Foregoers

Donát Bánki – (b. 1859, d. 1922),  János Csonka – (b. 1852, d. 1939)

Until 1893, there had been many problems with the ignition of petrol engines due to uneven mixing of gases. Banki and Csonka, two Hungarian engineers and inventors, suggested that the fuel should be atomized into small particles and mixed with air in the right proportion. In their patent description they wrote: “…in our engine no petrol pump is needed for fuel feeding, as the petrol necessary for filling each cylinder will be carried in by the air sucked into the engine…” This was the first carburetor in the world and ever since billions of engines, cars, power-boats, motor bicycles and aircraft over the world have used carburetors designed according to Banki’s and Csonka’s theory. Unfortunately, the credit for the invention of the carburetor is usually given to the German Maybach, although his patent was submitted half a year later. In 1898 Banki and Csonka split. Bánki focused his research on improving his other invention, water-injection engines. In 1898 he invented the high compression Bánki-engine with a dual-carburetor (for evaporating fuel and water). This engine won an award at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. Dual evaporation has been in use ever since.