The Lorraine 12F Courlis was a W-12 (broad arrow) aero engine introduced in France in 1929. It was not widely used.

12F Courlis
Type Water-cooled W-12 piston engine
National origin France
Manufacturer Lorraine-Dietrich
First run Homologated 21 August 1929

Design and development

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In 1926 Lorraine introduced a series of V-12 and W-12 engines with steel cylinders screwed into aluminium alloy engine blocks. There were two W-12s which shared the name Courlis (Curlew), the first of them was the 12E which provided 340 kW (450 hp) from a swept volume of 24.4 L (1,490 cu in). This was followed by the larger 12F, giving 450 kW (600 hp) from 31.7 L (1,930 cu in).[1][2]

The 12F was officially homologated on 21 August 1929[2] and displayed at the 1930 Paris Salon.[3] Unlike the 12E, which powered many different aircraft types, the 12F was not so widely used.

Variants

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Lorraine 12Fa
Lorraine 12Fb
Lorraine 12Fd

Applications

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Specifications (12Fa)

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Data from L'Aérophile January 1930[2]

General characteristics

  • Type: Water-cooled W-12 four-stroke engine
  • Bore: 145 mm (5.7 in)
  • Stroke: 160 mm (6.3 in)
  • Displacement: 31.7 L (1,930 cu in)
  • Length: 1.656 m (5 ft 5.2 in)
  • Width: 1.140 m (3 ft 8.9 in)
  • Height: 1.062 m (3 ft 5.8 in)
  • Dry weight: 430 kg (950 lb) without propeller, with Viet starter

Components

  • Valvetrain: 4 valves/cylinder, 3 overhead camshafts
  • Fuel system: 2 fuel pumps; 6 Zenith carburetters with automatic altitude correction and heated inlets; 2 fixed advance magnetos
  • Fuel type: Petrol
  • Oil system: Pumped
  • Cooling system: Centrifugal water pump
  • Reduction gear: optional
  • Construction: Steel cylinder in aluminium block; aluminium cylinder head; aluminium pistons; 5 bearing crankshaft

Performance

References

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  1. ^ Gunston, Bill (1989). World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines (2 ed.). Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 95. ISBN 1-85260-163-9.
  2. ^ a b c "Le Moteur Lorraine 600 CV (12Fa)". L'Aérophile. 38 (1–2): 23. 1–15 January 1930.
  3. ^ "Premier regard sur les moteurs". Les Ailes (493): 13. 15. 27 November 1930.