US669987A - Apparatus for the production of vapor from oils. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 669,987. YPatntud Mar. I9, l90l.`

A.; HAYES.

APPARATUS FORTHEPRUDUCIIUH 0F V'APDR- FBUIUILS.

(Appliclt'on lcd Get. 27. 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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4 @6 By a l Y I 9 41mg' Patented Mar; I9; |90L A. HAYES. APPARATUS `FOR THE PRUDUCTION 0F VAPOR FROM ILS.

(Applicationld Oct. 27. 1900.\

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n v T Rs ,moro-L yivTTnn STATES PATENT Trice.

ALBERT HAYES, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE NEW LIGHT HEAT dt POWER CO., OE UTAH.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF VAPO-R FROM OILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,987, dated March 19, 1901.

Application filed October 27, 1900. Serial No. 34,531. (No model.)

To t/Z whom it may concern: my improvements. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are Be it known that I, ALBERT HAYES, a citihorizontal sectional views on the lines d d., zen ofthe United States, residing at Salt Lake b l), c c, and d d of Fig. l, respectively. Fig. Oity,in the county of SaltLake, State ofUtah, 6 is a perspective view of the double cham- 55 have invented certain new and useful Imber, in which the vapor is mixed with air. provements in Apparatus for the Production Fig. '7 is a detail view of the oil-chamber of Vapor from Oils, of which the followingis valves and the means for operating them. a description, reference being had to the ac- Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional View correcompanying drawings and to the figures of spending to Fig. l, but showing a moditica- 6o Io reference marked thereon.` y tion. Fig. 9 is a perspective view correspond- My invention relates to improvements in ing to Eig. 6, showing,r a modified form; and vaporizingandburning hydrocarbonoils,par Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view correticularly the heavier or less volatile oils, such sponding to Fig. 3,showing the modified form. as kerosene, for the production of heat, for In the drawings, l isachamber for cont-aini5 lighting, or other purposes. Devices for this ing the oil to be vaporized. As shown, this general purpose comprise generally an oilchamber comprises an upper and lower por supply, means for vaporizing the oil, means tion united by a screw-joint. The chamber for mixing the vapor with air to form a oommay be of any desired form, it being essenbustible mixture having the general qualities tial only that the chamber be of sufficient ca- 7o 2o of a gas, and a burner in which this gaseous pacity to contain the necessary amount of oil. mixture is burned. Where such devices are The upper end of the chamber is preferably used for lighting purposes, a mantle of resomewhatreducedindiameterandis provided fractorymaterial,ofthe type generallyknown with a removable nozzle or plug 2, having asa TVelsbach mantle, is placed above the through it an outlet-opening;` 3, of small di- 25 burner and is heated byit to incandescence. ameter. The outlet-opening is made conical lVhen such devices are used for heating purtoward its lower end to form a valve-seat Li, poses generally, the object t-o be heated is in which fits the needle-valve 5. In the botplaced above the burner. tom of the oil-chamber is an inlet-opening 6,

In devices of this class the oil is vaporized controlled by a valve 7. This inlet-opening 8o 3o in a closed tube, to the exterior of which the is preferably at the center of the bottom, diheat necessary to cause vaporization is aprectly in line with the opening 3. The neeplied, and the vapor formed passes into the (ile-valve 5 is carried by a valve-stem 8, and mixing-chamber without at any time coming the valve 7 is carried byavalve-stem 9. The in contact with flame. The outlet for the valves are operated tocontrol the outlet-open- 35 vapor is necessarily made of very small diingttand the inlet-opening 6, respectively, by ameter, and by reason of the changes in tema key l0, extending through the wall of the perature to which it is subjected much dffichamber l and having on its shaft, within culty is found in preventing the clogging of the chamber, means for eecting sim ultanethis outlet by the deposit of the tarry matously the movement of the two valve-stems. 9o 4o ters carried by the oil. In the drawings I have shown the shaft of the My improvement is designed to do away key provided with opposit-ely-placed eccenwith this liability of clogging the vaporizer trios ll and l2, the valve-stems S and 9 beby doing away with the vaporizer and effecting provided with yokes 13 and 14:, respecing the vaporiZat-on of the oil by the direct tively, in which the eccentrics are received, 45 action of a liame upon the oil fed from the the form of the yokes being such that the oil-supply; and my invention consists in the movement imparted to the valve-stems will means, hereinafter described, by which the be directly toward and from the valve-seats vaporization is thus effected and the vapor only. By turning the key in one direction mixed with air and supplied to the vapboth valves will be withdrawn from their loo 5o orizing-liame, as well as to the main burner. seats, and by turning the key in the opposite Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of i direction both valves will be forced to their respective seats. It should be understood that any means for simultaneously operating the two valve-stems other than the means shown may be used, it being essential only that the inlet and the outlet valves be so regulated that as an increased amount of oil is permitted to escape a correspondingly-increased amount of oil is permitted to enter the chamber. A stuffing-box 10' is provided to prevent leakage aboutthe shaft of the key.

'Surrounding the upper end of the oil-chamber and extending, preferably, slightly above the level of the top of the oil-chamber, but below the top of the nozzle, is a tube 15. Between this tube and the outer wall of the oilchamber are formed air-inlet passages 16. These are preferably formed by a metal piece 17, of the form shown in cross-section in Fig. 5, having the arms 1S and fitting snugly in the space between the tube and the oil-chamber, the air-passages being formed between the arms. This metal piece extends, preferably, from the lower end of the tube 15 to a point slightly below the top of the oilchamber. Above the inet-al piece 17 is placed a ring 19, of perforated metal, fitting between the tube 15 and the oil-chamber. The size of the air-inlet passages is so proportioned that the supply of air is somewhat restricted, and the length of the passages is such that the air will enter with some force. The perforated ring 19 serves to distribute the air entering throughthe air-passages equally on all sides of the center and probably acts also to further restrict the supply of air.

Above the tube l5 is placed a double chamber comprising an outer tube 20 and an inner tube 2l, which may be termed a mixing-tube. The outer tube 20 is preferably of somewhat smaller diameter than the tube 15 and is. connected to it by an ordinary slipjoint or other joint. The inner or mixing tube 21 is supported within the outer tube 2O by a flat ring or diaphragm 22 at its base. An air-inlet tube 23 extends through the walls of the inner and outer tubes to supply air to the interior of the mixing-tube. This air-inlet tube is arranged a short distance above the base of the mixing-tube. The upper portion 2la of the mixing-tube is preferably of smaller diameter than its lower portion; but the tube may be of the same size throughout its length. The upper end of this tube is preferably made slightly flaring; but this is not essential. Two or more air-inlet tubes may be used, if desired; but I prefer to use one only.

The space between the inner and outer tubes forms an annular downtake-passage 24, the ring or diaphragm 22 being provided with a series of perforations communicating with this passage.- I prefer to form this downtake-passage by a series of tubes 24:', placed in the space between the outer tube 2O and the mixing-tube, with their ends extending through the perforations in the ring or diaphragm 22, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 6; but

these tubes may be dispensed with, the space between the outer tube and mixing-tu be forming the downtake-passage, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. The purpose of the downtakepassage is to convey gas formed in the mixing-tube from above the upper end of the mixing-tube into the space below its base, delivering it in a ring about the baseof the mixing-tube, so that when ignited the gas issuing through the perforations in the ring or diaphragm 22 or from the lower ends of the tubes, above described, will form a ring of dame which, as hereinafter described, is caused to take a substantially conical form. Any convenient arrangement by which this canbe done may be employed, and my invention is not limited to the speci tic arrangement for this purpose described and shown.

Above 'the upper end of the inner tube 2l is an obstruction 25, which, as shown, is a diaphragmV ot' perforated metal within and supported by the outer tube 20. 'lhe purpose of this obstruction is to interpose sufficient resistance to the free passage of the gas from the mixing-chamber to cause a portion of it to enter the downtake-passage and pass downward therethrough to support the flame. Any means other than the perforated diaphragm shown which will effect this purpose may be used.

Above the obstruction 25 in the construction shown is placed a perforated metal diaphragm, which forms the top of the burner. The main portion of the gas formed in the mixing-chamber passes through this diaphragm and is burned above it. The mantle 26 is supported above the burner by the usual means and is heated to incandescence by the flame.

Surrounding the upper portion of the oilchamber at a point below the lower end of the outer tube 15 is a cup 27 for containing alcohol or other liquid for use in starting the action of the device. Any other means-such, for instance, as a removable torch-by which the parts may be heated sufficiently to prevent condensation of the vapor when formed and to furnish a vaporizing-ame to start the operation of the device may be employed in place of this alcohol-cup.

Oil is supplied to the inlet of the oil-chamber from a pressure-tank 28, which may be of any convenient form.

The operation of the device is as follows: The oil-chamber being filled with oil, the cup 27 is lled with alcohol and ignited, or if a removable torch is used it is lighted and placed in position.' The dame from the burning alcohol will pass upward about the exterior of the tube 15 and the outer tube of the double chamber through the passages between the tube 15 and the upper portion of the oil-chamber and into the mixing-tube. parts are sufficiently heated so that the vapor coming in contact with them will not be condensed the needle-valve is opened, permitting oil to escape through it in a fine stream or spray. By the movement of the key in open- As soon as the c IOS IIO

pass downward through the downtake-pas-v sage between the mixing-tube and the outer tube 2O and passing through the perforations in the ring or diaphragm 22 will be ignited below it. A ringof flame willthus be formed,

and as the outer tube 15 prevents the dame from finding an exit other than through the mixing-tube it will tend to draw into the mixing-tube about the outlet-nozzle of the oilchamber. The outer tube l5 prevents access of air to the flame from the side and air can enter only in an upward current through the air-passages 16. This upward current of air distributed by the perforated diaphragm 19 on all sides of the center will aid in forcing the llame into the mixing-tube and the flame will be caused to assume substantially the form of a hollow cone within the mixing-tube about the outlet-nozzle, with the apex of the cone directly above the outlet. The air entering through the air-inlet 23 above the liame and acting upon the upper surface of the flame probably aids to some extent in causing it to assume the conical form. The oil is forced from the needle-valve directly into and through the apex of the cone of flame and in its passage therethrough it is vaporized but the vapor thus formed is not consumed in this flame. Air entering through the air-inlet 23 is mixed with the vapor/thus formed within the mixing-tube. From the mixing-tube the largelporrion of the gas passes upward to the burner, aportion of it sufficient to maintain the cone of' flame being deflected downward, as above described, through the downtakepassages to maintain the vaporizing-iiame, as above described. As soon as the vaporization is started the means used for the preliminary heating maybe dispensed with. The oil will continue to be vaporized and the gas formed as long as the supply of oil is maintained.

The brilliance of the light may be regulated by red uciug or increasing the discharge of oil from lthe needle-valve, the vaporizing-iiame being maintained constant at all times, so far as its vaporizingelfect is concerned, Whatever variation there may be in the supply of oil, so long as the supply is not completely shut off.

By the improvements thus described the vaporizing tube or retort heretofore used in vapor-burners is dispensed with. The Vaporization being effected in a cone of flame in a mixing-tube of comparatively large diameter, there is nothing to be clogged by the deposit of tarry or other matter from the oil.

lfrom the vaporizers heretofore used.

The vaporization being effected after the oil leaves the needle-valve, the oil-chamber is not subjected to direct flame and is not heated sufficiently to vaporize the oil contained in it. rlhe oil is discharged practically cold 1h rough the needle-valve and will therefore have no tendency to clog the valve. The vaporiza tion being effected at the center of the cone of dame is effected at a Nery high heat and is for this reason more complete than eau be effected in a closed retort, with thc result that the gas produced isof better quality and when burned produces a higher degree of heat than can be secured with an equal quantity of gas By the use of my improvements the heavier hydrocarbon oils, such as kerosene, are vaporized and burned as readily as the lighter oils, such as gasolene or naphtha, are vaporized and burned in devices heretofore employed and with materially better results.

While my improvements have been herein described as particularly adapted for use for lighting purposes, it will be understood that they are equally adapted for heating purposes generally.

The gas produced in the mixing-tube of my device may, if desired, be used in an explosive-engine or for any purpose for which a gaseous compound of vapor and air, such as is there formed, may be adapted.

The method of vaporizing hydrocarbon oils by direct contact with iiame which is effected bythe apparatus herein described and shown is not claimed in this application, but is made the subject of a separate application for pat eut, filed November 5, 1900, Serial No. 35,566.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an apparatus for vaporizing hyd rocarbon oils, the combination with a mixing-tube, of means for forcing a fine stream or spray of oil into the mixing-tu be, and means for maintaining a vaporiZing-ilame within the mixingtube about the stream or spray of oil.

2. In au apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combination with a mixing-tube, of means for forcing a line stream or spray of oil into the mixing-tu be, means for maintaining a vaporizing-ame within the mixing-tube about the stream or spray of oil, and means for supplying air above the flame to mix with the vapor generated from the stream or spray to form a gas.

3. ln an apparatus for vaporiziug hyd rocarbon oils, the combination with means for feeding a fine stream or spray of oil under pressure, of means for maintztining a vaporizingllame in the pal h of the stream or spray, means for supplying an upward current of air to the flame from below and means for supplying air above the flame to mix with the vapor generated from the stream or spray of oil.

4E. In an apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combination with means for feeding a line stream or spray of oil under pres- IIO sure, of means for maintaining a vaporizing- Hanne within an inclosing chamberin th'e path of the stream or spray, means for supplying an upward current of air to the flame from below and means for supplying air above the dame to mix with the vapor generated from the stream or spray of oil.

5. In an apparatus for vaporizing hyd rocarbon oils, the combination with an oilchamber having an outlet, of a mixing-tube arranged in line with said outlet, and into which said outlet extends, means for maintaining a VaporiZing-ame within the lower end of the mixing-tube about the outlet and means for admitting air to the mixing-tube above the llame.

6. In an apparat us for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combination with a chamber containing oil under pressure, provided with an outlet, of a mixing-tube above the chamber to receive the oil from said outlet, means for maintaining a flame about the base of the mixing-tube and means for admitting air to the iiame from below to force itinto the mixing-tube to vaporize the oil discharged from the outlet.

7. In an apparatus for vaporizing hyd rocarbon oils, the combination with a chamber containing oil under pressure, provided with an outlet, of a mixing-tube above the chamber to receive the oil from said outlet, means for maintaining a flame about the base of the mixing-tube, means for admitting air to the flame from below to force it into the mixingtube to vaporize the oil discharged from the outlet and means for admitting air into the mixing-tube above the flame.

8. In an apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combination with an oil-chamber having an outlet, of a mixing-tube arranged in line with said outlet, means for admitting air to the interior of the mixing-tube, an outer tube surrounding the mixing-tube, a downtake-passage between the two tubes for deliver-ing gas into the space below the lower end of the mixing-tube to maintain the flame therein and means for admitting air into the space below the lower end of the mixing-tube to force the flame into the mixing-tube about the outlet.

9. In an apparatus for vaporizinghydrocarbo'n oils, the combination with an oil-chamber having a valve-controlled outlet, of a mixing-tube arranged in line with said outlet, means for admitting air to the interior of the mixing-tube, an outer tube surrounding the mixing-tube and extending above and below its ends, a downtake-passage between the two tubes for delivering gas into the space below the lower end of the mixing-tube to maintain a flame therein, means for causing an upward current of' air into the space below the lower end of the mixing-tube to force the ame into the mixing-tube about the outlet and an obstruction to the free passage of gas above the mixing-tube.

10. In an apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combination with an oil-chamber having a valve-controlled outlet at its upper end, a mixing-tube above and in line with said outlet, means for admitting air to the interior of the mixing-tube, an exterior passage leading from the upper end of the mixingtube into the space below its lower end for delivering gas into such space to maintain a flame therein, means for diverting a portion of the gas from the mixing-tube into said passage and means for admitting an upward current of air into the space below the lower end of the mixing-tube to force the flame into the mixing-tube about the out-let.

l1. In an apparatus forlvaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combination with an oil-chamber having a valve-controlled outlet at its upper end, of an outer tube surrounding the upper end of the oil-chamber, a mixing-tube above the oil-chamber inline with its outlet, means for maintaining a llame about the base of the mixing-tube, means for admitting air in an upward direction about the oil-chamber to cause the flame to assume a conical form within the end'of the mixing-tube and means for admitting air into the mixing-tube above the flame. v

l2. In an apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combination with an oil-chamber having an outlet at its upper end, of an outertube surrounding the upper end of the oilchamber, a double chamber arranged above the oil-chamber and comprising an inner or mixing tube and an outer tube, the two tubes being spaced apart and having a perforated ring between them at the base of the mixing-tube, means for admit-ting air in an upward direction between the oil-chamber and the outer tube surrounding it, and means for admitting air to the mixing-tube at a point above its base.

13. In an apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, the combination with an oilschamber having an outlet at its upper end, of an outer tubesurrounding the upper end of the oilchamber, a double chamber arranged above the oil-chamber and comprising an inner or mixing tube and an outer tube, the two tubes being spaced apart and having a perforated ring between them at the base of the mixing-tube, means for admitting air in an upward direction about the oil-chamber, means for admitting air to the mixing-tube at a point above its base, a perforated diaphragm above the upper end of the mixingtube within the outlet-tube surrounding it, a burner above the mixing-tube and a mantle supported in position To be heated by the burner.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses,

ALBERT HAYES.

Witnesses:

Jos. H. BLAcxwooD, A. P. GREELEY.

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