Why Would Engineers Rather Pay Extra To Seal All Three Rotor Tips

Why would engineers rather pay extra to seal all three rotor tips? Then simply make the rotor a complete triangle from the start. After all, engineers knew very early on that what a car engine finally sends to the tires is rotational power. So when the rotary engine appeared, it looked like the perfect answer. A triangular rotor spins directly inside the housing. Combustion pressure pushes the rotor around, and the power is sent to the wheels. But very quickly, engineers were trapped by one simple looking problem. Obviously, the whole space inside the engine does not burn all at once. Between the rotor and the inner wall of the housing, several small moving chambers are formed. When one chamber gets larger, it draws in air and fuel. Then it gets smaller and the mixture is compressed. The power of comes from these chambers constantly growing and shrinking. So at first, a complete triangle seems like the better choice. Make the corners touch the housing wall tightly. But the inner housing is not a simple circle. It's a complex curve. If the corners are made too tight, the engine may seize. It can scrape and damage the housing. So engineers had to install movable sealing strips on the corners of the rotor. They are called apex seals. And this is the most fascinating part of a rotary engine.