Axial engine

[HornetMaX]

So it's not only rugby those kiwis are good at

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/duke-axial-prototype-engine-ultimate-motorcycle-engine-design-concepts-to-speed-motorcyclist?image=0

https://rideapart.com/articles/duke-axial-motorcycle-engine

https://www.youtube.com/v/c19kn3drdFU

On their website (http://www.dukeengines.com/) they have a video of the engine revving up with a coin balancing on top of the engine: zero vibrations, impressive.

[yoshimura]

engineering, really interesting 

[matty0l215]

Very interesting.

Cant beat the wankle thokle

[Hawk]

Very nice! Interesting stuff Max! 

Hawk.

[Napalm Nick]

Amazing, a *NEW* engine design really is something that shouldn't be underrated.

I am still trying to get my V4 running off the heat of my cup of tea.
https://www.youtube.com/v/Apw-uopW7-I
Calling it running off water is bending the truth a bit now lol.

[janaucarre]

Really strange construction max.  I ask me how is the cost of the system,  and what about the "rotules",  it seems bigger surface of contact than a traditional "vilbrequin"  "bielle"
But thats a very nice new manner to do power

[h106frp]

Sort of reversing the swash plate pump idea, quite clever

[HornetMaX]

Cant beat the wankle thokle

Interestingly when I shown it to my friend (mech.eng. working in automotive/bikes and car/bikes press) he was not really impressed by the efficiency (mpg) but more importantly he said that in the past years a few interesting engine concepts have been refused by the big constructors just because the memory of how some of them failed on the Wankel is still too present

To be honest I have no idea if the concept has a future or not, it seems to be in very advanced prototype phase (already certified for use with petrol and aero fuel), so we may know soon.

But I find the design so funky I had to post it

[matty0l215]

Cant beat the wankle thokle

Interestingly when I shown it to my friend (mech.eng. working in automotive/bikes and car/bikes press) he was not really impressed by the efficiency (mpg) but more importantly he said that in the past years a few interesting engine concepts have been refused by the big constructors just because the memory of how some of them failed on the Wankel is still too present

To be honest I have no idea if the concept has a future or not, it seems to be in very advanced prototype phase (already certified for use with petrol and aero fuel), so we may know soon.

But I find the design so funky I had to post it

There was so much potential with the Wankel engine. But the suffered from higher maintenance cost/scheduled and I can see a similar thing with this engine (mainly with the seals around the rotating piston assembly and their connecting to the main shaft piece). They could have potential as a type of low RPM, low noise (if there is minimal vibration) high output generator engine. Maybe even for large scale developments like ships.

Sadly nobody will/wants to develop them for road as they would be a huge money pit for any company. If all of the big manufacturers developed them then they could potentially become viable and drive the cost of parts down and the rate of development up. Just like the Wankel

[HornetMaX]

I don't see the problems you see, at best I do see some strange stuff going on at the cylinder head (rotating barrel vs fixed head).
And yeah, the "nutating reciprocator" looks kind of uncharted territory (even if it's not really something new).

But did you see the dimensions of that thing: it's a 1000cc and it's tiny !! Plus, I just can't resist the description:
 

• 5 cylinders, 3 heads (spark plugs + intake and exhaust ports),behaves like a 6 cylinder (fires 3 time per rev).

For the Wankel: money (lots of) has been poured into it. It just failed. It is no longer considered as "if we put money in it, then it will work".

[matty0l215]

I don't see the problems you see, at best I do see some strange stuff going on at the cylinder head (rotating barrel vs fixed head).
And yeah, the "nutating reciprocator" looks kind of uncharted territory (even if it's not really something new).

But did you see the dimensions of that thing: it's a 1000cc and it's tiny !! Plus, I just can't resist the description:
 

• 5 cylinders, 3 heads (spark plugs + intake and exhaust ports),behaves like a 6 cylinder (fires 3 time per rev).

It might be that i've understood it wrong. But if you are rotating the cylinders as the engine runs, surely there must be some sort of seals involved (like a head gasket).

[HornetMaX]

It might be that i've understood it wrong. But if you are rotating the cylinders as the engine runs, surely there must be some sort of seals involved (like a head gasket).

Yeah, that's what I said too: where the rotating barrel (that contains the cylinders walls) slides over the non-rotating head.
The unusual thing is that there are parts that are sliding on the gasket.

[matty0l215]

You got it (i was getting confused )

Next question is, when are we gonna see it in a production car or race machine

[Tr!st@n]

Those "alternative" engine concepts are great, i'm a huge fan of those. Most of them just suffer a lack of people who care about them and think about solutions to solve their problems. That's also a thing the more known and popular Rotary (Wankel) engine is facing a bit, although Mazda announced a come back in a new production car.