Otto Langen atmospheric engine

The first version of the Atmospheric engine used a fluted column design which was the design of Eugen Langen. The Atmospheric engine has its power stroke delivered upward using a rack and pinion to convert the piston's linear motion to rotary motion. The expansion ratio of this engine was much more effective than that of the 1860 Lenoir engine and gave the engine its superior efficiency. This is an engine that burned fuel without first trying to compress the fuel/mixture. The Otto/Langen Atmospheric engine ran at 12% efficiency. This engine produced 0.5 HP at 80 RPM. In competition at the 1867 World's Fair in Paris it easily bested the efficiency of the Lenoir engine and won the Gold Medal, thus paving the way for production and sales which funded additional research. The first versions of the atmospheric engine used a frame to stabilize the rack but this was soon dispensed with as the engine design was simplified. Later engines dispensed with the fluted cylinder as well. The atmospheric engine used a gas flame ignition system and was made in output sizes from 0.25 to 3.0 hp. In 1882, after producing 2,649 engines, the atmospheric engine production was discontinued. This was also the year that Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach left the company

I am very thankful to Mr. Alessandro Ambrosi from Italy, who provided me with drawings of this wonderful machine. Mr. Ambrosi has done a lot of research about the construction of this engine, and he has built a running model. This is my model so far.

Some of the small parts are challenging to make. The housing of the eccentrics is 2x3 mm. The flywheel is about 15 cm in diameter. The gear is in module 0.7

The toothed rack is connected to a gear with roller clutch.

Making of the toothed rack connected to a gear with roller clutch. The roller clutch was invented by Otto and Langen, the two German engineers that constructed this engine.

The eccentric disc is turned with the help of a special lathe chuck that easily can be set out of center. Well using an 4 jaw independent chuck is just as good.