US1572278A - Steam injector for internal-combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,278

, H. G. FLETCHER STEAM INJECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. 26, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 9 1926.

H. G. FLETCHER STEAM INJECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. 26, 92 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 9, 1926. I

UNITED STATES HUBER! G. FLETCHER, LONG, ARKANSAS.

STEAK INJECTOR FOB INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed February 26, 1924. Serial No. 895,282.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hunna'r G. FLETCHER, f

a citizen of the United States, residin at Lonoke, in the county of Lonoke and tate of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Steam Injectors for Internalombustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam injectors for the carbureters of internal combustion engines.

It is a well known fact that the injection of heated air, steam, or vapor to mix with the charge from a carbureter to an internal combustion engine enhances the explosive effect or power derived from the carbureted mixture; many systems and appliances have been provided for feeding air, steam, or va por for this purpose.

My object 1s to provide a novel system or appliance by which the quantity of moisture in the vapor or steam derived from the radiator of the engine is reduced to the point where the vapor mixes most effectively with the carbureted mixture in the mixing chamber of the carburetor thus forming a more highly volatile, explosive, and powerful mixture or charge to be sent to the engine than ordinarily which not only enables the engine to derive more power from the mixture but also economizes in the gasoline consumption.

A further object is the rovision of a novel system or appliance o the character set forth by which, when the engine is first started, or turned over, a certain quantity of moisture will be drawn into the mixing chamber of the carbureter to blend with the charge and to assist in starting, even before 49 the temperature of the water in the cooling system of the engine has been ralsed sufliciently to provide the vapor which my 1mproved system superheats and furnishes to the carbureter after the engine has started.

A practical embodiment of my invention takes the vapor or steam, as the case may be, from the radiator of the engine, treats it in a vacuum tank, superheats, so to speak, the

vapor or stem, an passes the dry, or rela- 50 tively dry, steam to the mixing chamber of the carbureter. The vacuum tank in my invention constitutes an important part or feature thereof because it provides for the expansian 0f the water vapor derived from the radiator, causes a precipitation of water mm the vapor and insures the delivery from the vacuum tank of a more volatile and drier form of vapor or steam. The expansion and refining of the vapor in the vacuum tank eliminates such a quantity of moisture or water therefrom that the dried, or relatively dried, vapor passing from the vacuum ta is in a condition enabling it to mix most effectively with the charge in the mixing chamber of the carbureter. The vacuum tank also acts as an equalizer or stabilizer of the quantity of moisture delivered to the carbureter mixing chamber and thereby insures an even or uniform flow of moisture and a resultant even and uniform flow of power from the engine. The vacuum tank y permittmg the passage to the carbureter only of relatlvely light, hot, live steam, prevents the lowering of the temperature of the heating chamber of the heater which I utilize to dry the vapor or steam before it is finally passed to the carbureter; this insures a better mixture in the carbureter.

While the invention will operate without the use of a heater, I have found that it is preferable to employ a heater, interposed in the feed line from the vacuum tank to the carbureter for the purpose of drying the vapor or steam; this heater may be conveniently attached to the exhaust manifold of 86 the engine and it may assume the form of a stove.

Another feature of the invention which is of peculiar advantage, is the provision of a trap' or seal in the pipe line connecting the vacuum tank to the radiator for the purpose of preventing the vacuum in the tank from being lowered by the admission of atmospheric pressure; this seal or trap also may e provided with a pet cock to enable draining to be-had to prevent freezing in winter.

The vacuum tank is preferably provided with an automatic water relief float so that the recipitated Water may drain when it reac es a predetermined level.

It is to be understood that the vacuum tank forming a part of the "present invention is an entirely separate and distinct thing from ,what is known as the usual vacuum tank of an internal combustion engine, such last named tank being used for the gasoline feed.

I am aware that modifications may be resorted to in carrying out the invention without departing from the essential principles thereof and I reserve the right to modify the invention within the spirit and scope thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the invention applied to an automobile eng ne.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section, partly in full lines, of the vacuum tank.

Fig. 3 is a detail section of the heater.

Fig. 4 is afront elevation thereof: and

Fig. 5 is an end elevation showing the manner in which the heater is secured tothe exhaust pipe or manifold.

The engine appears at 1 and the radiator at 2. The carbureter 3 may be of any construction. The exhaust pipe and manifold are shown at 4. I have illustrated the invention in connection with an automobile engine, but it will be understood that the appliance or system may be used with any internal combustion engine whether stationary or mounted on a land or water vehicle.

The radiator overflow pipe is shown at 5. Preferably, although not necessarily, the system is arranged to receive the vapor or steam from pipe 5 but it will be understood that the vapor or steam could be derived from the extreme upper part of the radiator, above the water line.

The improved vacuum tank employed in connection with the invention appears at 6 and is shown in detail in Fig. 2. The upper part of this tank is connected by a pipe or tube 7 to the overflow pipe 5 or the extreme upper part of the radiator. For the purpose of providing a trap or seal to catch the water of condensation, the pipe 7 has a bend or elbow 8 which is provided with a' pet cock 9 so that it may be drained in winter to prevent freezing. The trap or elbow 8 maintains the proper vacuum in the tank 6 as the water in said trap or seal tends to prevent the atmosphere from having access to the tank 6 through the pipe 7.

The vacuum tank 6 is preferably provided with a splash wire screen or partition 10 in its upper part which prevents excessive splash of the water, precipitated from the vapor or steam, that collects in the bottom of the tank.

The bottom'of the tank is provided with a valve seat 11 to which is connected a tube or pipe 12 by which drainage. under the control of a float 13, is permitted.

The float 13 is carried by a stem 14 and carries a valve 15 which is adapted to rest on seat 11. The stem 14 is guided in a hearing 16 on a frame 17 which is secured to the bottom of the tank 6. A coil spring 19, surrounding stem 14 and interposed between float l3 and frame 17, normally keeps the valve 15 tightly closed against the seat 11. When, however, the accumulation ,of pm cipitated water in the bottom of tank 6 reaches a certain level, the float rises and lets ofli' the excess and then closes. The purpose of maintaining water in the tank 6 is to afford a certain degree of moisture which may be drawn into the carbureter when the engine is first turned over or started, to facilitate starting and increase the power at that time.

The vapor or steam entering the vacuum tank 6 through the pipe 7 may be delivered directly to the carbureter 3 but to obtain the best results it is preferable to heat or dry the vapor or steam. To that end, there is provided a heater 19 which may be of any preferred form, said heater being attached in any suitable manner to the exhaust manifold 4 or pipe as shown in Fig. 1.

The vapor or steam is conducted by a pipe 20 from the top of the tank 6 to the heater 19' and after passing through said heater it enters a pipe 21 which delivers it to the carbureter 3.

A practical form of heater 19" is that shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, said heater having an inlet nipple 22, cells or chambers 23, and an outlet nipple 24 and being curved to fit the manifold or the exhaust pipe. A suitable clamp 25 secures the heater in position.

It will be understood that the suction of the engine creates the vacuum in tank 6 and causes the vapor or steam to be drawn into the tank through the pipe 7 but as the seal 8 is provided the lowering of the vacuum due to access of the atmosphere is minim ized. The vapor or steam drawn into the tank 6 carries a very considerable percentage of moisture. The vacuum existing in tank 6 causes an expansion of the vapor or steam which results in precipitation of a very considerable amount. of the water in the vapor or steam and this collects in the bottom of the tank but is relieved by the rising of float 13 in the manner previously set forth. The suction of the en 'ne draws the dried vapor or steam into t e mixing chamber of the carbureter where it blends with the charge to brin about effects pre viously described. By t e provision of the heater 19 the steam or vapor is rendered even drier than were said heater not used, with resultant volatility steam, and thus superior results are obtained in the carbureted charge.

then the engine is cold, he first crankings or turnings over will result in moisture laden air 'bein drawn from the tank 6 into the engine cylinders to assist in operation. even before the temperature of the water in the radiator is sufiiciently high to give oif vapor. As soon as vapor begins to enter the system, increased power in the engine will result. i I

I clean:

of the vapor or 1. In a steam injector for internal combustion engines, the combination witha vacuum tank independent of the usual gasoline vacuum tank, of means for supplying vapor or steam from the engine radlator to said tank, and a conduit for delivering vapor or steam from said vacuum tank to mix with the charge for the engine. a

2. In a steam injector for internal combustion engines, the combination with a vacuum tank independent of the usual gasoline vacuum tank, of means for supplying vapor or steam from the engine radiator to said tank, and a conduit for delivering vapor or steam from said vacuum tank to mix with the charge for the engine. said conduit enabling the suction of the engine to effect a vacuum condition in said vacuum tank.

3. In a steam injector for internal com- 1 bustion engines, the combination with a vac- 20 uum tank independent of the usual gasoline vacuum tank, of a pipe for supplying vapor or steam from the engine radiator to said tank, said pipe being provided with a water seal or trap to minimize the admission of 25 air to the vacuum tank, whereby the vacuum is maintained in said tank, and a conduit for delivering vapor or steam from said vacuum tank to mix with the charge for theen ine. I

n testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

. HUBERT G. FLETCHER.

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