Unusual/Interesting Engines/Motors

[mickthemaverick]

Seeing that reminded me that I came across this the other day but forgot to post it:

[myglaren]

This popped up earlier

[NewcastleFalcon]

Looking back over the thread, this from 1950's pioneers Rover hasn't had an outing as yet.

Whatever this video was about, it's in a style that I just lap up. It is a youtube video of course, but one from the vault of nostalgic gems and genuine attempts at education rather the know-it-all opinionated ranting, in-your-face click bait titles and loud audio tracks of much of the popularist content.

Yes two blokes in overalls assembling the Rover 1S60 compact gas turbine engine, and its subsequent use as a portable pump by a group of period-dressed firemen including a rather comical bit of hand cranking to wind up the engine.

Be bothered to have a look and make a comment, you may even enjoy every bit of it as I have. As you can see the video is only available to view on the youtube site itself. Click on the "watch on you tube" highlight shown or this link to view. (link https://youtu.be/Ow_hddEk8a0 )



Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Thanks Neil, I enjoyed that little bit of light entertainment before I get stuck into Rod Ismay's evidence today. The only real issue I can see with that engine is the noise, although the exhaust heat may have been a bit tricky to handle too!!

[Stickyfinger]

Killinger und Freund...a 600cc triple, made in 1935, Munich

[NewcastleFalcon]

Been a little while since this established thread has had an airing, always good to keep it ticking over as it has accumulated some interesting content.

This is a water-cooled two stroke twin from the 1950's, in a fibreglass car. It's uniqueness is that in spite of grander ambitions only 6 of the cars were ever built. From Telemark in Norway....The Troll.

Two cylinders in a Troll by Stein Olsen, on Flickr

https://viaretro.com/2020/07/the-norweg ... che-troll/

They had managed to source the very modern 700cc 2-stroke engine with 2 cylinders and not least Bosch fuel injection from the German Gutbrod-Werke’s bankruptcy. Technically, it was a hugely advanced engine for the period, but it still only managed to pump out a humble 26hp. The fuel injection also proved troublesome which led to considerations of swapping to the 3-cylinder 2-stroke engine produced by SAAB just across the border. However, this never materialised.

More on the gutbrod engine here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gutbrod_Superior

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

We came across this monster today:

MTMO

MTMO

What is it from you ask?

Spoiler: show

MTMO

[Stickyfinger]

Merlins and Allisons used in Power Boat racing.....

[myglaren]

[NewcastleFalcon]

I spotted this cover in a binder of the Magazine Classic Mechanics and of course "Britain's Plastic Engine" caught my eye. Maybe the guys were ahead of their time, the "plastic" component continues a revival to this day with the ever expanding applications and materials used by 3-D printers. Porsche is one of the pioneers, including 3-D printing pistons, but the range of properties and performance of materials for 3-D printing now is a bit ahead of pistons made of PEEK with a foil top from the pioneering motorbike lads from 1986.

Porsche Newsroom
https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2020/te ... 21462.html

3D printing technology is already used at the sports car manufacturer in prototype construction, manufacturing spare parts for classic sports cars as well as in other areas. For the first time, the pistons for the high-performance engine of the 911 flagship model, the GT2 RS, are now being produced with a 3D printer.

3D printing allows the pistons to be manufactured with a structure that is optimised for the loads acting on the pistons. As a result, the pistons from the advance development project weigh ten percent less than the forged series production pistons. They also have an integrated and closed cooling duct in the piston crown that could not have been produced by conventional methods. “Thanks to the new, lighter pistons, we can increase the engine speed, lower the temperature load on the pistons and optimise combustion,” explains Frank Ickinger from the advance drive development department at Porsche. “This makes it possible to get up to 30 PS more power from the 700 PS biturbo engine, while at the same time improving efficiency.”

The caption below the piston reads: What's so special about this piston, only that it is made of a plastic called PEEK, crowned with alloy. Ceramic coatings are also being developed

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Food for thought?

[mickthemaverick]

I think most people who watch this thread will enjoy this video, which will jump from the thumbnail straight to the engine, regardless of a general distaste of Youtube in certain parts of Paggers!!

[CitroJim]

Enjoyed watching the start-up of that engine Brought back good memories. One of our stations had a standby generator powered by an ex-marine engine that was started in the same way...

Being a marine engine, its cooling system required a large pond behind the engine house. The engine was kept constantly warm, so that it could go on-load immediately, and the circulating warm water kept the pond ice-free in the winter... Can't recall if any fish lived in the pond but if they did, I'm sure they appreciated the warmth...

EDIT: The engine we had was a Crossley. The video is right, those old Gardners will go on for ever!

[myglaren]

[Dormouse]

Been a little while since this established thread has had an airing, always good to keep it ticking over as it has accumulated some interesting content.

This is a water-cooled two stroke twin from the 1950's, in a fibreglass car. It's uniqueness is that in spite of grander ambitions only 6 of the cars were ever built. From Telemark in Norway....The Troll.

Two cylinders in a Troll by Stein Olsen, on Flickr

https://viaretro.com/2020/07/the-norweg ... che-troll/

They had managed to source the very modern 700cc 2-stroke engine with 2 cylinders and not least Bosch fuel injection from the German Gutbrod-Werke’s bankruptcy. Technically, it was a hugely advanced engine for the period, but it still only managed to pump out a humble 26hp. The fuel injection also proved troublesome which led to considerations of swapping to the 3-cylinder 2-stroke engine produced by SAAB just across the border. However, this never materialised.

More on the gutbrod engine here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gutbrod_Superior

Neil

I worked for a company called Villiers MAG and my boss's boss, from the parental company MAG, was a Walter Gutbrod. My then newly married wife and I were "invited" to a formal, small dinner party with him and his wife - and, no, it wasn't optional, even if we were on honeymoon at the time. The Gutbrod dynasty had it's fingers in many pies.