US1179367A - Air-moistener. - Google Patents

Description

W. WYAND.

AIR MOISTENER.

.APPLICATION FILED fea. 27, I9I5.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

guwnto@ attomu Irl/115.44144 Il 'UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WYAND, OF ABSECON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 ABSECON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW` JERSEY.

AIR-MOISTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

Application filed February 27, 1915. Serial No. 11,026.

To all vwhom t 'may concern:

4Be it known that I, VViLLIAM VVYAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Absecon, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Moist-eners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to attachments for gas engines and more particularly to engines driven by gas obtained from heavy hydrocarbon compounds; and it consists of means for introducing heated air and water or steam into the power cylinders of the engines, whereby the deposit of solid carbon is prevented and the power of the engines is increased.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of an internal combustion engine constructed with an attachment according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the mixing apparatus for air and water, drawn to a larger scale.

The power cylinder 2 of the engine is provided with an intake pipe 3 for the combustible mixture, and an exhaust pipe 4 for the products of combustion. These parts are provided with inlet and exhaust valves of any approved construction. When the engine has several power cylinders they are provided with inlet and exhaust manifolds instead of separate pipes, and the attachment is applied to the manifolds.

The delivery pipe G of the attachment is passed throughthe exhaust pipe or manifold, and is connected tothe intake pipe or manifold. The mixing apparatus for air and water is provided with a cylindrical mixing chamber 7 having an outlet branch 8 at its lower part, which is connected to the delivery pipe 6. An inlet branch 9 for water is provided on the opposite side of the mixing chamber from the outlet 8, and has a water pipe 10 secured to it. This water pipe is connected to any convenient water supply or water tank.

A needle valve l2 is arranged crosswise of the passage in the inlet. branch 9, and slides vertically' in a guide 14. A lever 15 is pivoted on a pin 16 carried by a bracket 17 which is secured to the upper part of the mixing chamber 7, or to any other stationary support. One end portion of this lever 1s operatively connected with the stem 18 of the needle valve. The stem 18 has a collar 19 secured on it, and a nut 20 is screwed upon it. The end portion of the lever pro-A jects between the collar and the nut, and the position of the nut is varied to regulate the opening of the water valve. A jam nut 21 is arranged over the nut 2O to prevent it from slipping.

The air valve 24 consists of a cylinder which is slidable vertically in the upper part of the mixing chamber, and which forms the top portion of it. Air inlets 25 and 26 are formed in the side walls of the chamber and valve respectively, and the air is free to enter the mixing chamber when these air inlets are placed in connnunication with each other. The air inlets preferably consist of a plurality of small holes arranged at intervals around the parts. A rod 28 is secured in the top of the air valve and its projecting upper end portion is pivoted to the other end portion of the lever 15 from the needle valve stem, by means of a pin 29.

A lock or stop 30 is provided for holding the needle valve and air valve closed. This stop is pivoted by a pin 31 t'o a bracket 32 on the mixing chamber, and engages with one end portion of the leve'r 15 as shown. lVhen the outerend of the pivoted lock is raised by hand, the lever is freed, and the valves are free to operate automatically.

The rod 28 projects downwardly through the mixing chamber, and is slidable in an adjusting screw 35 which is screwed into the bottom of the mixing chamber. A spring 36 is arranged in a chamber in the screw 35 between it and a collar 37 on the rod i8.' The screw 35 is provided to regulate the tension of the spring, and a jam nut 38 is provided on the screw to prevent it from slipping. The spring 36 normally supports the air valve 24 in its raised position, as shown in the drawing, with the air inlets out of line with each other.

A diaphragm or screen 40 of perforated or foraininous material is secured in the lower part of the mixing chamber, between the air valve and the inlet and outlet branches, and a curved water spray pipe 41 is connected to thewater inlet and projects upwardly through the diaphragm or screen 40.

The spring 36 is adjusted so that when the pressure in the engine intake pipe and in the mixing chamber is reduced below that of the atmosphere, by the suction of the engine piston, the air and water valves are both opened automatically. The water in the form of spray and the air are mixed together in the mixing chamber, and are drawn through the delivery pipe 6 into the inlet pipe 3 or manifold, and thence into the engine power cylinder or cylinders. The air and water are heated in the pipe 6 by the heat of the products of combustion in the exhaust pipe, and the steam from the water increases the power of the engine cylinder. The hot air and steam or water thus introduced into theY power cylinder are found to prevent the deposit of solid carbon in the cylinder, and to promote the efficiency of the engine.

What I claim is:

l. The combination, with a mixing chamber provided with an air inlet valve which opens automatically when the pressure in said chamber is reduced below that of the atmosphere, of a valve for admitting water to the said chamber to moisten the air therein, means for operating the water valve from the air valve, and an outlet pipe for moistened air connected to the mixing chamber.

2. The combination, with a mixing chamber, of an inlet valve for air and an inlet valve for water, and means for operatively connecting the said valves together, said valves being arranged to open automatically whenthe pressure in the mixing chamber is reduced below that of the atmosphere and operating to admit air to the chamber and to moisten it therein.

with a mixing chamfor air and an inlet means for operatively conmeans for atomizing the water within the v mixing chamber, to meisten the air therein, after it has been admitted by the Water valve. v

4. The combination, with a mixing chamber, of an inlet valve for air and an inlet valve for water, means for operatively connecting the said valves together, and means for adjusting the opening of one valve relatively to the other, said valves being arranged t0 open automatically when the pressure in the mixing chamber is reduced below that of the atmosphere and operating to admit air to the chamber and to moisten it therein.

5. The combination, with a mixing chamber, of a piston valve slidable therein and operating to admit air to the chamber when the pressure therein is reducedvbelow that of the atmosphere, a valve for admitting water to the chamber to moisten the air therein, means for operatively connecting the two valves together, and mechanism for closing the said valves automatically when the atmospheric pressure is restored.

In testimony whereof I have aiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM WYAND. Witnesses F. H. HENRY, JOHN RICE.

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