Subject: Rotamax
From: Rotary Engine
Date: 2/3/2008, 4:56 PM
To: AARotary Engine



   Today I had the pleasure to visit the Rotamax plant where I was  toured
   around by the RotaMax president Eric Barger. For a number of  hours I
   looked at every part they make (which just happens to be every  part of
   their rotary engine) and  to ask questions.  Frankly, I was way  more
   impressed than I thought I would be.  So in a series of e-mail,  this
   being the first,  I will try to describe the Rotamax engine and the
   company too.  But for this first e-mail, here are some teasers.  No
   order, just as I think of them.

   The Rotamax engine is charge cooled and has needle roller bearings
   that are pressure fed oil.
   The Rotamax engine is both side port and p port.  The p port is
   operated by manual butterfly valve.   The engine I was told idles  very
   smoothly at low RPM  just using the side port.   I did not see it
   myself but I have no doubt it is true.
   The Rotamax engine has cool side intake.

   The Rotamax engine has no oil sump.  Among other things, this is a
   perfect set up for aerobatics. It has a total loss oil system. In a
   nut shell, oil is pulled from a small tank on the firewall.   It is
   pumped to the needle bearings  which are fully lubricated.  Some  of he
   oil travels through the eccentric and flows out of ports to add  more
   lube to the inside to the bearings.  From this point the oil is  flung
   onto the tip seals where it is eventually burned.  It does not use
   much oil, and it is totally clean.  There is no dirty oil ever in  this
   engine.

   The Rotamax is very light weight. The two rotor weighs  130 lbs  No
   [PSRU] drive, "yet".

   The Rotamax is produced by a small, talented crew, that includes  a CAD
   driver (Pro E) a couple of machinists,  an engine guy who knows his
   stuff.  They have a room full of cnc lathes, mills, grinders that  are
   obviously being used a lot.

   The Rotamax rotor housing is aluminum without a steel liner.   Instead
   it is coated  You can forget trying to find  out about the  details of
   this operation--It is something they are not going to share.   Same for
   side housings.  A pair of side housings were pulled after 40hours  and
   had absolutely no wear.  No step at all. Housings and ends are  ground
   in house.  NICE... NICE... NICE!


   First photo:  Paul do you know this guy ?
   Second photo:  The eccentric before and after machining.
   Third photo:   Beautiful workmanship on the rotor.  Note the seal
   groves.  The three holes are for charge cooling.
   That is it for tonight.  Jerry



Could someone please confirm the weight of the engine?
Photo *P1010022.jpg shows it being held in both arms against your  chest.
Is this the **130 lb** engine?
Thanks,
John


http://www.rotamax.net/

According to the web site it is 140 pounds for the two rotor.
Of course that is less PSRU.

Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

The weights are drifting around a few pounds as they change things.
Knowing what I know, I think you will be able to install the 2 rotor
with drive under 200 lbs FWF.   So that has become my ideal engine for
the CH 701.   P.S.  I can't reveal everything  because Rotamax does
not want to talk about stuff that is under development and subject to
change.   Jerry


Hi Jerry;

What is (and is not) included in the 140# engine weight?
What is the rotor material? Compression ratio(s)?  Pics of the rotor
combustion recess?

Cheers
Cary

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