Sometimes it makes me wonder why on earth some of these older engineered inventions cannot be brought up to spec to work in the modern world , why is it that new is always better when even me a dumb ass back garden tinkerer searching the net can see so many debunked thrown away inventions , a lot like gasifier builders in this modern world if it were not for people like us all on here working hard too keep a back up power and transportation needs ready to hand then this also would be destined for the dustbin of the modern world life .
Dave
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O.K Dave read through these and see much efforts costs expenses and time was expended to make these three “valveless” engine designs keep up will modern requirements and standards.
And slow read and realize reflect on all of the require very many large surfaces, very precise machining; heat treating and surfaces finishing.
A better understanding of realities is to go back to your 1920’s Willy’s Knight sleeve valve small electrical making lighting plant.
2-3 American manufacturers were at the same time developing also single cylinder poppet valves-in-block small stand alone electrical lighting plants. For farms. For remote locations. Then for the militaries.
Better yet contrast the English small engines electric makers like Lister and Petter along with the 1-2 German long life engine manufacturers for small electrical lighting makers.
These ALL did use poppet valves. But up in the cylinder heads; cam-in-block; pushrod activated. Why?
At least 30% more fuel use efficient.
The U.S. as the decades largest in the world petroleum and refined fuels maker supplier we could for manufacturing simplification squander away the gasoline/diesel /and tractor (kerosene) fuels.
Quite often the engine developed and put into production is greatly reflecting it’s best primary usage.
Current today example of this is the rotary spool valve internal combustion engines. Large ships and some large stationary power plants.
My personal experience was in the very late 1980’s when a large regional public transit bus organization had to rapidly transition from the Detroit Diesel 2-strokes they had been using for decades and then go with 4-stroke Cummins and Caterpillar engines.
Why? They could never get the 2-stroke slotted cylinders for intake DD engines to under using one US gallon of oil a day in service. That oil going out into the air; dripping down onto the pavements. Then rain washed into storm water drains. Then draining into fish bearing streams and rivers.
The 4-stroke all in the head poppet valve engines would only use at most one gallon of oil a week.
My other experiences was when I wore-out transitioned from farm/yard&garden flat head engines (valves-in-block) to more modern valves-in-head types. Used then 30% less fuels for the same jobs. These equipments used in close and personal then my eyes stopped watering as much and I later cough, coughed much less spending hours to outgas clean my blood stream.
There you go.
Newest, latest gee-whiz-boom-bang system will fall flat 99% of the time.
Old, old was good; and good enough back in old, old times.
Old, old at least if it was produced in 10,000’s thousands over the course of years and years does have the advantage to m-a-y-b-e being able to acquire, affordable, cheap. And usually will be much more flexible adaptable to DIY made engines fuels.
Ha! Ha! Still . . . any flat head engine I will leave clear back in the last millenia. Can’t stand thier stinks anymore.
Regards
Steve unruh
Of course where there is a will; a way will be forced into real metals:
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I thought this concentric valve setup was interesting. H. H. Franklin, 1910, air cooled
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Here is a very newly published account of a fellow went old motorcycle sleeve valving. Read through to his evaluation of why not today brought forwards (oil use control and consumption):
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Hi All,
Been day or so since I’ve heard a small internal combustion engine running to get my Juicing-Fix.
So I searched through that cruddycornstalks channels guys stuff the Dave had made me aware of:
Yeah. Yeah. I know I said that I no longer liked valves-in-block flathead engines.
But this one is the earliest SINGLE cylinder slant cylinder four stroke I’ve ever seen.
Vertical single cylinder four strokes want to hop up and down. Horizontal single cylinder four strokes want shake horizontally and will try and walk away.
A slant cylinder single four stroke compromises well, and pretty much just shakes in place.
As can be seen in this video.
Slant cylinders is what virtually all modern horizontal shaft single cylinders have gone to now. 15-45 degree slanted cylinders.
And that to me is the interesting design of this one.
Plus to you valveless-insistent that this old, old engine does not even visibly oil smoke.
Sure. Not all worn out internally.
But a horizontal single cylinder virtually oil splash drowns the cylinder and under piston. With a slow excessive oil drain back. The piston itself having to sweep back the excessive oil.
A tall vertical cylinder single has to have a very aggressive rod end dipper to splash up enough minimal oil to the cylinder and under piston. That aggressive oil splashing in the crankcase robs power and make all shaft seals, covers and case splits into oil leaks sooner versus later.
Seems this old cast iron Continental can use really really poor quality of fuels.
He name drops some now old American small air-cooled engine manufactures I’d forgotten. Lausen. Clinton.
View, listen and enjoy. 6:30 and on.
Steve unruh
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