US2314131A - Gas generator - Google Patents

Description

March 16, 1943. l.. DE csABY GAS GENERATOR Filed Nov. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 16, 1943. L vma CSABY 2,314,13l

GAS GENERATOR Filed Nov. 9, 19259 2 'Sheets-Shag?. 2

INVENTOR Lasz/o de Csaby A ATTORNEY' atentedl i6, 1243 GAS GENERATOR Lszidae csaby, Tulsequah Columbia, :v

".lownship, British Application November 9, 1939, Serial No. 303,679

(Cl. 26h- 12) This invention relates to a gas generator particularly for use with internal combustion engines.

An object o1' the present invention is the provision of a. device for generating a dry gas from liquids, such as gasoline, crude oil and other liquids of an explosive nature.

Another object is the provision of a gas generator in which the liquid supplied thereto is divided up into its finestmolecular state.

Another object is the provision of a device for generating gas from liquid fuels in a simple and extremely efficient manner.

A further object is the provision of a gas generator-for use with internal combustion engines, adapted automatically to adjust itself to the speed of the engine.

A further object is the provision of a. gas generator for use with internal combustion engines,

which is capable of supplying sulcient vaporized fuel forstarting purposes and which thereafter automatically adjusts itself to operate at the maximum efficiency in relation tothe speed of its engine.

A still further object is the provision of a device adapted completely to vaporize -liquid fuel for internal combustion engines without employing or interfering with the suction of the engine for this purpose.

In the applicants co-pending application S. N. 230,344, filed September 16, 1938, is shown a gas generator having a drum rotatably mounted in a casing forming a vaporizing chamber therebetween having a discharge outlet, means for supplying fuel and air to the chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, and means for directing the vaporized fuel to the exhaust manifold of an engine, said last-mentioned means being a plurality of spiral passages.

The present invention differs from the above applicationin that the drum is movable in the chamber to regulate the size of the latter in relation to the speed of rotation of the drum, and means is provided for `selectively supplying air to the chamber and for varying the quantity of the air in relation to the speed of the drum.

With the vabove and other objects in view,'the

present invention consists essentially of a gas generator for internal combustion engines, comprising a casing, a corrugated drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a vaporizing chamber formed between the drum and vthe casing, said chamber communicating lwith the intake manifold of the engine, meansy for rotating the drum, means for moving the drum back and forth in the chamber to regulate the size of the Vaporizing chamber in relation to the speed of the engine, and means for supplying fuel and air to the chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, as more fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Y Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through the gas generator,

Figure 2 is a front `elevation of the generator with the drum and casing removed, part of the front wall and heating plate being broken away,

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail of the fuel supply valve mechanism,

Figure 4 is a detail of the valve, taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3,I

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of a check valve,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the vaporizing drum,

Figure '7 is a longitudinal section through an alternative form of the invention, with the drum and casing removed, and

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 of another alternative, with the fuel and air valve mechanism removed. l

Referring more particularly to the drawings, III is a circular housing having front and rear walls Il and I2 with a relatively large opening' I3 and a smaller opening Ill formed in said front and rear walls, respectively, centrally thereof. An intake pipe I 5 having a control valve I6 therein, communicates with the interior of the .housing I0 at the bottom thereof while diametrically opposite said pipe, a discharge pipe I'I communicates at one end with the interior of the housing, the opposite end of the discharge pipe being provided with a flange I8 for connection with the intake manifold'of an internal combustion engine (not shown). The discharge pipe I'l is formed with a restriction or Venturi passage 20 adjacent its lower end and with a. throttle valve 2i above said restriction or passage.

A ring or circular partition 22 mounted in the housing I0,.is spaced from and concentric with the peripheral wall 23 thereof, to form passages 24 and 25 extending from the intake pipe I5 to the discharge pipe I'l. A hollow jet or nozzle 26 formed on the ring 22 and communicating with the space bounded thereby, projects into the discharge pipe I'I and is adapted to discharge into 4said pipe at the Venturi passage 20. This jet or nozzle is provided with a check valve 21 adapted to prevent fuel or air from passing back through the jet or nozzle into the space within the ring 22. A plurality of spirally disposed par- `A relatively broad gear 4I titions 28 are mounted in the housing I0 and form a plurality of spiral passages 30, said passages extending from their entrances 8| outwardly in a spiral and terminating at their outlets 32 adjacent to but within the ring 22. The partitions are arranged in such a manner that4 the entrances 3| are smaller than the outlets 32 so that each passage 30 is actually tapered and increases in size from its entrance to its outlet.

The front wall is preferably saucer-shaped so that, in cross section, it slopes inwardly from the opening I3 toward its periphery, see Figure 1. This wall is provided with drain openings 33 and 34 each having a drain plug 35 therein. 'I'he opening 33 is located near the ring 22 while the opening 34 is situated closer to the central opening I3 and a shoulder 36 separates said openings.

A sleeve 31 is formed on the wall I2 of the housing and extends inwardly from the opening |4. A bushing 38 is fitted inside the said sleeve and a hollow drive shaft 48 is journalled in the bushing and extends beyond each end thereof. (see Figure '1) is mounted on the outer end of the shaft 40 and a conical vaporizing drumf42 is mounted on the other end of said shaft, with the base thereof projecting into the central opening I3 of the front wall of the housing. The gear 4| is adapted to mesh with another gear (not shown) which is turned by the engine in any desired manner. to rotate the vaporizing drum. This drum may be connected for rotation to the engine in any suitable manner or it may be turned by means of an electric motor, the speed of operation of which is controlled by the engine. The main thing is that the speed of the drum is controlled by the engine so that its speed of rotation increases or decreases with a corresponding change of speed of the engine.

The drum 42 is provided with a hub 43 carried by the shaft 48, forming a chamber 44Within the drum, in which an electrical heating coil 45 is mounted. Leads 46 extend outwardly from the coil 45 through the shaft 4U to a. suitable source of electrical supply, suitable means (not shown) 'being provided for permitting the coil to rotate without entangling the leads. A plurality of fan blades 41 extend outwardly from the base of the drum 42 approximately to the rear wall I2 of the housing, said blades overlapping the entrances 3| of the spiral passages 30. A spiral rib 48 is formed on the outer surface of the drum 42 and extends from the tip rearwardly to the base of said drum. This band forms a spiral groove 58 between its convolutions. The band 4B preferably is relatively narrow at the tip of the drum and gradually widens as it progresses toward the base thereof. Similarly. the various convolutions of the band are preferably closer together at the tip of the drum and gradually get farther apart toward the opposite end thereof so that the groove 58 gradually widens toward the drum base.

A hollow conical casing or cover fits over but is spaced from the vaporizing drum 42. Y This casing consists of inner and outer walls 52 and 53 forming therebetween a chamber 54. in which an electrical heating coil 55 is mounted, said coil 'being connected to a suitable source of electrical supply in any desired manner, such as by leads 56 which extend through the wall 53. A ring 51 is removably mounted in the concentric opening at the base of the casing 5I between its inner and outer walls. The casing is removably secured to the housing I0 in any suitable manner,

such as by bolts 58 threaded into the front wall If desired, plates 60 may be removably secured to but spaced from the front and rear walls II and |2 of the casing I0 in any suitable manner. The spaces between the walls and the plates 60 may be connected to the exhaust system of the engine but it is more desirable to have electrical heating coils 6| in said spaces.

A spiral rib 62, similar to the band 48, is formed on the inner surface of the inner wall 52 of the casing 6|, said band forming a spiral groove 63 between its convolutions. The rib 62 is arranged so that it generally overlaps the groove 50 of the drum 42 and, consequently, the rib 48 of said drum generally overlaps the groove 63 of the casing.

The casing 5| forms a conical chamber in which the conical drum 42 rotates. The outer surface of the drum is situated close to the inner surface of the chamber and a conical vaporizing chamber 64 is formed therebetween. The surfacesof the drum andthe inner Wall of the casing are corrugated, said corrugations being formed by the ribs 48 and 62, so that actually the walls of the vaporizing chamber 64 are corrugated. While the corrugations of the inner wall 52 may be omitted, it is preferable to have said corrugations. The vaporizing chamber communicates with the intake manifold of the engine through the housing I8.

Fuel and air are supplied to the vaporizing chamber 64 at the tip of the vaporizing drum in any suitable manner and one method of doing this is illustrated in Figure 1. A passage 65 extends through the outer end of the casing 5| to the vaporizing chamber and a mixing casing 66 is mounted on the casing 5| over said passage. 'I'he casing 66 is formed with a central mixing chamber 61 and with fuel and air chambers 68 and 10, respectively, ori each side thereof. Fuel is supplied, preferably by a fuel pump (not shown), to the chamber 68 by a pipe 1|. A cover 13 is provided for the chamber 68, through which a stem 14 of a valve 15 rotatably extends. said stem being provided with a, disc 16 on its outer end with a pin 11 eccentrically mounted thereon. The valve 15 is seated on the bottom of its chamber by means of a spring 18.

Small, medium and large jets 80, 8| and 82, respectively, are concentrically mounted in the casing 66 and extend through the mixing chamber 61 into the passage 65 of the casing 5 I. Small, medium and large feed passages 83, 84 and 85, see Figure 3, extend from the fuel chamber 68 to the jets 80, 8| and 82, respectively. An elongated slot 86 is formed in the valve 15, see Figure 4, said slot being relatively large at one end and tapering toward the opposite end. When the valve in the fuel. chamber is rotated in the direction of the arrow (see Figure 4), the slot 86 is first brought into registry with the end of the small passage 83, then with the passage 84,and finally with the passage 85. In this way, fuel is supplied to the small jet 68, and then to the medium `iet 8|, and finally to the large jet 82, the quantity of fuel increasing as the valve advances over the ends of the passages.

Air is supplied to the chamber 10 by a pipe 12 extending from an air storage tank (not shown). A cover |38 is provided for the chamber 1U, through which a stem I 3| of a valve |32 rotatably extends, said stem being provided with a disc |33 at its outer end with a pin |34 eccentrically mounted thereon. The valve |32 is seated on the bottom of its chamber by means of a spring |35.

A slot 01 is formed 1in the bottom of the air chamber 10, said slot being substantially the same shape as the slot |36 oi the valve in the said chamber. In this case, however, thevalve slot |35 normally registers with the slot 81 and when the valve is turned, the one slot is gradually moved out of registry with `the other so that the air supply to the chamber 61 is gradually cut off. The air supply pipe 12 is provided with a control valve 88 which is open when the engine is turning over and closed when it is not.

'I'he vaporizing drum 42 is moved axially during rotation in any suitable manner. This movement regulates the volume of the vaporizing chamber 54 by increasing or decreasing said volume in .relation 'to the speed of the engine.

In Figure 1, the volume of the vaporizing chamber is at the maximum when the drum is at lrest and suitable lmeans is provided for gradually decreasing said volume as the speed of the engine increases.

A suitable governor 90 is mounted on the shaft 40 within a housing 9| removably secured to the rear Wall i2 of the housing |0, the former housing having a fiat Wall 92 at its outer end with a bearing 93 in which theshaft is journalled. The governor 90 consists of a relatively long sleeve 94 keyed to the shaft 40 and arms 95 pivotally connected to lugs 96 on the outer end of the sleeve, each arm having a weight 91 at its outer end and -a cam 98 at its pivot end. The cams 98 are adapted to bear against a movable plate having a circular rib |0| projecting into a circular groove |02 formed in the wall 92, said rib being held away from the bottom of the groove by a coil spring |03. A link |04 connects each arm 95 at a point spaced from its pivot, to lugs |05 on a collar |06 which is slidably mounted on the sleeve 94 adjacent its inner end by means of splines |01 formed in said sleeve. The collar |06 is provided with a flange |08spaced from the lugs |05 and a coil spring |09 extends between the lugs 96 and |05. A ring IIO is loosely fitted on the collar |06 between its flange and the lugs. and a pair of arms and |40 project outwardly therefrom through elongated openings ||2 formed in the housing 9|. Links ||3 and |4| extending through tubes ||4 and |42 which extend through the housing I0, connect the arms and |40, respectively, to the eccentric pins 11 and |3| on the discs 18 and |33 of the valves 15 and |32 so that any lateral movement of the collar |06 rotates said valves.

When-the shaft 40 is rotated and the weights 91 f--the governor 90 are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, the cams 98 bear against the plate |00 and shift the shaft with the drum 42 axially toward the casing 5| to reduce the volume of the vaporiziflg chamber 64. This same operation draws the collar |06 along the sleeve 94 toward the lugs 96. This movesthe arms and |40 and the connecting links ||3 and |4| to rotate the valves 15 and |32. .'I'he fuel valve is set so that itis opened by this movement While the air valve is closed thereby.

In Figure '7, the position of the governor is reversed and the circular groove |02 is formed within the sleeve 31. In this alternative, the op-A eration of the governor draws the vaporizing drum 42 away from the casing 5| to increase the volume of the vaporizing chamber 64. Ihe valves 15 are set so as to operate inthe same manner as in Figure 1.

In the modification shown in Figure 8, the housing I0 is reduced in size and the spiral partitions 23 and passages 30 are omitted. The fan blades 41 of the drum 42 and the large opening i3 of the wall are omitted but a plurality of smaller openings ||4 are formed in said wall in a circle about the shaft 40. In this alternative, the governor may be arranged to move the vaporizing drum ineither direction as the speed of the.

engine increases. Figure 8 illustrates a form of governor for enlarging the volume of the vaporizing chamber. In this governor, a collar ||5 keyed to the shaft 40, is provided with lugs H6. Weighted blades ||1 are pivoted adjacent one end to the lugs I6 and are formed with the cam surfaces ||8 at said end. These blades are connected by links |20 to lugs |2| formed on the inner end of a relatively long sleeve |22 which is slidably mounted on the shaft 40 by means of splines |23, and slidably extends through the end of the housing 9|. Ay coil spring |24 extends between the collar ||5 and the sleeve |22 and a wheel |25 having vspaced flanges |26 is formed on or fixed to the outer end of said sleeve. The ring I0 is mounted on the wheel |25 and its arms and |40 are connected by the links ||3 and |4| to the valves 15 and |32, said valves being set to operate in accordance with the direction of movement of the governor in this form of the invention. This governor not only shifts the vaporizing drum axially, but when the blades |1 `are swung outwardly they act in the same capacity as the blades 41 of the other forms of the invention.

In operation, when the engine vis first started, the Valves 15 are set to admit fuel and air into the passage 65 where they are mixed and the fuel at least partially vaporized. Any one or all the.

heating coils 45, 55 and ,5| may be on. If desired, suitable means may be provided whereby one coil may be used in comparatively mild weather, two in cool weather and three in cold weather. The partially vaporized fuel is blown or forced through the vaporizati'on chamber 64, the spiral passages 30, if these are employed, and through the jet 25 where it is mixed in or above the Venturi passage 20, with air drawn by the suction of the engine through the intake pipe |5 and the passages 24 and 25. This air is preheated' if the coils 8| are used.

Referring to Figure 1, the volume of the vaporizing chamber ls largest when the engine is just started or is running very slowly. In this case, the air from the pipe 12 blows the vaporized fuel through the device into the intake manifold of the engine. As the speed of the engine is increased, the governor moves the vaporizing drum to reduce the volume of the vaporizing chamber. The device is so constructed that the drum is moved to the position 'where the volume of the 'chamber is right for the most efllcient vaporlzation of the fuel when the engine is running at a fair speed. With this arrangement,

the engine is supplied with sulcient fuel for starting purposes and then the supply is cut down as the engine warms up for the most economical operation. 'I'he governor is arranged so that it permits a certain amount of axial movement of the drum without interfering with its rotation. In other words, the pressure of the air and fuel against the drum will not cause any binding or other trouble during the rotation thereof.

The fuel is vaporized in the vaporizing chamber by heat, centrifugal force and friction. The coils 45 and/or 55 heat the fuel, the drum swirls it around and the corrugations of the drum and the inner wall of the casing break it up by friction. The number of turns or convolutions of the spiral ribs 48 and 62 depends upon the type of fuel for which the generator is designed. Gasoline would not require very many turns while fuel oil would require more. The fuel is completely vaporized when leaving the chamber and the fan blades 41 propel it through the spiral passages 30 where friction and heat from the coils 6|, if used, maintain it in this state. .The fact that the passages 30 taper outwardly prevents the pressure of the vaporized fuel supplied to the manifold, from being too high. The check valve 21 prevents any backiiring into the space within the ring 22.

The collar |06 moves as the speed of the engine increases to turn the fuel valve through the arm Il, link H3, disc 16 and the eccentric pin 11. This increases the quantity of fuel supplied to the device through one or all the jets 80, 8l and 82. This same movement of the collar '|06 turns the air valve |32 gradually to cut off the air supply. When the engine is running faster, this air is not necessary as the drum is rumiing fast enough and the vaporizing chamber is hot enough to ensure complete vaporization of the fuel. The spiral band 48 acts more or less as a fan and it, along with the blades 41, ensure a sufcient volume of vaporized fuel or gas being supplied to the Venturi passage 20. From this it will be seen that the suction of the engine is not used to vaporize the fuel but to draw it through the generator.

In Figure 7, the governor increases the volume of the vaporizing chamber as the speed of the engine increases. lieved to be as emcient as the form of the invention just described, it is very useful. The governor prevents the air or fuel pressure from interfering with the rotation of the drum and it enlarged the vaporing chamber to permit a freer passage of the fuel therethrough.

This form of construction may be employed, for instance, in the case where heavy hydrocarbons are used as fuels Where it is desirable when starting the engine to concentrate the heat in the vaporizing chamber and to subject the fuel to the most rigorous mechanical treatment for vaporizing the fuel during which time the lnjection of air assists the` passage of the fuel through the vaporizing chamber.l At higher speeds, however, an increase in the size of the chamber is desirable to permit free ow of the fuel in accordance with the requirements of the engine and when the air injection to the vaporizing chamber is cut oil.

In Figure 8, the spiral passages 30 have been omitted. 'I'hese passages are not absolutely necessary but they act as a storage reservoir to supply fuel to the engine on sudden demand due to acceleration and they check the pressure of the fuel. In this alternative, the vaporized fuel passes from the vaporizing chamber through the openings H4 into the housing I0 and the blades I|1 stir it up and direct it to the jet 26. The faster the shaft 40 is rotated, the further out the blades |I1 swing resulting in their fanning capacity being increased as the demand for fuel increases. As stated before, the setting of this Although this is not be governor may be the same as in either Figure 1 76 or 7 and the remainder of the generator acts as described above.

Referring again to Figure 1, the governor aids acceleration of the engine at all times. For example, when the engine is running at a certain speed and it is suddenly accelerated, the governor more or less lags behind the acceleration, thus permitting a relatively free ow of fuel through the vaporizing chamber until the engine reaches the required speed, at which time the weights of the governor have moved outwardly tothelr new positions in relation to the speed, to adjust the size of the vaporizing chamber to harmonize with this speed.

The partially vaporized fuel expands when it enters the vaporizing chamber. This increases the pressure in the chamber but the corrugations of the drum and the inner wall of the surrounding casing prevent the gas from escaping too rapidly from the chamber and, in any case, the taper of the spiral passages 3D relieve any excess pressure thatv may accumulate in the generator.

From the above, it will readily be seen that a gas generator for internal combustion engines has been provided, which automatically adjusts itself to the speed of its engine, which operates in an eflicient manner, and which does not require the suction of the engine for vaporizing purposes.

Various modifications may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims, and therefore the exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense, and it is desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are disclosed in the prior art or are set forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A gas generator, comprising a casing, a drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a vaporizing chamber formed between the drum and the casing, said chamber having a discharge outlet, means for rotating the drum, means for moving the drum back and forth in the chamber to regulate the size of the vaporizing chamber in relation to the speed of rotation of said drum, and means for supplying fuel and air to the chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized.

2. A gas generator, comprising a casing, a drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a vaporizing chamber formed between the drum and the casing, said chamber having a discharge outlet, means for heating the chamber, means for rotating the drum, means for moving the drum back and forth in the chamber to increase and decrease the size of the vaporizing chamber in relation to the speed of rotation of said drum, and means for supplying fuel to the vaporizing chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, and means for selectively supplying air under pressure to said chamber.

3. A gas generator, comprising a casing, a drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a vaporizing chamber formed between the drum and the casing, said chamber having a discharge outlet, means for heating the chamber, means for rotating the drum, means for moving the drum back and forth in the chamber to increase and decrease the size of the vaporizing chamber in relation to the speed of rotation of said drum, means for supplying fuel to the chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, means for selectively supplying air under pressure to said chamber,

and means for varying the quantity of the air in relation to the speed of the engine.

4. A gas generator comprising a casing having a conical chamber formed therein, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a vapor- 5 izing chamber formed between the drum and the casing, said chamber having a discharge outlet.' means for heating the chamber, means for rotating the drum, means for moving the drum back and forth in the chamber to increase or l and decrease the size of the vaporizing chamberV in relation to the speed of rotation of said drum. and means for supplying fuel to the vaporizing chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, and means fbr selectively supplying ,air under presl sure to said chamber. y

5. A gas generator comprising a casing having a conical chamber formed therein, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a vaporizing chamber formed between the drum and the casing, said chamber having a discharge outlet, means for rotating the drum, meansfor moving the drum back and forth in the chamber to increase and decrease the size of the vaporizing chamber in relation to the speed of rotation vof said drum, means for supplying fuel to the chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, means for selectively supplying air under pressure vto said chamber, and means for varying the quantity of the air in relation to the speed of the drum.

6. A gas generator comprising a casing having a conical chamber formed therein, a conical drum rotatably mounted lin the casing, a vaporizing chamber formed between the drum and the casing, said chamber having a discharge outlet, corrugations formed on the surface of the drum and on the inner surface of the vaporizing chamber, means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for moving .the drum to increase the size of the vaporizing chamber when the speed of the drum increases, means for supplying fuel to the vaporizing chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, and means for selectively supplying air under pressure to said chamber.

7. A gas generator comprising a casing having a conical chamber formed therein, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a vaporizing chamber formed between the drum and the cas- 'ing, said chamber having a discharge outlet,

means for heating the chamber, corrugations formed on the surface of the drum and on the inner surface of the vaporizing chamber, means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for, moving the drum to increase the size of the vaporizing chamber when the speed of the drum increases, means for supplying fuel to the vaporizing chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, means for selectively supplying air under pressure to said chamber, and means for varying the quantity of the air in relation to the speed of the drum.

8. lA gas generator comprising a casing having a corneal chamber formed therein, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a vaporizing chamber formed between the drum and the casing, said chamber having a discharge outlet, corrugations formed on the surface of the drum and on the inner surface of the vaporizing chamber,

means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for moving the drum to decrease the size of the vaporizing chamber when the speed of the drum increases, means for supplying fuel to the vaporizing chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, and means for selectively supplying air under pressure to said chamber.

9. A gas generator comprising a casing having a conical chamber formed therein, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a vaporizing chamber formed. between the drum and the casing, said chamber having a discharge outlet, means for heating the chamber, corrugations formed on the surface of the drum and on the inner surface of the vaporizing chamber, means for rotating the drum at Variable speeds, means for moving the drum to decrease the size of the vaporizing chamber when the speed of the drum increases, -means for supplying fuel to the vaporizing chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, means for selectively supplying air under pressure to said chamber, and means for varying the quantity of the air in relation to the speed of the drum.

10. VA gas generator comprising a casing having a conical chamber formed therein, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a vaporizing chamber formed between the drum and the Acasing, said chamber having a discharge outlet, means for heating the chamber, corrugations formed on the surface of the drum and on the inner surface of the vaporizing chamber, means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for moving the drum to decrease the size of the vaporizing chamber when the speed of the drum increases, means for supplying fuel to the vaporizing 'chamber wherein said fuel is vaporized, means for selectively supplying air under pressure to the chamber, and means for decreasing the quantity of the air as the speed of the drum y.

increases.

1l. A gas generator comprising a vaporizing chamber having a discharge outlet, a drum rotatably mounted in the chamber, the outer surface of the drum being spaced from the inner surface of the chamber, corrugations formed on both said surfaces, means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for moving the drum towards and away from the inner surface of the chamber, and means for supplying fuel to the chamber, said fuel being vaporized and broken up -in the-vaporizing chamber.

12. A gas generator comprising a conical vaporizing chamber having a discharge outlet, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the chamber, the

vouter surface of the drum being spaced from the inner surface of the chamber, corrugations formed on both said surfaces. means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for moving the drum towards and away from the inner surface of the chamber, and means for supplying fuel to the chamber, said fuel being vaporized and broken up in the vaporizing chamber.

13. A gas generator comprisinga conical vaporizing chamber having a discharge outlet, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the chamber, the outer surface of the drum being spaced from the inner surface of the chamber, corresponding corrugations formed' on both said surfaces, means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for moving the drum towards and away from the inner surface of the chamber, means for supplying fuel tothe chamber adjacent the tip thereof, Y

and means for selectively supplying air under pressure to the fuel before it enters the chamber at least partially to vaporize-the fuel, said fuel vbeing further vaporized and broken up in the vaporizing chamber.

14. A gas generator comprising a conical vaporizing chamber having a discharge outlet, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the chamber,

the outer surface of the drum being spaced from i.

the inner surface of the chamber, corresponding corrugations formed on both said surf aces, means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for moving the drum towards and away from the inner surface of the chamber, means for supplying fuel to the chamber adjacent the tip thereof, means for selectively supplying air under pressure to the fuel before it enters the chamber at least partially to vaporize the fuel, and means for heating the fuel as it passes through thcI chamber, said fuel being further vaporized and broken up in the vaporizing chamber.

15. A gas generator comprising a housing having a discharge outlet, a vaporizing chamber communicating at its base with the interior of the housing centrally thereof, a drum rotatably mounted in the chamber, the outer surface of said drum being spaced from the inner surface of the chamber, corrugations formed on both said surfaces, means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for moving the drum towards and away from the inner surface of the' chamber, a plurality of spiral passages in the housing extending outwardly from the central portion thereof, and means for supplying fuel to the chamber, said fuel passing from the chamber through the spiral passages and out of the generator.

16. A gas generator comprising a housing having a discharge outlet, a conical vaporizing chamber communicating at its base with the interior of the housing centrally thereof, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the chamber, the outer surface of the drum being spaced from the inner surface of the chamber, corresponding corrugations formed on both said surfaces, means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for moving the drum towards and Aaway from the inner surface of the chamber, a plurality of spiral passages in the housing extending outwardly from the central portion thereof, means for supplying fuel to the chamber adjacent the tip thereof, and means for selectively supplying' air under pressure to the fuel before it enters the chamber at least partially to vaporize the fuel, said fuel passing from the chamber through the spiral passages and out of the generator.

1'7. A gas generator comprising a housing having a discharge outlet, aconical vaporizing chamber communicating at its base with the interior of the housing centrally thereof, a conical drum rotatably mounted in the chamber, the outer surface of the drum being spaced from the inner surface of the chamber, corresponding corrugations formed on both said surfaces, means for rotating the drum at variable speeds, means for moving the drum towards and away from the inner surface of the chamber, a plurality of spiral passages in the housing extending outwardly from the central portion thereof, means for supplying fuel to the chamber adjacent the tip thereof, means for selectively supplying air under pressure to the fuel before it enters the chamber at least partially to vaporize the fuel, means for heating the fuel as it passes through the chamber, and means for supplying additional heat to the fuel as it passes through the spiral passages of the housing.

18. A device according to claim l5 in which the spiral passages are tapered with their entrances smaller than their outlets.

19. A device according to claim 15 in which the drum is provided with a plurality of fan blades projecting into the housing adjacent the entrances of the spiral passages, said blades being adapted to assist in moving the vaporized fuel through the device.

20. A gas generator comprising a conical vaporlzing chamber having a discharge outlet, a conical drum mounted upon a shaft in the chamber, said shaft extending outwardly from the chamber, means for rotating the shaft and drum at variable speeds, the outer surf ace of the drum being spaced from the inner surface of the chamber, corrugations formed on both said surfaces, a governor mounted on the shaft adapted to move the drum towards and away from the inner surface of the chamber with variations in the speed of the drum, valve means for supplying fuel to the chamber, and means connecting the governor to the valve means whereby said means is operated to vary the fuel supply when the speed of the drum is changed.

21; A gas generator comprising a conical vaporizing chamber having a discharge outlet, a conical drum mounted upon a shaft in the chamber, said shaft extending outwardly from the chamber, means for rotating the shaft and drum at variable speeds, the outer surface of the drum being spaced from the inner surface of the chamber, corrugatioris formed on both said surfaces, a governor mounted on the shaft adapted to move the drum towards and away from the inner surface of the chamber with variations in the speed of the drum, valve means for supplying fuel to the chamber, valve means for selectively supplying air under pressure to the chamber, and means for connecting the governor to each of said valve means, said governor being adapted to increase the fuel supply and decrease the air supply as the speed of the drum increases.

LAszLo DE CSABY.

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