INVENTOR'S SUCCESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 8

INVENTOR'S SUCCESS

USE OF CRUDE OIL IN CARS SALE OF PATENT REPORTED [by telegraph—OWN coerespondent] INVERCARGILL, Friday Advice that Mr. James Carlisle Whiteman, a native of Wanganui, has won success with his invention of a carburettor which allows of the nse of crude fuel for the propulsion of motor-cars, and has sold the South American rights for the patent for about £130,000, was received by cable to-day from Buenos Aires by his daughter, Miss Gwen Whiteman, of InvercaEgill. It is understood that a company has been floated in London and one in South Africa in which Morris Motors is interested. Mr. Whiteman, who was born in Wanganui, is about 65 years of age. Before the war he dealj, in German dyes, but the advent of hostilities ruined his business, and he had to start all over again. He has been experimenting with his patent and endeavouring to interest financiers in various parts of the world in it. Experts, most of whom were at first amused, then sceptical and later convinced, are stated to have confirmed the claims made for the invention. A heavy sedan car which did 19 miles to the gallon of petrol is reported to have done 29 miles fitted with this carburettor; even when driven at 40 miles an hour it gave over 20 miles to the gallon and greater power running on alcohol and a percentage of water. Some of the fuels this carburettor makes possible are petrol, paralcohol, benzol, crude oil from shale tpr and petroleum. Only a negligible carbon deposit is left. From first-grade crude oil better results, it is said, can be obtained than from No. 1 refined petrol. Finally, it is extremely simple and requires little or no adjustment for the various fuels. The principle of the. kinetic carburettor is that it vaporises the fuel used and mixes it with air in such a manner that the gas generated enters the engine cold. Naturally, when crude oil is used, it has to be brought to a high temperature before it vaporises. One of the chief points about which there was at first general scepticism was the starting of an engine on crude oil when it was cold on a frosty day. Tests were made and it was found that it was easier to start than with petrol.