Here is something to do with bell housings :)

 This is the upper half of the new bell housing.
 Note the internal ribs. These are heavy. They are there to accommodate
 the gyro torque loads applied to the large flat front surface. It would
 be lighter to incorporate Tracy's casting along with the bell
 housing similar to what Ross did. Then thin external
 ribs could distribute the load into the end housing better.
 This part weighs 4.2 pounds despite the .2 inch wall thickness.

 Paul Lamar

Wouldn't that make it more difficult for the assembly/disassembly of Tracy's
redrive?

Bill Schertz
KIS Cruiser #4045

I don't follow you Bill. Tracy's redrive input shaft is splined
with the torque isolator bolted to the flex plate. If you unbolt
the bell housing it comes apart just like a car transmission.

If you are talking about disassembling the guts there would be a 
small six inch diameter backing plate bolted to the PSRU section
from inside the bell housing that held the sun gear thrust 
bearing and the input shaft seal. First you remove the PSRU
from the engine then you disassemble it by unbolting the small
backing plate from inside the bell housing. This is identical to 
most one piece auto transmissions on modern  cars.

This idea is growing on me. One could retrofit Tracy's parts
in a new one piece casting with lighter over all weight.
 
Paul Lamar
 
The AirCraft Rotary Engine NewsLetter.  Powered by Linux.
ACRE NL web site. http://home.earthlink.net/~rotaryeng/            
Copyright 1998-2002 All world wide rights reserved.