US 2006/0230746 A1Published application

Turbineless jet engine

OwnerThomas Sharpeinventor

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Abstract

A turbineless jet engine includes no internal moving components, yet operates using a continuous combustion principle. The present engine is self-starting, i.e., no auxiliary source of pressurized airflow or unconventional fuels is required for its starting and operation. The present engine also requires no electrical energy after the combustion process has been initiated, with its fuel pump being operated by exhaust air from the engine. Starting injectors entrain airflow through the engine, with a portion of the inlet air being drawn through radially disposed, hollow pressure generators to the combustion section of the engine. Exhaust gas is recirculated to the front of the engine and passed through the pressure generators to entrain fresh air, to continue the cycle of operation. The present engine may be constructed in a variety of non-circular cross-sectional shapes, with or without inlet vane sweep, as desired, due to its lack of internal rotating components.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A continuous combustion reaction engine devoid of internal moving parts, comprising:

a forwardly disposed air inlet section, having a forward end and a rearward end opposite said forward end;
a centrally disposed fuel injection section;
a rearwardly disposed, annular combustion section;
a large diameter, concentrically disposed exhaust gas recirculation duct, extending forwardly from said combustion section through said fuel injection section to said air inlet section;
said exhaust gas recirculation duct having an open rearward end communicating with said combustion section, and a forward end opposite said rearward end;
a plurality of radially disposed pressure generators within said air inlet section, defining a corresponding plurality of air inlet passages therebetween;
each of said pressure generators having an inner end, an outer end opposite said inner end, a forwardly disposed, open air inlet side, a rearwardly disposed airflow passage therethrough communicating with said air inlet side, and a plurality of airflow guide louvers disposed within said air inlet side;
said exhaust gas recirculation duct further having a plurality of radially disposed exhaust gas passages adjacent said forward end thereof, each communicating with a corresponding said airflow passage of one of said pressure generators;
an annular airflow passage surrounding said air inlet section and extending rearwardly to said fuel injection section;
each said airflow passage of said pressure generators further having an outer end communicating with said annular airflow passage;
and
a plurality of air entrainment venturis disposed in an annular array about and forwardly adjacent said rearward end of said exhaust gas recirculation duct.

9 more elements

A continuous combustion reaction engine devoid of internal moving parts, comprising:

a forwardly disposed air inlet section, having a forward end and a rearward end opposite said forward end;
a centrally disposed fuel injection section;
a rearwardly disposed, annular combustion section;
a large diameter, concentrically disposed exhaust gas recirculation duct, extending forwardly from said combustion section through said fuel injection section to said air inlet section;
said exhaust gas recirculation duct having an open rearward end communicating with said combustion section, and a forward end opposite said rearward end;
a plurality of radially disposed pressure generators within said air inlet section, defining a corresponding plurality of air inlet passages therebetween;
each of said pressure generators having an inner end, an outer end opposite said inner end, a forwardly disposed, open air inlet side, a rearwardly disposed airflow passage therethrough communicating with said air inlet side, and a plurality of airflow guide louvers disposed within said air inlet side;
said exhaust gas recirculation duct further having a plurality of radially disposed exhaust gas passages adjacent said forward end thereof, each communicating with a corresponding said airflow passage of one of said pressure generators;
an annular, airflow passage surrounding said air inlet section and extending rearwardly to said fuel injection section;
each said airflow passage of said pressure generators further having an outer end communicating with said annular airflow passage;
at least one fuel pump;
an electrically powered fuel pump drive motor, operating said at least one fuel pump during starting operations;
an engine exhaust powered fuel pump drive turbine, operating said at least one fuel pump during operation after starting;
and
an exhaust duct extending from said exhaust gas recirculation duct to said engine exhaust powered fuel pump drive turbine.

12 more elements

A continuous combustion reaction engine devoid of internal moving parts, comprising:

a forwardly disposed air inlet section, having a forward end and a rearward end opposite said forward end;
a centrally disposed fuel injection section;
a rearwardly disposed, annular combustion section;
a large diameter, concentrically disposed exhaust gas recirculation duct, extending forwardly from said combustion section through said fuel injection section to said air inlet section;
said exhaust gas recirculation duct having an open rearward end communicating with said combustion section, and a forward end opposite said rearward end;
a plurality of radially disposed pressure generators within said air inlet section, defining a corresponding plurality of air inlet passages therebetween;
each of said pressure generators having an inner end, an outer end opposite said inner end, a forwardly disposed, open air inlet side, a rearwardly disposed airflow passage therethrough communicating with said air inlet side, and a plurality of airflow guide louvers disposed within said air inlet side;
said exhaust gas recirculation duct further having a plurality of radially disposed exhaust gas passages adjacent said forward end thereof, each communicating with a corresponding said airflow passage of one of said pressure generators;
an annular airflow passage surrounding said air inlet section and extending rearwardly to said fuel injection section;
each said airflow passage of said pressure generators further having an outer end communicating with said annular airflow passage;
a plurality of starting fuel injectors, each disposed forwardly of said combustion section;
an outlet nozzle extending from each of said injectors, and aligned axially with airflow;
a plurality of run fuel injectors, each disposed generally rearwardly of a corresponding one of said starting fuel injectors and forwardly of said combustion section;
and
a fuel deflector disposed rearwardly of and aligned with at least each of said outlet nozzles of said starting fuel injectors.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/322,293Filed 3 Jan 2006
Priority: 1 May 2003
Published: 19 Oct 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

F02K 7/12
Characterised by having ram-action compression, i.e. aero-thermo-dynamic-ducts or ram-jet engines: injection-induction jet engines
F05D 2260/601
Fluid transfer: using an ejector or a jet pump
F02K
Jet-propulsion plants
F05D
Indexing scheme for aspects relating to non-positive-displacement machines or engines, gas-turbines or

Family

Application60/466,790Us provisional application · filed 1 May 2003
Application10/739,082Continuation · filed 19 Dec 2003
Application11/322,293Continuation · filed 3 Jan 2006
US 2004/0216447 A1Published application
US 6,981,366 B2Related patent
US 2006/0230746 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.