ˈcarburettor, -etter
[f. prec. v. + -or, -er.]
a. That which carburets; spec. an apparatus for charging hydrogen, coal-gas, or atmospheric air, with carbon, by passing it through or over a liquid hydrocarbon, so as to add illuminating power.
| 1866 Morning Star 21 Sept. 5/3 A dull, sluggish gas-flame is brightened to an extent almost marvellous when a carburettor is placed in the course of the pipe supplying it. 1882 Echo 20 Jan. 1/5 The hydrogen is passed through carburetters, and is stored in holders. |
b. (Also formerly carburator.) In petrol engines, the apparatus for impregnating air with fine particles of fuel and thus preparing the explosive mixture for the cylinders.
| 1896 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 27 Nov. 22/1 Where a vaporiser is employed, or a carburettor. 1898 tr. L. Lockert's Petroleum Motor-cars 145 The carburator, in which the petroleum essence..is vaporized. 1900 Motor-Car World Aug. 254 Supplemental exhaust tube for heating carburettor tank. 1902 A. C. Harmsworth Motors & Motor-Driving 166 Too rich a mixture may be caused by the presence of too much petrol in the carburator. 1912 Motor Man. 12 To obtain an explosive mixture of paraffin and air a special form of carburetter is required. 1959 [see carburation]. |