US1609258A - Internal-combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Shea*l 1 Filed August l5 R. F. L oNABr-:RGE'R ET A1.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Nov. 30 1926.

Nov. V30, 1926.

R. F, LONABERGER ET AL INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed August 15, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 30 1926.

R. F. oNABERGER ET Ai.

INTERNAL CDMBUSTION ENGINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed August 15. 1921 CII Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

ROBERT E. LONABERGER AND cHAELEs E. sANDs. or READING, PENNSYLVANIA, As-

srGNoEs '.ro LLOYD A. UNGER; TRUSTEE.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION `Elll'Gl'ltil'lll..

Application filed August 15, 1921. Serial No. 492,398.

This invention relates particularly to engines operating on heavy liquid fuel such as kerosene, distillate, and fuel oil, but is not restricted to such engines.

The invention aims to increase the thermal efficiency of internal combustion engines by vaporizing the fuel under pressure and heating and compressing the airl necessary for combustion before mixing the two t gether. Preferably the air is heated and compressed in the cylinderv before the vaporized fuel is admitted, and after admitting the fuel the mixture is further compressed before it is ignited.

Theinvention further aims to improve the fuel vaporizer by the use of an electric heating element, and by improved means of controlling the admission of liquid fuel and vaporized fuel to vthe heating element and cylinder, respectively.I

Further aims and advantages of the invenv tion appear in connection with the following description of a preferred form `of the invention illustrated in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Figul is a side elevation of an internal combustion engine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, drawn to la larger scale, and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 44 in Fig. 3.

The engine shown in the drawlngs is. of conventional four-stroke cycle type, having four cylinders contained in a cylinder block 1 with a separable head 2, and furnished with a crank shaft 3 (see Fig. 3), connecting rods 4, pistons "5, inlet and exhaust yvalves 6, exhaust manifold 7, ignition apparatus comprising spark plugs 8, and water pump 9, all of suitable form. The water pump discharge pipe 10 leads to the Water jackets 11 surrounding the cylinders, and the water circulates through tlie jackets and is discharged to the radiator r(not shown) through a suitable manifold 12 runningracross the tops of the cylinders and constituting a part of the cylinder head 2.

The dimensions of the cylinders and istons and stroke of the en ne are such t at the pressure in the cylin ers at the end of the com ressionstroke'is much higher than is us in gasoline or kerosene burning engines, preferably 125 pounds per square mcli and over.

las

The liquid fuel (which may he gasoline, kerosene, distillate or fuel oil) is supplied from a suitable tank, through the supply pipe 13 and the fuel feed pump 14l to the .several fuel vaporizers 15, of which in thc illustrative embodiment of the i-nvention there is one for each cylinder. (See Fig. 1.). A. pressure relief valve 16 having an adjustable spring controls-the fuel pressure and rerents excessive pressure on the fuel supp y pipe. The vaporizers are surrounded by hot water from the cylinder jackets,y

which is kept circulating by means of' the pump 9. The pump shaft 17 is driven from the engine by suitable gearing, such as the chain 17, and suitable sprockets on the crank shaft and pump shaft, as shownin Fig. 2.

The fuel vaporizers 15 are mounted in suitable chambers in the manifold 12, con-- nected by'suitable passages with the respective cylinders (see Fig. 3), and each comprises a valve 18 for controlling the ad.-

mission of liquid to the heater element v19 and a valve 2O for controlling the admission of fuel vapor to the cylinder.- In the illus-y trative embodiment of the invention the valves 18 and 20 are mechanically operated from the engine crank shaft by 'a half time camshaft 21 through suitable gears and shafts 21a vso as to'rotate atthe same speed as the half time shaft 22 operating'the inlet and exhaust valves.

In the form of vaporizer shown in the drawings, particularly Fig. 3, the heater element 19 has a steel shell Whichis held in place by a" screw plug 23, which bears against a iange 24 on the steell shell.` An insulator 25 of porcelain or othersuitable material is fastened in the shelland supports the electrical resistance element 26 and termi-nal post 27 connected to one of its ends. Insulated wires lead to the terminal posts for supp/lying current to the heater. The resistance element 26 is a carbon rod. all but the terminal end of whichis contained in a steel case 28, from which it is spaced for the greater part of its length.

Liquid fuel is admitted through the pipe 13 and communicatin passages to the space 22 surrounding the ange 24 of the heater element. The flange has a radial passagesov through it, normally closed by the valve 18, and leading to an annular space 29 in the porcelain Q5 surrounding the casing 28 for the resistance element. This annular space envelops the casing 28 and opens into a space 30 in the vaporizer manifold which leads to the fuel port 31 in the cylinder. This port 31 is normally closed by the valve 20.

The stems 32, 33 vof the valves 18, 20, respectively, are guided in bushings 34, 35, respectively, and are fitted with grooves and rings 36 for preventing liquid fuel 0r fuel vapor from escaping. The outer ends of the valve stems are threaded and fitted with adjustable spring cups 37 and locking screws 38 for adjusting the throw of the respective valves independently. A plug 40 holds the closing spring 39 and valve 18 in place, and a split housing 41 screwed, to thev manifold lolds t)he spring and .valve 20 in place.` (See The valves 18', 20, are operated simultaneously by a double arm bell crank lever 42 having a cam arm 43 engaged once for every revolution of the shaft 21 by one of the cams 44 carried thereby. Each arm of the bell crank lever engages against the closed side of onev of the, respective spring cups 37 to open the valves. is pivoted upon a shaft 45 journaled alongside of the cam shaft 21 in links 46 pivoted at their other vends on the shaft 21. Each link has an operating arm 47 slotted to receive an adjusting sleeve nut 48 mounted ou a pivot screw 49. An operating arm 50 is vadjustably clamped on each adjusting nut 48 and connected for simultaneous actuation by a' link 51. By adjusting the angular position of the operating arm on the nut each pivot link 46 may be adjusted independently to `suit the desired alinement for the shaft 'y 45. A control rod 52 is attached to the link 5l to adj ust the angular position of the shaft and bell crank levers to suitthe conditions of operation of the engine., By shifting this control' rod the position of the pivotal axis of the bell crank levers may be changed to vary their throw and thus vary the amount of opening of the valves 18 and 20.

The operation Vof the engine .is similar to that ofthe usual four-stroke cycle internal combustion engine of the fuel injecting type| having a pump for forcing the fuel into the cylinders and wherein the air is taken in on the suction stroke and the products of -com bustion are discharged on the exhaust stroke through suitable valves operated by cams or other suitable means driven from the crank shaft of the engine.

Preferably the dry air is. compressed in,

the'cylinders to a pressure corresponding to atemperature of approximately the Vaporizying temperature of the fuel before the vap'orized fuel is admitted, Vwhereupon the va The bell crank lever 42l porized fuel is admitted under a pressurein excess of the pressure of the air at that point in the compression stroke, and the compression of the mixture continued to a pressure short of the pressure at which the mixture will. pre-ignite. Thepressure of the vaporized fuel may be controlled by varying the relief valve spring 16, and the amount of fuel may be varied by adjusting the valve opening under manual control.

The invention is not restricted to the apparatus shown in thedrawings, nor to the particular method of operation-described.

le claim the following as our invention:

1. 1n an explosion engine, having a working cylinder, means for vaporizing liquid fuel comprising an electric heatingy element, fuel passages leading to said heating element and from said heating element to said cylinder, and valves in said passages actuated by the operation of said engine to control the flow of liquid fuel to said vaporizer and the flow of fuel vapor from said vaporizer to said cylinder.

2. 1n an explosion engine, having a working cylinder, means for vaporizing liquid fuel comprising an electric heating element,

fuel passages leading to said heating element and from said heating element to said cylinder, and valves -in said passages actuated by the operation of said engine to control the flow of liquid fuel to saidvaporizer and lthe 'flowk of fuel vapor from said vaporizer to said cylinder, said valves operating to open and close simultaneously.

3. In an explosion engine, having a working cylinder, means for vaporizing' liquid fuel comprising an electric heating element, fuel passages leading to said heating element and from said heating element to said cylin-y der, variable throw valves insaid passages actuated by the operation of said engine to control the flow of liquid fuel to said vaporizer and the flow of fuel vapor from said vaporizer to said cylinder, andmeans for controlling the amount of opening of said valves.

4. In a fuel vaporizer for explosion. engines` an electrlcal heating element, passages for fuel leadlng to said element and from ,lill

said element to said engine, valves in said passages and operating means for said valves comprising a lever, means for oscillating said lever from a rotating shaft, and means for changing the pivot point of said lever to vary its amount of oscillation andthe throw of said valves. p

5; In a. fuel vaporizer for explosion en.

gines. an electrical heating element, passages i for fuel leading to said element andfroni said element to said engine, valves in said passages, said valves having springs tending to hold them closed. and operating means:

foi-'said valves comprising a lever having*y two arms, adjustable connections betweenv said arms and valves, means for oscillating chamber, means for circulatingfhot Water Said lever from a rotaing shaft, and means around said chamber, and means for main- 10 for changing ehe pivot point of said lever to taining the vnporized fuel in said chamber vary its amount of oscillation and the throw under pressure.

of said valves. In testimony whereof, we haw signed om 6. A Vaporizel for liquid fuel comprising names to this specfoation. an electrical heating; element surrounded by ROBERT F. LONABERGER. a casing and enclosed inv a water jacket/ed CHARLES F. SANDS.

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