metalliman

Has anyone ever tried eliminating the bridge in a bridge-port? I know under normal circumstances, the corner seals would pop out, and I'm sure the apex seals and side seals would be ruined too. What if you were to make a "one piece side seal", to replace all three side seals, and corner seals on each side of the rotor. This would also require the macining of each rotor where the current side seals are.

The reason I ask, is because I'm a CNC machinist, and I may be getting a hold of a junk 12a out of a 84 rx-7. I'm considering making a one piece side seal, probably out of 1018 Cold Roll Steel. This seal would have three notches machined for the apex seals, and matching notches would be machined in the the carbon apex seals, so the apex seal couldn't slide from side to side on the rotor. This seal would probably be about 3mm wide, due to the fact that it would be too difficult to mill a slot much narrower in the rotor it self. Also I would probably drill and ream a 3/16" hole on the rotor where each corner seal used to be, and press a dowel pin inside. The one piece side seal would have matching holes with a .002" slip fit for the dowel pins. This would stop the seal from trying to spin, and stop it from placing lateral force on the apex seal.

Of course I'd would somehow have to get a hold of some different springs for the side seal, being that there would be much more surface area touching the side housings, a much more powerful spring would be required.

So now my question is again, has anyone ever proposed, or tried my idea? Does anybody have any criticism (hopefully constructive) about my idea, or any problems?

RacerXtreme7

iTrader: (2)

I would think, after all that trouble of machining you'll find that the little bridge that was there didn't restrict all that much flow at all. Also, the bouncing effect of the corner piece (which is all one piece) would be worked back and forth every time it passed the open hole of a port. Theres gotta be spring tention there to seal, so that piece (if it doesnt actually get caught in the port) will be work hardened and eventually break I would think,,,, couple that with the extreme temperature changes......hmmmm possible to do (anything is possible) but WHY????

~Mike.............