INCREASED MILEAGE ON GAS.
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The Flugel Accelerator Pedal-controlled Mixing Chamber.
The official recognition of coal-gas fuel has exercised one highly beneficial effect. It has stimulated fertility of thought and ingenuity in invention. This is as it should be. The relative cheapness of gas and its apparent abundance were tending to make motorists careless and wasteful in its use.
But with the popularization of the high-compression system the problem has assumed a new phase. It is imperative that the very utmost mileage should be wrung from a charge of gas, owing to the difficulty prevailing in conjunction with the establishment of compressing stations. The user has contributed in a certain measure to the closer investigation of the economical consumption problem, by demanding the adaptation of existing control devices to the utilization of the fuel. The effort, to consummate this last-named desideratum is automatically leading to the solution of the first-mentioned issue.
An interesting step in this direction is illustrated herewith. It represents the Flugel accelerator pedal-controlled mix ing chamber or carburetter. It is a simple contrivance, and offers the minimum of risk to derangement.
The details, of the mechanism are shown in the sectional drawing. There is a, stem (A) with a conical inner end (C) which normally fits tightly upon its seating, thus making a gas-tight valve. This stern is connected at its outer end to the arm to which the accelerator pedal rod is coupled up, and .thus is given an oscillating movement by the depression and release of the accelerator pedal. When the latter is depressed, this action naturally moves the arm attached to the valve stem, the extent of this travel being through on arc of ap
proximately 100 degrees. As this arm is fixed to the stem, obviously the latter is forced to move with it,.
Now the valve spindle is threaded at, (B) so that by the rotation of the stem through the third part ef a circle it is forced to move outwards, and the conical end away from it seating.
But the arc of the circle through which the accelerator pedal moves, and the relatively slight movement imparted to its connecting rod, render it imperative to give the valve stem the utmost possible outward thrush to ensure the valve at (C) being at full aperture when the pedal is fully depressed.
This end is achieved by rendering (B) a quick-turn thread, so that the movement of the pedal really becomes accentuated. Thus at maximum depression, the valve being drawn completely away from it seating, a full aperture is provided to allow the gas a free flow into the mixing chamber .(E).
The inlet (D) admits the gas from the bala.ncing chamber, mounted on the dashboard, where it has been stepped down from 125 lb. per sq. in. to atmospheric pressure, and has expanded. Upon reaching the mixing chamber (E), the gas is free to combine with the air to form an explosive charge.
The air is admitted into the mixing chamber through ports provided in the – wall. Over this chamber fits a sleeve, which is coupled to the rotating valve stem, so that it moves with the latter, The wall of the sleeve is likewise provided with ports which come into line with those of the inner wall when the Outer sleeve has been moved to the maximum of its rotary travel. It may be mentioned that this represents the simplest form of mixing device, but the design is such as to a,dmit Of numerous modifications of the.principle.
The arrangement has proved its efficiency. When the engine is running glow as in traffic, and when the demand for fuel is at, its lowest, only sufficient gas is forthcoming to keep the engine up to its work. Similarly, when the vehicle
is going at full speed, it merely requires sufficient fuel to enable it to maintain its gait. The claim for the invention to adjust the consumption of gas to the
load of the engine and at all the varying speeds would seem 4/0 be satisfactorily fulfilled. Certainly, operation demonstrates its economy and efficiency as well as contributing to the simple driving of the vehicle, inasmuch as the driver is not called upon to make any or even the
• slightest adjustinent of any extraneous attachment to control the gas.
-One -other point deserves mention. No gas can 'escape through the carbu.react while the vehicle is .standing idle. The valvo bed.s tightly into its seating when the pedal is finally -released, thus automatically and completely cutting off the supply.
This arrangement, it will be observed, also conduces to tbe saving of gas When the vehicle is stalled for the night even if the driver be remiss in turning off the main cock from the bag.
The attachment of -the carburetter to the engine is a simple and easytask. The inlet manifold is tapped at a convenient point above its connection with the ordinary petrol carburetter. The carburetter is then screwed into position,
in. gas connection being made, The clip (F) (see Fig I.) is then passed round tho manifold, and by means of ruffs (G) is puIleff .up tightly, thus holding the carburetter rigidly in position (Fig. 3).
The connection with the petrol carburetter isthen severed, the 'accelerator rod pedal beingcoupled op to the gas carburetter valve stem arm as already mentioned. It will be seen that alteration of the existing devices is reduced to the minimum, Should it be desired to revert to petrol running, it is only necessary to disconnect the pedal accelerator rod from the gas carburetter lever and to re-couple
it to the petrol carburetter in the usual , The engine is then ready for petrel working, no 'other alteration 'being necessary. There is no danger of coal-gas entering and Combining with the petrol vapour, because the valve of the gas carburetter ha& tightly closed automatically, as previously explained. The carburetter is made • by Flugel, Ltd., Ma, Green Lanes, London,-.N.