Method and apparatus for producing stratified streams
OwnerElario D. Dalmas, II, Brett J. Leathersinventors
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Abstract
Embodiments of apparatus are disclosed for affecting working fluid flow in a system that delivers material between two locations by carrying the material in the working fluid. For example, embodiments of the disclosed apparatus may be used in an internal combustion engines to carry fuel droplets to a combustion area using air as the working fluid. The apparatus may include a passage including a funnel portion and tumble area that direct working fluid into a stratified stream. The stratified stream may include an outer boundary flow having a toroidal and/or helical flow characteristic and an inner flow carrying injected material that is bound by the outer flow.
Claims27
A stratified stream system comprised of:
- a passage extending from an input port to an exit port, said passage configured to receive a supply of working fluid at the input port;
- a funnel portion in said passage, said funnel portion having a greater flux area at a point proximal to the input port than at a point distal from the input port;
- and
- a tumble area provided in said passage between the funnel portion and the exit port,
- wherein the funnel portion and tumble area are configured to induce the working fluid to form a stratified stream having an outer portion of the working fluid having a toroidal flow characteristic and an inner portion of the working fluid surrounded by the outer portion of the working fluid.
A stratified stream system comprised of:
- a passage extending from an input port to an exit port;
- a funnel portion in said passage;
- and
- a tumble area having a non-smooth surface, said tumble area provided in said passage between the funnel portion and the exit port,
- wherein the funnel portion and tumble area are configured to induce the working fluid to form a stratified stream having an outer portion of the working fluid having a toroidal flow characteristic and an inner portion of the working fluid surrounded by the outer portion of the working fluid.
A method of providing a stream of material using a working fluid comprising the steps of:
- passing the working fluid through a funnel and a tumble area to induce the working fluid to form a stratified stream having an outer portion of the working fluid with a toroidal flow characteristic and an inner portion of the working fluid surrounded by the outer portion of working fluid;
- and
- injecting the material into the inner portion of the working fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.