New Device to Save Fuel
Page 34
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ANEW device intended to reduce petrol consumption has recently been introduced in the form of the km automatic air inlet, a product of J. and M. Riley and Sons, Ltd., Walshaw Road. Bury. Savings of 10-40 pet cent, in. fuel consumption are claimed, and on certain tests checked' by "The Commercial Motor," an. economy figure of nearly 20 per cent was shown.
The design is based on the principle of varying the petrol-and-air mixture to meet the fluctuating . requirements of the engine during normal running. By means of the Jem an additional supply of air is introduced into the inlet manifold when the machine is running light, but is cut off whenstarting and working at full load. This automatic air inlet is of precision manufacture and requires no maintenance.
The fitting, which is bolted to the bulkhead, is basically a small chamber which is connected to the inlet manifold. The chamber is fitted with two springloaded valves, the larger having a form of magnetic control to ensure that it shall riot open during tick-over periods: When the engine is starting up, both valves are closed, the smaller being a32 located on its upper seating. As soon as the engine begins to idle, this valve is drawn on to the lower seating. In moving away under load or accelerating, the suction is insufficient to overcome the pull of the spring and the valve rises, thus cutting off the additional air supply until the load is reduced.
When running at normal cruising speeds the small valve floats between the two seatings, but on the overrun it returns to the shut -position, causing the increased suction to act on the larger valve, which is drawn out of magnetic control, admitting a greater quantity of air. If, for instance, opening takes place at a reading of 25 on the vacuum gauge, the fact that the valve has been withdrawn from the magnetic field enables it to remain open, although the effect of its opening reduces the depression to a reading of 10-12.
The Jem automatic air inlet can be obtained through the trade, or from the manufacturer, at £3 7s. 6d. It is understood that whilst the normal model is adequate for a wide range of engines, the production of a type for the larger commercial vehicles is under consideration by the manufacturer.