Wolf-Dieter Bensinger
Personal details
Born(1907-02-26)26 February 1907
Donaueschingen, Baden, German empire
Died17 June 1974(1974-06-17) (aged 67)
West Germany
NationalityGerman
Known for
  • Development of the Wankel engine
Scientific career
Fields

Wolf-Dieter Bensinger (26 February 1907 – 17 June 1974) was a German engineer and university professor who contributed significantly to the development of the Wankel rotary engine.

Life and career

Bensinger was born in Donaueschingen in 1907.[1]

In 1931, Bensinger became head of development at Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt (DVL) in Berlin.[2] At DVL, he developed a sleeve valve system for the Daimler-Benz DB 600.[3] On 20 October 1934, Bensinger married Ilse Margarete Anna, who originated from Stargard, Pommern. Their son was born in 1936.[4] In the 1930s he met Felix Wankel, who became a long-term friend, and with whom Bensinger had a strong bond of trust.[5]

From 1943[6] or 1944 Besinger worked as an engineer with Daimler-Benz AG in Stuttgart[1] where he became head of New Engine Development. From 1945, Bensinger became head of Passenger Car Engine Development.[2] He designed engines such as the six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz M 180 Otto engine (later used in the Mercedes-Benz W 187 series Type 220),[7] and he contributed to the design of the Mercedes-Benz M 198 Otto engine used in the Mercedes-Benz W 198 series Type 300 SL.[8] In 1959, Bensinger became a procurator with Daimler-Benz AG, and from 1963, he was the leading engineer in Daimler-Benz's passenger car engine development.[2]

In 1960, Bensinger began Wankel engine development at Daimler-Benz,[9] without having a written licence agreement with Wankel or NSU; Bensinger and Wankel, who were friends, had a verbal agreement.[7] Eventually, the licence agreement was signed on 26 October 1961.[8] In 1971, Bensinger received and offer of a professorship at the University of Stuttgart.[10] Contemporaries considered Bensinger a Wankel engine enthusiast.[11]

Works

  • Wolf-Dieter Bensinger: Konstruktion und Berechnung von hochbelasteten Zahnrädern. Formeln zur Berechnung der Zahnradabmessungen und zur Aufzeichnung der Verzahnungen, Automobiltechnische Zeitschrift, vol. 54, Springer, 1952, p. 256–258
  • Bensinger, Wolf-Dieter (1955). "Die Steuerung des Gaswechsels in schnellaufenden Verbrennungsmotoren". Konstruktionsbücher. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-52953-5. ISBN 978-3-642-52954-2.
  • Wolf-Dieter Bensinger, Alfred Meier: Kolben, Pleuel und Kurbelwelle bei schnellaufenden Verbrennungsmotoren, 2nd edition, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg 1961, ISBN 9783540027096
  • Bensinger, Wolf-Dieter (1968). "Die Steuerung des Gaswechsels in schnellaufenden Verbrennungsmotoren". Konstruktionsbücher (2 ed.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-21808-2. ISBN 978-3-540-04213-6.
  • Wolf-Dieter Bensinger: Der heutige Entwicklungsstand des Wankelmotors. In: MTZ – Motortechnische Zeitschrift, Vol. 31, No. 1, Springer, 1970, ISSN 0024-8525, p. 10–16
  • Bensinger, Wolf-Dieter (1973). Rotationskolben-Verbrennungsmotoren (in German). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-52173-7. ISBN 978-3-642-52174-4.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bensinger Wolf-Dieter - Detailseite". LEO-BW (in German). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Knapp, U.C. (2006). Wankel auf dem Prüfstand: Ursprung, Entwicklung und Niedergang eines innovativen Motorenkonzeptes. Cottbuser Studien zur Geschichte von Technik, Arbeit und Umwelt (in German). Waxmann. p. 43. ISBN 978-3-8309-1637-6.
  3. Bentele, M. (1991). Engine Revolutions. Premiere Series Bks. Society of Automotive Engineers. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-56091-081-7.
  4. Deutsches Geschlechterbuch (Genealogisches Handbuch Bürgerlicher Familien), Band 160 (in German). 1972. p. 46.
  5. Knapp, U.C. (2006). Wankel auf dem Prüfstand: Ursprung, Entwicklung und Niedergang eines innovativen Motorenkonzeptes. Cottbuser Studien zur Geschichte von Technik, Arbeit und Umwelt (in German). Waxmann. p. 44. ISBN 978-3-8309-1637-6.
  6. Norbye, J.P. (1971). The Wankel Engine: Design, Development, Applications (in German). Chilton Book Company. p. 276. ISBN 978-0-8019-5591-4.
  7. 1 2 Hege, John B. (2006). The Wankel rotary engine : a history. Jefferson: McFarland & Co. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-7864-2905-9.
  8. 1 2 Greene, N. (2021). Mercedes-Benz Sport-Light Coupe: The Complete Story. Crowood Press. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-78500-823-8.
  9. Kalbhenn, Wolfgang (2 December 2020). "VIEL mehr als eine VISION". Mercedes-Benz Oldtimer-Ticker (in German). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  10. Bensinger, Wolf-Dieter (1973). Rotationskolben-Verbrennungsmotoren (in German). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. V. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-52173-7. ISBN 978-3-642-52174-4.
  11. Popplow, M. (2011). Felix Wankel: mehr als ein Erfinderleben. Tempus Biografie (in German). Sutton. p. 109. ISBN 978-3-86680-763-1.
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