The Latest Villiers Power Units
Page 61
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A Range of Air and Water-cooled Engines from h.p. to M h.p. for Driving Tractors, Cultivators, Airrcompressors, and Light Machinery
'rt,IANY useful purposes, within the 11'1 field covered by The Commercial Motor, are served by small internalcombustion engines of the type manufactured by the Villiers Engineering Co., Ltd., Marston Road, Wolverhampton. They are employed, for example, for propelling certain of the smaller three-wheeled parcel cars, as power units for small agricultural tractors, cultivators and mowing machines, and, in stationary form, for driving pumps, air compressors—such as are widely used in garages and repair shops— electric lighting sets and numerous varieties of machine for labour-saving on farms.
Popular because of its extremesimplicity, the two-stroke-cycle is usually employed in engines up to 350 c.c., and it is in power units of this type that the Villiers concern has specialized for over 20 years.
The accompanying illustrations show the latest Villiers 350 c.c. stationary engine, which develops 3-3i b.h.p. at 2,500 r.p.m., continuous running. It
will be observed that this unit is cooled by a draught of air impelled by a fan through suitable cowling on to the cylinder head at its hottest side, and that it is mounted on a base which also functions as a silencer. The crankcase is made of cast iron, and the shaft runs on journal ball bearings.
Equipped with the Villiers carburetter and flywheel-magneto, the unit is self-contained, except for the fuel tank, and it is of interest that all its main components, even the castings and forgings, are produced in the Villiers works. • ' The same model is supplied, without the silencer-base, for driving cultivators and light tractors. Smaller editions following the same general lines are available in sizes from ft h.p. upwards. Lubrication of Villiers industrial and agricultural engines is by the petroil system; they are equipped, when specified, with governors and simple handstarting devices. The prices of the aircooled range are as follow :-98 c.c., £10 10s. ; 147 c.c., £12; 247 c.c., £15 10s.; 346 c.c., £16 10s.
The i-h.p. unit is also available in horizontal form, mounted on a base which incorporates the fuel tank. In this case the flywheel is provided with vane-shaped spokes for cooling, and starting is effected by a neat springreturned strap operated by a pull-up handle. The dimensions are, bore 2 ins., stroke 11 in., its normal speed 1,200 r.p.m. to 1,800 r.p.m, and price £12.
Water-cooled engines developing 1.5 h.p. and 2.5 h.p. at 1,000 r.p.m. and 1,400 r.p.m. respectively also are built ; their cylinder capacities are 247 c.c. and 343 c.c. and, in general, they follow the design of the air-cooled models. Silencers bolted directly to the cylinder exhaust ports, however, are distinctive features. These are used in conjunction with the engine-base or independent silencers. Pistons of cast-iron are employed instead of aluminium as on the air-cooled units. Hoppers or tanks for the cooling water are available. In the case of the larger engines the price with hopper is £19 10s, and with tank £20 5s., and of the smaller £17 5s. and £18 respectively.
Economical, reliable and requiring the minimum of maintenance, Villiers power units have an enviable reputation. The makers state that 250,000 of them have been sold.