Felix Wankel

Felix Wankel
Born	(1902-08-13)August 13, 1902 Lahr, Germany
Died	October 9, 1988(1988-10-09) (aged 86) Heidelberg, Germany
Education	German
Occupation	Engineer
Engineering career
Institutions	Paki, Reich Air Ministry, Goetze AG, NSU, Wankel GmbH
Projects	Wankel engine

Felix Heinrich Wankel, Hon. DEng (August 13 1902 – October 9 1988) was a German mechanical engineer and the inventor of the Wankel engine.

Wankel was born in Lahr, Germany, in the upper Rhine Valley. Since his mother was widowed in World War I, Wankel received no university education or even an apprenticeship. However, he was able to teach himself technical subjects and conceived the idea of the Wankel engine in 1924.

Career

Wankel engine, type DKM54 (1957)

During World War II, he developed seals and rotary valves for German air force aircraft and navy torpedoes. After the war, he was imprisoned by the Allies for some months, his laboratory was closed, his work confiscated, and he was prohibited from doing more work. In 1951, he began development of the engine at NSU (NSU Motorenwerke AG), leading to the first running prototype on February 1 1957. His engine design was first licensed by Curtiss-Wright in New Jersey. Mazda in Japan solved the chatter marks problem. The engine has been successfully used by Mazda in several generations of their RX-series of coupés and sedans including the R100 and especially the RX-7.

In later years, Wankel was granted an honorary Doctorate of Engineering. He was known for his championing of animal rights and opposition to the use of animals in testing.

Wankel died in Heidelberg, aged 86.

Licensees

21.10.1958	Curtiss-Wright Corp.	USA	without restriction, no series
29.12.1960	Fichtel & Sachs AG	BRD	industrial engine and boat, 0.5-30 PS
25.02.1961	Yanmar Diesel Co. Ltd	JP	gasoline and diesel engine, 1-100 PS, 1-300 PS
27.02.1961	Toyo Kogyo, Co. Ltd.	JP	gasoline 1-200 PS land vehicles
04.10.1961	Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG	BRD	diesel engine without restriction
26.10.1961	Daimler-Benz AG	BRD	gasoline 50 PS upwards
30.10.1961	MAN AG	BRD	diesel engine without restriction
02.11.1961	Friedrich Krupp AG	BRD	diesel engine without restriction
12.03.1964	Daimler-Benz AG	BRD	diesel engine without restriction
15.04.1964	S.p.A Alfa Romeo	IT	gasoline engine 50-300 PS or Passenger car
17.02.1965	Rolls-Royce Motors Ltd.	GB	diesel and hybrid engines 100-850 Ps
18.02.1965	IFA VEB	DDR	gasoline engine 0.5-25 PS and 50-150 PS
02.03.1965	Dr.Ing. h.c. Porsche KG	BRD	gasoline engine 50-1000 Ps
01.03.1966	Outboard Marine Corp.	USA	gasoline engine 50-400 Ps
11.05.1967	Comotor S.A.	L	gasoline and diesel engine 40-200 PS
12.09.1967	Graupner	BRD	0,1-3 PS model engines
28.08.1969	Savkel Ltd.	IS	gasoline 0.5-30 PS industrial engines
01.10.1970	Nissan	JP	gasoline engines 80-120 Ps
10.11.1970	General Motors	USA	everything, except aircraft engines
24.11.1970	Suzuki	JP	gasoline engines 20-60 PS for motorcycle
25.05.1971	Toyota	JP	gasoline engines 75-150 PS
29.11.1971	Ford-Werke AG, Köln	BRD	gasoline engines 80-200 PS (1974 quit)
25.07.1972	BSA Ltd.	GB	gasoline engines 35-60 PS for motorcycle
29.09.1972	Yamaha	JP	gasoline engines 20-80 PS for motorcycle
04.10.1971	Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.	JP	gasoline engines 20-80 PS for motorcycle
03.02.1973	American Motors (AMC) [1]	USA	gasoline engines 20-200 PS

Honors and awards

• Honorary doctorate degree from Technische Universität München, December 5, 1969.
• The Federation of German Engineers (VDI) Gold Medal, 1969.
• The Grand Federal Service Cross, Germany's highest civilian honor, 1970
• The Franklin Medal, Philadelphia, 1971.
• The Bavarian Service Medal, 1973.
• The "Honour Citizen" of Lahr,1981, and the title of Professor in 1987.
• The Soichiro Honda Medal, 1987.
• Honorary citizenship of Lindau (declined)

See also

• Wankel engine
• NSU Ro 80
• Norton Commander motorcycle
• Citroën GS Birotor
• Mazda RX-7
• Mazda RX-8
• VAZ
• Aixro

External links

• U.S. patent 2,988,008
• The Fuel and Engine Bible - A good resource for different engine types and fuels
• Animated Engines, Wankel - Animations of Wankel and other engines, ie. steam, stirling, internal combustion.