>
    >
    >> 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


According to the Mazda Paper 920309, The 4 rotor engine is common in
trochoid configuration and unit chamber volume with Mazda's production
rotary engine on which it is based, with a compression ratio of 10:1 as
it is normally aspirated. The precision-cast was done by using lost wax
process to reduce teh mass of the rotating system.
The rotor and side housuing have been cermet-coated internal surfaces
and no ports were used in the side housing. both the exhaust and the
intake are peripheral ports and teh apex seals are ceramic ones.

It has a 3 plug ignition system, which is created by adding a 3rd plug
(far trailing) on top the trailing  plug. This extra plug ignites the
mixture in the trailing side before the squish is generated, causing
the mixture to burn completely and , also speeding up flame
propagation, which improves fuel consumption. However the improvement in
output was small , most probably due to some amount of gas blowing
through the FT plug hole, which although it was very small it was
causing some drop in volumetric efficiency


Regards
Roderick, ,Malta


The Rotary Engine NewsLetter. Powered by Linux.
ACRE NL web site. http://www.rotaryeng.net
Copyright 1998-2006 All world wide rights reserved.