Turbine engine

• US 3,899,874 A
• Filed: 09/11/1974
• Issued: 08/19/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dennis H. Bailey, Henry E. Bailey, Richard E. Bailey
• Original Assignee: Dennis H. Bailey, Henry E. Bailey, Richard E. Bailey
• Inventors: Bailey, Henry E., Bailey, Dennis H., Bailey, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, C. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koczo, Jr., Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/505,053
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 60/39.34,39.44,39.78 415/92
• US Class Current: 60/39.34
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 5/04 the combustion chambers being formed at least partly in the turbine rotor

Abstract

A turbine engine of simplified, single shaft construction which runs on an open-cycle mode of operation. The engine includes a centrifugal air compressor mounted for rotation with a turbine rotor on a single shaft within a housing. Air is compressed and preheated within a chamber concentric with the rotor. The outer periphery of the turbine rotor is formed with a series of recesses which define alternate combustible charge and air chambers. A passage is provided in the housing to direct air from the compression chamber into the charge and air chambers of the rotor. Movement of the rotor carries the compressed air/fuel within the charge chamber into register with a spark plug which ignites the charge which combusts in an elongate expansion chamber formed about the rim of the engine. Movement of successive air chambers into the region of the expansion chamber releases compressed air for diluting the combustion gases released from the immediately preceeding charge chamber. A passageway is provided to inject air from the compression chamber at a mid-point along the expansion chamber to further dilute the combustion gases with excess air for insuring complete combustion with a minimum of harmful exhaust emissions. An exhaust outlet is provided at the end of the expansion chamber, and exhaust scavenging by compressed air is achieved by a passage directing air from the compression chamber into the exhaust outlet.

Claims

1. A turbine engine comprising the combination of a housing, a rotor mounted for rotation within the housing, said rotor being formed about its outer periphery with a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses which define with the housing combustible charge chambers and air chambers with the charge chambers alternating with the air chambers, means forming a compression chamber within the rotor, air compression means driven by the rotor for directing air under pressure into the compression chamber, first passage means for communicating compressed air from the compression chamber to the recesses, inlet means for directing a combustible charge into the charge chambers, means for igniting the combustible charge in each charge chamber whereby the charge undergoes constant volume combustion in the charge chambers, means on the housing for sealing the charge chambers during combustion, means forming an expansion channel on the inner periphery of the housing extending from past the sealing means in the direction of rotation of the rotor so that upon communication of the charge chambers with the expansion channel, the combustion gases expand into the expansion channel and impinge on the surfaces of the rotor recesses to thereby impart torque to the rotor, and outlet means in the housing for exhausting spent gases from the expansion channel.

2. A turbine engine as in claim 1 in which the expansion channel extends from a combustion zone adjacent the ignition means about at least one half of the outer periphery of the rotor whereby substantially complete combustion and expansion of the gases is achieved in the expansion channel before the gases are exhausted through the outlet means.

3. A turbine engine as in claim 1 in which said air chambers are formed with circumferentially extending ribs, and said first passage means is positioned in register with the path of movement of the ribs whereby the latter preclude entry of the combustible charge into the air chambers as the latter move across the inlet means.

4. A turbine engine as in claim 1 which includes a shaft mounted concentric within the housing, said rotor is mounted for rotation on the shaft, and the air compression means comprises a centrifugal air compressor mounted for rotation on the shaft, the centrifugal compressor having an inlet at one end of the housing and a peripherial outlet in communication with the compression chamber.

5. A turbine engine as in claim 1 in which the compression chamber comprises an annular cavity foRmed within the rotor whereby the thermal energy conducted through the rotor from the heat of combustion within the surrounding expansion channel preheats air within the compression chamber.

6. A turbine engine as in claim 1 which includes second passage means for directing air from the compression chamber into the expansion channel downstream of the region of the ignition means, said air from the second passage means serving to dilute the combustion gases within the expansion channel.

7. A turbine engine as in claim 1 which includes third passage means for directing air from the compression chamber into the expansion channel in the region of the outlet means whereby air from the third passage means scavenges exhaust gases from alternate charge and air chambers, and from the expansion channel, through the outlet means.

8. A turbine engine as in claim 1 in which the rotor is formed with a circular end wall within the housing, said end wall being formed with a plurality of circumferencially spaced slots, and said first passage means is positioned in register with the path of movement of said slots to direct compressed air into the first passage means from the compression chamber.