Return-Path: Received: from fed1rmmtao11.cox.net ([68.230.241.28] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.3c3) with ESMTP id 881620 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Mon, 18 Apr 2005 01:30:20 -0400 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=68.230.241.28; envelope-from=ALVentures@cox.net Received: from BigAl ([68.7.14.39]) by fed1rmmtao11.cox.net (InterMail vM.6.01.04.00 201-2131-118-20041027) with ESMTP id <20050418052932.VGUQ22013.fed1rmmtao11.cox.net@BigAl> for ; Mon, 18 Apr 2005 01:29:32 -0400 From: "Al Gietzen" To: "'Rotary motors in aircraft'" Subject: Air filters Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 22:29:42 -0700 Message-ID: <000001c543d7$9fff1050$6400a8c0@BigAl> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0001_01C5439C.F3A03850" X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.6626 Importance: Normal In-Reply-To: X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C5439C.F3A03850 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =20 =20 Hi Leon and All, It's clear that air filtration is required for the rotary engine to = protect the apex seals and rotors. =20 I would word it differently - in general, an air filter is a good idea - = I appreciated Leon's post (he knows what he's talking about, and has a = use of the language that makes for enjoyable reading). He, and others, are right that a filter is a good idea; but there are cases where one can = argue it is not a "necessity". =20 I chose to proceed without a filter for a few reasons. To avoid the = loss of the ram pressure (and small performance improvement) one would need = quite a large filter, and I just didn't have the space. My prop is behind the intake (pusher), and the intake is toward the top of the fuselage above = the strake - in "clean air". =20 =20 My home airport is in coastal CA where there is little reason for much = dust, I will never operate off a dirt strip, and I think it will be reasonably easy to avoid dust storms or volcanic eruptions. Once you are 1000' AGL = or so, I'm guessing it very unlikely that there would be particulates of concern. =20 I'll likely be looking at the plugs every 25 hours or so; so I may give = it a shot of oil between each set of seals and crank that around a bit to = help "flush" any out any of that "abrasive paste". =20 But, yeah; I think if my prop was in front of the intake I'd look real = hard for a place to put the filter. You have to make your own determination whether to put in the filter or not. =20 Al =20 =20 Just had a few ideas that may, or may not work and could possibly work = with a ram air scoop. (1) An old idea is an oil bath where incoming air hits = an oil pan before being inducted into the engine. No use for aerobatic aircraft. (2) Is a new idea, I'm sure you've all seen those new cyclonic filter free vacuum cleaners, that always maintain 100% suction, or so = they say. Could an air plenum be designed on the same principle so that dust = and gravel get separated from the main airflow and get ducted out a side = tube, leaving the main air stream to go to the engine. Just ideas guys, Michael. =20 =20 >> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/ >> Archive: http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C5439C.F3A03850 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi Leon and All,

It's clear that air filtration is required for the rotary engine to = protect

the apex seals and rotors.

<= /font>

I would word = it differently – in general, an air filter is a good idea – =

I appreciated = Leon’s post (he knows what he’s talking about, and has a use of the = language that makes for enjoyable reading). He, and others, are right that = a filter is a good idea; but there are cases where one can argue it is not = a “necessity”.

<= /font>

I chose to = proceed without a filter for a few reasons. To avoid the loss of the ram = pressure (and small performance improvement) one would need quite a large filter, = and I just didn’t have the space. My prop is behind the intake = (pusher), and the intake is toward the top of the fuselage above the strake = – in “clean air”.

<= /font>

My home = airport is in coastal CA where there is little reason for much dust, I will never = operate off a dirt strip, and I think it will be reasonably easy to avoid dust = storms or volcanic eruptions. Once you are 1000’ AGL or so, I’m = guessing it very unlikely that there would be particulates of = concern.

<= /font>

I’ll = likely be looking at the plugs every 25 hours or so; so I may give it a shot of = oil between each set of seals and crank that around a bit to help = “flush” any out any of that “abrasive paste”.

<= /font>

But, yeah; I = think if my prop was in front of the intake I’d look real hard for a place = to put the filter. You have to make your own determination whether to put = in the filter or not.

<= /font>

Al

Just had a few ideas that may, or may not work and could possibly work = with

a ram air scoop. (1) An old idea is an oil bath where incoming air hits = an

oil pan before being inducted into the engine. No use for = aerobatic

aircraft. (2) Is a new idea, I'm sure you've all seen those new = cyclonic

filter free vacuum cleaners, that always maintain 100% suction, or so = they

say. Could an air plenum be designed on the same principle so that dust = and

gravel get separated from the main airflow and get ducted out a side = tube,

leaving the main air stream to go to the engine.

Just ideas guys,

Michael.

>> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/

>> Archive: = http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html

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