Diesel engine for use in mines

Claim 2

A diesel engine for use in mines which comprises: an air filter for receiving intake air; an intake flame arrester for receiving the air flowing from the air filter and comprising opposed bells adapted to clamp a flame arrester member therebetween; an emergency air cut-off valve for receiving the air flowing from the intake flame arrester and adapted for selective manual actuation to terminate air flow into the engine; an intake manifold for receiving the air flowing through the air filter, the intake flame arrester, and the emergency air cut-off valve and for directing the air to the cylinders of the engine; an exhaust manifold for receiving exhaust gases from the cylinders of the engine; means for directing cooling liquid through the exhaust manifold and thereby partially cooling the exhaust gases passing therethrough; means for spraying water into the exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust manifold and thereby further cooling the exhaust gases by means of vaporization of the water spray; a scrubber for receiving the exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust manifold and water vapor entrained therein, said scrubber comprising: an enclosure for receiving a substantial quantity of water; means for directing the exhaust gases and the water vapor entrained therein to a point beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure; baffle means comprising inverted trough-shaped baffle members extending the length of the enclosure and mounted beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure for distributing the exhaust gases and the water vapor entrained therein beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure; and water retainer means mounted within the enclosure above the surface of the water and comprising an expanded metal member extending substantially parallel to the bottom of the enclosure and throughout the entire length and width of the enclosure and throughout the entire length and width of the enclosure for removing entrained water vapor from the exhaust gases flowing from the scrubber, and exhaust gas diffuser means comprising a horizontally disposed conduit having outlet holes formed through it at a plurality of axially spaced points for receiving the exhaust gases flowing from the scrubber and for discharging the exhaust gases to the surrounding atmosphere.

Claim 3

A diesel engine for use in mines which comprises: an air filter for receiving intake air; an intake flame arrester for receiving the air flowing from the air filter and comprising opposed bells adapted to clamp a flame arrester member therebetween; an emergency air cut-off valve for receiving the air flowing from the intake flame arrester and adapted for selective manual actuation to terminate air flow into the engine; an intake manifold for receiving the air flowing through the air filter, the intake flame arrester, and the emergency air cutoff valve and for directing the air to the cylinders of the engine; an exhaust manifold for receiving exhaust gases from the cylinders of the engine; means for directing cooling liquid through the exhaust manifold and thereby partially cooling the exhaust gases passing therethrough; means for spraying water into the exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust manifold and thereby further cooling the exhaust gases by means of vaporization of the water spray; a scrubber for receiving the exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust manifold and water vapor entrained therein, said scrubber comprising: an enclosure for receiving a substantial quantity of water; means for directing the exhaust gases and the water vapor entrained therein to a point beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure; baffle means comprising inverted trough-shaped baffle members extending the length of the enclosure and mounted beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure for distributing the exhaust gases and the water vapor entrained therein beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure; and water retainer means mounted within the enclosure above the surface of the water and comprising an expanded metal member extending substantially parallel to the bottom of the enclosure and throughout the entire length and width of the enclosure and throughout the entire length and width of the enclosure for removing entrained water vapor from the exhaust gases flowing from the scrubber, and exhaust gas diffuser means comprising a horizontally disposed conduit having outlet holes formed through it at a plurality of axially spaced points for receiving the exhaust gases flowing from the scrubber and for discharging the exhaust gases to the surrounding atmosphere.

Claim 4

A diesel engine for use in mines which comprises: an air filter for receiving intake air; an intake flame arrester for receiving the air flowing from the air filter and comprising opposed bells adapted to clamp a flame arrester member therebetween; an emergency air cut-off valve for receiving the air flowing from the intake flame arrester and adapted for selective manual actuation to terminate air flow into the engine; an intake manifold for receiving the air flowing through the air filter, the intake flame arrester, and the emergency air cutoff valve and for directing the air to the cylinders of the engine; an exhaust manifold for receiving exhaust gases from the cylinders of the engine; means for directing cooling liquid through the exhaust manifold and thereby partially cooling the exhaust gases passing therethrough; means for spraying water into the exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust manifold and thereby further cooling the exhaust gases by means of vaporization of the water spray; a scrubber for receiving the exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust manifold and water vapor entrained therein, said scrubber comprising: an enclosure for receiving a substantial quantity of water; means for directing the exhaust gases and the water vapor entrained therein to a point beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure; baffle means comprising inverted trough-shaped baffle members extending the length of the enclosure and mounted beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure for distributing the exhaust gases and the water vapor entrained therein beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure; and water retainer means mounted within the enclosure above the surface of the water and comprising an expanded metal member extending substantially parallel to the bottom of the enclosure and throughout the entire length and width of the enclosure and throughout the entire length and width of the enclosure for removing entrained water vapor from the exhaust gases flowing from the scrubber, and exhaust gas diffuser means comprising a horizontally disposed conduit having outlet holes formed through it at a plurality of axially spaced points for receiving the exhaust gases flowing from the scrubber and for discharging the exhaust gases to the surrounding atmosphere.

Claim 5

The diesel engine according to claim 1 wherein the intake flame arrester is further characterized by: a disk-shaped flame arrester member having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined thickness; and opposed disk-shaped cavities formed in the flame arrester bells for cooperation to define a flame arrester disk receiving chamber characterized by a diameter substantially identical to that of the flame arrester disk and opposed ring-shaped surfaces separated by a distance somewhat less than the thickness of the flame arrester disk, whereby the flame arrester disk is securely clamped between the ring-shaped surfaces of the flame arrester receiving cavities of the bells to seal the interior of the bells without the necessity of positioning a gasket between the bells.

Claim 6

The diesel engine according to claim 2 further characterized by conduit means extending from the air cleaner to the intake flame arrester, from the intake flame arrester to the emergency air cut-off valve, and from the emergency air cut-off valve to the intake manifold and including entirely solid connections interconnecting the intake flame arrester, the emergency air cut-off valve, and the intake manifold such that any fire or explosion occurring within the conduit means is completely contained by the solid connections and the intake flame arrester.

Claim 7

The diesel engine according to claim 1 wherein the exhaust manifold is further characterized by a cast structure defining separate exhaust water passageways and enlarged end openings which facilitate the removal of mold members following the casting operation.

Claim 8

The diesel engine according to claim 1 further characterized by conduit means extending between the exhaust manifold and the scrubber and comprising entirely solid connections whereby any fire or explosion occurring within the exhaust system is entirely contained by the conduit means and the scrubber, said conduit means further including a ball joint for accommodating relative thermal expansions between the component parts of the exhaust system.

Claim 9

The diesel engine according to claim 1 wherein the water spraying means further comprises: means for pumping water from the scrubber to a point adjacent the outlet of the exhaust manifold; and means for discharging the water spray in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the exhaust gases out of the exhaust manifold and in the form of an umbrella-shaped spray.

Claim 10

The diesel engine according to Claim 1 wherein the scrubber is further characterized by: a generally rectangular enclosure for receiving water to a predetermined depth; downcomer conduit means extending along one end of the rectangular enclosure for discharging exhaust gases at a point substantially beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure; said baffle means extending substantially parallel to the bottom of the enclosure for receiving exhaust gases from the downcomer conduit means and for discharging the exhaust gases into the water in the enclosure; and exhaust gas outlet means formed at the top of the enclosure.

Claim 11

In a diesel engine of the type including an engine block defining a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons each mounted for reciprocation in one of the cylinders to effect combustion of an air/fuel mixture received therein, and means for directing liquid through the engine block and thereby cooling the engine, the improvement comprising: an intake flame arrester for receiving intake air and comprising opposed bells adapted to clamp a flame arrester member therebetween; an emergency air cut-off valve for receiving intake air flowing from the intake flame arrester and adapted for selective manual actuation to terminate air flow into the engine; an intake manifold for receiving intake air flowing through the emergency air cut-off valve and for directing the intake air into the cylinders of the engine; conduit means interconnecting the intake flame arrester, the emergency air cut-off valve and the intake manifold, and comprised entirely of solid conduit sections and solid connections therebetween, whereby any fire or explosion occurring within the conduit means is entirely contained thereby; an exhaust manifold for receiving exhaust gases flowing from the cylinders of the engine; means for directing cooling liquid flowing from the engine block through the exhaust manifold and thereby partially cooling the exhaust gases; means for discHarging a water spray into the exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust manifold and thereby further cooling the exhaust gases; a scrubber for receiving the exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust manifold and the water vapor entrained therein and comprising: an enclosure for receiving a substantial quantity of water; means for discharging the exhaust gases and the water vapor entrained therein at a point beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure; baffle means comprising inverted trough-shaped members extending substantially parallel to the bottom of the enclosure for receiving exhaust gases from the discharging means and for discharging the exhaust gases into the water in the enclosure; and water retainer means mounted within the enclosure above the surface of the water and comprising an expanded metal member extending substantially parallel to the bottom of the enclosure and throughout the entire length and width of the enclosure for removing entrained water vapor from the exhaust gases flowing from the scrubber.

Claim 12

In a diesel engine of the type including an engine block defining a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons each mounted for reciprocation in one of the cylinders to effect combustion of an air/fuel mixture received therein, and means for directing liquid through the engine block and thereby cooling the engine, the improvement comprising: an intake flame arrester for receiving intake air and comprising opposed bells adapted to clamp a flame arrester member therebetween; an emergency air cut-off valve for receiving intake air flowing from the intake flame arrester and adapted for selective manual actuation to terminate air flow into the engine; an intake manifold for receiving intake air flowing through the emergency air cut-off valve and for directing the intake air into the cylinders of the engine; conduit means interconnecting the intake flame arrester, the emergency air cut-off valve and the intake manifold, and comprised entirely of solid conduit sections and solid connections therebetween, whereby any fire or explosion occurring within the conduit means is entirely contained thereby; an exhaust manifold for receiving exhaust gases flowing from the cylinders of the engine; means for directing cooling liquid flowing from the engine block through the exhaust manifold and thereby partially cooling the exhaust gases; means for discHarging a water spray into the exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust manifold and thereby further cooling the exhaust gases; a scrubber for receiving the exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust manifold and the water vapor entrained therein and comprising: an enclosure for receiving a substantial quantity of water; means for discharging the exhaust gases and the water vapor entrained therein at a point beneath the surface of the water in the enclosure; baffle means comprising inverted trough-shaped members extending substantially parallel to the bottom of the enclosure for receiving exhaust gases from the discharging means and for discharging the exhaust gases into the water in the enclosure; and water retainer means mounted within the enclosure above the surface of the water and comprising an expanded metal member extending substantially parallel to the bottom of the enclosure and throughout the entire length and width of the enclosure for removing entrained water vapor from the exhaust gases flowing from the scrubber.

Claim 13

The engine according to claim 8 further including a pneumatic starter and an air compressor driven by the engine for generating compressed air to actuate the pneumatic starter.

Claim 14

The diesel engine according to claim 8 further characterized by means responsive to an excessive temperature in the cooling water flow through the engine block and the exhaust manifold, or to excessive temperature in the exhaust gas flowing from the exhaust manifold, or an insufficient quantity of water in the scrubber, or insufficient pressure in the lubrication system of the engine for immediately terminating operation of the engine.

Claim 15

The diesel engine according to claim 8 wherein the opposed bells of the intake flame arrester are further characterized by opposed surfaces for clamping engagement with the intake flame arrester member, thereby forming a seal in the intake flame arrester and eliminating the necessity of the use of a gasket between the opposed bells thereof.