Subject: Peripheral Port Modification / Variable port timing
From: ACRE NL
Date: 4/28/2002, 6:12 AM


Jerry Hey wrote:

Paul,  on your drawing of the pp modification you have the
instruction to "Port the Inner Part with a die grinder to square it
up,"   what are your referring to?  Does the port transition from
round on the  outside to square on the inside?


Yes. Here is a picture of a racing beat PP.
The drawing is of Ken Powell'e variable timing PP but
it shows the dimensions of the square. You should round off
the corners.

Can you provide a drawing showing the inner
shape?   Also, is there a throttle body available as you have drawn
it, or one  that can be modified?   Jerry

You will have to make that part. Two throttle bodies are used. One for
each rotor housing. Gives a better idle when the butterflies are close
to the rotor housing.

Paul Lamar

Paul and Jerry,
   I would love to see the variable PP design installed and tested.
Jerry, would you
be interested in installing the variable PP intake valves that Paul
built?  I would be
happy to send them to you if you are interested.
   It is thought by some that a PP motor with large amounts of overlap
has
somewhat poor idle characteristics due to exhaust gas dilution of the
intake charge.
In order to minimize this intake charge dilution we decided to use the
same
technique that are used on 2-stroke racing motorcycles, i.e., vary the
port timing on
the intake port.  A secondary benefit is that at small throttle settings
the velocity of
the intake charge is accelerated while in the intake port, further
promoting fuel
atomization.  Also note that the BSFC should improve at cruise due to
the more
conservative port settings.
   A slower idle is important because even at 700 - 800 prop rpm a
highly pitched
prop will generate lots of thrust.  Since the Fast Glass and the RV's
are difficult to
slow down a slower prop speed is beneficial.  Note that a 1200 rpm idle
(engine)
when used with a 2.85 redrive will result in a prop rpm of only 421 rpm,
a
substancial reduction over a 1800 rpm idle and a 2.17 redrive wich
results in a prop
rpm of 830 rpm.

Ken Powell


If you are good you can get a high sink rate by putting the airplane on
the
back side of the power curve. Pull the nose up short of stall and watch
the vertical sink rate increase. Its called "dragging it in".
Also a slip will increase the sink rate.

Paul Lamar

I agree with Paul.  You can get a nice high sink rate without building up
airspeed, similar to using a slip with the nose straight down the runway.
However, you must remember to allow enough altitude to pick up some
airspeed/energy for the flair or else you will get current on one approach
{:>). I have a 72 inch pitch prop and while the RV does not like to slow
down its really no problem once you get use to and anticipate the need.  I
generally throttle back to 3000 engine rpm for base and final.

Ed Anderson

Tracy demonstrated to me how an RV4 would maintain altitude with a ridiculous
low RPM. I forgot the exact number.

Paul Lamar
 
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