TerenceT

it might be stupid question but which way does it spin?

and in 2 rotor, how are they spin? counter each other? snychronized? 1/3 turn delay?

Sputnik

IIRC clockwise, looking from the front.

Picture the two rotors in your head. It would be impossible to rotate the two rotors in different directions with a solid center shaft. They rotate in the same direction.

Picture two rotors in your head again. If they are lined up, and you rotate one of those three tipped rotors 120 degrees (1/3rd rotation), then it would line them right up again. IIRC, they are 60 degrees (1/6th) offset.

---jps

KKMmaniac

I always understood the rotary to spin just as Sputnik explains. However, what the hell does this mean?: (from Mazda's presskit)

"Counter-rotating fixed gear and tuning of the intake sound: With the previous rotary engine, the direction of rotation of the fixed gear locating the rotors in the front and rear housing was the same for both rotors. With RENESIS, the direction is reversed for front and rear rotors, achieving smoother rotation and reduced gear noise."

How can a FIXED gear be counter-rotating, or for that matter, rotating at all? Are they talking about switching one of the fixed housing gears from front to rear of that rotor's housing? And thusly, the side of the rotor (that is, front or rear) the rotor's gear is attached to?

'Doh, Marge, (Homer might say) why do they have to go and get me all confused?

MWG

What I think they are talking about is that the way that the stationary gear teeth are cut. Both rotor run the same direction, but one rotor stationary is cut counter rotating to the rotor directon so for example the teeth are cut to the left for the front rotor and right for the rear rotor even though both rotor move to the right.

Slickvic

Just check out the animation here:
http://www.rotaryengineillustrated.com/animations.html