Evening star., 1939-01-15
Diesel Engine
Widely Used
Oil.Burning Plant
Produces Cheap
Power Safely
By w. H, FRASER.

You nave PROBABLY watched one
of the new streamlined railroad
trains 60 streaking along the tracks,
and you have been told that it is
run by a Diesel engine. But unless
you are very much interested in en-
gineering, you probably haven't
learned. just what Diesel engine is.
In several ways, the Diesel is like
the gasoline power plant found in
automobiles. But the Diesel uses
heavy fuel oil, and has no electric
spark system or carburetor
No other form of prime mover
can make power as cheaply as the
heavy oil engine. Also-and this is
very important in boat and plane
work-the Diesel has no fire or ex-
plosion dangers. Designers use a
startling test to prove this safety
angle; oil fuel is poured into a
saucer, then a lighted match is
dropped on it. The oil puts the
match out.
Such fuel burns inside the motor
cylinders only after fuel pump and
needle valve have broken it up into
very fine mist.
DieSels are made in sizes OF
about 5-horsepower and up. One
giant engine in a land power house
is rated near $4,000 horsepower. It
is some 80 feet high, with an ele-
vator to give acSess to the upper
levels. Large ocean motor ships may
have one, two or four Diesels.
trucks, racing cars, lifeboats, light
houses. tractors, power shovels, de-
partment stores, launches, snow
plows, streamlined trains. airplanes
and airships (the Hindenburg being
a recent example of the lighter
than-air type) and buses.
AS for power houses, one city
changed to Diesel and not only
saved money, but was able to sell so
much power that it did away with
municipal taxes!
The Diesel has possibly been put
to more different uses than any
other form of power, since there are
no steam planes, and only a few of
the earliest submarines used gaso-
line motors. A sub" is powered
with Diesels and huge storage bat
teries.
Invented in Germany about 1892
and taking its name from the inven-
tor, the Diesel has been made in
America since 1898.
One firm tried a yacht-type Diesel
in an old motor car. The new style
motor was too long for the old en-
gine space, so that no room re-
manned for the usual fan. But the
motor ran SO cool that no fan was
needed. Diesels also are excellent
for cold-weather starting.
1t is in this way that the Diesel
can burn its fuel without spark
plugs: Coming into the top end
of cylinder, the oil mist is under
great pressure from the fuel pump.
The piston coming up naturally
heats the inclosed air rapidly. CYou
have probably done the same thing
in small way with bicycle pump
against your knee0 When the air
gets hot enough to burn this oil mist,
the mixture at once expands and
gives the power to drive the piston.
This is the simplest ignition sys-
tenn known, yet it delivers a reHable
form of steady power.
Diesels are used to power some
large radio stations. And, OF course,
with Diesel power in yacht or air
plane, there is no spark interference
with the radio receiver.
/ Ocean-going Diesel motors had
their start about 1905. In such
large vessels, the oil engine has
these advantages over older types of
machinery: Less machinery space,
therefore, more room for cargo; no
fire or explosion danger, quicker
starting, longer voyage before re-
| fuelinQ. cooler boat.