US1494259A

US1494259A - Internal-combustion engine

Info

Publication number: US1494259A
Application number: US544859A
Authority: US
Inventors: Loetscher Alvin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1922-03-18
Filing date: 1922-03-18
Publication date: 1924-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1941-05-13

Description

May 13 1924. 1,494,259

A. LOETSCHER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 18 1922 y x I VENTUR. WITNESSES 30 A. oelscner,

A TTOR/VEYS Patented May 13, 1924.

STTES eena PATEN FFlfiE.

ALVIN LOETSCHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE. i

Application filed March 18, 1922. Serial No. 544,859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN LOETSGHER, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident wherein means is provided for introducing into the cylinders of the engine or into the combustible charge supplied thereto, a predetermined proportion of water and auxiliary air.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is automatic in operation and which operates to introduce into the cylinders or into the combustible charge a proper proportion of water and air so as to enhance the character of the combustible mixture and minimize deposits of carbon while insuring complete combustion with maximum eificiency.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in which the supply of Water and auxiliary air'is regulated by electromagnetic means,under the control of and responsive to the demands of the engine, whereby the quantity of water and auxiliary air is at all times supplied in the proper proportion.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is of extremely simple and durable construction, reliable in operation and easy and inexpensive to manufaoture.

Other objects and advantage of the invention residein certain novel features of con struction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference beinghad to'the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, illustrating an internal combustion engine, embodying the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the valve control. 1

Referring to the drawings wherein for the sake of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates the cylinders of an internal combustion engine which may be of any convenconductors 16 tional type and which is preferably equipped with an electric generator 6 shown as comprising a magneto but which may be a dyna-- mo or the like. The magneto is driven from the crank shaft of the engine in a conventional manner as by means of the usual gearing 7. An intake manifold 8 leads to the cylinders of the engine and is fed by an induction pipe 9 from a carburetor 10 of stand ard design.

An auxiliary inlet pipe 11 is provided and .one end thereof communicates with the induction pipe 9 between the carburetor and the intake manifold and the other end of the inlet pipe 11 is flattened, as at 12, and is in communication with the atmosphere. The open end of the inlet pipe 11 is secured by means of a clamping post 13 upon a panel 14: secured to the crank case of the engine. A water supply pipe 15 extends between the water jacket of the engine and the inlet pipe 11 and serves to convey a supply of water from the water jacket to the inlet pipe 11. Preferably the pipe 15 communicates with the pipe 11 adjacent the open end thereof, as shown in Figure 2.

An electromagnet 16 is mounted on the panel 14 and the coils or windings of the solenoid are connected in series with the generator of the engine by means of suitable An armature 17 is associ. ated with. the electromagnet and is pivotally mounted, as at 18, upon the panel 14. The free end of the armature 17 is offset at an oblique angle with respect to the main portion thereof and the offset end carries avalve 19. The valve 19 comprises a U-shaped piece of resilient sheet metal having one end secured to one face of the ofiset end and havingits bight or loop just free of the offset end whereby the other leg of the U -sl1aped valve is spring sup ported and has capacity for flexion in order that it may snugly engage the open inlet end of the pipe 11, as clearly shown in the drawings. It is understood that the leg adjacent the inlet pipe thus constitutes a flat plate valve having ample area to entirely cover the open end of the inlet pipe. The valve 19 serves to regulate the inflow of auxiliary air, as will be hereinafter'more fully de scribed.

A valve seat 20 is provided in the water supply pipe 15 and preferably takes the .form of a frusto conical ported partition. A

valve 21 of frusto conical form coacts with the valve seat 20 and the valve stem 22 of the valve extends down from the pipe and traverses the pipe 11, the valve stem extending through a stuffing box 23 provided in the pipe 11 and projecting from the pipe 11 for a substantial distance. The free end of the valve stem 22 is pivotally connected, as at 24, to one end of a rocker which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends upon the panel-14, as indicated at 26. At the end of the rocker 25 opposite its pivotal connection to the valve stem 22 it is pivotally connected, as at 27, to a lug 28 integrally formed with the armature 17. lit is to be understood that it found desirable a pin and slot connection may be substituted tor the pivotal connections 24: and 27 or a link may be used in lieu of the lug 28. The armature 17 thus also controls or regulates the valve 21, as will be hereinafter more fully described. 1

Spring means is provided for urging the armature 17 to such position as to maintain the

valves

19 and 21 in closed position and preferably this spring means comprises a post 29 carried by the panel upon which an adjusting screw 30 is mounted. The adjusting screw 30 tensions a coil spring 31 which engages the armature for the purpose described.

In operation, when the engine is started and at low engine speed, the motion transmitted to the armature of the electric generator is of relatively low velocity and therefore the current delivered to the electromagnet is of relatively small value. Consequently, the intensity of the magnetic field is not suflicient to attract the armature 17 against the action of the coil spring 31 so that both the

valves

19 and 21 remain closed at such time.

As the speed of the engine increases it is desirable to supply auxiliary air and water to the combustible charge to minimize carbon deposits and to insure complete combustion of the hydrocarbons and maximum etiiciency. In the present invention when the speed" of the engine so increases, the current delivered from the generator to the electromagnet increases in value so that the intensity of the magnetic field also increases and to such a degree that the armature 17 will be attracted against action of the coil spring 31. This movement of the armature swings the valve 19 away from the open end of the pipe 11 and thus permits air to flow in through the pipe 11. The movement of the armature also moves the rocker 25 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, and this move ment of the rocker is effective to open the valve 21 and permit water to How from the water jacket through the pipe 15 into the pipe 11. The auxiliary air and water thus supplied to the pipe 11 is carried into the induction pipe 9 wherein it mingles with the combustible mixture and as a part of this mixture the auxiliary air and water is introduced into the cylinders of the engine. It is understood also that the suction or pumping effect of the pistons operates to draw the air and water in through the pipe 11 and this suction coupled with the heat to which the water is subjected properly conditions the water.

If desired a shut-off valve, such as indicated at 15, may be incorporated in the pipe 15 between the valve 21 and the end of the pipe 15 which is tapped into the water jacket. The shut-ofl' valve may be of any conventional type and if desired it may be of the graduated ported type of rotary plug valve. It is also to be understood that in lieu of using the water in the water jacket of the cooling system of the engine, a tank, reservoir or other suitable source of water supply may be provided and connected with the pipe 15.

The valve 19 per se forms the subjectmatter of my co-pending application, filed December 13, 1921, Serial No. 522,189.

I claim:

1. In a device for supplying auxiliary air and water vapor to an internal combustion engine, an air inlet pipe open at one end to the atmosphere and leading to the engine. a water supply pipe communicating with the air inlet pipe intermediate its ends, a valve operating in the water supply pipe for regulating the flow of water therethrough, and having a stem projecting exteriorly of said pipes, an air inlet valve cooperable with the open end of the air inlet pipe for regulating the flow of air therethrough, and electro- 'magnetic means for cont-rolling said valves including an armature connected with the air inlet valve and motion transmission means between the armature and the stem of the valve of the water supply pipe.

2. In a device for supplying auxiliary air and water vapor to an internal combustion engine, an air inlet pipe open at one end to the atmosphere and leading to the engine,

a water supply pipe communicating with the air inlet pipe intermediate its ends, a valve operating in the water supply pipe for regulating the flow of water therethrough, and having a stem projecting ex.- teriorly of said pipes, an inlet valve cooperable with the open end of the air inlet pipe tt'orregulating the flow of air therethrough, and electro-magnetic means for controlling said valves including an armature connected with the air inlet valve, and a rocker having one end pivotally connected to the armature and having its other end pivotally connected to the stem of the valve of the water supplypipe.

ALVIN LOETSCHER.