US1725392A - Method and apparatus for refining lubricating oil in hydrocarbon motors - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1929. w. B. CLJFFORD v A I 1,725,392

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REFINING LUBRICATING OIL IN HYDROCARBON MOTORS Filed May 16. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l t- 9. I w. B. CLIFFORD 2 ,392

m0!) AND APPARATUS FOR RBFINING LUBRICA'IING OIL IN HYDROQARBON IOI'ORS,

Filed lay 16, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fill/6121 02: Zliztzwss:

mungon -41 W H/Y S Aug. 20, 1929. w. B. CLIFFORD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REFINING LUBRIGATING OIL IN HYDROGARBON MOTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 16, 1924 Aug, 20, 1929. w. a. CLIFFORD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REFINING LUBRICAT ING OIL IN HYDROCARBON IOTORS Filedllay 16, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 V f J Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WALTER B. CLIFFORD, OF FBAIINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLIF- FORD CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REFINING LUBRICATING OIL IN HYDROCARBON MOTORS.

Application filed Kay 16,

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus designed for the refining and purification of lubricating oils more particularly employed in connection with the refining of the lubricating oil during the operation of a hydrocarbon motor.

The maintenance of lubricating oil free from contamination with gasoline and water is a matter of great importance in the present day operation of hydrocarbon motors. It will be self-evident to those skilled in the art that the pollution of the lubricating oil with a relatively small percentage of gasoline or kerosene may seriously impair the lubricating properties. This dilution in the usual and ordinary operation of an internal combustion motor-,-especially in a. motor vehicle, may occur almost immediately after a fresh charge of oil has been introduced into the crank-case, due to one or more of several causes. The failure of the diluted oil to properly perform its expected function causes rapid deterioration of the moving parts and may result in actual failure of the motor, through burned out bearings. Various attempts have been made to avoid pollution of the lubricating oil with gasoline by insuring a complete'vaporization and combustion of the gasoline, more particularly in cold weather. In no case however, is it possible to prevent a greater or less dilution of the lubricating oil with a gasoline content.

Even though vaporization in the combustion chamber may be substantially complete, the leakage of the vapor past the piston during the compression stroke of the motor with a subsequent condensation of the vapor in the crank-case will cause substantial dilution.

The extent of this dilution may in part be affected by the capacity of the lubricating oil for absorption of gasoline or kerosene. The entrance of water into the crank-case, which inevitably takes place, is also a serious factor to be contended with. The water mixing with the oil forms an emulsion which collects in the crank-case as a sludgy mass and if not removed interferes with the circulation of the oil and its lubricating properties. The water may also freeze and interfere seriously with the circulation of the .oil. Aside from 1924; Serial not 713,857.

seriously depreciating the lubricating qualities of the oil with consequent deterioration of the motor, the presence of diluents and water in the lubricating oil necessitates replacement of the oil after a much shorter period of use than would otherwise be necessary, as under normal conditions the lubricating roperties of the oil depreciate very little with a relatively long period of use.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for maintaining lubricating oil substantially free from contamination with water and gasoline or other diluents during the continued use of the oil for lubricating the h drocarbon motor.

A fi irther object of the invention is to provide a simple and relatively compact form of apparatus which may be readily attached to existing forms of internal combustion motors and which does not interfere with the normal and usual operation of the motor.

With these and other objects in view, one feature of the invention contemplates subjecting relatively small quantities of lubricating oil to a distilling operation carried out within predetermined temperature limits sufficient y high to distill off the water and gasoline .without breaking up or impairing the lubricating oil, the passage of oil through so the distilling chamber being governed and controlled by the temperature of the chamher in such a nanner that when the temperature of the chamber is below a point at which distillation-of the gasoline and water content is effected the flow'of oil is cut 011.

' A further feature of the invention contemplates the provision of a distilling or vaporizing chamber heated from the exhaust of the motor, and means for supplying lubricating oil from the motor to the chamber in quantities governed by the amount of heat imparted to the oil in the chamber from-the exhausttgases for the purpose of insuri that all oil' passing through the distilling chamber shall be raised to a predetermined distilling range.

A still further feature of the invention contemplates the provision of a mechanism I for simply and e ectively varying the dis- 1 tilling temperature to which oil passing through the distilling chamber is subjected.

Still further features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention Fig. 1 represents a side elevation'of a hydrocarbon motor with the improved refining apparatus attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the motor and attachment shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section in el ivation of the distilling apparatus; F ig. 4 is a detail illustrating a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a top'plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4. i

In the preferred method described and illustrated, the lubricating oil is pumped fromthe crank-case into a distilling or vaporizing chamber located adjacent to the exhaust of the motor. The exhaust is bypassed about theyaporizing chamber heating it to a temperature sufiiciently high to accomplish the desired distillation of the gasoline and water. Located within the vaporizing chamber is a thermostatic regulator or control vwhich is designed to normally maintain the. oil intake closed except when the temperature within the chamberis raised to the distilling point. Thereafter the regulatorfunctions to open the intake valve and permit a discharge of lubricating oilby the pump into the chamber. This continues until the flow of relatively cooler oil through the chamber with an accompanying vaporization of gasoline and water lowers the temperature of the chamber to a predetermined limit, when the regulator automatically closes the intake and maintains it closed until the temperature is elevated to the desified 'point. It will thus be evident that the volume of-oil passing through the distilling chamber is varied in accordance with theamount of exhaustheat usefully employed in raising the'temperature of the oil in the distilling chamber. The return of the purifiedand refinedlubri'cating oil to the crank-case is accomplished by gravity. The distilling of the oil within the vaporizing chamber is, carried out at atmospheric pressure or substantially atmospheric pressure and the products of distillationmay be discharged into the atmosphere, into a condenser, or into the carbureter, as desired.

lation is obtained. Althoughthese tempera-l ture limits appear to be amply high for the purpose of distilling off gasoline and water vapors, nevertheless it should be understood by those skilled in the art that under certain conditions and with certain types of lubri- Referring'more particularly to the accompanying drawings, a hydrocarbon motor of conventional type is indicated generally at 10. This motor is provided with the usual crank-case 12 having an oil pipe 14 leading from the crank-case and connected with a circulating pump not shown. As indicated, the oil pipe 14 communicates with a pressure gage located upon the dash of the motor vehicle. This pipe conveniently serves as a connection for a pipe 16 leading into the upper portion of a vaporizer indicated generally at 20. It will be obvious that with this construction the lubricating oil is maintained within the pipe 16 at a pressure determined by the circulating pump. The vaporizing assembly 20, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, may be secured to the side of the motor adjacent the upper portion and in convenient proximity to the exhaust manifold 25.

In the present form of motor, the exhaust manifold extends lengthwise of the upper portion of the motor and thence downwardly and rearwardly, as shown at 26. The vaporizing assembly is connected adjacent the end of the exhaust manifold where the 190 exhaust gases are presumably the hottest. Referring more particularly to the detail construction shown in Fig. 3, it will be observed thatthe vaporizing assembly is provided. with an annular heating chamber 30 1 which communicates directly with the exhaust passage 32 through a communicating pipe 34, the volume of exhaust which passes into the annular heating chamber being determined by an opening 36 formed in a gasket or washer 38 interposed between the exhaust manifold-and the vaporizing assembly; Through the provision of washers or gaskets having suitably designed openings of diflerent sizes, the volume of exhaust passing into the heating chamber may be controlled in such a manner that the same vaporizing unit may be successfully-applied to motors of different sizes anddifferent characteristics. As will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 3, the vaporizing unit comprises essentially a casting 40 having the annular heating chamber 30 formed therein and In practice it has beenv found that if oil is substantially surrounding an inner vaporizing chamber 42, the heating chamber being completely separated from the vaporizing chamber through the rovision of an inte gral web or Wall 44. he hot exhaust gases after circulating freely about the annular heating chamber are discharged through an opening at the bottom portion of the casting communicating with an exhaust pipe 46. As indicatedclearly in Fig.4, this exhaust passage may extend rearwardly as a separate member or may enter the main exhaust indicated at 26. The oil pipe 16 communicates with the top of the vaporizing chamber through a sleeve 50 which is threaded in a cap 52 secured by bolts 54 to the top portion of the casting 40. The sleeve 50 by, virtue of its threaded connection with the cap 52 may be adjusted lengthwise of the chamber and is retained in adjusted position through a lock nut 56 surrounding the sleeve and adapted to clamp against the upper portion of the ca The intake end of the oil pipe 16 is indicated as tapped directly into the sleeve, although in actual practice the, end of the pipe might be connected to the sleeve through the provision of a union. The interior of the sleeve 50 is provided with a vertical oil passage of ample size, which is closed at its lower end by a ball valve 60 retained upon a valve seat 62 through a coiled spring 64 mounted within the passage and interposed between theend of the oil pipe and a positioning stud 66. The seat for the ball valve is formed upon the upper end of a hollow plug or sleeve 68 threadedly connected to the lower end of the sleeve 50 and forming a continuation of the oil passage below the valve, the lower end of the sleeve 68 discharging centrally into the vaporizing chamber 42 in a manner which will be evident. The flow of oil into the vaporizing chamber is controlled in accordance with the temperature of the chamber, this control being efi'ected through a thermostatic regulator which operates'to raise the ball valve and admit oil when the temperature of the chamberis elevated to a predetermined point. To this end, a thermostatic regulator of the bellows type is indicated at 70, this re ulator consisting of a seamless corrugated s ell of copper or similar material having a liquid tight seal at opposite ends andpreferably filled, as indicated in Fig. 3, with lubricating oil having characteristics similar to the oil under treatment. The thermostatic regulator is fixedly connected at its lower end to a head 72 which is conveniently supported upon the cap 52 by a plurality of rods 74. As indicated more particularly in Fig. 5, the head '(2 is in the form of a cross having a series of radiating arms which, are attached to the lower ends of the-rods, the openings between; the arms affording ample passage for a free circulation of lubricating oil. The lower portion of the regulator is provided with a cap 76 having a stem 7 8 which is secured rigid y to the head 72. The cap 80' formed upon the upper portion of the regulator is provided with an elongated stem 82 which extends upwardly within the opening formed in the plug 68 to a'point below the ball check 60. After an expansion of the bellows control equivalent to the desired rise in temperature,

the stem 82 contacts with and raises the ball 60 from its seat, permitting the discharge of limit, when the contraction of the regulator permits the ball to return to its seat and cut, off further fiowof oil until the temperature is again elevated. The action of the regulator produces an intermittent but more or less regular flow of oil as the, temperature within the chamber rises and falls. The advantage of such a method of control resides in the fact that oil is not passed through the vaporizing chamber except when the temperature of the chamber is maintained at 85 the desired distilling range and if the temperature of the incoming oil is such as to lower the temperature of the chamber immediately then further flow of oil is revented. Except by such a method of control, it is impossible to attain the desired result, as otherwise the flow of cold oil will lower the temperature of the chamber below the distilling point and relatively large (pliantities of oil may be passed through the c amber without being refined. It will be evident that the temperature limits at which the check valve is ppened and closed canbe adjusted by threading the sleeve 50 in or out of the head 52, this change in location of the sleeve varying the separation between the valve 60 and the upper end of the stem 82 and in consequence the point at which the stem will raise the valve from its seat. The

oil is maintained within the chamber at apm5 proximately the level indicated in Fig. 3 through the provision of a dam indicated at 90 over which the oil, spills during the operation of the vaporizer and thence downwardly into a return pipe 92, which may conveniently enter the side of the upper filler pipe 93. The dam 90 is formed as an integral web within a casting 94 which is bolted to the side of the casting 40, the interior of the casting 94 being connected with the bottom portion of the vaporizing chamber through a large passage 96. The casting 94 may be provided with a hinged cap portion 98 to observe whether or not oil is discharging over the dam andv thus check up on the oper- 12 ation of the unit. The bottom of the vaporizing chamber may be provided with a sediment chamber or sump 100"from which sediment may be discharged through a petcock 102. During the operation of the unit,

gasoline and water vaporis driven off from the bod of oil contained within the vaporizing c amber and discharges outwardly through a vent pi e tapped into the upper portion of t e chamber. This vent no lubricating oil free from gasoline and water content. In a typical installation in a well known and conventional type of motor, the

' check valve is opened when the temperature within the vaporizing chamber reaches 300- F. and permits the discharge of oil into the chamber until the temperature drops to 270 F. It is found that in the normal operation of the motor the discharge of oil through the chamber is intermittent and takes place at regular intervals, In a given test the volume of flow was suflicient to cause a complete circulation of all of the oil in the crank-case, about six quarts, through the refining apparatus in a period of approximately sixty minutes. Obviously the rapidity of flow of the oil through the refining apparatuswill depend to a considerable extent upon the temperature of the incoming lubricating oil, this temperature in turn depending upon outside temperatures and upon the length of time during which the motor is operated. Long continued tests with this type of apparatus have demonstrated that the oil is maintained substantially free from water and gasoline content and that the viscosity and lubricating properties even with long continued use are not impaired sufficiently to necessitate replacement of the oil. Aside from the saving in the use of lubricating oil effected by such a method and apparatus, the resulting benefit to the moving part-s of the motor, due to the employment of proper lubrication, is inestimable.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that if the flow of oil through the vaporizing chamber is not too great, the operation of the apparatus may be continuous during the operation of the motor. In other words, after the initial operation of the motor has raised the temperature of the vaporizing chamber to a point at which the thermostatic regulator opens the oil valve, then the heat supplied through the exhaust gases may be sufficient to maintain the temperature of the vaporizing chamber continuously at the desired point with oil flowing continuously therethrough;

It has been found in actual practice that the thermostatic regulator should be adjusted to maintain the temperature of the vaporizing chamber at limits approximating or slightly below the flash point of. the lubrieating oil. B this method, all, or substantially all, of t e gasoline content is removed from the oil. If a materially lower temperature is employed, there may be a gradual accumulation of the heavy tails from the gasoline and the oil which eventually serve to depreciate the lubricating properties.

1. An internal combustion motor compris-v ing a casing having a distilling chamber formed therein, means for directing hot exhaust gases about the distilling chamber, means controlled by the temperature within the distilling chamber for withholding the supply of oil thereto until distilling temperature is reached, and means for permitting the discharge of oil from the chamber adapted to maintain a'substantially .constant level within the chamber.

2. An-internal combustion motor comprising a casing having a distilling chamber formed therein, means for heating the distilling chamber from the motor exhaust, a head removably connected to the casing and closing the distilling chamber, a lubricant control valve connected to the head, a thermostatic regulator supported by the heaspl and adapted to be located within the di tilling chamber when the head is assembled with the casing, and operative connections between the regulator and valve for controlling the position of thevalve in accordance with the temperature within the distilling chamber.

3.. An internal combustion motor comprising a casing, a distilling chamber formed therein, means for directing hot exhaust gases about the distilling chamber, an overfiow chamber, a passage of large cross section connecting the lower portion of the distilling chamber with the overflow chamber, a lubricant supply Valve located in the upper portion of the distilling chamber, and a thermostatic control connected with the supply valve to control the latter in accordance with the temperature in the distilling chamber.

4. An internal combustion motor comprising an elongated distilling chamber, means for supplying lubricant to the upper portion of the chamber, a valve located in the lubricant supply, an expansible thermostatic control located in the distilling chamher and extending lengthwise, and an operating stem connected to. the control and designed to open the valve when the control is expanded to a predetermined point, correspondingto a predetermined distilling temperature within the chamber.

5. An internal combustion motor comprising a distilling chamber,,means for conducting lubricant to and from the chamber, means for heating the chamber from the exhaust, means for stopping the supply of lubricant to the chamber when the temperature therein drops to below predetermined distilling limit and for renewing the supply when the temperature rises above a predetermined distilling limit, and means for varying the temperature limits at which the lubricant supply is ,regulated.

6. An internal combustion motor comprising a distilling chamber with hot exhaust, means for heatin the chamber, means for maintaininga bo y of oil in the lower portion of the chamber, a thermostatic control located in the body of oil, an oil delivery passage communicating with the chamber, a valve located in the passage, a stem rojecting from the control and adapte" to prising a distilling chamber, means for heating the chamber through the exhaust gases fromthe motor, a thermostatlocated in the chamber, a removable head closing the upper portion of the chamber and supporting the thermostat to permit access to the thermostat upon removal of the head, and an oil admission valve controlled by the thermostat to regulate the admission of oil in accordance .with the temperature within the chamber.

11. An internal combustion motor comprising a distilling chamber, means for heating the chamber through the exhaust gases from the motor, a bellows thermostat supported in the chamber, an oil admission valve'and connections between the thermostat and oil admission valve for opening the valve to admit oil onl when the tem erature of the oil within t e chamber reac es a predetermined distillin point.

open the valve at a predetermined distilling 12, An internal com ustion motor co range and means for varying the distilling range at which the valve opens.

7. The method of removing vaporizable diluents from the lubricating oil of an internal combustion motor, which includes delivering relatively small quantities of oil to a distilling chamber heated from the exhaust gases from the motor only after the temperature within the chamber has reached a predetermined distilling ran e, and thereafter varying the supply of oi delivered to the chamber in accordance generally with variations in the heat of the exhaust gases usefully emplo ed in heating the oil in the chamber in or er to insure the maintenance of a predetermined distilling temperature of all Oll passing through the chamber.

8. An internal combustion motor comprising a distilling chamber, a valve controlling communicationv with the chamber, a thermostat located in the chamber and connected with the valve to permit admission of fresh oil to the chamber when the oil in the chamber has substantially reached distilling temperature, and to thereafter permit a continuance of the oil fiow only so long as the temperature within the chamber is main-- tained within the distilling range, means for heating the chamber with exhaust gases from the motor, means for permitting the withdrawal of vapor from the chamber and means for varying the distilling range at which oil flow through the chamber is permitted'.

9. An internal combustion motor comprising a distilling chamber, means capable of constantly delivering oil to the chamber during the operation of the motor, and a thermostatically controlled valve constructed and arranged to permit the admission of oil to the chamber only when the temperature of oil within the chamber is within a predetermined distilling range.

10, An internal combustion motor comprising a distilling chamber, means for main taining a substantially constant level of oil within the chamber, means for permitting the withdrawal of vapor from the upper portion of the chamber, a thermostatically controlled valve for -withholding the oil until the temperature reaches distilling range, and for thereafter regulating the admission of oil to the chamber in a manners to maintain a predetermined distilling tem; perature of I oil within the chamber, and means for varying the predetermined distilling range.

13. An internal combustion motor, comprising a distilling chamber, an oil delivery pipe communicating with. the circulating system of the motor, an oil admission valve controlling communication with the chamber, and normally maintained closed, a thermostat immersed in oil within the chamber, connections between the thermostat and valve for moving the valve in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of oil to admit oil to the chamber when the temperature of oil within the chamber has reached a predetermined distilling range.

14. An internalcombustion motor comprising a distilling chamber, means for heating the distilling chamber, a thermostat adapted to undergo a continuous change throughout the entire range of temperature between normal inoperative temperatures of the motor and distilling temperature, and

an oil admission valve operated by the,

thermostat to delay the admission of oil into the distilling chamber until the temperature of oil within the chamber has reached the distilling range and to thereafter open with comparative rapidity to admit oil whenthe distilling temperature is exceeded.

15. An internal combustion motor "comprising an upright distilling chamber of comparatively small diameter, means for passing hot exhaust gases about the distilling chamber throughout the major portion of itsdength, a thermostat located within the distilling chamber extending lengthwise thereof, means for supporting the thermo- 5 stat from the upper portion of the chamber, an oil admission passage communicating with the chamber, and a valve opened by the thermostat to admit fresh oil to the chamber only when the oil within the chamber is Within a predetermined distilling range. 10

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WALTER B. CLIFFORD.

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