OIL FUEL STEAM LAUNCH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4895, 22 June 1887, Page 4

OIL FUEL STEAM LAUNCH.

In April a Beries of exhaustive trials took place at Greenock with a. new oil-fuel steam launch patented by Mr Neill, of Glasgow, in presence of a number of engineering experts, with the result that the invention waa declared to be a great air-cess. For several years Mr Neill has be. n experimenting with oil as a substitute for coal for raising steam in marine boilers, the outcome being the very perfect machine that has now been patented. The patent consists of a coil boiler, a burner for converting the oil into gas, and a Coil for heating water to a high temperature before it'entors the boiler. In five minutes from the time of lighting the oil ■team can bo raised. There i 3 no labor in Stoking, as the flame is adjusted by regulating the tap at the oil tank. No ■moke ia emitted from the funnel, and the boiler does not require cleaning out. The engine, which is compound vertical, with suction, air, and fome pumps, was fitted up in an open boat 18ft long, which was* propelled from Greenock to the Cloch and back at the rate of eight miles an hour, the cost of the oil fuel being only one penny per hour. The engines worked with great smoothness and regularity, steam being maintained at 901 b. The boiler and machinery weighs only about one-fourth of that of an ordina»y steam launch of similar dimensions, while the cost is said to be about one half cheaper. On the trial the boiler and engine were critically tested by the various parties present, including Mr Cameron, consulting engineer, Glasgow, Mr M'Kay, superintendent engineer, Greenock Foundry, Mr Anderson, Mr Bunaon, Mr White, engineers, &c, and the opinion expressed was a highly favorable one.