Sergant A
{{Short description|1920s French piston aircraft engine}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Sergant A | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft engine |type=4-cylinder, air-cooled, upright inline piston engine |manufacturer=Sergant |designer=Sergant |national origin=France |first run= |major applications= |produced= |number built= |program cost= |unit cost= |developed from= |variants with their own articles= }} |
The Sergant A was a French 4-cylinder, air-cooled, upright inline piston engine with a maximum output of {{convert|10|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}}, designed to meet the needs of the very small and light single seat sports aircraft of the early 1920s. It was used by at least ten different types.
Design and development
In both the UK and France in the early 1920s there was a wish to make civilian flying more affordable, both in capital outlay and in running costs. This led to a need for low power engines. In Britain there were suitable engines like the Bristol Cherub but French designers were largely forced to import engines, either from the UK or Italy. The Sergant A was intended to provide a native product.
It was on display at the November 1923 Paris Salon and struck Flight's reporter as "extremely interesting" and car-engine like in its four-cylinder inline arrangement, a little heavy but reliable. It was unusual in its high maximum crankshaft speed of 3,200 rpm and the availability of a choice of reduction gear ratios.
Operational history
The date of first running is not known but it appeared, and was widely used by a variety of aircraft and in several contests during 1923, with more in 1924.
Applications
Specifications
{{pistonspecs|
|ref=Les Ailes, August 1923; Flight, February 1924
|type=4-cylinder, air-cooled, upright inline piston engine
|bore={{convert|55.5|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|stroke={{convert|80|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|displacement={{convert|750|cm3|cuin|abbr=on}}
|length={{convert|776|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|width={{convert|340|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|height={{convert|565|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|weight= {{convert|46|kg|lb|abbr=on}} including carburettor and magneto
|valvetrain=cylinder head valves operated by rocker arms driven via pushrods from a camshaft in aluminium crankcase
|fuelsystem= Zenith carburettor, single Scintilla magneto
|fueltype=petrol
|oilsystem=5 hrs oil in aluminium crankcase, delivered by pressure pump
|coolingsystem=air, directed from a forward scoop around cylinders and vertical fins
|power={{convert|16|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}} at 3,200 rpm crankshaft speed
|specpower=
|compression=
|fuelcon=
|specfuelcon=
|oilcon=
|power/weight= 0.26 kW/kg (0.16 hp/lb)
|designer=
|reduction_gear= Choice of three reduction gear ratios: 14/35, 15/34 and 16/33
|general_other=
|components_other=Crankshaft: 3-bearing, silicon-manganese steel forging
|performance_other=
}}
{{aircontent
|see also=
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
}}
References
External links
- [http://claudel.dopp.free.fr/Les_planeurs/Descriptions_planeurs/Poncelet_Vivette/Poncelet-Vivette.htm Poncelet Vivette with photos and text on Sergant A]