The first Italian Desmo wasn't a Ducati

Derek

Derek

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Some of you may be surprised to learn that the first Italian bike with desmodromic valve operation wasn't a Ducati. That honour goes to Azzariti who built bikes from 1931 to 1934, subsequently selling out to Benelli. I haven't been able to find any pictures of their bikes except for this prototype based on a Benelli.
The patent drawing shows a massive circular cam, gear driven straight off the crankshaft and nearly as big as the engine, into which the ends of the valves are located, pulling and pushing them open and closed. An interesting concept but I can see why it wasn't successful.
 
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Memory going with old age but wasn't it BM or somebody like that that actually "invented" the desmo principle.

Ducati (Ing. F Taglioni) developed it and many folk assume it was a Ducati invention.
 
239desmo said:
Memory going with old age but wasn't it BM or somebody like that that actually "invented" the desmo principle.

Ducati (Ing. F Taglioni) developed it and many folk assume it was a Ducati invention.
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From memory (and I could easily be wrong) at least Ferrari and Merc have dabbled with it but chose to leave it alone?!

You're right, it's not a Ducati invention but they [Ducati] have certainly grasped hold of the concept and developed it far further than anyone else I can think of.

Thank feck - I love it!:cool:
 
Martin Ducati Glasgow said:
You're right, it's not a Ducati invention but they [Ducati] have certainly grasped hold of the concept and developed it far further than anyone else I can think of.
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Dr T. came on board with Ducati in the early 50's and his first desmodromic motor was from memory in 1956.

As far as I am aware he never claimed to have invented it but simply saw the potential and developed it.
 
It'd make a good flywheel.
In terms of not being a success it must have been a packaging nightmare. And given that Dr T used the desmodromics to allow him to push the revs up without grenading the heads I suppose a big heavy spinning disc on one end of the engine would have restricted things somewhat.
Interesting to see though.

Robbie
 
Derek,

A google search has thrown up some interesting info.

Gustav Mees seems to have patented it around 1896!

In 1907 it found it's way into a V4 motor and the 1914 Delage Grand Prix car used it.
 
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