Re: Rotaries vs gyroscopes.

[RangeR BoB <samurai@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The reason that a rotary engine (Wankel) doesn't act like a gyro is
simple:  There is less rotating mass in a rotary than a conventional
piston engine.  The crank is smaller, less massive, and has a shorter
throw (on the range of a couple inches on a Mazda 13b).  The flywheel
has much more rotational inertia than the crank (duh?  That's its
purpose in life).

	The rotors themselves orbit more than they rotate, with them doing one
complete rotation in 3 turns of the crank.  So their rotational inertia
is less.

	So, you are right, the car masks the effect.

	In Motorcycles, the effect would be more pronounced.  Both Suzuki and
Norton made rotary bikes.  The Suzuki was a decent "touring" machine
(this was pre-goldwing type tourers)  The Norton survived as a Police
bike in Britain for years after the rest of the company folded, but was
hampered by being a forced air cooling design that limited power output.

	If you want to see torque reaction, ride a Moto Guzzi. They have a big
V-twin with the crankshaft running lengthwise.  Rool open the throttle,
the bike leans slightly to the left.  Its a hoot.  Not sure if BMW bikes
(see, there is BMW content in here, even if it is Beamer) hav as
noticable an effect.
  
	Now, Chaparrals were COOL.   As long as your side skirts kept near the
track, they could get some serious down force.  Too bad the snowmobile
engines that ran the fans blew up all the time.  They got the "Cooling
fans" that provided the downforce out of Continental air cooled M-48
tank engines.
- -- 

 RangeR
   BoB
 Hembrook
 
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 '88 Kawasaki ZX-10					28k

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