lotus

previous page: 37 The rec.models.rc ftp site
  
page up: Radio Control (RC) Flying FAQno next page

38 Other Information (RC flying)




Description

This article is from the Radio Control (R/C) Flying FAQ, by Shamim Mohamed shamim@math.isu.edu with numerous contributions by others.

38 Other Information (RC flying)

SOURCES:

Materials:
Composites - carbon-fiber, glass, epoxy and other composite materials are
available from:

Aerospace Composite Products: P.O.Box 16621, Irvine, CA 92714. +1 714 250 1107
Carbon fiber tow, rods and strips; glass cloth, kevlar, Spectra, rohacell.

Fibre Glass Development Corporation: 800 821 3283.
Glass fabrics, resins etc.

Composite Structures Technology: P.O.Box 4615, Lancaster, CA 93539 800 338 1278
CF, glass cloth, rohacell, kevlar. Recommended by some for good prices and
lighweight materials.

TUNED PIPES:

Tuned pipes are a means of boosting the power of two stroke engines.
They are not all things to all engines, but when properly set up they can
be very effective.
If you have ever played a note by blowing over the end of a piece of
tubing, you are using the principle involved. This is that any tube has a
natural resonant frequency, usually dependant on its length, and the
speed of sound in air. This means that some oscillations will die away
quickly, but one in the right range will resonate, and be strengthened in
force, when the wave---length matches the resonant length of the tube.
As a pressure wave in the sound reaches the end of the pipe, a reflection
is set up, and moves back up the tube. This occurs at the end, whether
open or closed, and at changes of section or taper. Now, if we arrange a
length of pipe as a muffler for a two stroke engine, we will find that at
a certain rpm, the pipe will resonate, and boost the engine's rpm up.
This is because the reflected pressure wave arrives at the exhaust port
just in time to push some fuel/air mixture that was about to be lost out
the port (due to timing overlap), back into the cylinder, where it will
be burnt, producing more power than without the pipe. All we have to do
is arrange the length of the pipe so that the boost in rpm occurs at a
rev range that is useful to us with the relevant load (propeller). It
may be that the engine cannot produce enough power to turn the fitted
prop at a useful speed. Some engines have port timimg that cannot benefit
usefully from any pipe.
The major factor in setting up a pipe is the length for a given
propeller and rpm range---some examples are given later. Some different
designs of pipes will produce different lengths, because of the effects
of diameter, taper angle and type of end reflector. Many pipes also have
a muffled section which hides the rear cone or reflector's shape. Here
are the basic questions to ask yourself before trying a pipe:
is the engine likely to benefit---if it is a sport type engine, less
likely, but ask around. If it has a name for power (eg ROSSIs, YS, the
hotter OS) almost certainly.
is the aircraft capable of handling extra speed?
is the pilot capable of handling extra speed?
what prop and rpm range are you aiming at?
Let's get started. Record the static rpm on the prop of your choice
with a muffler before doing anything else, so we know where we are
starting from. Try to get a starting point for the length from a similar
set up if possible, and fit your pipe. If you have a choice, get a header
that is a bit (1") longer than you think you need---it is easier to
shorten than lengthen the header. Now start the engine and tune for
slightly rich from peak revs. Note that this may require a richer setting
than usual, as we (hopefully) are producing more power than before. If we
have fewer revs than with a muffler, something is wrong---if your mixture
is correct, the pipe is probably too long. Try shortening the header (or
pipe if more convenient) in 1/4" increments until the revs start to rise.
If the pipe is too short, the motor will run harshly, and the needle
setting will be unstable and critical---add 1/4" spacers between the
header and the pipe. Now to fly it. If it is not visibly faster in the
air, try a shallow dive. If there is a distinct jump in revs and speed,
the pipe is too short, and the `coming on' is caused by the prop
unloading in the dive and coming up to a resonant rpm. If however the
dive produces no change, but the vertical performance is better, the pipe
is too long. Note that the references to `short' and `long' are
relative---the pipe cannot improve the speed over all rpm ranges, and you
will have to decide what the most appropriate compromise for your case is
yourself. Most fliers do not need to have the engine speed up while
descending, only to slow down in level and upward flight, so most
adjustments will be aimed at improving level and upward flight.

Remember that pipes will vary in their boost and tolerance of
non-optimum length.
The lengths given below are from the exhaust port face to the high
point of the two cones of the pipe, or if muffled, usually to the point
where the muffled section joins the first cone.

           Prop        Length        Rpm
OS 46 SF   MA  10x6      345 mm     14000
OS 45 FSR  MA  9.5x6     305 mm     15000+                   (10x6 cut down)
OS 45 FSR  MA as above   305 mm     16200        (exhaust port lifted 1.0mm)
ROSSI .60  MK  11x7.5    375 mm
YS .45     MA  11x7.5    320 mm 

These examples used a variety of pipe makes, but I have found that MACS
pre-tuned pipes are hard to fault---i.e. they will come up straight away.
Some other types and makes of pipes will differ---GRAUPNER pipes will
give bigger boosts, but are MUCH more critical on almost every parameter
---length, prop, plug, fuel etc.

Dont forget to record what you try so you don't repeat mistakes or dead
ends in your trials. I have found good muffled pipes, properly set up,
frequently are quieter than mufflers, especially when set up long with
big props---the best result I have had was an OS 46 SF with a 12x6 and a
pipe about 40mm(1.5") longer than for a 10x6, measured about 85db (at
3m/10ft) over grass, and in the air it was inaudible if there was
anything else in the air.

 

Continue to:













TOP
previous page: 37 The rec.models.rc ftp site
  
page up: Radio Control (RC) Flying FAQno next page