Definitions by Epsilon Rho Tau Omega
rotary engine
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.
rotary engine by Epsilon Rho Tau Omega March 23, 2010
wankel
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.
wankel by Epsilon Rho Tau Omega March 22, 2010