US1738904A - Water-vapor-supply device for fuel charges of internal-combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1929. P. L. JONES 1,738,904

WATER VAPOR SUPPLY DEVICE FOR FUEL CHARGES OF 'INTERNAL GOM BUST.ION ENGINES Flled July 2l 1926 Inv@ GPC

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'Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNTED r Norion 'BERCY L. JONES, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS Application tiled July 21, 1926. Serial No. 123,927.

This invention relates to a novel device for utilizing water vapor from a radiator to supply moisture to the Jfuel charge of an internal combustion engin-e. The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connec tion with the accompanying drawings of one speciiic embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in vertical section of a portion of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine equipped with a water vapor supply device exemplifying' the invention;

litig. 2 is an elevation partly in vertical section or' the upper portion of the device showing part of the top of the radiator neck with the vapor supply device mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 oi" Fig. 2; and

Fig'. 4 is a similar sectional view showing a slight modification oi the construction illus-` trated in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiment oi' the invention which is selected tor exempliiication, and having reierence'at first to llig. 1, there is snown a portion of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine 5 to which the Yfuel charge is supplied by a carburetor 6, whence it is conducted by an intake manifold 7 to the combustion chambers. The, engine cylinders have a water acket 8 which communicates with a radiator 9 in the usual manner. The radiator presents a water reservoir for the cooling water which is circulated through the water jacket. The radiator has a neck 10 (see Figs. 2 and through which water is introduced into the cooling system. An overflow pipe 11 (see Fig. 1) leading from the neck discharges at a convenient point therebelow, outside of the radiator. The engine and its cooiing system as thus far described are of usual and well-known construction.`

Attached to the radiator neck, as by a screw thread 12 is a cap 13 comprising upper and lower sections 14.- and 15 hingedly connected as by a pintle 16. fin appropriate fastener, herein a wire bail 17 ot known construction, normally secures the sections together. The upper section may be liifted and turned about the axis of the pintle to permit the introduction of water into the radiator. tdurmounting the cap, as thus constituted, is a traine 18 having ahead 19, a neck 2() above the upper section o1c the cap, and a reduced shank 21 which extends through the latter. rihe shank is suitably secured to the upper section of the cap, as by a threading, to receive a nut 22 on the under or inner side ol' the upper section. Upper and lower gaskets 23 and 24 above and beiow the upper. section oi the cap and made ot suitable compressible material, prevent leakage through the joint where the shank passes through.

rlhe head 19 presents a chamber 25 and the neck and shank 21 present a passage 26 leading from the chamber and affording coni- CTL i'nunication between the latter and the radil ator neck to permit vapor from the radiator to ascend into the chamber. This passage is rather restricted, that is to say, the crosssectional dimensions are considerably less than those oi" the radiator neck, as a result of which water splashing about in the radiator does not roach the chamber. The height ol" thc chamber is such that water which is splashed by motion of the car gravitates from the neck u back to the body ot the radiator without danger ot its reaching the vapor outlet pipe presently to be described.

l-lerein the vapor chamber is transparent walled to permit the water in the chamber to be viewed it the radiator should boil over 'for any reason, such as slipping or breaking of the izan belt, and normally to serve as a visual indication that the cooling system is functioning properly. Herein the chamber has opposite openings Q7 covered by transparent walls, herein glass plates 28, conveniently secured in place by having their margins bevelled, as at 29, to receive correspondingly bevelled retaining plates conveniently secured to the traine., as by screws 31. Gaskets 32 made of suitable coinpressible material reccived in depressions 33 in the traine present cushioning abutments for the plates and pre vent leakage at the joints. The plates may readily be dismounted by removal of the screws 31 Vand retainingplates 30, thereby affording access tothe chamber, should occasion require, .for the removal of foreign mat* ter, and to enable the inner faces of the glass to be kept clean.

The lower portion of the chamber is provided with downwardly converging sides 34 to vconduct back to the passage 2G and thence to the radiator any water of condensation ywhich might forni in the chamber, and any water which might enter the chamber if the radiator should boil over. The upper portion of the chamber is provided with upw rdly converging sides 35, and at a point adjacent the apex formed by the intersection of these walls an inlet orifice 8G of a tube 37 provides an outlet for the vapor at an elevation sufficiently great to insure that. no water splashed about in the radiator shall reach the inlet orifice.` y

The` vapor outlet pipe is conveniently placed `along two of the inclined surfaces 34 and 35, where it does not interfere with the full vision of the vapor chamber. This location ispreferred also because the device is more .attractive withpa. clear opening from sideftoside of the vapor chamber.V

The vapor outlet tube in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, leads in a downward direction through the neck 20 tothe exterior of the latter, and herein the neck isv provided with a laterally extending boss 38 in which the tube is appropriately secured. To the outer end of the tube there is attached a flexible tube 39 (see Fig. l)l adapted to be flexed when the upper section of thel hinged cap is swung to open the cap for the admission of water to the radiator.

The other end of' the flexible tube is attached to a tube 40' leading tothe intake manifold 7 preferably intermediate the carburetor and the combustion chambers of the Y. l cylinders. Herein aA pipe is provided with a 'iii radiator, whence it may be carried lthrough valve 4,1 conveniently located near the operators osition as on an` instrument board 42 tojenable the amount of vapor supplied to the Vfuel charge to be controlled at will. Y

. The modification illustrated in Fig. 4 is similar in most respects to that hereinbefore described, exceptrthat the` vapor outlet pipe,

instead ofextending laterally through the neck of theframe, leads downwardly through the vapor inlet passage and through the radiator neck to a convenient point within the the radiator -wall` and thence to the carburetor..y In this form, however, the cap, instead of being hinged,.is simply secured on to the radiator neck, and must be unscrewed to enable the radiator to be filled with water. Then the cap is removed, of course, the vapor outlet pipe must yremain in place and must necessarily be straight, Vin order that the frame andY cap may be lifted clear of it.

In operation, the device supplies vapor to the fuel charge, thereby tending to promote economy of operation of the engine and to minimize accumula-tion of carbon deposits in the combustion chamber without danger of unvaporized water reaching the engine intake and interfering with the operation of the engine.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but without limiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

l. In a vapor supply device for internal combustion engines, the combination of a cap for attachment to a radiator to furnish the vapor', said cap comprising upper and lower hingedly connected sections, said upper section presenting an opening, a frame having ahead and a. neck above said upper section and a reduced shank extending through said upper section and secured to the latter, said head presenting a chamber and said neck and shank prcsei'itingv a. passage leading from said chamber through said neck and shank and adapted to permit vapor from the radiator to ascend into said chamber, said chamber having oppositely disposed, transparent walls through which water may be viewed, said chamber also having upwardly converging sides in its upper portion, and downwardly converging sides in its lower portion, a tube having an inlet orifice for vapor adjacent the upper portion of said chamber, said tube extending' in a downward direction along one side of said chamber and through said'neck to the exterior, and a fiexible tube attached to the outer end of said conduit and adapted to be flexed when the upper section of said hinged cap is swung to open said cap for the admission of water to the radiator.

2. InY a vapor supply device for internal combustion engines, the combination oi means presen g a vapor chamber having a lateral opening, a transparent wall estending across said opening', means providing for the lateral removal of said wall to afford an.

vapor inlet conduit ,Y chamber. and a vapor outlet conduit lea f ing out of said channber.

3. In a fapor supply device for internal combustion engines, the combination cf means presenting a vapor chamber, an inlet conduit thereto and an outlet conduit there from, said outlet conduit having a flexible portion, and ahinged mounting for said means, said mounting having provision for attachment to a radiator to .supply vapor through said inlet conduit to said chan'iber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

PERCY L. JONES.

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