Working on the Doyle Rotary Prototype Again

Kudos to the both of you!

Way cool man...I'm intrigued by the design and wish you success...

We can see how you are juggling school and more than one project, and are delighted to see your updates when they can happen. You have lots of fans here rooting for your success.

It's dismaying how hard it is in America for productive people like you and your father. You are upholding the best traditions of American innovation. There is, unfortunately, a chorus of curmudgeons who routinely dis inventions and inventors. I see you have met some of them here. One even went so far as to accuse you of "fishing for development money" -- as if that's a crime. Why not look for support among engineers? Without troubling themselves to look at the technology, they confidently opine that it is a sinkhole for money that won't work and is a scam. I read through the other blog entries on this, and I commend you for stoutly maintaining your position with well-stated answers and for not giving up and becoming another embittered cynic who takes pleasure in discouraging talent.

I suggest that you assist the exhaust flow with a supplemental blower, since you don't have the conventional push (noise) of the prematurely opened exhaust port, you will need to assist with a pull. Assisted exhaust will reduce backpressure and enhance exhaust pulse scavenging to thoroughly evacuate the cylinder.

Your patent application does not appear to be published yet. Is this 2001 patent your IP? http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6253717.pdf

There is support now for nascent technologies with disruptive potential. See http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111013006631/en/Khosla-Ventures-Raises-1.05-Billion-Fund

One of the ventures that Khosla is backing is Ecomotors http://www.ecomotors.com/This opposed piston engine claims to be 15-50% more efficient and smaller and lighter. I think you will find Khosla's message about the new prospects for innovation heartening: http://www.khoslaventures.com/presentations/Innovation_9_8_11.pdf

Time for an update:

My dad has finished all five sections of the crankshaft. In the images you can see the pieces assembled next to the cylinder block and then on the test stand. You can clearly see the slots and holes for the Wankel apex, side and corner seals. We have test fitted the apex and corner seals and they fit nicely into the crankshaft.

The sealing plates and sleeves have been chromed. First they were ground to be perfectly round and then they were flash chromed. Instead of the apex seals rubbing against aluminum and eventually locking up, they will glide across the chrome plated surfaces. With luck, this should allow the prototype to run long enough for some initial testing.

Today my dad heated up the cylinder block and installed the middle sealing plate and the two sealing sleeves. You can see them aligned with the ports in the pic of the cylinder block.

A few parts still need to be machined, gathered and/or purchased but it is making good progress. As I said last time, my dad is keeping track of his progress (with photos) on our site. His comments are now under the video on the homepage. I will also post here as he gets closer to firing it up.

the voting is closed

http://contest.techbriefs.com/sustainable-technologies-2011/1159