1 86 



THE POWER BEHIND THE ENGINE 



In connection with the gasoline supply is a carburetor or 

 sprayer, which sends into C (Fig. 130) a fine mist of gaso- 

 line vapor and air. When this mixture has passed into C, 

 it is ignited by an electric battery provided with an automatic 

 sparking device. The explosion of the gases is so powerful that 

 it drives the piston P to the right, and thus drives the balance 

 wheel. Again, air and gasoline vapor enter C, the piston mean- 

 while is driven to the 

 left by the balance 

 wheel, and another 

 explosion occurs. 



The use of naph- 

 tha in launches is 

 familiar to many, 



FIG. 130. The gas engine. 



and not only are 

 launches, ships, au- 

 tomobiles, making use of gas power, but even aeroplanes 

 are propelled in most cases by the force of exploding gases. 



