A wankel engine is classified as an Otto Cycle Engine. We will now explore the history of the internal combustion engine followed by the history of the Wankel engine.
1695 Denis Papin Invented pressure cooker.
In 1807 Sir George Caley was the first to utilize air as an expansion gas
In 1860 Jean Joseph Lenoir produced the first IC engine.
In 1877 Nicolaus Otto patented the first 4 stroke engine design.
By 1882 Daimler/Maybach incorporated the IC engine into automobiles.
Dr. Felix Wankel is known as the inventor of the rotary engine. Many different people had proposed rotary engine designs but none pursued the idea for as long as Felix Wankel did.This German scientist was born in Swabia Germany where other famous engine designers such as Otto, Daimler and Benz were born. Felix Wankel conceived the idea of the rotary engine in 1924. His first attempt to obtain a patent was in 1926 when he applied for a patent for a grease turbine but was rejected because of a previous patent by Enke. By 1927 he had come up with the drawings for what was called "drehkolbenmaschine" or rotary piston engine and sealing parts. The patent was issued in 1929. He would receive more patents for six more decades. In 1933 applied for a patent in a DKM engine which he received in 1936.
Felix Wankel with his first prototype in 1929.
The First functional working prototype of the DKM (see overview) Wankel engine was built in February 1957. By May of the same year the engine was able to generate 24 hp and run for two straight hours.The first running KKM (see overview) rotary engine was built in July 1958.
After the second world war was over Dr. Wankel was able to reorganize research on his design with NSU (German company dedicated to building practical transportation). Dr. Walter Froede lead NSU in adopting the rotary engine design for their racing motorcycle division.
In 1957 Felix Wankel had the wise idea of creating Wankel Gmbh. to collect royalties for his engine design. In 1971 the company was sold to LonRho for 100 million DM. Dr Felix Wankel died in October 9 1988 in Lindau Germany.
NSU was the first company to use the rotary engine in a production car after a great deal of research. The first car to be powered with a rotary engine was the NSU spider.
Other Companies have been involved in the development of the rotary engines. We could name Mercedes Benz as one of the companies that developed big interest in the new engine design. They created a 4 rotor engine and mounted it on a prototype called the MB C111. This car was first shown in 1969 with a triple rotor engine that later was converted into a 4 rotor. With the triple rotor engine configuration the prototype generated 280 Hp and launched 0-60 times of 4.9 Seconds.
Mercedes Benz MB C111 and a prototype of the 4 rotor engine.
The four rotor engine later developed by Mercedes Benz was rated at 400 horsepower and capable of 185 MPH in the MB C111. By the end of the research Mercedes Benz did on the rotary engine their 4 rotor engine was capable of generating 250 mph on speed trials in 1978. Mercedes Benz did not pursue the rotary engine because of a "not invented here" attitude by the board of members.
Mercedes Benz MB C111 1978
In 1972 Mercedes Benz mounted a four rotor engine in one of their 350 SL models. This was a one of a kind gift presented to Felix Wankel. The car produced 350 Hp and was 60 kg lighter than a 350 SL powered by a regular V-8 Engine. The car was capable of reaching 0-60 Mph in 6.9 seconds which is very fast considering the weight of luxury Mercedes cars at the time.
Other important companies have developed different machines using this wonderful engine. It is worth mentioning John Deer which still works with rotary engines in some of their machines, Suzuki who developed a rotary engine motorcycle, GM who worked on a rotary powered Corvette and Mazda who has been the biggest user of rotary engines for automobile use.