The Westminster Gas Producer.
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First Published Particulars of Yet Another Form of Paraffin Carburetter Embodying the Direct Flame Principle.
We are in a position to record still further developments in the field of paraffin carburetter construction. There is certainly no lack of consistent and painstaking efforts on the part of carburetter experts in the attempt to solve the problems attendant upon the utilization of paraffin in internal-combustion engineering. It has been the privilege of the staff of this journal to have been brought into touch with innumerable inventions to this end. Some of these have embodied the exhaust-heated vaporizer, other interesting devices used a certain percentage of petrol in carrying out their functions, but perhaps the type Which appeals to us most, at any rate in regard to simplicity of construction and control, is that I arm which relies upon a direct fame for the vaporization of the paraffin.
Similar Well-tried Productions.
The Southey gas producer has rIready been fully described to out readers, as has also the Americanbuilt Porter paraffin vaporizer, both of which come under the category we have just indicated. The device at present under consideration is remarkable in its similarity to the former production, a full description of which appeared in our issue of the 26th June last year.
The new paraffin carburetter is manufactured by the Westminster Carburetter Co., Ltd., Caxton House, Westminster, S.W., and at the invitation of Mr. N. Ensworth, a director of that concern, a representative of this journal was recently afforded facilities for observing a test of one of the latest types, under actual working conditions. One of the standard carburetters for the purpose was fitted to a 40 h.p.
30-seater Daimler char-ii.-ban es, which is owned by the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., and used in connection with its tours. Before we took our seat beside the driver we secured some photographs of one of the carburetters, which was dissembled for the purpose. These we reproduce herewith.
Constructional Details.
The Westminster consists essentially of a pot type of gunmetal body, the lower half of which is bolted up separately, and which contains an annular float. Inside this casting is located a concentric form of jet, the important feature of this being that, during the working of the carburetter, the jet produces a whirling action of the fuel, whiehfeature goes far towards atomizing the paraffin in the early stages of its carburation. The jet proper comprises three separate components ; these are screwed into position in the base of the body,
which is secured to the main casting by means of a spigot and four studs. The jet protrudes through the float, Which will account for the annular construction of the latter.
It is interesting to record that the diameter of the jet aperture is in., so that a choking at this point is practically impossible.
Inside the main body is located the sparking plug, the duty of which, with, of course, the aid of an electric battery, is to keep continually ignited a small portion of the atomized paraffin for the purposes of vaporization. Just above the plug, at a, carefully pro-determined position, is a piece of conicalshaped mild-steel gauze. This gauze is attached to a light gunmetal dish which closely fits the bore of the main casting, the funetion of the gauze being to prevent the possibility of the flame's igniting the whole of the vaporized paraffin, when the latter is passing to the induction pipe. This, of course, is merely another adaptation of the principle of the miner's lamp. The flame deflector is clearly illustrated in our reproduction of the dissembled carburetter. The flame is kept at a suitable temperature with the aid of a form of Primus ring.
Single Lever Control.
The constructional details which we have herewith described form the principal part of the carburetter, the remaining portions merely consisting of a butterfly type of throttle valve and an extra-air device, so that the inventor of the Westminster has certainly not erred on the side of complexity in his device. It follows, too, that the control is quite simple, in that there is merely the main-throttle control, and, for the manipulation of the
extra-air inlet, a Bowden-wire attachment. The arrangement for the main air-intake, together with the auxiliary air valve, closed when starting, is most compact.
Observations of the Test Run.
The device is thus quite self-contained, and in unit form is bolted to the induction flange of the cylinders; there are no auxiliary fittings to bother about, after the tnam throttle and spring-controlled air valve have been connected up. Our subsequent test of the device under working conditions comprised a, run from Caxton House Westminster, to Kingston-on-Thames, the char-k-bancs, as we observed for ourselves, being loaded with several sets of heavy road-springs placed on the floor of the body, and these, together with the eight passengers aboard, brought the weight of the machine about equal to its ordinary touring load of 30 passengers. We were the last to mount the vehicle, for the reason that we desired to pay close attention to the initial stages of the engine's starting. Beyond a slight odour of unburnt
paraffin, which, of course, was quite to be expected at the beginning, it would have been hard to detect that the engine was running on anything else than petrol.
Good Pulling and a Clean Exhaust.
The flexibility of the power-unit when rinning on this heavier fuel was all that could be desired, and this was the more accentuated in that several times the machine was brought to a standstill by the observing of the ordinary rules of London traffic. On no single occasion, following the depression of the accelerator pedal, was there the least sign of a smoky exhaust ; in fact, as one occupant of the char-ii-loancs remarked, there was more smoke to be seen from the passing taxicabs than from the exhaust of the vehicle under observation."
Upon our arrival at Kingston we immediately asked to examine the internal parts of the device after this short run Our request was thereupon complied with, and within 25 seconds the more impOrtant parts of the carburetter were laid out on the side of the chassis for our inspection. We would remark here that the timing
was effected quite unobserved by any of the parties present. It is not to be expected that, under ordinary conditions, the driver of a machine fitted with the Westminster would require to make periodic inspections of this nature,: and neither would it be necessary, as far as we could see, hut, having had so much experience of paraffin carburetters, we desired to see for ourselves the inventor's provision for accessibility and ready dismantling in cases of emergency.
A Satisfied User of the Westminster.
At the end of the run our impressions with regard to the behaviour of the Westminster were most favourable. We understand that this particular instance of the satisfactory working of the device was no exception, and so satisfied is the manufacturer as to its consistent efficiency that the Daimler char-kbanes which undertook the run has had its petrol carburetter superseded by the Westminster, and the owner, the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., has no hesitation in carrying out long-distance tours when utilizing paraffin fuel.