Gnome Rotary Engine

The Gnome was one of several rotary engines popular on fighter planes during World War I. In this type of engine, the crankshaft is mounted on the airplane, while the crankcase and cylinders rotate with the propeller.

The Gnome was unique in that the intake valves were located within the pistons. Otherwise, this engine used the familiar Otto four stroke cycle. At any given point, each of the cylinders is in a different phase of the cycle. In the following discussion, follow the master cylinder with the green connecting rod.

Gnome, intake

Intake

During this portion of the stroke, a vacuum forms in the cylinder, forcing the intake valve open and drawing the fuel-air mixture in from the crankcase.

Gnome, compression"

Compression

The mixture is compressed during this phase. The spark plug fires toward the end of the compression stroke, slightly before top dead center.

Gnome, power

Power

The power stroke happens here. Note that the exhaust valve opens early—well before bottom dead center.

Gnome, exhaust

Exhaust

This engine has a fairly long exhaust stroke. In order to improve power or efficiency, engine valve timing often varies from what one might expect.


When I first learned how these engines worked, I thought the only person crazier than the engine designer was the one who paid money for it. At first glance it seems ridiculously backwards.

Nonetheless, a number of engines were designed this way, including the Gnome, Gnome Monosoupape, LeRhone, Clerget, and Bentley. It turns out there were some good reasons for the configuration:

All these factors gave rotary engines the best power-to-weight ratio of any configuration at the time, making them ideal for use in fighter planes. Of course, there were disadvantages as well:

Most of my information on the Gnome came out of Air board Technical Notes7