(See also Artillery Notes, No. 12.)
The engine.—This is a horizontal, single-acting, single-cylinder kerosene engine, having a flyball governor and operating on a four-stroke cycle. This cycle consists in turn of the explosion on the first outstroke, the expulsion of the products of the explosion on the following instroke, the intake into the cylinder of a mixture of air and oil vapor on the following outstroke, and the compression of this explosive mixture on the next instroke. This cycle therefore requires two complete revolutions of the crank shaft for one complete set of operations.
On one side of the cylinder near the closed end is a valve box containing two valves, the air-inlet valve and the exhaust valve. The air-inlet and the exhaust valves are actuated by separate levers, each lever being moved by a cam mounted on a horizontal shaft, driven by the crank shaft through worm gearing. This horizontal shaft makes but one revolution while the crank shaft makes two; thus the air-inlet and the exhaust valves are each opened once every two revolutions of the flywheel.
At the back of the cylinder, in prolongation of its axis, is a cast-iron box called the vaporizer, which is always open to the cylinder. Before starting the engine this vaporizer must be heated by an external lamp, so that it will vaporize the oil when it is first pumped into it. After the engine has started running, the lamp is no longer required, as the vaporizer is kept at a sufficient heat by the internal explosions.
A small oil pump, worked by the air-valve lever, draws oil from the oil tank under the engine and forces it into the vaporizer at the proper time. The oil, on its way from the pump to the vaporizer, passes through a valve box attached to the vaporizer; this valve box has two valves in it, a horizontal one, kept closed by a spring which the oil forces open as it goes into the vaporizer; the other, a vertical one, also kept closed by a spring. Should the engine run too fast, the governor opens this latter valve and allows some of the oil to flow back to the oil tank through the waste pipe. This valve can also be opened by turning the little regulating handle, which will stop the supply of oil to the vaporizer and thus stop the engine.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORKING.
Frosty weather.—If there is danger of freezing, on shutting down drain the water from the circulating pipes and cylinder jacket, and valve box if water-jacketed; otherwise they may burst or crack.
Caution.—Before starting, see that the cocks which admit water to the water jacket of the vaporizer valve box are open; that the cock on the main water pipe from the bottom of the water tank is open; that the water in the tank is above the upper circulating pipe; that the drain cock is closed; and that the oil tank is filled with kerosene. Gasoline must not be used with this engine.
Heating the vaporizer.—Open the relief cock on top of the engine cylinder. Place the lamp on the stand under the vaporizer; fill the lamp with oil by means of the filling pipe till the oil is 1 inch below the pipe; and put a piece of wick into the cups which are formed around the pipes. These wicks, which should consist of a piece of ordinary asbestos packing, will last for several weeks. Place the lid of the vaporizer cover crosswise on the cover to allow the escape of heated gas and air.
A little alcohol or kerosene should be poured into the cup under the coil and lighted. The cups may be filled with kerosene by closing the air-escape valve and working the air pump. The pressure forces oil out through the vapor nozzle and it will run down into the cups. When this is nearly burned out pump up the reservoir with air by the air pump. Oil will issue from the small nozzle and give a clear flame. When it is desired to stop the lamp, turn the thumbscrew on the reservoir filling nozzle to let the air out. Should the nozzle become choked it should be cleaned with the small needles for that purpose.