US1590764A - Vaporizer - Google Patents

Description

June 29 1926.

H. S. LAMB VAPORI ZER Filed August 16, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 N V EN TOR. HAROLD 3. LAMB H. S. LAMB June 29 1926.

VAPORIZER Filed August 16,

1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR. HAROLD 6. L M

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES HAROLD .8. LAMB, LOB ANGELEB, CALIFORNIA.

varomzna.

Application filed August 16, 1924. Serial No. 782.419.

This invention relates to vaporizing devices which are particularly adapted to act upon hydrocarbon compounds to rovide a homogeneous thoroughly vaporize mixture for internal combustion engines.

. With the carbureting equipment now in use on gasoline engines only a portion of the asoline or other hydrocarbon is va rized y the carburetor and the unvaporized 1 liquid in the form of droplets is carried along with the vaporized portion to the engine. It is obvious that the molecular structure of these liquid particles of fuel is more complex than that portion which 1 vaporizes with the atomizing effect of the carburetor, since the same force is applied to the liquid as a whole, vaporizing some and leavin the balance in a liquid state. I

have foun in experimenting that these unvaporized portions of the h drooarbon cause the familiar knocking. his, my experiments show, is brought about by the detonation of the liquid particles by pressure and excess heat.

It is the object of my invention to overcome the objections noted by removing the particles of liquid from the vaporized ydrocarbon and then converting these liquid particles into a gaseous form and then mixing the gaseous vapor with the previously vaporized products to provide a relatively cool combustible mixture of fuel wherein the molecules are of uniform size and wei ht.

One 0 .the specific objects of my invention is to provide a carbureting device adapted for use with the ordinary carburetor and which is so constructed that the fluid particles remaining unvaporized after leaving the carburetor will be separated from the vaporized particles and after separation will be chan ed into vaporized particles and mixed with the previously forme va rs. A further object of the invention is to provide a vaporizer including a tube or manifold having means therein for imparting a whirling action to the li uid heavy particles passing therethrou h w ereby the particles or dro lets will "thrown off centrifugally an will be conducted to a heating device where they will be cracked and changed into vapor which may be conducted and mixed with the original vapor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vaporizing device, which may be used with any well known type of carburetor, employing a riser tube which has spiral vanes for producin a whirling action and wherein the tube is provided with an. elongated slot therein for directing the whirling droplets to a heating device.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of. an automobile engine showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal, sectional view of a vaporizer embodying the features of my invention with the arts shown in elevation; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the vaporizer; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the vaporizer and associate parts; Fig. 5 is a central, vertical, sectional view taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6, Fig. 2; Fi 7 is a longitudinal section similar to ig. 2 showing the action of the vaporizer; Fig. 8 is a transverse section showing the whirling effect produced; Fig. 9 is a graphic showing of a droplet of hydrocarbon and Fig'lO is a graphic showing of a molecu e of hydrocarbon.

As centrifugal forces bear a certain proortion to the weight acted upon it will he clearly seen that the action will be with increasing violence as the size and weight increase.

Liquid hydrocarbons such asgasoline and kerosene being of a heterogeneous composi-. tion having many boiling points, mustbe I first acted upon by a spraying action which vaporizes the lighter and more volatile por-v tions so that they are ready for combustion without being heated and should be sent 5 directly to the cylinders. The heavier portions of the fuel require much heat to bri them to their respective boilin points an this heat must be applied to t em without impairing the efficiency of the hydrocarbons that require less heat.

Referrin to the drawings by reference characters, have shown an. automobile engine at 10. This engine is shown as provided with a carburetor 11, with an intake manifold 12, and with an exhaust manifold 14.

The carburetor 11 may be of any well known type. The vaporizer shown in the drawings at 15 is merely one embodiment 110 the carburetor merely pulverizes the fuel into small droplets which detonate when exploded in an atmosphere of great pressure and heat as in the cylinders of an engine. In the operation of the modern gasoline engine, to secure the best results, the vaporized mixture fed to the engine should be homogeneous so .that when the mixture is fired there will be a relatively gradual spreading of the burning action. When the droplets mentioned are present they interfere seriousl with this desired even burning action, since they detonate and produce the well known undesirable knocking effect. v

I have been able to overcome the objections noted by providing a structure which acts upon the mixture of-vapor and droplets produced by the carburetor to give it a whirling effect. When the engine is-first started this whirling efi'ect causes the unvaporizedproducts to fly centrifugally into contact with the inner surface of the riser tube. The whirling action in the tube causes the unvaporized products after striking the inner surface of the tube to whirl about the inside of the tube until they enter the slot in this riser tube whence they pass to and against a heating element so that they are heated or in other words cracked and are simultaneously reduced to a vaporized condition. With the present embodiment of my invention, this vapor is then forced back to the intake manifold by the expansion brought about by the new droplets being vaporized. This fresh vapor u on entering the intake manifold mixes wit the vapor previousl formed. With the use of my invention t e carburetor is preferably set so that it will provide a leaner mixture than is ordinarily used since with my improvement the fuel is more completely consumed by combustion.

As stated, the vaporizer 15 ma be constructed with the three portions 1 18 and 19 and with the portion 18 inclined toward the axis 19 as shown. Other arrangements could, however, be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referrin to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the elbow 1- merges into the bulbous portion 18. This bulbous portion 18 is indicated as provided with spirally arranged'ribs 20,

therein. Two ribs are shown and each has.

the samepitch and each is arranged on one half of the inner surface of the bulbous portion. These ribs or vanes increase in depth from each end toward their intermediate portion so that the assageway between the ribs is of the same diameter as the diameter of the riser tube 19. It is essential that the mixture be whirled about although means other than that described may beused to bring this about.

The riser tube 19 is indicated as provided with a slot 22 which leads to the rear por tion of the tube. This slot 22 terminates at and it could be incorporated in the distributin branch of the intake manifold.

he upper end of'the riser tube 19 is en larged as at 24 and this enlarged portion is provided with an interiorrabbet 25. A collar 26 collar 26 has a taperin lower skirt 27 which forms a passage way tween the collar26 fits within the rabbet 25. This and the rabbeted portion 25. The riser 19 is shown as connected with the intake manifold adjacent to the collar 26 although any other arrangement could be provided if desired.

, It may be here stated that my invention is adapted to be used with any type of intake and exhaust manifold so long as the intake manifold is provided with the necessary connection and the exhaust manifold is provided with the necessary heating connections to conduct heat to the vaporizing element of the intake manifold.

The exhaust manifold 14 is shown in. the drawings as provided with a fiat portion 30 adjacent the back portion of the riser 19. The riser 19'is likewise provided with a flat portion 31 and with a continuous peripheral upstanding flange 32 thereon. The flange 32 is adapted to seat against the flat portion 30 and is separated by a thin metal plate to form an elongated thin receptacle. A sheet of suitable material, such as copper, is shown at 35 as arranged between the rib 32 and covering the adjacent portion 30 of. the exhaust manifold. The plate 35' serves as a heat conductor as well as a gasket. To insure a fluid tight joint between the plate 35 and the flange 32 a suitable member such as a thin asbestos gasket may be used. A suitable fastening member- Arranged upon the surface 31 and adja: cent to the opposed sides of the slot 22 I show narrow spaced downwardly directed ribs 40. These ribs 40 terminate some distance short of the inner edge of the flange 32 and are preferably of the same thickness of thisv rib, whereby, in conjunction with the plate 35 they form passageways.

In other words, droplets 50 as shown in The operation of my device is as follows: The fuel enters the carburetor 11 where part of it is vaporized. This vaporized fuel with many droplets 50 (shown graphically in Fig; 9) passes to the bulbous portion 18 where the vanes 20 give it a whirling action. This whirling action is not sufficient to act upon the vaporized particles shown graphically in Fig. '10 but causes the droplets to be thrown against the inner surface of the riser 19. The droplets thus whirling on the inner surface of the riser 19 form what might be termed tiny rivulets of fuel. These .rivulets are shown 1n Fig. 7 at 51. As the liquid rotating within the riser moves over the inner surface thereof it enters the slot 22. Any excess amount of fluid in the riser tube will be trap ed in the space 25 and the surplus fluid Wlll find its wa through hole 23 which is an enlargement o the slot 22. The path of the whirling fuel tends to straighten out as the velocity increases but the centrifugal action increases and the liquid fuel is thrown out with greater violence. This improves the volumetric efficiency. at higher speeds.

After 'the'fluid passes through the slot 22 it moves down the passageways 54 which are rovided by means of the inclined ribs 40. e aces 54 and in fact the entire receptacle a 'acent the Plate 35 are extremely narrow. The liquid uel adjacent the plate 35 is now heated and is changed to va r.

1g. 9 are reduced to the molecules as shown in Fi 10 at 55.

en the droplets are thus vaporized, their volume is increased and the pressure is increased so that this freshly formed vapor is pressed back into the intake maniold where it moves with the vapor already produced and provides a homogeneous mixture for the enginecylinders.

The above operation takes place when the en ine is'started from a cold condition.

heats the riser tube 19so that some ofthe- A rthee' e has been running some time the heat m the exhaust manifold 14 droplets are vaporized when whirled and thrown against the inner surface of the tube. An droplets not thoroughly vapor-- ized will (1 their way through the slot 22 and will be vaporized in the heating receptacle.

lHaving thus my invention, I e arm: 1 1. A vaporizer comprising a conduit for a vaporous fuel mixture, means arranged along the inner surface of the conduit for trapping fuel particles in the vapor, at device in communication with the conduit for vaporizing the fuel particles comprising a chamber associated with the condu1t,'a p ate covering the chamber against which the fuel particles are vaporized, means for heating the plate and means for permitting the vapor so formed, to mingle with the vaporous fuel mixture previously formed.

2. In a vaporizer including an elongated tube having a. bulbous portion therein, spiral vanes arranged on the inner wall of said bulbous portion to provide an unobstructed passa e, said tube having an opening in the wall 1; ereof separate from and beyond said vanes, a collar within said tube, said collar being spaced from the tube to form an annular fuel trapping. cavity, an element adapted to be heated adjacent to said tube,

means for heating said element said opening enabling particles separated from the vapor to be distributed over said heated element.

3. A vaporizer including a tube having a bulbous portion .therein, spiral vanes arranged in said bulbous portion, said tube having an aperture in one ortion of the wall thereof, said aperture ing separate ticles passing therethrough, said tube a ing an a erture in the wall thereof, said aperture eing separate from and beyond said means, sa1d tube having a flanged portion thereon, a plate adapted to fit said flanged portion to forma receptacle, means to heat said plate, said aperture being arranged in the portion of the wall of the tube which is adjacent to said plate thus enabling particles separated from the vapor to pass throu h the aperture and to impinge upon said ate. 7 p

5. a vaporizer including a tube having a bulbous portion therein, spiral vanes arranged in said bulbous'portion, the inner diameter of said spiral vanes beingof the same diameter as the internal diameter of the tube, a rabbeted I end of said tube, a collar adapted to fit within said tubeadilaocent said ra bet, said collar being spaced to said tube to provide a portion adjacent one H passage of the fluid articles separated from the vapor to said e ement.

6. In a vaporizer, including a tube having a bulbous portion therein, spiral vanes arranged in said bulbous portion, the inner diameter of said spiral vanes being of the same diameter as the internal diameter of the tube whereby an unobstructed passage is formed, a slot in said tube having an enlarged upper end a continuous flange on said tube extending thereabout, a plate adapted to fit said flange to form a receptaole, means for heating the plate, said slot enabling fluid particles-separated from the. 'vapor to be distributed over said late, the

upper end of said tube being en arged to form a cavity .for trapping the excess of droplets so that they may pass through the enlarged end of said slot.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

HAROLD S. LAMB.

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