The Ford Barn

t-head · 05-17-2014, 06:50 AM

Michell invented this engine in the mid-teens based on a simple yet ingenious method of eliminating many moving engine parts by replacing the crankshaft, connecting rods and the bearings of a conventional engine with a wobble plate. See many more photos and learn the story at The Old Motor.

Tom Wesenberg · 05-17-2014, 07:02 AM

That setup looks just like the common R6 air conditioning compressors GM used for many years. When I went to the GM training school to learn about them I started thinking it would make a neat engine.

Joe K · 05-17-2014, 07:10 AM

Otherwise known as a "swash plate" engine.

The same principle later adopted in many applications - certainly diesel engine injection pumps. Most notably used on VW diesel engines - but used certainly for at least a generation before.

Interesting pix though - thanks!

Heh. Honeycomb radiator?

Joe in NH

rollingsculpture · 05-17-2014, 07:18 AM

wow does one still exist that is working?

Mafman · 05-17-2014, 02:30 PM

Very cool... thanks for sharing!

Terry,NJ · 05-17-2014, 02:58 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Also known as a barrel engine or a waffle plate engine. There's an almost unlimited variety of cylinder configurations possible.
Terry

blgitn · 05-17-2014, 08:04 PM

That's COOL! Is it in a 'Michell' ?

mass A man · 05-17-2014, 10:16 PM

Thanks for posting this. Looks like it's mounted in a mid twenties Buick to me.

t-head · 05-18-2014, 06:39 AM

This is the cylinder head end of one of Michell's mid-1920s, five cylinder engines w/two plugs a cylinder. It was part of a self contained unit including the flywheel, clutch and transmission. More photos and info @ http://theoldmotor.com/?p=119936

Flathead · 05-18-2014, 02:49 PM

Looks expensive to manufacture. I remember those GM compressors as being pretty smooth when running.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 05-18-2014, 03:02 PM

My friend, Corny, had a small, single cylinder, "wobble plate" engine, run by compressed air. I don't know what it was used for???----Bill W.

fiddlybits · 05-18-2014, 07:12 PM

Look up the dynacam engine, now owned by Avec and is called the Axial vector Engine.

05-17-2014, 06:50 AM	#1
t-head Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: In my machine shop. Posts: 1,047	OT - Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - The Engine Without a Crankshaft Michell invented this engine in the mid-teens based on a simple yet ingenious method of eliminating many moving engine parts by replacing the crankshaft, connecting rods and the bearings of a conventional engine with a wobble plate. See many more photos and learn the story at The Old Motor. Last edited by t-head; 05-17-2014 at 07:49 AM.

05-17-2014, 07:02 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - An Engine Without a Crankshaft That setup looks just like the common R6 air conditioning compressors GM used for many years. When I went to the GM training school to learn about them I started thinking it would make a neat engine.

05-17-2014, 07:10 AM	#3
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - An Engine Without a Crankshaft Otherwise known as a "swash plate" engine. The same principle later adopted in many applications - certainly diesel engine injection pumps. Most notably used on VW diesel engines - but used certainly for at least a generation before. Interesting pix though - thanks! Heh. Honeycomb radiator? Joe in NH __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

05-17-2014, 07:18 AM	#4
rollingsculpture Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Takoma park md Posts: 271	Re: Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - An Engine Without a Crankshaft wow does one still exist that is working? __________________ Rust and roll will never die

05-17-2014, 02:30 PM	#5
Mafman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 146	Re: OT - Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - The Engine Without a Crankshaft Very cool... thanks for sharing! __________________ James Johnson 1930 Tudor Sedan & 1939 Deluxe Fordor

05-17-2014, 02:58 PM	#6
Terry,NJ Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Northern Bucks Co. Pa Posts: 632	Re: OT - Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - The Engine Without a Crankshaft Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Also known as a barrel engine or a waffle plate engine. There's an almost unlimited variety of cylinder configurations possible. Terry

05-17-2014, 08:04 PM	#7
blgitn Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: West Point, VA 23181 Posts: 373	Re: OT - Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - The Engine Without a Crankshaft That's COOL! Is it in a 'Michell' ?

05-17-2014, 10:16 PM	#8
mass A man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Danvers, Ma. Posts: 712	Re: OT - Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - The Engine Without a Crankshaft Thanks for posting this. Looks like it's mounted in a mid twenties Buick to me.

05-18-2014, 06:39 AM	#9
t-head Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: In my machine shop. Posts: 1,047	Re: OT - Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - The Engine Without a Crankshaft This is the cylinder head end of one of Michell's mid-1920s, five cylinder engines w/two plugs a cylinder. It was part of a self contained unit including the flywheel, clutch and transmission. More photos and info @ http://theoldmotor.com/?p=119936

05-18-2014, 02:49 PM	#10
Flathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 1,498	Re: OT - Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - The Engine Without a Crankshaft Looks expensive to manufacture. I remember those GM compressors as being pretty smooth when running.

05-18-2014, 03:02 PM	#11
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: OT - Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - The Engine Without a Crankshaft My friend, Corny, had a small, single cylinder, "wobble plate" engine, run by compressed air. I don't know what it was used for???----Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

05-18-2014, 07:12 PM	#12
fiddlybits Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: N Illinois Posts: 447	Re: OT - Anthony Michell’s Crankless Engines - The Engine Without a Crankshaft Look up the dynacam engine, now owned by Avec and is called the Axial vector Engine.