
12 Rotary piston and gas turbine engines
12.1 ROTARY PISTON ENGINE
General background
During the history of the automotive engine many
proposals have been made, and as many rejected, to
replace the conventional reciprocating motion of the
pistons by one of rotation. It was not until the late
1950s that rotary piston engine theory began to be
successfully translated into practice, as exemplified by
the Wankel engine (Figure 12.1). Even so the only
company now making a production Wankel engined car
is Toyo Kogyo, the Japanese manufacturer of Mazda
cars,
although engines operating on the Wankel prin-
ciple may be found in other transportation an ...