Engineer, born in Paris, France. He studied at the Munich Polytechnic, and joined the refrigeration firm Linde in Paris in 1880. He moved to the Berlin branch in 1890, and continued his search for an efficient internal combustion engine. He patented a design in 1892 and, subsidized by the Krupp company, constructed a rational heat motor, demonstrating the first compression-ignition engine in 1897. He spent most of his life at his factory at Augsburg. He was lost overboard from the steamer Dresden while on his way to London.
| Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel | |
|---|---|
| Rudolf Diesel | |
| Born |
March 18, 1858 Paris |
| Died |
September 30, 1913 the English Channel |
| Occupation | inventor |
Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel (March 18, 1858 – September 30, 1913) was a German inventor, famous for the invention of the Diesel engine.
Early life
Although Diesel was born in Paris, his parents were German. Diesel was a devout Lutheran.
Development of the invention
Rudolf Diesel developed the idea of an engine that relied on a high compression of the fuel to ignite it, eliminating the spark plug used in the Nikolaus Otto internal combustion engine. Diesel began building a prototype engine, which was ready for testing by July 1893. It exploded and nearly killed Diesel. Diesel's engine had some similarities with an engine invented by Herbert Akroyd Stuart in 1890. Diesel was embroiled for some years in various patent disputes and arguments over priority, but in the end he prevailed, and his invention came to be called the diesel engine.
Later life
Diesel was something of an unstable character, having several nervous breakdowns, and was somewhat paranoid at times. Diesel toured the United States as a lecturer in 1904, and he self-published a two volume work on his social philosophy.
On September 29, 1913, while in Antwerp, Diesel boarded the SS Dresden ferry to cross the English Channel. The next morning, the steward discovered that Diesel's cabin was empty. Diesel's body was found in the Scheldt river on October 18.
One theory in Diesel's death is that he died by suicide, possibly due to being deeply in debt.
Another theory revolves around the German military, which was beginning to use his engines on their submarines. Diesel opposed this usage, and may have feared that his invention could wind up powering the British Royal Navy submarine fleet.
After Diesel's death, the diesel engine underwent much development, and became a very important replacement for the steam engine in many applications. Because the diesel engine required a heavier, more robust construction than a gasoline engine, it was unsuitable for applications such as aviation. However, the diesel engine became widespread in many other applications,such as stationary engines, submarines, ships, and much later, locomotives. Recently, Diesel engines have been designed, certified and flown that have overcome the weight penalty in light aircraft. These engines are designed to run on either diesel fuel or more commonly Jet fuel.
The diesel engine has the benefit of running on cheaper fuels; Diesel was especially interested in using coal dust or vegetable oil as fuel. The primary source of fuel remains what became known as diesel fuel, an oil byproduct derived from refinement of petroleum.
User Comments Add a comment…