Wolf-Dieter Bensinger

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]

• 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. Vol. 16. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-52953-5. ISBN 978-3-642-52954-2. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
• 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. Vol. 16 (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.