Popular Post kscarbel Posted July 31, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted July 31, 2013 International introduced the 300 horsepower “TurboStar” gas-turbine prototype in 1968. The B-Series Solar gas turbine engine utilized in this test-bed was built by International’s Solar* subsidiary in San Diego, California (Solar is now a Caterpillar subsidiary). Many of these pictures were taken at International’s Phoenix, Arizona proving grounds.Note that the TurboStar’s cab is “raised”, like the TranStar II launched many years later in mid-1974.From 1969 on, there is little mention of the project. However, International applied for the “TurboStar” trademark in 1973 and registered it in 1974.*Solar Aircraft Company became a subsidiary of International Harvester in 1960, and reorganized to become an International division in 1963. In 1973, Solar exited the aerospace business to focus on industrial turbines. Caterpillar purchased Solar Turbines from International in 1981. 1 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kscarbel Posted July 31, 2013 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 31, 2013 Commercial Motor / February 2, 1968Another turbine on trial for trucksA prototype gas-turbine power unit for commercial truck use has been unveiled by the International Harvester Co. of America. The unit is installed in an International CO-4000 6x4 tractor designated the “Turbostar”, and shown as part of a "triple-bottom" combination—an artic hauling two further semi-trailers converted to drawbar units with dollies.The gas turbine is being developed by the IH Solar Division of San Diego, but road tests have been conducted by the truck division which has developed compatible chassis and transmission components. It is expected that the experimental turbine—named the Solar B—would replace diesel engines for appropriate applications in the range above 300 bhp.Development of the International Harvester gas turbine began 13 years ago— the Solar Division was formed from Solar Aircraft Co. which International took over in 1960 and which continued work started by International in 1954. At 1,585 pounds, the gas turbine in the Turbostar weighs about half as much as a comparable diesel. The basic engine is 50in. long, 41in. high and 36in. wide—compact enough to fit under short-dimension tilt cabs. Turbine speed is 34,000 rpm, this being geared down to 4,000 rpm at the output shaft.Among the important features claimed for the two-shaft, free-power-turbine engine is its stationary heat exchanger. This is of the recuperator type which takes waste heat from the exhaust to improve fuel economy especially at part-load operation. IH selected the stationary recuperator—rather than a rotary regenerator—"because it is inherently rugged, has low maintenance and is highly durable". Work on fabricating stainless steel parts (such as honeycomb structures) solved the problem of high efficiency in a compact stationary heat exchanger and it is said to be the first practical design for a stationary heat exchanger integral with the turbine.Other features of the power unit include variable-geometry nozzles which are reported to have brought fuel economy of the turbine much closer to that of a diesel.IH considers that the time is approaching when fuel economy of a gas turbine added to its lighter weight, smaller size, lower maintenance and higher reliability will "make it a tough competitor for the diesel in long-haul applications". The company is confident that "gas-turbine truck engines will be commercially feasible in the early 1970s".No specific cost estimate for the experimental engine has been revealed by IH but it is pointed out that it requires only a five-speed transmission instead of the 10-speed needed with a comparable diesel. This, plus the absence of radiator and attendant cooling system contributes to lower initial cost of a turbine-driven truck.With the ability to vary the speed of the power turbine, the unit has built-in retarder characteristics and low inertia of the rotating parts provides for good acceleration. 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-196970 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackniac Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Another nice part of history of truck making, very interesting.thank you for sharing Quote Makniac , collector and customizer of die-cast model in 1/50th scale Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-196998 Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastractorsvc Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Thanks, this went good with my morning coffee Quote Robert"I reject your reality and substitute my own." Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-197004 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/140354-international-turbostar-1968-gas-turbine-prototype/ Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-460344 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miami Cossack Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 What year did GM do their turbine Astro? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-460512 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 On 9/9/2020 at 3:23 PM, Miami Cossack said: What year did GM do their turbine Astro? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-580285 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseliner64 Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 Great history in this thred..The International Turbostar looked very well in those pictures.I never followed the gas turbine story much.The only Europian truck I ever heard doing gas turbine research was Leyland who built 6 units.One has been restored to full working order.There may have been others working on turbines in Europe but Iv never knew of any but Leyland... Paul 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-580293 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 1 hour ago, cruiseliner64 said: Great history in this thred..The International Turbostar looked very well in those pictures.I never followed the gas turbine story much.The only Europian truck I ever heard doing gas turbine research was Leyland who built 6 units.One has been restored to full working order.There may have been others working on turbines in Europe but Iv never knew of any but Leyland... Paul https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/36024-the-autocar-gas-turbine-coe/#comment-248956 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31891-the-gas-turbine-general-motors-bison-iii/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31898-the-gas-turbine-chevrolet-turbo-titan-iii/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32110-where-was-cummins-during-the-gas-turbine-truck-race/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32038-fords-futuristic-gas-turbine-big-red/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32060-the-ford-w-1000-gas-turbine/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31978-freightliners-turboliners/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31951-the-gmc-astro-95-and-astro-ss-gas-turbine-tractors/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32014-the-gt-601-gas-turbine-powered-macks/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31883-paul-berliet-and-his-t100s/ . 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-580294 Share on other sites More sharing options...
h67st Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 When I was a kid, my dad got Commercial Carrier Journal magazine. I still have a floppy vinyl record that was stapled in there one month, called "Sounds of the turbine powered Peterbilt". Too bad the concept never worked out. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-580308 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mrsmackpaul Posted August 6 Popular Post Share Posted August 6 8 hours ago, cruiseliner64 said: Great history in this thred..The International Turbostar looked very well in those pictures.I never followed the gas turbine story much.The only Europian truck I ever heard doing gas turbine research was Leyland who built 6 units.One has been restored to full working order.There may have been others working on turbines in Europe but Iv never knew of any but Leyland... Paul Leylands was the most successful of all the turbine trucks built The Leyland units were the closest to get into full production and were out in private fleets They must of been pretty safe as they were as far as I know, pulling fuel tankers From the Leyland society page In 1967 Leyland acquired Rover who had invested in research into gas turbine engines. Its application in heavy commercial vehicles followed with the construction of a small number of development vehicles and these three in the livery of the three major oil companies at the time. In 1971 and 1972 they could be seen regularly leaving Spurrier Works in Leyland for extensive testing on the M6 and surrounding roads, their distinctive whistling sound warning you of their approach. The cyclical stresses on their turbines in automotive applications and other factors meant the project was not developed commercially. Subsequent advances in materials technology would make a similar project more durable today but the market seems to be moving inexorably towards battery power, leaving no demand for this innovative form of motive power. Paul 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-580311 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark T Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 So that's where the idea for big stacks came from.....who'd have guessed ? Be interesting to see detail of how they went from turbine to drive axle. Don't those turn at a high RPM ? 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-580315 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseliner64 Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 1 hour ago, Mark T said: So that's where the idea for big stacks came from.....who'd have guessed ? Be interesting to see detail of how they went from turbine to drive axle. Don't those turn at a high RPM ? Great question Mark T....Id be interested to know what transmission is/was used...Think Iv read somewhere the big stacks were to get rid of excessive heat....so much heat they had to point upwards!!! Paul 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-580318 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseliner64 Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 The restored Leyland gas turbine is the yellow one in the picture on Paul's post.The 6 units were placed with oil companys for testing.The rumour was they thought diesel was doomed so the oil companys bought the units and patents and scrapped the idea.My own opinion is thats just rumour...... Paul 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-580319 Share on other sites More sharing options...
h67st Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 I know one problem they had with the turbines, they intake a huge amount of air and they couldn't figure out how to filter all the dirt before it went into the engine. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/#findComment-580368 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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