Mazda Rotary Engine Cars

History

The Mazda rotary engine is a type of internal combustion engine that uses a triangular rotor instead of a piston to convert pressure into rotational motion. It was invented by Felix Wankel in the early 1950s, and Mazda first licensed the design in 1960.

The rotary engine has several advantages over traditional piston engines, including its smoothness, compactness, and high power-to-weight ratio. However, it also has some disadvantages, such as its high fuel consumption and emissions.

Mazda first introduced the rotary engine in its Cosmo Sport 110S in 1967. The engine was a success, and Mazda went on to use it in a number of other models, including the RX-7, RX-8, and Cosmo.

How a Rotary Engine Works

A rotary engine works by using a triangular rotor that spins inside a figure-8 shaped chamber. The rotor is connected to an eccentric shaft, which converts the spinning motion of the rotor into rotational motion.

As the rotor spins, it creates three combustion chambers. Fuel is injected into each chamber, and the spark plug ignites the fuel-air mixture. The expanding gases push the rotor around, creating power.

Advantages of Rotary Engines

Rotary engines have several advantages over traditional piston engines, including:

• Smoothness: Rotary engines are very smooth running, because there are no reciprocating parts. This makes them ideal for use in sports cars and other high-performance vehicles.
• Compactness: Rotary engines are much more compact than piston engines, which makes them ideal for use in small cars and motorcycles.
• High power-to-weight ratio: Rotary engines have a very high power-to-weight ratio, which makes them ideal for use in race cars and other high-performance vehicles.

Disadvantages of Rotary Engines

Rotary engines also have some disadvantages, including:

• High fuel consumption: Rotary engines are less fuel-efficient than piston engines, because they have to spin faster to produce the same amount of power.
• High emissions: Rotary engines produce more emissions than piston engines, because they burn oil in the combustion chamber.
• Short lifespan: Rotary engines have a shorter lifespan than piston engines, because the rotors wear out more quickly.

Conclusion

The Mazda rotary engine is a unique and innovative type of internal combustion engine. It has several advantages over traditional piston engines, but it also has some disadvantages. Overall, the rotary engine is a fascinating and complex piece of engineering.