Piston Engines: Overview and Mechanical Arrangement

1. Piston Engine Propulsion
Overview and Mechanical
Arrangement

2. • What is a Piston Engine?
• - It is an internal combustion engine which
produces power by controlled burning of fuel.
• A piston moves back and forth in a cylinder.
• The engines power is generated by a force
exerted on the piston by the rapid expansion of
the gases resulting from the combustion of a
compressed fuel – air mixture.
• The power from the motion of the piston is
transmitted through a connecting rod to a
crankshaft, which is connected to the propeller.

4. Cylinder
Piston
Connecting
Rod
Crank
Shaft
‘Big-end’
Gudgeon
Pin Main
Bearings
Offset
Bearing
Counter
Balance
Weight

5. 1
2
3
4Pistons
Crankshaft
Rear
Front
Flywheel
attachment
flange
Timing Belt and
Water Pump
driving pulley
location
Main
Bearings

6. Sump
(Oil Tank)
‘Rocker Box’
Cover
Cylinder
Block
Flywheel
Valve
Gear
Crankshaft
and Pistons
Exploded View
of the Engine
Cylinder Head
Assembly
Timing Shaft

7. Inlet Valve Exhaust
Valve

8. Rocker
Rocker Shaft
Closing
spring
Valve Seat
Push Rod
Cam Shaft
Inlet Valve Closed Inlet Valve Open
Valve
Lift