US2130385A

US2130385A - Muffler and ventilator system

Info

Publication number: US2130385A
Application number: US77818A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr John S Fluor; Park W Ash
Original assignee: Fluor Corp
Current assignee: Fluor Corp
Priority date: 1936-05-04
Filing date: 1936-05-04
Publication date: 1938-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1955-09-20

Description

Sept. 20, 1938. .1. s. FLuoR. JR., ET Al.

MUFFLER AND VENTILATOR SYSTEM Filed May 4. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l I l l l I I '1l "sept 20, 1938. J. s. r-'Luola` JR., ET A1. 2,130,335l

MUFFLER AND VENTILATOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1956 Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUFFLER AND VENTILATOR SYSTEM Application May 4, 1938, Serial N0. 77.81%

claims.

This invention has to do with air cooled mumer and ventilator systems for stationary engine plants, for example, natural gas compressor plants that usually operate a battery of heavy duty en- Eines. More specically, the invention relates to a unit system for cooling the engine exhaust pipe by air circulation and for Ventilating the engine room by drawing warm air from the room atmosphere into the air stream being circulated to cool the exhaust pipe.

In stationary engine plants of the type to which the invention is particularly adaptable, the engine exhaust gases are discharged through an exhaust pipe connecting with a muiller outside the engine room, and where, as in the present system,

the exhaust pipe and (optionally) the muiiler are air cooled, these parts are iacketed by a conduit through which a stream of air passes in heat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe and mumer. The circulation of cooling air through the conduit may conveniently be induced by extending the conduit beyond the discharge end of the mufiler in a manner such that the combustion gases being discharged at high velocity from the muilier, draw a rapid ilow of cooling air through the conduit.

While in certain broad aspects oi' the invention, the exhaust pipe and muiller cooling air may be taken either from the interior of the engine room or from the outside atmosphere, we preferably draw the air from the outside because of its average lower temperature. Exhaust pipe and muiiler cooling systems in which the air is drawn from the outside atmosphere into the exhaust pipe surrounding conduit within the room and is then discharged at the outside with the exhaust gases, are described and broadly claimed in Letters Patent No. 1,966,620 granted to John S. Fluor, Jr., July 17, 1934, on Muiller. In accordance with the present invention, we provide within the engine room an inlet through which warm air is drawn from the room into the air stream being circulated through the exhaust pipe jacket. Preferably this air jacket inlet is located at an elevated position within the room close to the room ceiling, so that the heated air in the room atmosphere will continuously be removed as it rises to the top of the room. Also, we preferably provide an adjustable airV valve for controlling the ow of warm air from the room. By means of the valve, the warm air exhaust from the room may be reduced or entirely closed of! in the winter, when more heat is needed for the room, while in the summer the valve may be open to the extent of allowing a suillciently rapid exhaust ot air to keep the room temperature as low as possible.

All the various features and objects of the invention, together with certain typical and preferred forms thereof, will be fully understood from the following detailed description. Throughout the description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a general and partly diagrammatic view showing one form of the invention embodied in an air jacketed exhaust pipe and muiiier assembly extending through the rooi' of the engine room;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged and partly sectional view showing certain parts of the exhaust pipe and air jacket assembly of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line I--I oi' Fig. 2, taken through the air valve: and

Figs. 4 and 5 are general views of the type of Fig. 1, showing variational forms of the invention.

In Fig. 1 we have shown within the engine room ill, a diagrammatically illustrated internal combustion engine i l of the overhead exhaust type. 'I'he exhaust outlet, indicated at i2, is connected by anges Il with an exhaust pipe il extending vertically through an opening I! in the roof or room ceiling I6, the upper end of the exhaust pipe being connected by ilanges I'i with a suitable muiiier I8. 'I'he particularities of the mudier construction comprise no part of the invention; hence the muiiier has been shown in elevation with the understanding that any suitable type may be used. In certain broad aspects o! the invention, the exhaust pipe may be regarded as inclusive ot muilier, although for convenience in description the two are referred to individually.

The exhaust pipe and muilier are surrounded by a conduit, generally indicated at I9, that comprises a lower section 20 having an air inlet 2| at its bottom end, a irusto-conical portion 2! connecting with an enlarged diameter section 23 surrounding the muiiier Il, and an outlet pipe Il. The muiller outlet pipe 25 projects upwardly within a tapered throat formed by portion 26 of the conduit, so that the exhaust gases being discharged irom the muilier into pipe 24 induce an upward flow of air between conduit il and the exhaust pipe and muiiier in the directions indicated by the arrows. Air from the outside atmosphere is taken into the room for delivery to 50 the lower end of conduit section 20, by way oi' a pipe 21 extending downwardly through the roof opening I5 to a point below the conduit inlet 2i, pipe 21 being supported on the exhaust pipe by having its lower end 28 welded or otherwise at- 55 tached thereto at 29. The roof opening I5 is sealed off around pipe 21 by e, sleeve 30, the base 3l of which is applied to the roof. A hood 32 mounted at 33 on the conduit i9, extends downwardly about the top portion of pipe 21 that projects through the roof.

By virtue of the upwardly induced draft in the annular passage 34 between conduit I9 and the exhaust pipe and muiller. air is drawn from the atmosphere upwardly within hood 92 and thence downwardly through the annular passage 35 between the conduit and pipe 21 into the lower end of conduit section 2li, in the paths indicated by the arrows. The cool air thus passing in heat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe and muilier serves materially to lower the temperature of the exhaust gases, and in so doing, to aid in deadening the explosion sounds by reason of the reduction in volume of the combustion gases.

A plurality of air inlets 31, see Fig. 3, are formed in pipe 21 for the purpose of drawing warm air from the interior of the engine room I0, into the air stream being circulated about the exhaust pipe and muiller. The air inlet ports 31 preferably are located at an elevated point in the room I0 somewhat close to the ceiling l5, so that the warmest air will continually be exhausted from the room. We also provide suitable means for regulating the warm air exhaust through the pipe inlets 31, and have shown as a typical adjustable air controlled means, a sleeve valve 3B placed about pipe 21 and having openings 39 adapted to be rotated into and out of registry with the pipe openings 31. 'I'he air control valve 38 is supported on a flange 4ll and is made up of a pair of half sections 39a and 33h fastened together by bolts 4I. As will be readily apparent, valve 33 may be adjusted by rotation about the pipe to regulate the air passing through the valve controlled openings into the pipe, and thereby to control the rate of warm air exhaust from the room.

In the event it is desired to further increase the rate of air exhaust from the room atmosphere over that possible by fully opening valve 3B and at the same time drawing in outside air through the upper open end of pipe 21, suitable provision may be made for restricting or entirely closing ofi' the supply of outside air. For example, hood 32 may be adjustabiy mounted by a split clamp ring 32a on pipe 20 so that to restrict or close off the entry of air to passage 35, the, hood may be lowered to adjusted position. Its lowermost position, in which the hood rests on the upper end of the air duct, is indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 shows a variational form of the invention as applied to an overhead exhaust system in which the combustion gases are discharged through a side wall of the room. Here the exhaust pipe 43 extends horizontally at 44 through the side wall 45 of the room, and connects at 46 with a vertically positioned muiiler 41. The exhaust pipe is jacketed by a conduit 4B having an air inlet at 49 within the room, and extending through the wall 45 to connect at 50 with a stack 5| surrounding the muffler. Air is drawn from the outside atmosphere into the inlet end 49 of conduit 49, through a pipe 52 surrounding the conduit and extending inwardly through wall 45 of the room to a connection 53 at the engine exhaust outlet I2. As indicated by the arrows, the path of air ow through the outer pipe. conduit and stack, is similar to that previously described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the cool air entering pipe 52 and thence being drawn into the inlet end 49 of conduit 48 and upwardly through the muilier stack, to be ilnally discharged with the exhaust gases. Warm air is drawn from the room through valve controlled ports in a pipe 54 connecting with pipe 52 and extending upwardly into the warm air atmosphere toward the roof of the room. Pipe 54 is closed at its upper end and carries a suitable air valve 55, for example of the same type previously described, which controls the withdrawal of the warm room air into pipe 52.

In Fig. 5 we show another variational form of the invention similar in certain general respects to the previously described forms, except that the conduit surrounding the air intake pipe is replaced by an independent pipe leading from the outside atmosphere. Here the air intake pipe 59 connecting at 51a with conduit 51 extends through wall 45 of the room at a diierent location than the point to which the exhaust pipe and conduit lead through the room wall. Pipe 59 carries an adjustable air valve 60 which controls the withdrawal of the warm room air into pipe 59 and passage 58 leading to the muffler stack. An adjustable damper 6l Within the inlet end of pipe 59 provides a means for regulating the supply of outside cooling air to the air inlet 51a of conduit 51 surrounding the exhaust pipe. As will be apparent, by selective adjustment of valve 60 and damper 6I, al1 the cooling air may be taken either from inside or outside the room, or the cooling air may be proportioned between the two sources.

In each of the illustrated forms of the invention, a considerable length oi exhaust pipe and surrounding conduit are shown to extend within the engine room. By such arrangement, the exhaust pipe may constitute an effective heater for the room atmosphere during cold weather, providing the rate of air withdrawal through the jacket be reduced to the point where suicient heat will be transferred from the exhaust pipe through the jacket to the room atmosphere. In accordance with the invention, the air control valve or valves are capable of adjustment to maintain, under such conditions, the necessary regulation of the rate of air flow from the room and transference of heat through the exhaust pipe jacket, to keep the room atmosphere at proper temperature for winter operation.

On the other hand, it is desirable for proper regulation during warm weather, that as much of the room air as possible be moved and that the maximum rate of air ow through the jacket be maintained to minimize heat transference from the exhaust pipe to the room atmosphere. Accordingly, by adjustment of the air control valve or valves the system may be regulated to maintain proper temperature conditions within the room atmosphere and at the exhaust pipe, during summer as well as winter. And at all times, the conditions are capable of still further control by reason of the ability to vary the relative proportions of inside and outside air drawn into the jacket. 'Ihese features of the invention haveproven to be of particular importance and advantage in plants or installations at locations subject to wide seasonal temperature variations, for example in plants in the mid-continent or eastern .parts of the United States.

It will be understood that the drawings are to be regarded merely as illustrative of the invention in certain of its typical and preferred forms, and that various changes and modifications may be made without departure from the invention in its intended spirit and scope.

We claim:

1. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room, an exhaust pipe and muilier connecting with said engine, said exhaust pipe extending continuously from the engine to a point of connection with the muiiler outside the room, a suihcient length oi said exhaust pipe extending within the room to provide a substantial source of heat for the room atmosphere, a ventilating and exhaust cooling system comprising a conduit entirely surrounding a portion of said pipe within said room directly beyond the engine and extending outside the room, said conduit having an air inlet within the room and being suiiiciently closely spaced about the exhaust pipe therein to provide for a high velocity tlow of air through the conduit in heat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe, said inlet and conduit being positioned so that air drawn therethrough flows at a point in close proximity to the engine and in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of said exhaust pipe within the room, means outside said room for inducing a tlow of air from the room into the conduit through said inlet by and at a rate in accordance with the rate of exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means for varying the rate of removal of room air into said conduit independently of the rate of exhaust gas discharge, to reduce the heat transferred from the exhaust pipe to the room atmosphere during warm weather, and to increase the heat so transferred to the room atmosphere during cold weather.

2. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room, an exhaust pipe and mufiler connecting with said engine, said exhaust pipe extending continuously from the engine to a point of connection with the muiller outside the room, a suilicient length of said exhaust pipe extending within the room to provide a substantial source of heat for the room atmosphere, a ventilating and exhaust cooling system comprising a conduit entirely surrounding a portion of said pipe within said room directly beyond the engine and extending outside the room, said conduit having an air inlet within the room and being suillciently closely spaced about the exhaust pipe therein to provide for a high velocity ilow of air through the conduit in heat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe, said inlet being positioned in close proximity to the engine so that air drawn therethrough iiows in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of the hotter portion of said exhaust pipe Within the room, means including a shell surrounding said muiller and connecting with said conduit for inducing a flow of air from the room into the conduit through said inlet by and at a rate in accordance with the rate of exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and acljustable means for opening and closing said inlet to regulate the rate of removal of room air into said conduit independently of the rate of exhaust gas discharge, whereby the heat transferred from the exhaust pipe to the room atmosphere may be reduced during warm weather and increased during cold weather.

3. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room, and an exhaust pipe and muiller connecting with said engine and extending to a point outside the room, a Ventilating and exhaust cooling system comprising a conduit surroundings, portion of said pipe within said room and extending outside the room, said conduit having an air inlet within the room and being sutilciently closely spaced about the exhaust pipe therein to provide for a high velocity ow oi air through the conduit in heat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe, means for supplying air to said inlet from the atmosphere outside the room, said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough ilows in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of said exhaust pipe within the room, means inducing a tlow of air into said portion of the conduit within the room selectively from the atmospheres within or outside said room and drawing the air through the conduit at high velocity by the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means for varying the rate oi' such induced air ilow into the conduit independently of the rate of exhaust gas discharge. l

4. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room, and an exhaust pipe and muiiier connecting with said engine and extending to a point outside the room; a Ventilating and exhaust cooling system comprising a conduit surrounding a portion of said pipe within said room and extending outside the room,said conduit having an air inlet within the room and being sunlciently closely spaced about the exhaust pipe therein to provide for a high velocity iiow of air through the conduit in heat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe, means for supplying air to said inlet from the atmosphere outside the room, said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough iiows in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of said exhaust pipe within the room, means for drawing air into said portion of the conduit within the room from both the atmospheres within and outside said room by virtue of the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means for varying the relative proportions oi the room air and outside air drawn into the conduit.

5. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room, and an exhaust pipe and muiller connecting with said engine and extending to a point outside the room, a Ventilating and exhaust cooling system comprising a conduit surrounding a portion of said pipe within said room and extending outside the room, said conduit having an air inlet within the room in close proximity to the engine, means for supplying air to said inlet from the atmosphere outside the room. said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough flows in the direction of the exhaust gas flow and in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of said exhaust pipe within the room, means for drawing air into said portion of the conduit within the room from both. the atmospheres within and outside said room by virtue of the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means including a valve for varying the relative proportions of the room air and outside air drawn into the conduit.

6. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room, an exhaust pipe and muilier connecting with said engine and extending to a point outside the room. a suilicient length of said exhaust pipe extending within the room to provide a substantial source of heat for the room atmosphere, a Ventilating and exhaust cooling system comprising a conduit directly surrounding a portion of said pipe within said room and extending outside the room, said conduit having an air inlet in close proximity to the engine and being suiliciently closely spaced about the exhaust pipe inside the room to provide for a high velocity ilow oi air in heat transferring relation with the hot portion oi' the exhaust pipe beyond the engine, a second conduit communicating with and supplying air to said inlet from the atmosphere outside the room. said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough ows in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of said exhaust pipe within the room, means for inducing a flow oi air from the room into said inlet by virtue of the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means for varying the rate of removal of room air through said inlet independently of the rate of exhaust gas discharge, to reduce the heat transferred from the exhaust pipe to the room-atmosphere during warm weather, and to increase the heat so transierred to the room atmosphere during cold weather.

'7. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room, and an exhaust pipe and mumer connecting with said engine and extending to a point outside the room, a suilicient length of said exhaust pipe extendingswithin the room to provide a substantial source of heat for the room atmosphere, a Ventilating and exhaust cooling system comprising a conduit surrounding a portion of said pipe within said room and extending outside the room, said conduit having an air inlet within the room and being sufliciently closely spaced about the exhaust pipe inside the room to provide for a high velocity now of air in heat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe, said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough nows in heat transferring relation with CERTIFICATE Patent No. 2,150,585.

a substantial length of said exhaust pipe within the room, a second conduit communicating with the room atmosphere and supplying air to the irst mentioned conduit from the atmosphere outside the room, means for inducing a flow of air from the room into said inlet by virtue of the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means including a valve controlling the admission of room air to the second mentioned conduit for varying the relative proportions of room air and outside air supplied to the rst mentioned conduit.

B. In an engine plant. walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room, and an exhaust pipe and mumer connecting with said engine and extending to a point outside the room; a ventilati ng and exhaust cooling system comprising a conduit surrounding a portion of said pipe within said room and extending outside the room. said conduit having an air inlet within the room, said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough flows in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of said exhaust pipe Within the room, a second conduit communicating with and supplying air to said inlet from the exterior of the room, means for inducing a flow of air from the room into said inlet by the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and separate valves for varying the relative proportions bf air supplied to the rst mentioned conduit through said inlet and the second mentioned conduit.

JQHN S. FLUOR, Jn. PARK W. ASH.k

OF CORRECTION.

September 2,0, 1958.

JOHN S. FLUOR, JR., ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above mimbered patent requiring correction as follow: Page 5, first column, line 59, Claim 2, strike out the words "from the engine";

the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 154th day of November, A. D. 1958.

(Seal) Henry Van Aradale Acting Commissioner of Patents.

and that a high velocity ilow oi air in heat transferring relation with the hot portion oi' the exhaust pipe beyond the engine, a second conduit communicating with and supplying air to said inlet from the atmosphere outside the room. said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough ows in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of said exhaust pipe within the room, means for inducing a flow oi air from the room into said inlet by virtue of the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means for varying the rate of removal of room air through said inlet independently of the rate of exhaust gas discharge, to reduce the heat transferred from the exhaust pipe to the room-atmosphere during warm weather, and to increase the heat so transierred to the room atmosphere during cold weather.