Forum attic Item #7

[Varese2002]

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Forum attic Item #7

This is a special find on the attic for the engine experts. There are the following questions each time more difficult:

• What is the engine on the picture ?

• The machine driven by this engine made a world first. What was the machine and what was the world first ?

• To make the connection to the Great War : which developments in WW1 are known to have used an engine of this typology ?

Kees

[YavorD]

An electric motor.

This kind of motive power was studied for various aeronautical applications. It was used probably on dirigibles, and actually used for an experimental tethered helicopter, for which the source of electricity remained on the ground.

Regards,
Yavor

[jempie]

Hi Varese (Kees!)

I am playing the naughty boy today!(bad mood today! sic!)
Spoiling a bit others people pleasures!

So to see is this the Renard electric motor from the Renard Airship France ?


Sorry!
But when you place airship history related matters, I am difficult to fool!


VBr

Jempie (Jean-Pierre)

[jempie]

Yavor!

My compliment!

You were indeed hitting the rose centre!

The Renard and Krebs airship was the first to make a so called the first to realise close circuit in flight with their airship equiped with an electric motor!
No books at hand, can't tell what year it was, sorry!


vbr Jempie

[Varese2002]

Originally Posted by YavorD

An electric motor.

This kind of motive power was studied for various aeronautical applications. It was used probably on dirigibles, and actually used for an experimental tethered helicopter, for which the source of electricity remained on the ground.

Regards,
Yavor

Hi Yavor. Exactly an electric motor. But your answer is very global given the soecificity of the three questions.

Kees

[Varese2002]

Jempie has spoiled this one a bit. I will not place any airship related pieces from now on. I have no intention to fool anyone by the way, just to communicatie something interesting (at least to me).

Here we go with the answers:

• What is the engine on the picture ?

The electromotor designed by Arthur Krebs (1850-1935) delivering 8 hp at 1200 rotations / minute. Total mass is 98 kg. Endurance (via accus) 2 hours. The original is exhibited in the Musee de l'Air et l'Espace.

Ce moteur est alimenté par une pile chlorochromique de 480 kg constituée de 576 éléments et mise au point par Charles Renard. Il peut tourner à l’envers par simple inversion de la polarité ce qui facilite les manœuvres en arrière près du sol, toujours très délicates. C’est avec ce moteur que le dirigeable "La France" effectue le 1er vol en circuit fermé le 9 août 1884.

[ The Krebs electromotor used in the dirigible La France]

• The machine driven by this engine made a world first. What was the machine and what was the world first ?

The dirigible La France made the first fully controlled free-flight on 9 August 1884. The electric-powered flight covered 8 km (5 miles) in 23 minutes. It was the first full round trip flight with a landing on the starting point.

[The La France dirigible.]

• To make the connection to the Great War : which developments in WW1 are known to have used an engine of this typology ?

Daimler in Austro-hungary developed an electromotor for aviation use without much success though. Used in the electromotor version of the Schraubenfesselflieger. There was also a highly secret development of an aircraft powered by two electromotors (see Peter M. Grosz.)

No fun this one. Next is for Yavor.

Kees