Green Engine Co
The Green Engine Co was an early British aero engine manufacturer. It was founded by Gustavus Green in Bexhill to produce engines of his design during the first two decades of the 20th century. Actual manufacturing was carried out at the Aster Engineering Company of Wembley. The firm produced a range of water-cooled, mostly inline engines up to about 1915.
Green engines powered many pioneering British aircraft, including those of Alliott Verdon Roe (Avro founder), Samuel Cody and the Short Brothers. Up to 1912 Green's were the only source of all-British aircraft engines capable of producing 60 hp, so when prizes were offered for flights or races for all-British aircraft, the Green was the only choice. The best known example is that of Moore-Brabazon in his Green D.4 powered Short No.2, winning the £1,000 Daily Mail prize in 1910 for a circular 1 mile flight by a British pilot in an all-British aeroplane.[1]
Green's engines had several advanced and common features. They had cast steel single piece cylinders and cylinder heads, two valves per cylinder driven by an overhead camshaft, white metal crankshaft bearings and copper, rubber sealed water jackets.[1][2]
In 1909 the Green C.4 was the only entrant to complete the tests for the Patrick Alexander Competition. Because the rules called for a 35 hp engine and the C.4 only averaged 31.5 hp the prize of £1,000, rather controversially, was not awarded.[3] The competition was re-run the following year for more powerful engines; this time Green's gained the prize with the D.4.[4] In 1914 the company was awarded a £5,000 prize by the Army Council in a Naval and Military Aeroplane Engine Competition.[5] The later prize was for the Green 100 hp water-cooled engine No. 1 which had the highest number of attributes that was desirable for an aeroplane engine.[5][6]
Aircraft engines
Data from Gunston 1986, p. 72 and Lumsden 1994, pp. 154–6
- V-8, 100 hp (1908–1909)
- Green C.4 4-cylinder inline, 105 mm bore × 120mm stroke, 30-35 hp (1908–1910)
- Green D.4 4-cylinder inline, 140 mm bore × 146 mm stroke, 50-60 hp (1909–1910)
- 6-cylinder inline, 140 mm bore × 146 mm stroke, 82 hp (1912–1916)
- Green E.6 6-cylinder inline, 140 mm bore × 152 mm stroke, 90-100 hp (1912–1916)[7]
- 6-cylinder inline, E.6 development, 140 mm bore × 152 mm stroke, 120 hp[8]
- V-12, 275 hp (1914–1915)
Applications (grouped by engine power)
Source:Goodall & Tagg 2001
Aeroplanes
Airships
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35 hp inline C.4
Army Aircraft Factory Beta
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80 hp V-8
Army Aircraft Factory Gamma I (the first all-British airship)
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Boats
The Defender II a 1909 racing boat owned by Fred May was powered by a 60 hp Green aeroplane engine.[12] In World War I, the well made, reliable but heavy (450 lbs or 204 kg) 82 hp Green inline engine was produced for fast boats rather than aircraft.[1]
References
Notes
- ^ a b c Gunston 1986, p. 72
- ^ Lumsden 1994, pp. 154–6
- ^ ...results of the Alexander Competition, Flight 14 January 1911
- ^ Olympia show preview 1913 Flight 8 February 1913
- ^ a b "Aeroplane Engine Tests. Army Council Awards." (News). The Times (London). Friday, 16 October 1914. Issue 40667, col G, p. 10.
- ^ Flight 23 October 1914 p.1062 states that the prize was awarded to the 120 hp engine, a refinement of the 100 hp
- ^ Jane 1969, p. 3c
- ^ Flight 23 October 1914 p.1062
- ^ a b Bruce 1992, p. 260
- ^ Barnes 1987, p. 64
- ^ Lewis 1962, p. 476
- ^ "The Motor-Boats At Monaco" (Sport). The Times (London). Saturday, 9 April 1910. Issue 39242, col C, p. 18.
Bibliography
- Bartley, L.J. (1971). The History of Bexhill. p. 94 - first successful British aero engine.
- Bruce, J.M. (1992). The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (2nd ed.). London: Putnam Publishing. ISBN 0 85177 854 2.
- Barnes, C.H.; James, D. N. (1987). Handley Page Aircraft since 1907. London: Putnam Publishing. ISBN 0 85177 803 8.
- Goodall, Michael H.; Tagg, Albert E. (2001). British Aircraft before the Great War. Atglen, PA, USA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0 7643 1207 3.
- Gunston, Bill (1986). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens. p. 72.
- Jane, Fred T. (1969). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1913. London: David & Charles. ISBN 7153 4388 2.
- Lewis, Peter (1962). British Aircraft 1809-1914. London: Putnam Publishing.
- Lumsden, Alec (1994). British Piston Aero-engines and their Aircraft. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1 85310294 6.
- "... Results of the Alexander Competition.". Flight (8 January 1911): p.58. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1911/1911%20-%200023.html.
- "Preview of the 1913 Olympia Show.". Flight (18 February 1913): p.151. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1913/1913%20-%200151.html.
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