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Title: |
1894 Article-Otis Elevator Co., "Baldwin" Gas Engine |
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Source: |
Proceedings of the American Gas Institute, V 10 #2, Apr 1894, Appendix pg. 50 |
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Insert Date: |
2/27/2014 4:18:47 PM |
In 1888 the Otis Bros. & Co. of New York, elevator manufacturers, brought out the Baldwin engine, the invention of Mr. C. W. Baldwin, of Yonkers, N. Y. The feature of this engine was the use of the front end of the cylinder for compression purposes, enabling an explosion every revolution, giving of course increased regularity of speed. The engine had a front cylinder head and stuffing box of the usual steam engine form, cross head and piston rod (unusual features in gas engines); cored passages led the compressed gas back to the rear of the piston, and a balanced spring poppet valve, operated by a difference in pressure on either side, controlled the admission. Mechanically it would seem as though a positive action would be preferable to this device. Valve-less ports that at the proper time were uncovered by the piston provided for the exhaust. Ignition was by electric spark from a small dynamo actuated from the fly-wheel. There was an attractive freedom from cogs, gear wheels, cams and eccentrics, a slender rod only actuating a governor of “wedge” design that usually admitted a greater or less quantity of a constantly explosive mixture as needed. It was so arranged, however, that when running very free from load the quality of the mixture was also reduced.
The engine was (to be) built of horizontal form, in six sizes, from 1 to 10 H.P. also in pairs to 20 H.P. A 4 H.P. sample on exhibition in Nov., '87, at the American Institute Electrical Exposition in New York, attracted considerable attention, and operated a 30-light Weston dynamo with good satisfaction. The gas consumption was 30 cubic feet per hour per H. P.
The engine was of ingenious design and an attractive one, and with the special push that the Otis people could give it for pumping purposes in connection with their elevator business, it was thought that it would attain prominence. As a matter of fact, however, it did not, and the Otis interest has since been disposed of to the inventor. It is likely that the valve action above commented upon was not entirely satisfactory, and also that its economy suffered by the fact that the incoming charge, in driving the products of combustion forward and out, probably commingled with them, and so lost a portion of its fresh gas through the exhaust.
The old form of engine is not now on the market; it is stated, however, that the inventor is re-designing it, and that a new form will appear. |
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1894 Otis Elevator Co., "Baldwin" Gas Engine
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