This article is about pistonless design. For other uses of this term, see rotary engine (disambiguation). For the early piston design, see rotary engine.
The term rotary combustion engine has been suggested in some publications as an alternative name for these engines to distinguish them from early (generally up to the early 1920s) aircraft engines and motorcycle engines also known as rotary engines. However, both continue to be called rotary engines and only the context determines which type is meant.
The basic concept of a (pistonless) rotary engine avoids the reciprocating motion of the piston with its inherent vibration and rotational-speed-related mechanical stress. As of 2006[update] the Wankel engine is the only successful pistonless rotary engine, but many similar concepts have been proposed by various designers and are under various stages of development. Examples of rotary engines include:
Production stage
Beauchamp Tower's nineteenth century spherical steam engine (theoretically adaptable to use internal combustion)