Chapter 16 - The Aeroplane Engine

Question 1

Which type of engine cylinder configuration was typically used in world war II aircraft?

Answer 1

Radial

Question 2

Which type of engine cylinder configuration is typically used in light aircarft?

Answer 2

Horizontally opposed

Question 3

What are the five main engine cylinder configurations?

Answer 3

Radial
In-line upright
In-line inverted
Horizontally opposed
Vee

Question 4

What does the Big-end Bearing of a Piston attach onto?

Answer 4

The Main Journals of the Crankshaft

Question 5

What is the Connecting Rod?

Answer 5

A metal rod connecting the Big-end Bearing to the Piston Head

Question 6

What is the function of the Piston Compression Rings?

Answer 6

To provide a better seal of the combustion chamber to increase combustion efficiency

Question 7

What is the function of the Gudgeon Pin?

Answer 7

To connect the Piston Head to the Connecting Rod

Question 8

What is the name of the very top of the Piston?

Answer 8

The Piston Crown

Question 9

What is the function of the Oil Scraper Ring?

Answer 9

To ´clean´the inner cylinder walls of used oil

Question 10

What is the function of the crankshaft?

Answer 10

To convert recipricating (linear) motion into rotary motion

Question 11

What is the function of the Crank Pins?

Answer 11

To connect the Big-end Bearing to the Main Journals

Question 12

What is the function of the inlet valve of a cylinder?

Answer 12

To let the fuel/air mixture into the cylinder

Question 13

What is the function of the exhaust valve of a cylinder?

Answer 13

To allow the exhuast gases to escape upon completion of the combustion process

Question 14

What do spark plugs do?

Answer 14

They ignite the fuel/air mixture

Question 15

What are the names of the four strokes of the four-stroke piston engine cycle?

Answer 15

Intake/induction, compression, power/expansion, exhaust

Question 16

In the INTAKE/INDUCTION stroke of a four-stroke piston engine cycle, does the piton move towards the crankshaft or towards the valves?

Answer 16

Towards the crankshaft

Question 17

In the COMPRESSION stroke of a four-stroke piston engine cycle, does the piton move towards the crankshaft or towards the valves?

Answer 17

Towards the valves

Question 18

In the POWER/EXPANSION stroke of a four-stroke piston engine cycle, does the piton move towards the crankshaft or towards the valves?

Answer 18

Towards the crankshaft

Question 19

In the EXHAUST stroke of a four-stroke piston engine cycle, does the piton move towards the crankshaft or towards the valves?

Answer 19

Towards the valves

Question 20

What is the state of the valves during the INTAKE/INDUCTION phase?

Answer 20

Intake valve: Open

Exhaust valve: Closed

Question 21

What is the state of the valves during the COMPRESSION phase?

Answer 21

Intake valve: Closed

Exhaust valve: Closed

Question 22

What is the state of the valves during the POWER/EXPANSION phase?

Answer 22

Intake valve: Closed

Exhaust valve: Closed

Question 23

What is the state of the valves during the EXHAUST phase?

Answer 23

Intake valve: Closed

Exhaust valve: Open

Question 24

What is the formula for Compression Ratio?

Answer 24

Compression Ratio = Total Volume / Clearance Volume

Question 25

What is a magneto?

Answer 25

A self contained, engine driven unit supplying high tension electrical currents to the spark plugs

Question 26

Briefly describe the electrical starter system of a typical light aircraft

Answer 26

Turning a key demands energy from the aircarft´s battery which moves a solenoid-operated switch to complete the electrical circuit, exciting the Stator Motor

Question 27

What are the two functions of impulse coupling?

Answer 27

To accelerate the magnetos

To retard the ignition-timing effectively at low RPMs

Question 28

What are the characteristics of Carbon Monoxide?

Answer 28

Colourless

Odourless