leading thence to the power-cylinder, of a commingling-chamber communicating with said passage, a valve controlling the admission of compressed air into said chamber, a valve controlling the outlet from said chamber to the cylinder, a source of oil, and an oil-duct leading to said commingling-chamber, whereby the oil in said chamber is vaporized by the circulation of air there through and controlled by chamber or groove having an absorbent filling and communicating with said source of oil, of a restricted air-inlet duet extending from said air-passage through said oil-chamber to the power-cylinder, adapted to admit a reduced flow of air through said absorbent filling while the inlet-valve is closed, whereby the injection of combustible vapor into the cylinder during the exhaust-stroke is insured for the maintenance of ignition therein.
6. In a motor-engine, the combination, with the power-cylinder and its piston, its inlet and exhaust valves, a source of compressed air and an air -passage leading thence to the power-cylinder and controlled by the inlet valve, an d a source of oil communicating with said air-passage, whereby the air may absorb oil on its way to the cylinder, of an oil chamber or groove having an absorbent filling, an air-passage through said oil-chamber to t-he cylinder, and a valve and valve-gear constructed to admit a momentary charge of compressed air into said oil-chamber at intervals in order to drive the oil into and through the absorbent filling therein.
7. The combination, with the power-cylinder and its piston, its inlet and exhaust valves, a source of compressed air and an air-passage leading thence to the cylinder, and a source of oil communicating with said air passage, whereby the air may absorb oil on its way to the cylinder, of an oil chamber or groove having an absorbent filling, an air and oil chamber communicating with said oil chamber through perforation s, an d in to which the oil is injected, a valve for admitting air from said air-passage into said oil and air chamber, an air-passage through said oil chamber to the cylinder, and a valve-gear constructed to open said valve momentarily at intervals-in order to admit a charge of compressed air into said oil and air chamber and cause the same to drive the oil through said perforations into said oil-chamber and into and through the absorbent filling therein.
8. The combination, with the power-cylinder and its piston, its inlet and exhaust valves, a source of compressed air and an air-passage leading thence to the power-cylinder, and a source of oil communicating with said air-passage, whereby the air may absorb oil on its way to the cylinder, of an oil chamber or groove having an absorbent filling and communicating with the cylinder, an air and oil chamber into which oil is injected and which communicates with said oil-chamber through perforations, a restricted air inlet extending from said air-passage into said air and oil chamber, adapted to admit a reduced flow of air through said absorbent filling and into the cylinder to maintain ignition therein during the exhaust-stroke, a valve for admitting air from said air-passage into said air and oil chamber, and a valve-gear constructed to open said valve momentarily at intervals in order to admit a charge of compressed air into said air and oil chamber and cause the same to drive the oil through said perforations into said oil-chamber and into and through the absorbent filling therein.
9. The combination, with the power-cylinder and its piston, a source of compressed air and an air-passage leading then to the power-cylinder, a commingling-chamber traversed by said air-passage, an oil chamber or groove having an absorbent filling communicating with the power-cylinder and communicating through perforations with said commingling chamber, a source of oil discharging into said commingling-chamber, and a restricted air inlet from said air-passage into said commingling-chamber, adapted to admit a reduced flow of air through said absorbent filling and into the cylinder to maintain ignition during the exhaust-stroke, of a main and supplemental air-inlet valve, the one adapted to control the flow of compressed air into said commingling-chamber and the other to control its flow from said commingling-chamber to the cylinder, and a valve-gear constructed to open said main inlet-valve at each stroke in advance of said auxiliary valve and thereby to admit a momentary charge of compressed air into said commingling-chamber to drive the oil through said perforations into said oil chamber and into and through the absorbent filling therein.
l0. The combination, with the power-cylinder and its piston, a source of compressed air and an air-passage leading thence to the power-cylinder, a commingling-chamber traversed by said air-passage, an oil chamber or groove having an absorbent filling and communicating with said commingling-chamber and the cylinder, a source of oil discharging into said commingli11g-chamber, and a restricted air inlet from said air-passage into said commingling-chamber, of a main air-inlet valve adapted to control the flow of compressed air into said commingling-chamber and having a valve-stein, a valve-gear constructed to move said stem to open and close said valve, and a supplemental valve adapted to control the flow of air from said commingling-chamber to the cylinder and connected to said main valve by a mechanical connection providing some lost motion, whereby the main valve opens before and closes after the supplemental valve.
11. The combination, with the power-cylinder and its piston, its inlet and exhaust valves, a passage for compressed air controlled by the inlet-valve, and an ignition-chamber between the inlet-valve and said cylinder and communicating with the latter through a contracted opening, of a plate or diaphragm in said ignition-chamber adjacent to the outlet therefrom adapted to be heated by the flame therein and to aid in maintaining ignition.
12. In a motor-engine operating by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapor in its power-cylinder, the combination, with the power-cylinder, its inlet and exhaust valves, a valve gear for operating them, a device connected with said valve-gear for rendering the latter impotent to open said inlet-valve, a lighting port communicating with the power-cylinder and opening to the exterior thereof, and a gate or valve for closing said port, of a handle and a connection between said handle and said device for rendering impotent the valve gear, operating substantially as described, to render the valve-gear operative and open the inlet-valve by the act of closing said lighting port gate, whereby the starting of the engine is rendered automatic.
13. In a motor-engine operating by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapor in its power-cylinder, the combination, with the power-cylinder, its inlet and exhaust valves, a valve gear for operating them, a valve-closing device connected with said valve-gear for holding the inlet-valve temporarily closed during the igniting of the vapor to start the engine, a lighting-port communicating with the power-cylinder and opening to the exterior thereof, and a gate or valve for closing said port, of a handle connected with and adapted to open and close said gate, and a mechanical connection between said handle and said valve closing device adapted when moved to close said gate to simultaneously throw said valve closing device out of operation and thereby open the inlet-valve by the act of closing the lighting-port.
14. In a motor-engine operating by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapor in its power-cylinder, the combination, with the power-cylinder, its inlet and exhaust valves, a source of compressed air and an air-passage leading thence to the power-cylinder, a lighting-port communicating with the power-cylinder and opening to the exterior thereof, a gate or valve for closing said port, and a valve-closing device adapted to close temporarily a valve controlling the passage of compressed air or vapor into the power-cylinder, of a handle for closing said lighting-port gate, and a connection between said handle and said valve-closing device adapted to transmit to the latter the movement of the handle when closing said gate, and thereby to throw said device out of action and consequently to effect the admission of compressed air or vapor to the cylinder, whereby such admission is effected automatically by the act of closing the lighting-port.
l5. In a motor-engine, the combination, with the power-cylinder, its inlet and exhaust valves, a valve-gear for operating them, a valve closing device connected with said valve-gear for holding the inlet-valve temporarily closed during the igniting of the vapor to start the engine, a lighting-port communicating with the power-cylinder and opening to the exterior thereof, and a gate or valve for closing said port, of a handle connected with and adapted to open and close said gate, and also connected with and adapted to operate said valve-closing device, the said connections being arranged, on the movement of said handle in one direction, to first throw said valve-closing device into action to close the valve and subsequently open the lighting-port gate, and on the movement of the connected with and adapted to close said gate, handle in the opposite direction to first close the lighting-port and subsequently open the inlet-valve.
16. In a motor-engine, the combination, with the power-cylinder, its inlet and exhaust valves, and a valve-gear for operating them, comprising a lever through which movement is communicated to the inlet-valve, a valve closing device engaging the fulcrum of said lever and constructed, when actuated, to move said fulcrum and thereby close the valve, whereby the valve-gear is rendered impotent to open said valve, a lighting-port communicating with the power-cylinder and opening to the exterior, and a gate for closing said port, of a handle connected with and adapted to operate said gate, and also connected with and adapted to operate said valve-closing device, whereby the opening or closing of the lighting-port and the closing or opening of the inlet-valve are effected by a single stroke of said handle.
17. The combination, with the power-cylinder, its lighting-port, its inlet-valve, and a valve-gear for operating said valve, comprising a rock-lever, a movable standard to which said rock-lever is fulcrumed, a sliding wedge or cam engaging said standard and adapted by its movement to raise or lower the latter and thereby to open or close the inlet-valve, and a gate for closing said lighting-port, of a hand-lever for operating said gate arranged to encounter said wedge in its movement of closing said gate and thereby drive in said wedge and throw open the inlet-valve.
18. The combination with the power-cylinder, its lighting-port, a gate for closing said port, the inlet-Valve, and a valve-gear for operating said valve, comprising a rock-lever, t'', of an adjustable standard, A', for moving the fulcrum of said lever, a wedge, B', acting on said standard, a hand-lever, K'', for opening and closing said gate, and means for engaging said lever with and disengaging it from said wedge, consisting of a hooked arm, w, on the one part, a shoulder, w, and a spring mounted hook, u', on the other part, operating substantially as described.
19. In a motor-engine operating by the combustion of hydrocarbon vapor, the combination, with a cylinder constructed with a water space or jacket in its walls and water inlet and outlet passages communicating with said jacket at one end of the cylinder, of a tube within said jacket leading from one of said passages and extending through the jacket and opening at or near the opposite end thereof, whereby a circulation of water from end to end of the jacket is assured. |
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