Thermo Fan, Inc. completes 100 hour test of their RotaMax rotary engine.
Based on the Wankel principal, a 650cc rotary engine recently completed a flawless 100 hour run on the dynamometer at Thermo Fan’s Ohio facility. The engine is a single rotor configuration producing 75 horsepower @ 6700 RPM. The RotaMax engine family includes a 1300cc twin rotor that produces 150 horsepower @ 6700 RPM and, under development, a 150cc engine that will produce an estimated 25 to 30 HP. The 1300 is very similar to the Mazda RX7 and RX8 engines, with some distinct differences. The RotaMax engine uses a charge cooled rotor whereby the incoming air and fuel cool the rotor, whereas Mazda uses an oil cooled rotor. The RotaMax engine is all aluminum whereas the earlier versions of Mazda engines used cast iron center and end housings. A distinct RotaMax advantage is its light weight… the 650cc weighs 110 pounds and the 1300 only 153 pounds.

This engine was originally designed by Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) between 1974 and 1984. It is rumored that they spent hundreds of millions of dollars to develop this engine. Thermo Fan has improved the design, manufacturability, and reliability making it suitable for today’s engine market. OMC originally had a 530cc single rotor air cooled engine that was installed in 15,000 snowmobiles made by Johnson and Evinrude in the early 1970s. After success with this program they embarked on the design that is currently ready for production at Thermo Fan.

Thermo Fan will begin moderate production of the RotaMax engines at a rate of 100-200 engines per month for the 4th quarter of 2005. They plan to start adding production capabilities early in 2006. Eric Barger, President of Thermo Fan, explains, “The RotaMax engine family has the potential to change and improve products that are available to the consumer today. These products include virtually anything currently powered by a piston engine. With the high power to weight ratio and the excellent performance characteristics the RotaMax engine has unlimited potential.” Barger further explains that the engines can power Snowmobiles, Jet skis, Motorcycles, ATVs, Generators, Pumps, Hovercrafts, Go Karts, Race Cars, Hybrid Vehicles and many more applications. Thermo Fan is currently working to establish a list of early users for their engines.

Thermo Fan, Inc. is a privately held Ohio corporation. For more information on this exciting new engine you can contact Eric Barger at 419-694-3000 or email eric@rotamax.net. You can also visit the RotaMax Engine website at www.rotamax.net