On this day 129 years ago,
Rudolf Diesel filed his patent “Arbeitsverfahren und Ausführungsart für Verbrennungsmaschinen,” the first draft of a new engine that later became known as the Diesel engine after its creator. However, at the time of publication this first design was not yet functional. It was therfore doubted whether his process was even feasible. The publication of his theory in his book “Theorie und Konstruktion eines rationellen Wärmemotors zum Ersatz der Dampfmaschinen und der heute bekannten Verbrennungsmotoren” (1893) brought Diesel’s theory to the attention of Heinrich von Buz, head of Maschinenfabrik Augsburg, later MAN AG. Together with the Friedrich Krupp company, they developed the first diesel engine running under its own power by February 17, 1894. The first fully functional model was completed in 1897 and had an efficiency of around 26 percent, which was remarkable for the time. The engine was first mass-produced in 1898.
The diesel engine that was developed deviated from Diesel’s patent, so he became embroiled in years of patent disputes and also ran into financial difficulties. On September 29, 1913, Diesel went off the board of a ferry under unexplained circumstances while crossing to Great Britain. His engine was later used in submarines and ships of the Two World Wars and prevailed over the gasoline engine. The first passenger automobiles with Diesel were built starting in 1936.
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