The 4-cylinder vertical engine was a considerable improvement over the
previous designs. They had obtained a power increase of about 40
percent, with a weight decrease of 10 percent, and now had an engine
whose design was almost standard form for good internal combustion
engines for years to come. In fact, had they split the crankcase at
the crankshaft center line and operated the inlet valves mechanically,
they would have had what could be termed a truly modern design. They
needed more cylinder cooling, both barrel and head, particularly the
latter, and an opened-up induction system for maximum power output,
but this was not what they were yet striving for. They had directly
stated that they were much more interested in reliability than light
weight.
This engine model was the only one of the Wright designs to be
licensed and produced abroad, being manufactured in Germany by the
Neue Automobil-Gesellschaft and by Bariquand et Marré in France. The
latter was much more prominent and their engines were used in several
early European airplanes.
[Illustration: _Figure 11._--4-Cylinder vertical engine assembly,
Bariquand et Marré version. (Drawing courtesy Bristol Siddeley
Engines, Ltd.)]
[Illustration: THE WRIGHT BROTHERS AERO ENGINE]
The French manufacturer, without altering the basic design, made a
number of changes of detail which seem to have greatly annoyed
Wilbur Wright, although some of them could probably be listed as
improvements, based on several features of later standard design. One
consisted of an alteration in the position of the fuel and oil pumps,
the latter being lowered to the level of the sump. The crankcase was
drilled to provide forced-feed lubrication to the connecting rod big
end and crankshaft main bearings. Strengthening ribs were added to the
pistons running from the upper side of the pin bosses to the piston
wall, and the crankcase studs holding down the cylinders were replaced
with bolts having their heads inside the case. The hinged cam follower
was omitted and the pushrod bore directly on the cam through a roller
in its end. The magneto was moved toward the rear of the engine a
considerable distance and an ignition timing control device was
introduced between it and its driving gear. Instead of the magneto
being mounted directly on the special bracket integral with the
crankcase, a wooden board running from front to rear of the engine was
used and this was fastened to the two engine support pads, the magneto
bracket being omitted entirely.
Despite his criticism of the French motor and the quality of its
manufacture, Wilbur was compelled to install one in his own exhibition
airplane during his early French demonstrations at Le Mans after rod
failure had broken his spare crankcase, and much of his subsequent
demonstration flying was made with the French product.
The Eight-Cylinder Racing Engine
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account