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rbprice
| | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2003 - 07:45 pm: | 
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This quotation is from a 1911 Palmer Handbook and is verbatim.
"The first internal comubustion engine of which we have any record was built by Abe Hautefuelle in 1678. He used gunpowder for fuel. All explosive motors use gas, gasoline or kerosene and depend upon explosions in the cylinder for their power, and are a form of rapid fire gun, but instead of shooting out a ball to destroy life, it shoots a piston which is connected to a connecting rod that is connected to the crank shaft.
In the factory or on the farm the internal combustion motor has come to stay. The aeroplane would be out of the question without it. It consistos of only three moving parts that transmit power: the piston, the connecting rod and shaft. These power parts are very simple because you cannot see them; but it is the two things that you cannot see that need some study, the gas and electricity. The first is the proper mixture of gas and air, and the other is the electrical equipment.
When you turn a motor and it does not go, see why -- look to the spark and mixture. The mixture may be too rich or too poor - too rich means too much gasoline; too poor, too little gasoline. It is all very simple if you will take a little time and look up the theory of it and then see the theory practiced. Too much gasoline is worse than too little, and you should always remember that the oil barons do not need your money even it your have it to burn. Too much gasoline will make your motor soot up and flood, run slowly and stop it; this is one the few cases where it costs more to go slow than it does to go fast. In firing the charge, a good spark is needed, not a poor weak one. If you try to kindle a fire with a match or a torch you will find that the torch will start it quicker. It is the same with firing the gas in the cylinder, the better the spark the quicker the explosion." |
paul_brooking
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 08:42 am: |
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Hi Bob,
I had not heard of these gunpowder engines before and had a look round the net. Could not find much on them, there is a bit at :
http://www.history.rochester.edu/steam/thurston/1878/Chapter1.html
Think I will probabbly NOT be using a gunpowder inboard in the boat.
Cheers paul |
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