Scanning for ideas: Rotating engine for a micro air vehicle

Nov. 8, 2007
A backpack-sized unmanned aerial vehicle from Honeywell will likely use a 60-cc engine designed and built by RCV Engines Ltd., Brighton, U.K. (rcvengines.com).

It should deliver 4.2 bhp at 8,200 rpm, and run on JP8, as well as a variety of other fuels.

RCV engines have the same induction, compression, power, and exhaust strokes as a conventional four-stroke engine. But in conventional engines, gasses enter and leave cylinders via poppet valves in the cylinder head which are operated by a mechanical valve train. In the RCV engine, the cylinder is mounted on bearings and rotates at exactly half the crankshaft rotational speed. It is driven from the crankshaft either through a gear train or toothed belt. The cylinder also has a large port and combustion chamber. When the port lines ups with a hole in the turning cylinder, it opens the intake or exhaust ports. Conversely, the intake and exhaust ports are closed when the port is not aligned with the hole. This technology, which is ideal for under-250-cc powerplants, reduces manufacturing costs, lowers emissions, and tends to generate stable, high-speed performance.

Sponsored Recommendations

April 16, 2025
Clean. Compact. Less heat.
April 16, 2025
SEW-EURODRIVE Introduces DR2C motor, IE5 Ultra-Premium Efficiency Motor
March 31, 2025
Unlike passive products - made of simple carbon springs - the bionic prostheses developed by Revival Bionics are propulsive, equipped with a motor and an artificial Achilles tendon...
March 31, 2025
Electric drives are a key technology for the performance of machines, robots, and power tools. Download this guide for an introduction to high-quality mechatronic drive systems...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!