Before I started my own businesses, my background was aircraft maintenance, engineering, academy, military pilot of both fixed and rotary wing, design electronic circuits, and I have a patent for automated assembly. Since a kid, and member of EAA, I've always looking for an alternative to pistons and gas turbines. Unlike the Wankel, this design is could actually make a case for being classified as a rotary engine. However, nearly any pump technology can be made into and engine. I've designed engines, variable camshafts, and a replacement for the poppet valves before others patented them. I've not pursued them even though some were theoretically efficient because they suffered from sealing, lubrication, or cooling issues. Unfortunately, this design is no exception. To me, the gas turbine still appears to be the future. The secret to making turbines efficient are high temperature, and/or high pressure. Unfortunately, with aircraft turbines more than half of the air is used for cooling, and the efficiency comes from many expensive stages. High high efficiency requires high power settings making aircraft a natural. Flight idle is measured in gallons per minute per engine. They are also spinning gyros running from 35,000 for larger turbines, to 150,000 for APU-size turbines. That translates into problems with the shocks common to ground vehicles. That has been pretty well addressed over the years. Ford had the right idea with high temperature ceramic turbines in their trucks. Ford produced them for trucks, buses, and for the military from 1955 - 1973 until they lost their only plant to a flood. The cost was high to produce them, but they did beat diesel fuel efficiency in over-the-road applications. Today, technology and hybrids may make them practical again. You won't find an engine truer to the name rotary, they don't suffer from sealing, lubrication, or cooling issues, and can outlast any conventional engine.

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