Quote:
Originally Posted by Dartskipper
Has anybody tried to understand how a rotary engine, such as were used in Sopwith Camels, actually works? That is definitely weird machinery! I have a book with an exploded diagram of a rotary engine and it seems to me to be as easy to understand as some of the popular advanced Soduko puzzles in the morning paper.
All I can extract from the description is that the crankshaft is fixed and the crankcase complete with cylinders rotates around it. I got lost trying to figure out how fuel is delivered to the combustion chambers.
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The crankshaft is hollow, feeding into the cranckcase. Induction pipes lead from the 'case to the inlet valves. Castor oil was the lubricant, metered into the hollow shaft. This kept the pilots very regular as it was a total loss system.
Now, if you really want to hurt your brain,
http://www.idflieg.com/siemens_shiii.htm
The cylinders rotate one way, the prop the other. Germans....