Etienne lenoir invention

Lenoir 12 January — 4 August [ 1 ] , was a Belgian-French [ 2 ] engineer who developed the internal combustion engine in Prior designs for such engines were patented as early as De Rivaz engine and Barsanti—Matteucci engine. In , he immigrated to France, taking up residence in Paris, where he developed an interest in electroplating. His interest in the subject led him to make several electrical inventions, including an improved electric telegraph.

By , Lenoir's experimentation with electricity led him to develop the first internal combustion engine which burned a mixture of coal gas and air ignited by a "jumping sparks" ignition system by Ruhmkorff coil , [ 3 ] and which he patented in The engine was a steam engine converted to burn gaseous fuel and thus pushed in both directions.

The fuel mixture was not compressed before ignition a system invented in by Philippe LeBon who developed the use of illuminating gas to light Paris , and the engine was quiet but inefficient, [ 4 ] with a power stroke at each end of the cylinder. Although it ran reasonably well, the engine was fuel inefficient, extremely noisy, tended to overheat, and, if sufficient cooling water was not applied, seize up.

German engineer H. Boetius describes in an essay that the Lenoir engine's fuel consumption was falsely advertised. Instead of the promised 0.

Lenoir gas engine purpose

Nevertheless, Scientific American reported in September that the Parisian newspaper Cosmos had pronounced the steam age over. Lenoir had completed work on his engine in and had a grand unveiling on 23 January , for twenty guests. In his speech he said, "If it works, I will add carburetor heating, at a constant level, which will allow the use of petrol, or gasoline, or tar, or any resin".

He turned on the illuminating gas valve, pushed the flywheel, and the engine came to life. Dates vary from to on when Lenoir built his automobiles. It is apparent that he built a small carriage with his engine around