2 definitions by Epsilon Rho Tau Omega
ReCorrection: Felix Wankel invented A PISTONLESS ROTARY ENGINE, now known as the Wankel engine. It is a perfection of the original rotary engines, mainly used in airplanes. He did not invent the rotary engine, the same way that the Kimberly-Clark corporation (makers of the Kleenex) did not invent blowing your nose into something.
by Epsilon Rho Tau Omega March 22, 2010
Contrary to popular belief, it was not "thought of by Felix Wankel when he was 17". It was developed in the late 1800's before his birth (in 1902).
Used mainly in aircraft, it essentially is a conventional piston-driven internal combustion engine, with the pistons set radially around the center crankshaft. The difference is that the whole engine block rotates around the crankshaft, rather than the pistons turning the crankshaft.
The pistonless rotary engine, as produced by Mazda, was initially designed by Felix Wankel as others describe, yes, but putting his name on all rotary engines is like saying that all watermelons are seedless.
Used mainly in aircraft, it essentially is a conventional piston-driven internal combustion engine, with the pistons set radially around the center crankshaft. The difference is that the whole engine block rotates around the crankshaft, rather than the pistons turning the crankshaft.
The pistonless rotary engine, as produced by Mazda, was initially designed by Felix Wankel as others describe, yes, but putting his name on all rotary engines is like saying that all watermelons are seedless.
by Epsilon Rho Tau Omega March 24, 2010