| James Atkinson | |
| Birth Date: | 1846 |
| Death Date: | 1914 (aged 67 - 68) |
| Nationality: | British |
| Occupation: | Engineer, inventor |
James Atkinson (1846 - 1914)[1] of Hampstead was a British engineer who invented several engines with greater efficiency than the Otto cycle. The Atkinson cycle engines were named the "Differential 1882", "Cycle 1887" and "Utilite 1892". The most well-known of Atkinson's engines is the "Cycle 1887", patented in 1887. By use of variable engine strokes from a complex crankshaft, Atkinson was able to increase the efficiency of his engine, at the cost of some power, over traditional Otto-cycle engines. He was awarded the John Scott Medal of The Franklin Institute in 1889.
Memoirs - James Atkinson . . May 1914 . 347.