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Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:09 pmby FLYING_TRUCKER
Hello all: :)
Quick question:
Does anyone know if the Merlin engine in the Spitfires, Hurricanes, Lancasters, Halifaxes etc....were ever fuel injected.
I believe that in 1939 they all had carburetors and were prone to cutting out doing certain manoeuvers.
If the Spitfire did receive a fuel injection engine was it the Merlin and what year and model of aircraft.
Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:20 pmby Woodlouse2002
[quote]Hello all:
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:34 pmby FLYING_TRUCKER
I checked several sites that had information on the Merlin Aero Engine and found only one that mentioned fuel injection being introduced in 1943.
That is all it said, nothing on types or makes of aircraft.
It is funny how none of the other sites mentioned 1943 as the year fuel injection was introduced or even if the Merlin Aero Engine even had that modification done.
Cheers....Happy Landings....Doug
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:53 pmby Hagar
I'm not convinced the Merlin had conventional fuel injection. The later examples had Bendix-Stromburg or SU carburetters injecting fuel direct to the supercharger.
http://www.spitfiresociety.demon.co.uk/engines.htmI'm sure Ozzy will sort this one out.
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:26 amby ozzy72
No Merlin was ever fuel injected. The 66 series onwards had an injection carb. (as mentioned by Doug) but there wasn't proper fuel injection.
The first Spit with fuel injection would be a Griffon powered one (I think the Griffon 62 if memory serves but I'll check).
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:33 amby Hagar
Thanks to Doug asking this question I finally found the answer to something that's always puzzled me. Why do the Merlin & Griffon rotate in opposite directions?
From my previous link:
This resulted from a decision by a committee of The Society of British Aircraft Constructors to aim for a "universal powerplant". The rationale was that any aircraft with a powerplant of around 2000HP should be able to have virtually any available comparable engine replaced should the original fail. Consequently direction of rotation of the Griffon had to change to match the engines of Bristol, Napier and Armstrong-Siddley (the Merlin, which was in widespread use at that time, especially by the USA- whose aero engines all turned the same way as the Merlin- stayed as it was).
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:54 amby ozzy72
Don't forget Doug that some Merlins also spun the 'wrong way'
The 130/131 series pairing for the De Havilland Hornet springs to mind, not to mention the Meteor tank engine
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Fri Nov 03, 2006 4:25 pmby FLYING_TRUCKER
Interesting, now I shall have to find that site and see if I can find out more about the Merlin and fuel injection because it did mention the date 1943 when the Merlin was fuel injected.
Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Fri Nov 03, 2006 5:35 pmby Hagar
It's mentioned on Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_MerlinI think they're referring to the modified carb injection system fitted to later Merlins & the Griffon. This is not the same as the direct fuel injection system as used on the DB 601.
PS. They could be confusing it with water/methanol injection.
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:18 pmby ozzy72
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:12 amby FLYING_TRUCKER
Thanks folks as some of these sites over simplify some topics and leave out valuable information. :)
Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:20 pmby Felix/FFDS
Question - and on this I know nothing - would the carburettor injection have been on the RR Merlins or would the Packard Merlins have had "true" fuel injection?
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Sun Nov 05, 2006 4:46 amby ozzy72
Both Felix as the 266 (Packard Merlin) was just a variation of the RR 66
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:56 amby Hagar
Both Felix as the 266 (Packard Merlin) was just a variation of the RR 66
Can you be more specific.
Re: Rolls Royce Merlin Aero Engine
Posted:
Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:19 amby ozzy72
Sorry Doug I was only writing about "in-service" engines. The 266 was the most relevant as it was the Packard version of the 66.
There still isn't any fuel injected Merlin that I can find. I've been pouring over books and websites of prototypes and all sorts without any success... everything says "CARBS"....
