Ever wonder how a radial engine works?

[MossRoad]

Really neat video and explanation.... :thumbsup:

 

[bcp]

And then there was that really strange one in which the crank was stationary and the cylinders rotated.

Can't remember the name now.

Bruce

 

[RickB]

And then there was that really strange one in which the crank was stationary and the cylinders rotated.

Can't remember the name now.

Bruce

The aviation world calls them rotary engines. Just saw both types up close last week at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Neat museum there BTW.

 

[CalG]

And then there was that really strange one in which the crank was stationary and the cylinders rotated.

Can't remember the name now.

Bruce

Rhone

Le Rhone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[moriboy]

And then there was that really strange one in which the crank was stationary and the cylinders rotated. Can't remember the name now. Bruce

We machined an entire engine called a sleeve valve for a company in the 90's. The cylinder moved up and down and rotated several degrees which opened and closed ports that acted as valves. The pistons operated like a normal engine. It was a 2 cylinder, about 500cc, and made 220 HP.

 

[aircommuter]

As a pilot I have a lot of exposure to those engines and the airplanes that carried them, one of my friends had a Corsair f4-u, powered by the the amazing R2800 twin wasp (Pratt & Whitney) 2000hp in the late thirties up to over 3000hp in the fifties, 46 litre.
The car engine that spun while the crank sat still was the Adams-Farwell. There used to be one at the Harrah's collection in Nevada. No exhaust system of course. The fuel was delivered in tubes and a variable compression system controlled power.
Cal-Fire had several P-W radials in Grummun S2 airplanes for small fire retardent drops, they have since been converted to turbines due to a lack of parts for the radials. The S2 airplanes were submarine fighters from the fifties and sixties, still fighting fires today.

 

[Egon]

My first plane ride was in a DC 6 with four radial engines.

 

[oosik]

I flew in many De Havilland Beavers & Otters when I worked in Alaska. They have very loud radial engines. Great planes for bush work.

 

[turnkey4099]

My first plane ride was in a DC 6 with four radial engines.

DC3 with two. Last ride was a 747 California - Hawaii in the last seat on a 747. Roughest ride I ever had.

Best was alos a 747, Anchorage to Seattle, red-eye special, full crew of stewardi and only 6 passengers.

 

[k0ua]

Loved the presentations, and learned some..Thanks.