Unique Cylinder Head

[larrys40]

Can anyone identify the cylinder head in the photo. It is aluminum and a unique combustion chamber ( extremely narrow and deep). Maybe for Peitenpol or air useage?

Thanks,
Larry S.

[larrys40]

When I said air I meant "airplane" as in peitenpol or? Not Gordon Smith Air Ciompressor. Any help in ident is appreciated.
Larry

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

That is an odd design for sure that I don't know that I remember seeing one like that before. A couple of things about 'aero' cylinder heads is many of them were dual ignition, ...and most of them were not very high compression. Your head does appear to have a lot of CC's in the combustion chamber. I just don't understand the reason for the design. What does the opposite side look like?

[MrTube]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

That is an odd design for sure that I don't know that I remember seeing one like that before. A couple of things about 'aero' cylinder heads is many of them were dual ignition, ...and most of them were not very high compression. Your head does appear to have a lot of CC's in the combustion chamber. I just don't understand the reason for the design. What does the opposite side look like?

Maybe whoever designed it did not understand the reason for the design either

[Bruce Lancaster]

Mebbe an attempt at getting high turbulence without crossing over into Ricardo Patent turf??

[Peter J]

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Which begs the question, what is the "Ricardo Patent"?

[Bruce Lancaster]

Harry Ricardo developed and patented ways of increasing turbulence and combustion efficiency in L-head engines...I think he won a lawsuit against Ford in the 1930's when Ford combustion chambers evalved into very Ricardo-like form.
There was at least one T or A speed head with his name cast into it...

[Crazydaddyo]

Here is an online version of a Ricardo's book:

http://www.scribd.com/full/40610101?...icdancrnxypd05

.

[CHARLIE YAPP]

I have a list of over 60 flat heads for the model a/b ford four bangers and this chamber is a first for me. There have been some mighty strange heads built over the years, mostly jobs playing with combustion theory. The best performing heads have always been cast iron regardless of chamber shape
i would like to see the other side.
Dating:there were a few (perhaps 3 or 4) aluminum flat heads commercially sold prior to the war (ruckstell, rallum, etc) but most were cast iron. Nearly all were aluminum made after 1948.
This single spark plug chamber has absolutely nothing to do with the ricardo design.
Can i have permission to reprint in secrets magazine please? We have a very wide readership and more might come out from members.
Thanks for sharing. C.y.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Ricardo worked on a lot of engines, and I think ultimately liked diesels more than gas burners, but his major earlier work was flogging L-head WWI tank engines into better shape...
I think on simple L-heads he developed the use of a close quench/turbulence area to stir the mix, placing spark plug over valves with bias to exhaust side, and later tilting the valves slightly to direct flow more sensibly. I have not located whatever I read about the Ford lawsuit, but I think post-1936 flatheads show lots of Ricardo influence in all those areas... "nothing to do with Ricardo design" is what I was saying exactly...my flying guess is that this weirdo head was an attempt to get some turbulence push out of the area above piston WITHOUT using Ricardo's simple approach of a flat area. A head could not resemble Ricardo design without attracting lawyers, as it all had major production engine implications in the L-head world.
Now...has anyone seen an aftermarket Ford head with "Ricardo" cast on it?? I am pretty sure there was one marketed, and I think it was A and not T.

[Jim Brierley]

Heads for the Model A were made under the Ricardo patent as well as the Waukeshaw (sp?) patent, perhaps others? I've seen heads weirder than this one!

[Bruce Lancaster]

I am sure I have seen heads with Ricardo cast very conspicuously...now I want to see one, preferably from the chamber side!

[Jason in TX]

It kind if reminds me of the long narrow "V" shape that early Thomas heads had.

My Thomas head has a Super Winfield style combustion chamber though.

Have you had this on a car to see the performance?