History of the Diesel Engine

OFF-HIGHWAY HEROES Diesel’s engine Fame doesn’t always include fortune. By Chad Elmore

he power of steam drove the industrial the concept was sound. Those revolution throughout Germany during involved were eager to recoup their T the 1800s. While it was an improvement investment, and went to market. over wind or water power, the external Diesel’s compression-ignition combustion engine was largely inefficient, engine caught the attention of many. expensive and better suited for large-scale Adolphus Busch, whose breweries had operations. It made mass production possi- made him a fortune in St. Louis, sent ble while threatening the livelihood of the an engineer to Germany. He returned country’s skilled craftsmen. with a favorable report. The engine Rudolf Diesel, born in 1858, graduated could be used in Busch’s breweries, from technical college as an engineer and and Busch saw a business opportunity set out to relax steam’s grasp on society. as well. He also desired the fame and fortune that With Busch and others developing Generally regarded to be the first diesel engine, Diesel’s third would follow such an important invention. and marketing the engines, they began prototype was shown in 1897. Although it proved Diesel’s theories, the engine was far from marketable at this point. Diesel believed he had a solution in a finding their way into factories. Hindsight has always been 20-20. compression-ignition engine that could Unfortunately, they were often sold at run on a variety of low-priced fuels (Diesel a loss and were trouble-prone once The fact that he was engaged in many first tried coal dust). In 1892, Diesel installed. The engine’s potential remained battles to protect his patents and his name emphasized his engine’s relatively small clear in spite of the problems. In 1899 a sub- wasn’t helping. stature and the fact that it could make marine builder noted that the two steam By fall 1898, the engineer was on the artisans competitive regardless of where engines he wanted to use in his craft would verge of collapse and was unable to work they worked. literally cook the human crew, and looked on the engine for several months. Fearing “In this way a decentralization of craft into using a diesel engine. After some he would not survive, Diesel helped start industry is possible,” Diesel wrote (quoted research the dangers associated with diesel a company to control the patents. Diesel in Donald E. Thomas’ book Diesel: engines were considered too great. There was on its board until 1906. Technology and Society during the German was much work left to be done on the Diesel’s greatest accomplishment was Industrial Revolution), “instead of its accu- engine. It would be several years before behind him. It was up to engineers at man- mulation and concentration in large cities. the internal combustion process would be ufacturers such as MAN (formed in 1908 Such a process would involve political, fully understood. through the merger of Maschinenfabrik economic, and hygienic advantages.” Interest also came from Alexander Augsburg and Maschinenfabrik Nurnberg) Between 1883 and 1889 he worked on an Winton, a Cleveland-based entrepreneur to drive the diesel engine to the next level. ammonia vapor engine. While this proved who made his fortune in bicycles and With ongoing development work the engine unsatisfactory, Diesel was on the path to the automobiles. Winton liked the engine for was not only improving but the number of engine that would carry his name. marine applications. In 1913, Winton its applications were found to be far greater Years later, Rudolf Diesel called the built what has been considered the first than a factory powerplant: rail, farm, even invention process a happy time. For him, all-American diesel engine. During World cars and trucks were possibilities. this was the early 1890s. “One must desire War II engines built by Winton’s firm (by Rudolf Diesel found himself listed a lot in order to reach anything . . . inven- then owned by General Motors) propelled among the greatest inventors of the time, tion means guiding a correct idea,” he many allied submarines and other craft. but this did not translate into great wealth. wrote, “which has been sifted out from a Busch was present in the war effort as well, He was on the verge of bankruptcy and large group of erroneous ideas, through as Busch-Sulzer engines were found in ves- fighting depression. In 1913, he boarded a numerous failures and compromises to sels such as minesweepers and tugboats. cross-channel steamer to speak at a meet- practical success. For that reason, every When Diesel’s 1897 engine was unveiled ing of the Royal Automobile Club in inventor must be an optimist.” to the world, he was heralded as a successful London. That night, somewhere in the Diesel worked on the theory of his inventor and became the center of an inter- North Sea, the inventor slipped overboard compression engine during 1890-’92. national licensing and patent network. His and was never heard from again. Even as he was studying the concept and hard work was paying off — the engine’s While Diesel’s business acumen has attempting to complete a working model, potential made him a wealthy man. been questioned, his failure is perhaps more Diesel was peddling licenses to manufac- But disaster had also walked through indicative of the changing times. As Thomas turers throughout Europe. Among the the open door, and the decline of Diesel’s says in his 1987 book, Diesel’s story “points first to sign were German steam engine fortune came almost as fast as its summit. up the often difficult transition from devel- manufacturers Maschinenfabrik Augsburg Diesel quickly sold patent rights and oped invention to marketable product as and Essen-based manufacturer Friedrich licenses in order to get the most out of his technology become more complex.” Krupp. Diesel, Krupp and Augsburg engine, but never sought the backing he Although Diesel could never have lived soon collaborated on the construction of needed to perfect his creation on his own. to see it, the fact that the diesel engine an engine. Customers returned their engines and dominates an industry that helps skilled In 1897 Diesel’s third engine was oper- manufacturers cancelled their licenses. operators make a living in every region of ating in the Augsburg plant, and it proved Diesel’s health had suffered for years. the world would surely make him proud.

Reprinted with permission from OEM Off-Highway, March 2004