The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-02-24
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II Tic hawaiian Cnrtasc Co
Workshop there is q very interesting
plant on exhibition known as the
Regain Vapor Engine. Gasoline,
air and electricity are the factors
which cause and sustain its motion.
The fame of the engine plant is en-
tirely of iron, cast in graceful,
upright form. The structure is
about five feet high. The base is
in the form of perforated drum
about one foot high, and surmount-
inc this is an upright frame contain
ing the shaft and piston rod, the
play of which is plainly visible.
Growing this is an inverted cup
cylinder with four and one-half
inch diameter and five and one
half inch stroke. Envcloping the
cylinder Is cast iron water jacket.
Between the outside OF the former
and the inside of the latter there is
q space Of one and one.half inches.
A fly wheel 3 feet inches in da-
meter and n band wheel complete
the engine plant, making II weight
Of about 900 pounds.
At respectful distance small
eight gallon tank is embedded in the
ground. The interior of this is
taken up With spiral coil contain
ing gasoline. Only half the full
quantity of gasoline is generally
used and this is capable Of running
the engine continuously for sixteen
hours. The engine in question is of
four horse power. The gasoline after
circulating through the hose enters
n hose connecting with the engine
in the form of gas. A governor adj
insts and regulates its passage.
Uniting at this point with the flow
of gas is draught of air through
another short hose which is led from
the pei forated drum base TO insure
clean air. The proper proportions
of air and gasoline are secured by
means of grade cocks. a very
slight turn Of either Of these cocks
will have perceptiblc effect on the
speed of the engine. The proper
tions observed are ten parts air to
one Of gasoline.
Into the lower part Of the water
jacket investing the cylinder flows q
onc-fourth inch stream of water.
This is designed to cool the cylinder.
The heat of the latter, however, ne
cessitates constant supply of the
liquid and consequently demands an
outlet which is furnished by a one
fourth inch hose leading from the
upper portion Of the jacket. The
expansion caused by heat renders
this discharge possible. 1t will thus
be seen that there is constant cir
culation of water about the cylinder.
An exhaust pipe Of no special length
terminating in drum relieves the
cylinder of superiluous gasoline and
air.
A Gassner dry battery having
five cells with induction coil COM
pletes the list OF causes. The phil
Osophy OF the motion resulting is
about as follows: The heat neces-
sary to produce expansion in the
open cylinder is caused by the COM
bustion of gasoline. The air serves to
support the flame, and the expansion
of unconsumed gasoline and air con-
sequent upon the heat evolved drives
the piston rod doaon. The electric
spark merely serves to ignite the
gasoline. The return of the piston
rod is accomplished by the momen-
tam Of the fly wheei. So the explo-
sion induced by electric sparks
drives the rod one way and the re-
dictionary tendency of the revolution
resulting, causes it to come back.
From which it will readily be seen
that the momentum of the fly wheel
must be unimpeded to certain ex-
tent by the resistance TO be over
come. Two hundred revolutions
per minute are found necessary to
secure the proper impetus for the
return of the piston rod. Hence il
is important not to use the engine
for driving when the revolutions of
the fly wheel fall below two hun.
drcd per minute.
The floor space occupied by this
eccentric little motor is about
two and one-half by three and
one-half feet. Mr.. Warren Dut-
ton, who courteously supplied the
reporter with the foregoing in
formation, asserts that the cost of
running the plant does not exceed
fifteen cents per hour. Its price be-
ing but $3.50, places it within the
reach Of all desiring cheap power
for light uses. Engines Of fifteen
horse power having double cylin-
der are also manufactured by the
Regan Manufacturing Co.