An interesting type of pioneer radial engine was the Farcot, in which
the cylinders were arranged in a horizontal plane, with a vertical
crankshaft which operated the air-screw through bevel gearing. This
was an eight-cylinder engine, developing 64 horse-power at 1,200
revolutions per minute. The R.E.P. type, in the early days, was a ‘fan’
engine, but the designer, M. Robert Pelterie, turned from this design
to a seven-cylinder radial, which at 1,100 revolutions per minute gave
95 horse-power. Several makers entered into radial engine development
in the years immediately preceding the War, and in 1914 there were
some twenty-two different sizes and types, ranging from 30 to 600
horse-power, being made, according to report; the actual construction
of the latter size at this time, however, is doubtful.
Probably the best example of radial construction up to the outbreak
of War was the Salmson (Canton-Unne) water-cooled, of which in 1914
six sizes were listed as available. Of these the smallest was a
seven-cylinder 90 horse-power engine, and the largest, rated at 600
horse-power, had eighteen cylinders. These engines, during the War,
were made under licence by the Dudbridge Ironworks in Great Britain.
[Illustration: Section of 200 h.p. Salmson Radial Engine.]
The accompanying diagram shows the construction of the cylinders
in the 200 horse-power size, showing the method of cooling, and the
arrangement of the connecting rods. A patent planetary gear, also shown
in the diagram, gives exactly the same stroke to all the pistons. The
complete engine has fourteen cylinders, of forged steel machined all
over, and so secured to the crank case that any one can be removed
without parting the crank case. The water-jackets are of spun copper,
brazed on to the cylinder, and corrugated so as to admit of free
expansion; the water is circulated by means of a centrifugal pump.
The pistons are of cast-iron, each fitted with three rings, and the
connecting rods are of high-grade steel, machined all over and fitted
with bushes of phosphor bronze; these rods are connected to a central
collar, carried on the crank pin by two ball-bearings. The crankshaft
has a single throw, and is made in two parts to allow the cage for
carrying the big end-pins of the connecting rods to be placed in
position.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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