Instant Starting in Heavy Frost

11th November 1955, Page 125

11th November 1955

Page 125

Page 125, 11th November 1955 — Instant Starting in Heavy Frost

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AFTER much experimental work,-Mr,. F. A. Catt, M.I.R.T.E., M.Inst.P.I., managing director of Miles Per-Gallon, Ltd., 76 Stoke Newington High Street., London, N.16, has developed and patented a simple and effective device to ensure easy starting in intense cold, It is named the Start-Easy carburetter. The, objectives were to produce a dry gas for immediate starting and then to permit an .engine_ to run for several minutes with the ordinary carburetter.

• A representative of The Commercial Motor last week witnessed a test which indicated that these had been attained. A normal four-cylindered petrol engine mounted on a wheeled cradle had been kept for 24 hours in a cold chamber at 'a temperature of 12° F. (20° of frost).

The engine was brought out of the store, Shell-Mex petrol of what was formerly " pool " quality was poured into the Start-Easy, a minute was allowed for it to soak well in, and the starter button pressed. In 1.5 sec. the engine was running perfectly, yet this was less than two minutes after its removal from the cold atmosphere.

It continued to run with an even exhaust note and no misfiring for several minutes. This running, if neeessary, may be continued longer by adding more petrol to the special ca• buretter's " sa ucer.". It is fair to add that the Lucas battery employed was not cold, but most of the engine was covered with hoar frost, this applying also to the Start-Easy. Castrol S.A.E. 10 was used in the sump.

The device consists of an aluminium casting, the lower part of which is filled with an absorbent material and sealed by a cast base screwed on to the upper portion. AboVe the chamber is an open saucer about 1 in. deep and 51 in. in diameter.

In the centre of the saucer is a castaluminium pillar, oval in shape, at the top of which is a cup with a restricted outlet. Petrol poured into this passes slowly through into the material below.

At th,p side of the cup is a screw ending in a small cone valve which finds its 'seating in the lower, face of a horizontal air inlet drilled through the casting and communicating with the absorbent material. This forms a simple adjustment for the "running" mixture after starting and it draws its fuel supply from the saucer.

. The resulting dry gas is taken by way of a tap at the base and through a flexible pipe to a connection in the inlet manifold.

It is understood that a further test was made later at 62° of frost, but this time Aero spirit was used. An instantaneous start is said to have been achieved.

Claims made for the Start-Easy are that it produces a perfectly dry gas, requires no choke and there is no washing away of oil from the pistons.