MOTOR NOTES

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 238, 25 September 1939, Page 1

MOTOR NOTES

STEAM CAR EXPERIMENT There are .many veteran motorists," with experience of early, steam cars, who) regret that the type ceased to. exist 10 or 12 years ago. These cars had many points of superiority over petrol vehicles, a great smoothness, silence, a fid a complete flexibility, a. gearbox being unnecessary. Beyond the brake *petfcY].,~a throttle and a re- I*. versing"■'lever were the only driving controls. The trouble with the steam car, however, was the boiler, and it was the difficulty of producing one which .was really satisfactory that was responsible for the steam car’s demise. However, a good deal more of boiler design is now known, and it is interesting to learn that three engineers in America are engaged on the production of a steam-power plant which can be lifted* into any car. The engine goes under the floorboards in the place usually occupied by the- gearbox and is coupled directly to the propeller shaft. 'The boiler goes under the bonnet. Tin’s engine' lias eight cylinders of a double-acting ■ si.mplc type, and is reversible. It consists of four twocvliuder units geared to a main shaft. The power development is stated to be about- GO brakjs horse-power, and the’ engine is sail’d to he completely free fiom vibration. A water-tube boiler is used, of a compact, and durable design,, and with a large capacity.* This is fired. by an electrically-operated atomising fuel-oil burner of a patented design. It lights from cold at the turn of a switch, and raises full steam in three or four minutes. The weight of the boiler is 4101 b., and it is said that the consumption of fuel oil or kerosene is 16 to 18 miles a- gallon if the engine is mounted ill the typical American medium-sized cai. In such a vehicle the estimated maximum speed possible is 76 miles an. hour. The driving controls consist of three pedals and the usual hand-hralce lev,er. 'The right-hand pedal i.s the throttle, the centre one is the brake, and the left-hand one i.s for reversing. Regulators of a simple design maintain the proper steam pressure and water level at all times.