Radial impulse engine, pump, and compressor systems, and associated methods of operation

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a first end wall portion;
• a second end wall portion spaced apart from the first end wall portion to at least partially define a combustion chamber therebetween;
• a first wrist shaft configured to pivot about a first pivot axis extending at least partially between the first and second end wall portions;
• a second wrist shaft configured to pivot about a second pivot axis extending at least partially between the first and second end wall portions;
• a first movable wall portion fixedly attached to the first wrist shaft, the first movable wall portion having a first distal edge portion spaced apart from the first pivot axis;
• and
• a second movable wall portion fixedly attached to the second wrist shaft, the second movable wall portion having a second distal edge portion spaced apart from the second pivot axis, the second movable wall portion further having an aperture, wherein the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion is configured to slide across the aperture as the first wrist shaft pivots about the first pivot axis and the second wrist shaft pivots about the second pivot axis.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a combustion chamber;
• a first movable wall portion positioned proximate to the combustion chamber, the first movable wall portion having a first distal edge portion spaced apart from a first pivot axis;
• a second movable wall portion positioned proximate to the combustion chamber, the second movable wall portion having a second distal edge portion spaced apart from a second pivot axis, the second movable wall portion further having an aperture;
• means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber;
• means for igniting the fuel in the combustion chamber, thereby causing the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion to slide across the aperture in the second movable wall portion as the first movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the first pivot axis and the second movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the second pivot axis;
• and
• means for flowing air into the combustion chamber through the aperture as the first movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the first pivot axis and the second movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the second pivot axis.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a combustion chamber;
• a first movable wall portion positioned proximate to the combustion chamber, the first movable wall portion having a first distal edge portion spaced apart from a first pivot axis;
• a second movable wall portion positioned proximate to the combustion chamber, the second movable wall portion having a second distal edge portion spaced apart from a second pivot axis, the second movable wall portion further having an aperture;
• means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber;
• means for igniting the fuel in the combustion chamber, thereby causing the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion to slide across the aperture in the second movable wall portion as the first movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the first pivot axis and the second movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the second pivot axis;
• and
• means for reversing direction of the first and second movable wall portions as they pivot outwardly about their respective pivot axes.