587:
452:
430:
564:
510:
235:. 9,560 of the Le Rhône 9J and 8,700 of the 9C engines were produced in France during WW1, with a high proportion being exported. In 1915 around 45% of all Le Rhône engines manufactured in France were exported to Great Britain, Italy and Russia. Le Rhône series engines proved to be far more popular with aircraft manufacturers than Gnome et Rhône's other major engine series, the
33:
220:
From 1911 to 1913 the Société des
Moteurs Le Rhône produced a series of seven rotary engines which won many endurance trophies. In 1912 the company's first nine-cylinder engine the 80 horsepower 9C went into production followed, in 1913, by the 110 horsepower 9J model. The 9C and the 9J models
196:
moving the exhaust valve and the intake valve. When the arm moved down it opened the intake valve and when it moved up it opened the exhaust valve. To make this system work a two-way push-pull rod was fitted, instead of the more conventional one-way pushrod. This feature required the cam followers to
554:
Several enthusiasts are using original Le Rhône engines for World War I replica aircraft today. A flying example can be seen at the
Pioneer Flight Museum, Kingsbury Texas in a replica Fokker Dr 1. pioneerflightmuseum.org The engine had previously been flown in an original Thomas Morse Scout, which
151:
mounted on the shaft and intake and exhaust valves mounted on the cylinder heads. Fuel was piped from the hollow shaft to the cylinder heads by copper tubes (mounted at the front of the 80 Horsepower 9C model and at the back on the 110 horsepower 9J). The use of a carburetor allowed the Rhône series
188:
series engines. The master rod was of a split type, which employed three concentric grooves, designed to accept slipper bearings from the other cylinders. The other connecting rods used inner-end bronze shoes, which were shaped to fit in the grooves. Using this design each rod took its own thrust
336:
Le Rhône used just two different cylinder sizes in the majority of their production engines. The earlier motors starting from 1910, of which the 9C was the most numerous, had a bore & stroke of 105 x 140 mm; this size was used in 7, 9, 11, 14 and 18 cylinder engines. The later 9J series
209:. In 1910, Louis Verdet founded the Société des Moteurs d’ Aviation Verdet with Pierre Berthet, however the partnership was short-lived. In 1911, Verdet joined Edouard Martin, an engineer and racing driver, and other partners to form the Société des Moteurs Le Rhône in
242:
The last of the Rhône series engines to go into production was the 9Z (or Z9), a small 60 horsepower rotary design that first ran in 1920. About fifty 9Zs were built. After the 9Z's production run was completed no more of Gnome et Rhône's engines used the Le Rhône badge.
401:(1913) 160 hp (120 kW) two-row rotary displacing 21.8 litres, consisting of two nine-cylinder rows rotating around a single two-throw crankshaft. Not homologated by French authorities until 1917. Not to be confused with the prototype 18E engine made in 1917.
555:
is now under restoration with another Le Rhône 80 hp engine planned for that flying aircraft. There are other reproductions of Dr 1's flying original Le Rhône engines, as well as the restored Thomas Morse Scouts in the United States.
111:
Licenses for production of Le Rhône series engines were negotiated with companies in Great
Britain, Austria, Italy, Russia, Sweden and Germany. Le Rhône-designed engines powered many of the most famous WW1 aircraft, including the
197:
incorporate a positive action, a function designed in by using a combination of links and levers. The patented valve actuation design reduced engine vibration but it prevented valve overlap and so limited power output.
395:(1913) A 120 hp (89 kW) two-row rotary of 19.96 litres, consisting of two seven-cylinder rows rotating around a single two-throw crankshaft. Not accepted by French military aviation authorities.
1036:
500:(1918) A 320 hp (240 kW) four-row rotary, consisting of four seven-cylinder rows (bore & stroke 115 x 140 mm) rotating around a single four-throw crankshaft.
152:
engines to be throttled during flight, which greatly reduced fuel and lube oil consumption. The ability to throttle the engine was cited as the reason for the
586:
224:
In July 1914 the Société des
Moteurs Le Rhône was acquired, on very generous terms, by its main rival the Société des Moteurs Gnome forming Gnome et Rhône.
1340:
441:(1916) 170 hp (127 kW) / 180 hp (134 kW) 9-cylinder rotary with two spark plugs per cylinder. 250 built under license in Great Britain.
1335:
1029:
1350:
205:
The first of what would become the Rhône series was a seven-cylinder rotary engine designed by the engineer Louis Verdet while he was employed by
104:, more than 22,000 nine cylinder Le Rhône engines were built, with the type far outselling Gnome et Rhône's other main wartime engine series, the
451:
1345:
494:(1917) A 340 hp (250 kW) two-row rotary, consisting of two 9R rows rotating round a single two-throw crankshaft. Prototype only.
1022:
256:
1008:
349:(1910) 50 hp (37 kW), seven-cylinder rotary engine — twenty built for use on Borel Monoplanes and Sommer Biplanes.
297:
227:
French wartime production of the Le Rhône series was undertaken by Gnome et Rhône at the company's Paris facilities located in
463:(1920) A 60 hp (45 kW) 9-cylinder rotary with two spark plugs per cylinder. Bore & stroke 84 x 106 mm. 50 built
337:
produced from 1913 (all with nine cylinders) used 112 x 170 mm. The 9R and 18R were slightly bored out to 115 x 170mm.
579:
192:
The Rhône series engine's defining feature was an unconventional valve actuation system, with a single centrally-pivoting
1284:
705:
307:
Le Rhône engines were produced in Gnome et Rhône's own factory in Italy until 1915, when the business was acquired by a
210:
355:(1911) 50 hp (37 kW), seven-cylinder rotary engine of 8.48 litres — Thirty-five prototype engines built.
591:
429:
1082:
828:
1077:
1072:
1062:
843:
599:
575:
537:
283:
166:
which could be bored out and replaced when worn allowing the cylinders to be reused. Sealing was done with
361:(1912) 60 hp (45 kW), seven-cylinder rotary engine — 350 built at Societe Moteurs le Rhône.
17:
1213:
1208:
928:
Laux, James M (March 1980). "Gnome et Rhône - An
Aviation Engine Firm in the First World War: Le Rhône".
379:, the 9C was widely used in both French and foreign aircraft with more than 10,000 engines produced by
147:
When compared with the Gnome
Monosoupape, the Rhône engines were of a more conventional design with a
1314:
1299:
1067:
419:, the 9J was widely used in both French and foreign aircraft with approx 12,000 engines produced by
799:
1218:
1198:
883:
1193:
694:
689:
319:
271:
1309:
1294:
1289:
1279:
1269:
1259:
1117:
1112:
1107:
1045:
838:
833:
684:
614:
488:(1917) A 9-cylinder rotary prototype engine with 3 valves per cylinder, 2 inlet and 1 exhaust.
236:
105:
97:
93:
69:
375:(1912) 80 hp (60 kW), nine-cylinder rotary engine, 10.9 litres. Also known as the
981:
793:
563:
1274:
1048:
522:
290:
264:
260:
228:
1203:
1173:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1168:
1163:
700:
409:
369:
174:
163:
509:
1329:
1264:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1158:
967:
762:
757:
674:
659:
624:
275:
232:
117:
89:
48:
1137:
1132:
804:
788:
669:
629:
301:
255:
company. During WW1 thousands of 9Cs and 9Js were built by
British firms including
252:
415:(1913) 110 hp (82 kW), nine-cylinder rotary engine. Also known as the
189:
which removed the strain that would otherwise have been put onto the master rod.
92:
built between 1910 and 1920. Le Rhône series engines were originally sold by the
1142:
1127:
1122:
1102:
1097:
1092:
1087:
783:
778:
767:
752:
748:
743:
738:
734:
728:
724:
719:
715:
710:
679:
664:
654:
639:
634:
619:
167:
125:
121:
113:
101:
1014:
545:
A licensed copy of the Le Rhône 11F built in
Germany by Motorenfabrik Oberursel
1304:
644:
604:
568:
193:
148:
137:
932:. Vol. 27, no. 1. Air Force Historical Foundation. pp. 19–26.
160:
141:
318:
until 1917, when the entire facility was seized by its workers during the
772:
648:
609:
571:
32:
279:
206:
178:
530:
A licensed copy of the Le Rhône 11F built in Sweden by AB Thulinverken
315:
171:
304:. 1,057 American-built 9C engines were completed by the end of WW1.
289:
In Sweden, 9C and 11F Le Rhône series engines were manufactured by
585:
562:
508:
450:
428:
308:
214:
96:
and, following a 1914 corporate buyout, by its successor company,
40:
80 hp Le Rhône Model 9C, showing forward-mounted induction piping
1018:
447:(1917) A 9-cylinder rotary engine produced in small quantities.
389:(1913) A 100 hp (75 kW) 11-cylinder rotary. 50 built.
314:
Le Rhône engines were assembled at Gnome et Rhône's factory in
239:
mainly due to the Rhône’s lower fuel and lube oil consumption.
140:
of the Rhône remained stationary in operation, with the entire
311:
based consortium, after which licensed production continued.
221:
would become by far the most successful of the Rhône series.
296:
In the United States, the Le Rhône 9C was manufactured by
156:’s preference for the Rhône series over the 'Monosoupape.
270:
Prewar production of the 9C was undertaken in
Austria by
144:
and its attached cylinders rotating around it as a unit.
948:"Chapter II - The 80 and 110 Horsepower LeRhone Motor".
536:
A licensed copy of the Le Rhône 9J built in
Germany by
521:
A licensed copy of the Le Rhône 9C built in Sweden by
184:
A complicated slipper bearing system was used in the
1252:
1151:
1055:
251:The British licensee for the Rhône engines was the
1030:
286:started producing the 9J model as the UR.II.
8:
482:(1916) A 9-cylinder rotary prototype engine.
476:(1916) A 9-cylinder rotary prototype engine.
590:A Le Rhône radial engine on display at the
513:Oberursel UR.II, a clone of the Le Rhône 9J
293:as the Thulin A and Thulin G respectively.
1037:
1023:
1015:
952:. United States: The War Department. 1919.
159:Le Rhône engines featured cylinders with
963:
961:
959:
383:and a variety of licensed manufacturers.
886:[Legendary Engines: The Rhone]
855:
423:and a variety of foreign manufacturers.
943:
941:
939:
923:
921:
919:
917:
915:
913:
911:
909:
907:
905:
877:
875:
873:
871:
869:
867:
865:
863:
861:
859:
567:Le Rhône 9J mounted in the front of a
22:
980:Hirschauer, L.; Dollfus, Ch. (1921).
282:in Germany. In 1916 the German firm
7:
986:. Paris: Dunod, Editeur. p. 119
884:"Moteurs de légende : Le Rhône"
1341:Air-cooled aircraft piston engines
88:was the name given to a series of
14:
170:only and without the use of the
136:As with all rotary engines, the
31:
298:Union Switch and Signal Company
1351:Rotary aircraft piston engines
970:Retrieved on 18 February 2009.
1:
1346:1910s aircraft piston engines
1253:Gnome et Rhône radial engines
1009:Oberursel UR-II Rotary Engine
706:Nielsen & Winther Type AA
1336:Gnome-Rhône aircraft engines
455:Le Rhône 9Z developing 60 hp
247:Production outside of France
211:Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis
94:Société des Moteurs Le Rhône
1367:
592:Frontiers of Flight Museum
407:
367:
15:
882:Hartmann, Gerard (2004).
39:
30:
25:
829:Clerget aircraft engines
1152:Le Rhône rotary engines
844:Motorenfabrik Oberursel
600:Adamoli-Cattani fighter
574:replica, displayed in "
538:Motorenfabrik Oberursel
284:Motorenfabrik Oberursel
90:rotary aircraft engines
1113:Monosoupape 9 Type B-2
968:Le Rhone Rotary Engine
594:
583:
550:Le Rhônes flying today
514:
456:
434:
154:Aéronautique Militaire
126:Fokker Dr.1 "Triplane"
18:Rhone (disambiguation)
589:
566:
512:
454:
432:
1118:Monosoupape 9 Type N
1108:Monosoupape 7 Type A
1056:Gnome rotary engines
983:L'année aeronautique
417:Rhône 110 Horsepower
16:For other uses, see
1083:123hp 14-cyl rotary
930:Aerospace Historian
377:Rhône 80 Horsepower
695:Morane-Saulnier AI
690:Morane-Saulnier BB
595:
584:
515:
457:
435:
341:Production engines
177:used on Gnome and
122:Nieuport 11 "Bebe"
1323:
1322:
1078:60hp 7-cyl rotary
1073:34hp 5-cyl rotary
834:Gnome Monosoupape
685:Morane-Saulnier N
615:Beardmore W.B.III
237:Gnome Monosoupape
106:Gnome Monosoupape
83:
82:
1358:
1068:1907 50hp rotary
1063:1906 25hp rotary
1049:aircraft engines
1039:
1032:
1025:
1016:
996:
995:
993:
991:
977:
971:
965:
954:
953:
945:
934:
933:
925:
900:
899:
897:
895:
889:
879:
794:Thomas-Morse S-4
542:Oberursel UR.III
404:Le Rhône Type 9J
364:Le Rhône Type 9C
58:
35:
23:
1366:
1365:
1361:
1360:
1359:
1357:
1356:
1355:
1326:
1325:
1324:
1319:
1248:
1147:
1051:
1043:
1005:
1000:
999:
989:
987:
979:
978:
974:
966:
957:
947:
946:
937:
927:
926:
903:
893:
891:
887:
881:
880:
857:
852:
825:
820:
749:Nieuport 80, 81
582:, Madrid, Spain
561:
552:
533:Oberursel UR.II
523:AB Thulinverken
507:
470:
412:
372:
343:
328:
291:AB Thulinverken
249:
203:
175:obturator rings
134:
57:National origin
56:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1364:
1362:
1354:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1328:
1327:
1321:
1320:
1318:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1297:
1292:
1287:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1256:
1254:
1250:
1249:
1247:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1155:
1153:
1149:
1148:
1146:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1059:
1057:
1053:
1052:
1044:
1042:
1041:
1034:
1027:
1019:
1013:
1012:
1004:
1003:External links
1001:
998:
997:
972:
955:
950:Rotary Engines
935:
901:
854:
853:
851:
848:
847:
846:
841:
839:Gnome et Rhône
836:
831:
824:
821:
819:
818:
802:
797:
791:
786:
781:
776:
770:
765:
760:
755:
746:
741:
732:
722:
713:
708:
703:
701:Mosca MB 2 bis
698:
692:
687:
682:
677:
672:
667:
662:
657:
652:
642:
637:
632:
627:
622:
617:
612:
607:
602:
596:
580:Cuatro Vientos
576:Museo del Aire
560:
557:
551:
548:
547:
546:
543:
540:
534:
531:
528:
525:
519:
506:
505:Foreign copies
503:
502:
501:
498:
495:
492:
489:
486:
483:
480:
477:
474:
469:
466:
465:
464:
461:
449:
448:
445:
442:
439:
427:
426:
424:
421:Gnome et Rhône
408:Main article:
406:
405:
402:
399:
396:
393:
390:
387:
384:
381:Gnome et Rhône
368:Main article:
366:
365:
362:
359:
356:
353:
350:
347:
342:
339:
327:
324:
248:
245:
207:Rossel Peugeot
202:
199:
133:
130:
98:Gnome et Rhône
81:
80:
77:
73:
72:
70:Gnome et Rhône
67:
63:
62:
59:
53:
52:
46:
42:
41:
37:
36:
28:
27:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1363:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1333:
1331:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1291:
1288:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1257:
1255:
1251:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1202:
1200:
1197:
1195:
1192:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1150:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1138:Lambda-Lambda
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1060:
1058:
1054:
1050:
1047:
1040:
1035:
1033:
1028:
1026:
1021:
1020:
1017:
1010:
1007:
1006:
1002:
985:
984:
976:
973:
969:
964:
962:
960:
956:
951:
944:
942:
940:
936:
931:
924:
922:
920:
918:
916:
914:
912:
910:
908:
906:
902:
885:
878:
876:
874:
872:
870:
868:
866:
864:
862:
860:
856:
849:
845:
842:
840:
837:
835:
832:
830:
827:
826:
822:
817:
816:
812:
808:
805:TNCA Serie E
803:
801:
798:
795:
792:
790:
787:
785:
782:
780:
777:
774:
771:
769:
766:
764:
763:Sopwith Camel
761:
759:
758:Sikorsky S-16
756:
754:
750:
747:
745:
742:
740:
736:
733:
730:
726:
723:
721:
717:
714:
712:
709:
707:
704:
702:
699:
696:
693:
691:
688:
686:
683:
681:
678:
676:
675:Hanriot HD.14
673:
671:
668:
666:
663:
661:
660:Fokker D.VIII
658:
656:
653:
650:
646:
643:
641:
638:
636:
633:
631:
628:
626:
625:Bristol Scout
623:
621:
618:
616:
613:
611:
608:
606:
603:
601:
598:
597:
593:
588:
581:
577:
573:
570:
565:
558:
556:
549:
544:
541:
539:
535:
532:
529:
526:
524:
520:
517:
516:
511:
504:
499:
496:
493:
490:
487:
484:
481:
478:
475:
472:
471:
467:
462:
459:
458:
453:
446:
443:
440:
437:
436:
431:
425:
422:
418:
414:
413:
411:
403:
400:
397:
394:
391:
388:
385:
382:
378:
374:
373:
371:
363:
360:
357:
354:
351:
348:
345:
344:
340:
338:
334:
332:
325:
323:
321:
317:
312:
310:
305:
303:
299:
294:
292:
287:
285:
281:
277:
276:Mercedes-Benz
273:
268:
266:
262:
258:
254:
246:
244:
240:
238:
234:
233:Gennevilliers
230:
225:
222:
218:
216:
212:
208:
200:
198:
195:
190:
187:
182:
180:
176:
173:
169:
165:
162:
157:
155:
150:
145:
143:
139:
131:
129:
127:
123:
119:
118:Sopwith Camel
115:
109:
107:
103:
99:
95:
91:
87:
78:
75:
74:
71:
68:
66:Manufacturer
65:
64:
60:
55:
54:
50:
49:Rotary engine
47:
44:
43:
38:
34:
29:
24:
19:
988:. Retrieved
982:
975:
949:
929:
892:. Retrieved
814:
810:
806:
789:Standard E-1
737:, 24bis and
670:Hanriot HD.1
630:Caudron C.27
559:Applications
553:
497:Le Rhône 28E
491:Le Rhône 18E
433:The 170hp 9R
420:
416:
398:Le Rhône 18E
392:Le Rhône 14D
386:Le Rhône 11F
380:
376:
358:Le Rhône 7B2
335:
330:
329:
313:
306:
302:Pennsylvania
295:
288:
269:
253:Peter Hooker
250:
241:
226:
223:
219:
204:
191:
185:
183:
168:piston rings
158:
153:
146:
135:
110:
85:
84:
1128:Omega-Omega
1103:Gamma-Gamma
1093:Delta-Delta
1046:Gnome-Rhône
990:10 November
890:(in French)
784:Spijker V.2
779:Spijker V.1
768:Sopwith Pup
744:Nieuport 31
735:Nieuport 24
725:Nieuport 17
716:Nieuport 11
711:Nieuport 10
680:Macchi M.14
665:Fokker Dr.I
655:Fokker D.VI
640:Caudron G.4
635:Caudron G.3
620:Bristol M.1
460:Le Rhône 9Z
438:Le Rhône 9R
410:Le Rhône 9J
370:Le Rhône 9C
352:Le Rhône 7B
346:Le Rhône 7A
272:Steyr Werke
261:F.W Berwick
114:Sopwith Pup
102:World War I
1330:Categories
850:References
697:(trainers)
645:Cierva C.6
605:Airco DH.5
569:Cierva C.6
485:Le Rhône P
479:Le Rhône L
473:Le Rhône K
468:Prototypes
444:Le Rhône M
320:revolution
229:Kellermann
201:Production
194:rocker arm
149:carburetor
138:crankshaft
76:First run
811:Tololoche
331:Data from
257:W.H Allen
181:engines.
161:grey iron
142:crankcase
132:Operation
100:. During
26:Le Rhône
1214:18E 1917
1209:18E 1912
894:19 March
823:See also
800:Thulin E
775:.2 and 4
773:SPAD S.A
649:autogyro
610:Avro 504
572:autogyro
527:Thulin G
518:Thulin A
333: :
326:Variants
124:and the
86:Le Rhône
280:Siemens
274:and by
265:Daimler
179:Clerget
61:France
51:series
1133:Lambda
815:México
813:, and
807:Sonora
731:and 23
316:Moscow
172:bronze
164:liners
120:, the
116:, the
1143:Sigma
1123:Omega
1098:Gamma
1088:Delta
888:(PDF)
309:Turin
215:Paris
186:Rhône
79:1910
45:Type
992:2023
896:2023
751:and
718:and
278:and
263:and
231:and
1315:18R
1310:18L
1305:14R
1300:14P
1295:14N
1290:14M
1285:14K
1219:28E
1204:14D
1199:11F
1174:7B2
647:, (
578:",
300:of
1332::
1280:9K
1275:9A
1270:7K
1265:5K
1260:5B
1194:9Z
1189:9R
1184:9J
1179:9C
1169:7B
1164:7A
958:^
938:^
904:^
858:^
809:,
753:83
739:27
729:21
727:,
720:16
322:.
267:.
259:,
217:.
213:,
128:.
108:.
1244:R
1239:P
1234:M
1229:L
1224:K
1159:7
1038:e
1031:t
1024:v
1011:.
994:.
898:.
796:C
651:)
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
