How a Radial Engine Works

Bamchucknorris Says:

Sep 11, 2009 - Excuse me sir, but you were the one who suggested that wankel engines are SOMEHOW related to RADIAL engines, in which they absolutely do not. I have had enough of your nonsensical ravings from your lunatic mind!! Just admit that it was a fucking mistake to relate a wankel to a radial an shut your big mouth!

jezztech Says:

Sep 12, 2009 - You r the lunatic! swearing does not make you correct! it is not I that has a big mouth! rather you have a serious atitude problem.YOU Sir r the 1 who is raving! Try googling , rotary engine united states patent 4418663.

kardonman Says:

Sep 15, 2009 - that is wicked! so neat

Nuance5 Says:

Sep 20, 2009 - There's one master rod on the top cylinder. There are six articulating rods, on the other cylinders; they have "knuckle" pins attaching them to the Master rod. A radial engine has the advantage of even air cooling on all cylinders.

pentium6xx Says:

Sep 25, 2009 - its not practical for cars

Powdermonkey09 Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - Plenty of aircraft still use them mainly antique and agricultural aircraft. Never heard of or seen any automotive applications of radial engines though, must have something to do with the propeller on the front.

robertgift Says:

Oct 10, 2009 - What is the counterweight countering?

Hyperion17 Says:

Oct 11, 2009 - The point where all the pistons meet at the crankshaft is offset, which the weight counters. Without it the shaft's center of gravity wouldn't be centered, and the rotation would create unwanted centripetal force, undoubtedly damaging the pistons.

robertgift Says:

Oct 11, 2009 - Thank you. Looks awfully big.

tippete123 Says:

Oct 12, 2009 - aweome dude

MsFarQ2 Says:

Oct 14, 2009 - yeah the Lamborghini Murcielago uses this engine configuration, it makes 30,000 bhp

Quarker99 Says:

Oct 14, 2009 - Hilarious, man. Funny. Haha

RifledBarrel Says:

Oct 14, 2009 - @ 'robertgift'.......the eccentric rotation of the crank...my good fellow

robertgift Says:

Oct 14, 2009 - Now I see. Thanks, Barrel

JohnnyGeologist Says:

Oct 17, 2009 - notice that the crankshaft and pistons are all movingbasically moving around in the same direction together. That's a lot of mass and it would basically make the engine shake around like a dryer with an uneven load, only a lot faster. It would shake uncontrollably. the counter weight is there to counteract that. It's always moving the opposite way the pistons and crankshaft are moving.

AnonymoussourceL0L Says:

Oct 17, 2009 - Isn't science awesome???

paperkiller25 Says:

Oct 23, 2009 - lol this made me spit beer on my keyboard. 30,000 bhp riiiiight!

popplewort333 Says:

Oct 26, 2009 - The next step is an OHC radial engine. Is this possible?

ValExperimenter Says:

Oct 31, 2009 - Of course, just stick a camshaft or two in every head along with a means to drive them. As aircraft radial engines have high stroke to bore ratios and moderate piston speeds they are not valve acceleration constrained meaning that simple pushrod valve gear is adequate.

popplewort333 Says:

Oct 31, 2009 - Can't see the pushrod actuators in this cutaway. Well, neither is the firing order obvious. Should put a 5 mi. long chain from a Ford Triton engine on it. Hah, hah, ...

ValExperimenter Says:

Nov 1, 2009 - The pushrods are actuated by a cam ring at the back running coaxial to the crank at 1/2 crank speed, roller lifters are used. The firing order is 1357246 to spread t the firing strokes over 2 revs.

popplewort333 Says:

Nov 1, 2009 - Simply ingenious Would be impossible to find s similar device in nature.

tonyf686 Says:

Nov 3, 2009 - have they ever used any kind of forced induction, or would that not be practical for this type of engine?

ValExperimenter Says:

Nov 4, 2009 - Forced induction is common with these engines the usual form is a centrifugal supercharger coaxial with the crank on the back and geared up though planetary gears. The diffuser becomes the inlet manifold and the carby feeds into the centre of the impeller.

tonyf686 Says:

Nov 4, 2009 - wow thats kinda cool, i would have thought these were too low rev to benefit alot