Oh my...

[wolfwings]

...I thought to poke around Revetec again, see about any new tidbits on the site, and they've done the math to make something even niftier.



This is an engine design that shows the true power of getting away from the crankshaft-based systems that prevent multiple overlapping centerlines for the pistons without sacrificing reliability. Initially meant to be in a 2.4l system, I'm staring at that and drooling. Though it's easier to see how things work if you manually slideshow through the frames. They estimate the core longblock will be around 160mm (<7in) deep. Sure, piping will add to that a bit, but the core engine being thinner than most one-use compact spare tires used on cars today. Just amazing.

Comments

[mira-fastfire.livejournal.com]

That looks SO delightfully sexual.

*g*

[lironess.livejournal.com]

Cool, I am not the only one who thought exactly that! :)

[fangwolf57.livejournal.com]

It's some kind of hideous sex torture device.

[(Anonymous)]

Love that Icon, Taz is my PMS logo!

Look at the rhythm....it is really sensual...

[mira-fastfire.livejournal.com]

Yay for pervertness!!!

[(Anonymous)]

Yay!!! I have to stop watching it...tantric rhythm!

[dukefawks.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I don't really see what's so great about the design. Instead of using a crankshaft they use some souped up camshaft design as a crank. Also the lateral guidance of the piston seems a bit flimsy to me. The idea is nice, but like the Wankel engine it doesn't seem that it will hold up very well.

Well the largest difference is...

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

...there's almost zero lateral movement to begin with, since they're using paired cams with split roller-followers so the pistons are being pushed almost purely straight up and down. And since opposite pistons have direct mechanical linkages, this means the pistons are braced against each other and the linkages are run in guides to keep them aligned.

That's the theory at least. It runs, they've proven that. And unlike the Wankel engine it's able to run at high compression ratio's and uses all the latest designs in valvetrains and cylinders for fuel effeciency and economy and emissions. It's a novel way of laying out the core shortblock, but unlike the Wankel it's much more evolutionary than revolutionary as far as I can tell since it doesn't prevent the use of numerous other components.

[shabm.livejournal.com]

So you could, in effect, have a four-cylinder engine in a system you could straddle between your legs?

Hellooo, super-Segways!

[fangwolf57.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I have always thought that a rotory engine would be great for small applications like motorcycles,boats and jet skis. That would be an awesome motorcycle engine if you could position it right.

[shabm.livejournal.com]

Also: I'm trying to understand how this thing would pass power down into other system. What is the 'crankshaft' -- the large gear, the center shaft, or what?

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

Think of it like replacing the crankshaft with a camshaft. The gear on the end with the holes cut into it is, in effect, where a flywheel could be mounted for car use. That particular 3D rendering is meant to be used with a propeller, so it's a large, lightened gear connecting to a smaller gear below instead.

But yes, the central shaft of the camshafts is where all the torque is transmitted to. =^.^=

I think of it as comparing pushrod valvetrains to overhead camshaft valvetrains, this is a similair replacement of the long 'rods' connecting the crankshaft to the pistons that flex in multiple directions with cams that provide unidirectional force up and accept unidirectional force down.