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US 5,615,548 AGranted
Dual rotor pulse detonation apparatus
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsDon D. Winfree, Louis G. Hunter, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pulse detonator particularly for an aircraft power supply has a tubular housing. A valve sleeve rotates within the bore of the housing. The valve sleeve and housing have ports which align with each other at least once per revolution. A manifold is mounted to the exterior of the housing. The manifold has outer valves which open to admit fuel and oxygen simultaneously with the alignment of the valve sleeve ports with the housing ports. The fuel and oxygen flow into a detonation chamber where they mix. Igniters ignite the mixture to create a detonation wave which passes out the downstream end.
Claims15
A pulse detonation apparatus, comprising in combination:
- a tubular housing having an exterior, a cylindrical bore, and at least one housing port;
- a valve sleeve rotatably and concentrically mounted within the cylindrical bore;
- valve sleeve drive means for rotating the valve sleeve relative to the housing;
- a detonation chamber located within the valve sleeve, having an upstream end wall and an open downstream end;
- the valve sleeve having at least one valve sleeve port which registers with the housing port at least once per revolution to open the housing port;
- a manifold mounted to the exterior of the housing, having a manifold port in communication with the housing port;
- at least one outer valve located in the manifold, the outer valve being synchronized with the valve sleeve for opening the manifold port when the housing port is open, admitting fuel and oxygen through the manifold port, housing port, and valve sleeve port for providing a fuel mixture in the detonation chamber;
- and
- igniter means for detonating the fuel mixture when the valve sleeve port and housing port are closed to create a detonation wave for passing out the open downstream end of the detonation chamber.
6 more elements
A pulse detonation apparatus, comprising in combination:
- a tubular housing having an exterior, a cylindrical bore having a longitudinal axis, and at least one housing port;
- a valve sleeve rotatably and concentrically mounted within the cylindrical bore;
- valve sleeve drive means for rotating the valve sleeve relative to the housing;
- a liner stationarily mounted to the housing and located within the valve sleeve, defining a detonation chamber, the liner having an upstream end wall, an open downstream end, and at least one liner port which is radially aligned with the housing port;
- the valve sleeve having at least one valve sleeve port which registers with the housing and liner ports at least once per revolution to open the housing port to the detonation chamber;
- a manifold mounted to the exterior of the housing, having a manifold port in communication with the housing port;
- at least one rotary outer valve located in the manifold;
- outer valve drive means for rotating the outer valve in synchronization with the valve sleeve for opening the manifold port when the housing port is open, admitting fuel and oxygen through the manifold port, housing port, valve sleeve port, and liner port for providing a fuel mixture in the detonation chamber;
- igniter means for detonating the fuel mixture when the valve sleeve port and housing port are closed to create a detonation wave for passing out the open downstream end of the detonation chamber;
- and
- seal means for sealing the valve sleeve port from communication with the housing port when the igniter means detonates the fuel mixture.
8 more elements
A pulse detonation apparatus, comprising in combination:
- a tubular housing having an exterior, a cylindrical bore having a longitudinal axis, and at least one housing port;
- a valve sleeve rotatably and concentrically mounted within the cylindrical bore, the valve sleeve having an upstream end wall having at least one valve sleeve purge port;
- valve sleeve drive means for rotating the valve sleeve relative to the housing;
- a liner stationarily mounted to the housing and located within the valve sleeve, defining a detonation chamber, the liner having an upstream end wall having at least one liner purge port, an open downstream end, and at least one liner port which is radially aligned with the housing port;
- the valve sleeve having at least one valve sleeve port which registers with the housing and liner ports at least once per revolution to open the housing port to the detonation chamber;
- a manifold mounted to the exterior of the housing, having a manifold port in communication with the housing port;
- a stationary seat stationarily mounted in the manifold and having a seat passage which aligns with the manifold port;
- a rotary member rotatably carried in the seat and having a valve passage therethrough;
- outer valve drive means for rotating the member to cyclically register the valve passage with the seat passage in synchronization with the valve sleeve for opening the manifold port when the housing port is open, admitting fuel and oxygen through the manifold port, housing port, valve sleeve port, and liner port, providing a fuel mixture in the detonation chamber;
- igniter means for detonating the fuel mixture when the valve sleeve port and housing port are closed to create a detonation wave for passing out the open downstream end of the detonation chamber;
- seal means for sealing the valve sleeve port from communication with the housing port when the igniter means detonates the fuel mixture;
- a valve sleeve purge port and a liner purge port, the purge ports registering at least once per revolution with each other after the detonation has occurred and prior to admitting fuel and oxygen into the detonation chamber for a next cycle;
- and
- purge manifold means for admitting a purge fluid to the purge ports for purging the detonation chamber of combustion products.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.