Attempting to comprehend this after 7 Punk IPAs was a mistake. And it’s technology that’s over 100 years old! Engineers are marvellous creatures aren’t they? I do envy their genius.
Well ! It is still difficult to comprehend at one viewing, but this is the very best animation I have seen, it is as good as being there as far as I can tell, and we do not get choked with Cordite fumes, very many thanks for this, Happy Christmas to you ! Chris B.
Indeed, inventing this does take a genius (and a lot of trial an error). Even animating this involved some serious math. Mr. Harry Kauper didn't have computers nor animation possibilities. Thanks for watching !!
For a while this operation was stuck in my head since I couldn't comprehend how such precise synchronization could have been achieved without with almost-contemporary advances in engineering mathematics and firearm technology then I realized: The trigger is not automatic. The trigger is ENGAGED and then can be fired at will (maintaining synchronization) until it is disengaged. What a very neat piece of engineering, but I am sure it would've frustrated the pilots that the machine gun fire was not as immediate as a move of the finger. Even then the real beauty is in creating cam gear that could 'sense' the rotation of the propellor/crankshaft at such high rotational speeds in era where useful infrared detection was a piece of sci-fi! Why hasn't anyone written a book on the mathematics that went into older technologies??
Indeed, the firing triggering (engagements) happens when the rollers go over the cam which is mounted onto the engines main gear. There is some documentation but it's definitely something someone could have written a book about. Thanks for watching !!
Indeed a masterpiece of engineering. No computers,no CNC. Just pencil on paper and possibly a 'Faber Castell' slide-ruler ! Weight was an important issue during the early days of aviation. Rotary engines have no need for cooling liquid, pipes, water jackets, radiator or batteries. They provided excellent self-cooling. The rotating crankcase/cylinder assembly created its own cooling airflow, even with the aircraft at rest. Because of the rotating mass, no flywheel is needed. They provided and excellent power to weight ratio. Thank you for watching !!
so umm i assume re-timing the guns required a special tool with a light on it or some way to see the relationship between firing and the prop turning? obviously getting it wrong would mean you go through alot of expensive props haha
Thanks for your response. It's a very good question and to be honest I don't have an answer right now. I may have it somewhere ....... Indeed a special tool and/or feeler gauges. I will look it up because I like to know the answer too !! Thanks for watching !!
Thanks for your comments. Actually, the propeller and synchronization gear are correct, but the sound of the machine guns (firing speed) is indeed not correct. Just wanted to add some 'fireworks" at the end as an extra effect. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching !
the engine starts and thats how it actually sounds when you fly and shoot depending on the engines rmp so thats why some guns sound different and because of more compression sections in the cam, and the type of gun. this is showing you how it sounds if the plane isn't fully started but the propellers are turning slow, then as you see it eventually starts at the end. you would only shoot in the air anyway.
Indeed, seems very logical. The video, I followed the assembly procedures as outlined in the Gnome 9-B2 100 h.p. technical manual (instruction Book No.2). Thanks for your feedback and for watching !!
3D is excellent, but the adjustment of this gear is incorrect. If you look at the original manual of the Sopwith Kauper Gun Gear, T.5. D.589/2684 17/4/18, page 4 "adjustment of the gear" you can see:"3. The short pull rod should now be adjusted so that the trigger of the gun is _only just tripped_ when the engine is turned slowly and the roller runs down to the lowest point of the cam. The adjustment _must be set very fine or the grouping will be wide_".Or:"The short pull rod should now be adjusted so that when the engine is turned slowly the trigger is only just tripped when the lowest part of the cam is under the tappet roller.This adjustment is obtained in the following manner, and should be _set very fine_, as otherwise it is possible for the gun _to fire either early or late shots_:a. Turn the engine (with the bowden lever pressed) until either depression of the cam is immediately under the tappet roller.b. Release the bowden lever and lengthen the short pull rod until you find that if you pull the lock back and then let it go forward again it does not trip.c. Shorten the short pull rod slowly until the lock just trips. Shorten it still further by one quarter of a turn and carefully tighten up the lock nuts.d. Test the accuracy of your adjustment as follows:e. Turn the engine quarter of a revolution and then cock the lock.f. Press the bowden lever and keep it pressed while someone else turns the engine until the lock trips.g. If immediately after the lock trips the short pull rod continues its downward movement for an appreciable distance as the engine is turned a little further round, then your adjustment is too coarse, and should be made finer by slightly lengthening the short pull rod. If however the lock does not trip as the cam depression passes under the tappet roller, then your adjustment is too fine, and should be corrected by shortening the short pull rod.Timing: The propeller should be put on the shaft is such a position that its trailing edge is six inches past the line of fire at the moment the lock trips." - Notes on Sopwith Kauper Synchronised Fire Control Gear. Bulletin of the Information Section, Air service, American E. F. 25 Sept. 1918.So, the shoot can be performed only when the tappet roller is near the lowest part of the cam. In practice, this means that there is only one shoot between the blades of propeller. It's so important because there is a some interval between the time when the trigger of machine gun is released and the time when the bullet pass through the propeller's arc.This time interval is very small (near 0,01 sec) and may be different for different types of guns but it does not depend on engine speed.If the gear is adjusted properly the bullet passes at a distance of six inches from the propeller's blade trailing edge when the engine is turning by hands. Assume that It is near 20 degrees from blade's axis of symmetry. But if the engine run at the idling speed, say 600 rpm - the angle between bullet trace and the blade's axis would be considerably greater: about 20 + 0,01 * 360 * 600 / 60 = 56 deg.And if the engine run at the full speed = 1200 rpm - the angle would be 20 + 72 = 92 deg. So if the machine gun can shoot near the opposite blade when the engine is running at the very low speed, as it happens on 1:26 in this clip - the opposite blade would get a bullet if the engine speed increased.
Thanks for watching and your Excellent feedback !! I've never seen this manual "Sopwith Kauper Gun Gear, T.5. D.589/2684 17/4/18" and would love to get a copy of this. Where and how did you get it ??? Perhaps it's best if you use the Contact form on my web-site (www.pjvision.nl/). This way we can communicate via e-mail.
Sorry for so unreadable text, but this RU-vid deleted all my text wrapping!Unfortunately I cannot open your site for unknown reason, so I sent you a private message via The Aerodrome.
I assume you mean just 1 propeller with 2 blades. Indeed, it would have been a very difficult think to resolve, or like it was done on WW2 airplanes e.g. the Hawker or Spitfire, have the guns mounted in the wings. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching !!
@@skepticalbadger Indeed. The Kauper interrupter gear was only used by (and patented) the Sopwith company. Although it could be modified with another cam (for 4 blades), the early SE5's possible used another type of MG synchronizer gear. Thanks !!
It is the animated Kauper Gun interrupter gear, invented by Harry Kauper which allowed the firing of a the Vickers machine-gun through the rotating aircraft propeller. First used in April 1916 and were fitted to Sopwith aircraft during WW1. It is real, no nonsense ;-) Thanks for watching !!
