Warbird Information Exchange

I am looking for information on the Wright R-4090, 22 cylinder, two row radial engine (Wright model # 792C22AA). I have the half page article that appeared in Graham White's book: "Allied Aircraft Piston Engines of World War II".

The R-4090 engine had eleven R-3350 size cylinders in each of two rows. It was reportedly comparable in wieght and power output to the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 twentyeight cylinder engine.

Any additional information and photographs would be appreciated.

Todd Hackbarth

This sounds interesting! I would also like to know more about the R-4090. Anybody got some facts and figures?

bump

How about a picture or drawing? That must have been one odd sized hunk of metal to have 11 cylinders on two rows. Did it make the leap from paper to metal or just remain an engineering study? Figure out the geometry for the master rods and links Some serious thrashing around there-and how many lobes on the cam plates?

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

The R-4090 Cyclone 22 was an aero engine, which the U.S. manufacturer Curtiss-Wright towards the end of the 2nd Weltkrieges versuchsweise gebaut wurde. World War II experiment was built. Es handelt sich um einen luftgekühlten Mehrfachsternmotor mit Kompressor-Aufladung. It is an air-cooled multiple radial engine with compressor charge. Er besitzt 22 Zylinder in zwei Ebenen mit jeweils 11 Zylindern. It has 22 cylinders in two levels, each with 11 cylinders. Er ist also ein Doppelsternmotor . He is a double star engine. Mit seinem Hubraum von 4090 in³, etwa 67 Liter, leistet das Triebwerk rund 2200 kW (etwa 3000 PS). With its engine capacity of 4090 in ³, about 67 liters, the engine is approximately 2200 kW (about 3000 hp). Er wurde nur in drei Exemplaren gebaut, wovon das letzte eine Propellerwelle besaß, die zwei gegenläufige Propeller antrieb. He was only three units were built, of which the last had a propeller shaft, the two opposing propeller propulsion. So konnte die große Leistung besser umgesetzt werden. For example, the great achievement better implemented.

Der während des Krieges stetig wachsende Bedarf an immer leistungsstärkeren Triebwerken zwang die Motorenkonstrukteure dazu, Triebwerke mit mehr Zylindern zu bauen. The war during the growing demand for increasingly powerful engines forced the engine designers to engines with more cylinders to build. So wurde der Entschluß gefasst, auf den positiven Erfahrungen mit dem R-3350 aufbauend, eine 22-Zylinder-Version zu erproben. Thus the decision to focus on the positive experience with the R-3350 building, a 22-cylinder version on a trial basis. So besaßen beide Triebwerke gleichen Hub und gleiche Bohrung. So both engines had the same stroke and same hole. Die Entwicklung des Projektes war jedoch sehr schwierig (Probleme mit der Kühlung, etc.). The development of the project, however, was very difficult (problems with the cooling system, etc.). Außerdem waren nur geringe Entwicklungskapazitäten frei, weswegen der R-4090 zugunsten der Weiterentwicklung des R-3350 bald aufgegeben wurde. Moreover, little development capacity is available, so the R-4090 for the development of the R-3350 was soon abandoned.

Der R-4090 war als Konkurrenzentwicklung zum Pratt & Whitney R-4360 angedacht, denn beide Motoren hatten ähnliches Potential bezüglich der Leistungscharakteristik. The R-4090 was as a competitor to the development of Pratt & Whitney R-4360 is planned, because both engines had similar potential regarding the performance characteristics. So stellten beide Triebwerke zu Beginn ihrer Entwicklung etwa 3000 PS bereit. So both engines were at the beginning of its development about 3000 hp.

22-Zylinder-Doppelsternmotoren sind in der Historie von Motoren äußerst selten. 22-cylinder engines are double star in the history of engines extremely rare. Es gibt lediglich ein weiteres Beispiel - den Mitsubishi Ha-50 , der ebenfalls zum Ende des 2. There is only one example - the Mitsubishi Ha-50, also at the end of the 2nd Weltkrieges in Japan entwickelt wurde. World War II was developed in Japan.

Technische Daten [ Bearbeiten ] [] Technical Data

* Typ: lufgekühlter 22-Zylinder-Doppelsternmotor mit Kompressor-Aufladung Type: lufgekühlter 22-cylinder engine with double star compressor Charge
* Bohrung: 155,6 mm Bore: 155.6 mm
* Hub: 160,2 mm Stroke: 160.2 mm
* Hubraum: 67,02 Liter Displacement: 67.02 litres
* Leistung: 3000 PS (2200 kW) bei 2800 U/min Power: 3000 PS (2200 kW) at 2800 rpm
* maximale Drehzahl: 2800 U/min Maximum speed: 2800 rpm
* Verdichtung: 6,85 zu 1 Compression: 6.85 to 1

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P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget.

Cleaned up a bit to uncomplicate things/reading - enjoy

The R-4090 Cyclone 22 was an aero engine, which the U.S. manufacturer Curtiss-Wright towards the end of the 2nd World War experiment was built. It is an air-cooled multiple radial engine with compressor charge. It has 22 cylinders in two levels, each with 11 cylinders. He is a double star engine. With its engine capacity of 4090 in ³, about 67 liters, the engine is approximately 2200 kW (about 3000 hp). He was only three units were built, of which the last had a propeller shaft, the two opposing propeller propulsion. For example, the great achievement better implemented.

The war during the growing demand for increasingly powerful engines forced the engine designers to engines with more cylinders to build. R-3350. Thus the decision to focus on the positive experience with the R-3350 building, a 22-cylinder version on a trial basis. So both engines had the same stroke and same hole. The development of the project, however, was very difficult (problems with the cooling system, etc.). Moreover, little development capacity is available, so the R-4090 for the development of the R-3350 was soon abandoned.

The R-4090 was as a competitor to the development of Pratt & Whitney R-4360 is planned, because both engines had similar potential regarding the performance characteristics. So both engines were at the beginning of its development about 3000 hp.

22-cylinder engines are double star in the history of engines extremely rare. There is only one example - the Mitsubishi Ha-50, also at the end of the 2nd World War was developed in Japan.

Technical Data

22-cylinder engine with double star compressor Charge
Bore: 155.6 mm
Stroke: 160.2 mm
Displacement: 67.02 litres
U/min Power: 3000 PS (2200 kW) at 2800 rpm
Maximum speed: 2800 rpm
Compression: 6.85 to 1
_________________
EVERYTHING that CAN fly should be ALLOWED to FLY!
IWO JIMA'S best narative..."GOD ISN'T HERE"

_________________
Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

I grew up in Idaho!

_________________
EVERYTHING that CAN fly should be ALLOWED to FLY!
IWO JIMA'S best narative..."GOD ISN'T HERE"
http://www.amazon.com/God-Isnt-Here-Ame ... 0976154706


P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget.

Danke <G>

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It's what you learn after you think you know it all, that counts.

A possible problem with this configuration radial engine, adding 2 more cylinders/pistons to an already heavy master/articulated rod assembly, and a finiky master rod bearing, I would think there would be a fine line for durability and weight, since many parts would have to be increased in size for added strength. This is where an engine like the R-4360 would be the better idea, since it only has 7 cylinders per row, thus master rod bearing loads would be much lower than an engine with 11 per row. Them there is the thing of getting the spacing and all those cylinders lined up around the crankcase, without weakening the case its diameter was most likely more than a 3350 or 2800. Maybe this is why that engine didn't make it to production.

Sounds like brute nonetheless. Do any illustrations of it exist, either a photo or drawing?

Doug

bump

I asked a friend of mine what the difference is/was between pratt and Wright engines,he said that Wright tried to do too much with fewer parts.meaning the engines were over stressed.whether true or not,I dont know but I've heard more than one person say that Pratts are the way to go.

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"WHAT ME WORRY?"

I also used to know a couple who lived in Palos Verdes,Ca who were a big part of getting the Spruce Goose in the dome and museum in Long Beach,as a reward,they had an R4360 on a stand in their garage.you dont see that everyday and you know it had to have low hours

_________________
"WHAT ME WORRY?"

In the book mentioned by the original poster, on page 372 there is a photo of an R-4090 engine and the credit says "Courtesy of the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame Museum and Gerry Abbamont". The black and white photo in the book is not very detailed but perhaps someone near the above museum could provide a few good color photos here.

Randy

You might try AEHS home @ enginehistory.org. Curiously enough, when you GOOGLE Image R-4090, the lead picture is CANSO 42's avatar.
I GOOGLED the engine and found, according to the source, it was built to compete with the R-4360 and was based around R-1820 components.

So I would surmise that the ALLISON X-4520 was also a potential competitor for the 4360.

_________________
Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-