An Ingenious Paraffin Attachment.
Page 17
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The automatic petrol starter which we illustrate on this page by line drawing, and as fitted to an Austin van engine, is designed to enable the user to use paraffin, a mixture of petrol and paraffin, or petrol and one of the many substitutes now on the market, for the main portion of the running of his engine.
This little fitting allows of petrol being used for starting purposes and, if desired, for slow running. It .necessitates a supplementary petrol tank with the necessary connecting piping and the links coupling the lever on the starter with the throttle lever.
'As an examination of our sectional drawing will reveal, it consists merely of a specially-designed cock, the outlet of which is in the engine induction pipe, and to which the device is clipped. A small valve closes the fuel inlet during such time as the cock is closed or when the engine is not running. The lever contr011ing the position of this cock is coupled up to the main throttle lever, so that when the throttle is closed or in the starting position, the petrol cock is fully open and allows of a small quantity of petrol and air being drawn into the induction pipe. This is found to be sufficient for starting and for a little preliminary run until the engine is warm. Further opening of the main throttle closes the petrol cock., although a groove round the circumference of the plug of this cock allows a small portion of petrol still to enter the induction pipe when the main throttle is only partially open.
The inventor of this device is Mr. Pedler, the en
gineer in charge of a large fleet of lorries owned by Mitchell and Butler, brewers, of Birmingham. '
We were enabled to take a test run on an old Thornycroft, which was fitted with this device. Heating of the induction pipe had been ingeniously arranged for by welding bosses on to the ends of the pipe and boring 'them for the reception of a tube which is passed through the centre. By ain arrangement of flexible piping ; a pnrtion of the exhaust gas is caused to travel along this tube, thus converting it into a simple type of vaporizer. On this chassis which at the time of our test was using neat paraffin —that commonly known as "Crown Diamond "—the results appeared to be quite satisfactory. Mr. Pedler informs us that, as a matter of preeaution, he applies fresh oil to the crankcase more frequently than is usually the case. We understand that the price of this fitting complete with coupling rod to throttle lever, but without supplementary petrol tank, is 22 2s. It can be fitted by any...Ian with a most rudimentary knowledge of mechanics. The manufacturer is E. Showell and Sons, Ltd., Stirchley, Birmingham.