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): July 19, 2004
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 AND REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
On July 19, 2004, the Registrant issued the following announcement over the
newswire and posted it on its website (www.sonexresearch.com):
SONEX RECEIVES $192,932 FOLLOW-ON TASK FROM DARPA
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, July 19, 2004 - SONEX RESEARCH, INC. (OTC BB: SONX), a
leader in the field of clean burn combustion technology, announced that it has
received a $192,932 follow-on task from the Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA) to continue development of a multi-cylinder "heavy fuel" engine
(HFE) combustion process for potential Department of Defense (DoD) applications
such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Under the existing contract, Sonex has adapted a lightweight gasoline automotive
engine to an unthrottled, direct fuel injection combustion process based on the
Sonex Controlled Auto-Ignition (SCAI) technology to run on JP5, military
kerosene-based heavy fuel. The SCAI process is enabled by a proprietary piston
technology that achieves in-cylinder chemical kinetics at a moderate compression
ratio for auto ignition of the JP5. Sonex adapted the automotive gasoline engine
using a computer aided design and prototyping fabrication process that involved
subcontractors and specialty suppliers. The laboratory HFE features the
proprietary Sonex pistons, electronically controlled common rail fuel injection
system and extensive instrumentation.
The contract was extended to add a task to: enhance the 6-cylinder HFE for
higher power output; achieve boosted HFE combustion optimization; perform data
collection-analyses; and provide a technical readiness demonstration. Sonex will
determine the technical feasibility of turbo-charging the HFE for higher power
output and advantageous rates of fuel consumption.
This project is sponsored by DARPA as a technology feasibility demonstration of
a means for lightweight piston engines to comply with a DoD policy directive
that mandates kerosene-based "heavy" fuel for all engines. Gasoline engines are
typically 25% to 30% lighter than diesel engines; thus, fully qualified, adapted
gasoline engine designs that could burn low cetane (hard to ignite, diesel type)
heavy fuel would address DoD performance, logistics and safety requirements.
Contact: Jim Rose, Global Equity Consultants, Inc., Tel: 410-349-1685, email:
geci@comcast.net, or Roger Posey, President, Sonex Research, Inc., Tel:
410-266-5556, email: info@sonex-na.com, website:
www.sonexresearch.com.
About DARPA
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the central research
and development organization for the Department of Defense (DoD). It manages and
directs selected basic and applied research and development projects for DoD,
and pursues research and technology where risk and payoff are both very high and
where success may provide dramatic advances for traditional military roles and
missions. More information about DARPA can be found on the Internet at
www.darpa.mil.
About Sonex
Sonex Research, Inc., a leader in the field of combustion technology, is
developing its patented Sonex Combustion System (SCS) piston-based technology
for in-cylinder control of ignition and combustion, designed to increase fuel
mileage and reduce emissions of internal combustion engines. Sonex plans to
complete development, commercialize and market its Sonex Controlled Auto
Ignition (SCAI) combustion process to the automotive industry to improve fuel
efficiency of gasoline powered vehicles. Additionally, independent third-party
testing has confirmed the potential of the SCS application for direct-injected
diesel engines to reduce harmful soot in-cylinder without increasing fuel
consumption. Other SCS designs are being used to convert gasoline engines of
various sizes to operate on safer, diesel-type "heavy fuels" for use in military
and commercial applications requiring light weight and safe handling and storage
of fuel, such as in UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
"Forward-looking" statements contained in this announcement, as well as all
publicly disseminated material about the Company, are made pursuant to the "safe
harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act. Such statements are
based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions by
management with respect to matters such as commercial acceptance of the SCS
technology, the impact of competition, and the Company's financial condition or
results of operations. Readers are cautioned that such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding the risks faced by
Sonex is provided in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the heading "Risk Factors". Such filings are available
upon request from the Company or 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.
July 19, 2004
SONEX RESEARCH, INC.
Registrant
/s/ Andrew A. Pouring
----------------------
Andrew A. Pouring
Chief Executive Officer