Toward Higher Speeds and Outputs From the Small Diesel Engine

Wide experience with small, high-speed diesel engines in European commercial service, with which the author's company has been particularly connected, led to sponsorship by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command of design and test work to study combustion and breathing problems in diesel engines at very high speeds, found only in gasoline racing engines, and under boosted conditions.

The paper describes the preliminary studies of the special problems of the project, and of the design of the single-cylinder test engine evolved to allow detailed investigations of these problems to be undertaken. Tests results are presented to show that the required rating can be achieved, and that a viable mechanical design to meet the severe operating conditions is possible. Included are preliminary studies of the package size and performance of a possible 4-cyl version of the engine for military use.