Eyxom

It would be hard to put in words because there is so much to talk about. Good luck. Hope you do a killer job on it.

twstdmtl

You could approach the rotary as a quasi-turbine in your report. By definition it fits...

Jeff20B

It's kinda funny. I have several rotary powered vehicles and not one of them is a sports car. The MG Midget hardly counts.

FikseRxSeven

you can go to www.howthingswork.com

www.rotaryengineillustrated.com

defprun

No, some people drive RX-8's. The most "practicle" sports car on the market right now. I don't see the 350Z sporting seating for 4 and enough luggage space to put the space shuttle to shame.

2ndGenerationY

I just handed in my 12-page report on the Wankel yesterday morning. Let me get a few sites I used as sources.



Rotary vs. Piston: Know Your Enemy



Mazda's development of the rotary...



The Nicolas Faith book is a very good read. Check out The Wankel Engine: Design, Development, Applications by Jan P. Norbye for in-depth diagrams and comparisions...



Good luck. PM me if you need more sources. I have a few that aren't as informative, but still good...

ROTARYROCKET7

Yo i wrote a sessay for my writing for engineers class, i dont think it would help compare the two engine but maybe u can use some of the stuff to give u ideas on what to write or on what to add to prove your case that the rotary is the best **** out ther. If u want me to send u my copy instant message me, and when ure done post ure report up.













Table Of Content





Abstract 4

1.0 Introduction 5

2.0 Discussion

2.1 Effects of WWII on Japanese Market 5

2.2 Toyo Kogyo Company 6

2.3 Felix Wankel, the inventor of the Rotary Engine 6

3.0 How Does a Rotary Engine Work 7

4.0 Project X605, Birth of the RX-7

4.1 First Generation RX-7 (1979-1985) 9

4.2 Second Generation RX-7 (1986-1991) 10

4.3 Third Generation RX-7 (1993-1995 U.S) 11

5.0 Mazda RX-8 (Code Name: Mazda Evolv) 12

6.0 Conclusion 14

Work Cited Page 15

Glossary 16





List Of Illustrations



Figure 1: Parts of Rotary Combustion Engine 8

Figure 2: A Rotor and its components 9

Figure 3: First Generation RX-7 10

Figure 4: Second Generation RX-7 11

Figure 5: Third Generation RX-7 12

Figure 6: Mazda Rx-8 (Rear View) 12

Figure 7: Mazda RX-8 (Side View w/ Open Doors) 13





Abstract



The rotary engine was an engine that almost didn’t make it passed its first try. It had a lot of downsides and imperfections that made a lot of company’s abandoned their ideas for a rotary powered engine. Many companies were intrigued by what was said but once they saw the final product they quickly had a change of heart. Only one company stayed true to the rotary engine and that company is Mazda. Mazda felt what NSU a German car company to produce the world first rotary car, the “Prinz”. Mazda almost called it quits when their fine engineers couldn’t get the car to run properly. Mazda owner persisted and after five long grueling years they had a fully functional working Wankel Rotary Combustion Engine (WRCE, Wankel after the person who invented it Dr. Felix Wankel).



Mazda will become the worlds leading developer of rotary engines which praised many cars like the 110s Cosmo Sport which was only available in Japan and the Mazda RX-7 which is best known in the United States. The Rx-7 took the U.S by storm and took over many American car companies, in sales that is. Mazda has now regained its loyal followers of the RX-7 and new people who are just learning what Rotary Engine by introducing a more powerful, naturally aspirated, fuel efficient, 4-seater sports car properly named The Mazda RX-8. This car is the perfect rotary car ever built, as you will learn about the trial and tribulations behind the world’s only optional automobile engine to that of a piston engine.





1.0 Introduction



The Mazda Motor Company remained unique for the 20 plus years because of its rotary engine. The rotary combustion engine had so many downfalls that at one point it almost appeared to go extinct forever. The engine design nearly met its maker so to speak in the 1970 if not for the Toyo Kogyo Company based in Japan. Rotary Combustion Engine concept began in the early 1950’s, with a German company known as NSU (Neckarsulmer Strick-Machinen Union), which primarily dealt with making motorcycles. NSU took one man’s idea, Dr. Felix Wankel’s revolutionary idea for a new engine design reality, and Toyo Kogyo improved on its design to utter perfection.



NSU brought Dr. Felix Wankel into their company to help him make his dream of a rotary combustion engine come true with the help of the company of course. They first tested Wankel’s ability and gave him his first task, which was to develop a “supercharger” for a 500 cc engine for a motorcycle. They were amazed with the results, it made the motorcycle eight times more powerful than ever. It resulted in a belt-driven rotary compressor. Finally in 1954 the first version of a rotary combustion engine was born. The first rotary powered vehicle was the NSU Prinz, which used a 498 cc single rotor engine, compared to the 654 cc two rotor designs of today’s rotary engine only found in Mazda RX-7 and the newest to their list the 2004 Mazda RX-8.



2.0 Discussion



2.1 Effects of WWII on Japanese Market



After WWII the Japanese economy was changing into a higher interdependence between communities. There was an increase in demand for four-wheeled vehicles because Japan needed better transportation to move more goods efficiently in between communities. NSU changed its automobile division because they needed to increase their profits. In the 1960’s NSU fell into financial problems and sold licenses of the rotary engine design to other automotive companies. The company sold 20 licenses ranging from American, European and Asian cars. Companies that bought licenses were GM, Ford Motors, Suzuki, Rolls Royce, Yamaha, Daimler-Benz (which later became Daimler-Chrysler which owns Mercedes-Benz, Dodge and Plymouth), Porsche, AMC, Alfa Romero, Nissan, Toyota, Citroen, John Deere (Lawn Mower Company) and Volks Wagon (later bought out NSU). Despite all of these car companies interest in the rotary engine none have successfully mass-produced a rotary-powered vehicle. These companies lost millions of dollars on research; development and prototypes that never made it passed the drawing board. When the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Countries) oil crisis hit in 1973 everything went down hill for the rotary engine. The rotary wasn’t known for its fuel efficiency since it is a known gas-guzzler. One day the engine is dubbed, “ the engine of the future”, by auto magazines around the globe and in an instant it was just a fuel-consuming piece of junk that almost brought down the worlds automotive industries to their knees. One company took the risk and that company is known as Toyo Kogyo Company located in Japan, which bout four licenses from NSU before it was taken over by Volks-Wagon.



2.2 Toyo Kogyo Company



Toyo Kogyo started its manufacturing company in 1960 with one goal in mind, which was to take over the United States automotive market. The companies name meant, “Orient Industry”, in the Japanese Language. Toyo Kogyo was a manufacturer of 3-wheeled vehicles, which were kind of like mix between a truck and a motorcycle. There were two other vehicles manufactures in the north; Toyota and Nissan, which started producing vehicles on a much larger scale not seen before in the Japanese Market. Due to the big impact of these two companies alone the Japanese government wanted to limit the car companies to no more than three and Toyo Kogyo wanted to be one of those three.



The president of Toyo Kogyo at the time was Mr. Tsuneji Matsuda who wanted more than anything to be one of those three companies, because the company was almost going out of business. He wanted to save his company more than anything so he assigned Mr. Kenichi Yamamoto as the head of developments, whose job was to build a four-wheeled vehicle besides their three-wheeled “trucks/motorcycles”. It resulted in the R360 coupe, which sold a few modest thousands units, but the company needed something more to get them recognized, and also to save the company of course from being bought out.



Mr. Matsuda heard of the rotary engine, which was conceived by Dr. Felix Wankel, and manufactured by NSU. He believed he found what would save his company. The things that attracted him was that the engine was much smaller, had less moving parts, and was more durable. He caught a flight as soon as possible to Germany to meet with NSU where he then bought four licenses to use a rotary engine design that’s despite the fact that he knew it didn’t work 100%. Once again Matsuda appointed Yamamoto who agreed very willfully, but little did he know that this would be the hardest challenge in his life. After five long frustrating years they had a fully working rotary engine which was quickly put into production in the 110s Cosmo Sport (1964-1972), this model was never sold in the United States, but it helped maintain the company from going under. Toyo Kogyo changed its name to Mazda, which sounds similar to the companies founder Juriro Matsuda, but its just coincidental. Under this new name, which was more Americanized to suit American customers was the name of a light bulb. Mazda was the name used by a company known as Westinghouse, which manufactured light bulbs for automobiles. Mazda means “god of light” so that would figure why the company choose this name.



2.3 Felix Wankel



Dr. Ing Felix Heinrich Wankel (1902-1988) was the person who conceived and designed the rotary combustion engine also known as the Wankel Rotary Combustion Engine (WRCE). Dr. Wankel was born in Germany on August 13,1902 in Schillerstrasse in Lahr. The idea of a rotary combustion engine was conceived in 1924. He patented his idea in 1929 (DRP 507 584). In 1936 he obtained a patent for a DKM (Drenkobenmaschine) engine, which was used on the first production rotary engines. By 1936 his technology of rotary valves and seals were taken into use by BMW, DVL and Daimler Benz. Dr. Wankel worked on various DKM prototypes until 1945, when the French army invaded and destroyed his workshops and all of his notes, and then soon after he was imprisoned by the French until 1946 when he was released.



During the occupation of his country Dr. Wankel continued to secretly write down his ideas for a rotary-piston-engine. In 1941, a car company named NSU embraced Wankel’s idea for a new engine design. The first working WRCE (DKM) ran in February of 1957, this prototype produced around 21 horsepower. The first KKM engine ran on July 7,1958. NSU and Felix Wankel investigated many aspects of a rotary engine design. They continued their research vigorously investigating technical aspects such as materials, combustion, lubrication, cooling, porting, spark plugs positioning, and apex seals.



In 1957 Wankel created “ Wankel Gmbh”, with his partner Ernst Hutzenlaub. He later sold the company for $26. Million dollars, he then established a research institute named TES in Lindaw / Bondensee. Daimler-Benz supported TES until 1993.



Dr. Felix Wankel came from a poor family background where he was born in the black forests in Swabia, Germany. He graduated from his High School at the age of 19. Due to his poorness he had to work instead of pursuing a college education. He had a dream, and on his own personal time and dedication he continued to pursue his idea of a rotary combustion engine. Through all the hardships, being put in jail, his research being destroyed by the French army, he still continued his pursuit. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree from Tecnische Univeritat Munchen on December 5,1969. He continued to receive awards from different countries. The federation of German Engineers Gold Medal was awarded to him in 1969, which is one of Germany’s highest civilian honors. In 1970 he received the Grand Federal Service Cross, 1971 he received the Franklin Medal of Philadelphia, the Bavarian Service Medal in 1973 and the “honour citizen” of Lahr in 1981 and finally the title of professor in 1987. Dr. Felix Wankel passed away on October 9,1988 in Lindau, Germany after a long illness.



3.0 How Does a Rotary Engine Work.



The rotary engine is only optional engine you can have for a car in all the years of car manufacturing. All of the cars on the roads in the past present and maybe even the future will run on a piston engine, give or take different designs due to companies looking for a unique identity. Well Mazda did it, they have proved their uniqueness by staying true to the rotary design, through all the hardships and struggles encountered. They are the only company known to date that uses a rotary combustion engines.









Figure 1: Parts of Rotary Combustion Engine





Similar to a piston engine, the rotary engine is an internal combustion engine, which is driven by the explosion of a fuel/air mixture. It performs the same four stages as a piston engine such as intake, compression, combustion and exhaust, but unlike the piston engine each job has its own dedicated area specifically made for each of the four stages. The piston engine jerks back and forth a couple of times before it can successfully perform one full cycle. The rotary engine on the other hand does this and more per cycle and it only spins in one continuous direction, which means more power and efficient. A piston engine moves into two directions, which cause more friction and engine ware. The rotary engine turns in an epitrochoid similar to something you make using a Spiro graphs. The rotors are triangular shape so the fuel/ air mixture in the side of the housing and the faces of the rotor. While the rotor rotates around the epitrochoid chamber each volume of gas expands and contracts so that’s three explosions per revolution it take the piston engine much 4 time that long to produce the same power. The rotary engine contains no valves, intake or exhaust ports because each connect directly to their respective counter parts which ads to better efficiency and more power.







Figure 2: A Rotor and its components



The rotary engine had fewer moving parts compared to the 40 plus parts such as timing gears, crankshafts, rockers, timing belt, valve springs, camshafts, valves, pistons and connecting rods which are typical in a typical 4 cylinder engine. A rotary engine is internally balanced and runs much smoother because it spins in a dingle direction instead of jerking back and forth.



4.0 Project X605, Birth Of The RX-7



Mazda was loosing profit in the American Market, and after a trip to the United States in 1975 the Mazda Motor Company had a solution to save the rotary engine and of course the company itself. Mazda always had plans to build a two-seater sports car, even if they are disliked in Japan because of their views on compatibility. Project x605 was a project to build an affordable and competent sports car. The only thing that Mazda used from the previous cars model was the rotary engine, but the body was designed from scratch. The rotary engine was a renovated 12A engine found in the 110s Cosmo Sport, which was never shipped to the United States, but met U.S emissions regulations at the time. The car was designed to compete against top companies like Porsche and their 924, Datsun 280 Z (later became Nissan) and the Fiat X1/9, which the RX-7 was a worthy foe at a way cheaper price.



4.1 First Generation RX-7 (1979-1985)



The first generation took the U.S by storm and well exceeded some American manufactured cars. In the 70’s Japanese automobiles were the craze, because they offered compact sports car with new body designs and different style engines, which quickly attracted American consumers. People had to be on waiting list just to receive their cars as they came off the boat they were the fortunate few to own them. It was fast and affordable.



Figure 3: First Generation RX-7



In 1984 the Mazda received some huge performance changes in its last two years of production like widening the combustion chambers, which made more displacement, which meant more power. They increased the intake ports from 4 to 6 to let more fuel/air mixture into the chamber for more power. Mazda sold around 370,00 first generation RX-7’s.



4.2 Second Generation RX-7 (1986-1991)



The second generation looked totally different from the 1G, which some people say resembles a Porsche. The code name given to the project was P747 (no relationship to the Boeing 747 Luxury Liner), the goal was to improve the overall qualities such as suspension, aerodynamics, steering, engine reliability and performance. The second generation RX-7 was awarded. “Best car of the Year”, by Car and Driver in 1986 and sold around 56,000 units in the United States alone.



Figure 4: Second Generation RX-7



Some special versions were made that bedazzled Porsche and BMW drivers. In 19877 the Turbo II model was introduced which featured a single turbo that increased the overall power band of the car.



4.3 Third Generation RX-7 (1993-1995 U.S)



Third generation was introduced in 1993 with the power and luxury than any RX-7 before it. The word silhouette can only describe the body of this beautiful car. The curves and sides all blended in very naturally given it that aggressive but beautiful stance.



The engine came equipped with a twin-turbo system, which produced power by forcing cold air in faster quantities into the engine to produce more horsepower. The more air the car gets the more power it can produce. The car recycled the hot exhaust gases and force-fed them into the two-turbochargers. This would maintain one of the turbo constantly “spooled” up which means constantly moving at low RPM’s (revolutions per minute). The car has a 1.3-liter engine, smaller in size than most engines today and produces a whopping 255 horsepower and 217 Ft-lbs of torque weighing in at a light 2800 pounds. It was the last sold in the United States in 1995 due to low sales and a big price tag at $30,000, which turned away many enthusiasts and its gas-consuming flaw that still haunts the RX-7 legacy.





Figure 5: Third Generation RX-7



5.0 2004 Redesigned Mazda RX-8



The new Mada Rx-8 has a new type of rotary engine dubbed, “Renesis”, which stands for Rotary Genesis. It is a four-door sports car, which provides comfortable seating for four full sized adults. Mazda continues to show their excellence







Figure 6: Mazda Rx-8 (Rear View)

in design with the rotary engine and the beautiful design of the body, which Sam Mitani, of Road and Track Magazine (April 2002 issue), says, “I believe this is the prettiest car to have ever come out Japan…ever”. It also has a superior blend of comfort and handling into its sporty design, which a lot of sports car lacks.



The key factor is the engine, which has been is the best fuel-efficient rotary engine to ever have been design. It is smaller than the 13B found in second generations and up Mazda RX-7’s. It lays down a whopping 250 horsepower and is naturally aspirated without the help of turbo chargers. It has cleaner emissions that meet U.S regulation which as we all know was the biggest challenge and what almost led to the demise of the rotary concept.



Due to the compact design of the new engine the Renesis Powerplant which is located a little bit behind the front axle and lower to the ground provide the car with a center of gravity for cornering at high speeds. This means the cars has better performance and overall grip and not to mention is 50:50 weight distribution to the front and back of the car.



Ford Motor’s, which owns Mazda, gave them permission to proceed with the Mazda RX-8. The car was first shown in October of 199at the Tokyo Motor show as the Rx-Evolv. The most attractive and distinctive feature that the car has a suicide door, which is a door, that opens opposite to conventional doors. It doesn’t have a central pillar, which adds to easier access to the back seats and is even unnoticeable at a quick glance, but you will be guaranteed a double take.





Figure 7: Mazda RX-8 (Side View w/ Open Doors)

There is even current development that Mazda Engineers are working on which is a hydrogen-fueled car and the rotary engine is the only one in the world that can change to hydrogen power with little changes. The rotary engine has a displacement of 1380 cc competes and only 1.3 liters, which is very small for a sports car and competes with some of the worlds top sports car. If this sounds like Dejavu than your absolutely correct and the RX-8 will cost under $30,000 compared to $197,00 for a new Porsche GT2 (which is still worth everything), but you can be economic and have yourself the worlds famous, “Pocket Rocket”. The Rotary engine is finally back and will have a big impact on car history, you can already see the craze, the RX-8 has blazed front car magazine and newspapers since it first came out in 1999.



6.0 Conclusion



This car will most likely go into production in 2003 and be available by 2004 with minor differences but not anything drastic. The Mazda RX-8 is not the predecessor to the legendary RX-7, but it has regained consumer passion for the company. Now in this day and age we might be able to appreciate it more and have it as the main engine type in the world. This is far fetched because as we all know we don’t like change, but mazda will continue to show the world the power the RX-8 has in store.





















































Work Cited Page





http://www.monito.com/wankel/manufacturers.html



http://www.howstuffworks.com/rotary-engine.htm



http://rotarynews.com/view.php3?article=20020329.html



http://www.roadandtrack.com/features/artic...asp?articleid=7



http://rx-7.net/



http://iluvmyrx7.com/Pics___More/pics___more.htm



Mazda RX-7 Automotive Repair Manual: 1986 Thru 1991- All ModelsMike Stubblefield, John H. Haynes, John H. Haynes / Paperback / Haynes North America, Incorporated

Wankel Rotary Engine: A History

by John B. Hege

Mazda Rx-7 (Sports Car Color History) by John Matras

RX-7: Mazda's Rotary Sportscar

Brian Long / Hardcover / Veloce Publishing PLC





































Glossary



Apex, one of the three tips of the rotor



Bridge Port, A radical alteration to the intake ports of a WRCE, by extending them, but still keeping a bridge of metal to retain rotor seals as they pass by



Eccentric Shaft, The shaft that the rotors move around in.



Housing, The latter has three sub-types: front, central, and rear, which depends on the rotors.



Port, An opening in the peripheral or side housing to admit the air-fuel mixture or release the exhaust gases.



Porting, done to enhance performance by modifying the intake ports by cutting away metal.



Rotor, The rotor is the part of the engine that receives the impulses of the explosion and combustion of the mixture (air-fuel), better than a piston because it spins in a continuous single direction



Seals, metal pieces for the rotor tip and sides that are equivalent but exceed piston rings



Side Housing, is a fixed plate that the rotor slides against which has three sub-types, front central and side depending on how many rotors.





p.S i wrote this my freshman year, my essay capabilites are much better lol....



is it good? GOt a A in the class

Revive FD

Guys I love you all, lol. Thanks alot. I wrote down all the info last night, and later tonight(after job interview) im going to start some writing. Again, I really apperciate all the help. Take it easy.



- MK

PhoenixDownVII

Make a conclusion that if Toyota would market a Rotary that the world would be a better place.

Revive FD

You got it.



- MK