New type of engine
 

I know a guy that's involved in this project...any comments are welcome.

http://www.roundengine.com/default.htm

the concept and idea are very close to rotary..!!!!! I think.!!!

Very cool web site! Thanks for the link. :) This esp. is very interesting...finally a good expaination of our low torque:


"The two engines have materially different effective torque arms. The maximum effective torque arm of the Wankel is the distance from the drive shaft to the inner circle of the rotor (identified by green circle above). This distance is relatively short and thus the effective torque arm of the Wankel is reasonably short, even at its maximum. Moreover, since the pressure distribution and resulting force line of action changes throughout a revolution, the effective torque arm during the Wankel’s power stroke continually varies, similar to a reciprocating piston engine. By comparison, the effective torque arm of the RoundEngine during the power stroke is always constant. "

Looks a little fishy to me. Some unreal material science is need to make the timing disk last more than a short time. Also, with the combustion happening in a remote location (not directly against the piston) that comubustion chamber is likely to crack due to the imense forces involved.

Just a thought

wow, that is what i call thinking outside the box. amazing.

In a piston engine the combustion forces are not just acting on a piston but are acting on a static combution chamber / cylinder. Also, you do know there are other external combustion engines that have no problem with cracking combustion chambers?

The issues I see are; sealing of the timing disc, the piston disc/ flywheel and the piston/cylinder interface. However, the biggest issue is when I see developmental projects that have fancy marketing tools, like web sites with cool animations. Until the project is complete 100% focus needs to be on solving the technical issues.

They are supposed to have the prototype done by summer. I just thought it was a very interesting concept.

Now thats what I call an " interference " engine .

heh. damn. I had a dream about a week ago on a new engine and it's been in my head ever since, and it has somewhat of the same pricipal of this one, without that timing disk and it would have continual burn. Also have you guys read up on the Quasiturbine? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasiturbine and http://quasiturbine.promci.qc.ca/EIndex.htm

That looks like a great idea. Mmmm ... long torque arm. Rotten, what size prototype are they making (ie for a lawn mower, car, tank, etc). Maybe you can port that into your 8 to finally "prove" VRs are faster. Heh heh

I had a great engine design. It would basically be rotary, but there is no fuel or spark plugs. It would be like 2 valves or more spraying vinegar and baking soda, and when that mixes there is a chemical reaction that would turn the rotor. But then we figured, it's weak it wouldn't be able to turn the rotor if it was made out of carton box. :D

This one sounds promising. Especially since it's circular 360 degrees, it will be smooth as butter.

http://img164.exs.cx/img164/1602/em25ss.th.gif

I can't find the website this came from. It's a similar principle though. A true rotary 4-cycle engine (the wankel should probably be called "orbital" or "oscillating" instead of rotary).

Pro: It doesn't have any valves.

Con: Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think you could make an atkins (ie, Miller) cycle engine out of it. The expansion and intake strokes are the same length.

Con: Sealing issues. The side and apex seals in the EM2 engine shouldn't be very much different than an ordinary rotary, but the rotor/rotor surface could be a problem. Heat expansion would create interference, I would think. Also if it leaked, you'd have hot burning gas leaking into the upcoming air/fuel mixture--hello, detonation.

Would that rotary engine be vulnerable to the gears not syncronizing? Like if the center piece were to some how spin faster and lock/crash onto the solid portion of those two other pieces?

It isn't shown, but I assume there would be some sort of timing chain or gears to keep them in synch.

I think it's pretty cool...I wish them the best! We need to encourage (not saying you guys/gals aint) ideas because every now and then...SOMETHING HUGE comes along to change everything. Will this be it...I don't know, but I wish them the best of luck.

LOL, We should call Mazda and let them know about it. Maybe they will make a new sports car out of it...lol

RoundXperiment

man that would suck if that disc is off timing, it would hit the pistons =)