GB265186A - Improved process and apparatus for producing a combustible charge for use in an internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

265,186. Balachowsky, D., and Caire, P. Jan. 27, 1926, [Convention date]. Vaporizers, external.-The charge for an internal-combustion engine is produced by atomizing a hydrocarbon with a volume of air not exceeding one-half of the air required for combustion, passing the mixture through a nest of exhaust-heated tubes each containing a twisted rod, the tubes and rods being composed of one of the metals which are known, when heated, to effect the catalytic decomposition of hydrocarbons, then passing the mixture into a common outlet wherein it is whirled, and finally adding supplementary air in sufficient quantity to produce a combustible mixture. As shown in Fig. 1, the rich mixture is supplied through an inlet a to a casing d having the shape of a centrifugal pump casing, and passes through tubes b each containing a helically-twisted rod b<1> to a similarly-shaped casing having an outlet a<1>, the tubes and casings being heated to 300-350‹ C. by an exhaust jacket. The outlet a<1> is connected to the engine by a conduit provided with an additional air inlet device. A porous mass, e.g. ropper gauze or filings, may be situated in the tubes to retain unvaporizable fuel. In modifications, (1) the apparatus is provided with a central tube into which the flame from a blowpipe may be directed, (2) the heating-jacket is supplied with a liquid which is heated by the exhaust gases, and (3) electrical heating means are provided in addition to the exhaust jacket. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) comprises also (1) a modification in which the rods b<1> are replaced by tubes through which the exhaust gases flow. and (2) a construction in which the rich mixture traverses a helical passage having tangential inlet and outlet orifices f, f<1>, Fig. 3 (Cancelled), formed by a member e situated between outer and inner tubes d, i of catalytic metal, exhaust gases entering the surrounding casing at h and leaving at g. The exhaust gases pass around the tube d and also through a number of tubes d<1> passing through the helical member e. An electricallyheated coil k may be wound around the apparatus or may be carried by an axially-situated insulated core j. In the latter case, the tube i may be dispensed with, the coil, which is then in direct contact with the fuel, being composed of catalytic metal, e.g. copper, nickel, or platinumnickel. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted, but in part forms the subject of divided Application 289,029.