I was trying to explain how a rotary engine works to my girlfriend, and after drawing diagrams and using a slice of pizza, I stumbled on this site. After we went through it (more specifically the moving diagram on page 6) SHE FINALLY GOT IT. I figured this could help someone who isnt as familiar with rotary.


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

Tell me what you guys think....

 

the diagram is page 5

 

looks tops

 

Yeah, howstuffworks.com is excellent for most all mechanical applications. I remember checking it out (and showing friends) back when I first started researching the RX-7 to decide if I wanted to own one.

 

using a slice of pizza.. FTW.. nuff said

 

useful info! Thanks!

 

For good animations of a rotary: http://rotaryengineillustrated.com/

 

Everyone needs to look at this:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/quasiturbine.htm

The Quasiturbine engine. It's a design that descended from the rotary motor. Very interesting and sadly very very expensive to create. Possibility of no motor oil needed and the potential to produce 8 times the power that conventional engines currently produce! Even the possibility of photo-detonation! No spark plugs needed either!

 

zomg, i blew 1000 apex seals

 

i like the myt engine better.

 

Anyone else notice the rotary engine anatomy on page 4 is wrong. If you look at where they show the flywheel versus where the spark plugs are. Everything is on the wrong side.

 

That motor is out of a right hand drive model.