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100 years boxer engine - working well against each other

2020-05-22T02:35:23.547Z


Boxer engines have been driving vehicles in large series for 100 years. The principle offers advantages, but today only very few manufacturers rely on the boxer. Just why?


Boxer engines have been driving vehicles in large series for 100 years. The principle offers advantages, but today only very few manufacturers rely on the boxer. Just why?

Aachen (dpa / tmn) - sawing sound with complete smoothness. In the case of internal combustion engines, only the boxer engine can do this. It is now 100 years old in large series. The motor principle itself is even older: Carl Benz called it the "contra motor" in 1896 and installed the drive in the "Dos à Dos" model a year later. The boxer only really became popular a few years later with BMW, but also with the VW Beetle or the duck from Citroën.

The pistons run smoothly against each other

The boxer engine offers several advantages compared to other engine concepts. This includes the flat design, the low center of gravity and well balanced mass forces, explains Prof. Stefan Pischinger from RWTH Aachen. The basic principle is that two opposite pistons move in a line at the same speed. As a result, the boxer runs smoothly and with little vibration. While an in-line engine only offers smooth and balanced engine running from six cylinders, a boxer engine can do this from four cylinders.

Due to its design, boxer engines do not cause a consumption or emission disadvantage. However, the concept only shows its advantages with an even number of cylinders. A currently popular downsizing engine with three cylinders can therefore not be realized with the boxer principle.

Only a few rely on the boxer principle today

Essentially, only two car manufacturers currently apply this principle. "The engine is more expensive due to the double number of camshafts or cylinder heads. In addition, the vehicle concept has to be tailored closely to the engine, which is flat but has a wide construction," explains Prof. Pischinger. Due to the longitudinal position, it can only be used in four-wheel drive vehicles or cars with rear-wheel drive - ideal for sports cars such as from Porsche or off-road vehicles such as from Subaru.

"For both manufacturers, the engine principle is a tradition, so they maintain their brand image," says the institute director of the chair for internal combustion engines.

Motorcycles also "box"

The same advantages apply to motorcycles as to cars: low center of gravity, compact design, smooth running, pulling strength and high efficiency. In 1920 BMW developed a 500-cubic two-cylinder boxer with 6.5 hp, which was sold to a small motorcycle manufacturer. It wasn't until 1923 that BMW designed its first own motorcycle with the R 32 with the R 32.

Especially in the early days of motorcycles, engines often had cooling problems. With the cylinders standing in the wind, there was sufficient cooling air. Repairs were also easier because screwdrivers came directly to the valve train. Except for a short break between 1945 and 1949, BMW still produces boxer motorcycles. In the case of cars, on the other hand, motorcycle technology only moved into the BMW 600 and 700 models as a transition technology.

Different from Subaru. The Japanese manufacturer has been producing boxer engines for cars since 1966. With around 1.2 million boxer engines sold each year, Subaru is the largest manufacturer of this type of drive. Due to the low height, Subaru achieves a low center of gravity, which ensures a balanced weight distribution in a position far behind the front axle.

"Vibrations are barely noticeable and the low center of gravity offers low roll behavior in curves and therefore very agile handling," says Jörg Kracke, Head of Technology at Subaru Germany. There is also good crash behavior. In the event of an impact, the flat boxer engine slides under the passenger compartment. Compared to similar vehicles, it is sportier and more comfortable.

Legendary Porsche boxers

Porsche introduced a four-cylinder boxer engine in 1948 with the 356. From 1963, the boxer engine of the 901/911 model developed 130 hp from six cylinders and 2.0 liters of displacement. So far, more than 1.7 million boxers have left the production lines. Thomas Wasserbäch has been developing engines at Porsche since 1998 and boxers since 2003.

"It is this willing ability to turn and the direct response even at high speeds that make the boxer," he explains. "In addition there is the inimitable sound." He couldn't imagine Porsche without a boxer. "This is the holy grail of the company that we look after and care for."

Source: merkur

All tech articles on 2020-05-22

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