> ::Good example is the Wankel engine that was invented in 1929 but=20
> virtually
> ::was abandoned till recently, when Mazda RX8 made it successful

Most conceivable engine topologies have been investigated at least=20
theoretically and many in practice. There are many possible rotary=20
topologies - the Wankel is one of many. All have their good and bad points.=
=20
The Wankel is/was no exception, but it evidently had a better cost benefit=
=20
ratio than most. The relative dearth of Wankels on the road at present is=20
some indication of their relative merit in market terms. If you want very=20
high power densities in an internal combustion engine they are hard to beat=
..=20
Fuel economy tend to make them unattractive in many cases.

There is a large body of people generally unseen beavering away trying to=20
find every possible nook and cranny to Edison like extract new inventions=20
from. New ways of building rotating machines is one popular area. There are=
=20
some interesting books on such subjects - none that I can recall the titles=
=20
of but long ago I saw enough of the occasional book of this sort to make me=
=20
realise that finding hidden niches in most things mechanical is harder than=
=20
it may appear. I'm about to try one myself "shortly". No details and, no,=20
it's not a motor. I'll tell you if I succeed (but it will probably be=20
general news anyway if I do ;-) - so it's unlikely. )

 Russell

--=20
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