US2252261A

US2252261A - Method of and means for vaporizing hydrocarbon liquids

Info

Publication number: US2252261A
Application number: US357889A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sam P Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-09-23
Filing date: 1940-09-23
Publication date: 1941-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1958-08-12

Description

Aug. 12, 1941. s. P. JONES METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR VAPORIZING HY 2,252,261 DROCARBON LIQUIDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23, 1940 METHOD OF ANIi MEANS FOR VAPORIZING awnocmaon mqums Filed Sept. 23, 1940 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /s 3mm 5am -2 Clones Aug. 12, 1941.

s. P. JONES ,252,261 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR VAPORIZING HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS Fil ed Sept. 25, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Aug, 12, 1941 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR VAPbRIZlNG HYDROCARPON LIQUIDS Sam PJJoncs, Dallas, Tex. Application September 23, 1940, Serial No. 357,889

' 12 Claims. (01. 62-1) This invention relates to new and useful im-" movements in methods of and means for vaporizing hydrocarbon liquids.

This application is filed as a continuation-inpart of my co-pendin'g application Serial No. 757,686,, filed December 15, 1934.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved method of and means for vaporizing hydrocarbons, such as liquefied gases, whereby said gases may be advantageously utilized as a fuel for motors, engines, burners or otherv devices.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon liquids, such as commercial butane,

wherein the.vaporization of the liquid iscontrolled by the volume of gas consumed by the device being supplied, that is, the volume of gaswhich is generated is in direct proportion to the load imposed on the apparatus, whereby a sutficient supply of gas is assured underall operating conditions.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved vaporizing apparatus for liquid hydrocarbons which consist of a mixture of various gases of difierent boiling points, such as for example, commercial butane; said apparatus being arranged so that the liquid is vaporized by applied heat, whereby a gas of a fixed B. t. u. value is at all times produced and also whereby the original mixture of the hydrocarbon liquid is substantially maintained. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus, of the character described, wherein the hydrocarbon liquid is stored in a reservoir and a gas chamber is provided above the stored body to receive the gas produced through natural vaporization; the apparatus also having avaporizing chamber which communicates with the reservoir to permit a portion 01 the liquid to be segregated and vaporized by an applied heat, together with means for supply ing a gas-operated device with the gas from the vaporizing chamber under normal operating conditions and for-supplying gas from the gas chamber only inthe event that the gas supply from said vaporizing chamber is insufllcient for the demand, whereby the original percentages of the various hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon liquid, as well as the original boiling point of the liquid, are substantially maintained.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide volume of liquid contacting this surface which is, in turn, dependent upon the liquid level in said chamber; the apparatus being constructed I so that the volume of ,the gas consumed by the devicewhich is being operated, affects or controls this liquid level, whereby the volume of gas generated is in accordance with the demand.

, Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus'wherein the liquid reservoir is connected with the vaporizing 'from through natural vaporization, heating a portion of the liquid by applied heat to produce gas in addition to the trapped gas risingfrom the stored body of liquid, and utilizing the gas vaporized by applied heat to supply a gas-operated device in its normal operation and using the trapped gas only when the vaporized gas is insuiflcient to supply the demand; the control of the gas flowing to the device-from either source-being afiected b'y'the pressures of the gas vaporized by applied heat and the gas ris-' ing from the stored body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of and means for vaporizing hydrocarbon liquids wherein a heat ex change between the :heated liquid inthe vaporizer chamber and the stored body of liquid is produced so that the stored body of liquid is heated during normal operation by such heat exchange.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be, hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

' The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which an example 01' the invention is shown,

and wherein: Y Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view ofa vaporizing apparatus, constructed in exposed to the liquid in the vaporizing chamber accordance with the invention, for carrying out the improved method, I

-Figure 2 isan enlarged, section detail of the d ly in section of the pressure regulator,

dome or head, with which both the vaporizing chamber and the liquid reservoir are adapted to communicate,

Figure 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view,

' taken on the lines 33. of Figure 2,

Figure 6 isa partial elevation, illustrating the I apparatus connected with an ordinary burner for supplying-gas to said burner,

Figure 7 is a partial, longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus, illustrating the wall which separates the storage tank or reservoir from the vaporizer insulated with a suitable material,

. Figure 8 is a sectional detail of another form of check valve,

Figure 9 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section of a modified form of apparatus, and

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail of the check valve employed in this modification of the invention.

In the drawings, the'numeral IIl designates an elongate tank or container, which is preferably cylindrical in shape and which has its ends closed by suitable caps or'cover plates II and I2. As is the usual practice, the plates II and I2 are curved and a transverse plate I3, which has a curvatureis disposed within the tank adjacent said plate II, whereby a. transverse space or jacket I4" is provided at one end of the tank. The jacket has an inlet pipe I connected to its upper endand an outlet pipe I6 leading from its lbwer end (Figure 1). These pipes may be connected with a suitable ,hot' water circulating system (not shown), whereby said water may be circulated through the jacket so as to heat the contents of the tank adjacent the plate l3.

' A transverse partition I1 is disposed within the complementary to the curvature of the plate It tank nearer the end where the water jacket I 'of the riser or conductor 25 and includes a valve 9 body 21 which is threaded onto said conductor. An annular seat 28 is provided within the upper end of the valve body and a valve member 29 is adapted to engage this seat. The valve member is provided with a depending stem 30 which is guided axially within the body 21 by means of a spider 3i. Upward movement of the valve member 29 is-limited by an enlarged head 32 which is formed on the lower end of the stem 30 and which strikes the spider 3| to prevent upward displacement on the valve member from the body 21. Above the valve V, the valve body is formed with a plurality of slots Oropenings 33 which prevent condensatefrom accumulating on the valve member 29 when'said valve member is in its closed position. Manifestly, the weight of the valve member 29 will hold the same downwardly on the seat 28 and opening of the'valve may be effected only by a pressure below said valve member sufficient to unseat said valve.

It is pointed out that the space above the liquid level within the reservoir I8 provides a gas storage chamber for storing the gas which rises from the body of liquid within said reservoir. Since the conductor 25 communicates with said storage chamber, it will be evident that the underside of the check valve 29 will be acted upon or exposed to the pressure of the gas in this chamber, such pressure tending to urge the valve member 29 upwardly toward an open position. The interior of the dome or head 23 provides a receiving chamber above the vaporizing chamber I9 and the pressure within this'chamber is acting upon the upper end of the valve member 29. As explained, the weight of the valve member 29 tends to seat said valve and thus, the pressure within the receivlng chamber, plus the weight of the valve, is urging the valve closed,.while the pressure within the gas storage chamber G in the reservoir I8 is urging the valve toward an open position.

Therefore, the valve member 29 is actuated solely by a difl'erential in the. pressures within the receiving chamber and the gas storage chamber. If the pressure within the dome 23 and the vaporizing chamber I9 is equal to the pressure within-the gas chamber G,- then the valve is closed,

being held so by the weight of the valve member obviously, the liquid levels within'the chamber and reservoir may be equalized through this opening. A liquid inlet pipe 2| is connected in the top of the tank I0 above the liquid reservoir and atransverse splash plate 22 may, if desired, be fastened centrally within the reservoir.

A cylindrical dome or head 23 is mounted on the tank I0 and is located above the partition I1, whereby said dome overhangs both the vaporizing chamber I9 and a portion of the liquid reservoir I8. The-upper end of the vaporizing chamber I9 communicates with the interior of the dome or head 23 through an opening 24 which is provided in the top of the vaporizing chamber and which is. located adjacent the upper end of the partition IT. A vertical riser pipe orconductor 25 has its lower end threaded into an opening 26 which leads from the liquid reservoir I8, said opening being disposed adjacent the upper end of "the partition "and on the side opposite the open- 29. However, as soon as the pressure within the gas chamber G overcomes the pressure within the a ,ductor may be regulated. The line 34 may extend to a burner, carburetor, engine, or any other gas-operated device for supplying gas thereto.

The apparatus is adapted for use in vaporizing or generating hydrocarbon liquid for liquefied gases and for the purposes of this description, it will be assumed that commercial butane is introduced into the tank I 0. Liquefied gases which are in general commercial use'consist of a'mixture oi a plurality of hydrocarbons, each of which have different boiling points at the same pressure. In the case of commercial butane, the same is in reality composed of varying percentages of butane, propane and iso-butane and may even 2,252,201 .contain other hydrocarbons. Each of these hydrocarbons have diflerent boiling points at the same pressure and the vapors or gases thereof contain varied heat values. Obviously, the

. various hydrocarbons and their proportions in the mixture control the boiling point of the mixture and also control the heat value of thevapor which is produced when the mixtureis vaporized. When commercial butane is permitted .to stand in a. tank or other reservoir, under atmospheric pressure and temperature, vaporization within thereservoirwill occur, due to the fact that the boiling point of liquid butane is about 33 degrees Fahrenheit. This vaporization will continue until a dormant condition is reached after which no further butane is vaporized so long as the temperature remains the same. For example, assuming that the atmospheric temperature is 60 the reservoir will continue until the pressure of the vapor or gas so produced has reached approxi- ,mately 12 pounds, at which point suiiicient heat has been extracted from the body of the liquid to bring abouta dormant condition. So long as the temperature remains at 60 degrees, no fur ther vaporization would occur. I

Since the commercial butane is a mixture of a number of hydrocarbons, the vaporization which occurs when the liquid butane is permitted to stand in a reservoir under atmospheric conditions, is a vaporization of the lighter 'or more volatile .fractions which are present in the mixture. Therefore, the propane and other lighter fractions vaporize first and the heavier ends remain in a liquid state. Some attempt has been made todraw ofi or'remove the gases which are produced through natural vaporization for the purpose of operating various devices. These vapors or gases, as above explained, which rise above the liquid level in the reservoir consist predominantly of the lighter fractions which, in efiect, are the most valuable constituents of the mixture, If these vapors are constantly withdrawn from the reservoir, it becomes obvious that the gases or vapors so withdrawn are not vapors consisting of a mixture of all oi the hydrocarbons but, rather, are vapors consisting of a mixture which contains the lighter fractions in a predominant volume. Therefore the gas or vapor which-is initially withdrawn from the reservoir upon for operating the deviceconnected withthe apparatus during normal operation, with the re-' suit that vapors, having a constant heat value are conducted irom the apparatus. I

In the operation of the apparatus and in carrying out the improved method, the liquid hydrocarbon, that is, commercial butane, is introduced into the tank I0. It will be assumed that the atmospheric temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit and that it requires 2 pounds of pressure to raise the valve member 29. Obviously, when the liquid is introduced into the tank, the liquid will flow through the opening 2'0 in the partitiorix l1 and then into. the vaporizing chamber l9, whereby the liquid levels within the chamber I3 and the reservoir l8 will be equalized, as shown by the dotted line A in Figure 1.

degrees, vaporization of the liquid butane within assumed that the apparatus has been standing idle sufilciently long to be at atmospheric temperature and under these conditions, the pressure in the gas chamber G above the liquid level within the reservoir as well as the pressure ,within the vaporizing and receiving chambers above the liquid level in the vaporizing chamber will be equal, with the result that the weight on the valve niember 29 holds the samein a seated position to shut off any communication between the receiving chamber and the gas storage chamber G within has a predetermined heat valueras the operation is continued, it will eventually occur that most of the lighter fractions are removed, with the result that the gases or vapors which are drawn from the reservoir as the liquid level falls therein have a different heat value because of the change in the mixture of such gases or vapor. For this reason, it is impractical and undesirable to attempt to'operate a gas-operated device by means .01 vapors or gases which are drawn oil.

of the reservoir, such gases having been formed by the natural vaporization which occurs within the interior of said reservoir.

The present apparatus contemplates the application of heat to a portion oi the liquid body and this applied heat is suiiicient. to vaporize all of the hydrocarbons which are contained in the mixture. The vapors which are produced by this applied heat consist of a mixture of all of the constituents of the liquid and this vapor is sup- I plied to the device which is to be operated thereby during the normal operation of such device.

In this manner, the. vapors, which rise upwardly from the stored body of liquid are not depended the tank [0. At this time, the heating and circulating system (not shown) by which hot water is circulated through the jacket I! is idle. v

Due to the physical properties of butane, a vaporization of a portion of the liquid in both the reservoir and the vaporizing chamber will.

occur until enough heat has been extracted from the liquid to bring about a dormant condition and as explained, such condition would occur when the pressure of the gas or vapor is approximately 12 pounds. So long as the atmospheric pressure remains the same, no further vaporization would take place within the apparatus.

When it is desired to supply gas to a gasoperated device through the conductor 34, the valve 36 is manually actuated so .as to permit a flow of gas from the receiving chamber 23 into the conductor 34. As the gas in the top of the receiving chamber flows therefrom into this conductor, the pressure in the receiving chamber immediately begins to drop and such pressure drop upsets the dormant condition which hasbeen present within the apparatus, with the result that the liquid in the vaporizing chamber l9 begins to boil; this boiling immediately lowers the temperature in the vaporizing chamber. a

The temperature drop is caused by the vaporization of the liquid in the chamber I! as a result of the boiling action and heat is being removed from the liquid in the 'same manner as steam flowing from a boiler removes heat from said boiler. If the escape of gas from the receiving chamber and the vaporizing chamber continues without the application of an outside or auxiliary heat to the vaporizing chamber I IS, the pressure within the receiving and vaporizing chambers will gradually fall and the liquid level within said vaporizing chamber will gradually rise. This rise in liquid level will be due to the fact that the gas pressure above the level in the vaporizing chamber I9 is less than the gas pressure within the storage chamber G above the liquid levelin' thereservoir l8, thereby re-.

' sulting in a'flow of liquid from the reservoir,

through the .port 20 and into the vaporizin s, 75. chamber IS. The lowering of the 'level withi the reservoir ll will result in an additional va- It will also be porization of more of the liquid, whereby the vapor pressure in the. gas storage chamber G is increased. As the. withdrawal of gas from the within the gas storage chamber G, is sufflcient to lift the valve and when said valve is opened, gas is withdrawn from said storage chamber and thus outwardly through the conductor 34 to supply the device being operated. It is noted that as soon as the valve,member 29 is unseated, the liquid level which has risen within the vaporizing chamber and the receiving chamber will not rise any further and this level is indicated by the dotted line B in Figure 1. Of course, the level to which the liquid will rise in the receiving chamber will be controlled by the differential pressure which is necessary to unseat the valve member 29, which difierential pressure may be readily varied by changing the weight of the valve member 29. I

From the above, it will be obvious that upon initial opening of the valve 36, gas is drawn from the receiving chamber 23 and if this gas is insufficient for the operation desired, then the valve member 29 isunseated to withdraw gas from the storage chamber G above the liquid in the reservoir I9. If the gas continued to be withdrawn through the valve 29, the temperature of both of the bodies ofliquid in the reservoir I8 and the vaporizer l9 .would be lowered and such low- .eringo'i' the temperature would continue until about 33 degrees Fahrenheit was reached, at which temperature the vapor pressure .would approximately equal atmospheric pressure and flow of gas would stop. However, in actual practice, the heating and circulatingsystern begins to operate as soon as the valve 391s opened, whereby hot water is circulatedthrough the jacket I immediately upon the beginning of the withdrawal of gas from the receiving chamber.

The circulation ofhot water through the jacket It results in heating the liquid butane within the vaporizing chamber I9, whereby gas is generated and rises upwardly into the receiving chamber 23. It might be that suflicient gas is generated by the application of heat to the vaporizing chamber to prevent the valve member. 29 from opening, whereby no gas is withimportant feature of the invention since it maintains the liquid mixture at substantially its original boiling point and supplies a gas of a substantially constant heat value to the device being operated.

Upon the initial operation of the vaporizer, substantially the entire surface of the curved plate It will be contacted by the liquid within the chamber I9 due to the fact that said liquid has risen within the vaporizing chamber, as has been explained. Therefore, a relatively large portion of liquid is heated, whereby a relatively large amount of gas or vaporis generated. In most instances, the gas generated when all of the contact surface I3 is engaged by liquid, is morethan enough to supply the device being operated, with the result that the pressure within the receiving chamber 23 is gradually built up or increased. As this gas pressure within the receiving chamber increases, it acts downwardly on the liquid level in the vaporizing chamber [9 and serves to force said level downwardly within said chamber because the pressure within the receiving chamber 23 is greater than the vapor pressure within the storage chamber G above the liquid in the reservoir l8. As the liquid level is forced downwardly within the vaporizing 'chamber,'a portion of the heated liquid from .said chamber is passed back into the reservoir l8 through the opening 20 and this heated liquid serves to warm the liquid withinthe reservoir and restore, to some extent, the heat used in the vaporization of the gas above said liquid level. Also, the increased temperature of the liquid in the reservoir l8 acts to build up the pressure of the gas within the storage chamber G.

The lowering of the liquid level within the vaporizing chamber l9 reduces the amount of liquid which is in contact with the surface of the plate l3 and therefore less gass will be generated as the liquid level drops. The level will continue to fall until a balanced condition is reached, whereby the vaporizer will supply substantially the amount of gas or vapor which is being withj drawn through the conductor 34. In the event that an increased withdrawal from the receiving chamber occurs, the pressure in said receiving chamber will immediately be lowered, with the result that the liquid level in the vaporizing chamber l9 will again rise upwardly,- whereby an increased amount of liquid will engage the condrawn from the storage chamber G. However,-

if gas has. been withdrawn from said storage chamber, the generation of an additional gas within the vaporizing chamber through applied ,heat, will raise the pressure within the receiving chamber 23, whereby the valve member 29 is closed. After the valve member 29 closes, the

gas which is supplied to the conductor 34 is that which is generated by appliedheat and the device which has connection with the conductor 34 is operated by this gas. It is noted that the heat which is applied to the vaporizing chamber is suflicient' to vaporize all of the hydrocarbons which go to make up the mixture of the liquid butane, with the result that a gas having a predetermined heat value is produced'and suplevel in the reservoir G is in starting or in the event that the heating system might fail and not supply suillcient gas io'r th'e purpose. This is an tact surface of the plate 19. This will result in an automatic increase in the amount of gas or vapor which is generated. This arrangement makes the apparatus particularly adapted for" use in supplying gas to an engine or other devicewhich is subject to varying loads and ob- -viously the 'amountpf gas generated will be controlled in accordance with the load imposed or in accordance with the volume offgas whichis being used. Of course, the rise and fall of the liquid level within the vaporizing chamber l9 sets up a more or less constant heat exchange between the heated liquid in the chamber 19 and the liquid within the reservoir l8 so that the pressure within the gas chamber G is maintained and is available in the event that the vaporizin'g equipment might fail to function properly.

Fromthe foregoing, it will be obvious that a simple and efllcient apparatus for generating and vaporizing liquefied gases is provided. The arrangement is such thatupon initial operation and under excessive load, the gas is withdrawn from thestorage chamber above theliquid level in the reservoir l8 but under-normal operating conditions, the liquid is vaporized through ap plied heat, whereby gas of a constant heat value is produced. By applying the heat to the liquid so'as to generate or vaporize the gas, the mixture. or the liquid is not changed and the gas which is produced and suppliedto the device betion with the'carburetor'through, the vacuum ing operated is of substantially the same mixture liquid from the vaporizing and-receiving chambers back into the liquid reservoir Is. It is essential that flow in thisdirection be prevented in order to accomplish the result. The gas within the chamber G provides a reserve supply which is available for starting or under conditions where the'load on the vaporizer becomes excessive. Whenever a portion of this reserve is used and more liquid within the reservoir l8 vaporized, the heat which is extracted from the body of liquid within the reservoir is replaced at least to some degree, due to theconstant heat exchange between the heated liquid in the vaporlz-L l8. The construction and arrangement of the vaporizing chamber permits the volume of vapor which is generated to be controlled bythe load or by the ,volume of gas whichls flowing outwardly through the conductor 34. In other words, if the volume of. gas being supplied to the device increases or decreases, the liquid level within the vaporizing chamber I9 is automatical-- ly raised or lowered to increase ordecrease the amount of gas generated in accordance with such change. Although the apparatus has been described as used with liquid butane, it ispointed out efficient results may be obtained with propane, or other similar'hydrocarbons, or hydrocarbon mixtures. various boiling points may be employed to suit the particular climate wherein the apparatus is used% l v The apparatus may be employed for supplying gas to any gas-operateddevice, such as an engine, burner or the like. In Figure 1, the apparatus is shown as connected with the carburetor 40 of an internal combustion engine (not shown).

line 44. The case 48 has a diaphragm 41 mounted therein and a spring 48 constantly exerts its pressure to hold the diaphragm in a lowered position. The diaphragm has a-depending stem 49 which extends downwardly throughthe case 46 and into the pressure chamber 45 therebeneath. The stem is in alinement with a stem 50 which extends upwardly from the diaphragm 5| mounted within the chamber 45: When the engine (not shown) is idle, the spring 48 holds the upper diaphragm 41 in its lowered position so that the lower end of the stem 49 engages the upper end oi the stem 50 of the lower diaphragm 5|, whereby the latter diaphragm is held downwardly against tension of a spring 52 therebelow and is thereby inoperative. However, when I the engine is started, the suction created in the carburetor draws the upper diaphragm upwardly against the pressure of the spring raising the stem 49 away from the the lower diaphragm, permitting said phragm to-operate normally.

stem 5|) of With the lower diaphragm 5| in a raised position due to the tension of the spring 52, the stem 50 is raised. A pivoted crank 53' (Figure 5) has one armextending through a slot in the ing chamber l9 and the liquid in the reservoir stem 50 whereby as the stem is raised and 'lowered the other arm 54 of said crank is swung into and out of engagement with the end of a spring-pressed valve rod 55, whiclrcarries a valve 56 at its opposite end. The spring normally holds the valve 56 seated to close the aperture 51 into which the conductor 34 is connected, whereby the gas from the dome 23 cannot enter the head.

It will be apparent that when the engine (not shown) is idle, the upper diaphragm 41 holds Other hydrocarbons having A pressure regulator 4| has connection with the 55 conductor or outlet line isalso connected through a pipe 42 with the lower end of the carburetor 40. The pipe '42 is provided with a check valve 43 in its underside to prevent condensation of any gaswhich 7 might be standing in said pipe when the engine 34 and said regulator The pressure regulator 4| is clearly shown in Figure 5 and comprises a lower pressure chamber 45 and an upper diaphragm case which are secured together one above the other. The

chamber 45 is connected 'withthe carburetor 40 by the pipe 42; while the case "has connecsure to operate the engine. vacuum in the dome 23 the lower diaphragm in a lowered inoperative position. At such time, ,the stem is in a lowered position and the-arm 54 of the crank is engaging the end of they ve rod to positively hold the valve 56 close When the engine is started, and the upper diaphragm moved upwardly to disengage the stem 49 from. the stem 50, the spring 52 beneath the lower diaphragm 5| immediately raises said diaphragm. This swings the crank 53 so that the arm 54 disengages the valve rod 55. At such time, the valve 56 is-held closed only by the spring and as soon as the gas pressure in the conductor 34 overcomes the pressure of this spring, the valve is automatically opened to admit gas into the carburetor. It is pointed out that this arrangement provides a safety feature in that the valve '56 never opens unless there is a suflicient gas pres- In case there is a remain closed.

With the hook-up illustrated in Figure 1-, the improved apparatus may be employed for supplying gas to an internal combustion engine. when so employed, the hot water system of the engine may be connected with the pipes 5 and I6 to circulate hot water through the jacket l4 and obviouslyas soon as the engine is started, auxiliary heat is applied to the liquid in the vaporizer chamber. It is noted that it would not be necessary to employ the'particular pressure regulator shown in this'flgure and any suitable pressure regulator could be interposed between the conductor 34- and the carburetor 40. The apparatus may also be employed for supplying other types of gas-operateddevices and in Figure 6, the conductor 34 is shown as con- 48, thereby lowerqdia the valvewill of course,-

A suitable pressure regulator 62 is connected between the conductor 34 and the pipe 80 to control the pressure of the gas flowing to the burner Also a hand-operated valve 63 may be connected in thepipe 60. Manifestly, the operation of the generating apparatus is'not afiected by the particular operation of any device to which gas is supplied.

The check valve 2] which is illustrated in Fi ure' 1 has been described as operated by the difiere'ntial in pressures on opposite sides thereof, but the invention is not to be limited to this'particular type of valve. In Figure 8, a float operated valve 65 is shown. This valve is fastened to a curved arm 66 which is provided with a float ball 61 at its outer end, the opposite end of said arm being pivoted to the wall of a dome' 23a on a pin 68. The curvature of the arm is such that when the valve 65 is closed or in a seated position, the floatil depends into the vaporizing chamber i9. Whenever the liquid level nected through a pipe 60 with a. gas'burner 6| within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with the carburetor, of a vaporizing apparatus comprising, a liquid reservoir having a gas space for accumulating gas vaporized from the body of liquid, a vaporizing chamber connected with the reservoir, a receiving chamber connected with both the gas space and vaporizing chamber, means for controlling the supply of gas from the gas space into the receiving chamber, a gas supply pipe leading from the receiving chamber, a pressure re ulator connected to the supply pipe, a pipe line connecting the regulator with the carburetor whereby gas is conducted from the receiving chamber to said carburetor, a valve in said line action or operation. of the apparatus will be sub- 'stantially the same as described with respect to the form shown in Figure 1.' The\use of a" float operated valve permits the dome 23a'to be made smaller than the dome 23 shown in Figure 1 and said float provides for maintaining a positive liquid level in the chamber i9, regardless of the liqfastened to the partition I'I, whereby the heat within the vaporizing chamber l9 will not affect the liquid in the reservoir 18. This sheet may or may not be used, as desired.

In Figures 9 and 10', a slightly modified form of the invention is shown. In this form,a liquid storage reservoir Ill is made separate from a vaporizing chamber II and isconneoted at its lower end to the lower end of said chamber by means of an interconnecting pipe I2. The upper end of the vaporizing chamber II has connection with the upper end or the reservoir III through an angular pipe 13 and a suitable check valve I4 (Figure 10) is connected in, this latter pipe. The valve '14 is the equivalent of the check valve 21 in the form shown in Figure 1. Instead of the water jacket ll. of the first form, the vaporizing chamber II is heated by a coil 15 which may be supplied withhot water from a suitable source.

invention will be substantially the same as the first'form, the liquid level within the vaporizing chamber rising and falling in accordance with the amount of gas which is drawn of! through an outlet conductor 34a which leads from the upper end of the chamber 1|. The check valve 14 permits a flow of gas from the-reservoir HI end of the vaporizing chamber His insuflicient tc supply the demand. Also, the check valve positively prevents any flow at any time from the vaporizing chamber through the into the reservoir 10.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the pipe 13 and back ,Manifestly, the-operation of this form of the only when the supply of gaswithin theupper adapted to be opened to admit air into the'line when flow through the line is stopped and said gas contracts in volume, whereby the admitted air admixes with the gas in said line to prevent condensation thereof when the apparatus is idle, and means for automatically cutting off the gas from the supply pipe to, the regulator when there is insufflcient pressure in the receiving chamber.

2. The method of vaporizing liquefied gas for use in an internal combustion engine which consists in, confining a body of liquid, accumulating the gases rising from said body of liquid, segregating a portion of the liquid, heating said segregated portion by the heat derived from the engine to, cause vaporization to produce gas in addition to the accumulated gas, and utilizing the heated portion of the liquid during the operation of the engine for heating the body of liquid to maintain the same at a temperature sumcient. for vaporization.

3.'The method of vaporizing liquefied gas foruse'in an internal combustion engine which consists in, confining a body oi liquid, accumulating the gases rising from said body of liquid, segregating a portion of the liquid, heating said segregated portion by heat derived from the en'- gine to cause vaporization to produce gas in ad- -dition to the accumulated gasand utilizing the heated portion of the liquid during the operation of the engine for heating the body of liquid through a heat exchange, and controlling the heat exchange by the pressure of the gas generatedoirom the segregated and heated portion of the liquid.

4. The method of vaporizing liquefied gas for pplying a gas operated device which includes, confining a body of liquefied gas, accumulating cient.

fluctuations. i

5. The method asset iorth in claim 4 wherein the heating of the conducted liquid portion is-continuous regardless of pressure or volume 6. Th method of vaporizing liquefied gas as 'set forth in claim 4 wherein the back flow of the liquid to the body is unrestrained so that pressure increases may freely depress the liquid 7 being vaporized.

7. The method of vaporizing liquefied gas for supplying a gas operated device which includes,

confining a body of liquefied gas, accumulating gas arising from said body, conducting liquid from the bottom of said body through a zone of continuous heat to vaporize said liquid and providea supply of service gas, by-passing accumulated gas for temporary use into the service gas supply, and utilizing the pressure of the service regated liquid to provide an adequate supply of service gas during normal operation of the method,- controlling the heating of the segregated liq-' uid by the rise. and fall thereof, supplying the auxiliary gas to the service line temporarily when the supply of service gas is inadequate,

and controlling the supply of auxiliary gas to the service line and preventing. its return to the liquid body by pressure variations in the service line.

9. A vaporizing apparatus for liquefied gases including, a liquid containing reservoir having a gas space for accumulating gas vaporized from the body of liquid, a vaporizing container connected with the reservoir below the gasspace thereof, said connection being open to provide back andforth flow between the reservoir and the container, a receiving container connected with the vaporizing container and receiving the regular operating gas of the apparatus therefrom,-

-'a separate one-way connection extending from the gas-space of'the' reservoir to. the receiving container for discharging gas only-from the. gas space into. the're'ceivingchambenfmeans' for heating the liquid'in the vaporizing container co-acting' with the rise and fall of the liquid back and forth flow connection therewith, an upright heater for heating the liquid in said container, conducting means for the gas vaporized in said container, means for discharging ac-" cumulated gas from the reservoir to the conducting means, and means for positively shutting off how of gas from the conducting means to the reservoir to apply the full gas pressure in the vaporizing container to the liquid therein to vary the height of said liquid with relation to said heater to control the vaporizing of liquid in saidcontainer.

11. In a vaporizing apparatus, the combination with the carburetor of an internal combustion engine, a liquid containing reservoir having a gas space for accumulating gas vaporized from the body of liquid, a vaporizing container connected with the reservoin below the gas space thereof, saldconnection being open to provide, back. and forth flow between the reservoir and .the container, a receiving container connected with the vaporizing-container and receiving the regular operating gas of the apparatus therefrom, a gas supply conductor extending from the receiving container to the carburetor, a separate one-way connection extending from the gas space of the reservoir to the receiving container for from the receiving container to the gas space of the reservoir to cause the fluctuating pressure a of the gas in the receiving and vaporizing 'con-' therein to vary the rate ofheat transferfrom theheat source to the said liquid, and means for shutting off the flow of gas back through theconnection from the receiving container to. the

gas space of the reservoir to cause the fluctuat- Y amount of liquid contacting said heating means. 10.- Avaporizing apparatus for liquefied gases including, a reservoir for containing a bodyof liquefied gas, a vaporizing container having a tainers to exert its entire back pressure on the liquid in the vaporizing container to control the level of said liquid .therein and the amount of liquid contacting said heating means.

12. In a vaporizing apparatus, the combination with the carburetor of an internal combustion engine, a reservoir for containing a body of liq- 1 uefled'gas, a vaporizing container havinga back 7 and forth-flow connection therewith, an upright heater for heating the liquid in said container, conducting means for the gas vaporized in said container to the carbureton'means for discharg- 7 ing accumulated gas from the reservoirto the conducting means, and means for positively, shutting oil flow ofgas from the conducting means to the'reservoir to apply the full gas pressure in' the vaporizing container to the liquid therein to vary the height of said liquid with relation to a