internal combustion single cylinder engine

Images(3)

internal combustion single cylinder engine

Date1850-1900

Inventory Number6907

ClassificationGas Engine

Subject

Maker French ?

Cultural Region

Dimensions19.8 × 39.4 × 13.4 cm (7 13/16 × 15 1/2 × 5 1/4 in.)

Material

DescriptionThe model is mounted on a rectangular brown metal platform. At one end of the platform is a vertical cylindrical brass fuel tank. The tank is designed to hold the gas that powers the engine. There is a cylindrical burner on the top of the tank. Users would turn on the flow of gas and light the burner to begin operating the engine.

The engine is mounted onto the platform at the other end from the fuel tank. It has a rectangular base and is attached with a screw at each small end. The engine operates with a single black cylinder. The cylinder protrudes from the engine in the direction of the fuel tank such that the burner will heat one of its ends. A small brass cylinder with a thin brass spring at the top, a rounded brass knob on one side, and a brass screw with a red enamel ring on the other side rises from the top of the black cylinder. A second brass cylinder with a thicker and more tightly wound spring around it emerges from the bottom of the black cylinder. The bottom of this spring is attached to a black metal arm.

After three 90° beds, this arm attaches to the axle of a black gear on the side of the body of the engine. The teeth of this gear interlock with the teeth of a second, smaller brass gear. On the opposite end of the brass gear's axle is the engines large flywheel. The flywheel is a brass ring with three black metal spokes. In between the flywheel and the brass gear, their shared axle is attached, by way of a pivoting frame, to a brass arm that extends into the end of the black cylinder. Inside the cylinder is a brass piston.

Signedunsigned

Inscribedprinted on white label on engine component: Compound

Curatorial RemarksInventory number was changed from DW0898. The original curatorial card for DW0898 indicates the date of this engine as c. 1850. The new curatorial card for 6907 indicates the date of this engine as c. 1890.

FunctionThis internal combustion engine is designed to turn thermal energy into mechanical motion. The thermal energy is provided by the gas tank. When the tank is lit, the black cylinder is variously heated and cooled, which causes the air inside to expand and compress which causes the piston to move back and forth. This mechanical motion is transferred to the gear and to the flywheel. The flywheel rotates constantly. The gear in turn imparts motion back to the bottom brass spring that regulates the motion of the piston.

Given the small size of this engine, it was likely designed for demonstrative purposes, rather than to perform actual work.

A discussion of internal combustion engines is available here.

ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Alain Brieux, Paris, July 13, 1962 (lot 7/17). Donated to CHSI April 26, 1976.