A new aircraft engine?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
From: EuroGA.org
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 102
From: IRS NAV ONLY
Looks interesting but the question is how well (if at all) would it work in multi-cylinder arrangement for aircraft that require higher power. And of course single-cylinder engines do not provide any reduncancy - compared with that of a normal flat-4, which still produces some power (probably enough for normal level flight) even if spark plugs on one cylinder go to hell or the intake becomes blocked.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, USA
Porsche many years ago came to the conclusion that big bore, big displacement engines with few cylinders were impossible to balance correctly.
The 944 S had the biggest 4-cylinder engine in production at the time (3.0L) and it had an advanced counterbalancing system to try to minimize vibration, but it still vibrated more than their 6- and 8-cylinder ones.
The development of combustion engines has come to the end of the road. It's pointless and a waste to try to develop something in a 20 year perspective. It'll prob all be electric by then with some sort of turbine APU in hybrid setups.
The 944 S had the biggest 4-cylinder engine in production at the time (3.0L) and it had an advanced counterbalancing system to try to minimize vibration, but it still vibrated more than their 6- and 8-cylinder ones.
The development of combustion engines has come to the end of the road. It's pointless and a waste to try to develop something in a 20 year perspective. It'll prob all be electric by then with some sort of turbine APU in hybrid setups.
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 748
Likes: 9
From: LFMD
I don't really see the advantage... yes, it reduces side-load on the piston/cylinder, but it makes up for that by spinning it round and round which must surely increase wear. Not to mention all the gears and so on.
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: in front of comptator :-)
Someone's idea of the next type of ICE
Twice a many cranks and conrods, three or four extra gears per cylinder, and the little matter of rotary valves to solve. Oh and the cylinder/head assembly rotates in the cylinder block.
Has he ever heard of KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid
Lets hope he solves all the problems.
Someone did produce rotary valve engins back in the 50's or 60's and they achived high rev's.
Twice a many cranks and conrods, three or four extra gears per cylinder, and the little matter of rotary valves to solve. Oh and the cylinder/head assembly rotates in the cylinder block.
Has he ever heard of KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid
Lets hope he solves all the problems.
Someone did produce rotary valve engins back in the 50's or 60's and they achived high rev's.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,777
Likes: 9
From: Blighty
Looks like it will generate a lot of vibration. The oil will have to be special to keep those gears lubricated right next to the point of combustion and there desn't seem to be much flywheel mass. Not sure it will be that light either with all that gearing.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
From: London UK
Agree re vibration. Single-cylinder motorbikes are called "thumpers": The Thumper Page
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 0
From: 75N 16E
Looks kind of clever, but instinct tells me that there is no more advantage and possibly more problems? Bearings on gears, gears, rotating pistons etc., must lead to more wear and tear?
Roll on ceramic engines which don't need any coolant or oil!
Roll on ceramic engines which don't need any coolant or oil!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
As a machine designer I used to work to the principle " You can have it better, sooner or cheaper, pick any 2. Very seldom is it possible to achieve all 3. This looks like it would meet none of them.
