HAS THE WANKEL A FUTURE?

THE OPERATION OF THE WANKEL OR ROTARY COMBUSTION ENGINE IS DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED BY MEANS OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND DIAGRAMS. THE WANKEL PRODUCES AN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT OF POWER WHILE WEIGHING HALF AS MUCH AND OCCUPYING HALF AS MUCH VOLUME AS A COMPARABLE PISTON ENGINE. LIMITED INFORMATION RELEASED BY LICENSED MANUFACTURERS IS PRESENTED. THE HIGH EMISSION PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE IS RECEIVING MUCH ATTENTION. THE SEALING OF THE SPACE BETWEEN THE MOVING ROTOR AND THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER HOUSING, THE DEVELOPMENT OF LONG-LIFE SEALING MATERIALS, SPARK PLUG LIFE, AND FUEL ECONOMY ARE OTHER AREAS OF RESEARCH. THE GOOD FEATURES OF THE WANKEL ENGINE ARE ENUMERATED. COMPANIES KNOWN TO BE ACTUALLY PRODUCING WANKEL ENGINES ARE LISTED AND THEIR PRODUCTS ARE DESCRIBED IN OUTLINE. IT IS PREDICTED THAT AN AUTOMOBILE WITH A WANKEL WILL SHORTLY BE ON THE MARKET AND THAT BY 1980, THE ENGINE WILL BE THE PREDOMINANT POWER SOURCE IN AUTOMOBILES. SMALL POWERED CONSTRUCTION TOOLS, TERRAIN VEHICLES, AND MOTORS FOR POWER BOATS UP TO 30 HORSEPOWER ARE ALSO EXPECTED SOON.

• Authors:
  • Weiner, A N
• Publication Date: 1973-5

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 303-5
• Serial:
  • Engineering /UK/
  • Volume: 213
  • Issue Number: 5

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Boats; Construction equipment; Energy; Manufacturing; Pistons; Pollutants; Power; Research; Wankel engines
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Marine Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00224547
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 11 1974 12:00AM