Maybach VL I

The Maybach VL I was an Otto cycle V-12 engine, made from 1924 in Germany. The airship LZ 126 was powered by five VL I engines which emphasised reliability and low fuel consumption.

VL I
Maybach VL II, a similar engine
Type V-12 liquid-cooled 4-stroke piston engine (Otto)
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Maybach
Major applications USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) / LZ 126
Produced 1924
Number built at least five
Developed from Maybach Mb IVa
Developed into Maybach VL II

Technical description

The VL I was a V-12 liquid-cooled four-stroke Otto cycle engine, with individual grey cast iron cylinders, with a cylinder bore of 140 mm (5.5 in), piston stroke of 180 mm (7.1 in), and displacement of 33.255 L (2,029.3 cu in). The crankshaft was supported in roller-bearings and was fitted with a vibration damper for smooth operation. The overhead valves, one large inlet valve and two smaller outlet valves per cylinder, were operated by a camshaft running between the cylinder banks, operating the valves with tappets, pushrods and rocker arms.

The majority of the ancillary equipment was run by the camshaft to reduce vibration. Fuel was mixed with air by two fireproof Maybach carburetors per cylinder bank, with two header tanks above the carburetors providing fuel. Compressed air was used to start the engine; two tanks with a volume of 25 m3 (880 cu ft) at 29 bar (420 psi) supplied compressed air directly to each cylinder to start the engine.

To change the direction of rotation of the crankshaft, the camshaft, with lobes for normal or reverse operation, could be moved by compressed air to change over the cams in use. This mechanism, used to decelerate and halt aircraft, was operated by an engineer, accommodated in the engine nacelles, with levers.

Specifications

Data from [1]

General characteristics
  • Type: V-12 4-stroke liquid-cooled piston engine (Otto)
  • Bore: 140 mm (5.5 in)
  • Stroke: 180 mm (7.1 in)
  • Displacement: 33,255 cm3 (2,029.3 cu in)

Components
  • Valvetrain: pushrod operated overhead valves: 1 × inlet, 2 × exhaust with reversible rotation cams
  • Fuel system: 2 × carburetors per cylinder bank
  • Oil system: pressure feed
  • Cooling system: liquid-cooled

Performance

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maybach VL.I.
  1. Peter Kleinheins (2005), Die großen Zeppeline: Die Geschichte des Luftschiffbaus (in German) (3 ed.), Berlin: Springer, pp. 93–94, Bibcode:2005grze.book.....K, ISBN 3-540-21170-5
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