steam, the exhaust from the engine shows, just as on the same sort of day the steam from horses becomes visible, and to obviate this condensers are used. For the majority of cars the Clarkson condenser is in use. This is described as a 'radiator' in the chapter dealing with internal combustion engines, and needs no further description here, except to say that, instead of water being passed through it, the exhaust steam from the engine takes its place and issues from the bottom of the condenser almost invisibly in a small stream of hot water. In the Serpollet, House, and other cars different forms of condensers are used, but the action is the same. They consist of long ranges of pipes exposed to the air, through which the steam is passed and so condensed into water. Some of the light steam
_0306a.jpg) Fig. 27.—Stuffing Box with studs |
_0306b.jpg) Fig. 28.—Stuffing Box with screwed and flange cap |
cars are fitted not only with the Clarkson condenser, but also with an oil separator and a water filter, as the steam, instead of being dropped on the road after condensation into water, is pumped back into the tank and used over again. To cleanse it from the oil, which would otherwise damage the boiler, the oil separator and the filter relieve it of all injurious impurities before it reaches the tank. By this means a car can be driven at least double as far without renewing water, that is to say, from fifty to sixty miles, instead of twenty to twenty-five. These remarks apply to cars of the Locomobile type, with the usual tanks, but by having a larger water tank and an extra petrol tank, they can be run greater distances without replenishment.
A convenient fitting is now applied to the Weston car in
