Curtiss OX-5
OX-5 | |
---|---|
Preserved OX-5 engine | |
Type | V-8 piston engine |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company |
First run | 1915 |
Number built | 12,600 |
Developed from | Curtiss O |
The Curtiss OX-5 was an early
Design and development
The OX-5 was the last in a series of Glenn Curtiss designed V engines, which started as a series of air-cooled V-twins for motorcycles in 1902. A modified version of one of these early designs was sold as an aircraft engine in 1906, and from then on the company's primary market was aircraft. The basic design had slowly expanded by adding additional cylinders until they reached the V-8 in 1906. They also started enlarging the cylinders as well, but this led to cooling problems that required the introduction of water cooling in 1908. These early engines used a flathead valve arrangement, which eventually gave way to a cross-flow cylinder with overhead valves in 1909, leading to improved volumetric efficiency. By this point engine design was a team effort; the team included Charles M. Manly, whose earlier Manly–Balzer engine had held the power-to-weight ratio record for 16 years.[2] Curtiss continued the development of their V8 engines with demand for higher power outputs being largely driven by the US Navy’s requirement for seaplanes. By 1912 Curtiss V8’s were developing 75 hp and were known as the Curtiss Model O. The Curtiss O was further developed into the 90 hp Curtiss OX. OX series production began in 1913. The OX-5 was built between 1915 and 1919 and was by far the most popular OX variant.[3]
Like most engines of the era, the OX-5's high-temperature areas were built mostly of cast iron, using individual cylinders bolted to a single aluminum crankcase, wrapped in a cooling jacket made of a nickel-copper alloy. Later versions used a brazed-on steel jacket instead.[4] Cylinder heads were also attached to the crankcase, using X-shaped tie-downs on the top of the head attached to the block via four long bolts.[5] Fuel was carbureted near the rear of the engine, then piped to the cylinders via two T-shaped pipes, the cylinders being arranged so the intake ports of any two in a bank were near each other. The cylinders had one intake and one exhaust valve, the exhaust valve operated by a pushrod from a camshaft running between the banks and inlet valve operated by a pull rod/tube working from the same camshaft. This arrangement caused the outer exhaust valves to have a rather long rocker arm. The push/pullrods were arranged one inside the other, the exhaust valve rod being on the inside and the intake valve rod a tube around it.[4] The aluminum camshaft bearings were a split type bolted together and held in place by lock screws.[6] The pistons were cast aluminum.[6]
The OX-5 was not considered particularly advanced, nor powerful, for its era. By this point
Reliability
The engine was considered unreliable,
The OX-5 itself would be replaced by the well-proven
Engines on display
- A Curtis OX-5 engine is on public display at the Aerospace Museum of California.[citation needed]
- A Curtis OX-5 modified for marine use, reportedly in a Chris Craft, is on public display at the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum.
Specifications (OX-5)
General characteristics
- Type: 8-cylinder water-cooled 90° Vee piston engine[1][4]
- Bore: 4.0 in (102 mm)[4]
- Stroke: 5.0 in (127 mm)[4]
- Displacement: 503 in3 (8.2 L)[4][5]
- Length: 56.75 in (1441.45 mm)[6]
- Width: 29.75 in (755.65 mm)[6]
- Height: 36.75 in (933.45 mm)[6]
- Dry weight: 390 lb (177 kg)[6]
Components
- Fuel system: Duplex Zenith Carburetor[6]
- Oil system: Gear-pump 40 to 60 psi[6] 3-gallon sump[4]
- Cooling system: Water-cooled[4][6]
Performance
- Power output:
- 90 hp (67 kW) at 1,400 rpm[4][5]
- 105 hp (78 kW) at 1,800 rpm for brief periods
- Specific power: 0.21 hp/in3 (9.5 kW/L)
- Compression ratio: 4.9:1
- Fuel consumption: 8.0 US gal/h (30.8 L/h) at 75% power[4]
- Specific fuel consumption: 0.53 lb/(hp·h) (0.32 kg/(kW·h)) at 75% power
- Oil consumption: 0.5 US gal/h (1.9 L/h) at 75% power
- Power-to-weight ratio: 0.27 hp/lb (440 W/kg)
References
- ^ a b c d Smith, 1981, page 46
- ^ Smith, 1981, page 12
- ^ Rinek, Larry (1994). "Glenn H. Curtiss: An Early American Innovator in Aviation and Motorcycle Engines". SAE Transactions. 103: 927–945. Retrieved 31 Dec 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Fisher, 2009, page 7
- ^ a b c d e f Gunston, 1995, page 47
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Angle, 1940, pages 244-246
- ^ Smith, 1981, page 47
Bibliography
- Angle, Glenn D., AEROSPHERE 1939. New York: Aircraft Publications, 1940.
- Gunston, Bill, World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Somerset: Haynes Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1-85260-509-X
- Fisher, Scott M., The Curtiss OX-5, Aircraft Maintenance Technology. Cygnus Business Media, July 2009.
- Smith, Herschel, Aircraft Piston Engines. McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1981. ISBN 0-07-058472-9