Wankel engine

noun

1. an internal-combustion rotary engine that utilizes a triangular rotor that revolves in a chamber (rather than a conventional piston that moves up and down in a cylinder): it has fewer moving parts and is generally smaller and lighter for a given horsepower.

Wankel engine

/ ˈwæŋkəl /

noun

1. a type of four-stroke internal-combustion engine without reciprocating parts. It consists of one or more approximately elliptical combustion chambers within which a curved triangular-shaped piston rotates, by the explosion of compressed gas, dividing the combustion chamber into three gastight sections

Word History and Origins

Origin of Wankel engine¹

Named after F. Wankel

Word History and Origins

Origin of Wankel engine¹

C20: named after Felix Wankel (1902–88), German engineer who invented it

Example Sentences

The Jarvik 2000, by contrast, has a tiny rotary pump--sort of a coronary Wankel engine that spins rather than squeezes.

From Time Magazine Archive

At the time, nearly half of Mazda's vehicles used the revolutionary Wankel engine, in which a rotor instead of pistons produces the power.

From Time Magazine Archive

The notable results include the RX-7 sports car, which gets about 24 m.p.g. from its improved Wankel engine, and the GLC.

From Time Magazine Archive

Because of the unavailability of the light-weight Wankel engine that had been planned for the car, the Pacer is still 3,000 Ibs.

From Time Magazine Archive

Even though Mazda's rotary Wankel engine was initially dirtier than the conventional reciprocating engine, the Japanese firm managed to control its emissions by installing a thermal reactor that burns the noxious gases.

From Time Magazine Archive