US1258156A

US1258156A - Hot-plate apparatus for explosive-engines and the like.

Info

Publication number: US1258156A
Application number: US13337116A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold F Shepherd
Original assignee: BESSEMER GAS ENGINE Co
Current assignee: BESSEMER GAS ENGINE Co
Priority date: 1916-11-25
Filing date: 1916-11-25
Publication date: 1918-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1935-03-05

Description

H, a? SHHHEHU.

am PLATE AFFARATUS FUR ExPLasivE mews AND THE LiKE.

AFPULAHON HLED HUME], Hi6

Patented Mar. 5, 1915 I SHELYS-SHEEI l.

IN VEN TQR. fmwxd J'SZ ZAJ B Y A T'I'ORNE YS.

H. F. SHEPHERD. HOT PLATE APPARATUS FOR fxPwswE ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

APPMLAHON HLEG NCV.25. I916 udE Patented Mar. 1918. 2' swans-mun 2 1N VEN TOR. M YWM B Y ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD F. SHEPHERD, OF GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BESSEMER GAS ENGINE COMPANY, OF GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

HOT-YLA'IE APPARATUS FOR EXPLOSIVEENGINES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed November 25, 1916.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IAROLD F. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grove City, in the county of Mercer and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hot-Plate pparatus for Explosive-Engines and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to .hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like and consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof aS will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the so-called hot bulb engine, the plate is maintained at a temperature at which the explosive mixture will ignite. The temperature of the plate is controlled by the heat produced in the hot bulb through the burning of the gases exploded in the running of the engine. This heat varies with the intensity of the explosion and a variation in the amount of gases burned and consequently the temperature of the plate varies. This variation is objectionable. If the temperature is suflicient to give proper ignition at light loads the higher temperature incident to the buriiin of a greater amount of gases for the heavier loads tends to crack the oil used in the mixture and this produces carbon or an objectionable residue.

To obviate this difficulty several plans h-aye been adopted. the usual one being to inject water with the explosive mixture and vary the amount of Water introduced siiilieiently to control the temperature within working limits. This adds to the working parts of the engine and is not entirely satisfactory in its results.

The present invention is designed to automatically control the temperature of the hot plate of the hot bulb so as to give it a proper ignition temperature and still prevent a very wide variation from this temperature.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows Figure 1 shows a central vertical section through a gas engine cylinder showing my invention.

Fig 2 shows a similar view of an alternative construction.

1 marks the cylinder, .3 the piston, the cylinder head. l the jacket for the cylinder head, 5 the ignition or combustion chamber Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Serial No. 133,371.

fuel and air depending somewhat on the type of the engine.

The hot plate 7 forms one wall of a receptacle 8. The receptacle 8 is mounted in a water-jacketed housing 9 and an insulating space 10 15 provided between the walls of the receptacle 8 and the housing 9. The receptacle has a flange 11 at its upper end which rests on the face of the housing 9. A condensing plate or head 12 is arranged over the receptacle and clamps the flange 11 on the face of the housing 9. The condensing plate has a cavity 13 through which water may be circulated, the pipes 14 being provided for this purpose.

A liquid 16 is provided for the receptacle and has a level, as shown at X, covering the plate 7. This liquid is one that has a vaporizing or boiling point at or above the ignition point of tnc explosive mixture. I have found sulfur having a vaporizing point of 446 centigrade admirably adapted for the purpose. For some purposes mercury having a boiling point 0f'360 centigrade may be used. v

An auxiliary bulb 17 is provided which may be heated by a torch, or otherwise, for the starting of the engine.

In the operation of the device, the burning gases in the combustion chamber heat the plate 7. This heat is absorbed'bvthe liqu d 16. When the liqu d reaches the boiling point it vaporizes and the vapor coming in contact with the plate 12 is cooled and condensed and returns to the body of the liquid 16. The rapidity of this vaporization depends upon the heat generated in the combustion chamber and this is dependent upon the amount of oil burned, in other words, the load at which the engine is running. The device, therefore, works automatically. With a greater vaporization there is a greater condensation, with a smaller vaporization a smaller condensation. The space between the liquid 16 and the plate 12 insulates the hot plate from the condenser. The condenser may be P aced at some distance from the receptacle 8 but for convenience is placed directly over it. as shown. It should be, however. of sufficient capacity to readily condense all vapor that may be formed in the opi iration of the device under the heaviest loads to which the engine is subjected.

it may be desired with variations of iiii. lure to vary the temperature of the plate 1'. This may be accomplished y varying the pressure in the receptacle 6. A. pipe 1;) is provided for this purpose and by putting the eccli-tacle under pressure by intri due-lug air or a neutral gas illt liquid in the receptacle may be varied to any pressure desired and its boiling point varied. With this variation in boiling point there is a similar variation in the plate 7. While I have shown and preferred the dissipation of the heat from the liquid 16 by vaporizing this liquid and condensing the vapor, I do not, in the broadest phases of my invention, Wish to be limited to such a structure.

In the alternative construction shown in Fig. 2, 1 marks the cylinder and 2 the piston. The head. 18 is arranged on the cylinder and this is connected by an insulating neck 19 with the combustion or ignition chamber 20. An injector 21 is pro vidcd for introducing fuel or fuel and air as may be desired. A hot plate 22 forms one wall of the combustion chamber. A'rcceptacle 23 surrounds the hot plate and this is closed by a plug 24. A liquid 25, such as sulfur, is placed in the receptacle having preferably a level at Y. 111 this case the walls of tile recs taclc are provided with radiating ribs 26 t ese walls thus forming a condenser for the vapor given off by'the liquid 25when it is heated above the vaporizing point.

An auxiliary hot bulb 27 is provided for starting the engine. The operation is similar to that shown in the structure of Fig. 1 except that the condensation is here accomplished by the air cooled radiating ribs instead of by means of the water circulation as shown in the structure of Fig. 1.

\Vhatl claim as new is:

1. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; and means for maintaining a liquid in contact with the plate with a vaporizing point at or above ignition temperature.

2, In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; means for maintaining a liquid in contact with the plate with a vaporizing point at or above ignition temperature; and means for dissipating the heat from the liquid.

3. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive enginesand the like, the combination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature: j niea ns for maintaining a. liquid in contact "with the late with a vaporizing point at or gabove ignition temperature; means for di sipating the heat from the liquid through it. \ilPUl'; and means tor condensing the 21pm gl\Ull oil by the liquid.

l. in a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; means [or maintaining a liquid in contact with the. plate with a vaporizing point at or abov ignition temperature; means for dis sipaling the heat from the liquid through its vapor; and means for condensing the vapor given oil by the liquid and returning the liquid formed by such condensation.

5. in a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; and sulfur maintained in contact with the plate for dissipating the heat from the plate.

6. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; a closed receptacle in which the plate forms a wall adapted to maintain a liquid in contact. with the plate; and means for controlling the pressure in the receptacle.

7. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; a liquid in contact with the plate; and means for dissipating the heat from the liquid, said means varying the amount dissi atedautomatically as the heat generated the hot plate varies to maintain the temperature of the plate approximately constant.

8. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a plate to be heated to iglnition temperature; a closed receptacle in w ich the plate forms a wall adapted to maintain a liquid in contact with the plate; and condenser apparatus adapted to act upon vapors roduoed in the receptacle and to return the iquid so condensed.

9. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; a closed receptacle in which the plate forms a wall adapted to maintain a liquid in contact with the plate, said receptacle having a flanged end; a housing for said receptacle spaced therefrom; a condensing plate forming a cover for the receptacle and adapted to clamp the receptacle on the housing; and nicans f or circulating a liquid through the condensing plate.

10. In a. hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a plate to be heated, and means for maintaining a liquid in contact with the plate with a vaporizing point at atmospheric pressure at or above ignition temperature.

1]. In a .ot plate apparatus, the combination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature the heat to which the plate is subjected varying with variations in the intensity of explosions of the engine; and means for dissipating the heat of the plate said means varyin the amount dissipated automatically as t e heat from the explosions vary to maintain the temperature of the plate approximately constant.

12. In a hot plate apparatus the combination of an ex losion chamber; means for introducing fue tothe chamber; a plate acting on the fuel and subjected to heat varym with the intensit of the explosions; a ligui dissipating the lieat from the plate havln a vaporizing point at a predetermine desired temperature for the plate; and means for condensing the vapor and returning it to the liquid.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HAROLD F. SHEPHERD.