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Old 26-12-2013, 08:41 AM   #12
DJR-351
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Location: Burnett Heads, Qld
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Default Re: Aussie invention eliminates piston rings

Quote:
Originally Posted by CyberWasp View Post
What ever happened to the Orbital Engine that was always about to be put into production but I have not seen it since?
Heres a snippet out of a book called Firepower, the most spectacular fraud in Australian history........

Quote:
Ever since Ralph Sarich appeared on the ABC Television show, The Inventors in 1972 and revealed a new type of two-stroke engine, fortunes have been won and lost on assurances to revolutionise the car industry. Sarich's compact design promised more power, fewer emissions and significant fuel economy. The fact that his Orbital engine remained untested failed to dampen the resultant frenzy.

Australia's largest company, BHP, formed a joint venture to develop the technology. Shares that once traded for 20 cents went to $24 each. Investors and analysts brimmed with confidence about the potential for lucrative multi-million dollar contracts from big car manufacturers.

Governments got involved. During the 1987 Federal election campaign, the then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, announced that $500,000 worth of taxpayers' money would be used to assess the viability of an Orbital Engine manufacturing plant. He was responding to fears that Australia would lose the project to foreign interests.

But the inflated confidence overlooked a number of fundamental problems. Key components of the Sarich engine couldn't be cooled. And others couldn't be readily lubricated. It was susceptible to overheating, and the invention was eventually deemed too impractical.

By 2004, the Orbital Engine Company had accumulated losses of $480-million but Sarich had been fortunate enough to get out early. He sold his shares and did what every sensible millionaire does, he bought property in Perth's central business district.
The book is mainly about Tim Johnston's company Firepower and the magic fuel saving pill (anyone else remember this ) but does mention the Orbital engine (amongst a few other dodgy inventions).......it's a good read......

Firepower
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