RE: [ihc] no IH content, but fun--

["Mac McMuffin" <mac@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

## >> Nope. Then again, have you ever heard of a Campini engine ?? A piston
## >> engine in which all the crank does is drive the supercharger. Exhaust,
## >> combined with (air cooled) engine heat provides thrust !!
## >>
## >> Greg

i hate to precipitate on your outdoor linear social event, but...

are you sure that's the Campini engine you're referring to?  i could find no
example of any engine under the name "Campini" which operates as you
describe.  with a relatively quick search of the Internet, however, i found
the following references, which describe the both the original Campini
engine and Caproni airplanes, first flown in 1940, as well as information on
the engine type upon which those were based.  also included is information
on the various other jet engines developed in that period and since.

according to each of these examples, the Campini jet engine was essentially
a ducted afterburning fan, wherein a conventional piston engine drove a
series of compressor fans inside a duct, with a combustion chamber and ring
of fuel injectors towards the rear of the duct (after the compressor stage)
to act as an afterburner.  essentially the compressor stage drives
compressed air into the combustion chamber where it is mixed with fuel and
ignited.  this of course results in thermal expansion which exits at high
pressure from the rear of the chamber, providing thrust.  in this engine
type, the compressor fans are directly driven by the piston engine's
driveshaft, and the entire assembly is contained within the duct.  the
Campini design is known as a "Thermojet" (first invented and flown in 1910
by Henri Coanda, see below).  it is interesting to note that a Thermojet can
function without the afterburner, the compression stage alone can provide
enough thrust to maintain flight.

according to a number of sources, the Thermojet was both preceded and
superceded in application by the turbojet engine designed simultaneously and
independently by a German scientist named Hans von Ohain and a British RAF
officer named Sir Frank Whittle (the Whittle engine was patented in 1932).
all modern turbojet engines are based on the German/British designs of that
period; for all practical purposes the Thermojet engine development ceased
after World War II and exists now only in academia and RC model airplanes.
there have been attempts here and there to make use of the Thermojet in
various applications since that time, but there do not appear to be any
records of successful development.

this one has pictures and descriptions of the Campini airplanes and their
engines:
http://www.museoscienza.org/english/aereo/caproni.html
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Thermojet

early jet airplanes and engines:
http://tanks45.tripod.com/Jets45/Histories/CC-2/CC-2.htm
http://tanks45.tripod.com/Jets45/ListOfEngines/EnginesOther.htm

http://www.isoliti4gatti.com/Cc2.htm
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/history/q0144.shtml
http://history.acusd.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/jets.html
http://www.fact-index.com/j/je/jet_engine.html

Henri Coanda:
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Henri_Coanda

i would be delighted to know what piston engine it is that drives only a
supercharger from the crankshaft, deriving thrust from engine heat and
exhaust gases.  i am continuing my research, but as of this writing have
come up with nothing.  perhaps Ryan might know what engine this might be...
Ryan?

--Mac

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TyrGothi

http://master.triad.ath.cx/
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