NEW THREE-CYLINDER ENGINE.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2603, 21 August 1878, Page 3

NEW THREE-CYLINDER ENGINE.

Messrs Pouter asd Co. have a new : portable three-cylinder engine just received from the patentee in Birmingham, the first which baa been imported into New Zealand. The, patent for this new engine wns obtained a little over a year ago by Mr Willans, the constructor. It is light, of quick speed, burns less fuel and possesses many other things which ore worthy of notice. The greateet novelty in this engine is fts compactness and the small number of working parts. All that is visible when it is working is a domed top box aboat 3 feet by 15 inches, with three small vertical cylinders cast upon it, and the cuds of the crank shaft protruding at eithei side. On examination it will be seen the box contains three cranks set at angles of 120°, driven by connecting rods joined to trunk pistons, each piston acting as a slide valve to one of the other engines. The parts are all connected to one_ centre disc valve, by the turning of which the steam passages are diverted, and the engine stopped or reversed in a second. The two main bearings are stuffing boxes, and what is most peculiar to a person not having seen it is, that the whole of the lubricating trunks and connecting rods are drawn from a tallow cup on the steam pipe. The power of the engine lies in the great speed it can be driven, hence its suitability for a circular saw, plaining machine, or anything where great speed is desired. Its almost universal adoption in the old country more especially for steam launches proves thatits simplicity and durability have been thoroughly acknowledged. It will develop as much power as an ordinary engine twice its weight, and having steam only on the top side of the piston, will run at any speed perfectly noiseless, let the bearing be ever so slack. Any person taking an interest in the progress of mechanism, should inspect this novelty, which will be working at Messrs E. Porter and Co.'s yards to-morrow at noon.