US1734666A - Oil-rectifying apparatus for internal-combustion motors - Google Patents

Description

-Nov. 5, 1929. v w. B. CLIFFORD 7 1,734,665

OIL RECTIFYING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTORS Filed Feb. 1, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a2 .99 fl i 35 g 52 56 k I s mes-5 fiezd or' \mmk'mMv Nov. 5, 1929. w. BACLIFFORD OIL RECTIFYINO APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTORS I 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Fgb. 1, 1926 Patented Nov. 1929 cs1] f WALTER 1 3 CLIFFORD, OE'FRAMINGHAIJI, MASSAGI-IUSETTSQASSIGNOR TO THE CL IF FORD CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS} A CORPORATION" OF MASSA oHUsETTs OIL-REGTIFYING"APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION MOTORS Application filed February The present invention relates to internal combustion motors. and more partlcularly to Y apparatus embodied therein for the. purpose ofremoving, diluent-s from the crank case oil during the operation of'the motor.

The present invention is in many respects animprovement on the'apparatus disclosed and claimed in my application filed May 16, 1924,. Serial No. 713,857. One object of the present invention is to. design apparatus of this type which may be embodied'in existing motors without substantialchange and which utilizes to the utmost the heat available from the exhaust gases. A further. object of the invention is to simplify. and improve apparatus of this character in a manner to make it easily accessible for repair or replacement. of parts and for the purpose of; cleaning the 1nterior in the event that this becomes necessary. A still further object oflthe. invention is to reorganize and improve apparatus of this character. in order to make available quantity methods of production and. otherwise facilitate the manufacture.

With these-andother objects in view, the various features of the invention consist in certainnovel features of'construction, com.- binations and arrangements-of parts herein.- after described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled inthe artv fromthe following description. k

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 1 represents a section in elevation of rectified is delivered'to the rectifyingchamher from the usual lubricating system oft't he motor, the oil' supply line leadingflfrom the pressure side of the. pump. The delivery of.

oilinto the rectifying chamber. controlled by a thermostatically operated inlet valve 1, 1926.. Serial No. 85,394;

which remains closed'or substantiallyso untill the temperature within the-chamber.- is elevated tothe distilling range. Thereafter the valve is opened, permittingthe. .entranceof fresh oil under pressure from: the. pump, and remains open until the. temperature within the chamber drops sufliciently to cause closure of the valve. The. valve remains closed, preventing further en; trance of oil until thetemperature is again elevated to the predetermined .distilling range,w-hen thereafter the cycle is repeated, the duration of oil flow and the'timelinte'rvals lapsing therebetween being dependent on the heat of the exhaust, the temperature of the incoming oil and otherfactors which enter. into the amount of: heat. usefully employed in raising the temperature-of oil'withinthe chamber. The oil,,aft-er passing throughthe. rectifying chamber andbeing elevated to the distilling range, is returned'tothe crank case of the motor in' any desired. manner. The vapors distilled fromitheoil, andwhich may represent either vapors. of gasoline, kerosene, or similar fuel or water vapor,are discharged from the rectifying chamber above the liquidv level and conducted either into. the air. intake" ofthe carburetor, discharged. directly, into the atmosphere, or ifso. desired led to a. con,- denser for. reuse.

In the illustrated embodiment. of the invention, the rectifying unit is adaptedto .be-

. ports 18 and20. The ports 18 and QO-are con-- nected into the exhaust line, indicatedat Qet,

throughthe medium of coupling sleevess26, threadedly engaging with. heads 28 formed on the casting and having inturned portions 30 which engage behind annular flanges 32 formed on the exhaust line. The coupling sleeves 36 serve to clamp the flanges of the exhaust line to the heads 28 and form substantially gas-tight joints through the interposed packing 34, as will be evident. The upper portion of the casting 10, and more particularly the bowl-shaped chamber 14, is closed by a head 40 which is connected'to the casting through threaded members 42. Positioned centrally of the head is a sleeve 44 which in turn is connected with a relatively thin wall tube 46 which projects downwardly throughout substantially the entire length of thecylindrical chamber 12. The head 40, the sleeve 44 and the tube 46"may be conveniently secured in assembled relation by a welded area, indicated at 48, which rigidly connects the three members together throughout thearea of contact. The head 40 may be conveniently drawn or Stamped from sheet metal and provided with'depressed flanges 50 and 51' for the reception'respectively of a plug 54 and a fitting 56 forming a connection for the vapor outlet pipe 58. The sleeve 46 encloses and supports a bellows thermostat 60 whichis connected to the sleeve at its lower end through set screws 62 engaging the sleeve and a head 64 forming a part of the thermostat. The upper end of the thermostat carries an inlet valve 66 which is in the form of a hollow sleeve connected to the head 68 through a stem 70. The sleeve valve 66 is guided within a head 72 provided with valve ports 74. The head 72 threadedly engages at 76 with the sleeve 44 and may be rotatively adjusted to vary the position of the ports 74 with relation to the sleeve valve 66. The valve head may be located in adjusted position by a clamp nut 80 engaging with the sleeve 44. It will be evident that as the bellows thermostat 6O expands, due to an in crease in temperature within the chamber, the sleeve valve is moved upwardly until the small ports 82 in the upper portion of the valve register with the ports 74 in the head. This upward movement of the valve, due to the expansion of the thermostat, is resisted by a light spring 86 extending within the valve and intended to aid in returning the thermostat and valve to its initial inoperative position. The restoring spring 86 is engaged at its upper end by a cap nut 90 threaded upon the upper end of the head 72, as indicated in Fig.1. Incoming oil is delivered to the port 74 by a swivel fitting 99 surrounding the upper portion of the head 72 and having a recessed annular chamber 94 which insures a constant supply of oil to the port 74. The chamber 94 is in constant communication with an oil inlet pipe 96 through a passage 98. A liquid-tight connection between the oil inlet pipe 96 and the interior of the fitting 99 is secured by a threaded sleeve 98 surrounding the pipe and having a tapered inner end 100 which grips the pipe in a manner to form a liquid-tight joint-as the sleeve is threaded into the fitting in a manner which will be evident to those skilled in the art. Leakage of oil above and below the fitting 74 is prevented by gaskets 102 engaging on opposite sides of the fitting and clamped to the fitting by the cap nut 90. With this construction, when the sleeve valve 66 is elevated suflicient- 1y to cause registration of the ports 82 with the stationary port 74, oil is permitted to flow downwardly through the valve and thence into the interior of the rectifying chamber through the series of ports 104. After emerging from the lower series of ports, oil flows downwardly about the thermostat and Within the tube 46, thence outwardly through the large openings 106 formed in the lower portion of the tube 46, thence upwardly, as indicated by the arrows, within the space between the wall of the rectifying chamber and the sleeve 46. The level of oil within the chamber is maintained at substantially the line 108, oil discharging by gravity through the outlet pipe 110. tilled-from the body of oil within the chamber rises from the surface of the oil within the bowl-shaped chamber 14 and passes outwardly through the fitting 56 and the outlet pipe 58. The oil return pipe 110 has a capacity considerably in excess of that necessary for the returning oil stream, and is in direct communication with the crank case or filler pipe above the oil level, so that air is permitted to flow upwardly from the oil return pipe in a direction counter to the direction of flow of the oil stream. This upward stream of air removes any vapor which may be en trained with the oil stream, and passes outwardly from the bowl-shaped chamber 14 and the vapor outlet. This air stream in addition to removing vapors entrained with the oil in the return pipe, tends to dispel and disperse any cloud of vapor which may tend to collect in the chamber 14 above the rectifying chamber. The movement of air and the dispersion of the vapor is expedited by openings 112 formed in the upper portion of the sleeve 46, as indicated in Fig. 1, permitting air to flow freely through the upper portion of this member and about the valve 66. The temperature of the oil within the rectifying chamber may be easily ascertained by removing the plug 54 and inserting a thermo'metric device within the chamber. The operating temperature within the rectifying chamber may be controlled by loosening the check nut 80. and rotating the valve head 72 to vary the position of the port 74 with relation to the ports 82 in the valve sleeve 66. It will be evident that by adjusting the position of the head 72 vertically with relation to the'valve sleeve, the temperature at which the two sets of ports register, and accordingly the temperature at which fresh oil is admitted to the Vapor dis- 5;

riectifying chamber, maybe varied as desired. Obviously the temperature at which fresh oil is admitted is the temperature within the evident that the construction as a unit may be embodied inexisting types of motors without substantial alteration, the unit as a whole being inserted directly in any existing exhaust line where the full volume or substan' r tially the full volume of exahust gases will beavailable. The construction may be readily assembled and adjusted for the proper operating temperature by inserting a thermometric device in the rectifying chamber and adjusting the valve in such a manner that fresh oil is admitted to the chamber when the temperature as indicated by the thermometric device is at the desired distilling point. If for any reason whatsoever it is desired to remove the temperature control, this may be readily accomplished by detaching the head and bodily removing the head with the valve and thermostatic control supported thereby. The valve and thermostat assembly may be thereafter detached from the head by disengaging the set screws 62. When the head is removed from the casting 10 the entire interior of the rectifying chamber is exposed for cleaning or other purposes. During the operation of the device, incoming oil flowing downwardly about the thermo stat and thence upwardly in contact with the outer wall of the rectifying chamber serves to maintain the thermostat at a temperature lower than the temperature of distillation. Furthermore the thermostat is insulated from the relatively hot outer wall of the rectifying chamber by the double wall of oil flowing in opposite directions and the intermediate partition formed by the tube 46. At the same time the rectifying chamber throughout substantially its entire length is surrounded by a blanket of hot exhaust gases contained within the heating chamber 10. It will be furthermore evident that a relatively small quantity of oil is contained within the rectifying chamber necessitating a minimum of heat for the elevation of this oil to distilling temperature. The result is to provide a construction in which the temperature of the oil is raised to the distilling point within a short time after the operation of the motor is started, and which at the same time provides a capacity sufiiciently adequate to rectify the entire contents of the motor crank case.

What is claimed is:

1. An oil rectifier for internal combustion V motors comprising a refining chamber of relmajor portion or. its length and terminating at its upper endain an outwardly flared shallOW'POItlOIl, a heating chamber surroundmg the refining chamber, a head closing the upper portion of the refining chamber, a therlets in free communication with the chamber at the upper flared portion. 7

2. An oil .rectifier'for internal combustion motors comprising a refining-chamber, means for heating the refining chamber, a thermostat extending lengthwise of the chamber, an oil delivery passage communicating with the chamber having an admission port formed therein, a hollow sleeve valve connected to the thermostat and having a port adapted to register with the admission port to admit. oil to the refiningchamber upon elevation of the oil within the chamber to a predetermined temperature, and oil and vapor outlets communicating with the upper portion of the chamber.

r An-oil'rectifier. for internal combustion motors comprising a refining chamber, means for heating the refining: chamber, a thermostat within the refining chamber, a hollow sleeve valve extending lengthwise of the chamber and connected to the thermostat, the sleeve valve being provided with ports adjacent opposite ends, an oil delivery pas sage providedwithan admission port adapted to register with one of the ports in the sleeve valve on predetermined movement of the valve by the thermostat, and oil and vapor outlets communicating with the chamber.

at. An oil rectifier for internal combustion motors comprising a casting provided with a centrally-disposed, elongated. refining chamber terminating in an outwardly flared, bowl-shaped portion, an annular heating chamber formed in the casting and surrounding the refining chamber, aithermostat extending lengthwise of therefining chamber. in the lower portion, a tubular wall surrounding the'thermostat and dividing the chamber intoinner and outer portions, an oil admission valveoperated'by the thermostat to govern the'admission of oil in theupper portion of the chamber, an oil outlet pipe of excessive capacity communicating with theupper bowlshaped portion of the chamber, and a vapor pipe leading from theupper portion of the chamber.

5. An oil rectifier for internal combustion section throughout the major portion ofv its length, means for heating the chamber, a thermostat disposed withinthe chamber and extending lengthwise, a hollow sleeve valve connected to the upper end of the thermostat and having upper and lower ports formed therein, an oil admission pipe having a stationary port adapted to register with the upper port of the sleeve valve upon extension of the thermostat to a predetermined point, and means for adjusting the port in the oil admission pipe with respect to the ports in the sleeve valve in order to vary the temperature at which oil is admitted to the refining chamber.

6. An oil rectifier for internal combustion motors comprising a refining chamber, means for heating the chamber, a thermostat located within the chamber, a head, a sleeve adjustably mounted in the head, a hollow valve connected to the thermostat and sliding within the sleeve and having ports formed therein, an oil admission port in the sleeve adapted to register with the port in the valve upon movement of the valve to a predetermined position, and means for adjusting the position of the sleeve with respect .to the head to vary the point in the cycle of operations at which the ports register.

7. An oil rectifier for internal combustion motors comprising a vertically-disposed, elongated refining chamber, abellows thermostat extending lengthwise of the lower portion of the chamber, a head closing the upper portion of the chamber, a sleeve mounted in the head, a valve connected to the thermostat and sliding within the sleeve, a swivel oil connection supported on the upper portion of the sleeve, and means for adjusting the sleeve with respect to the head to vary the point in the expansion of the thermostat at which oil is admitted to the refining chamber.

8. An oil rectifier for internal combustion motors comprising a casting provided with a centrally-disposed, refining chamber, an annular heating chamber surrounding the refining chamber, a head detachably connected to the upper portion of the casting and enclosing the refining chamber, an oil outlet connected to the casting and communicating with the upper portion of the chamber, a vapor outlet connected to the head communicating with the upper portion of the chamber, a tubular partition depending from the head extending downwardly into the refining chamber, a bellows thermostat extending lengthwise within the partition, a valve sleeve adjustably connected to the head, and a valve connected to the thermostat and sliding within the sleeve to control the admission of oil to the interior of the chamber.

9. An oil rectifier for internal combustion motors comprising an elongated refining chamber, means for heating the chamber, a thermostat extending lengthwise of the chamher in the lower portion thereof, a tubular partition surrounding the thermostat and dividing the chamber into inner and outer parts, a hollow sleeve valve connected'to'the' In testimony whereof I have signed my specification.

name to this WVALTER B. CLIFFORD.

Images