Career
Vincent Bendix founded the Bendix Corporation 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.
Bendix founded the Bendix Brake Company in 1923, which acquired the rights to French engineer Henri Perrot's patents for brake drum/shoe design a year later.
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.
Read more about this topic: Vincent Hugo Bendix
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