Argus 50 hp

Argus Motoren

Industry	Aerospace, Engine manufacturing
Headquarters	Germany
Products	Aircraft engines

The Argus 50 hp aircraft powerplant, introduced around 1909, was a four-cylinder inline piston engine featuring water cooling, produced by the German firm Argus Motoren.

Design and development

Around 1909, Argus Motoren engineered the Argus 50 hp aircraft engine, evolving it from their previous designs used in balloons and marine vessels.

This power unit had a cylinder bore measuring 124 mm (4.88 in) and a piston stroke of 130 mm (5.12 in), delivering approximately 45–55 hp (34–41 kW) within the speed range of 1200 to 1300 revolutions per minute. It was manufactured in two configurations differing by the placement of valves and camshaft—either on the right or the left side.

The cylinders were cast iron units formed in pairs, incorporating integral cooling jackets within the casting. Each cylinder contained two side valves actuated by a camshaft situated on one side of the engine block; this camshaft was driven by spur gears connected to the crankshaft. Intake valves faced inward toward the center of each cylinder pair, with their intake passages combined inside the casting to a single external port. A sole Cudell-G.A. carburettor supplied the air-fuel mixture to all four cylinders.

Cooling fluid was circulated by a centrifugal water pump mounted on the carburettor side and powered via the camshaft gear. Each cylinder was equipped with one spark plug positioned above the intake valve; ignition was managed by a magneto located on the control side of the engine and driven from the crankshaft through an intermediate spur gear. The lubrication system lacked an oil pump and relied exclusively on splash lubrication.

Applications

File:Fokker in zijn Spin Dutch aviation pioneer Fokker in his first aircraft.jpg

Anthony Fokker piloting his initial aircraft 'Spin', which was powered by an Argus 50 hp engine

• Fokker Spin (first and second iterations)
• Sikorsky S-5