From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
The development and status of petrol injection systems by Curtiss Wright, Pratt & Whitney, and the Marvel Carburetor Co.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179\3\ img145 | |
| Date | 1st April 1932 | |
| -4- PETROL INJECTION. Both Curtiss Wright and Pratt & Whitney have engines running with petrol injection, both water and air cooled. We understand that most of the original research work on fuel injection was carried out at the Langley Field. We went there and saw their testing equipment. At the present moment they have a two-stroke petrol injection single cylinder unit running giving 130 lbs/BMEP. with 8 lbs. boost at a consumption of .6 pts/HP. at 1300 R.P.M. They have been doing compression ignition work for about 5 years and petrol injection for considerably less than half this time but they are very much more enthusiastic about the latter than the former particularly now that a safety fuel has been produced (see fuel report). There appear to be two main systems which have actually reached the flying stage. The Pratt & Whitney system is a separate pump to each cylinder which has been described in British papers. In this case the injection nozzles are in the cylinder head. The other system has been developed by a Mr. Chandler of the Marvel Carb. Co. and employs a distributor which feeds valves in the induction pipe. The injection pressure in the first system is alleged to be between 1200 and 1300 lbs/sq.in., in the second 600 lbs/sq.in. From what I could gather, direct injection into the cylinder appears to be the more promising of the two at present. A machine fitted with the Pratt & Whitney engine has been flying on the commercial service for two or three months and we heard of no trouble except that the fuel consumption was higher than desirable. The Chandler scheme has just started to fly at Wright Field. Mr. Chandler, who showed us the various details of his system at Flint, is anxious to come to England to demonstrate its advantages if he can get anyone to pay his expenses. The Marvel Co. have apparently agreed to this as they have been unable to look after the patent situation in Europe. Mr. Chandler is working mainly with the Wright Co. He appears to be quite familiar with the Pratt & Whitney system. We understand that the Bristol Company have some interest in his patents. | ||