Samuel Dalziel Heron
| Samuel Dalziel Heron | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 18 May 1891 Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| Died | 10 July 1963 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | British |
| Citizenship | American |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Aircraft Engine Design |
| Employer(s) | Royal Aircraft Factory, Siddeley-Deasy, Ethyl Corporation |
| Significant design | Heron cylinder head |
| Significant advance | Sodium cooled poppet valves |
Samuel Dalziel Heron
Samuel Dalziel Heron (S.D. Heron) (18 May 1891 – 10 July 1963) was a British born aerospace engineer who made major contributions to the design of piston engines. While working in Britain he carried out the first systematic research into air-cooled cylinders. In the U.S.A he contributed to the design of the Curtiss R1454, invented the sodium cooled poppet valve and became technical director for aeronautical research for the Ethyl Corporation.
Sam Dalziel Heron was born on May 18, 1893, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. He attended Alleyn's School in Dulwich, Goldsmiths' College (London University) and Durham University, near Newcastle upon Tyne.
During the First World War, Heron worked at the Royal Aircraft Factory. From 1915 to 1916 he worked with Professor A.H. Gibson on the first systematic research into the design of air-cooled engine cylinders. They concluded that (1) aluminium should be used for efficient conduction (2) the cylinder head should be in one piece because conduction through metal-to-metal interfaces could not be guaranteed (3) the cylinder head should provide the shortest escape path for heat at the hottest parts across the greatest cross section. Working with Major F.M Green, they developed the RAF.8. This was a 14 cylinder 300 hp radial engine, which first ran in September 1916.
On the breakup of the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1917 he joined Siddeley-Deasy. He disagreed with J.D Siddeley over the redesign of the Siddeley-Deasy Puma cylinder head and other design policies. As a result, he resigned and left for the U.S.A in 1921.
Manley Medal for 'Meritorious contributions to Aircraft Engineering' 1928
Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Fidelity and Meritorious conduct in aid of the war effort against the common enemies of the United States and its Allies in World War II (1948)
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