Pulse combustion device
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsKirk Lupkes, Gary Lidstone, Mark Parish
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pulse combustion device has a number of combustors with upstream bodies and downstream nozzles. Coupling conduits provide communication between the combustors. For each given combustor this includes a first communication between a first location upstream of the nozzle thereof and a first location along the nozzle of another. There is second communication between a second location upstream of the nozzle and a second communication between a second location upstream of the nozzle of a second other combustor and a second nozzle location along the nozzle of the given combustor.
Claims18
A pulse combustion device comprising:
- a circular array of combustion conduits, each comprising a wall surface extending from an upstream inlet to a downstream outlet;
- at least one inlet valve positioned to admit at least a first gas to the combustion conduit inlets;
- an outlet end member, the array and outlet end member rotatable in at least a first direction relative to each other,
- wherein:
- the outlet end member includes a passageway positioned to direct combustion gasses from one or more of said conduits in a first range of positions to one or more of said conduits in a second range of positions.
A pulse combustion device comprising:
- a circular array of combustion conduits, each comprising a wall surface extending from an upstream inlet to a downstream outlet;
- at least one inlet valve positioned to admit at least a first gas component of a propellant to the combustion conduit inlets;
- an outlet end member, the array and outlet end member rotatable in at least a first direction relative to each other;
- and
- means at least partially in the outlet end member for directing combustion products from at least a first of the conduits to at least a second of the conduits to initiate combustion of said propellant in the second conduit as said array rotates relative to the outlet end member.
A method for operating a pulse combustion device, the device comprising:
- a plurality of combustor conduits, each comprising:
- a wall surface;
- an upstream inlet;
- and
- a downstream outlet,
- the method comprising sequentially and cyclically for each conduit:
- introducing a propellant into said conduit;
- and
- discharging into said conduit combustion gasses from another of the conduits so as to initiate combustion of said propellant in said conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.