1930-08-30 — Page 14

THE

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1930.

THE AIRPLANE DIESEL IN 1940.

FISK

Means More

mileage

*maTerting GET A KIER F

OBTAINABLE AT ALL GARAGES UPON REQUEST.

Sole Distributors:

GILMAN & Co., Ltd.

Telephone 28011.

་་

4A, Des Voeux Road,

The Motoring Sensations

of the

the year!

FIAT 514

THE NEW FOUR-CYLINDER MODELS

and

the

FIAT $248

SIX CYLINDER MODELS.

Arrange for an early Demonstration.

A. GOEKE & COMPANY,

..

China Building, 4th Floor, Tel. 22221.

FIAT GARAGE,

Des Vœux Road Central, Tal. 24821.

Three-fourths in US;

There are now over 34,000,000+ motor vehicles in the world, ac

LANCIA GARAGE,

151, Prayà East. Tel. 23557.

WOMEN MORE CAREFUL.

Few Auto Imports. While 835,527 motor vehicles Although women comprise 14 were exported from the United cording the National Automo- per cent, of licensed motor vehicle States and Canada during 1929, ble Chamber of Commerce. Of drivers in Massachusetts, only 5.5 there were but 750 imported into this number, 76 per cent are in per cent of the drivers involved the United States in that year. the United States.

in fatal accidents last year were females, 4446%

Nearly 5,000,000 persons are

..

Many Advantages of This Simple Power Plant.

Diesels

LIGHTING AIRWAYS. THE MODERN WAY.

Example for Kai Tack.

A feature of the landing grounds on the Cairo-Karachi section of the Indian Air Mail route are the mobile landing flood- lights.

Thornycroft World- Wide Activities.

ON THE SPOT.

The criticism that British manu- facturers do not travel the world

vices.

some

од

It is a far cry from the cumber The engineer is dealing with the The air beacon is mounted on sufficiently to study the require- somo stationary Diesel engines of highest expression of man's battle a specially constructed lorry,ments of their oversens customers, past decades, deep-rooted in masto wrest heat energy from petro- aquipped with suitable controlling is one that does not apply to John sive foundations and cumbrously leum-the most efficient heat apparatus and self-contained I. Thornycroft and Co., Limited, wrought in cast iron, to the alloy-engine in existence and mechani-generating plant for operating the who have certainly been quick to steel perfection of the present day cally by far the simplest. With beacon at any desired time or realise the world-wide market for inirplane engine, eloquent of speed. a compression about twice that of place. The light source in each their commercial motor vehicles.

power, and light weight in every the ordinary aviation" gasoline of these units is a 10-kilomatt Many hundreds of these are now line and contour!

engine, this Diesel draws in the Osram gasfilled lamp, of the type operating in all the Empire and However, it has beca this outside air through the single which has proved exceedingly many other countries, particularly technical gulf, this wilderness of valve in the head, compresses this efficient in service, not only for in South Africa, where the South abstruse metallurgy, combustion air to a temperature suficient to aerodromes, but in various light African Railways operate over phenomena, and stress analysis ignite the charge of fuel-oil spray-houses and lightships controlled 400 Thornycrofts in conjunction which the Diesel engineer has haded in from a little nozzle in the by Trinity House. The lamps with their railway services. to bridge in essaying the develop-top of the cylinder, and when the were supplied by the G. E. C.

Over a year ago. Sir John ment of a practical aviation Diesel power stroke is complete, exhausts

Thornycroft, the Managing Direc- engine.

the spent charge through the same

tor of the Company, visited South How successful, these explora-valve in the cylinder head.

All aircraft Diesels are cold Africa, and made a wide tour and tions have been is evidenced by the (This description is for a "four starting," the heat of the first close study of the organisation remarkable evolution of light-stroke-cycle" engine; there will be compression is enough to ignite controlling these road motor ser- weight, high-speed

in numerous other types using the the fuel, and a Diesel airplane recent years. In the 11 years "two-stroke-cycle" and

highly can take off immediately the the Technical Director in charge This year Mr. Tom Thornycroft, since the World War, the weight original valve and structural engine begins to turn; over, of the lightest Diesel engine has arrangements, but for descriptive although if not necessary it is Works, has spent several months of the Basingstoke Motor Vehicle been reduced from about 65 purposes this type of engine has just as well to let it "tick-over" pounds per horsepower to less been selected as representative of on the ground for a short time. In South Africa giving his atten- than three pounds per horse-American practice as now fore- However, in cold weather opera-

tion to "the running conditions power, and the speed, which in the seen).

tion, in an emergency, or in mili- under which the vehicles are past was supposed to be definitely Spared carburettor and magneto tary service, this characteristic is operated and by actually driving limited in the Diesel engine, has work, and with his valve inspec- something to be considered.

thousands of miles reduced been increased from about 750tion

to half.

Thornycroft vehicles in, different our however, revolutions per minute to well mechanician..

Now that we have entered the parts, securing first hand know- is up over 2,500! And at least two types against

purely Diesel cabine and have wayed farewell to ledge of their behaviour, studying of Diesel engine-probably more problems. He will have to remove those who watch our pilot "lift" all the while how beat future can be built for the have actually 'flown in heavier- and inspect the fuel nozzles in us off the field with the calm vehicles than-air machines, to say nothing each cylinder head and, while the mastery of these picked men who severe conditions of South African of the Diesels installed in the engine is running, will have to handle transport aircraft, we service. British dirigible R.101.

assure himself that the fuel pump notice a smoothness of flight and Lt.-Commander J. W. Thorny- Diesel aviation progress bas which supplies a minute quantity an absence of that vibration which croft, the junior Director of the reached a transitory stage, where of oil to each cylinder is func-is sometimes felt in airplanes. Company, has recently returned its advocates, gratified at last to tioning properly in its split-second This elimination of vibration is from an extended tour of India, see a Diesel engine actually in work of metering and pumping. due to the fact that the engine and. Mr. Roger Thornycroft has fight, have inclined to over- This fuel pump is one of the does not run as fast as a gasoline spent several months in Argen- enthusiasm in prophesying the points often criticized by those engine. In order to get the tina, demonstrating the capabili scope of its immediate application. who question the reliability of the weight of gasoline engines down ties of Thoraycroft six-wheeled The air transport executive, Diesel. It is the perfect embodi- to their present basis, it has been vehicles, with such good results confronted with the necessity of ment of precision workmanship, is necessary to increase the power by that there are very encouraging making an impartial technical ground and honed so that its increasing the speed, usually to prospects for Thornycroft motor judgment, has reacted to this over-plungers fit to extremely close 1,800 or up to 2,200 revolutions per vehicles in that country where, enthusiasm in a way well express-limits, This, in theory, is minute. The Diesel will operate incidentally, the firm have recent- ed in these columns heretofor, and knotty production problem. How normally at about 1,200 revolu- ly established a Branch at Buenos: bas raised a series of very sound ever, in actual practice, certain tions per minute, which is a much Aires with their own trained staff. For some years, Messrs. Thorny- questions which deserve to be well-designed types of fuel pumps more efficient propeller speed than

eroft have had a branch office in answered by careful analysis have shown themselves to be the higher figures mentioned. rather than by argumentative almost fool-proof. The precision advocacy.

of construction and the number just as the service man did and for the Far East.

We may smoke in our cabine, Hongkong and in other parts of No one should be more of working parts in a well-design- the same reason, and "our guide cognizant of the scope and limita-ed Diesel fuel pump are much less points out to ua that spilling of tions of the aviation Diesel engine a problem, comparatively speak the fuel, in event of å forced than the Diesel engineer. The ing, than that of producing landing, would not set the plane basic problems in the construction] electric ignition magnetos and dis-on fire. A comforting thought of high-speed Diesels have been tributors, intricate operations for those with lively imaginations! solved, but a tremendous amount which are taken for granted of detailed development work to-day. *

Care of the Airplane.

a

some

FAULT. FINDING..

Some Useful Hints.

[By Israel Klein.] ·

It is not just the engine that: mileage on a gallon of gasoline. causes one car to make better than another of the same manu- facture.

Sometimes, in fact often, we may find faults in the body and chassis of the car that retard the efficiency of the motor. moving parts especially may be

at-fault.

The

And another characteristic is must still be done to insure the Most American difficulties with pointed out: Due to the fact that future of the airplane Diesel. experimental fuel pumps, have, to the fuel does not form a volatile: It enters the tion, and theoretical design pro- design, or to poor production cylinder, there is no chance of a

There are metallurgical produe-speak bluntly, been due to poor mixture until blems to solve. In its present engineering. As the demand for backfire into the intake manifold form the aviation Diesel can un-this type of equipment increases, as sometimes happens with gao- doubtedly become in a few years this problem will be overcome, as line engines. And the position of an important supplement to the many other more intricate ones the airplane exerts no effect on airplane gasoline engine, especial- have been solved.

the fuel supply: the fuel pump and ly in large airplanes and sea-i We mentioned above that our the fuel nozzles will work as well an upside down as they will in the planes and in dirigible balloons. mechanic was working on

Further to present a graphic engine with twice the compression upright position. picture of exactly how the avi- of gasoline engine. This We look over a report on the tion Diesel compares in actual presents, another difficulty-that cost of operating these Diesel- The wheels, for instance, are flight with the gasoline engine, we of starting. At present an elec-engined airplanes. The engine almost a neglected, but highly- will be over-conservative andtrical starter capable of turning costs more than a gasoline engine, important factor in maintaining estimate a lapse of 10 years, from over a Diesel engine is much 90 and will until quantity production the efficiency of the motor. which point of time we will big and heavy. for airplane use. is achieved. The fuel cost is Neglect of these parts may cause visualize the attainment of the However, we may expect that this considerably less than that of a considerable loss in power. widespread 95¢ of airplane trouble will be mastered by re- gasoline engine. We are using Loose bearings at the hubs.. Diesels. Engines such as these leasing the compression in several Diesel fuel at about six cents a causing the wheels to wobble, will undoubtedly be in extensive cylinders and using an electric gallon instead of high-test gas at take much of the power from use long before 1940, but we wil: starter, or by some other expedient from 14 to 25 cents. But this is the engine. To prevent this, the jump ahead a decade in our pro-it even having been whispered not the main argument for the wheels should be kept tight and phetic study in order to depict the that a small gun-powder cartridge economy of the Diesel. For a well greased. The grease should perfection of development which is used for starting on one given combined weight of fuel be changed every thousand miles, will probably be realized long American aviation Diesel!

supply and engine-provided that and the nuts on the wheels. before that time.

Now that the inspection of our the weight of the Diesel engine istightened at the same time. "air motorship's" power plant is somewhere near that of the gaso- Misalignment of front wheels is. completed, here comes a tank line engine, (on this point more another costly fault and reveals. Any airplane-whether large or truck with fuel for it. To one will be sald)the flying range or itself in less mileage for the fuel. small is subjected to a daily reared in the atmosphere of high-the carrying capacity of the They should be checked up con- inspection, a careful grooming and test aviation gasoline, volatile Diesel-engined airplane is greater stantly. scrutiny which has in its routine benzol compounds, and so forth. than that of the airplane with a attention to detail few parallels in the calm superiority of the gasoline engine. This is especial- any field of engineering or trans-"grease neck" who smokes

ly true for flights of 500 miles portation. Skilled mechanics go cigarette as he pushes the hose and over, when fuel economy over the engine, riggers examine into the oil tank is somewhat un- becomes a large factor. Estimat the wings and control surfaces, canny; but he is dealing with fueled conservatively, given the co2 keen eyed inspectors check their oil of about the consistency of ditions outlined above in flights of twisting the wheel while the car reports and repair work with great ordinary furnace oil-non-volatile this type, the cruising radius, or isn't moving in an effort to get care, and finally, the operations and unaffected in its condition in the weight-carrying capacity of out of crowded parking spaces. executive carefully scrutinizes the the fuel tank by changes of the Diesel-engined airplane would That hurts. the steering reports of both ground engineers altitude-it will not produce in- be from 20 per cent. to 30 per cent, mechanism, too, but misaligned and pilots. A race horse or a flammable vapours in a rarefied greater than that of an airplane wheels are more evident as a fine motor car gets no more atten- atmosphere, on the ground.

This new generation of "Diesel of air-cooled gasoline engine, such

powered with a conventional type | result. tion on the eve of a great contest

In addition to loss of power and than does a transport airplane in bred" airplane mechanics commit as we know to-day,

fuel efficiency, there's excessive- the course of everyday service. another beresy in the eyes of the

The condition mode above in wear on the tyres that results Let us fallow the inspection of old timer; they start the engine 1940 Diesel actorship of the while the fueling operation is regard to weight is the prime from mianlignment of the wheels. air" such as we foresee, and deter- going on! But the exhaust from reason we have conservatively set So It is important that this be mine wherein it differs from the the cylinders is clear and carries the date of the general use of carefully checked about once a

aviation Diesels

month, present rites of those who serve no flame--and the ignition point the gasoline driven airliners. As of the fuel oil is so high that one ahead. The aviation, Diesel, is the cowling is removed from one could even spill some of it on the now considerably heavier than of the six-cylinder "in-line" air-engine and it would not actually gasoline engines-and this in- tightly that the drums might bind. cooled Diesels, (a cowling which burn-something to be thought of creased weight offacts most of its This causes the brakes to drag- leaves the upper part of the in the event of a crash, and cer- other advantages. However, as and put an extra weight on the

Dragging brakes can be felt-by- cylinders exposed and directs the tainly a condition which makes for the, weight, la reduced, the fuel engine air stream along the cooling fins), greater ease, safety, and time- economy will help to make up for

what weight handicap is, left, and an experienced driver. There's a our attention is drawn to its saving in servicing the plane. extreme simplicity.

The scarcity and possibility of the Diesel will first become an feeling of an extras strain or pull There is no carburettor or contamination of fuel oil at air important supplementary form af at a grade speed where usually no Intake manifold; there is no ports around the country is also power to be used in large aircraft pull or strain should be felt

Rather have the braken loosened" electrical ignition, no magneto or one of the criticisms of the avia for long. fights,

a bit and put an extra force on spark plugs there is only a small tion Diesel But what can one. It is difficult to foresee what the pedals when it is needed, than pipe to the head of each cylinder, expect? Just as American indus would happen if a Diesel were lose fuel efficiency, by tifs con and there is only one valve in each try will build reliable fuel pumps produced, as light as the present stant dragging, cylinder head, from which a small in quantity and develop workable tynes of air-cooled gasoline: This doesn't Help the brakes: "exhaust deflector projects. methods of starting, so will the oil engines, but, In” view of thẻ:high elthar, The drums wear down.

industry respond with more easily degree of refinement of gasoline quickly and become less effective available supplies of Diesel fuel airplane engines, it is hardly like in emergencies,

The Simple Diesel,

some years

ir

The ground engineer does not Ordinary furnace oil and oily that the Diesel will ever, entire have to adjust the carburettor; he of that type is almost as easy to replace them. However, it will No Hitch-hiking: Produces Much Scrap.

does not have to worry about the get as gasoline "In" this,' day of assume A position of ever intricacies of electric ignition or household and industrial, of increasing importance in those The automobile industry pro-employed by and owe their liveli Maine, New Jersey, Minesota fouled spark plugs; when there burners!

serviced where long range. re- duces more than one million tons hood to the manufacture and use and Wisconsin have tacted atat are valves to be ground, there is It was not necessary for the liability, weight-carrying capacity, of iron, and steel scrap annually, of motor vehicles, the National utes making it a misdemeanor to just one, which takes care of both mechanie to start the engine to mechanical simplicity, and super it is reported. This is consumed Automobile Chamber of Com-stand, in the highway and solicit the air intake and exhaust in each "warm it up, as is done, now safety are deafred-"Scientific

ridea in an automobile: Ly steel companies of the country. Imerce reports.

cylinder.

with all gasoline aircraft engines. American.""

Wheels get out of alignment: when they are struck against the curb in parking or when they strike a deep rut.

Misalignment may come from:

2

The brakes may be adjusted so

Another drain on power is an under-inflated tyre. That rusans more pull on the engine,

Each tyre, therefore, should be kept constantly up to the pressure- advised by the manufacturer.. The tyres should be checked each:

week.