The Showcase > Engines

Three Otto & Langen models

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Craig DeShong:
Having just finished my 3rd generation Otto & Langen model; rather than just post it, I though I'd set all three up and get them running together.

My model of a first generation Otto & Langen engine can be seen on the left at the beginning of the video.

My model of a Crossley built third generation Otto & Langen engine can be seen in the middle; it has a build log  that can be found at: http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,9285.0.html

My model of a Gasmotor-Fabrik Deutz built third generation Otto & Langen engine is on the right at the beginning of the video.  It has a build log that can be found at: http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,9856.0.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFKWhMNLFMM

Jo:
 8)

Could you explain a bit more about what you run these on Craig. I know they should be run on town gas  or acetylene, clearly you have worked it out  because they are running well :ThumbsUp:

One of these days i must get round to making my version of the original Otto Langen  Patent Engine  :embarassed:

Jo

Jasonb:
A very nice trio indeed, I've been quietly following along and as Jo says it also makes me think about my own one but without the acetylene that you are using I wonder if I may just end up with a big door stop.

Craig DeShong:
Jo, I would be glad to.
I initially tried using propane but couldn’t get the engine to fire.  I tried map gas but had the same result.

The full size engines were run on illuminating gas, which was piped into the houses in the 1800’s.  My understanding is that illuminating gas is a mixture of, mostly, methane and hydrogen and I believe the Rough and Tumble group in Kinzers, Pa. uses this mix on their Otto Langen and other early gaseous fueled engines.
 I tried acetylene around the middle of 2015; I can tell you that the results were immediate.  The engine started firing consistently.  I’m convinced all my Otto Langen engines would run on the hydrogen/methane mix but acetylene is easily obtained and works well.  The by-product of hydrogen combustion is water so I’m thinking that a little carbon (from the combustion of acetylene) that needs occasionally cleaned is better for the model.  When you build your engine, build it so it can easily be disassembled and cleaned.

You will need to be able to finely regulate that amount of acetylene your engine uses.  These things really sip fuel; you will be amazed at the small amount of fuel needed to run the engine.  On mine, I’m sure more fuel leaks away that is used to run the engine. 

I use a standard “torch” regulator to get the fuel pressure down to around 5 PSI.  Then use a water column low pressure regulator to further reduce the fuel pressure to around a half PSI.  Before delivery to the engine the fuel then passes through a restrictor that is drilled out to .020 inches.  Even with all this pressure reduction and restriction, my latest Otto Langen was leaping off the table and consistently pounding the overcharge spring at the top of the column. Jeeeeez !

In desperation I placed a set of vice grips around the rubber acetylene delivery tube and progressively squeezed the tube to even further restrict the amount of fuel available to the engine.  In this way I found a place where the engine would fire consistently, but not be over charged.  I replaced the vice grips with a piece of steel with a hole passing through it for the flexible rubber tube and a blunt end thumb screw that would screw down onto the tube.  A simple valve, but it seems to work quite well.  You can see it in this latest video.

Craig DeShong:
Jason, I can tell you that, for me, it was a learning experience.  I had no experience firing an engine with gaseous fuel and tried many different approaches.  While still trying to use propane as a fuel, I managed to set the top of the worktable in the shop on fire; that was an exciting day!

I’ve stated earlier that I finished my first Otto Langen engine in 2014.  It showed NO inclination to run for a year and a half until I switched to acetylene.

About ten, maybe fifteen years ago, Wayne Grenning build some small Otto Langen models (a little over a foot tall) that he sold.  I have a friend that has one of these and he runs it on propane.  I’ve had no luck with that fuel.

Acetylene is a convenient fuel for me.  Most of us have an acetylene torch rig, and I just use the acetylene tank and regulator as the 1st stage regulator to run my engine.

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