Hi all.
Is there anyone in the
group with a rotary
powered heli, or have an
ongoing helicopter
project using rotaries ?

Best regards.
BenSison

Lots. Unfortunately most of them probably failed because
the designer underestimated the rotary cooling
requirements.

A large fan mounted on the front of the e-shaft would be
called for and the engine derated for that power loss.

This was done well by Robinson.

The cooling air should be taken in at the very front and
exited
at the rear to take every possible advantage of the waste
heat.

Paul Lamar

I have a plan for putting a turbocharged two-rotor in a Rotorway. The
Rotorway is a good candidate because it's already liquid cooled and my
concept for the drive will simplify the transmission as well as get rid of
some weight. There are Rotorways available with blown engines for very
reasonable money. I just haven't had time to get to this project yet.

Steve Brazil


Steve,

Would you know what engine RotorWay is using. On their website is
essentially no information other than a number "RI
600N Engine". Do they use a Lyc or such?

Rolf


They build their own water cooled VW based horz opposed 4 cyl.
It was done about 30 years ago. Note where the exhaust pipes come
out of the heads.

I think they are a bit optimistic about the 137 HP.
They don't appear to be de-rating it from the cooling fan losses.

The cooling is nicely done however.

Paul Lamar

A slight word of caution about this if your goal is to mount the engine
vertically.  A lot of my airport buddies worked for OMC (before it's
demise).  OMC was actively perusing an outboard engine using a rotary.
Their results were quite exceptional in that it "smoked" the completion, and
my understanding was that it exceeded their hopes.  However the project was
scrapped for two reasons.  1 oil slicks 2 Difficulty in lubrication of
bearings and seals due to the orientation of the engine-- probably the top
bearing and the tops of the seals.
#2 yielded, from my memory a very short lasting engine.


Rich

I think it is never a good idea to reorient the Mazda engine.
The rotor cooling depends on gravity to  help the oil flow
in and out of the rotor. That is how the rotor is cooled.
The apex seal temperature depends on a cool rotor.
However this would not be a problem with silicon nitride apex
seals.

There were some Sachs charge cooled rotaries used in lawn mowers
where the rotor sat on the bottom housing apparently with out lube
problems. No side seals were used on that side of the rotor.
Not much HP per cubic inch however.

Paul Lamar


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