Book Description

Flame Ignition is a 800 page history of early internal combustion engines built from 1800 to 1900, thoroughly documenting the different types of designs existing during that era. Highlights of the book are chapters that include: Non-Compression Direct-Acting and Atmospheric engines, Non-Compressing Toy engines, Two-Stroke, Four-Stroke, Six-Stroke, Compound and Constant Pressure types.The author included much information on the efforts of the early I. C. engine designers, and the problems they faced. Each of the 8 chapters gives a history of the designs covered, and then the actual engines developed are discussed in alphabetical order. The engines covered all feature flame ignition, although other significant designs are discussed as they relate to the story of flame ignition. Each chapter contains many period engravings, test data, specifications, and full color photos of existing examples.Chapters include non-compression engines including Sombart and Forest designs, toy engines, such as Paradox, Atmospheric engines including the famous Otto and Langen design, two stroke engines like Clerk, four stroke engines including Deutz and Crossley, six stroke engines, compound engines, and constant pressure engines. Highlights of these chapters include an in-depth discussion of Brayton's constant pressure engines, rarely seen prototypes from Otto, and many unusual designs that are only known from ancient advertisements or the odd existing example. Patent drawings and explanations of operating sequences are included for all engines covered. An extensive chapter covers the early activity of the Gasmotoren-fabrik Deutz and Crossley 4 cycle engines, which were the direct ancestors of all 4-stroke cycle engines. Other chapters, including 2-stroke and six stroke engines, illustrate the extents to which early inventors would go to get around the Otto 4-stroke cycle patents, and the wealth of designs that were made possible when the patents were nullified. Also included is an appendix full of valuable information, covering topics such as a global registry of existing flame ignition engines, both in museums and in private hands, as well as test data.