The Lauro engine
Lauro Engine: Enrico Bernardi’s four-stroke engine
At the end of the 19th century, Enrico Bernardi contributed to the revolution in the field of engines with the development of the Lauro engine, one of the first four-stroke engines designed to be powered by petrol. In an era when the principles of thermodynamics were known, but practical applications were struggling to take off, Bernardi stood out for intuition and ingenuity. Taking advantage of an idea proposed by Beau de Rochas in 1862, he perfected the four-stroke cycle, exploiting the compression of the air-fuel mixture to increase engine efficiency.
The Lauro engine presented innovative technical characteristics for the time, including:
- Single-cylinder four-stroke with horizontal axis, designed to minimize fuel consumption and improve performance with reduced bulk.
- Two-valve overhead distribution system: a cutting-edge solution that ensured effective management of air and fuel, with an innovative centrifugal speed regulator that guaranteed regular operation.
- Horizontal constant level carburettor: capable of feeding the engine stably, with precise mixing of gasoline.
- Incandescent ignition with platinum mesh, a pioneering device for starting and combustion, which exploited the heat of the air-fuel mixture.
The “Enrico Bernardi” Machine Museum hosts various examples of the Lauro engine, including prototypes and subsequent models, as well as a three-wheeled tricycle – an invention that preceeds modern scooters. Among the most important pieces, visitors can observe the 4/5 HP Lauro model, as well as Bernardi’s original projects and notebooks, also available in digital format, which offer a direct look into the inventor’s technical thinking.
The Enrico Bernardi Machine Museum is the perfect context to discover the Lauro Engine because it is the place where pioneering innovations and ideas take shape, telling a story of creativity and dedication to science and technology.