The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-08-03
HORSELESS CARRIAGES.

One year ago there was so much interest
in these horseless carriages that race was
arranged between them from Paris to
Rouen, the first prize to be given to the
carriage which should excel in speed
safety, manageability, and economy. There
were one hundred and two vehicles entered
but before the day of the contest this num-
Der was reduced by Withdrawals and dis
qualifications to twenty-One. The starters
were of all shapes and sizes, from neat
victorias to great coaches for eight or ten
passengers. The first to finish was the
Comte de Dion's steam vehicle, heavy
traction engine of some twenty-five horse
power, drawing a fOur.seated carriage
The next to finish, thirty-iive minutes
later, was four-seated phrton, built by
the Sons OF Peugeot Brothers of Paris, and
propelled by Daimler petroleum motor
The next four to finish were also propelled
by this same motor. The prize was given
to the first petroleum motor to finish, and
this carriage had covered the distance,
eighty miles, in five hours and forty min
utes, including two stops Of fifteen minutes
each. This test was distinct victory for
the petroleum engines and special vic
tory for the DAIMLER type of engine.
In these petroleum engines it must not
be understood that petroleum is used as
fuel for the production Of steam. The prin.
ciple is quite different, as this Diameter
motor is the utilization Of gas explosions
produced at regular intervals What both
cred the inventive minds Of those who first
experimental with this type Of engine was
the irregularity of motion, and the fact
that when the work to be done was less
than the normal power Of the engine too
many explosions occurred, and the ma
chine ran too fast. The first of these de-
fects was corrected by the introduction OF
a fiy-wheel heavy enough to take up and
carry on all surplus force of the gas at the
moment Of its explosion. The piston was
thus brought back by the momentum &C.
quired by the tly-wheel to the position in
the cylinder where fresh explosion had
the greatest propelling effect upon it. The
second defect mentioned was remeded by
an ingenious application of the principle of
the regulation governor, by which the gas
valve was not opened when the speed of
the engine exceeded certain limit. Again.
the cyclinder in which the explosions took
place became so hot after a time that the
entire engine was likely to be smashed,
owing to the expansion of parts made to
fit accurately. A water-jacket around the
cylinder, and circulating cstcrn in CON
nection with it, prevented this catastrophe.
The heated water flowed out above, while
the cold water passed into the cistcrn in its
turn.
With such general improvement as indi-
Gated, the gas-engine became commercially
practicable. But it was not until about
nine years ago that Mr. Daimler, German
inventor, found that he could make use of
the ordinary gas-engine, with some modifi.
cations, as consumer of lignid hydro
carbons, variously known as petroleum,
naphtha, paratline, Or gasoline. The chief
change was the addition Of small heating
chamber, into which the liquid fuel passed
before it entered the cylinder. Beneath
this chamber petroleum burner was
lighted, and its metal covering made so hot
that the petroleum vaporizcd as soon as it
entered the chamber. The freshly pre-
pared gas was then in a position to explode
in the cylinder as soon as it was mixed
with the air. A small portion of each