Hi Tim,
There is a popular misconception that a rotor "spins around" in its
chamber, somewhat like a centrifical vane pump. The vane pump is a
single axis device. While the rotor does "spin around" its axis it also
orbits the e-shaft centerline simultaneously. While both these functions
are happening something has to prevent the rotor from just clabboring
around inside the chamber. THIS IS THE TIMING ISSUE and the gearset is
what acomplishes this coordination of action, making sure the correct
rotor face is going toward the spark plug area as another is pulling
away from the intake area, etc. The ratio that gets this done is
critical to the design, ie change the ratio and a different housing
inside shape would be required. Remember all the while this whole mass
orbits the e-shaft centerline. The offset or E-centricity (about 15mm)
of the E-shaft is somewhat equivalent to the crankshaft throw of a
piston engine (about 120 plus mm), so the POWER of combustion in the
rotary's chamber is pushing only about 1/8 of the distance away from the
power output axis compared to the piston engine crankshaft. Accomodating
this 120mm throw is why crankshafts break but with only 15mm to
accomodate, the e-shaft can be very robust.
Please note that these are hard metal relationships and have nothing to
do with variable relationships such as when the spark goes off, or when
the fuel is admitted, or when the exhaust is expelled. All these events
are obviously necessary but they all have their own "timing"-- spark by
distributor drive (vary by distributor rotation) ,fuel by port placement
(Vary by material removal, or even move entire port to housing
periphery), and exhaust out by port placement (rarely varied,but possible)
When all else fails visit
www.kevenly.com/wankel.html
<http://www.kevenly.com/wankel.html>
Much clearer now right Tim. AAAH TIM
Right? Dave
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