Author:
K Pelle
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Date Posted: 01:50:10 07/21/12 Sat
>Well, perhaps I'm mistaken, but, if memory serves the
>Doble Model E (Steamcar) could go something like 1500
>miles before needing additional water. In addition,
>its performance (speed, fuel economy, etc) was
>comparable to or exceeded internal combustion cars of
>the day (1920s). By the way, it was a low pollution
>vehicle, as well.
You're not mistaken, the last model of the Doble was a masterpiece of engineering for its day. It only carried a reserve of about 25 gallons of water and used a monotube (flash) boiler heat by atomized kerosene (Known today as Jet Fuel) which was ignited by a spark plug. Preheat of the water was accomplished by wrapping the preheating pipes around the exterior of the actual boiler, which not only heated the feed water, but reduced the heat loss of the boiler shell. The fire was induced to burn at high temperatures by forced air (an electric fan) which produced extremely efficient combustion and very low pollution. The steam was fed into two opposed compound engines and coupled directly to the drive axle, so although the cylinders were quite small, they fed almost all their power to the rear wheels. (I don't recall the displacement of the high and low pressure cylinders - if I ever knew it.) Exhaust steam was condensed and reused, which extended the distance the car could run before refilling the water tank.
I understand that a later attempt to convert the Doble system for use in larger vehicles was a failure, probably because of the economies of scale - some things just don't work well when scaled past optimum values.
I'm a steam 'nut,' but I've only seen one Doble in my life and that was about 50 years ago, so there can't be many around. Recently though a collector friend of mine obtained an engine and rear axle unit from a 1922 model D(?) Doble. He hopes one day to have it running in a small car, but then - he always was a dreamer.
kp
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