Mazda filed six patents associated to rotary engines with the Japanese Patent Workplace on the identical day in June, CarBuzz has found.

The Wankel rotary engine popularized by Mazda will make its return as a variety extender within the MX-30 R-EV, although these patent filings describe a bigger two-rotor design that may very well be used to really propel a automotive, doubtlessly opening the door for a brand new era of rotary-powered Mazda sports activities automobiles.

Mazda rotary engine patent picture

Three of the six patents relate to the form of the rotors themselves. The said purpose of the patents is to “enhance the gas effectivity of a rotary engine,” addressing one of many components that led to the engines’ discontinuation when manufacturing of the Mazda RX-8 ceased after the 2012 mannequin yr.

The patents present completely different designs, every with a recessed cutout of distinctive dimensions. In a rotary engine, the rotor spins within the heart of a housing, with the empty area across the rotor serving because the combustion chamber. By altering the form of the area between the rotor and the outer wall of the housing, these cutouts alter the form of the combustion chamber, which in flip permits for finer management of ignition, permitting for extra full combustion.

Mazda rotary engine patent picture

The opposite three patents deal with the usage of exhaust gasoline recirculation. This course of, which entails cooling exhaust gases cooled in a warmth exchanger after which pumping them again into the engine, has already been used on standard piston engines to enhance effectivity. Mazda’s patents focus on making use of exhaust gasoline recirculation to a rotary engine, describing an consumption design and the way it might connect to an engine.

Mazda has raised the hopes of rotary followers with patent filings earlier than. Earlier this yr, it filed a patent for a rotary hybrid powertrain with three electrical motors, and a 2022 patent submitting from the automaker additionally hinted at a rotary hybrid powertrain, paired with rear-wheel drive. Patent filings do not at all times pan out, although, so this newest spherical of rotary patents may not result in something.