Many types of rotary combustion engine, like the Quasiturbine or the Wankel engine, have been devised [1], all having the same basic concept; to avoid the reciprocating motion of the piston with its inherent vibration and rotational-speed-related mechanical stress. Sometimes these engines are referred to in somewhat erroneous shorthand as rotary engines, although the term rotary engine was first used to describe the rotary piston engine, a type of aircooled reciprocating aircraft engine, where in the reverse of the usual piston engine practice, the crankshaft is static and attached to the airplane, while a bank of cylinders rotates around the crankshaft and is attached to the airscrew. The Quasiturbine combustion cycle: Intake (aqua), Compression (fuchsia), Ignition (red), Exhaust (black). ... Wankel Engine in Deutsches Museum Munich, Germany The Wankel rotary engine is a type of internal combustion engine, invented by German engineer Felix Wankel, which uses a rotor instead of reciprocating pistons. ... For articles on non-piston rotary combustion engines, see also: Wankel engine Quasiturbine The rotary engine was a common type of internal combustion aircraft engine in the early years of the 20th century. ... Components of a typical, four stroke cycle, DOHC piston engine. ... The term aircraft engine, for the purposes of this article, refers to aircraft reciprocating, or rotary, internal combustion engines as opposed to jet engines or turboprops. ... Crankshaft Continental engine marine crankshafts, 1942 Crankshaft is also the name of a comic strip about an old, curmudgeonly bus driver. ... The word cylinder has several meanings. ... A propeller can be seen as a rotating fin in water or a wing in air. ...

One recent automotive rotary engine was developed by Texas machinist, Frank Turner. It was noticed by Malcolm Bricklin and licensed for use in the Bricklin SV-1 vehicle. Although the engine was never used, it is connected with that legendary car. Malcolm Bricklin (b. ... This article or section should include material from Bricklin automobile A Bricklin SV-1 with its doors open The Bricklin SV-1 was a gullwing door sports car built in Canada from 1974 until early 1976 for the US market. ...

The newest automotive rotary engines, however, are currently produced by Mazda. Recently, both the RX-7 and RX-8 have used Wankel-type rotary engines exclusively. The Mazda website has a history of their use of rotary engines [2]. Mazda Millenia luxury sedan. ... The Mazda RX-7 (also called the Savanna and Efini RX-7) is a Mazda sports car first built in 1978. ... The Mazda RX-8 is a car manufactured by Mazda Motor Corporation; which first appeared in North America at the North American International Auto Show (2001). ... Mazda Millenia luxury sedan. ...

External link

Open Directory: Rotary Engines