The Mery Explosive Engine Kit Project
The “Mery Explosive Engine” was a very unique design, originating from the machine shop and foundry of Mr. Michael Mery back in 1895. Located in Chico, CA, Mr. Mery patented his design around the main idea that it was best to completely purge the combustion chambers with clean air in between each charge and firing. It was on this premise that he added a 5th and 6th stroke to the newly established 4 stroke design in order to accomplish the task of purging the engine. Another unique feature of Mr. Mery’s design, was to incorporate the “compound” design already existing in most steam engines of the day, whereby both sides of the piston were used to produce power. To do this, Mr. Mery used the steam engine design of using a crosshead between the connecting rod and piston. This allows the shaft to the piston to be sealed using a compressed packing or “Stuffing Box”, creating the ability to have a second combustion chamber on the bottom side of the piston.
Currently, only one known full size original complete and running Mery Explosive Engine exists, and it was that engine that was used to create the machinist kit version used here.
A note about the sound byte: What might sound garbled to you is actually an accurate representation of the exhaust sounds of the engine. Notably missing is the strong ‘pop’ of the exhaust since the valves are operated by a slow moving eccentric rather than the quick lift of a camshaft lobe, and that the valves are opened at the very bottom of the power stroke with very little compression remaining. The other impulses you will hear are created by the rush of air in and out of the exhaust stacks during the 5th and 6th cycles. Hence, each stack will produce 3 distinct sounds for each group of 6 cycles.
