Wikipedia

Renault 12F

(Redirected from Renault 12Fa)

The Renault 12F is a family of liquid-cooled 22 L (1,300 cu in) 50 deg V12 aircraft engines that saw widespread use during WW1 and the 1920s.[1]

Renault 12F
Renault 12Fe engine on display at the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków
Type Water-cooled V12 aero engine
National origin France
Manufacturer Renault
Wolseley Motors
First run Late 1915
Major applications Breguet 14
Number built 12Fe: >7,000
Others: ~600
Variants Renault 12Fe

Design and development edit

Engines in the series are V12s with a 50 degree angle between two rows of cylinders each of which has a single overhead camshafts. The crankshaft is carried on four plain bearings with master-and-slave connecting rods allowing corresponding cylinders in each row to be arranged directly opposite each other. Cylinders have a bore of 125 mm (4.92 in), a stroke of 150 mm (5.91 in) and are built in pairs with water circulated in welded liners.[2][3]

Engines in the series have ignition systems with 100% redundancy. Two spark plugs per cylinder and four magnetos (two per cylinder bank).[4][5]

The early 12F engines were often supplied with an aluminium six-cylinder radial pneumatic starter motor which was mounted on the back of the engine.[4][6] The pneumatic motor allowed the engine to be restarted mid-flight or on the ground without assistance from ground crew. The starter motor was fed from a pressurised vessel with enough air for ten starts.[4] The device was not included in later models.[2][5][6]

In 1916 the 220 hp (12Fa) model used cast iron pistons. The engines were progressively improved with the introduction of aluminum pistons allowing for increased power output and reduced weight.[2]

In 1917, the 12Fe model was homologated with a nominal rating of 300 hp (224 kW) (later increased to 320 hp (239 kW)).[1] The 12Fe became the standard powerplant for the Breguet 14[7] and accounted for the vast majority of engines built from the series.[1]

12F series engines were exported to the United States[7] and produced under license in both Russia[8] and the United Kingdom.[9]

Variants edit

Publications often refer to the 12Fe as the Renault 300 hp with earlier engines in the series referred to as the Renault 220 hp.[6] Post WW1 the 12Fe engine was marketed as the 300 CV / hp (cheval-vapeur / horsepower).[10] There was also a 18 L (1,098 cu in) 220 hp (164 kW) model (today known as the 12Eb) which existed at the same time (c.1916) as the 22 L (1,343 cu in) 220 hp (164 kW) model.[1]

12Fa
(1916) Rating of 220 hp (164 kW) at 1300 rpm.[1][7] Used on the Breguet 14s and Henry Farman HF.35 prototypes.[1]
12Fb
(1916) Rating of 250 or 265 hp. Equipped the Paul Schmitt P.S.7.[1]
12Fc
Used on early model Bréguet 14s. 12Fcx (250 hp (186 kW) at 1500 rpm) and 12Fcy (280 hp (209 kW) at 1600 rpm) sub-variants. In US service 12Fc engines were all rated at 300 hp (224 kW).[7]
12Fe
Main article: Renault 12Fe
Rated for 300 hp (224 kW) at 1600 rpm. Main production variant in the series and the standard power-plant in the Breguet 14 from early in 1918 onwards.[7] The names 12Fe and 300 CV / hp (cheval-vapeur / horsepower) are used interchangeably in post war technical documentation.[11] Some of these engines were fitted with early experimental Rateau turbochargers.[12]
12Ff
Sometimes used to describe a small number of engines produced with increased bore (128 mm) and stroke (160 mm). Rated for 350 hp (261 kW) at 1,600 rpm. These engines were fitted to a few late production Breguet 14s.[12]

Applications edit

Specifications (12Fc) edit

Data from Angle,[3]

General characteristics

  • Type: Water–cooled, upright, 50-degree, V-12 piston engine
  • Bore: 125 mm (4.92 in)
  • Stroke: 150 mm (5.91 in)
  • Displacement: 22.08 L (1,347 cu in)
  • Dry weight: 379 kg (836 lb)

Components

  • Valvetrain: SOHC (single overhead camshafts). Two valves per cylinder.
  • Fuel system: Two Zenith duplex carburetors. Heated by water jacket.
  • Fuel type: Gasoline
  • Oil system: Wet sump. 2 Gear pumps. 1 pump circulates oil other transfers oil from tank to sump.
  • Cooling system: Water-cooled. Two centrifugal pumps.
  • Reduction gear: None. Direct drive.
  • Rotation: Counterclockwise when looking end on at the propeller hub

Performance

See also edit

Comparable engines

Related lists

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Hartmann, Gerard (2005). "Les moteurs d'aviation Renault" [Renault aviation engines] (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Conferences sur les moteurs d'aviation 300 - 450 - 550 hp". Handout given to delegates at Renault factories (Annex A N.E. 21 & N.E. 21A). Renault. December 1921 – via Safran.
  3. ^ a b Angle, Glenn D. (1921). Airplane Engine Encyclopedia. Dayton, Ohio, USA: The Otterbein Press. pp. 417–418.
  4. ^ a b c "Moteur d'aviation 220 chevaux" [Engine manual for 22L 220 hp model]. Renault.
  5. ^ a b "Moteur d'aviation 300 chevaux" [Engine manual for the 22L 300 hp engine]. Renault – via Safran.
  6. ^ a b c Les Moteurs D'Aviation Renault. Drager – via Safran.
  7. ^ a b c d e Toelle, Alan D (2003). "Motors and Cowlings". Breguet 14. Albatros Productions Limited (Windsock Datafile Special). pp. 52–53. ISBN 1902207610.
  8. ^ "Klimov United Engine Corporation. Jsc klimov". Kupichic.ru. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  9. ^ Lumsden, Alec (2002). British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Airlife Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1853102946.
  10. ^ Hatry, Gilbert (1984). Renault et l'aviation [Renault and aviation] (in French). Editions JCM. pp. 32–41 – via Safran.
  11. ^ Type 14 A2. Model 1921 (PDF). Notice technique de l'avion Breguet (Report). Ministere de la guerre. 24 April 1922.
  12. ^ a b Bruce, J.M; Noel, Jean (1967). The Breguet 14. 157. United Kingdom: Profile Publications. ASIN B0007JXD5I.

External links edit

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Renault_12F&oldid=1215854583"