LATEST IN ENGINE DESIGN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 260, 24 January 1928, Page 7

LATEST IN ENGINE DESIGN

SIMPLE SPECIFICATIONS Those motorists who imagine that finality in engine design has been reached will be interested in the following description of the latest design from America, abstracted from a New York paper: "A new type of engine without any crankshaft, thus eliminating multiple cylinders, has been invented by James F. Leahy, of Brooklyn. No camshaft or times valves and no spark plugs are other unique features. Ignition is caused by a hot electric point. “The valves in the engine remain open until closed by the force of the explosion and the gases remain trapped in the cylinder until their explosive pressure is entirely exhausted, when the ports open and the burnt gases are eliminated by suction maintained constantly at all times by means of an electric-driven fan. The compression can be regulated so that it may be set for any desired number of explosions per minute without using the present means of regulation by a throttle. “The engine will burn a very weak mixture of petrol as the piston waits for the explosion, making it impossible to backfire. The cylinder is shaped like a cannon and no set distance is required to be travelled by the piston. “Another feature of the engine is that it does not require any cooling device as there is no heed for radiation. Leahy estimates that from 60 to 100 miles a gallon of petrol for a 60horse power motor will be possible with the new engine.” “No set distance required to be travelled by the piston,” sounds rather strange. It would be a pity to allow it to wander about at will!