Patent US3599431A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3599431A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fluid-dynamic engine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-04-18
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Granted: 1971-08-17
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Expires: 1989-04-18
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a fluid-dynamic engine wherein a gas is accelerated through the engine at the speed of sound at the sonic speed of the gas and imparting energy to the gas while maintaining it at the sonic speed. The engine may comprise a duct having a sonic duct section interposed between convergent and divergent sections so that it is successively accelerated to the sonic speed through the convergent section at the sonic speed. The engine includes means for deriving power from the fluid stream by coupling a fluid-responsive element to the stream and recompressing the fluid of the fluid stream while moving at the sonic speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Giusto Fonda-Bonardi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:08
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D1/00; F01D1/02; F01D1/06; F02; F02C; F02C3/00; F02C9/00; F02C9/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A fluid-dynamic engine for the transformation of heat energy into mechanical energy comprising a fluid-conveying duct having a sonic duct section interposed between a convergent section and a divergent section, means for conveying fluid through each section of said duct so that it moves in a fluid stream at the speed of sound in said fluid through the sonic section, means for heating the fluid stream while it is moving at said sonic speed, drive means including a rotatable shaft coupled to the downstream side of the divergent section for deriving power from the fluid-dynamic engine in the form of rotations of the shaft, said fluid stream impinging on said drive means for imparting the energy of the fluid stream to said drive means, and means for controlling the coupling between said fluid stream and said drive means for controlling the power extracted from the engine and thereby the rotations of the shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A fluid-dynamic engine for the transformation of heat energy into mechanical energy comprising a fluid-conveying duct having a sonic duct section interposed between a convergent section and a divergent section, means for conveying fluid through each section of said duct so that it moves in a fluid stream at the speed of sound in said fluid through the sonic section, means for heating the fluid stream while it is moving at said sonic speed, drive means including a rotatable shaft coupled to the downstream side of the divergent section for deriving power from the fluid-dynamic engine in the form of rotations of the shaft, said fluid stream impinging on said drive means for imparting the energy of the fluid stream to said drive means, and means for controlling the coupling between said fluid stream and said drive means for controlling the power extracted from the engine and thereby the rotations of the shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fluid-dynamic engine as defined in claim 1 wherein the divergent duct section is constructed and defined for recompressing the fluid stream and redirecting the fluid stream into a path for impingement onto said drive means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fluid-dynamic engine as defined in claim 2 wherein the divergent duct section includes a solid terminal portion upon which the fluid stream impinges and recompresses a portion of the fluid stream to stagnation pressure and includes a ring of curved vanes for redirecting the fluid stream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fluid-dynamic engine as defined in claim 3 wherein the drive means carries turbine blades adapted for receiving the fluid stream emerging from the curved vanes when coupled thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A fluid-dynamic engine as defined in claim 4 including means for controlling the coupling of the drive means to vary the extent of impingement of the fluid stream with the turbine blades and thereby the power derived from the engine.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of operating a fluid-dynamic engine including the steps of accelerating a fluid stream through an engine at the speed of sound at the sonic speed of the fluid, imparting energy to the fluid while maintaining it at said sonic speed, recompressing the fluid stream to stagnation pressure, and deriving torque from the energy of the fluid stream.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of operating a fluid-dynamic engine including the steps of accelerating a fluid stream through an engine at the speed of sound at the sonic speed of the fluid, imparting energy to the fluid while maintaining it at said sonic speed, recompressing the fluid stream to stagnation pressure, and deriving torque from the energy of the fluid stream.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for deriving energy from a fluid-dynamic engine including the steps of accelerating a fluid stream through an engine at the speed of sound at sonic speed in the fluid, imparting energy to the fluid stream while it is moving at said sonic speed, passing the fluid through a diffuser at subsonic speeds for maintaining the fluid moving at sonic speed while energy is being imparted to it, coupling a fluid-responsive element to the stream for deriving power therefrom, and recompressing the fluid of the fluid stream passing through the diffuser and deriving power from the fluid stream.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for deriving energy from a fluid-dynamic engine including the steps of accelerating a fluid stream through an engine at the speed of sound at sonic speed in the fluid, imparting energy to the fluid stream while it is moving at said sonic speed, passing the fluid through a diffuser at subsonic speeds for maintaining the fluid moving at sonic speed while energy is being imparted to it, coupling a fluid-responsive element to the stream for deriving power therefrom, and recompressing the fluid of the fluid stream passing through the diffuser and deriving power from the fluid stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 7 including the step of redirecting the path of the fluid stream in the diffuser prior to coupling to the fluid-responsive element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as defined in claim 7 wherein said diffuser is represented by a solid surface shaped to coincide with the shape of a selected streamline surface such as would naturally result in the impingement of an otherwise unrestricted fluid stream of the same characteristics stagnating against said solid terminal portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-16 | 1975-02-15 | 1975-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-16 | 1979-02-15 | 1979-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-16 | 1983-02-15 | 1983-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |