ROCK’S LIQUID FUEL INJECTOR.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 453, 12 March 1890, Page 2

ROCK’S LIQUID FUEL INJECTOR.

(From Australian Mining Standard). Whilst some very troublesome ores were being treated at Birkenhead on Saturday last by Lockwood and Ciiappel’s patented process, an experiment was made with another ingenious and promising invention,in which the dissociation of steam plays a part. This is Rock.e Patent Liquid Fuel Injector. This injector, is intended for use with any fluid material that can be used for feeding a fire. Kerosene or the crude oil from the shale, fat or any waste substance of an oily nature can be use J with this invention. As a matter of fact, the fuel used at the experimental tiial on Saturday last ,was coal tar, which is at the present time the least expensive of all the obtainable in the colony which are suit-r able for the purpose. In Air Rock’s injector the fine stream of coal tar, which comes from a suitable container mingles with a sharp blast of steam. The two enter the furnace together, through a nozzle fixed in the door, and imtpedia tely a tremendous commotion is heard, and bright flames fill the whole space around and above the col?e, wlijcli has previously been heated to redress in the ordinary manner, The tar is volafalised as soon as it passes from the nozzle, and in (he presence of this hydror-carbon vapor there is immediate production from the steam of its combined gases, The great heating power engendered ia

due to the volume of hydrogen gas thus liberated fio*n combination. During the experiment at Birkenhead the intensity of this heating power was demonstrated by tlie fact that the furnace door and the nozzle itself were heated to whiteness The object of the patentee, however, is not merely the production of high temperatures. These are required for certain purposes, but the every-day problem of producing steam at the least possible cost is infinitely more important. Mr Rock is engaged now in adapting his injector to the furnace of marine boilers, or, perhaps, it would be better said adapting these boilers to his invention. He calculates to reduco the cost of fuel, and at the same time to require for it not more than half the space now devoted to coal on sea-going steamers, besides increasing the vessel's steaming power. If he snceeds he will be a benefactor to the world at large. The invention has been used at Mr Morrison’s works at Auburn with success for welding iron, the work Being accomplished in twothirds the usual time. At the experiments on Saturday last, the Railway Commissioners had a representative present. Mr C. S.. Wilkinson, Government Geologist, and Mr Pitman, one of the Government Inspectors of Mines, were also present.