Back around 1957-8 I went on the Coronado Island Ferry in San Diego...it had a big diesel engine that had a catwalk around it and you get on there and check out the engine running. It was at least as big as this one, maybe even larger...I was always fascinated by the open pushrods...
When Oakland / SF still had a robust industrial base, with Iron and Bronze Foundries, Huge Scale machine shops, huge Hot Dip Galvanizing plants, and all the infrastructure to make those things possible. When you can get software to do any actual work for you, let me know.
I worked for the CO. that bought the "remains" of Atlas Imperial. We had some parts and lots of patterns for parts. CA taxed the inventory every year and my Boss said "get rid of the stuff". I junked everything, including a new crankshaft. Not a month latter, a Fishing boat Captain from Seattle called and was looking for a new crankshaft for his recently "overhauled" engine and I had to tell him we had not parts. They had been out of production for 20 yrs or so. I felt terrible.
Gotta love California. Tax people into throwing stuff away. Of course, it might be part of the goal on stuff like this; they would rather that captain had to buy a new engine that is more "environmentally friendly," not taking into account the massive environmental cost of building a new one. I would have moved out of California before I junked history like that. I would have moved out of CA decades ago, frankly. Why any business stays in CA is beyond my comprehension. It pleases me that so many are leaving.
Yes, there were very many ingenious designs from long ago. Maybe considered inefficient by todays standard, but I bet it was very rugged and robust and probably would power a boat every day to this day.
I am not sure we are on the right track with our thoughts on the valve operation. The explanation of the 4 rods is I think correct, but not by conventional cam shafts. My view is they are hydraulically operated, moving the ahead/astern control moves a small cam as in a diesel injection pump, except this one is double ended, the large rod for injectors being timed to the others but variable in lift again as in normal diesels ..
Looking at the rods from left to right on each cylinder its, intake- air start- injector- exhaust. The fuel rail is pressurized and the injectors are runs straight on the camshaft. To switch directions it has a long rack and pinion gear operated by an air piston.
I believe there are two camshafts for forward and reverse and somehow one or the other pushes on the same pushrods. The tall rods are the injectors and they move just a little and the rods that aren't moving at all are for the air start. If you watch carefully at 0:47 you can see the air start pushrods moving when he throws the start lever and then stop.
Thanks for your explanation it makes sense should have thought of that. The long arm not moving much could not operate an inlet or exhaust valve. Every day is a school day.
If you compare rotion at first, then later after he moved only the throttle to reverse, the flywheel never changes direction. He never does shift the cam transmission into reverse. Yes, the double valve train is split to change direction.
Hmm. If you stop at 3:38, the throttle is ahead but the pointer at the lower left says astern. Then he throws her astern and the pointer says ahead. Isn't that pointer indicating which cam is being used and why wouldn't it agree with the throttle lever?
The reversing lever changes the cam position. Not 2 cams. Injectors have a plunger inside that makes the high pressure needed to inject the fuel - like Detroit Diesel 2 cycle engines. No injector pump, just a fuel pump that circulates the fuel thru the engine & injectors and back to the tank. These reversing engines were the next step after reciprocating steam engines. High speed was a couple hundred rpm.
Beautiful old marine iron.😊 I was raised an hour South of Oakland, 45 or so years after these mighty things were built.😊
Such cool machines. We're lucky some folks had the ability to save a few and can run them today.
Back around 1957-8 I went on the Coronado Island Ferry in San Diego...it had a big diesel engine that had a catwalk around it and you get on there and check out the engine running. It was at least as big as this one, maybe even larger...I was always fascinated by the open pushrods...
Yes, these are cool engine designs. I wonder wow many are still in daily use in boats today?
The 4-cylinder version of this engine was used in a special-order version of the Caterpillar Sixty.
I believe Tony Beets "GoldRush" has a 1940's version of this Atlas engine in dredge no.2 in pristine condition. Lets see if it runs in 2019!
Great runner, smooth even under no load.
When Oakland / SF still had a robust industrial base, with Iron and Bronze Foundries, Huge Scale machine shops, huge Hot Dip Galvanizing plants, and all the infrastructure to make those things possible. When you can get software to do any actual work for you, let me know.
Lot of Atlas engines still around in old fishing and tug boats.
Ocean Mariner this engine was pulled from a purse seiner in San Diego just a few years ago.
The Army Corps has an “Atlas Impossible” on the 65’ Tug Kenosha out of Kewaunee WI up until a few years ago....
I worked for the CO. that bought the "remains" of Atlas Imperial. We had some parts and lots of patterns for parts. CA taxed the inventory every year and my Boss said "get rid of the stuff". I junked everything, including a new crankshaft. Not a month latter, a Fishing boat Captain from Seattle called and was looking for a new crankshaft for his recently "overhauled" engine and I had to tell him we had not parts. They had been out of production for 20 yrs or so. I felt terrible.
Gotta love California. Tax people into throwing stuff away. Of course, it might be part of the goal on stuff like this; they would rather that captain had to buy a new engine that is more "environmentally friendly," not taking into account the massive environmental cost of building a new one.
I would have moved out of California before I junked history like that. I would have moved out of CA decades ago, frankly. Why any business stays in CA is beyond my comprehension. It pleases me that so many are leaving.
A bloody shame that!
Cal sucks, everybody moving now
Merveilleuse machine conçue avec tellement d'intelligence.................
Yes, there were very many ingenious designs from long ago. Maybe considered inefficient by todays standard, but I bet it was very rugged and robust and probably would power a boat every day to this day.
I am not sure we are on the right track with our thoughts on the valve operation. The explanation of the 4 rods is I think correct, but not by conventional cam shafts. My view is they are hydraulically operated, moving the ahead/astern control moves a small cam as in a diesel injection pump, except this one is double ended, the large rod for injectors being timed to the others but variable in lift again as in normal diesels ..
inlet,exhaust,injector,decompressor
Inlet, starting valve, decompressor, exhaust. Bad camerajob.....
Looking at the rods from left to right on each cylinder its, intake- air start- injector- exhaust. The fuel rail is pressurized and the injectors are runs straight on the camshaft. To switch directions it has a long rack and pinion gear operated by an air piston.
Nice clip. Looks like the L/O is emulsified🤔
Good spotting, yes it's got water in it 😱
Are the other pair off push rods for the ahead rotation.
I believe there are two camshafts for forward and reverse and somehow one or the other pushes on the same pushrods. The tall rods are the injectors and they move just a little and the rods that aren't moving at all are for the air start. If you watch carefully at 0:47 you can see the air start pushrods moving when he throws the start lever and then stop.
Thanks for your explanation it makes sense should have thought of that. The long arm not moving much could not operate an inlet or exhaust valve. Every day is a school day.
If you compare rotion at first, then later after he moved only the throttle to reverse, the flywheel never changes direction. He never does shift the cam transmission into reverse. Yes, the double valve train is split to change direction.
Hmm. If you stop at 3:38, the throttle is ahead but the pointer at the lower left says astern. Then he throws her astern and the pointer says ahead. Isn't that pointer indicating which cam is being used and why wouldn't it agree with the throttle lever?
The reversing lever changes the cam position. Not 2 cams. Injectors have a plunger inside that makes the high pressure needed to inject the fuel - like Detroit Diesel 2 cycle engines. No injector pump, just a fuel pump that circulates the fuel thru the engine & injectors and back to the tank. These reversing engines were the next step after reciprocating steam engines. High speed was a couple hundred rpm.
A ship engine . Don't think that would fit in any boat I know
I have one of those im my boat
Purrs like a kitten.