Design of rotary engines from the apex seal profile (Abbr.: Rotary engine design by apex seal)

Conventional rotary engines are based on a trochoidal-type housing bore profile and its inside envelope is the basis of the rotor profile. To seal the chambers, spring-loaded apex seals are used in place of the designed rotor apexes. The conventional design method is limited to an epitrochoidal-based housing and does not consider the apex seal profile. For the first time, complete theory and algorithm are developed for the design of rotary engines based on the apex seal profile. This method, based on the deviation-function (DF) method of conjugate pair design, generates the engine housing that is conjugate to the apex seal. A larger variety of engine profiles can be found by using this method. Some example results from arc-based and non-arc-based apex seal profiles are provided for design and process illustration.

► The deviation-function (DF) method is a new method for conjugate pair design.
► This method is applied to rotary engines by designing the apex seal profile.
► The engine housing is generated to be conjugate to the apex seal.
► This intuitive design approach offers more variety for rotary engine profiles.
► Results from arc-based and non-arc-based apex seal profiles are provided.