Felix Wankel
Prof.hc.Dr.Ing.e.h.
Felix Heinrich Wankel (
August 13,
1902–
October 9,
1988) was the
German 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. In the 1930s, he had a disagreement with
Adolf Hitler, and was imprisoned by the
Nazis for some months. 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, leading to the first running prototype in
1957. His
Wankel 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.
In later years, Wankel was granted an honorary Doctorate of Engineering (Dr.-Ing.). He was known for his championing of
animal rights and opposition to the use of animals in testing. Felix Wankel died in
Heidelberg, having never been issued a
driver's license.
Licensee
| - | 21.10.1958 | Curtiss-Wright Corp. | USA | without restriction, no serie |
| 29.12.1960 | Fichtel & Sachs AG | BRD | industrie-engine, boot 0,5-30PS |
| 25.02.1961 | Yanmar Diesel Co. Ltd | JP | gasoline- and diesel engine, 1-100PS, 1-300PS |
| 27.02.1961 | Toyo Kogyo, Co. Ltd. | JP | gasoline 1-200PS land vehicles |
| 04.10.1961 | Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG | BRD | diesel engine without restriction |
| 26.10.1961 | Daimler-Benz AG | BRD | gasoline 50PS 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 orPassenger car |
| 17.02.1965 | Rolls-Royce Motors Ltd. | GB | diesel und hybrid engines 100-850 Ps |
| 18.02.1965 | IFA VEB | DDR | gasoline engine 0,5-25PS und 50-150PS |
| 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 40-200PS |
| 12.09.1967 | Graupner | BRD | 0,1-3 PS modell engines |
| 28.08.1969 | Savkel Ltd. | IS | gasoline 0,5-30 PS industrie engines |
| 01.10.1970 | Nissan Motor Company Ltd | 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 80-200PS (1974 quit) |
| 25.07.1972 | BSA Ltd. | GB | gasoline engines 35-60PS for motorcycle |
| 29.09.1972 | Yamaha | JP | gasoline engines 20-80PS for motorcycle |
| 04.10.1971 | Kawasaki Heavy Ind. Ltd. | JP | gasoline engines 20-80PS für Motorräder |
| 07.02.1973 | American Motors Com. | USA | gasoline engines 20-200PS |
*Honorary doctorate degree from
Technische Universität München,
December 5,
1969.
*The Federation of German Engineers 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.
*Honorary citizenship of
Lindau (declined)
*
NSU Ro 80*
Citroën GS*
Mazda RX-7*
Mazda RX-8*
VAZ Motor Car Works
