US1970166A - Gas generator for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

ug- 14, 1934- w. J. CLOUD Er AL 1,970,166

GAS GENERATOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 5l, 1950 ,mx 25 26: 27 f ATTORNEYS.

atenied ug. 14, 1934 pire TTES GAS GENERATOR .FOR ENTER/NAL .COlWBUS- THON ENGNES William J. Cloud and Ralph G.`Wilson, Spokane,

Wash.

Our invention relates to gas generators rior internal combustion engines and more particularly to a gas generator that is adapted to replace the Carburettor of the internal combustion engine. Certain objects of the invention are to provide a generator comprising a casing with a plurality or" concentric chambers therein having air, steam and gas supply pipes and adapted to be heated by the exhaust gases from the motor to which the device is attached and to then be conducted to the intake manifold of the motor. Further yobjects are to provide means for controllingthe supply of-g-as,4 steam and air that is thus fed to the intake manifold oi the motor.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction, adaptation, combination and arrangement of y parts hereinafter described and claimed. These 20 objects are accomplished by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing; wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the device installed on an engine within a fragmentary portion of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View oi the same;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in longitudinal section of the air valve;

Fig. e is a View in central vertical section of the generator casing taken substantially on a broken line 4.--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section of the same taken on a broken line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a View in vertical section taken on a broken line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates an engine head having the usual intake and exhaust manifolds 6 and 7 respectively. A generator casing 8 is connected 4.0 to said exhaust manifold at 9, and gasolene is supplied to said casing by a pipe 10 from a tank 11, while water is furnished to said casing by a pipe 12 from a tank 13, and air is red thereto through a pipe 14.

rThe generator casing 8 is concentrically divided inte a central gasolene chamber 15 and into which the gasolene is introduced by the pipe 10, and an annular steam chamber 16 surrounding said central chamber and into which water is fed by means oi the pipe 12. rThe annular space between said water chamber and the outside generator casing is divided by a horizontal partition 17 into an upper air chamber 18 into which air is introduced by the pipe 14, and into a lower heating chamber 19 into which the hot gases enter from the exhaust manifold 7 through its connection 9 therewith, all of which is shown most clearly Vin Fig. 4 of the drawing.

Referring particularly toFig. 5 of the drawing, 60 the 'not exhaust gases from the engine 5 enterinfr the heating chamber 19-through the pipe connection 9 pass around said chamber on both sides and outwardly through an exhaust pipe V20. In this passage of the hot gases the gasolene-fuel within the chamber 15fis-heated, the water within the chamber 16 is converted into steam,and the air within the chamber-itis also heated.

lFor controlling the entryY of air into thechamber 18 the pipe 14 may be extended through the 70 dash Ll5 oi the vehicle 46 as shown in Fgpl and there be provided with a valve such as shown in detail in Fig. 3. Said valve may comprise a male member 21 extending through said dash and having a flange which is held against the dash by a nut 22. Said male member is hollow, as at 23, and is threadedly connected to the pipe 14 while a screw 24 extends from within said hollow portion through its flanged end and threadedly into a knob or female mem- 30 ber 25 thus pivotally connecting said male and female members. A spring 26 installed on said screw provides rictional tension whereby the knob member is retained in whatever pivotal position it may be placed when turned, and both of said members are provided with conduits 27 which may be brought into partial or complete registration to admit air into the aforesaid chamber as desired. The water pipe 12 is provided with a valve 28 having a rod 29 90 Y also extending through the vehicle dash where by the entry of water into the chamber 16 may be regulated as desired.

The heated air is conducted from the air chamber 18 by a pipe 30 and the steam is con- 95 ducted from the chamber 16 by a pipe 31, while the heated gasolene is conveyed from the gasolene chamber 15 by means of a pipe 32. Said last-named pipe is provided with a ball and spring check valve 33 that is operated 100 by the suction oi` the engine and which prevents passage or leakage oi the gasolene when the engine is not in use. Another valve 34 is provided for said pipe to regulate the passage of the heated gasolene and therefore the speed of the engine. Said valve is provided with a rod 35 which extends to a pivotal connectionwith one end of -a short lever 36 whose other end is pivotedto a push rod 37 extending slidably through the 11o ...or ci the vehicle and through a flcor plate 8 secured to said floor. Said plate has a bracket arm 39 extending through said floor and to which the short lever is ulcrumed. A foot plate .30, pivoted at 41 to the floor plate, is provided with a heei rest l2 and is connected to the aforesaid push rod. A spring 43 is nterposed on said push rod between said oor and foot plates and is adapted to normally retain aid foot plate in the raised position and likewise retains the aforesaid valve 34 in a normally closed position through its connecting means therewith. It will thus be seen that passage of the gasclene through the pipe 32 may be regulated as desired by pressing the said foot plate.

It will, of course, be understood that the ow of gasolene, air and water or steam through the device is caused by the suction or intakestroke of the engine or motor to which the device is connected. The three pipes 30, 3l and 32 are all connected to a small manifold 44, shown in detail in Fig. 6, which serves as a mixing chamber for the air, gasolene and steam. Said manifold is bolted or otherwise secured to the tail end of the engine intake manifold 6. Within the small manifold the steam resulting from the heated Water, the heated air, and the gas resulting from the heated gasoline all combine to form a gaseous vapor which is both efficient and economical and which is taken into the engine through its intake manifold. It will be observed that the valve 28 provides means for regulating the passage of water through the device, the valve arrangement shown in Fig. 3 controls the nu-y cf ad', and the valve 3- regulates the 'i age of gas.

When first starting the enging the valve 28 and the valve shown in Fig. 3 are both closed while the valve 34 is open and as the engine warms up the air and water are fed into the motor as desired by means of the two rstnamed valves. While it may be advisable to start the engine by the use of gasolene as a fuel or at least to prime the engine with a light fuel, after the engine becomes suiiciently heated other and heavier fuels, such as coal oil, and the like may be used. Gasolene has therefore been used as a fuel in the description merely `as an illustration.

Having thus described our invention, it being understood that minor changes may be resorted to in its construction and arrangement Without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, what We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

A vaporizer for internal combustion engines comprising a casing having a plurality of concentric chambers therein, liquid fuel inlet means in the central chamber, water inlet means in the annular chamber surrounding the central chamber, an air preheating chamber adjoining the said rst mentioned annular chamber, an annular heating chamber and means for discharging and mixing the products from the three first mentioned chambers.

WILLIAIVI J. CLOUD. RALPH G. WILSON.

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