US1202111A - Means for supplying a combustible mixture to internal-combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

0.1. SHIVER'S. v MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE T0 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. I914.

Patented 0m; 24, 1916.

drvllvalillllllrwllle l flitting UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE I4. SHIVERS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR F ONE-FOURTH TO GRAN- VILLE HOGAN AND ONE-FOURTH TO FRANK Y. GLADNEY, BOTH OF ST. LOUIS, MIS- SOUBI. I

MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE TO INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed January 30, 1914.

To allzohom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE L. Srnvnns, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Supplying a Combustible Mixture to Internal-Combustion Engines, of

. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for sup: plying a combustible mixture to internal combustion engines.

It has for its principal objects the utilization of the gas which accumulates in the supply tank above the body of gasolene therein; to effect. a saving in the gasolene supply; and to attain certain other advantages which will hereinafter more fully appear.

The invention is adapted more particularly for use in motor vehicles and the like, but it is not limited to such use.

It consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a portion of an automobile equipped with a device embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a section on an enlarged scale of the valved box which controls the supply of the combustible mixture to the intake manifold of the engine; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view of the coupling between the supply tank and conducting pipe; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the air intake collar for the tank.

In' the drawing, 1 represents an ordinary supporting frame or chassis of an automobile on which is mounted the body 2 and internal combustion engine As shown, the engine is of the four cylinder type, and it is provided with an intake manifold 4 having branches 5 through which the combustible mixture is supplied to the respective cylinders. Attached to the end of the manlfold is an ordinary carbureter 6 which is connected by a pipe 7 with a gravity feed gasolenc supply tank 8, which latter is located under the front. seat 9 of the automobile. The engine is also provided with an exhaust manifold 10 having branches 11 which communicate with the respective cvlinders. said Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 524, 1916.

Serial No. 815,341.

manifold having a pipe extension 12 extendmg downward and rearward under the body of the automobile, as is the usual practice. At the top of the gasolene supply tank 8 1s a nipple 13 to which is attached an elbow coupling 14. From this elbow coupling leads a. pipe 15 which is connected to a valved box or chamber 16, said box being attached to the intake manifold 4 between the branches 5 thereof and the carbureter 6, and the pipe 15 being coiled around the exhaust manifold 10.

As shown in the drawing, the box 16 is made in two sections 17, 18, and secured together by a screwthreaded engagement. A partition plate "19 is secured between the two sections. This plate is provided with aseries of perforations 20, and cooperating therewith is a rotary disk 21 having perforations 92 therein adapted to register with said perforations 20. This disk is provided with a central stem 23 which extends through a tubular projection 24 on the inside of the section 18; and said stem 23 is provided on its end, outside of the box, with a lever arm 25 by which the disk may be rotated.

In the section 17 is a disk check-valve 26 which is yieldingly held against the partition plate 19 by a spring 27. As shown. the

check-valve 26 is provided with a tubular stem 28 which works over a guide pin or stem 29 provided on a plate 30, which latter is secured to a perforated or gauze strainer 31 which issecured at its margin to the section 17. Preferably this strainer is concidal, and arranged with its apex toward the partition 19. It is also preferable to place a strainer 31? within the section 18 between the inlet opening 32 and said partition plate 19. As shown, the inlet opening is at the side of the box, while the outlet opening is through a nipple 33 at theend of the housing. This arrangement of the respective openings may be modified or changed to suit different conditions .in the application of the invention to engine structures of different types.

At the top of the gasolene tank 8 is an .dust or grit. Below this strainer is a spiral in a swirling motion whereby it more readily commingles with the gas in the tank. It is also preferable to provide a spiral 37 in] the nipple 13 to prevent the splashing gas'olene from entering the coupling member 14 and said coupling member 14: is preferably provided with a strainer 38.

Asshown in the drawing, the throttle between the carbureter and the intake mani fold is operated by a'rod 39 which is connected to a foot lever 40 adjacent to the dashboard. However, the throttle may be operated in any desirable manner. The ro tary valve member 21 in the box 16 may be operated through the medium of any desirable device. As shown, a small tube 41 is fastened along the steering column 42, and extended in proximity to the box 16 where it is attached to a supporting arm 4:3. A relatively stifi' wire i4: is slipped through this tube 41, and it is secured at one end to said lever'arm 25 and at its opposite end to an operating lever or handle 45 which is mounted on the steering post in proximity to the steering wheel 46.

The constant shaking or agitation of thegasolene in the tank 8 While the automobile is in motion causes an accumulation of vapor in the top of the tank so that after the en glue is well started the supply of gasolene to the carbureter may be reduced considerably, and the throttle valve may be closed to a relatively small opening and the valve member 21 in the box 16 may be operated to admitthe mixture of air and vapor which is taken from the top of the tank 8 direct into the manifold 4 above the throttle valve, thus utilizing in doing useful work the gaseous vapors which are usually wasted through the vent opening, or which remain dormant in the tank above the body of gasolene. By the application of this auxiliary gas supply to the motor an increased mileage is obtained from a given quantity of gasolene.

In some cases, the mixture from the top of the tank 8 is used to augment the mixture from the carburetor, while in other cases the supply through the carbureter may be entirely cut off, depending upon weather con ditions and the desired richness of the ex plosive charge.

Obviously the apparatus admits of considerable modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, do not wish to be limited to the specific instruction and arrangement shown.

I claim:

1. The combination of a supply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid, said tank having an air inlet, a carbureter, means for conducting the liquid from said supply tank to said carbureter, a pipe for conducting the combustible mixture from said carbureter, means for controlling the communication between said carbureter and said conducting pipe, a pipe connected to said supply .tank abovethe body of liquid therein and communicating. with said conducting pipe for the combustible mixture from said carbureter, and means for controlling the flow through said pipe leading from the topv from said carbureter at Will.

gasolene supply tank, a carbureter, a pipe connection for conducting the gasole to said carbureter from said supply tan a pipe connection from said carbureter to the; combustion chamber of the engine, a throttle valve for controlling the passage of the combustible mixture through said second mentioned pipe connection, a valve box communicating with said second mentioned pipe connection, a valve in said box for controlling the flow therethrough, a check-valve coiiperating with said control ling valve, and a pipe connection between said box and said gasolene supply tank above the body of gasolene therein.

3. The vmeans for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, comprising a supply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid, said tank having an air inlet above the doody of liquid therein, acarbureter, means for conducting the liquid from said tank to said carbureter, means for conducting the combustible mixture from said carbureter to the combustion chamber of the engine, and a pipe connected to said tank above the body of liquid therein and communicating with the combustion chamber of the engine.

4. The means for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, comprising a supply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid and having an open air inlet above said liquid, a carbureter, means for conducting the hydrocarbon liquid to the carbureter, means for conducting and controlling the mixture from the carbureter to the engine, and means for conducting and controlling a mixture of air and vapor from above the body of the liquid in the tank to the enine. b 5. The means for supplying fuel to\an internal combustion engine, comprising a supply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid, said tank having an air inlet, a carbureter, means for conducting the liquid from said tank to said carbureter, means for conducting the combustible mixture from said carbureter to thecombustion chamber of the controlling means whereby the combustiblemixture from the carbureter and the gas from the supply tank may be supplied either sepuarately or conjointly to the engine 'at W1 6. The means for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, comprising a supply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid, said tank having an fopen air inlet above the body of liquid therein, a carbureter communicating with the intake for the combustible mixture to the engine, means for conducting the hydrocarbon liquid from said tank to said carbureter, a valve box communicating with the intake for the combustible mixture to the engine intermediate said carbureter and the engine, said valve box having a perforated partition, a perfo rated rotary disk cooperating with said partition for controlling the flow through the box, means for turning said disk, a checkvalve in said box,'and a pipe connection between said box and said supply tank above the body of hydrocarbon liquid therein.

In an apparatus of the character described, a supplytank having a tortuous air inlet collar at the top thereof andabove the copies of this patentthay be obtained for five eents each, by addressing the supply apparatus engines and the like, comprising a gravity body of liquid therein, said collarhaving a tortuous passageway therethrough, said tank also having a tortuous outlet collar at the top thereof, and a conducting pipe connected to said outlet collar and arranged and adapted for communication with the fuel intake of an internal combustion engine or the like.

8. The combination with an ordinary fuel for internal combustion feed supply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid, a carbureter, means for conducting the liquid from said tank to said carbureter, andmeans for conducting and controlling the combustible mixture from said carbureter to the fuel intake of the engine, of a pipe connected at one end to said supply tank above the body of the liquid therein and communicating at its opposite end with the fuel intake of the engine, and means for controlling the fiow through said pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in presenceof two subscribing witnesses. i

CLARENCE L. SHIVERS. Witnesses:

G. A. PENNINGTON,

STELLA HILL;

Washington, D. G.

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