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Investigations indicate that detonation may be controlled by retarding the rate of combustion by chemicals added to the mixture, which serve to increase its specific heat and prevent excessive temperature, and by reducing the temperature of the walls of the combustion-chamber, so that the temperature of the charge previous to ignition will be lower and thus insure a normal rate of combustion. The present discussion is devoted to methods of controlling the temperature of the charge before and after the mixture enters the combustion-chamber, and before normal ignition occurs. Tests previously made on a poppet-valve engine and on a sleeve-valve engine revealed the impracticability of applying the laboratory methods used at that time to commercial practice and the need of eliminating some of the difficulties inherent in those methods of detonation control. The various changes made in the engine are described, including the specially designed spark-plugs.

This Annual Meeting paper is a report of a series of tests conducted during the summer of 1922 by the authors at the Engineering Experiment Station of Purdue University. The work consisted of research into the operation of internal-combustion engines under comparatively high compression on ordinary gasoline without detonation. The compression-ratio of the engine was 6.75 and the compression pressure was 122 lb. per sq. in., gage. The ingoing charge was passed through a hot-spot vaporizer and thence through a cooler between the carbureter and the valves. Jacket-water temperatures between 150 and 170 deg. fahr. were carried at the outlet port of the jacket. The theory held by the authors as to the causes of detonation of the combustible charge is presented briefly. The source of the two phases of detonation encountered in this work is believed to be overheated areas in the combustion-chamber.