Vincent Hugo Bendix
Encyclopedia
Vincent Hugo Bendix was an American
inventor and industrialist. Vincent Bendix was a pioneer and leader in both the automotive and aviation industries during the 1920s and 1930s.
. He was eldest of three children born to Methodist clergyman, Reverend Jann Bengtsson, a native of Ångermanland
, Sweden
, and his wife Anna Danielson, also an immigrant from Sweden. While in Moline the family name was changed to "Bendix". They later moved to Chicago, Illinois.
of Chicago in 1907 to manufacture automobiles, called Bendix Buggies. After two years and producing 7000 vehicles the company failed. In 1910 however, Bendix invented and patented the Bendix drive
, a gear that could engage an engine at zero rotational speed and then (through the aid of a solenoid that moved the shaft on which the gear was mounted) pull back and disengage automatically at higher speed (nominally the engine's running speed). This drive made the electric starter practical for automobile engines and later for engines in aircraft
and other motorized vehicles.
In 1923, Bendix founded the Bendix Brake Company which acquired the rights to Henri Perrot
's patents for drum/shoe design. Henri Perrot was a French engineer who patented his designs for drum brakes and shoes. In 1924, after meeting at a European auto show, Vincent Bendix acquired the license to manufacture Perrot's shoe-brake patents.
He started the Bendix Aviation Corporation in 1929, and founded the Transcontinental Bendix Air Race in 1931. In 1942, Bendix started Bendix Helicopters, Inc.
Bendix Aviation and Bendix Brake would later be renamed Bendix Corporation
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor and industrialist. Vincent Bendix was a pioneer and leader in both the automotive and aviation industries during the 1920s and 1930s.
Background
Vincent Hugo Bendix was born in Moline, IllinoisMoline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
. He was eldest of three children born to Methodist clergyman, Reverend Jann Bengtsson, a native of Ångermanland
Ångermanland
' is a historical province or landskap in the north of Sweden. It borders to Medelpad, Jämtland, Lapland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia. The name "Ångermanland" comes from the Old Norse "anger", which means "deep fjord" and refers to the deep mouth of the river Ångermanälven...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and his wife Anna Danielson, also an immigrant from Sweden. While in Moline the family name was changed to "Bendix". They later moved to Chicago, Illinois.
Career
Vincent Bendix founded the Bendix CorporationBendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
of Chicago in 1907 to manufacture automobiles, called Bendix Buggies. After two years and producing 7000 vehicles the company failed. In 1910 however, Bendix invented and patented the Bendix drive
Bendix drive
A Bendix drive is a type of engagement mechanism used in starter motors of internal combustion engines. The device allows the pinion gear of the starter motor to engage or disengage the flywheel of the engine automatically when the starter is powered or when the engine fires, respectively...
, a gear that could engage an engine at zero rotational speed and then (through the aid of a solenoid that moved the shaft on which the gear was mounted) pull back and disengage automatically at higher speed (nominally the engine's running speed). This drive made the electric starter practical for automobile engines and later for engines in aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
and other motorized vehicles.
In 1923, Bendix founded the Bendix Brake Company which acquired the rights to Henri Perrot
Henri Perrot
Henri Perrot, born on 21 August 1883 in Paris, was a French engineer who was one of the pioneers of the automobile industry from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He holds numerous patents in the field of automotive braking....
's patents for drum/shoe design. Henri Perrot was a French engineer who patented his designs for drum brakes and shoes. In 1924, after meeting at a European auto show, Vincent Bendix acquired the license to manufacture Perrot's shoe-brake patents.
He started the Bendix Aviation Corporation in 1929, and founded the Transcontinental Bendix Air Race in 1931. In 1942, Bendix started Bendix Helicopters, Inc.
Bendix Helicopters
Bendix Helicopters, Inc. was the last company founded by prolific inventor Vincent Bendix, in 1942....
Bendix Aviation and Bendix Brake would later be renamed Bendix Corporation
Bendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
.
Honors
- 1929 - Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar StarOrder of the Polar StarThe Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
- 1931 - President of the Society of Automotive Engineers
- 1936 - Knight of the French Legion of HonorLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. - 1984 - Inducted into the Automotive Hall of FameAutomotive Hall of FameThe Automotive Hall of Fame is an American museum and hall of fame covering automotive innovations.-Location:Located in the metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, the museum shares a parking lot with The Henry Ford.-External links:*...
- 1991 - Inducted into the National Aviation Hall of FameNational Aviation Hall of FameThe American National Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, east Dayton, Ohio...
See also
- Bendix (Automobile)Bendix (Automobile)The Bendix Company manufactured the Bendix automobile in Logansport, Indiana from 1908 until 1909....
- Chateau BendixTrinity School at GreenlawnTrinity School at Greenlawn is a private 7-12 school located in South Bend, Indiana. It was founded by the People of Praise community in 1980 with fewer than 30 students. Since then it has developed a strong educational presence that attracts students from all parts of northwest Indiana and...
- Bendix TrophyBendix trophyThe Bendix Trophy is a U.S. aeronautical racing trophy. The transcontinental, point-to-point race, sponsored by industrialist Vincent Bendix founder of Bendix Corporation, began in 1931 as part of the National Air Races. Initial prize money for the winners was $15,000...
Additional reading
- Cunningham, Mary, with Fran Schumer, Powerplay: What Really Happened at Bendix (Linden Press/Simon and Schuster, 1984)
- Garraty, John A., and Mark C. Carnes, American National Biography (Oxford University Press, 1999)
- Hallett, Anthony and Diane Hallett Entrepreneur magazine encyclopedia of entrepreneurs (Wiley. October 24, 1997)
External links
- Rites for Vincent Bendix(New York Times. April 1, 1945)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bendix_Corporation#External_links