A rotary engine that starts and operates on compression-ignition of a heavy fuel without a secondary ignition source. The rotary engine includes a rotor housing that forms an epitrochoidal-shaped chamber having linear side portions extending between rounded end portions. A three-flanked rotor is disposed in the chamber to rotate and operate in a manner similar to that of a common Wankel-style rotary engine. The rotor and chamber are configured to provide a compression ratio sufficient to produce compression-ignition of a heavy fuel. The rotor includes apex seal and side seal mounting blocks formed from hardened materials and that are simply removable from the rotor for replacing apex and side seals. The apex seals may include multiple non-parallel seal members at each apex and the apex seals and the side seals may overlap or intersect a corner seal to increase sealing under high compression loads produced by the rotor/chamber configuration.

A method of cooling an aircraft power plant having a combustion engine is disclosed. The method comprises in a first operating mode, inducing a cooling air flow through a heat exchanger in an air conduit via a flow inducing device fluidly connected to the air conduit, the heat exchanger connected in heat exchange relationship with the power plant of the aircraft. The method comprises, in a second operating mode, bypassing the cooling air flow from the flow inducing device via a selectively closable air outlet of the air conduit downstream of the heat exchanger. A cooling system for an aircraft power plant is also disclosed.

A housing for a rotary engine has: a peripheral wall defining two end faces and an inner face transverse to the two end faces; two side walls sealingly engaged to the two end faces of the peripheral wall, a core of a side wall of the two side walls having a core face, the core face having a cavity section facing the rotor cavity and an abutment section annularly extending around the cavity section, the abutment section facing an end face of the two end faces, the abutment section having a flared portion flaring away from the end face; and a coating on the core face, the coating made of a material harder than a material of the core of the side wall, the coating covering the cavity section and ending at a coating edge located on the flared portion, the coating edge free of contact with the end face.

A housing for a rotary engine has: a peripheral wall defining two end faces and an inner face transverse to the two end faces; two side walls sealingly engaged to the two end faces of the peripheral wall, a core of a side wall of the two side walls having a core face, the core face having a cavity section facing the rotor cavity and an abutment section annularly extending around the cavity section, the abutment section facing an end face of the two end faces, the abutment section having a flared portion flaring away from the end face; and a coating on the core face, the coating made of a material harder than a material of the core of the side wall, the coating covering the cavity section and ending at a coating edge located on the flared portion, the coating edge free of contact with the end face.

The disclosure provides rotary machines that include, in one embodiment, a shaft defining a central axis A, the shaft having a first end and a second end. The shaft can have a first gearbox disposed thereon defining one or more cavities therein. At least one contour is slidably received into an arcuate cavity in an exterior surface of the gearbox. The contour has a convex outer surface that cooperates with an inwardly facing curved surface of a housing to form a working volume. A gearbox mechanism consisting of gears, crankshafts, bearings and connecting rod creates an oscillatory motion 2 times per revolution such that the contour can navigate about the arcuate cavity without contacting the cavity at a high rate of rotating speed. Thus, said working volume can expand and compresses twice per rotatable shaft revolution.

The disclosure provides rotary machines that include, in one embodiment, a shaft defining a central axis A, the shaft having a first end and a second end. The shaft can have a first gearbox disposed thereon defining one or more cavities therein. At least one contour is slidably received into an arcuate cavity in an exterior surface of the gearbox. The contour has a convex outer surface that cooperates with an inwardly facing curved surface of a housing to form a working volume. A gearbox mechanism consisting of gears, crankshafts, bearings and connecting rod creates an oscillatory motion 2 times per revolution such that the contour can navigate about the arcuate cavity without contacting the cavity at a high rate of rotating speed. Thus, said working volume can expand and compresses twice per rotatable shaft revolution.

Two rotors with two lobes are eccentrically mounted within the chamber of a two-lobe rotary machine. The rotors have a periphery defined by a the path of the opposing rotor apex.

Two rotors with two lobes are eccentrically mounted within the chamber of a two-lobe rotary machine. The rotors have a periphery defined by a the path of the opposing rotor apex.

A rotary engine comprised of a pair of counterrotating rotors within a non-rotating outer housing. Each of the rotors is coupled to a common power shaft, one directly and the other through a reversing gear arrangement. Both are driven by the hyper-expansion of combustion gases in a repeating combustion cycle. Each has a generally circular, nearly frictionless working surface perpendicular to the power shaft axis. Each rotor surface defines chambers which rotate past each other. Within such chambers, compressed air and fuel are introduced, mixed, ignited, allowed to hyper-expand (and thus cause the rotation) and exhausted. The power shaft may be connected to a conventional clutch, torque converter, gearbox, differential, alternator or a similar system.

A rotary engine comprised of a pair of counterrotating rotors within a non-rotating outer housing. Each of the rotors is coupled to a common power shaft, one directly and the other through a reversing gear arrangement. Both are driven by the hyper-expansion of combustion gases in a repeating combustion cycle. Each has a generally circular, nearly frictionless working surface perpendicular to the power shaft axis. Each rotor surface defines chambers which rotate past each other. Within such chambers, compressed air and fuel are introduced, mixed, ignited, allowed to hyper-expand (and thus cause the rotation) and exhausted. The power shaft may be connected to a conventional clutch, torque converter, gearbox, differential, alternator or a similar system.