On 7/23/09 10:24 AM, Gene Kearns wrote:
On Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:40:33 -0400, H the K penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

|On 7/23/09 9:34 AM, Eisboch wrote:
| Spark plugs, patented by Robert Bosch and Nikola Tesla in 1898, are about to
| be replaced by lasers.
|
| (Credit: Sonett72)
|
| Say goodbye to spark plugs, a 19th century technology about to be supplanted
| by lasers. The U.K. paper The Telegraph reports that Ford is working with
| the University of Liverpool to develop a laser ignition system for
| internal-combustion engines. That's right: engines with frickin' lasers
| strapped to their heads.
|
|
| The laser beam is delivered by a thin, fiber-optic cable to a focusing lens
| that would take up much less space than a spark plug, allowing engineers
| greater flexibility in designing valves and cylinders. The laser beam can be
| split to ignite the fuel mixture from multiple points deep in the cylinder,
| making for a more efficient burn than a spark plug can achieve, reducing
| emissions and getting better fuel economy. Another advantage to the laser
| system is that part of the beam can be reflected to a receiver and used to
| gather data on the fuel mixture and the quality of the burn.
| And this isn't merely a research project, as there are working prototypes of
| the system at the University of Liverpool laboratory. Ford, which has
| eagerly been adopting fuel efficiency technology such as electric-power
| steering and six-speed transmissions, reportedly will use the laser ignition
| system in some of its cars over the next couple of years, then spread the
| technology to the full range.
|
|
| (Source: The Telegraph)
|
|
|
| Eisboch
|
|
|
|Another advantage is when the laser craps out, the replacement part will
|be $2,125, and that doesn't include installation.
|
|I knew about Bosch but I had no idea Tesla was involved in the invention
|of spark plugs. Thanks.

We're actually working our way towards the technology that will give
us a negative carbon footprint. The only possible negative consequence
is that the car costs 236 trillion dollars..... 'course 'ya get what
you pay for.....


I'm all for advancement but, seriously, I was not aware there was a
problem serious enough with spark plugs to "incite" a pack of inventors
to make the process of igniting gasoline more complicated and expensive!

Your *next* even-rude outdoor motor, now called an L-Tech!







--
A wise Latina makes better decisions than a dumb elephant.

"H the K" wrote in message
...

On 7/23/09 10:24 AM, Gene Kearns wrote:

We're actually working our way towards the technology that will give
us a negative carbon footprint. The only possible negative consequence
is that the car costs 236 trillion dollars..... 'course 'ya get what
you pay for.....


I'm all for advancement but, seriously, I was not aware there was a
problem serious enough with spark plugs to "incite" a pack of inventors to
make the process of igniting gasoline more complicated and expensive!

The deal with the laser ignition is that it allows the point of combustion
to be located at an optimum spot for fuel economy. Also, the laser doubles
as a built in optical spectrograph. The results of combustion can be
analyzed real-time by the vehicle's computer and minor adjustments in
timing, mixture, etc. can be made.

It's all about squeezing a little more energy out of the fuel, from an
efficiency standpoint.

Eisboch

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...

I've no doubt that there will be an improvement, like Harry,
though.... at what co$t?


At whatever cost the lawmakers in Washington decide, based on fuel
efficiency (mpg) federal requirements.

Eisboch