Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Diesel Engine

Three-cylinder air-blast vertical diesel-injection engine, no Three-cylinder air-blast vertical diesel-injection engine, no Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Diesel Engine Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Diesel Engine Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Diesel Engine Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Diesel Engine Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Diesel Engine

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Three-cylinder air-blast vertical diesel-injection engine, no
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Three-cylinder air-blast vertical diesel-injection engine, no
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Three-cylinder air-blast vertical diesel-injection engine, no.46724/27, made by Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Ltd, Stockport, 1927. Poppet valve, air blast fuel injection, power output 165 horsepower.

This is one of four engines originally installed at the Mid-Kent Water Board Trotterscliffe Pumping Station near West Malling. They were used to drive pumps for raising water and remained in service there until the 1980s.

The diesel engine has its origins with the German engineer Rudolph Christian Karl Diesel, who developed the idea and took out the first patent in 1892. One of the biggest problems faced by Diesel was how to inject the fuel into the cylinder, given the very high pressure of the compressed air within. After trying a number of methods, Diesel decided to use an auxiliary compressor to produce a blast of compressed air to carry a small amount of fuel into the cylinder. This method, called air-blast injection, was used until the 1920s, when a more efficient method called direct injection (using a mechanical pump) was perfected.

In this Mirrlees air-blast diesel engine, the fuel is forced into the cylinder by air stored at a pressure of 1000 lbs per square inch in high-pressure cylinders next to the engine. The pressure is maintained in these cylinders by a compressor, which is driven by the main engine.

Details

Category:
Motive Power
Object Number:
Y1982.1
Materials:
cast iron
Measurements:
overall: 3610 mm x 1830 mm x 4520 mm,
type:
diesel internal combustion engine
credit:
Gift of Mid-Kent Water Company

Parts

Compressed Air Cylinders

Compressed Air Cylinders

Two compressed air cylinders for air-blast vertical diesel-injection engine, [no.46724/27]. One cylinder is 1000psi, and the other is smaller.

Manufactured by Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Ltd, Stockport, 1927.

Measurements:
overall: 390 mm x 2002 mm x 660 mm, 334 kg
Materials:
iron
Object Number:
Y1982.1.1
type:
compressed air cylinders
oil tank

oil tank

Oil tank for Mirrlees Engine.

Manufactured by Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Ltd, Stockport, 1927.

Materials:
iron
Object Number:
Y1982.1.2
type:
oil tank
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum