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US 7,237,524 B2Granted
Compliant walled combustion devices
AssigneeSRI International
InventorsRonald E. Pelrine, Scott E. Stanford, Harsha Prahlad, Seajin Oh, Jon Heim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Combustion devices described herein comprise a compliant combustion chamber wall or segment. The compliant segment deforms during combustion in the combustion chamber. Some devices may include a compliant wall configured to stretch responsive to pressure generated by combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber. A coupling portion translates deformation of the compliant segment or wall into mechanical output. One or more ports are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
Claims84
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a combustion chamber, the set of walls including a compliant segment configured to deform during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a coupling portion that translates deformation of the compliant segment into mechanical output;
- one or more spacers internal to the combustion chamber that reduce dead space in the combustion chamber before combustion in the combustion chamber;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
2 more elements
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a combustion chamber, the set of walls including a compliant segment configured to deform during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a coupling portion that translates deformation of the compliant segment into mechanical output, wherein the coupling portion is disposed on a first wall included in the set of walls and the device further comprises a second coupling portion that is disposed on a second wall included in the set of walls, and the device is configured such that the second coupling portion remains stationary relative to the first coupling portion during combustion;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
1 more element
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a substantially cylindrical combustion chamber, the set of walls including a substantially cylindrical compliant segment configured to stretch during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a coupling portion that translates stretching of the compliant segment into mechanical output;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
1 more element
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a substantially cylindrical combustion chamber, the set of walls including a substantially cylindrical compliant segment having an elastic modulus less than about 1 GPa and configured to stretch during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a coupling portion that translates stretching of the compliant segment into mechanical output;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
1 more element
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a combustion chamber, the set of walls including a compliant segment configured to deform during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a coupling portion that translates deformation of the compliant segment into mechanical output;
- a constraint that reduces radial expansion of the compliant wall during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber,
- wherein the combustion device does not include a piston.
3 more elements
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a combustion chamber, the set of walls including at least one compliant segment configured to deform during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a first rigid element configured to prevent motion of a first portion of the at least one compliant segment;
- a second rigid element configured to prevent motion of a second portion of the at least one compliant segment;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
2 more elements
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a combustion chamber, the set of walls including a compliant wall configured to deform during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber, the compliant wall comprising a substantially cylindrical segment and a substantially frustoconical segment that extends from the substantially cylindrical segment;
- a coupling portion that translates deformation of the compliant wall into mechanical output;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
1 more element
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a combustion chamber, the set of walls including a set of substantially rigid walls and including a compliant segment configured to contract during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a piston configured to linearly translate in response to the combustion and during the compliant wall contraction;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
1 more element
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a combustion chamber, the set of walls including:
- a first compliant segment configured to deform during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber, and
- a second compliant segment configured to deform during fuel intake of the fuel into the combustion chamber;
- a rigid support that prevents the second compliant segment from deforming during combustion of the fuel;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
3 more elements
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a combustion chamber, the set of walls including a compliant segment configured to deform to increase volume in the combustion chamber during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a coupling mechanism configured to receive a volumetric increase in the combustion chamber when the compliant segment deforms during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber and configured to convert the volumetric increase into mechanical output, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a bellows having a limited volume and that is configured to expand along the linear direction during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
1 more element
A combustion device for producing mechanical energy from a fuel, the combustion device comprising:
- a set of walls that define a combustion chamber, the set of walls including a compliant segment configured to deform to increase volume of the combustion chamber during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- a mechanical coupling mechanism comprising a) a coupling chamber configured to receive an increase in volume for the combustion chamber, b) a liquid in the coupling chamber, and c) a mechanical output configured to translate during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber as a result of liquid displacement in the coupling chamber caused by increasing volume of the combustion chamber, wherein the mechanical output comprises a bellows configured to expand and linearly translate during combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber;
- and
- one or more ports, wherein the one or more ports is/are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.