Raphial Morgado's Massive Yet Tiny (MYT) engine is not yet in production, which would enable the service department of dealerships to run a retrofitting business. However, dealerships might consider getting into the interim business of pre-owned/used car sales rather than just shutting down, if they can, to hold them over.
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Raphial Morgado is the famous inventor of the Massive Yet Tiny (or MYT) Engine which is able to put out the same horsepower as much larger engines, and do so much more cleanly and efficiently. It features multiple firings in one cycle to give 40 times higher power to weight ratio, fewer parts, low maintenance, high mechanical efficiency and low pollution.
Nearing Production
After stirring the imagination of many thousands who saw his prototype at the SEMA show in Vegas in 2005 (ref) and the LA auto show in 2006 (ref), and after winning first-prize in the 2006 Emhart-NASA Tech Briefs "Create the Future" Design Contest (ref), things turned fairly quiet while he worked further on his design. The newer engine design recently completed is even better: smaller, more efficient and has fewer parts.
In January, I was fortunate to contact Raphial at an opportune time, and he agreed to let me interview him after a two-year silence, to make a major announcement that he is now ready to go into production, getting up and running in as soon as possibly six to twelve months. We reported:
"Because the engine has so few moving parts and its design is so simple, it wouldn't take nearly as long to get into production as typical engines. We're talking an engine that is so compact it could replace an SUV's engine with something nearly as small and light as the alternator, but would have more power, all while making the mileage comparable to a Prius.
"While the overall engine size is tiny in comparison, the astonishing part is that the rotating cylinder displacement is essentially the same as the piston cylinder displacement of the engine it replaces. [Raphial] says that his engine uses essentially the same technology as the typical internal combustion engine, but he just combines it in a different way, and in so doing is able to get rid of quite a few things, including the valves, camshaft, cylinder heads and radiator system."
Progress in attaining the funding needed since that time has been more challenging than hoped, given the hard economic times we're in, as well as Raphial's eccentric personality; but progress has been made. Raphial is still looking for a $10 million dollar loan to get the pilot production line under way, though he has some promising leads, due in part to our coverage. Strides have also been made in their intellectual property portfolio. Raphial has shared some of those concepts with me, and I must say they do sound quite astonishing. For now, mum's the word on the improvements and some other key business developments percolating.
We had Raphial come give a demonstration of his technology at San Jose State University last April. You should check out the videos if you've not seen them already.
| Raphial demonstrates his Massive Yet Tiny engine April 2, 2009 at San Jose State University, Engineering Auditorium; Co-sponsor: Golden Key International Honour Society at San Jose State University. This is the first of five parts in that demo. (YouTube; April 13, 2009) Parts 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | about inventing | setting up |
One of the misconceptions I hear most often by skeptics of the MYT engine is that it has never run on regular fuel -- only compressed air. That is not the case. For six months, Raphial ran his early prototypes on diesel. After he modified the prototypes to run on compressed air, he was not able to go back because the modifications did not allow that. But his production prototype will run on diesel. Raphial prefers diesel because it is compatible with biodiesel, which can be made locally, and the infrastructure already exists.
The MYT engine as shown on the Angel Labs website is the previous technology. Raphial promises a real surprise at the right time, to release to the public, that would represent as much a leap ahead as how far ahead the presently-published claims are from the mainstream technology.
Hope for Dealerships
Raphial contacted me yesterday to give me another update, and to express his frustration at seeing auto dealerships closing down around the U.S. My first advice to him turns out to have been the same that his attorney gave him: "Wait until you have a product available before getting dealerships interested in the engine for retrofitting. Think of the frustration they will experience waiting for your engine to be ready, and that could get nasty if they have to wait too long."
Still, Raphial couldn't shake the nagging feeling -- almost guilt -- that he has a solution for these closing dealerships, whereby they could stay open and thrive by retrofitting used cars with the MYT engine -- if only they could just wait a little longer. It costs so much to reopen something. Credit is ruined, so getting money to open is more difficult. New people have to be trained. If only there is a way they could just hang in there a while more.
What made sense to me was his suggestion that dealerships of new cars shift to the used car market, which would both enable them to stay afloat in the interim, and would prepare them for the retrofit business. They might also consider getting into the electric vehicle retrofit business. Raphial said that from what he's hearing, while new car purchases are way down, the used car market is doing quite well right now. "If you're a GM dealership, you're a perfect retrofit shop for GM cars."
On a darker note, I've not been able to track it down online, but my wife was telling me about a recent letter to the editor of Time magazine in which a family group who bought a GM dealership 30 years ago, is being forced by GM to close down, even though they want to go into the used car business. Also, GM is forcing them to sell their 3 million dollar inventory as "used" not "new", incurring further loss. So apparently, the socialist direction this country is heading may prevent some entrepreneurial people from going in certain directions with their company.
In January, we reported that rather than wait for a huge contract to build new vehicles from the ground up, Raphial's company, Angel Labs LLC, decided to just forge ahead with a retrofit paradigm. Raphial anticipates that before long, this network of production and franchises could employ 2-3 million employees -- as many as have been left unemployed in the recent months of economic downturn -- all while helping people save money on fuel, as well as increasing the performance of their vehicles. The resulting reduction of fuel consumption could soon be enough to remove our dependence on oil from not-so-friendly nations.
As mentioned in our January report, the MYT design is not just suitable for replacing engines, but it is also ideal for a number of other fields of use, including pneumatic engines, for which it is ideal; geothermal; hydro; and steam. Raphial says that it is the only engine in the world that can handle all three fluid/gas components well at the same time: volume, flow, and pressure. Other systems can handle one or two of these at the same time, but not all three. So not only can this engine revolutionize the engine industry, but it could also revolutionize the turbine industry. No wonder Raphial says it will bring about the "next Industrial Revolution!"
If you can just hang on to your dealership a little longer, you could be on the leading edge of that revolution. For those of you who know someone with a dealership or who works at a dealership, you might want to forward this story to them.
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Comments
Dealerships? Isn't that a bit premature? Far as I know, this guy has never made or shown a single (NOT ONE) working model. The gadget he demonstrates all over doesn't run on fuel. It's pushed by compressed air and has neither power nor usefulness. There is serious question about whether a real engine running on any practical fuel (such as diesel, gasoline, ethanol, or hydrogen) where detonation takes place and the fuel is burned-- there is serious question whether such an engine could hold together. If it did, many think it would wear out to fast. Finally, nobody has a clue what such a real engine would cost. At this point, he needs a working demo that runs on fuel and can be dynomometer tested. Until then, this is nothing but vaporware. LITERALLY. And also very likely just another scam.
"One of the misconceptions I hear most often by skeptics of the MYT engine is that it has never run on regular fuel -- only compressed air. That is not the case. For six months, Raphial ran his early prototypes on diesel. "
Really? Is there evidence for that? Any scholarly papers? Independent confirmation? I am not saying it didn't happen-- just that I'd like something more than "he said" he did it. Or did we learn nothing from the Tilley and Mylow scam about the worth of what somebody CLAIMS without evidence? Are we going to make that same mistake over and over again?
I hope it's for real, but at this point, without a working internal combustion prototype, it's just a bla bla engine. Premature to talk about saving auto dealerships.
How will all that heat be dissipated in such a small space?
I believe the "Cyclone Engine" is further along in development, with DARPA funding.
in the picture he is standing between his engine and a regular engine. It's not an auto engine but the size of an 18 wheeler engine. I can see his pushing an automobile but not an 18 wheeler with trailer fully loaded. It would be more believable with regular auto engine in pic????
This guy claims he can't run his current MYT on fuel for fear of damaging an expensive engine, but he's going to supply dealerships with MYT's? And they should install them based on data from 'early prototypes' running on fuel, I suppose? Last I heard, he needed 10 million to start production. Total scam.
"So apparently, the socialist direction this country is heading may prevent some entrepreneurial people from going in certain directions with their company."
Real smart to mix your politics with your reporting. What does GMs policy on dealerships have to do with your stupid politics?
Has anyone actually seen one of these engines run on anything but compressed air? A couple of years ago he presented this to a company my friend works at, to seek funding and at that time they saw nothing running on actual fuel, just compressed air.
I'll believe this one when he actually presents an engine running on diesel, gas or some other combustible product.
Kudos to maryyugo - again.
Further, this guy wanting a loan instead of equity for a start up company without a demonstrable product is downright insulting to investors and it makes him look like he is disconnected from reality. What does this imply about his "engine"? And further again, if the engine actually does what it says, QUIT CALLING IT THE MASSIVE YET TINY ENGINE, THAT IS IDIOTIC! It should be called the "Mighty Yet Tiny" engine and use the obvious Mighty Mouse icon to market it. Sheesh, plug in guy.
Sterling, you need to stop the one sided reporting. The hope and salvation line. Get back to being objective and come back to reality. Not sure if it was the stress from mylow failure, or something personal. But bottom line, he isn't going to get a dime without a working engine.
INSTEAD of asking for 10 million, he should try to find a manufacturer that can build the engine (as designed for disel) upon order requests. Then put it out there that those wishing to buy an engine can purchase one from said company. Act as an advisor, but allow the purchaser the ability to PUT IT IN A CAR. If 4-5 of these cars were driving around the country, the 10 million would come. But no, he wants the money before the proof. There will be no retrofit without proof.
And before you think i'm spouting, if i could purchase a MYT engine from somewhere, wait 6-12 weeks for it to be built and shipped to me. I would then spend the next several months putting it in a car!!!!
If this engine is for real, a version should be developed for homeowners to generate electricity.
It doesn't take a genius to see the flaws in the plan. It is easy to set up an escrow for the balance of funds "IF" the multiple (x5?) funtioning prototypes meet testing criteria agreed to. Building 5 (or 10) identical units for field testing is reasonable and could be funded with all the protection patent law can hold. I understand Morgado's reluctance having had designs stolen, however, anyone stealing this 'now' public technology would not be able to market or build it anywhere in the world without all knowing they are nothing but thieves and liars and subject to world wide scrutiny. Not a good business practice for anyone and would doom any that didn't follow the correct way to license a product or legally produce it. I am eagerly awaiting some intelligence on all parties. We need the technologies out there drastically. BTW, commercial trucks through 1 ton (largest market) would be my first penetration into the market with greatest effect on CO2, fuel and reliability.
Small follow-up. As a 40 year veteran of industrial manufacturing, with todays mfg technology, small quantity runs are not only possible but practical proving production techniques and quality controls prior to full scale manufacturing and only if warranted.
In thinking about the mechanisms driving the thing, it has possibility, there is a YouTube video animating how the pistons rotate which helped me visualize it better. There is only one thing I cannot visualize: Except for a ratcheting device, which is not shown, what keeps the one set of pistons from rotating? Force is applied to two pistons, yet only one moves? This issue can easily be solved using some type of ratchet, but it appears to not need one?
This engine is totally bogus nonsense. I saw a few clips where it was "running" on compressed air. If this small hunk of metal was burning gasoline it would quickly go into thermonuclear meltdown. I don't see any type of water jacket for the engine "block". It can't possibly work with air cooling.
Furthermore, this small device, even if it could put out the horsepower claimed, would quickly self-destruct due to metal fatigue. So now we need a water jacket as well as something to make it solid enough to sustain the torque and vibration that a real car would throw at it.
So indeed, the massive yet tiny engine is no more than a prototype that runs on compressed air. To turn the concept into a real, functional engine it would have to be much larger and water-cooled. It starts to look more and more like a "real" engine.
This concept has serious flaws and will never see the light of day.
For everyone who says that he does not have a working model that runs on fuel, check out the video on youtube. Search for:
MYT Engine Running (HIGH QUALITY VIDEO)
and you will find it. Shame I can't post the link here.
It's LOUD!! Perhaps the next thing he should invent is a massive yet tiny noise suppressor for it.
I'm one of the people who have posted a video on YouTube. I built the mechanism in SolidWorks based on the patent drawings.
There is no 'ratchet'. Instead it uses what can be described as "rolling crankshafts".
Raphial Morgado won first prize in the create the future contest by Nasa Tech Briefs. Some of the other teams had over 60 Engineers/ inventors working for them. The contest was judged by some of the best engineers in the world. I laugh at people that make bad claims about the MYT Engine, do you think your smarter than best engineers in the world, do you think you have thought of something wrong with the MYT engine that the best engineers in the world could not think of. The myt engine has been tested on fuel, there are video's on youtube showing it. If there was a flaw with this motor Raphial Morgado would not of won a first prize By a Nasa tech briefs. Google Nasa Tech Briefs and learn about important inventions
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