Fig. 95. Starting Mechanism.
The sparking mechanism was cut off before the cylinder 1 reached its highest point, at the previous stopping of the car, so that it still has an unexploded charge; and piston 3 is now discharging the gas from that cylinder.
As the engine is now at rest, the problem is to supply a charge to cylinder 1, or a pressure of sufficient strength to turn the engine shaft so that the piston in 1 will be brought up to the explosion line A. It is accomplished in the following manner:
One or more of the engine cylinders is connected up by a small pipe with a storage tank, located at any convenient point, so that at each explosion a portion of the charge in the cylinders goes into the tank, where it is held by a check valve.
The Distributer.—This tank is connected with a distributer, which controls the pressure flow to the different cylinders. In Fig. 91 the distributer would send this pressure to cylinder No. 1. The opening of a valve readily accomplishes this, and if the charge in No. 4 should not explode, the next in order to get the compressed gas from the tank, would be cylinder 4, which would bring cylinder 3 into position for firing.
As soon as ignition takes place, the driver merely shuts off the valve, and no further attention is required to operate it.
Lighting.—Most cars depend for illumination on the use of compressed gas usually, some form of acetylene, which makes a brilliant light, and is not expensive.
The best cars, however, are also equipped with electricity, some depending on storage batteries, and others on current generated on the car itself. There is nothing in either system that requires any special explanation, nor are they difficult to care for and operate.
Signaling.—It has been the custom for drivers, in approaching corners, or street intersections, to hold out the right hand as a sign that a turn is to be made to the right, or the left hand for a turn in the other direction.