De Dion-Bouton in Paris first successfully developed their version of the V-8 engine in 1909. They produced two basic types of engine, an automobile and an aircraft type. Cadillac in 1914 copied the automobile engine and the aircraft engine by Hispano-Suiza the same year. Although the Hisso engine was a big advancement using many features that the De Dion-Bouton did not have. The original De Dion engine used a 180-degree crankshaft, as did the Cadillac.
Some misconceptions have been made that the 180-degree crankshaft was produced for racing purposes: this is just not true! It was developed because De Dion and the others just did not know any better. This is not to fault De Dion-Bouton it was just was a case of happenstance. One must remember that Hisso and Cadillac didn't know any better either! The only outfit that I know of that was on the track of the 90-degree crankshaft was Wolseley of Britain. Who put 8 counterweights on their version of the aircraft engine of Hisso. This somewhat "proves" to me that they were on the track of the Secondary Shake that so plagued the Hisso engines in WW-1. If one can imagine a 718 cubic inch (11.77 Liter) or even the larger 1127 cubic inch (18.48 Liter) engine using this type of crankshaft.
Below sketch of Secondary Shake Pattern,
Below Hispano-Suiza firing pattern.
Below Sketch Kalb's # 1
Below Sketch Kalb's# 2
Kalb’s Formula for Crankshaft Shake and
Vibration. 180 degree crankshaft V-8 Monday, Nov. 29, 1999 In the accompanying tabulation of the inertia balance and the firing intervals of the engines listed of the types specified, the meaning of the symbols used is as follows, example is for HISPANO-SUIZA V-8 718 cubic inch engine of WW-1.
C = Centrifugal force, in pounds, that would be obtained by rotating the reciprocating weight of one cylinder with crank speed at crank radius. This is the weight of the con rod assembly above the center of mass when the piston, wrist pin, rings and any other misc. parts are in place, see sketch.
FORMULA FOR CENTRIFUGAL FORCE CAN BE FOUND IN MACHINERY’S HANDBOOK UNDER CENTRIFUGALFORCE. W = Value of the centrifugal force produced by the counterweight necessary to cancel all or part of the inertia forces. The primary is supposed to run with the same speed and in the same direction as the crankshaft. The secondary weight runs twice as fast and in the same direction, unless otherwise noted.
H = The horizontal unbalanced inertia resultant after the counterweight indicated has been incorporated. 0 degrees is at the vertical C/L of the engine, not the cyl.
Theta= Crank angle, measured from the crank position as shown, in a clockwise direction. Lambda (r/L) = A Ratio of crank radius divided by connecting rod length. (r/L)
the rest of the formula is in picture at the winged diagram of Secondary Shake Pattern
above Top.
Next , a circular picture of the so called 180 degree firing system.
Sketch of conrod layout. # 1
Sketch of conrod layout. # 2
Sketch of conrod layout # 3
Notice the arrowheads (Red) that point downwards are three whereas there is only one pointing upwards (Green) this means that the rods are not in balance!
A history of the V-8 engine.
http://www.tecsoc.or...y/2002/dec2.htm
The following shows the area of the conrod that creates the Primary and Secondary shakes.
http://www.atlasf1.c...&threadid=53520
A line drawing of the original V-8 engine! Notice the 180 degree crankshaft!
http://www.enginehis...before_1925.htm
M.L. Anderson
