British 'Duplex' engines

[Schneiderman]

Has anybody ever come across the term 'Duplex' applied to a British aircraft engine project around the 1931 period? I can't really add anymore context other than the word - as in Duplex Engines

And, NO, nothing to do with Wright or other US manufacturers.

Thanks

 

[Hood]

The British Commercial Lorry and Engineering Company used the Duplex brand for their engines in the early 1920s.

Grace's Guide quotes The Engineer of 1920 "Manufacturers of “Duplex” Motor Cars, “County” Petrol Lorries, “Duplex” Marine Motors, “Scott” and “T.S. Duplex” Aero Engines."

But 1920 is not 1931, though the company was not dissolved until 1932.

 

[Schneiderman]

Thanks. Interesting, but, as you say not likely to be a lead.

 

[Apophenia]

Ray E. Deeble's Duplex engine concept was being fairly widely written about in 1931 but that was a Long Beach, CA, project.

source: Bibliography of Aeronautics, Part 54 - Engines - By Manufacturer; Dec 1939; page 96

Is it possible that one of the smaller British producers had expressed an interest in Deeble's work? These engine had double-acting cylinders (rather like some locomotive engines of a half century earlier).

-- https://aeroenginesaz.com/en/brand_deeble

 

[CJGibson]

These wouldn't be related to the barrel engines that were looked at in the late 30s?

Chris

 

[Schneiderman]

Ray E. Deeble's Duplex engine concept was being fairly widely written about in 1931 but that was a Long Beach, CA, project.

source: Bibliography of Aeronautics, Part 54 - Engines - By Manufacturer; Dec 1939; page 96

Is it possible that one of the smaller British producers had expressed an interest in Deeble's work? These engine had double-acting cylinders (rather like some locomotive engines of a half century earlier).

-- https://aeroenginesaz.com/en/brand_deeble

Thanks, I'll look into any possible licence agreements with UK manufacturers

 

[Schneiderman]

These wouldn't be related to the barrel engines that were looked at in the late 30s?

Chris

That's a thought. Redrup ran one in the late 1920s and it was flight tested in a Simmonds Spartan. Time is right, context too, its just the power output of that unit was low, as was the slightly later one built by Bristol. Another lead to check out.