The inside of this device looked very familiar. Years ago I worked with a larger scale version of a similar machine called an Entoleter. Generically I guess it's known as an impact mill. The one I worked a bit with was used to grind and blend Teflon powder for compression molding. Looks like the same kind of machine is also used for grinding grain and pigments for paints and dyes. Maybe yours is for "grinding" and blending fuel molecules? http://www.entoleter.com/impactindustry.htm
When I visited the UFO Store in Roswell, NM they had one of them things that they took out of a UFO.! Just my 3.5 cents or when the Cows come Home.!
It's a work of art! A neat idea, but of course it doesn't do anything. Thanks for the look inside. I was wrong.
That's cool shit right there buddy. If it was mine, I'd chrome it, put in new bearings, put it on a little engine that it won't restrict (maybe a 4 cylinder) with a screen of some sort to keep shrapnel out of the cylinders if it flies apart and run it. I'd just about guarantee you'll get more questions asked about it than you can stand to answer. Should be lots of fun and probably won't hurt anything.
Of course, I'd have to lie a little and tell folks with a straight face that I'm getting 53.6 miles per gallon since I put it on and only have to start it on gas, then it runs on water and kerosene. Or better yet, water and used paint thinner that I get free at the body shop down the street.
Its kind of out of left field, and I don't know why they'd make one for a Buick, but I think its a kerosene induction system. They'd typically be used on farms (and some export markets). There was a lot of buzz around using kerosene in the '20s & '30s. Its a little surprising to see GM looking at it again after the war.
I recognized immediately. It is a flutter valve for the asshole of a hobby horse. My first job was an installation technician for them.
I'm not really sure that you should be in charge of a fine-looking ride such as in your avatar ! Just saying.
I think it's probably a prototype of a constant flow fuel injection system that used a stock intake manifold. Looking at the different parts it would function something like the early corvette FI system except it used the spinning vanes to atomize the fuel for all the cylinders. I would bet old Zora Duntov himself had his hands on that piece at some point.
You guys surprise us most times with the knowledge base but y'all missed it with this one. It's a mothball grinder. We all know they increase HP, right? How much better can it get with ground up and atomized mothballs? Seriously, it's real kool and worthy of clean up and display.
There are three vanes on the back side of the spinning disc. Air enters the chamber by the co-axial hole around the shaft, goes out around the disc, then through the "chopper blades", past the stationary blades, and down into the intake manifold. It might actually have made a bit of boost. There were superchargers made that drove like that, I think Cord used one type, and there was one made for Ford flatties. I forget the name of the company that built them.
I really doubt that the thing made any amount of boost. I am still unsure if it ran on petrol or if it was for gas, either natural gas or propane. There doesn't appear to be much of a seal in the "barrel" valve, so I doubt know how it prevented fuel from leaking down into the vein area. I am going to try and hook up a small electric fuel pump to the barrel valve and see if it will hold pressure. If it does and if there is any type of flow control, I have an engine that I can put it on to give it a try. Also, I was thinking of modifying the internals to adapt a turbo compressor wheel and housing that would be hidden in the base. I would have to make some changes to the gearing but I think it might be doable...
I dunno what it is, but put it on Ebay with "rat rod" in the title and you'll get three times the price.
I have to go with the general consensus that it is some type fuel atomizer, or and aid to help fuel atomization. Probably born out of the 70's fuel crisis when mfrs were looking for better mpg and emissions, but still using carburetors. The logic behind would be to get the maximum atomization of the fuel so the max energy and complete burn would occur.
folks went to a lot of trouble to make this stuff, and it turns out that it doesn't really do anything useful. If it did, you'd see it on every new car
The Jalopy Journal
