US1945464A - Gas producer - Google Patents

Description

J. D. THOMAS GAS PRODUCER Jan. 30, 1934.

Filed April 11, 1933 am, JESSE 1). THOMAS WWK Patented Jan. 30, 1934 a UNITED STATES PATENT FFHE GAS PRODUCER Jesse D. Thomas, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Application April 11, 1933. Serial No. 665,597

3 Claims. (Cl. 261-77) This invention relates to gas producers of the the tank 1 by means of a compressor 2 run by a air and liquid contact type and it proposes the motor 3. A pressure actuated switch 4, diagramprovision of a carburetting device for making gas niatically shown and forming no part of the from any commercial grade of gasoline, for heatpresent invention interrupts the motor circuit 5 ing, lighting and general household purposes. when the desired pressure has been attained in One of the objects of the invention is the prothe tank 1. vision of means for maintaining a recurrent cir- The air under pressure is led by way of a conculation of gasoline from a reservoir through a duit 5 to the carburetting unit which in general mixing chamber, and the bringing of air by a is designated by the reference character 6. The

circuitous route into successive contacts with air serves as the medium to be carburetted as successive surface portions of the circulating Well as the motive power by means of which the gasoline within said mixing chamber, for carfunctions of the carburetting unit are carried buretting said air. out.

Another object of the invention is to provide The carburetting unit 6 comprises in its prea venturi as the liquid fuel circulation means, ferred form, a two storied tank constituting the 70 at the bottom of a column of the circulating lower reservoir '7 which may be filled with raw liquid, and fed with air under pressure, entraingasoline through the fitting 8. The upper part of ing air in said column and increasing the flow the unit 6 comprises a mixing chamber 9 having velocity of the gasoline through said column to the bottom wall 10, the same functioning as a parthe extent that the liquid particles separate, pertition between the two parts of the carburetting 75 mitting expansion of the air in said column and unit. The bottom 10 is preferably level. It is increasing its surface presentation to the liquid provided with an overflow into the tank 7 by fuel. way of a nipple 11 up-standing for about an inch A further object of the invention is to provide above the bottom wall 10 so as to impound a for the avoidance of stagnant fuel bodies in the shallow body of gasoline in the mixing chamber mixing chamber which, once deprived of their which is constantly changing, being part of the volatile fractions, might thereafter remain inert liquid circulation system about to be described. as to their carburetting function, reducing the A stand pipe 10 affords communication becapacity of the machine. tween the bottom of the reservoir by means of 30 Still another object of the invention is to prothe venturi fitting l2, and with the upper part 85 vide bafiles, preferably wick-lined dipping into .of the mixing chamber by means of the spout the surface of the circulating gasoline within 13 which is located at the opposite end of the said mixing chamber, and determining the labymixing chamber from the overflow nipple 11. rinthine course of the air being carburetted, said Compressed air from the tank 1 is supplied to bafiies being so arranged that passage is mainthe venturi 14 by a branch pipe 24 and issues tained for the flow of liquid fuel along the bottom from the nozzle 14 of the venturi in the form of said mixing chamber from the inlet to the of a jet which aerates the column of liquid discharge end thereof. in the stand pipe, throwing a jet of commingled Other objects of the invention will appear as air and gasoline from the spout 13 into the 40 the following description of a preferred and mixing chamber. Theliquid constituent of this 95 practical embodiment thereof proceeds. aerated column falls to the shallow body of gaso- In the drawing which accompanies and forms line in the bottom of the mixing chamber and a part of the following specification and throughcauses its overflow through the nipple 11 back out the several figures of which the same charto the reservoir 7. Thus circulation of gasoacters of reference have been employed to desigline is maintained and a fresh body of gasoline 1 nate identical parts, is perpetuated in the mixing chamber.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating a The mixing chamber is provided between the system in which the carburetting device of my inlet and the discharge ends with a series of invention is intercalated; baflies 15 and 16 arranged in alternate relation,

Figure 2 is a vertical section through a carthe baiiies 15 depending from the top wall 16 buretting device; and of the mixing chamber while the baffles 16' are Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 33 spaced from said top wall as well as from the of Figure 2. bottom of the mixing chamber, being supported Referring now in detail to the several figures, by angles 17 from the side walls 18 and 19 of a supply of air under pressure is maintained in the mixing chamber, best shown in Figure 3.

The lower ends of the bafiies 16' dip below the level of the body of gasoline in the mixing chamher which level is determined by the height of the nipple 11. The bafiies 15 terminate at their lower ends a slight distance above this level. Air is admitted to the space anterior to the first of the baflies 15 through a valve controlled branch of the air supply pipe 5.

In operation, the high velocity imparted to the liquid fuel in the stand pipe causes the particles of liquid to separate, permitting the air bubbles which are fairly condensed at their moment of emergence from the nozzle of the venturi, to expand progressively as they approach the top of the stand pipe, presenting ever increasing surfaces to the liquid in the aerated column, thus enhancing the absorption by the air of the volatile gasoline. The mixture of gasoline and air issuing from the spout 13 into the space anterior to the first baflie 15, impinges against a sheet of wicking 19 with which said battle is furnished on its forward face, wetting said wicking and enhancing the evaporative efficiency of this portion of the mixing chamber. The heavier liquid constituents issuing from said spout drop into the shallow body of gasoline in the bottom of the mixing chamber agitating it and thoroughly mixing the fresh gasoline with that already in the mixing chamber, also inducing a flow of the lower stratum of gasoline beneath the baiiles 17 and in the direction of the overflow ll, bringing fresh gasoline into the space between each of the baffles 16 and thus renewing the volatility of each. portion of gasoline in the mixing chamber, segregated in their surface portions by the baffles 16.

The bailies 16' which dip into the liquid fuel are also furnished on their forward sides with sheet wicking 19 which is continually wetted by capillarity. Air from the branch pipe 5 ntering the space between the first baffle and the adjacent wall of the mixing chamber, dilutes the carburetted air issuing from the spout l3 and evaporating from the wick 19, said air flowing in serpentine manner alternately beneath. the bafiies 15 and above the baffles 16, being forced into a thin film beneath each of the baffles 15, in which thin condition it makes contact with the surface of the body of gasoline in the mixing chamber absorbing volatile fractions of gasoline from said body of gasoline.

After having been thus passed into proximity to the body of gasoline in the mixing chamber a plurality of times and having flowed adjacent the gasoline-wet wicking on each of the bafiles 16', the air when it reaches the ultimate space between the final baffle 15 and the adjacent wall of the mixing chamber, is thoroughly carburetted and ready to be burned. It is led off by a suitable educticn pipe 20 to the appliance in which the combustible mixture is burned. Adjustment in the richness of the mixture and in the rate of its carbureticn may be accomplished by manipulation of either or both of the valves or 26.

Figure 1 shows a valve 21 controlling the supplyof compressed air to the carburetting unit, said valve being actuated by a diaphragm 22 which under the normal air pressure when gas is being discharged through the eduction pipe 20 maintains the valve 21 open, but when the valve on the gas-utilizing appliance is cut off so that the out-flow through the eduction pipe ceases, pressure in the diaphragm chamber 23 builds up, pressing the diaphragm up to the broken line position and closing the valve, thus cutting off the supply of compressed air and producing cessation in the functioning within the carburetting unit.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the specific details of construction as illustrated and described are merely by way of example and not tobe construed as limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. Gas producer comprising a carburetting device including a tank having an intermediate substantially horizontal partition, dividing said tank into a carburetting chamber above said partition and a reservoir for liquid fuel below said partition, an overflow pipe affording communication between said carburetting chamber and said reservoir determining a shallow liquid fuel level above said partition in said carburetting chamber, a stand pipe affording means of communication between said reservoir below the level of liquid fuel therein and said carburetting chamser above the level of liquid fuel therein, an injector in the lower part of said stand pipe adapted to be supplied with. air under pressure for discharging an aerated column of liquid fuel into said carburetting chamber thus establishing a liquid fuel circulation through the lower part of said carburetting chamber and said reservoir, a plurality of baffles in said carburetting chamber, alternating baliles extending from the roof of said chamber to a slight distance above the liquid fuel level in said chamber, and the other set of alternate baifies being spaced from the roof of said chamber and dipping beneath the liquid level therein to within a short distance of said partition, an outlet for carburetted mixture at the opposite end of said carburetting chamber, said baffies determining a sinuous course for the passage of air through said carburetting chamber, constricting it to a relatively thin film where it passes beneath alternate bafies into surface contact with the liquid fuel, the spaced relation of said babies from said partition permitting a subsurface movement of the liquid fuel in said carburetting chamber toward said overflow, avoiding pocketing between said baffles of less volatile constituents of said liquid fuel resulting from the absorption of its volatile constituents by the current of air passing along its surface.

2. Gas producer as claimed in claim 1, the

baffle first adjacent the discharge from said stand pipe having a wick surface facing said stand pipe,

means for admitting air under ressure to the space anterior to the first baflie, a valve controlling said air admitting means, and a discharge for carburetted gas at a point remote from said air admitting means.

3. Gas producer as claimed in claim 1, the baffles which dip in the liquid in said carburetting chamber having wick surfaces on their anterior faces, maintained wet by capillarity, and that baffle first adjacent the discharge from said stand a valve controlling said means, and a discharge for carburetted gas at a point remote from said air admitting means.

JESSE D. THOMAS.

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