Power plants – Combustion products used as motive fluid – Rotating combustion products generator and turbine
Patent
1995-02-13
1997-08-26
Thorpe, Timothy S.
Power plants
Combustion products used as motive fluid
Rotating combustion products generator and turbine
F02K 710
Patent
active
056600380
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is a 371 continuation of PCT/AU93/00029, filed Jan. 21, 1993.
TECHNICAL FIELD
THIS INVENTION relates to a rotary engine which uses a fluid jet for power generation (hereinafter be referred to as a "rotary jet engine").
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With engines which utilise an expanding fluid to drive an output shaft, it is common to have a working chamber which varies in volume upon expansion of the fluid. The working chamber is usually defined between wall surfaces, at least one of which is movable relative to the other wall surfaces to facilitate transmission of the power generated by the expanding fluid to an output shaft. The need for wall surfaces movable relative to each other introduces problems, one being associated with sealing between such surfaces and another being frictional losses.
The present invention seeks to provide a rotary engine which does not utilise a working chamber of variable volume. In this way the invention seeks to limit sealing problems and frictional losses which are common with conventional rotary engines and internal combustion engines generally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one form the invention resides in a rotary jet engine comprising a housing having intake and exhaust zones separated from each other, a rotor mounted for rotation within the housing, at least one jet means for generating propulsive fluid from air, the jet means having an intake for receiving air and an exhaust outlet for ejection of the propulsive fluid, the jet means being mounted on the rotor whereby the thrust force thereof causes rotation of the rotor, the inlet of the jet means communicating with the intake zone and the outlet of the jet means communicating with the exhaust zone, and means for inhibiting fluid flow from the exhaust zone to the intake zone.
The intake and exhaust zones within the housing are preferably separated from each other by the rotor.
The means for inhibiting fluid flow may comprise a sealing means provided between the housing and the rotor. Alternatively or additionally, the means for inhibiting fluid flow may comprise means for generating a positive pressure in the intake zone as compared to the exhaust zone. The means for generating a positive pressure in the intake zone may comprise a delivery means for deliverying air into the intake zone.
There may be a plurality of the jet means, at least one of which is mounted on the rotor and at least another of which is mounted on a stationary part of the engine. In still another arrangement there may be two contra-rotating rotors one of which has at least one jet means. Such jet means is arranged to drive the rotor on which it is mounted by its thrust force and to drive the contra-rotating rotor by impingement of the propulsive fluid thereon. In still another arrangement there may be two contra-rotating rotors each having at least one jet means mounted thereon. Each jet means is arranged to drive the rotor on which it is mounted by its thrust force and to drive the contra-rotating rotor by impingement of the propulsive fluid thereon.
It is particularly convenient for the propulsive fluid to be heated atmospheric air, the heating being accomplished by any suitable means.
With this arrangement, the jet means preferably comprises a jet burner, which may be of conventional form. In such a case, the atmospheric air is heated in the jet burner by burning a fuel within the air. The fuel may be a liquid hydrocarbon fuel such as power kerosene.
It should be appreciated, however, that any other suitable means may be employed for heating the air, such as by some form of nuclear process.
Preferably, the rotor is mounted on an output shaft.
The rotor may comprise a rotor disc. The intake of the jet means may open onto one side of the rotor disc and the exhaust outlet may open onto the other side of the rotor disc.
There may be one or more of the rotors. Where there is more than one rotor, the rotors may rotate in the same direction or in opposite directions. In the latter case, the rotor which rotates in the opposite di
REFERENCES:
patent: 1003708 (1911-09-01), Coleman
patent: 2486990 (1949-11-01), Sharpe
patent: 3005311 (1961-10-01), Ross
patent: 4706452 (1987-11-01), Lavoie
patent: 5408824 (1995-04-01), Schlote
European Search Report dated Jul. 27, 1995. Further Official Action dated Sep. 4, 1995.
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