Much of the early rotary engine work during the late
1800’s and early 1900’s was for power generation and
were designed for external combustion, covering the
then prevalent steam industry. The majority of internal
combustion, vane engines have a round rotor, multiple
independent vanes, and a stator that forms the cam
profile that results in the varying volume. The vanes can
be positioned with a second cam, either on the shaft or
in the end plates with a vane pin and cam follower. This
section describes and relates the developments of the
early vane type rotary mechanisms with external and
internal combustion chambers.