The Ki-Gass system, also referred to as Kigass or K-Gas, is "a system of starting petrol and Diesel engines by injecting finely divided fuel in the form of a mist into the in-take pipe."[1] The system uses a hand-pump to spray fuel into the air in-take, thus priming the engine for easier starting. In the case of diesel engines, this spray was aimed at a heated Glowplug fitted into the manifold. Ki-Gass systems were widely used on aircraft, cars and tractors in 1944,[2] including British Spitfire and Hurricane fighters.

The system is thought to have been introduced in the mid-1920s, when it was a feature of the 1926 Vauxhall 30-98 OE Tourer.[3] It appears to have origins in fuel priming pumps developed in the early 20th century (e.g. by Frederick Lunkenheimer).

Manual priming was carried out via a small pump or push button (e.g., in some Ferguson TE20 Tractors).

Bugatti used Ki-Gass to aid starting on several of their early supercharged cars in the mid 1920s, such as the Bugatti Type 35. A lever[4] on the dashboard allowed the driver to pump some gas into the intake.

References

  1. ^ Forward, A. E. (1992). Handbook of the Collections Illustrating Land Transport: Mechanical road vehicles. Descriptive catalogue. Science Museum (Great Britain) H.M. Stationery Office. p. 120.
  2. ^ Easterbrook, L.F. (1945). Farming and Mechanised Agriculture: 1944-45. Todd.
  3. ^ Country Life, V.153 1973 p.703
  4. ^ 1927 Bugatti Type 35 Pur Sang Replica - Jay Leno's Garage, retrieved 2020-02-07
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