Clean Air Camp aign For Engines

6th May 1960, Page 120

6th May 1960

Page 120

Page 120, 6th May 1960 — Clean Air Camp aign For Engines

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TIIE National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wrest Park, Silsoe, is a Government-sponsored body, established in 1945, that undertakes fundamental research on all aspects of operating agricultural equipment, as well as tests for individual manufacturers.

While much of the routine research is not of direct interest to commercialvehicle engine makers or to operators, the air-filter service -offered by •the Institute is of real value to the automotive industry.

Dust concentrations on agricultural sites in parts of East Africa arc equal in severity to those likely to be met by road-vehicle operators anywhere in the world. It is appropriate, therefore, that the Institute, in conjunction with the East African Tractor and Implement Testing Unit, should lead in the scientific study of air filtration. Many of the filter tests of tractor engines in the Silsoe laboratories relate to dustconcentra lion problems reported by the East African unit.

The cleaner is tested on the engine to which it is to be fitted in service. Testing is based on the use of radioactive techniques which have enabled the overall test time for one type of dust to be reduced from about 200 hours to six hours. One engine piston is equipped with a radioactive piston ring, and the lubricating oil is circulated through a canister, in the centre of which is located a GeigerMidler counter for measuring the activity of the oil. This is proportionate to the ring wear and is recorded by a rate meter. A special dust chamber is used for tests requiring the engine to work in a very dusty atmosphere, to check the effectiveness of the crankcase breathing system, crankcase seals and so on. Field tests of tractor engines are performed in East Africa with the aid of a mobile dynamometer truck up to an altitude of. 9,500 ft. to establish optimum injector pump settings

throughout the altitude range. This work also represents fundamental research of value to commercial-vehicle manufacturers, many of whom produce farm tractors.

In a nearby building, an electric generator is used as a dynamometer in conjunction with intake-throttling and exhaust-extraction equipment for simulated altitude tests. The electric dynamometer is of the type employed in the field tests in East Africa.