school me on radial engines
This moving stick picture will explain it better than words.
The coolest part is that the crankshaft is stationary, attached to the plane.
The funniest part is that it doesn't have an oil pan, after the oil is done it's lubricating, it just sprays into the atmosphere.
http://www.animatedengines.com/gnome.shtml
The coolest part is that the crankshaft is stationary, attached to the plane.
The funniest part is that it doesn't have an oil pan, after the oil is done it's lubricating, it just sprays into the atmosphere.
http://www.animatedengines.com/gnome.shtml
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From: Upstate NY
Radials generally have odd numbers of cylinders and some have multiple banks. Here's apicture of a 28 cyl radial(4 banks of 7 cylinders) from a B-36 (one of 6 on the aircraft in addition to 4 jets. "Six turnin', four burnin'" was the tag line.)
Each cylinder has two spark plugs, so a complete spark plug change is 28 x 2 x 6 or 336 plugs or 42 LS V8s!
The most powerful 4360 had one supercharger and a pair of turbochargers. It made 4300 hp from it's 4360 or so cubic inches. That about the same power/cubic inch as a 350 hp 5.7L LS1.
damn I'd love to see that cut-away in person! Thanks for the info Mr Buar! how about starting it? can you explain that? doesn't it fire off sot gun rounds or some thing?
and was that the 'merlin' that you posted?
and was that the 'merlin' that you posted?
considering it made that power at probably about 2500 rpm, that pretty awesome. Making 4300 hp at 2500 gives you a tq figure of over 9000 lb/ft at 2500rpm. Now that is pretty impressive!!
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Google and Wiki radials and there is loads of info.
By the way the second post, where the cylinders move not the crank, is actually a rotoary engine. slightly diferent.
other intresting enignes are the Naiper Saber (24 cylinder H24), RR Griffin and merlin (as used in the P51 and spitfire), Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone (18 cylinder radial (2 stacks of 9 cylinders) and other 14 and 18 cylinder radials.
Im my eyes this really was the eara of the piston engine! the guys back then had some VERY intresting ideas (like sleave valves, sodium cooled exhaust valves, 4 valves per cylinder, direct fuel injection, N2O......). Obviously the jet engine (inc. Turbo props/shafts) took over thanks to their much better reilability (esp. at higher power ratings) and lower weights.
Chris.
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The fixed-crank/moving cylinders Gnome was the exception. Virtually all other rotary piston engines fix the cylinders and rotate the crank in a conventional manner. The prop is attached to the nose of the crank.
Radials generally have odd numbers of cylinders and some have multiple banks. Here's apicture of a 28 cyl radial(4 banks of 7 cylinders) from a B-36 (one of 6 on the aircraft in addition to 4 jets. "Six turnin', four burnin'" was the tag line.)
Each cylinder has two spark plugs, so a complete spark plug change is 28 x 2 x 6 or 336 plugs or 42 LS V8s!
The most powerful 4360 had one supercharger and a pair of turbochargers. It made 4300 hp from it's 4360 or so cubic inches. That about the same power/cubic inch as a 350 hp 5.7L LS1.
Radials generally have odd numbers of cylinders and some have multiple banks. Here's apicture of a 28 cyl radial(4 banks of 7 cylinders) from a B-36 (one of 6 on the aircraft in addition to 4 jets. "Six turnin', four burnin'" was the tag line.)
Each cylinder has two spark plugs, so a complete spark plug change is 28 x 2 x 6 or 336 plugs or 42 LS V8s!
The most powerful 4360 had one supercharger and a pair of turbochargers. It made 4300 hp from it's 4360 or so cubic inches. That about the same power/cubic inch as a 350 hp 5.7L LS1.
Chris.
Yeah, there's no sound like a radial engine thumpidy thump at flight idle!!. The most popular one out there is the Wasp Jr., or the R985, Its a nine cylinder 450hp Pratt that has two magnetos, one fires the odd cylinders, the other fires the even ones.Very easy to work on, but succeptable to liquid lock.Thats why you'll see the mechanics pull the engine through before start up.Yankee engineering at its finest!!.
Last edited by 87gnx; May 24, 2011 at 09:44 AM. Reason: wording
The fixed-crank/moving cylinders Gnome was the exception. Virtually all other rotary piston engines fix the cylinders and rotate the crank in a conventional manner. The prop is attached to the nose of the crank.
Radials generally have odd numbers of cylinders and some have multiple banks. Here's apicture of a 28 cyl radial(4 banks of 7 cylinders) from a B-36 (one of 6 on the aircraft in addition to 4 jets. "Six turnin', four burnin'" was the tag line.)
Each cylinder has two spark plugs, so a complete spark plug change is 28 x 2 x 6 or 336 plugs or 42 LS V8s!
The most powerful 4360 had one supercharger and a pair of turbochargers. It made 4300 hp from it's 4360 or so cubic inches. That about the same power/cubic inch as a 350 hp 5.7L LS1.
Radials generally have odd numbers of cylinders and some have multiple banks. Here's apicture of a 28 cyl radial(4 banks of 7 cylinders) from a B-36 (one of 6 on the aircraft in addition to 4 jets. "Six turnin', four burnin'" was the tag line.)
Each cylinder has two spark plugs, so a complete spark plug change is 28 x 2 x 6 or 336 plugs or 42 LS V8s!
The most powerful 4360 had one supercharger and a pair of turbochargers. It made 4300 hp from it's 4360 or so cubic inches. That about the same power/cubic inch as a 350 hp 5.7L LS1.
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From: Upstate NY
Think early 'Art Arfons Green Monsters' and an upgraded TopFuel clutch.
Sounds like a project Jay Leno might find interesting, especially for the street.
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A guys in the UK has fitted a RR merlin engine (its not a merlin its the N/A version used in WW2 British tanks but i cant remember the name) in to a Rover SD1. Its still got a bonnet and even a windshield. he rad a 3:1 stepper gearset to bring the rpm range up a bit and then he used a Jag auto box.
Chris.
Chris.
A guys in the UK has fitted a RR merlin engine (its not a merlin its the N/A version used in WW2 British tanks but i cant remember the name) in to a Rover SD1. Its still got a bonnet and even a windshield. he rad a 3:1 stepper gearset to bring the rpm range up a bit and then he used a Jag auto box.
Chris.
Chris.
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Try googling 27ltr Rover SD1.
Do any of you guys know why all aircooled radials have an odd number of cylinders per row? I know the UK and the germans favoured 7 cylinders and the US went for 9,but why not 8?
One very intresting radial engines that was water cooled was the Jumo 222.
thanks,
Chris.
Do any of you guys know why all aircooled radials have an odd number of cylinders per row? I know the UK and the germans favoured 7 cylinders and the US went for 9,but why not 8?
One very intresting radial engines that was water cooled was the Jumo 222.
thanks,
Chris.
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From: So.Cal.
e.g. compare with lug nut tightening sequence if you have 5 lugs vs 6 lugs;
symmetrical firing order avoids imbalance which may cause harmonics.
the R2800 double wasp is the meanest ever shoved into an airframe...
some were turbo ..some were water methenol injected. nitrous experiments were also tried.
lil info here:
http://www.aviation-history.com/engines/pr-2800.htm
some were turbo ..some were water methenol injected. nitrous experiments were also tried.
lil info here:
http://www.aviation-history.com/engines/pr-2800.htm
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Posts: 2,866
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the R2800 double wasp is the meanest ever shoved into an airframe...
some were turbo ..some were water methenol injected. nitrous experiments were also tried.
lil info here:
http://www.aviation-history.com/engines/pr-2800.htm
some were turbo ..some were water methenol injected. nitrous experiments were also tried.
lil info here:
http://www.aviation-history.com/engines/pr-2800.htm
Chris.