Aerospace Engines A to Z
Aerospace Engines A to Z

Updated: 18-Sep-2019

Charles Keene of Los Angeles, California made a small aeronautical, three-cylinder radial engine running on Diesel.

Charles Keene and his engine
“Charles Keene and his engine”

-It delivered 6 hp with an ingenious fuel injection system in the cylinder and a compression ratio of 16 to 1.

-Although it was designed for small planes, there were plans to build larger models on that base.

From Appendix 6: Some more information about the small Charles Keene aero engine in Los Angeles. Running on Diesel.

Charles Keene showing engine details
“Charles showing engine details”

-It has three radial cylinders and uses the two stroke cycle. The engine gave 6.3 hp at 2,000 rpm.

Engines of KEENE

Model: 3 cyl. radial

Arquitecture: 2-stroke3-cylinder Radial
Cooling:
Total Displacement:
Bore / Stroke:
Power: 6 HP @ 2000 rpm
Weight:

Other details:

The author of this edition of Aeroengines AtoZ, through Aeroteca, collaborated on Version 2 of this video, which is presented here.

To understand the operation of the connecting rods, the 1929 Continental R 670 single-cylinder engine was chosen.

A demonstration of Version 3, improved at the author's suggestion, is also available on YouTube at a later date. This version shows bronze valve guides, improved valve spring movement, and the split crankshaft counterweights and front bearing balls also move.

The design is from Juan Soler, Sant Cugat, Barcelona

Below we show a flash of version 3

Counting also with the coloboration of JMC of Enginys Mecanics in Mataro, Barcelona