Side/end plates are where the real weight loss is to be
had. Mazda has even done the parts already, published a paper on it
and
everything! The LeMans engine used detonation gun coated and diamond
ground end and intermediate housings. They ran 24 hrs flat out and won
one of the worlds biggest races over all. This is also the safest
way to
lose weight off the engine, it has already been tested by the factory!
Foamed metal and all this other stuff is fine, but getting
something to
market is the key.
A rotary with aluminum end and center housings would
have such a HP to weight advantage it isn't even funny.
Bill Jepson
It should be possible to cast these from aluminum using factory parts
for templates. You would probably need to put a thin steel sheet on
for
wear protection.
I can dream of a 1-rotor with aluminum ends . . .
Keith Wood
Bill,
Do you know if the Lemans end and intermediate housings were
specially made?
I assume they were cast with the side ports filled in and the void
behind
the side ports vacant.
I wonder if cost is the main reason driving Mazda to stick with iron
housings or if there is a long term durability issue from heating and
cooling cycle that occurs after shut down with a long sandwich
engine. I
They did it with the 10A though and that was the engine that drove
the Cosmo
110 on the road.
Aluminum end and intermediate housings is an idea that won't die.
What does
it take to make one? Ie could be do one using the lost wax method?
Doug
Paul
I read on a website last night that Mazda went to iron side/end
housings to
save cost. Wear wasn't such a big factor. As such putting steel
inserts
in the sides may not be needed. Sure detonation gun diamond coated
diamond
ground housings may cost $300 to $500 a piece but in light of the
making a
big impact on the aviation world and all aluminum P port engine would be
fantastic. A nice smooth surface and no side intakes to worry about.
Doug
When we make these, it sure would be nice to include a second water pump
and plumb the end plates to have 2 independent cooling circuits that are
interlaced - that is alternating between the circuits are you go around
the housing. If you are casting new housings it would not be that much
harder to include this redundancy. Using the smaller stock pumps would
not increase the cost or pumping loads too much.
-dave
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