FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0711.PDF
DECEMBER 7, 1922 m THE "BRISTOL" THREE-SEATER, 100 H.P. BRISTOL LUCIFER ENGINE A Machine for the Owner-Pilot SIMPLICITY of construction and a minimum of parts subject to wear are the special features of the new " Bristol " three- seater biplane which has just been produced by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Ltd., of Filton, Bristol. In getting out the design of this machine, Mr. Reid, chief designer to the firm, endeavoured constantly to keep in mind the fact that, as the machine was intended for the owner-pilot, it was essential that everything which was likely to require attention should be as simple as possible, and that the number of parts that were at all likely to wear out should be reduced to an it has been possible to provide direct gravity feed, and all the complications of petrol pumps, cocks and piping have been avoided. The ioo h.p. " Lucifer " engine is mounted on an engine plate of sheet steel, having four feet which terminate in lugs registering with, and being housed in. corresponding sockets on the front end of the fuselage longerons. The hinges are formed on the two port sockets, while locking pins are provided on the starboard side. All that is necessary in order to swing out the engine is to remove the two pins on the starboard THE " BRISTOL " THREE-SEATER Front view. |The man standing in front gives a good idea of the size of the machine. absolute minimum. Besides these desiderata, any such machine should, it was thought, be capable of carrying two passengers in addition to the pilot, and should be able to do so with the lowest horse-power consistent with a reasonably good performance. The outcome was the new Bristol three- seater, and in the following notes and illustrations we shall attempt to show the manner in which the designer attacked the problems he had set himself. Power Plant As regards power plant, the Bristol Aeroplane Co. already had available, in the ioo h.p. " Lucifer," an engine which, for its power, probably works with a minimum of parts. With but three sets of valves and plugs to look after, this side, and the engine with its cowling, etc., is free to pivot on the hinges on the opposite side. As the petrol and oil pipes are flexible, and are so arranged as to allow the engine to be swung right out without requiring disconnecting, it is possible to get at the back of the engine, with its magnetos, carburettor, etc., without interfering with any adjustments whatever. The engine controls also are so arranged that they are not interfered with in any way by swinging out the engine. One of our photographs shows the engine partly swung out, and it will be seen that the exhaust pipe on the starboard side has a loose-fitting joint in front, the short elbow piece from the exhaust collector moving out with the engine, while the long exhaust pipe itself remains in place on the fuselage. THE BRISTOL " THREE-SEATER : Three-quarter front view. engine should require a minimum of attention, and as, further more, it is so mounted that it can be swung out, away Irorn the fuselage so as to give access to the back of the engme, tne work of looking after the power plant should be no more than that of looking after the average motor-car engine By mounting the petrol tank in the deck fairing of the fuselage 7II The exhaust collector is in the form of a ring, into which the exhaust gases from all three cylinders are carried by two short pipes from each cylinder. This arrangement makes quite a neat job, and has the advantage that the exhaust collector itself forms the front portion of the engine cowling. The oil tank is carried on the fireproof steel bulkhead behind the C 2
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
