US1518980A - Hydrocarbon washer for gas engines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 9 4- 1,518,980

15. B. GISH HYDROCARBON WASHER FOR GAS ENGINES Filed May 2%}, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 snow Mew Dec. 9. 1,924. 1,518,980

' D. B. GISH HYDROCARBON WASHER FOR GAS ENGINES I Filed May 28, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I i I L";

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UNITED STATES EATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL BRAILEY GISH, 0F WASHIIEGTON, DISTRICT OE COLUMBIA.

HYDROCABBON WASHER FOR GAS ENGINES.

Application filed May 28,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, DANIEL BRAILEY Gisrr. a citizen of he United States, residing at WVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Hydrocarbon \Vashers for Gas Engines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for treating gasoline or other hydrocarbons as it passes from the supply tank to the carburetor.

An object of the invention is to provide 4 an apparatus for thoroughly washing the hydrocarbon for removing all impurities, free carbon, sulphur, alumina, silica and the like from the hydrocarbon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the hydrocarbon is caused to pass in a finely divided state through a body of liquid on its way to the carburetor, whereby it is not only washed and freed from all impurities, but is also humidified or charged to a certain extent with the liquid vapor in suspension, which vapor increases the efficiency of combustion and reduces to a minimum the deposit of carbon and soot in the cylinders.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through an apparatus embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the strainer support and the suction reducing means through which the gasoline or hydrocarbon passes from the receptacle to the vacuum tank or carburetor: and

3 is a view similar to Fig. 1. but showing a slightly modified form of apparatus.

The invention consists broadly in providing an air-tight receptacle in which is maintained aliquid well, the level of which terminates soinedistance below the top of the receptacle. I prefer to use water which may have certain chemicals in solution to aid in the combustion and in reducing to a minimum tl' e carbon and soot deposits in the cylinders. The liquid used, however, must 1929- Serial No. 385.027.

be of greater specific gravity than the hydrocarbon, so as to separate therefrom and maintain a well in the lower part of the receptacle. This liquid well will hereinaftci be termed a *ater well for descriptive purposes. ltfleans is provided for introducing the gasoline or hydrocarbon into the water well adjacent the bottom thereof in a finely; divided state, so that as it bubbles or sprays up through the water well and accumulates in the receptacle above the water well. it will be tl'ioroughly washed and all impurities removed therefrom, including the removal of free carbon, sulphur and the like, which causes a carbon or soot deposit in the engine cylinders and also eliminates carburetor and vacuum trouble. At the same time, the hydrocarbon bubbling up through the water takes up some of the water in the form of vapor in suspension and is thus humidified. The hydrocarbon thus becomes charged to a certain extent with water vapor which aids very much the combustion of the hydro carbon in the cylinders. Means is provided when the receptacle is placed between the tank and the vacuum feed for reducing the suction, thus distributing the vacuum pull over a longer period of time, so that the hydrocarbon passes gradually into the water well, and thus can be more finely divided which facilitates washing of the same and the charging of the gasoline or hydrocarbon with water vapor in suspension.

Referring more in detail to the drawings. 1 have shown a receptacle 1 which consists. as herein shown, of a glass cylinder 2. This glasscylinder, as shown in Fig. 1, is open at both ends. The lower end is closed by a 'base plate 3, which is formed with a recess in its upper face adapted to receive a cork or metal washer 4-, and also the edge of the glass cylinder. The upper end of the cylinder is closed by a top plate 5, which has a recess in its under face adapted to receive a cork or metal washer 6, and the upper edge of the glass cylinder. The top and bottom plates are secured together by means of bolts. any number of which may be used, but I prefer to use three, two of which are indicated in the drawings at 7 and 8. These bolts pass through suitable openings in the top plate and also through suitable openings in the base plate which are in alinement. Threaded on the lower end ofthe bolts 7 and 8 are winged nuts 9. The bolt 7 is preferably provided with a sleeve 10 against which the nut 51 bears. The top plate issecured to a bracket plate 11 by means of screws, one of which is indicated at 12 in the drawings. Also secured to this bracket plate 11 is a projecting arm 13 having an opening surrounding the rod 7, and this serves to steady the lower end of the receptacle. The bracket plate 11 is adapted to be attached to the body part of the automobile, preferably near the vacuum tank.

The gasoline or other hydrocarbon is led from the supply tank through the pipe 14, and this pipe 1 1 is connected to a short threaded section of pipe 15 threaded into the face plate 3 by the usual gas-tight clamping member 16. The upper end of the pipe section 15 is closed by means of a cap plate 17 which is provided with a series of openings 1.5%. These openings are comparatively of small size and may be made in suitable number so as to linely divide the gasoline or hydrocarbon as it passes into the receptacle. In the receptacle is placed water or some other suitable washing agent. which has a greater specific gravity than gasoline, so that it will separate from the gasoline by gravity. The water level is indicated in Fig. 1 by the line This water level is some'distance below the top of the receptacle and the gasoline bubbling up through the water well will accumulate in the recep tacle above the water level. A pipe 18 leads from the receptacle to the vacuum tank. Threaded into a suitable opening in the top plate 5 is a pipe 19. Also threaded into the top plate 5 is a short pipe section 20 which carries a screen retainer head 22 at the lower end. This screen retainer head is provided with a wire mesh strainer 23 or with a chamois-skin and prevents drawing the water through into the engine in case the gasoline supply gives out.

Secured to the lower end of the pipe section 20 is a cap plate 2 1 through which are made suitable openings 25. These openings are relatively small and serve as a means of breaking the vacuum or distributing the time 01 pull, so as to prevent drawing the gasoline too rapidly from the supply tank.

These openings may be increased in size or number, as desired, and thereby regulate the low of gasoline into the receptacle 1. Twoobjects are obtained by this regulation of the flow of gasoline or other hydrocarbon: First the flow of gasoline into the receptacle is very much slower and is more finely divided so that it is thoroughly washed and charged with the water vapor in suspension, and second, the quantity of gasoline drawn through at a given time is also regulated, and this enables the apparatus to be set by determining the size of these openings so that a motor truck, for example, cannot be driven above a fixed speed, say fifteen, sixteen or twenty miles per hour. If this speed is exceeded, then the supply of gasoline in the tank is quickly exhausted, in the case of vacuum.

As a means for drawing off the Water well when it becomes lilledwith slime and dirt and replenishing the same, I have provided a pet-cock 26 which is threaded into an opening through the base plate 5. I have also provided an opening 21' in the top plate which may be closed by a suitable winged plug 29. By removing the plug 29 and opening the pet-cock 26, the water may be drawn oil and a new supply provided.

In addition to washing the gasoline and lnimiditying the gasoline or charging the same with a water vapor, I may also charge the water with chemicals that will pass with the water vapor in suspension in the gasoline into the engine and thus increase the efficiency of combustion and reduce to a minimum the carbon or soot deposit in the engine cylinders.

Located in the pipe 14 and between the receptacle 1 and the supply tankis a check valve 30 which is otthe well-known type, and this check valve operates toprevent water from draining or siphoning back into the tank. I

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention. In this form of the invention thev glass cylinder 2 in the form of a a1" having the lower end thereof closed by an integral glass section 31. The top plate 5, together with. the pipe 19, its connection to the top plate, and the strainer head 22 are of the: same construction. as described above in detail in connection with Fig. 1. The bottom plate 3 is similar in construction so far as supporting;

the lower end of the receptacle 2 is concerned, but this plate. is imperiorate. The receptacle is secured in this instance by two brackets 32 and 33. Thebracket 32 use tached to the top plate, while the bracket 33 has an opening through which the clamping rod or bolt 7 passes. The main distinction between this embodiment of the invention and that contained in, Fig. 1 consists in the leading of the gasoline or hydrocarbon into the receptacle 2. In this'instance there is a pipe 34: which is threaded into the top plate 5 and extends downward into the receptacle to a point adjacent the bottom of the recep tacle 2. At the lower end of the pipe there is an elbow and a short length of pipe 36 which extends horizontally and is provided with small openings 37 through which the gasoline passes into the water well.

A pipe 38 leads to the supply tank and is.

provided with a check valve similarin construct-ion to that shown in. Fig. 1. The water is removed and replenished in this embodiment of the invention by detaching the winged nuts and removing the receptacle,

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after which it is emptied and then replaced and clamped in the position shown in the drawings.

lVhile I have shown the receptacle as placed in the line between the supply tank and the vacuum tank, it will be understood, of course, that it may be placed between the vacuum tank and the carburetor, if desired, but by placing it as shown and described the gasoline passing into the vacuum tank is previously washed and all impurities, dirt and slime removed therefrom, and this keeps the vacuum tank very clean and increases the efliciency of the operation of the same. lVhile I have described my apparatus as applied to a vacuum feed system, it will also be understood that it may be readily applied to a gravity pressure and force feed system, in which case the gasoline will, of course, be carried into the receptacle by gravity and fed from the receptacle to the carburetor also by gravity.

The process of humidifying or charging the gasoline or other hydrocarbon with water vapor on its way to the carburetor forms no partof the present invention, but is described and claimed in my Patent Number 1,373,720.

It is: obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangementof parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new. is

An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon as it passes from the supply tank to the cylinders of a gas engine including a glass cylinder, a top plate adapted to close the upper end of said cylinder, a. bottom plate adapted to close the lower end of said cylinder, a water well in said receptacle terminating at a distance below the top thereof, means for introducing the hydrocarbon into the receptacle through the bottom plate in a finely divided state whereby it is caused to bubble up through the water well and to be washed and charged wit-h water vapor in suspension, a pipe connected with the receptacle above the water level for drawing off the gasoline and, supplying the carburetor, and a perforated cap for said pipe for distributing the time of the drawing pull on the gasoline.

In testimony whereof, I affix my si nature.

DANIEL BRAILEY ISH.

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