CHAPTER XX 

 GAS, OIL AND ALCOHOL ENGINES 



552. Internal-combustion engine. The gasoline en- 

 gine is of the type known as the internal-combustion 

 engine. Others of this type are the gas engine, the 

 hydrocarbon engine, the kerosene engine, the oil engine, 

 and the distillate engine. 



In the steam engine combustion takes place in the 

 furnace; the heat is diffused through the boiler, gener- 

 ating steam; this steam is then transferred by means of 

 pipes to the engine. Through all these operations a 

 great deal of heat energy is lost by radiation. In the 

 internal-combustion engine the fuel is put under high 

 pressure by the inward movement of the piston. While 

 in this condition it is ignited; the consequent burning 

 causes a very great expansive force, and this force, act- 

 ing directly upon the moving parts of the engine, gives 

 very little opportunity for radiation. 



The principle of all internal-combustion engines is the 

 same, so in this chapter the gasoline engine will be used 

 as a basis of discussion. The gas and the gasoline en- 

 gine are so nearly identical that they may be treated in 

 the same manner. 



553. Early development. At first the development of this en- 

 gine was very slow. Huyghens in 1680 proposed the use of gun- 

 powder. Papin in 1690 continued the experiments, but without suc- 

 cess. Their plan was to explode the powder in an enclosed vessel, 

 forcing the air out through check valves, thus producing a partial 

 vacuum, causing the piston to descend by atmospheric pressure and 



