US 6,272,847 B1Granted

Centrifugal direct injection engine

OwnerCarl C. Dietrichinventor

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Abstract

A centrifugal direct injection engine having an open-ended compartment with a combustion chamber at a closed end thereof and an exhaust nozzle at its open end. The compartment is provided with a narrow portion defining a throat that connects the combustion chamber and the exhaust nozzle. A propellant injection manifold is rotatably mounted within the combustion chamber, the propellant injection manifold being configured for rapid rotation within the combustion chamber. The propellant injection manifold includes an upper disk member, an intermediate disk member and a lower disk member, the disks being joined together to form an integral member with the outer perimeter of the disks being in registration with one another. A fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber through the propellant injection manifold and the nozzles. An ignitor is provided for igniting the fuel within the combustion chamber, the nozzles being positioned to cause and sustain rotation of the propellant injection manifold within the combustion chamber after initial ignition of the fuel.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A centrifugal direct injection engine comprising:

a) an open-ended compartment having a combustion chamber at a closed end thereof, an exhaust nozzle at its open end and a narrow portion defining a throat being disposed between said combustion chamber and said exhaust nozzle;
b) a propellant injection manifold rotatably mounted within said combustion chamber, said propellant injection manifold configured for rapid rotation within said combustion chamber;
c) said propellant injection manifold having a plurality of nozzles;
d) means for introducing a fuel and an oxidizer into said combustion chamber through said propellant injection manifold and said nozzles in said propellant injection manifold, the fuel and oxidizer mixing in said combustion chamber;
and
e) said propellant injection manifold being formed with a plurality of heat exchange channels for heating the oxidizer introduced through said propellant injection manifold and said nozzles into said combustion chamber;
f) means for igniting the fuel and oxidizer mixture within said combustion chamber;
g) at least a portion of said nozzles positioned to cause and sustain rotation of said propellant injection manifold within said combustion chamber after initial ignition of the fuel, whereby combustion is said combustion chamber is self-sustaining.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.