Subject: New bell housing
From: Rotary Engine
Date: 6/25/2007, 9:51 AM
To: AARotary Engine



            > It weighed too much for three reasons. The pattern was made
       by hand
            > and it
            > is near impossible to make a large pattern with .1875"
   consistent
           wall
            > thickness
            > by hand even if you are a HIGHLY skilled pattern maker. I
       know I have
            > made some
            > intake manifold patterns. An accurate pattern made on a
   NC mill
            > profoundly  changes all that.
            >
            > The second factor is what can the foundry do in terms of
       minimum wall
            > thickness? American International in San Fernando California
       has no
            > problem with that as I have seen hundreds of parts in their
       foundry.
            >
            > The third factor was the incorporation of motor mounts in the
       bell
            > housing.
            > That idea has  fallen into dis favor as the preferred
   method of
           engine
            > mounting is the Schertz beam.
            >
            > The projected weight of this bell housing, as cast, is
   one pound
           lighter
            > than your set up despite a conservative wall thickness of .2
       inches.
            > That is before NC machining where more weight can be
   removed.
            >
            > As far as the load is concerned we have already done some
   static
            > testing thanks
            > to Jerry Hey. We will do the same kind of static testing on
       the new
            > bell housing
            > as well as an FEA.
            >
            > Not many new designs are mounting the starter at 6
   O'clock as it
            > precludes using one large rad under the engine which
       simplifies the
            > cooling plumbing and the ducting. Mounting the starter at six
           O-clock
            > allows a
            > simplification of the bell housing and a reduction in its
       weight and
            > cost.
            >
            > Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.
            >
            > Opss correction.
            >
            > That should be: "Mounting the starter at nine O-clock
   allows a
            > simplification of the bell housing and a reduction in its
       weight and
            > cost."
            >

           I don't really understand your comment about the starter at 6
       o'clock
           precluding positioning the rad under the engine.
           That is the configuration I have. In my pusher config, the rad
       is below
           and forward of the starter. In the future, to lower drag, I
       would like
           to position it even farther forward.

           In the photos on this page, that you took at Arlington last
       year, you
           can see the starter bump in the cowl is way above the rad. The
       rad is
           forced to that low position by the oil pan, not the starter.
   You can
           also see my concept 3D drawing, where I would like to position
       the rad
           farther forward.
            http://www.bridgingworlds.com/LEZ13B/LEZ13B.htm

           Perry

           I was speaking of a tractor installation Perry where the air
   comes
           in over
           the top of the rad to keep it cool. Your cowling is so tight I
       think you
           would have a bump where ever you put the starter.
           If you still have Rhino working send me an IGES zipped of the
       last 3D
           and I will do some scale transparent renderings with the
   starter in
           various  positions.

           Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.


       Paul,
       My installation shows why the starter had to be relocated.  The
   nose
       gear is integrated into the motor mount, and is near the front
   of the
       mount.  There are gear supports behind the nose strut that
   prevent the
       radiator from fitting there.  Moving the starter to the 9 o'clock
       position freed up just enough space to fit the radiator in front
   of the
       nose strut.

       Mark St.

       You did a beautiful job Mark. Your airplane is right up there with
       Bulent's
       and Al Gietzen's. All three of you guys could win the Sun & Fun
   best
       auto engine
       award if you choose to fly in there some year.

       BTW Larry tells me the new bell housing pattern will be done in
       about a week.
       We should have some pictures then.

       Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

   Thanks Paul, that is very kind of you to say.  My goal all along has
   been to make my rotary installation comparable to, if not better than, a
   certified installation.

   Mark St.

   Yours is particular simple which is very good. There is room up
   there for a luggage compartment :)

   Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.


The "luggage" may get a little toasty so close to the exhaust manifold.
Maybe I could do like they did in the Model-T days and cook a roast on
the engine and then stop and eat Sunday dinner when its done. ;-)

Mark S.


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