Pulse combustion apparatus

A pulse combustion apparatus comprising:

• a combustion chamber having a fuel charge inlet and an exhaust gas outlet;
• an exhaust system communicating with said outlet and forming a resonant system with said combustion chamber;
• means associated with said combination chamber inlet for admitting successive fuel charges to said chamber, said means including inlet means for combustion air communicating with said combustion chamber inlet and including an air intake, blower means downstream of said intake and operable to deliver combustion air under presssure to said combustion chamber for starting, ignition means coupled to said combustion chamber and operable to initiate combustion in the chamber, gas supply means coupled to said combustion chamber inlet, and valve means adapted to control delivery of air/gas charges to said combustion chamber in accordance with the combustion cycle of the apparatus;
• and,
• a control system comprising:
• starter means operable to activate said blower means when the apparatus is to be started;
• first switch means responsive to a first predetermined air velocity in said air intake representing satisfactory operation of said blower means, said first switch means being coupled to and adapted to activate said gas supply means and said ignition means when said first predetermined velocity is achieved;
• second switch means responsive to a second predetermined air intake velocity representing establishment of combustion in said combustion chamber and adapted to de-activate said ignition means and blower means while maintaining said gas supply when said second predetermined air intake velocity is achieved;
• and,
• timer means coupled to said starter means, gas supply means and second switch means and adapted to shut off the gas supply means if the second switch means has not been operated after a predetermined time interval from initial operation of said starter means.