Gnome Monosoupape engine question

[nmroberto]

I've looked at pictures of this engine and I can't figure out where the engine exhausts.  There doesn't seem to be any exhaust pipes visible.  Maybe I'm just getting too near sighted to tell. 

[Jamo]

There is a single exhaust valve on each cylinder head, operated by a pushrod that opened the valve when the pressure dropped at the end of the power stroke. A pressure-operated inlet valve, which was balanced by a counterweight to equalize the centrifugal forces, was placed in the centre of the piston crown, where it opened to allow the fuel–air charge to enter from the engine's central crankcase (Wiki is your friend  )

[WarrenD]

Robert,
            As Jamo pointed out, there's an exhaust port at the end of each cylinder head, and that's how it is for ALL rotaries. What many people mistakenly confuse as exhaust pipes on these engines are actually air induction pipes for the engine. (Also, many people also confuse the two intake pipes on either side of a Fokker Triplane or Nieuport as exhausts, when they are the induction pipes as well.)

Warren

[nmroberto]

 Was there a carburetor or injectors for the fuel?   

Were they two cycle or four cycle engines?

Must have been noisy buggers with the exhaust exiting directly through the valves with no exhaust pipes.

[IanB]

4 cycle engine. There was no true carburetor as we know it. The fuel/air mix was inducted through the hollow crankshaft into the cylinders.

This is quite a good explanation with a good diagram of the layout...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_engine

Ian

[WarrenD]

It's also a total loss system regarding fuel and oil:

How one works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY07FI91F9M

A real one starting up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYc-H8Wg-MQ&feature=iv&src_vid=sY07FI91F9M&annotation_id=annotation_129428

Thomas Morse Scout at start up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfEEmdz7-Fk

Dr.I : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aaf2WnHG_A

Camel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3DXEsC4Pq8

HTH!

Warren