US453602A - Oil-separator for steam-engines - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. H. EICKERSHOPP.

OIL SEPARATOR FOR STEAM ENGINES.

Patented June 2,1891.

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NITED STATES JOHN II. EICKERSHOFF,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CINCINNATI, OIIIO.

OlL-SEPARATOR FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,(502, dated June 2, 1891.

Application filed September 19, 1890. Serial No. 365,569. (No model.)

To all whom it may conccr:

Be it known thatI, J OHN ILEIcKERsHoFn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oil-Separators for Stean- Engines, of which the following is a speeification.

My invention relates to an overfiow-trap and oil-Separator for use in connection with crank-cases of steam-engines, or in other machinery Where a body of water and oil is employed to lubricate parts by their movement intermittently therein.

To this end it consists in a double chamber constructed and arranged as hereinafter set forth, connected with an outer overfiow-cup, whereby the excess of water is trapped out without removing the oil.

Mechanism illustrating my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of a portion of a steam-engine crank-case to which my invention 'is applied, showing the device in axial section; Fig. 2, a top View of the trap; Fig. 3, a plan section taken. through the apertures of the outer and inner casings in the planes of each set of apertures; Fig. 4, a sectional view, corresponding with Fig. 1, of a modification of the apparatus adapting it to be placed wholly outside of the crank-case; and Fig. 5, an enlarged section of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates the c 'anh-case of a common form of engine, having open-ended cylinders mounted thereon, with their pitmen B extending into the crank-case attached in the usual manner to crank-wrists C. The lubrication in such cases is aceomplished by fioating a stratum of oil on a body of water in the case into which the cranks dip in their rotation, thus splashing the oil and Water over the interior parts. By leakage and condensation of steam, however, the body of water increases, thus rendering necessary some means of trapping off the water. The constant agitation, however, causes the mingled liquids to assume somewhat the character of an emulsion and renders the removal of the water difficult without also removing the oil.

To efieet the separation of the oil and water, I employ a trapping-vessel constructed in the preferred form. The trap consists of an elongated cylindrical casing F, which may be projected through the botton of the crankcase A and held thereto by a peripheral flange a at about mid-length of the casing. The casing F is closed at the bottom and provided with a somewhat conieal top f, having a central opening b and a marginal annular opening or series of openings c. A horizontal conical diaphragm d is placed centrally in the casing F, substantially similar to the top f, having central and marginal openings, and the casiug F is laterally pierced with a series of openings just above the diaphragn (Z. The upper part of the casiugF is surrounded by an outer casing E, resting upon the fiange a and extending to near the top of the inner casing, to which it is held by radial lugs e and screws, leaving an annular-space chamber between the casings, open above and communicating below with the crack-case by radial apertures g. A pipe G is passed downward through the central opening of the diaphragm (Z (leaving an annular space through the diaphragm around the pipe) to near the bottom ot the inner casiu Above the diaphragn the pipe carries a peripheral fiange 72 of diameter somewhat smaller than the interior of the casing F, and thence connects outwardly by the pipe G' with an open-sight overflow-vessel H, ar 'anged exteriorly to the crank-case.

The main object of the eonstruction is to inelose a body of liquid as free froni disturbing influences as possible, thus giving tine and opportunity for the separaton of oil and water to be effected by difference of specific gravity. Thus the combined oil and water passing the outer casing through the apertures g enters the annular space between the casings, and, being somewhat protected from disturbing influences, the separation of oil and water begins, the oil rising directly upward and the water and remaining oil passing through the apertures .e into the inner casing F, where the disturbing influences are still less effective. Here a further separation takes place, the oil rising and the water and trace of remaining oil passing downward through the marginal openings 0 of the diaphragm d. In the lower chamber of the casing F the final separation is eftected, the oil IOO passing upward through the central opening of the diaphragn d around the pipe G and the water passing downward and finally upward and outward through the pipe G into the overfiow-Vessel H. The purpose of the outer vessel H is to give a Visual indieation at all times of the height of liquid in the crank-case. The ledge or flange h of the pipe G merely aids in protecting the body of liquid in the lower casing from agitating-currents, but may be omitted.

In the modification shownin Figt the trap is secured wholly at the outside of the crankcase. In this the outer casing F is a complete cylindrical box, having a cover h' and entered at one side midway by a pipe i' and at the top by a pipej, both extending into the crank-case. Within the crank-case a shield or screen K is preferably arranged beyond the mouth of the pipe j, as shown.

XVithin the casing F the inner casing E is provided as a mere annular partition pierced with radial holes at the bottom and entirely open at the top into the outer casing. The pipe G in this case extends from near the bottom of the inner casing centrally outwardthrough the top and enters the overfiow-ves sel H. The action of the trap is substantially similar, the oil and water passing downward through the pipe 'L', the trapped oil passing back through pipe j, and the water passing through pipe G to the overfloW-vessel H.

If by any accident the water falls too low in the crank-case, the fact is at once disclosed by the open Vessel H, and i-t may be replenished by pouring in said Vessel.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States-- 1. In combination with an engine crankcase wherein is maintained a body of oil and water for lubrication, an oil-separating trap embodying two or more chambers communicating in series and with the crank-case, the ultimate chamberhaving com munication with the crank-ease only through its upper portion and provided with an overfiow pipe or passage leading outward from its lower portion, substantially as se't forth.

2. In combination with an engine crankcase wherein is maintained a body of oil and water for lubrication, an oil-separating trap embodying two or more concentric chambers communieating'in series and with the crankcase, the inner chamber opening into the crank-case only at its upper portion, opening into its next outer chamber at or near the bottom of the latter, and opening outward independently beyond the erank-case from its 4. An oil-separatingtrap enbodying substantially a vertically extended chamber having a perforated top, an intermediate perforated partition above its closed bottom, a concentric outer casing forming an open annular chamber communicating With the inner chamber above the intermediate perforated diaphragm, and an overfiow pipe or passage leading outward from the lower'portion of the inner chamber, substantially as set forth.

In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. EICKERSHOFF.

VVitnesses:

L. M. HOSEA, HENRY APPLETON.

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