U.S. patent number 3,823,554 [Application Number 05/333,867] was granted by the patent office on 1974-07-16 for high speed valveless resonant pulse jet engine.
Invention is credited to John Alden Melenric.
United States Patent |
3,823,554 |
Melenric |
July 16, 1974 |
HIGH SPEED VALVELESS RESONANT PULSE JET ENGINE
Abstract
A valveless resonent pulse jet engine particularly adapted to
power target vehicles or pilotless aircraft at speeds of Mach 0.5
to Mach 1. This invention is an improved high-speed adaptation of
my U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,510. The device of this invention continues
to utilize a substantially cylindrical combustion chamber, a
reduction cone and an exhaust tube, a multiplicity of reverse flow
air fuel inlet tubes projecting through the reduction cone into the
combustion chamber. Annular reverse flow vanes surround the bell
mouth of the air inlet tubes thereby increasing static pressure at
the air inlet as forward speed of the vehicle increases. An exhaust
tube diffuser is employed in a similar fashion to assist the
pulsating reverse flow of ambient air into the exhaust tube to
increase thrust at high forward speeds.
Inventors: |
Melenric; John Alden
(Kerrville, TX) |
Family
ID: |
23304595 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/333,867 |
Filed: |
February 20, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
60/249; 60/39.49;
60/39.77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02K
7/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F02K
7/00 (20060101); F02K 7/04 (20060101); F02k
007/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;60/249,247,248,39.76,39.77,39.8,39.71 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Croyle; Carlton R.
Assistant Examiner: Olsen; Warren
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hodges, Jr.; Willard J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A self starting valveless pulse jet engine comprising:
a. a substantially cylindrical combustion chamber of circular cross
section,
b. an elongated substantially cylindrical exhaust tube of circular
cross section projecting aft from said combustion chamber
constructed and arranged on a common axis with the axis of said
combustion chamber,
c. a reduction cone intermediate said combustion chamber and said
exhasut tube,
d. a multiplicity of straight air and fuel inlet tubes constructed
in a single axis configuration mounted in said reduction cone
projecting into said combustion chamber, the construction and
arrangement of the combustion chamber, exhaust tube, and air fuel
intake tube combination places the axis of each said element
substantially parallel with the axis of each other said
element,
e. an inlet tube bell mouth constructed in the respective intake
ends of said air and fuel inlet tubes,
f. a multiplicity of annular reverse flow vanes spaced from and
substantially encircling said inlet tube bell mouth, said annular
reverse flow vanes having an arcuate configuration adapted to
entrap and deflect air into said inlet tube bell mouths,
g. fuel supply means operably associated with said combustion
chamber and,
h. ignition means operably associated with said combustion
chamber.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said annular reverse flow vanes
comprise:
a. an intake section projecting forward said intake section being
flared and of substantially greater diameter than said fuel and air
inlet tubes,
b. an arcuate reduction cone constructed in said annular reverse
flow vanes projecting aft of said intake section, said arcuate
reduction cone projecting aft at a progressively reduced diameter,
said reverse flow vanes terminating in,
c. a reverse flow lip projecting forward substantially in the
direction of the inlet tube bell mouth.
3. The invention of claim 1 including:
a. an exhaust tube nozzle secured to the aft end of said exhaust
tube, and
b. an exhaust tube diffuser secured to and encircling said exhaust
tube nozzle, said exhaust tube diffuser constructed and arranged to
reduce the rate of flow of ambiant air adjacent said exhaust tube
nozzle.
4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said exhaust tube diffuser
comprises:
a. a diffuser inlet of substantially greater diameter than the
diameter of said exhaust tube,
b. a diffuser flow channel projecting aft at a progressively
reduced diameter, and said exhaust tube diffuser terminating in
c. a diffuser exhaust cone having a diameter less than the diameter
of said diffuser inlet.
5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber
includes a substantially flat forward wall normal to the axis of
said exhaust tube.
6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said air and fuel inlet
tubes are substantially equiangular positioned in said combustion
chamber.
7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the fuel supply means includes
a convergent-divergent supersonic fuel nozzle positioned in the
inlet end of said air and fuel inlet tubes.
8. The invention of claim 1 including a fuel nozzle positioned in
substantially the center of said bellmouth at its juncture with
said air and fuel inlet tube.
9. The invention of claim 5 wherein the said ignition means
includes a spark plug positioned in the said forward wall at a
position substantially in prolongation of the axis of one of the
said air and fuel inlet tubes.
10. The invention of claim 1 wherein the dimensional proportions
are relatively:
a. the diameter of the combustion chamber is substantially twice
the diameter of the exhaust tube,
b. the combustion chamber, combustion chamber reduction cone, and
exhaust tube combination is substantially fifteen (15) exhaust tube
diameters in length,
c. the length of each of the air and fuel inlet tubes is one-fourth
(1/4) the length of the combustion chamber, combustion chamber
reduction cone, and the exhaust tube combination, and
d. the total cross-sectional intake area of the said air and fuel
inlet tubes is one-third of the cross-sectional area of the said
exhaust tube.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The device of this invention is directly related to applicant's
U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,510. Many of the construction features of the
device of this invention are identical with the above referred to
patent. The device of this invention is an improved high-speed
adaptation of the previously patented device. Experimental results
have shown that the previously patented device is highly
satisfactory for low speed flight or stationary use as a space or
orchard heat. At speeds from Mach 0.5 to Mach 1 flame moves aft in
the exhaust tube and thrust is decreased and flame-out can occur.
To insure and obtain satisfactory operating characteristics from
Mach 0.5 to Mach 1 annular reverse flow vane has been constructed
to surround the bell mouth of the intake tube to increase static
pressure and inject air into the tube. To insure reverse flow into
the exhaust nozzle a truncated conical exhaust tube diffuser is
constructed around the exhaust nozzle to insure proper reverse flow
of air or increase static pressure at the exhaust nozzle retaining
the pulsating flame in the appropriate operating areas of the
device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a resonant valveless pulse jet engine
designed for high-speed operation. Previously existing pulse jets
generally lost thrust and operating characteristics deteriorated
above Mach 0.5. The device of this invention is particularly
designed with a view to retaining optimum thrust and operating
characteristics at speeds above Mach 0.5. This is accomplished
through the use of the annular reverse flow vanes and the exhaust
tube diffuser.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The closest related prior art is your applicant's U.S. Pat. No.
3,517,510 issued June 30, 1970. For a general illustration of the
state of the art, reference is made to Project Squid, Department of
the Navy, Research Project, and Technical Memorandum No. PR.--4
concerning the background and development of the German V--1 Ing.
Guenther Dietrich translated by A. Kahane, June 30, 1948, Princeton
University, and Technical Memorandum No. CAL--27 by Joseph G.
Logan, Jr., May, 1949, by Cornell Aeronautical Laboratories. The
examples of valveless pulse jets are Schuberts and SNECMA.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The device of this invention basically incorporates the disclosure
of my U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,510 with the addition of substantially
circular annular reverse flow vane encircling the bell mouth of
each fuel air inlet tube. This annular reverse flow vane is of
substantially greater diameter than the bell mouth of the inlet
tube. The vane collects air as the engine of this device obtains
forward momentum and through reverse flow lip inject and increases
static pressure at the air fuel inlet tubes. The second improvement
of this invention pertains to the exhaust tube diffuser which is
constructed on the engine at the nozzle end of the exhaust tube.
Improvement in this area of the device comprises a substantially
elongated truncated cone exhaust tube diffuser inlet or the base of
the conical-like strucutre projects forward and catches and forces
air into the exhaust nozzle as forward speed of the engine
increases. Experiments conducted in a plenum chamber with previous
device conclusively establishes the fact that at high speeds or at
increased pressures at the air fuel inlet tubes causes the flame to
move to the nozzle end of the exhaust tube. The exhaust tube
diffuser of the invention of this device increases pressure or
reverse flow into exhaust tube nozzle moving the flame back into
the engine to the desired operating area and restores thrust of the
engine. The diameter of the exhaust tube diffuser is directly
proportional to the design speed of the engine. The higher the
design speed, the larger the required diameter of the exhaust tube
diffuser.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view partially in cross section of the
engine of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the device taken substantially
on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. This
view discloses primarily the bell mouth of the air fuel inlet
tubes.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken substantially on line
3--3 looking in the direction of the arrows disclosing primarily
the outer surface of annular reverse flow vanes.
FIG. 4 is a fragmented sectional view of the bell mouth nozzle of
the air-fuel inlet tube surrounded by a fragmented sectional view
of the annular reverse flow vanes and brackets.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
For a description of the preferred embodiment, its method of
construction, and operation, reference is made to the attached
views and the following detailed description wherein identical
reference characters refer to identical or equivalent components
throughout the several views and the following detailed
description.
The device of this invention may be constructed from various metals
or alloys; however, the preferred embodiment was constructed from
321 or 347 type stainless steel AMS spec 5510, 5512 or 5570. Any of
the number of acceptable methods could be employed for securing the
components in a unitary structure; however, in the preferred
embodiment, heliarc welding was primarily used in the construction.
For a description of the construction of the device of the
invention, one might well refer to my previous U.S Pat. No.
3,517,510. Many of the components and methods of construction are
identical. Referring to FIG. 1, the device is constructed around a
substantially cylindrical combustion chamber 11. Aft of the
combustion chamber 11 is constructed or secured the combustion
chamber reduction cone 12 to which is attached the elongated
exhaust tube 13 which terminates at its aft end in the exhaust tube
nozzle 14. Secured to the forward end of the combustion chamber 11
is combustion chamber forward wall 15. This wall is slightly arched
to prevent fatigue of the metal; however, the desierd flow
characteristic dictates a forward wall 15 constructed at
substantially right angles to the axis of the exhaust tube 13.
A multiplicity of air and fuel inlet tubes 16 are equiangularly
positioned in reduction cone 12 and project into the cylindrical
combustion chamber 11. These air and fuel inlet tubes 16 are
constructed on an axis parallel to the axis of combustion chamber
11 and the exhaust tube 13. Heliarc welding is a statisfactory
method of securing the tubes 16 to reduction cone 12. Secured to
the forward end of combustion chamber 11 is nose cone 17 into which
is constructed with a cooling vent 18 and air exit vents 19 to
assist in dissipating heat from the combustion chamber forward
walls 15. The principal diagonal structure member in the midsection
of the engine is vertical support plate 20. This plate 20 is welded
to exhaust tube 13. Welded to the support plate 20 are the various
fairing components of the device and air scoops 21 as well as air
scoop support rings 22. Projecting forward from this vertical
support plate 20 is outer circular fairing 23 which surrounds and
may be secured to air and fuel inlet tubes 16 by connecting
brackets 24.
The secondary exhaust deflection plates 25 with slightly dish
configurations are secured to or constructed in exhaust tube
fairing 26; air inlet holes 27 are constructed in exhaust tube
fairing 26 to assist in the dissipating of heat from the space
between fairing 26 and tube 13. To reinforce these two structures
securing brackets 28 might well be employed for increased
structural rigidity.
It is visualized that fueling for the device of this invention
might be accomplished with structures as previously described in my
U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,510. However, in view of the fact that the
device of this invention is primarily designed for continuous
operation at maximum thrust and high speeds, a somewhat simplified
fueling method may be employed for providing gaseous or liquid
fuels to power the device such as butane, propane, hydrogen, or a
mixture of fuels. These liquid fuels would preferably be fed
through a heat exchange fuel line 33 which encircles the exhaust
tube 13 in a series of coils comprising a heat exchange 34.
Liquified gaseous fuel passes through fuel nozzle feed line 39 into
a supersonic fuel nozzle 40. These nozzles 40 are well known to the
art and more completely described in my previous patent. For a
brief description of this nozzle, reference is made to FIG. 4.
Nozzle 40 has a minimum section 41 which projects into a nozzle
flare 42. These nozzles 40, for optimum operation, must be
positioned exactly at the beginning of the flare of the inlet tube
bell mouth 43. To initiate operation of the device of this
invention, gaseous fuel would preferably be injected into the
device. After combustion is initiated by sparking plug 44
positioned in the combustion chamber forward wall 15 for maximum
thrust, the device should be fueled with liquified gaseous fuel.
Nose cone 17 is provided with spark plug access cover 45 and
sparking plug 44 may be fired by a conventional vibrator ignition
system. No timing of the spark is required and after initiation of
combustion the ignition may be turned off in that the combustion is
self-sustained.
For a detailed description of the improvements incorporated in the
device which are elements in combination comprising the invention
of this application, your attention is particularly invited to
FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The annular reverse flow vanes 46 surround inlet
tube bell mouth 43 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4.
This annular reverse flow vanes 46 are arcuate conical-like
structures with their largest diameter comprising the forward
intake section 47 secured to the forward edge of air scoop 21.
These annular reverse flow vanes 46 are constructed with an arcuate
reduction cone 48 projecting into a reverse flow lip 49 which
surrounds inlet tube bell mouth 43 and is secured to the bell mouth
43 by means of reverse flow vane brackets 50. These various
components are perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 4. Examination of
this structure of FIG. 4 in a measure illustrates the manner in
which these annular reverse flow vanes 46 catch air and project it
into the inlet tube bell mouths 43.
Another feature previously mentioned contributing substantially to
the high speed performance of the device of this invention is the
exhaust tube diffuser 60 secured to the exhaust tube nozzle 14.
This exhaust tube diffuser 60 is a truncated conical structure, the
base projecting forward around the exhaust tube 13 nozzle 14. The
largest diameter in the forward edge comprises diffuser inlet 61.
The channel between exhaust tube fairing 26 and exhaust tube
diffuser 60 comprises a diffuser flow channel 62. The area of
reverse flow into the nozzle 14 is designated as the diffuser
intake 63. The diffuser 60 terminates at its aft end in diffuser
exhaust cone 64. The device is made integral with exhaust tube
nozzle 14 and exhaust tube fairing 26 by means of diffuser brackets
65.
Reference is made to my U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,510 for the relative
diameters of the various components of the preferred embodiment, as
well as for a description of the pulsating wave characteristics of
this valveless resonant pulse-jet.
OPERATION OF THE DEVICE
When the device is fueled through nozzles 40, fuel and air are
induced through the air and fuel inlet tubes 16 into combustion
chamber 11. Ignition is initiated by sparking plug 44. Ignition
causes a shock or thrust wave to move aft in the exhaust tube 13.
The subsequent drop in pressure in the combustion chamber 11 causes
induction of a new air and fuel charge through air and fuel inlet
tubes 16. For low speed operation of the device of my previous
invention, air scoops 21 reduced the static rate of flow of air
passed the inlet tube bell mouth 43 adequately to provide air for
operation of the device at stationary or moderate forward speed. At
speeds above Mach 0.5 the old structure is not satisfactory.
Accordingly, annular reverse flow vanes 46 surrounding bell mouth
43 and air inlet tubes 16 are required. These annular reverse flow
vanes 46 will, at high forward speeds, catch and reverse the flow
of air passed the intake end of the inlet tubes 16 and in effect,
inject air into bell mouth 43. This characteristic of the various
components of the annular reverse flow vanes 46 substantially
improve the air and fuel intake characteristics at speeds above
Mach .5.
A secondary component, however, is necessary to avoid combustion
moving aft in the exhaust tube 13. This comprises exhaust tube
diffuser 60. This diffuser 60 somewhat in the manner of annular
reverse flow vanes 46 grasps and induces air adjacent the exit of
exhaust tube nozzle 14. The rate of flow is decreased through
diffuser flow channel 62 increasing static pressure. This increased
static pressure permits air to reverse flow into the exhaust nozzle
14 restoring pressure at the nozzle 14 moving the flame forward in
the exhaust tube 13 restoring thrust. The combination of the
structure of the annular reverse flow vanes 46 and the exhaust tube
diffuser 60 in combination with the overall device are the
principal features of this invention.
By emphasizing the structural features of this improved device, I
do not intend to specifically limit my claims to the exact
structure described. What is desired to be claimed is all devices
incorporating equivalent structures not departing from the scope of
the appended claims or their equivalents.
* * * * *