THE AUTHOR outlines the research and development work on single-cylinder fuel research engines resulting from the industry cooperative program which grew out of the Cooperative Fuel Research Committee. The establishment of world standard methods of gasoline knock rating have resulted from this work.
Six types of single-cyclinder laboratory engines produced for motor, aviation, and diesel research are described as well as instrumentation for indicating gasoline knock and diesel fuel ignition quality.
The current problem of rating aromatic-type fuels in the range above 100 octane is explained as being an instrument characteristic which gives “knockless knock ratings” on certain fuels. A new electromechanical detonation indicator is described.
This paper was the 1957 Horning Memorial Lecture.