Semi-Diesel

Arthur G · 2004-05-27T10:01:45+00:00

Hi All,writing a blurb to display with the Petter S-type made me think about theprinciples of operation of semi-diesel enginesand made me wonder if semi-diesel, four-strokes were produced. The onlysemi-diesels I know of are two strokes like theS-type, Bolinder, Tangye M, Crossley VO and a Moteurs Ballot I've seen.I can't see in principle why it wouldn't work, though there must be someproblem, or surely they would have been widelymarketed.I'll be interested to hear your comments.Regards,Arthur G

timleech 22 years ago

Just found this on compression ratios in 'The Internal Combustion Engine' by Ricardo & Clyde (1941): (Comparing CR for petrol & oil engines)

"In the case of the Compression-ignition engine, the minimum compression ratio which will enable the engine to start and at the same time enable combustion to be initiated rapidly and smoothly is round about 12:1 Thus there is a wide neutral zone of CR extending from about 7.5:1 to

12:1 which is not normally used for the internal combustion engine of either the spark-ignited type or the C-I type. Within this zone in the case of the petrol engine the use of anti-detonating dopes is necessary, while in the case of the oil-engine, pre-detonating dopes, hot plates &c., must be used."

Cheers Tim

Tim Leech Dutton Dry-Dock

Traditional & Modern canal craft repairs

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Arthur G 22 years ago

Thanks for that Nick and Eric, very interesting.

No relative, unless he had links with the farming community in North Tipperary!

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Roland and Celia Craven 22 years ago

The 1925 Science museum catalogue lists an 1889 6stroke Griffin gas engine (vertical 0.5hp). Donated by W H Brown in 1922. Possibly now in the reserve collection? It also lists a reference if anyone has this book: Donkin: Gas, Oil and Air Engines 5th Ed. p67. ttfn Roland

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Prepair Ltd 22 years ago

There are two engravings on our web pages, one or both may have come from the Bryan Donkin book (present from John Ambler)

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Peter A Forbes 22 years ago

It's on P67 in the 3rd edition, 1900 as well.

Peter

-- Peter & Rita Forbes snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk Engine pages for preservation info:

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Arthur Griffin & Jeni Stanton 22 years ago

Lovely engravings Peter, thank you.

I've got the Griffin Simplex as my desktop background now.

Arthur G

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Colin 22 years ago

Re Field Marshalls -- think the farming/tractor community always call them diesels. Certainly did yesterday at the Penparc rally, where the excited (& knowledgeable) commentator insisted the microphone was pushed up the exhaust of a FM Srs 2 on parade -- with the statement that "these 2 stroke diesels sound like nothing else". But ... there are always areas where common perception & factual accuracy may differ ...........

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