STANLEY STEAM CAR.
The Stanley Steam Car.
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Engine--double acting, taking steam at each end of Cylinder. Slide valve--built in a unit with rear axle and driving through a spur gear on differential (GD) (fig. 3). Crank shaft spur gear (DG) is the drive gear on engine.
The valves which control the admission and exhaust. are operated from eccentrics on the crank shaft and through a link motion (LM), through (LSS) which is connected with left pedal (fig. 2) and controls the range of motion of the valve. There are three passages when the valve is open for a large part of the stroke. This admits steam at boiler pressure and shuts the valve a certain distance before the piston reaches the bottom of its stroke. For the rest of the traveling the piston is driven by the expansion of the steam. Pressing the pedal (T) forward 'until it catches or hooks up causes the valve to close earlier. This means that less steam is taken from the boiler and the piston is driven a longer distance by the expansion. This, of course, is more economical of steam and the condition for normal running. The longer valve opening is used for starting and practically for nothing else. With the pedal pressed forward the operation of the valve is reversed so that the engine will run backwards, this giving the reverse motion. After leaving the engine, the steam goes to |
feed water heater thence to the top of the radiator, upon passing through which it condenses into water flows back to the main tank. Differing load and road conditions entail the loss of some steam, and it is this loss which has to be made up by refilling the water tank. However, sufficient water can be carried for 200 to 250 miles of ordinary running, or, in other words, it takes this amount of ordinary rnnning before the slight loss of steam is equivalent to whole tank full of water, which is about 20 gal. and is placed underneath the ear, below frame.
Boiler--Fire tube type. The fines being welded by the acetylene process to the bottom bead. Burner--Just as we have to open the throttle when we want more power from the gas car, so do we want more heat from the burner when we want mere power from the steam car. How kerosene is used: The kerosene under pressure is first led through a long coil placed on top of boiler, where the exhaust gases of combustion yield up part of their waste heat, by preheating the kerosene. From this top or heating coil the kerosene passes by way of the automatic control and the main burner valve to the vaporiser (located in the fire) here the hot kerosene is transferred into a true gas and after being mixed with a definite amount ot air in burned with the blue "linnaen'' flame. |
Questions Answered Relative to the Stanley Steam Car.
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(Q-l) Where is the engine located!
(A-1) The engine is located on the rear axle and supported from the rear axle differential housing. It is swung at other end. from the car frame by means of a spring strap hanger.
(A-2) The engine frame made up of four members, are carried through the differential housing, turning in an oscillating block at that point. Thus the engine and rear axle become a unit. The gear teeth of the engines main drive meshing with those of the differential.
(A-3) This depends 'upon the size, power end type of car employed, in the older models it is 2:1 and in the later models l ½:l.
(A-4) The boiler is located in front of the dash, underneath the hood and behind the condenser which is also a radiator.
(A-5) All stock cars, regardless of model operate on 600 pounds pressure normally. However for speed purposes this pressure is run up as high as twelve hundred to fifteen hundred pounds.
(A-6) The initial time of steaming a car when cold will take approximately fifteen minutes. This includes filling of the tanks and boiler, as well as the raising of steam pressure.
(A-7) No time whatever required for raising running pressure. Inasmuch as that pressure has been maintained.
(A-8) One of the Stanley five passenger, big touring cars was run for three consecutive months, making an average of twelve miles per gallon of coal oil. On long runs, this figure is increased as higb as sixteen or seventeen miles per gallon of coal oil. |
(Q-9) How are the various speeds controlled!
(A-9) From zero to the world record, is obtained by the opening of the throttle, the handle of which is located on the steering wheel. There is no other movement on the part of the operator for increasing or retarding his speed, other than the throttle.
(A-10) The water capacity is 20 gallons carried in a tank, beneath the car frame and filled through a radiator. This capacity is sufficient for a days run. We have known it to go as high as 350 miles.
(A-11) When starting out with a car, a valve is opened which places the car under antomatic control from that time on. When brought to a stop, this valve is closed. The operating controls are the throttle, the service and emergency brakes and reverse.
(A-12) The throttle subimposes on steering wheel. The foot brake, usual position. Reverse a foot brake. The emergency, a handle brake, located on the side of the car.
(A-13) Entire lack of vibration; freedom from gear shifting; absence of clutch; absolute flexibility; more power per weight than is possible in gasoline cars; a car that cannot freeze up in winter weather; simplicity of controls, but 32 moving parts, counting the wheels, low cost of upkeep; greater tire mileage; small depreciation factor; no smoke or steam visible in cold weather.
(A-14) These have in later models been overcome, but formerly they were: shape of hood; necessity for firing up; likelihood of freezing; nessity of taking on water every fifty miles (before condensing system used); steam in street.
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