Radial engine

Radial engine is a modification of the internal combustion engine however it is different from a usual car engine.
The construction

A usual car engine has its cylinders lined up in two rows. And they are called inline engines. Every cylinder is attached to the crankshaft with its own attachment. The crankshaft is long and it is one of disadvantages of the inline engine. The crankshaft is long, and heavy, so it is harder to rotate it and gain RPMs.

The radial engine is constructed differently. Its cylinders are positioned around the crankshaft in a circle. They are placed just like the spokes on a wheel, and pointed away from the crankshaft. This way the crankshaft does not need to be long and heavy. The length of the crankshaft needs to be only of the width of the engine and it makes it very light weight. All the cylinders are attached to it with a master – and – articulating – rod assembly. This aggregate makes it possible for the cylinders to rotate the crankshaft.

One of the most difficult things about this engine is to control its work. The sparks need to be lighted precisely at the moment and at the right cylinder so that the pressure on the crankshaft is constant. It was somewhat difficult to do that but nowadays when we have such sophisticated technology as computers it is easy to do.

There are usually 3-9 cylinders in a radial engine. And the number of cylinders is usually odd. It is easier to maintain constant pressure on the crankshaft in order for it to run smoothly. The spark is given to the every other cylinder and it keeps the engine running.

The history

Radial engines have been used in the aircrafts. These engines are lightweight and they do not need any water cooling systems. This engine has been created long ago in the beginning of the 20-th century. The first where it has been used is aircrafts.
Why it has been used? Well, radial engines are more efficient than usual engines are. They are more lightweight and they are more reliable then usual ones.

Reliability is a very important feature of the engine, especially when you fly over the sea. If your engine shuts down on you, you are going to have too few chances to survive.
Lightweight engines are better used on the carriers. The first aircrafts that were taking off and landing on the carriers were the ones that had radial engines.

The radials nowadays are not used as much because they have been replaced by turbo shaft and turbo-jet engines. They are faster more powerful and more efficient.

There are also some diesel modifications of radial engines created by Nordberg Manufacturing Company. This engine is different from a usual radial engine because every cylinder has an identical rod unlike the usual one that has a big assembly.

Advantages of a radial engine

We are talking about the advantages of the radial engine towards a usual inline engine.

• Lighter weight
• Reliability
• Less vulnerable to battle damage than the inline engine.

Where are radials used today?

Well, there are several fields where they use radials nowadays. First of all some aircraft companies still use them: Vedeneyev Company and others. Here are some examples of aircrafts that have radial engines assembled.

There are also motorcycles that use this kind of engine
Like this one. This is the motorcycle that is powered by 110 hp 7 cylinder radial engine from Rotec Engineering. This bike has been seen on a display at the Legend of the Motorcycle: Concours d’Elegance in California.