SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 6, 2002
SONEX RESEARCH, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in Charter)
Maryland 0-14465 52-1188993
(State or other (Commision file (IRS employer
jurisdiction of number) identification no.)
incorporation)
23 Hudson Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
(Address of principal executive offices)
(410) 266-5556
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEM 5. - OTHER EVENTS
On February 6, 2002, Sonex Research, Inc. (the "Company") posted the
following report on its website (www.sonexresearch.com):
LIMITED STUDY OF EXPERIMENTAL SCRI COMBUSTION PROCESS FALLS SHORT OF
EXPECTATIONS; SONEX CEO REMAINS CONFIDENT OF THE SCRI POTENTIAL
Annapolis, Maryland, February 6, 2002 - Sonex Research, Inc. (OTC BB: SONX)
reports that testing under a feasibility study of its new Stratified Charge
Radical Ignition (SCRI) combustion technology conducted by a major international
truck engine manufacturer has ended recently without attaining the performance
achieved by Sonex in a single-cylinder laboratory diesel engine. Dr. Andrew A.
Pouring, CEO and founder of Sonex, explained that although the manufacturer
reports that it found certain positive effe cts on combustion, it concluded that
the concept was not close enough to production and would require major funding
for further research.
Dr. Pouring remains confident that with the appropriate comprehensive test
program and sufficient funding, the SCRI for vehicular diesel engines can be
realized. With SCRI, radical (chemical) species that enable ignition are created
by interaction of the injected fuel spray with specially designed Sonex
microchambers in the piston side wall. On a direct injected, single cylinder
laboratory engine at Sonex using diesel-type fuels, the SCRI reduced NOx
emissions by 80% and smoke by 90% while maintaining fue l consumption.
The program conducted by this engine manufacturer, which began in the spring of
2001, aimed to transfer the SCRI results achieved on the single-cylinder diesel
engine to a modern, advanced, four cylinder, medium-duty truck diesel engine
that employs all of the latest diesel engine technology such as a high pressure,
electronically controlled injection system, and turbo-charging. Dr. Pouring
explained that the engine manufacturer did not complete the entire test program
as initially planned due to operatio nal difficulties and reductions in R&D
funding.
The SCRI combustion process is a new branch of the patented Sonex Combustion
System (SCS) engine technology that permits in-cylinder control of ignition and
combustion in a manner that reduces emissions while maintaining fuel consumption
in diesel engines, and has the potential for significant improvements in
gasoline engines. A recent report by Ricardo Consulting Engineers, Ltd. of
Shoreham, England, one the world's leading engine engineering and powertrain
consulting firms, confirmed the soot reduction capability of the earlier SCS
"Low Soot" design. Ricardo found that a turbo-charged and intercooled
six-cylinder, direct injected diesel engine used in medium-duty trucks, while
operating with the SCS piston at the best injection timings, emitted up to 45%
less soot under best timing than the stock engine, with similar fuel
consumption.
Despite the fact that the current SCRI diesel engine study could not be
completed as planned, Dr. Pouring remains very optimistic about the commercial
prospects for the SCRI combustion process. He said Sonex will seek the resources
and commercial partners necessary to continue development.
Dr. Pouring believes that the SCRI piston design, with further development, can
enable direct injected gasoline engined automobiles, currently sold only in
markets outside the U.S. because of emissions problems, to become emissions
compliant while maintaining their current fuel consumption advantages. Sonex is
presently providing input to Congressional committees that address legislation
for future vehicle fuel mileage standards that will replace the current
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards . Among other measures, the
Company has prepared a "Point Paper" to be submitted to the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Transportation and Science that is holding hearings on the CAFE
follow-on legislation.
**********************
Sonex Research, Inc., a leader in the field of combustion technology, has its
SCS technology protected by numerous patents issued and pending worldwide. The
Company is pursuing licensing agreements for the marketing, manufacture and sale
of diesel truck engine pistons incorporating its patented technology for the
reduction of emissions in vehicular direct injected turbocharged diesel engines,
and has conducted demonstration and development programs with some of the
world's largest diesel engine manufacturers. Other SCS designs are being used to
convert small gasoline engines to heavy fuel use for military and commercial
applications.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement, as well as all publicly disseminated material about the
Company, contains information in the form of "forward-looking" statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Such
statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and
assumptions by management with respect to, among other things, trends affecting
the Company's financial condition or results of operations and the impact of
competition. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and
involve risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many
of which are beyond the control of the Company. In order to obtain the benefits
of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Act for any such forward-looking
statements, the Company cautions shareholders, investors and prospective
investors about significant factors which, among other things, have in some
cases affected the Company's actual results and are in the future likely to
affect the Company's actual results and cause them to differ materially from
those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Shareholders, investors and prospective investors should read this announcement
in conjunction with the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-KSB,
Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB, and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission available online in the EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
February 6, 2002
SONEX RESEARCH, INC.
Registrant
/s/ George E. Ponticas
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George E. Ponticas
Chief Financial Officer