The Hewitt 8-Cylinder 90-Degree Motor

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The Hewitt Motor Company will continue to manufacture, next year, the 8-cylinder V motor shown in our illustration, and will apply it to their touring car as heretofore. Mr. Edward R. Hewitt, the designer and builder of this motor, has done a great deal of experimenting with engines of this type, which is that used so largely in France for airships, aeroplanes, hydroplanes, and the like. He believes that this type of motor is far superior to the usual 4-cylinder, or even the 6-cyl-inder type, as it has in a still further degree the leading features of the latter, and yet does not take up any more space than does the former. As far as weight is concerned, the 6-cylinder motor is heavier than the 8-cylinder motor of the same power, and besides this it has a very long crankshaft, which is springy and difficult to make. The 8-cylinder V motor has the usual four-throw crankshaft that is used on engines of the 4-cylinder type. When the piston of one cylinder is half-way down on its working stroke, that of the opposite cylinder is just ready to begin on the working stroke, the result being that there is a practically constant torque. This motor can also be perfectly balanced, and hardly requires a flywheel. The range of speed is very great; so great, in fact, that when mounted on the car speeds of 3 to 70 miles can be had on the high gear. The ignition system consists of a high-tension magneto, with the addition of a battery and coil for the purpose of starting on the spark. The motor is lubricated by a gear-driven mechanical oiler, which forces the oil to every cylinder and every bearing. Splash lubrication is also used. The motor is fed from a single carbureter placed above and between the cylinders. The timer and distributor are located upon a vertical shaft at the forward end of the motor, as is also the mechanical oiler. A centrifugal water pump, gear-driven from the crankshaft, is placed at the forward end. The valves are all mechanically-operated, and are (Continued on page 347.).

Scientific American Magazine Vol 97 Issue 19This article was published with the title “The Hewitt 8-Cylinder 90-Degree Motor” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 97 No. 19 (), p. 323
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican11091907-323

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