Page 344 - (DK) The Ultimate Visual Dictionary 2nd Ed.

RAIL AND ROAD
TROJAN TWO-STROKE ENGINE, 1927
Early engines Port linking combustion

chambers of upper
and lower cylinders Water connection
STEAM AND ELECTRICITY were used to power cars until
early this century, but neither power source was ideal. Electric Upper paired cylinder
cars had to stop frequently to recharge their heavy batteries, and Spark plug
steam cars gave smooth power delivery but were too complicated
for the average driver to use. A rival power source, the internal Wide piston-ring
combustion engine, was invented in 1860 by Etienne Lenoir Transfer port
(see pp. 334-335). This engine converted the force of a controlled
Wire gauze pad
explosion into rotary motion, to turn the wheels of a vehicle. Early
variations on this basic model included sleeve valves, Upper piston
separately cast cylinders, and the two-stroke combustion Flexible,
forked Flywheel
cycle. Today, many internal
BERSEY ELECTRIC connecting-
CAB, 1896 combustion engines, including the rod
Wankel rotary and diesels (see
pp. 346-347), use the four-stroke
cycle, first demonstrated by
Nikolaus Otto in 1876. The Otto cycle,
often described as “suck, squeeze,
bang, blow,” has proved the best
method of ensuring that the engine
turns over smoothly and that exhaust
Mounting emissions are controllable.
for tray of
40 batteries Housing for electric motors Counterweight
Big end
Crankcase
SECTIONED WHITE STEAM CAR, 1903 Steering wheel Throttle wheel
Brake Automatic cylinder
Flash steam Reverse lever lubricator
generator lever
Lamp
bracket High-pressure
cylinder
Rocking Exhaust
lever pipe
Water
pump
Condenser
Low-
pressure
cylinder

Fuel tank

Semi-elliptic Spiral Steel-reinforced Drop Water
spring Brake drum tubes wooden chassis arm tank Drag link Dumb iron

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