New American Multi-fuel Engine
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DESIGNED to run on oil fuel, petrol, butane, or producer or natural gas, a new engine has been introduced by the Waukesha Motor Co., Wisconsin. It is based on the Hesselman design, having spark ignition, and changes from one fuel to another can be made merely by alteration of auxiliaries.
The accompanying illustration, showing the unit in section, is of a 525-cubic-in. (8.6-litre) engine having six cylinders measuring 4i ins. (114.3 mm.) by 51 ins. (139.7 mm.) developing 125 b.h.p. at 2,100 r.p.m., presumably on oil. Conversion from this fuel is effected by replacing the air-intake elbow with a carburetter, removing the injection equipment and replacing the nozzles with screw-in plugs maintaining the compression ratio at 5.8 to .1. On oil the consumption rate is 0.5 lb. per b.h.p., whilst on petrol slightly better figures have been obtained.
Features of the construction are removable wet cylinder liners, cast-iron pistons with all rings above the gudgeon pin, and full pressure lubrication to all bearings, including the connecting-rod small end. Inlet and exhaust valves are, respectively, of chromenickel and chrome-silicon steel, the latter having inserted seats.
The weight of this engine, equipped for running on oil, is 1,340 lb.