As the Lancaster Spark plugs thread was starting to go well off-topic on this subject, I thought those interested in six cylinder radial aero engines might be interested in reseaching some of these engines.
Of the engines listed below (and I included some 6 cyl rotary engines-as somewhat related) the only engine that I KNOW has all the six cyylinders on the same plane (as opposed to being a staggered pair of three) is the American built Smith, of WWI vintage.
Air-cooled six cyl. radials:
A.B.C; Albatros; Aztatl; Brownback; Buchet; Curtiss; Dodge; F.I.M.A.; Hawk; Imblum; Potez; Robinson; Smith; Weathers.
The American Smith had all six cylinders in the same plane, with slipper-type connecting rods. They built several versions of the six cyl. during WWI. It was the first American air-cooled radial engine design.
Two-Cycle Air-cooled 6 cyl radials:
Laviator; Murray; Schubert;
Two-Cycle Liquid cooled 6 cyl. radials:
Centrun; Laviator; Weger
6 cyl. rotary:
Brooke; Novus
6 cyl two-cycle rotary:
International; Lamplough; Laviator
Odd 6 cyl radial
French Edelweiss (two rods per cyl.) Exhibited at 1913 Paris Air Salon 75hp
By: Creaking Door - 5th July 2007 at 23:56
I have it in paper form but it can be accessed on the ‘net by the following link
Very interesting. Many thanks for that.
By: RPSmith - 5th July 2007 at 23:38
An excellent 100% survival rate!
What is the best way to get hold of this BAPC list of UK preserved aero engines?
I have it in paper form but it can be accessed on the ‘net by the following link
http://www.crossandcockade.com/files/UK%20ENGINES.doc
Roger Smith.
By: barnstormer - 5th July 2007 at 22:30
CD;
WOW! 2700 & 5400HP!!
No, I afraid this was a more modest pre WWII design. The papers in the folder I got from a K-H-D emplyee and historian indicate 160 PS. (I question this) @ 2800 RPM and stated that max rpm “in a nose dive” could go to 3500 rpm. It says the engine had run many times with full power, on the test bed and only prototypes were built. Says the development was nearly completed when set aside for the war projects. You will remember my description that I could pick it up and carry this engine (in my Younger days!). Okay I could not carry it too far.
By: Creaking Door - 5th July 2007 at 21:58
Bristol Hydra
According to the BAPC list of UK preserved aero engines two survive – listed as at Hendon and RRHT Bristol.
An excellent 100% survival rate!
What is the best way to get hold of this BAPC list of UK preserved aero engines?
By: Creaking Door - 5th July 2007 at 21:54
DZ700/DZ710/DZ720 Pistons
The DZ700…..bore is 80mm and the stroke is 100mm. It is a 4 litre engine.
Thanks for those drawings – exactly what I was looking for.
So the bore of the DZ700 was only 80mm and the pistons look like…..well…..diesel pistons.
I thought possibly the bore of the DZ700 may be the same as the DZ710 16-cylinder boxer engine, that is, 160mm (by 160mm stroke making this an engine of over 51 litres giving 2700 horsepower).
The DZ720 was of course two DZ710 combined in H-configuration producing 5400 horsepower (in 1944)!
The DZ710 and DZ720 were two-stroke diesels also so I’m assuming the pistons were of broadly similar (diesel) design but much bigger.
The reason I ask was that I’ve just acquired a lightweight German piston with a bore of 160mm and wondered if there was a (very slim) chance it could be from a DZ700/DZ710/DZ720 but I guess not.
By: RPSmith - 5th July 2007 at 18:54
There seems to be a photo of a preserved Bristol Hydra in the link below…
…along with many photos of an exquisite model one.
Not sure where the Hydra is (only two were ever built) but it is most probably in either the Bristol Industrial Museum or the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust collections.
According to the BAPC list of UK preserved aero engines two survive – listed as at Hendon and RRHT Bristol.
Roger Smith.
By: barnstormer - 5th July 2007 at 17:33
Hello CD;
The DZ700 it is. Here is a general cutaway and also a section showing the (sideview/cross-section of) piston. I can take higher res/ more clear scan. but these are low-res for the forum posting. You can scale the piston size, knowing that the bore is 80mm and the stroke is 100mm. It is a 4 litre engine. Design/development was set aside by outbreak of WWII.
By: Creaking Door - 5th July 2007 at 10:13
This is a circa 1938 8 cyl KHD Diesel German radial aero engine built by the Klochner-Humboldt-Deutz firm-evolved from the German firm that built the earliest engines (Otto).
We obtained it in 1968 and it came with numerous factory test reports and dwgs.
So that would make this a DZ700?
I don’t suppose you have any drawings (or photos) of the pistons from this engine or the DZ710 or the DZ720 do you?
By: Creaking Door - 22nd June 2007 at 17:00
The Bristol Hydra was a 16-cylinder radial, never saw production, but I’m pretty sure there’s a survivor at Filton – can anyone confirm?
There seems to be a photo of a preserved Bristol Hydra in the link below…
…along with many photos of an exquisite model one.
Not sure where the Hydra is (only two were ever built) but it is most probably in either the Bristol Industrial Museum or the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust collections.
By: RPSmith - 22nd June 2007 at 15:47
*Behind the propeller hub, there is a knock off spinner/collar with two ears. (like on an old Jaguar sports car wire wheel) You could give it a shot with a hammer and change props in seconds!
Great idea for a racing car wheel but perhaps not so for a propellor fixing. What might happen if the engine backfired……?
Roger Smith.
By: Scouse - 22nd June 2007 at 09:40
The Bristol Hydra was a 16-cylinder radial, ie two rows of eight. Never saw production, but I’m pretty sure there’s a survivor at Filton – can anyone confirm?
William
By: barnstormer - 21st June 2007 at 22:22
EIGHT! cyl radial
As rare as those engines are, this EIGHT cyl radial is even more rare..
This is a circa 1938 8 cyl KHD Diesel German radial aero engine built by the Klochner-Humboldt-Deutz firm-evolved from the German firm that built the earliest engines (Otto). Although it is a diesel, it is mostly aluminium and one person can carry it, without help. (I DID, on numerous occassions) It had been brought back to USA after WWII by an American military officer. We obtained it in 1968 and it came with numerous factory test reports and dwgs. If I recall correctly, it was 95 -120hp ?
*Behind the propeller hub, there is a knock off spinner/collar with two ears. (like on an old Jaguar sports car wire wheel) You could give it a shot with a hammer and change props in seconds!
By: barnstormer - 21st June 2007 at 22:13
six cyl radial photos
Here are photos from our old aero engine collection: (now gone to museums)
1911 6 cyl Anzani radial (note the flat case with exteranl ribs)60hp
1928 6 cyl Anzani radial (They only had dual magnetos for the last few years) 70/80hp
1929 Brownback Tiger 6 cyl radial-made in Pennsylvania USA by the American distributor for Anzani engines 90hp
By: Kenbo - 20th June 2007 at 23:55
there’s a very nice radial 6cyl ANANZI at cosford… i’ll try to dig out a picture:)
By: Creaking Door - 19th June 2007 at 00:42
Six-Cylinder Radials
Thanks for taking the trouble to post that information.
A single-row radial must be about the only way that it is possible to produce an unbalanced six-cylinder engine. Straight-six and opposed-six are perfect, V-6 (and V-12) are near perfect.
Of the engines listed…the only engine that I KNOW has all the six cylinders on the same plane (as opposed to being a staggered pair of three) is the American built Smith, of WWI vintage.
It was the first American air-cooled radial engine design.
Not a very auspicious start for the American radial aero-engine industry…
…but America did seem to produce a few half decent engines in the end! 😉
Sign In
June 7, 2007 at 9:16 pm