COAL-GAS PROGRESS.
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Adapting an Amac-Sthenos • Gas.
A correspondent, the driver of a 2-3ton Austin wagon, which his employers had had converted to run not only on petrol, but also on coal-gas, writes and gives us his experiences in connection with the fitting of the gas connection to the carburetter. We have had, his sketch reproduced. It shows the first attempt (which proved a failure) and the second successful attempt to solve the problem.
He tells us that delivery was taken of the wagon early in December last, and the tray for carrying the gas container was constructed by the body builders so as to extend over the whole-length of the body, accommodating a flexible container made by " Robin Hood" Motor Gas Holders, Ltd., Wing a capacity of 550 cubic feet, the dimensions of the container being 16 ft. long by 8 ft. wide.
It was left to the_drwer of the lorry to make the connections to the carburetter, which was an Amac-Sthenos. Owing to what he describes as the " chubby " construction of this carburetter, he concluded that it would be rather a delicate operation to drill a hole of a suitable size to convey a sufficient volume of gas to run the engine effectively.So be thought he would try, first of all, a bent tube, which is shown in the drawing as being fastened on the bottom of the air intake and is carried a little higher than the jet. From the container he had taken iron gas pipes of in. bore, with a convenient tap on the dashboard. Proceeding to the gas works to charge up, and being all ready for his test, he turned off the petrol at the Aurtovac, and r s soon as the carburetter was empty he turned on the gas, The engine continued to run on the gas, but, when he engaged the gears and essayed to move off, he found that the engine could only just pull the vehicle along, whilst to accelerate was out of the apItestion. The engine continued to pull at the same speed without offering to choke, so the conclusion was come to that both the 0.20 tube and the service pipes were too small and that there was not a sufficient volume of gas being supplied to the engine.
Acting on this assumption, in, gas pipes were used in place of thea in. piping, a piece of four-ply rubber tube being taken from the tap on the dashboard to the intake on the carburetter. The driver decided, after consideration, to have the gas intake on the carburetter as near the throttle as he could get it without fouling, so he bored and tapped a hole to take a piece of M. copper tube, and after threading it he screwed it, into the hole bored and, in addition, ran solder into it and then replaced the carburetter and connected up. On the next test, the fitting proved to be quite successful.. The engine would run as slowly on gas as it would on petrol, and with a full load of 55 cwt. he throve from Wakefield (Yorks.) to Heckmondwike in good time, the engine pulling well the whole way, and since then the car has run without the slightest trouble or fault. As only 20, gallons of
petrol are allowed per month, gas has mainly to be relied upon. A wend vehicle fitted up similarly has given equally goad results. In this case the carburetter was an American Zenith.
Gas Soaring High.
Thus "The Western Mail," of Cardiff, in a recent issue :—" We all know that all that glitters is not gold, but. eew of us ever thought other than that every motorcar or wagon carrying an inflated gas bag was driven by gas power. The discovery of the illusion was made by a country constable the other day on a lonely road in the Vale of Glamorgan. Stopping a car that was spinning along at a good pace he asked the driver, 'What power do you use for this car? 'Oh, gas power, officer,' was the confident reply. `Well, I only stopped you because your gas bag is on the branches of that tree about a mile back over the hill. I'll take your name and address, please.'"
The A.A. £1000 Gas Fuel Prize.
The offer by the Automobile. Association of £1000 for thebest method of using coal-gas on motor vehicles has aroused considerable interest. A number of inventions hays been definitely entered for the competition, and, in addition, many valuable suggestions by motorists and others „interested have been received, incidentally, the competition has stimulated research and investigation concerning the possibility of using other fuels besides coal-gas, petrol and petrol substitutes.
Entries f or the competition, also tor'respondence, have been received from many well-known engineers and gas experts. Entry forms and letters concern-ing this competition -have been received from motorists serving with the Forces in France, Italy, Saloniea and Mesopotamia.
Inventions may be entered up to 31st December, 1918 Copies, of the entry forms and the conditions governing the competition will be sent upon application to the Secretary, A.A. and M. U., Fanum House, Whitcomb Street, London, W.C. 2.
Gas Buses : An Important L.G.B. Circular.
The following circular has been issued to highway authorities throughout the country by the Local Government; Board :—
Sir,—I am directed by the President of the Local Government Board to refer to Section 20 of the Local Government (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1916, which makes it unlawful for any omnibus, as defined in the section, to Ply for hire on, or use, any route which has not been regularly used by omnibuses plying for hire within two years prior, to the 1st March, 1916, except with the consent of the highway authority or highway authorities liable for the maintenance -and repair of the highways along which the route runs, or, in certain events, of the Local Government Board.
Mr. Hayes Fisher's attention hare beendrawn to the interim report of the Gas Traction Committee, 'which was appointed to consider and report upon the employment of gas in substitution for petrol and petroleum products as a source of power, especially in motor vehicles. One of the unanimous recommendations of the Committee, contained in the third paragraph of Section 8 of the Report, is as follows:—
"The deviation of any gas-propelled • moterbue from an omnibus-route which was established prior to the 1st March, 1916, for the purpose of obtaining occasional or regular supplies of gas, or of avoiding any bridge or other obetrnction, should not be treated as a breach of Section 20 of the Local Government (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1916." The Petroleum Executive desire in the
interests of economy in petrol that steps should be taken to give effect to the recommendation. Mr. Hayes Fisher hopes therefore that any highway authority, which may be approached in any case contemplated by the recommendation will find themselves able to give the necessary consent,. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, H. C.. Moieno,
Secretary.