NON-LOW MAGNETIC SIGNATURE ENGINES

DGI CURRENTLY HAS LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW VOLUME ROTARY (I.E., WENKEL) ENGINES CAPABLE OF PRODUCING OUTPUTS IN THE 80 TO 150 HP RANGE. THESE ENGINES HAVE ALUMINUM HOUSING (BODIES) BUT OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE ARE STEEL MADE OR OTHER FERROUS METALS. DGI PROPOSES A PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE MAGNETIC SIGNATURE OF A 150 HP ENGINE. THIS WILL BE DONE THROUGH IDENTIFICATION OF THE PARTS OF THE ENGINE WITH MAGNETIC SIGNATURES, AND THE SUBSEQUENT CHOICE OF ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS FOR THESE PARTS. THE ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS AVAILABLE ARE ALUMINUM, HEAT RESISTANT METALS, CERAMICS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART PLASTICS. THE CHOICE FOR EACH OF THE PARTS TO BE REPLACED IS NOT OBVIOUS BECAUSE MANY CONSIDERATIONS ENTER INTO THE DECISION. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE THE ABILITY OF THE COMPONENT TO ENDURE HEAT AND WEAR; THE ABILITY WITH WHICH THE MATERIAL CAN BE WORKED TO PRODUCE THE PART; THE ABILITY OF THE MATERIAL TO WITHSTAND VIBRATION, SHOCK AND OTHER MECHANICAL STRESSES; AND THE FUTURE COST OF THE COMPONENT. THE PHASE I OF THE SBIR, DGI PROPOSES THE EVALUATION OF THE CHANGES NEEDED AND WILL PRODUCE A PLAN FOR PRODUCTION OF A PROTOTYPE ENGINE. THIS ENGINE WILL BE TESTED WITH RESPECT TO TWO SETS OF CRITERIA. THE FIRST WILL BE THE REDUCTION IN MAGNETIC SIGNATURES BETWEEN THIS ENGINE AND A NORMAL ROTARY ENGINE. THE SECOND SET OF CRITERIA WILL BE TO TEST THE ENGINE FOR PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY, AND TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS IN ANY WAY CHANGED BY THE INCLUSION OF A NON-MAGNETIC COMPONENT. ??????