DIESEL ENGINE DESIGN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 5 October 1931, Page 3

DIESEL ENGINE DESIGN

DOUBLE-ACTION PRINCIPLE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TYPE EX-AUCKLANDER’S SUCCESS An important contribution to the designing of marine Diesel engines has been made by Mr E. If. Friend, a former resident of Auckland, who, after 14 years' absence, lias returned on a brief visit. For the past seven years lie lias been engaged in England and Germany in Diesel engine development, and lie is one of the designers of the Friend-Bentley engine and a director of a company which is to place that engine on tl'ie market shortly. In contrast to the engines of motorvessels visting Auckland, which are all single-acting, with idling strokes, the Friend-Bentley motor is a double-acting two-stroke, with every stroke a power stroke. So far only small experimental engines have been made, but next year a four-cylinder engine of .3400 horsepower is to be constructed to the Friend-Bent lev designs. “The ultimate type of heavy machine engine has not yet been settled, said Air Friend yesterday. “The wide range of designs has confused shipowners, but il seems inevitable I bat. billowing the trend of marine steam engines, the ultimate marine Diesel engine will also be double-acting, with every stroke powered. The Danish and German makers already have adopted this type. r J lie only" large country which is not making progress with the design and installation of the Diesel engine is the United Stales, where the steam turbine is still installed in large ships.” Instancing the growing demand for the marine Diesel engine, Air hriemi said that in 11)23. the tonnage of motorships afloat was ],(ifi(i.()oo. By 1927 it bud grown to 4,270,000, and last year the tonnage was 8,090,000. The latest oilicial lignres showed that more motorships than steamers are under construction in shipyards at present. Air Friend strongly emphasised the need for thorough search of patents in the older countries before inventors applied for (intents in designs. His company bad originated the system ot patent design recording now followed by other designers and by technicians in Russia and Italy.

Tlie system at present in use in New Zealand required considerable alteration, both as to classification and facilities for search, said Mr Friend. -A systematic investigation of engine patent designs and a close study of all land and sea engine trials were essentials if companies or designers were to keep abreast of technical development. That'was why it was almost compulsory for an engine designer to work in technically advanced countries such as England, Germany and Denmark.